Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Abu Dhabi Family, we hope our family and friends had a wonderful Christmas. We spent our third Christmas here in the Middle East and we had a wonderful time opening gifts on Christmas morning. We missed our family and friends, but it was nice we got to share Christmas with Heather this year. It is something to think about this time last year I was beyond pregnant and due anytime what a difference a year makes.

Momma

I finally get to hear Momma coming from Heather at 11 months old that is music to my ears. She is still crawling and pulling up to stand up and walking around stuff by holding on. I wonder when will she decide to take her first step? I have been lucky to get her to take two naps, but I think that is only because she has been waking me up two times in the night. I think we are going through a growth spurt.

Jordan

Our trip to Jordan for Thanksgiving 2011 was an eventful one. We stayed 4 days three nights in Jordan and we mapped out our trip down to the letter. Thank you Paul for helping us see all we could while we were there.

We arrived in Amman, Jordan first stop Jesus Baptism, Bethany Jordan. Then we were off to the Dead Sea. Then to Petra and Finally back to Amman to see Jerash and Citadel. I love the fact we are continuing our Greek/Roman tour of ancient ruins.

At Jesus Baptism, I had know idea that it was so big and they even had real Baptisms there. Not to far from the real Baptism site. It felt so cool that we were just a fence away from Israel.

I never thought I would swim in the Dead Sea. It was cold, but you just had to get in and float. Seeing all the salt was something and the Dead Sea is really fertile they grow all kinds of things, but what was really interesting is they can grow bananas we saw all kinds of banana trees.

Petra was just breathe taking. The ancient city was two miles into the mountain. It was a long way down, but we could to see some amazing ruins. We even got to ride on a horse and buggy on the way back.

I loved the fact in Jerash that you could see so many ancient ruins. In Citadel we got to see my favorite Greek God's Temple of Hercules. We thought that the Temple of Hercules was in Jerash and I told Paul that it was in a different area and I remembered that town began with the letter C and we were on our way to the airport the next day. I said ask the people at the hotel and luckily Citadel was just a few minutes from the hotel. The hotel got us a cab and arraigned for us to see it before we left. We even got to see a Roman amphitheater on the way to the airport. I am so happy Paul arranged for us to see the Temple of Hercules. Do I have a great guy or what? He is always making sure I am happy. I am just over the moon with excitement that I got to see it.

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving we missed being with family and friends, but we had a wonderful trip to Jordan to make this Thanksgiving a one to remember.

Updated Baby Milestones

Heather has grown so much since my last posting about her. She is 10 months old now and crawling all over the place. She has started to pull to stand up a few months back and now she is walking around the play pen, but she hasn't made any steps without holding on to something I figure it is just a matter of time. When you hold her now all she wants to do is stand up. Our little girl also has two teeth and working on more I believe. She can also feed herself some finger foods. She has tried a sippy cup with some apple juice. I am not sure she likes it that much. She does however love feeding herself. I can't wait for her to try some Thanksgiving dinner and have her first Christmas. Look out Christmas tree look out. After the holidays she will be 1 on January 6, wow has the time gone by so fast. She still has brown hair coming in and blue eyes. So far the girls are alike they both liked teeth at this age. Why do they want to feel your teeth? I have never seen a baby like teeth as much as they do. I can't wait to see what she gets into next.

Writing

Sydney went from tracing her name to writing her name in a matter of months it seems. We had know idea how much Sydney has grown since the beginning of the year. At parent teacher conference we learned so much about our little girl. She currently gets two books sent home and a library book once a week making a total of three books a week. I never thought she would have homework at 4 years old. I have to say I am so proud of our little girl.

Thankful

We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Love of family and friends and a job in a place that you can only experience once in a life time. The opportunity to be parents of two little girls and a wonderful marriage. God have given us so much and we have a lot to be thankful for.

Baby Milestones

Baby Heather has blessed us this year with her little smile in January and since then she has grown and grown and has achieved so many baby milestones that I can hardly keep up. She seems to be growing faster then Sydney did. She has said dadda and bye bye and I am still waiting on momma. She has already rolled over from stomach to back and back to stomach. She started commando crawling a few weeks ago, a few days shy of 8 months old. I am still blessed with being able to breastfeed and she has started baby food, while time seems to be flying bye. She loves her new walker and keeping up with her getting into stuff under the coffee table seems to be a daily adventure now. We added a high chair and we are about to lower the bed soon since we think she might be ready to stand on her own. She pulled to stand up at Sydney's school all on her own. I had showed her some toys in a box and I guess she really wanted the train set that she pulled to stand up beside the box. I am not ready for her to walk yet. I believe Sydney didn't walk until she was over 1 and now I think Heather might walk before 1. I believe having a bigger sister has made her grow faster, which I have to say I wish she would slow down. Sydney is a big help and is really good with her. Heather is truly a wonderful baby and has blessed our little family to make us a family of four.

Back to School

School is in full swing for Sydney. We had a drop in day at school on September 5 to meet the teacher and classroom. Her teacher seems really nice and most of the kids returned which is really something when we live in a country that people come and go. Ms. Hankinson, Pumpkin class. Can't wait to see how the little pumpkins grow this year. First day of school was September 6 and this week started with less hours to get the kids used to going to school again. I think the class has already adjusted to there new room and teacher. They have already sent a book home for homework, wow. A picture book, but homework just the same. So I guess we will have library books and books from the classroom, looks like a lot of reading for Mommy. :) Here's to another great year at BISAD.

Our trip home over the summer

Our trip home to TX was used to fix Gran's house up to sale and spending time with Aunt Kathy and Uncle Jimmy as well as Granny and Papa. We even got to see Paul's Grandpa and he seemed like he enjoyed the girls. Gran's house turned out nice and we currently have someone interested in buying the house, wow that was fast. I have to say all of our hard work paid off. I am so proud of Paul for taking the time to make the house look nice and to let someone live in it again. Gran had a nice house. Wish she could have seen the girls, but we did go to her grave on her birthday. Happy 80th Birthday Gran, you are missed more then you will ever know.

After 3 weeks of fixing up Gran's house and visiting Paul's family we headed to WV. I have to say I was glad to see my bed after all that work, but so glad we were able to do it. Spending time with my family and friends made for a wonderful trip back home. I am so glad Paul was able to see my grandma and other family members. I even got to take Sydney to see a Movie "Smurfs" I loved our time together on Mommy and Daughter day. Time seemed to travel fast and then we headed home to see Paul and the pugs.

After we adjusted to the time we went shopping for Sydney's school uniform and paid for her school. School starts back on September 5.

I have enjoyed being home with the girls and just taking an easy before school starts. Life gets really busy when school is in session. Here's to the new school year and seeing how Sydney grows from all that she has learned at school.

Home trip

Trip back home planned for June 24. Time seems to be going bye so fast. We will be in TX and WV. Three weeks in TX and One week in WV for Paul and an extra two weeks for me and the girls in WV to make Three weeks in WV. We leave August 10 for Abu Dhabi. Then back to school September 5. Can't believe Sydney will be in FS 2 next year. Looking forward to another great year at BISAD.

Last Month of School

Can't believe June is here and we are in our last month of school. We have been keeping busy with the end of the year functions at school and we even have a trip home planned. So looking forward to going home again and seeing family and friends. It seems we have something planned at school each week as we wind down. W0w, Mom must get her running shoes on.

June 5 Swim gala

June 16 End of the Year Singing concert

June 18 Dance Recital

June 22 Portfolio Celebration

Trip back home planned for June 24. Time seems to be going bye so fast. We will be in TX and WV. Three weeks in TX and One week in WV for Paul and an extra two weeks for me and the girls in WV to make Three weeks in WV. We leave August 10 for Abu Dhabi. Then back to school September 5. Can't believe Sydney will be in FS 2 next year. Looking forward to another great year at BISAD.

Letters, Sounds and Dot to Dot

I am so excited to share that Sydney is starting to pick out letters and sound them out. Today was the first time we heard her say the S sound. Paul told me to look and he said Sydney can you pick out a S in this word and sure enough she pointed to the S and she made the S sound. Looks like she has been learning a lot at school. She said S for Sydney.

I was also excited to get a worksheet today and it was a dot to dot and you follow it and make a circle it was a whole sheet of circles, wow. How exciting for our little girl to go to a great school. Can't wait to see what she will bring home next.

Family in Abu Dhabi

Our first visitors finally made it to Abu Dhabi on March 9, 2011. After Paul's dad came back from Active Duty, his parents finally made it over to Abu Dhabi. They stayed for two weeks March 9- March 23 and during those two weeks we packed it with spending time with family and sight seeing. Activities included:

• Sand dunning
• Seeing camels in the dessert
• Heritage Village
• Kids Park
• Grand Mosque
• Aquarium in the Dubai Mall
• Snow World at the Mall of the Emirates
• Jebel Hafeet
• Oasis in Al Ain
• Emirates Palace
• Even drove by the Presidents house in Abu Dhabi, all you could see was the gate, but it is in there somewhere.
• Went to the famous port and looked at flowers, fruit and vegetables
• Play-Guess How Much I Love You
• Took Pictures of Burj Khalifa the tallest building in the World,
• Atlantis on Palm Island,
• Al Dar HQ (circle building)
• Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai (sailboat building)
• Toured Sydney's school-The British International School
• Even took them to see where Paul works, even if all you could see was the gate entrance.

Sydney went countless times to the play ground and played with Granny and Papa. Heather was a added blessing to the trip since we just had her two months ago. I think they both enjoyed there grandparents. We even got a date on our Anniversary it just doesn't get any better then that. Hope you enjoyed your time at our home away from home.

The Lost Chambers of Altantis

For our Wedding Anniversary, Eight years and counting we went to The Lost Chambers of Atlantis in Dubai. I have been wanting to see the fish there for awhile now, I have to say it was a great Anniversary gift and having the kids with us made it extra special. We even got a few pictures of Heather awake, she seemed to like the fish.

Sydney loved it too...............

We couldn't ask for a better gift two wonderful girls and each other.

DISCOVER THE MARINE LIFE OF ATLANTIS Wander through the passageways of The Lost Chambers and come face to face with marine life from around the world including sharks, giant catfish, giant arapaima and more. This fascinating journey is complimentary to all guests staying at Atlantis. DID YOU KNOW Atlantis is home to 65,000 marine animals. The Ambassador Lagoon contains species indigenous to the oceans of The Middle East. The water in The Ambassador Lagoon weighs over 11 million kilograms.

THE LOST CHAMBERS STORY During the construction of the resort, a complex series of passages was uncovered, thought to have been buried thousands of years ago by the waters of the Arabian Gulf. Upon further investigation, an ancient street system was discovered and the theory came into being that these were in fact remains from the Lost City of Atlantis. Such an exciting discovery has raised many questions about Atlantean civilization and culture, some of which will never be answered. However, it seems that this network of streets has revealed artifacts from a very civilized people who possessed an incredible level of technology. The Lost Chambers give a valuable insight into the Atlantean history and function attached to each room, as well as information about the marine life now living there. Our map takes you through a gateway into a magnificent underwater realm where you can ask our guides for any further information about Atlantis and its inhabitants.

Play

Guess How Much I Love You March 10, 2011 at 4:00pm We are headed to a play on Thursday drum roll please!!!!!!!! I have been reading this book to Sydney and we just got her the rabbit for Christmas and now the play is coming to Abu Dhabi, yeah how exciting.

Sister, Sister

Sydney is 4 years old now, where did the time go? Heather is 2 months old. What a blessing these little girls are in our lives.

Sydney is doing well in school and Heather is starting to hold her head up some. Tummy time here we come.

It's a girl

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We made it past Christmas and New Years with no baby, we are so thankful she hung in there a little while longer.

I have to say we made it all the way to 38 weeks and 5 days. We had a scheduled c-section, but she decided to have her own birthday. We finally have our baby girl. After 9 months she is finally here.

My water broke at 1:30 am on January 6, 2011 and we had everything ready we called a friend for Sydney and we headed to Dubai and yes we made to the American Hospital in Dubai. I even got to feel contractions they were strong, but not as strong as most peoples when they have a regular birth at times it was difficult in the car, but I remembered to breathe..........

The doctor was really nice and we did call him in, but he already had some deliveries that morning so that was good that he didn't really have to make a special trip. He said it is a few days early then we planned, but he was getting the team together. We had a scheduled c-section for January 9, but I wondered if we would make it.

I have to say the surgery went well and I am healing well. They even had music in the OR kind of neat. We got to listen to Brian Adams during the delivery. It all happened really fast and I was still worried about whether or not my water broke, but there was no question.

We spent 3 days in the hospital and I have to say for hospital food it was good. Heather spent one night in the nursery, but after that she was with us in our room. Really different since Sydney was in the NICU.


Heather Katelynn Batey

Born January 6, 2011

Time 9:12am

Weight 6lbs and 3oz

Length 20 inches


We are so happy that everything went well and we are finally a family of four.