Playtime has been cancelled…

This morning we went out for our weekly romp in the desert with the dogs and when we drove down our normal empty road we encountered this…

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you, that is a camel sitting in the middle of the road!  Well, needless to say we were literally stopped in our tracks.  Then we looked out the side windows and there were camels all around us. 

Walter was in shock and really wanted out of the car to chase, I mean properly introduce himself to his new friends… but I didn't think that the camel herder would appreciate Walter’s greetings.  The boys couldn’t stop staring at the camels... I even explained to them it was rude to stare but they totally didn’t listen to me and kept on staring! 

Walter's inner dialog, “What the hell is that thing?!?”

Anyways, I guess I don’t have to say it, but we didn’t get to have our playtime this morning… boo… but we are going to head out tomorrow morning to try to get in a good puppy workout (minus the camels this time hopefully)!

The dogs getting one last look in before we drove away!

And Leighton missed the entire thing… what a sleepy face! (Trust me, she doesn’t sleep all the time, promise… this was her normal morning nap time. I still realize how lucky we are though!)

Until later…

Little L is three weeks old…

I know, can you believe it? Neither can we!  I have been bad about posting pictures so here are a few for your enjoyment!

leighton's two favorite places to hang out... the baby bjorn chair and the swing!

leighton has two lovies... they make her happy!

she always manages to get her hands out of her swaddle... no bueno!

chillin'

napping with mommy

Officially three weeks old!!!

just hanging out...

little bunny feet and little baby feet

We also had Leighton’s newborn photo taken this past week with a local photographer.  This is the only photo that we have so far… we should get the rest in the next few weeks.  I’ll post those when I get them.

Until later…

Gigi has left the building…

Today was the first sad day in Leighton’s life… her Gigi boarded a plane back to Texas. 

It was all too much for little L to handle,

so she snuggled with her lovey and passed out.

I think my Mom thoroughly enjoyed herself on her little Middle Eastern holiday.  We were able to get out of the house more than we expected with a newborn, so she could see the sights of Dubai.  Jon and I totally appreciated her taking two weeks out of her life to come and help us figure out this new chapter of our lives.  Leighton made it easy on all of us and even let Gigi have enough time to fill the freezer with homemade dinners, do all of the laundry, clean the house and still manage to get 9 hours of sleep a night… (To all my frienemeies out there… I did not get 9 hours of sleep.  Leighton is still a great sleeper, but now she is sleeping in 4ish hour stretches instead of 7 straight… so you can all stop cursing my name now… and yes I realize that 4 hours stretches are still amazing, I am counting my blessings!!!)

So, we loaded up in the car early this morning and delivered Sharona safely to the airport after Gigi said goodbye to her grand dogs of course… they have been very depressed all day since we returned with no Gigi, very sad!

 Anyways, Leighton scoped out the departure board to see if Gigi’s flight was on time and it was… boo!

We then took a few last pictures and sent my mom off for her 16 and ½ hour flight back to Houston… but don’t worry about her, she has a fully loaded Kindle and 5 movies she was planning on watching on the trip home!  

Needless to say we were sad to see Gigi go… she was a wealth of knowledge and gave us the perfect advice while at the same time being hands off and letting Jon and I figure it out…  except for one occasion which included one angry baby, a Q-tip and Vaseline… yikes!!!

On a side note… this breastfeeding thing kind of rocks… I cannot remember the last time I had a Frappacino and a cheese croissant for a snack and didn’t feel guilty!  

thank you, Mom…..love you…..

Until later…

Bruises…

As Jon said the other day… “Can you check Leighton for bruises later today… she must have some since she fell straight from heaven!”  Cheesy, I know, but oh so true at this point!  Our little munchkin has been fantastic thus far and we are just hoping she will keep it up!  I mean, what new parents get an average of 6 hours of sleep a night?  We do, and just so everyone knows, we are counting our blessings and know that we are so very lucky and that this is not normal.  My mom, Leighton’s Gigi, is over here to help out and she keeps joking that there really isn’t anything for her to do.  Gigi has even been able to catch up on her sleep, getting about 9 hours a night… this really is turning into a vacation for her!

We have even made it out of the house on a few trips (just don’t tell my pediatrician)!  Leighton was a trooper and slept and hung out quietly the entire time which made it hard for photo ops… these were our best attempts…

A mother of pearl chair in the largest mall in the world, Dubai Mall. 
Makes for the perfect touristy picture.

One of Dubai's many "local" stores.

 Jon joked this is the closest she will get to her own LV until she gets married off!

 Dining next to the world's tallest building... the Burj Khalifa...

the whole building doesnt even fit in the picture!

 Leighton in front of the worlds largest indoor aquarium.

 Waiting for daddy and Gigi outside of a store.

And lastly, our first family photo... just a week late...

We are living the life of Riley right now and enjoying every minute of it… and continuing to knock on wood everyday! 

Until later…

Leighton’s first week @ home…

We have had a lot of firsts and a lot of introductions this week… 

Welcome Home Baby Leighton!

Leighton, meet Walter and Charlie… Walter and Charlie, meet Leighton

Walter really seems to be bothered by Leighton… can't you tell?

Charlie is Leighton’s official bodyguard… always nearby just in case something happens!

We took our first trip to the supermarket to pick up a few fresh essentials and Leighton did what she does best… sleep through the whole thing!

Leighton had her first guests, the Warren Family.

Leighton also lost something… her umbilical cord… thank goodness, that thing was nasty!

Jon and I have also learned a few things this week…

We learned she likes to sneeze in sets of three just like me and her Uncle D.  Genes are strong things!

We also learned Leighton doesn’t like flash photography… what a diva.

Jon has learned that a glider + an audio book = one happy baby!

She might have dimples… maybe… we are still waiting to see… cross your fingers!

And lastly and most importantly… we learned that Leighton is a great sleeper (knock on wood) so far!  She has been an angel and has let her amazing parents sleep in 5 to 6 hour blocks at night… I know… we are really really lucky and I hope this pattern continues for at least a little while!!!

This week has been surprisingly low stress and has allowed jon and I to ease gracefully into this whole parenthood thing and we feel extremely blessed!  Jon heads back to work tomorrow but luckily my mom, Leighton’s Gigi, has made the long trip over here to help out for the next two weeks.  Hopefully she will be up for this baby thing after today…  jetlag has taken her over!

Until later…

Things just got real…

If you haven’t heard… we had a baby!  Leighton Elizabeth Cumberworth was born on Sunday, May 1st at 6:52pm in Dubai.  She luckily stuck to her nickname of munchkin and was only 7lbs 3oz and 20.5 inches long.  Jon and I could not be happier and now are just trying to figure it all out by ourselves (scary)!
 

Leighton's first ever picture

PINK OVERLOAD!!!

Proud Poppa in his pink!



Little Leighton was due the same day as the Royal wedding but she wanted her birthday to be all about her… so conceited I know!  So, she ended up making her debut on May 1^st.  Little did she know that she would share her birthday with the death of Osama… she was not happy when we told her that the attention was not solely on her, but she said it was better than the wedding so she wouldn’t be too upset.  Leighton was slightly stubborn about being born, but when she made up her mind the show was on.   From the start of labor to the end was only around 6 hours.  



I literally tried everything to get this kid out of me... even jumping jacks!



We were all very excited to meet each other and now we are trying to figure out how our schedules are going to work together… any new relationship has to get the kinks worked out, right?  Thank you all for the kind words and well wishes that we have received over the past few days… they have made this experience of having a kid half way around the world less difficult!

Up close and personal

Jon throwing some bunny ears on his kid... we have officially not grown up!

Leighton just saw the bunny ears picture... she is not amused!

can you say i look like my dad...

I think that we are still in shock from getting flowers all the way over here in Dubai. 

These lovely arrangements are from the folks at Jon's work and an amazingly hilarious couple we met in Ante-natal classes, Mark and Rachel Larkin... we can't wait until their little munchkin is here so we can have play dates while mommy and daddy enjoy a few cold dudes!

Jon and i found these signs incredable funny... one of the many little differences from the States.

Until later…