Secret weapon!

Whenever we are home it is inevitable that I will be asked, “How do you do it over there with no friends and family around to help? It must be so hard!”

 

To be honest, I found having one kid super easy, really! Not the sleepless nights or the figuring out everything for the first time, but it was just Leighton and I during the day. She was my buddy. I just put her in her sling or the baby Bjorn and we went out to conquer the world. She was an easy kid and we had a lot of fun together learning Dubai and meeting new people.  It was also torturously hard at times, but over time I have forgotten all the hurdles...  And when I got pregnant with Corby, I was worried! How do you do it with two now? Do they sell a double baby Bjorn carrier? No…Augh! So Jon and I made the decision to truly become expats... We caved and did what everyone here does after awhile.  Well, I am about to out myself.... It isn't hard being alone and having no family over here and actually it is a breeze.... Not because I am some sort of super mom or wife, far from it... It is easy because we have Georgina!

 

 

 

Gina is our live in help. She is an amazing lady. She is a mother of four and grandmother of two from the Philippines. She is a happy, social, loving woman and I am so grateful that she is part of our family!  Her youngest kids are finishing high school this year and when they are done with college she will head home to watch their kids so they can get jobs in places like Dubai and provide for her and their family like she has done for so long now.  This concept of the grandparents raising the grand kids who only see their parents once a year is so foreign to us as Westerners. It is hard to hear about and witness, but ultimately everyone is just trying to provide a better life for their kids and families. If your country doesn't have work and you can't feed your family, of course you would pick up shop and move to where you could. It is inherently in all of us to provide for our children no matter what!

 

So Gina does our laundry, the dishes, walks Walter, watches the girls if I need to run errands or go to the doctor sans kids, babysits, goes to the park with me and the girls (or solo), and will even cook for us if I let her, but I love cooking!  I realize that this is not reality. I realize that if I was home I would have to truly figure out how to have two kids by myself all day and do a lot of the household chores. Trust me, I got a dose of single parent medicine over last summer and I was so happy to come back to our false reality that is Dubai.  I realize that just taking out one of the million things that Gina does out of a normal person’s life would be glorious and that I have Gina doing all of them all the time! I realize how lucky I am and I am almost embarrassed that this is my current situation….but not enough to change it!  I get asked by people at home if it is weird having someone live in our house, to always have them in our space.... to quote a great local blog; "It is, until it isn't and then its genius!"

 

 

 I let Gina know everyday how grateful we are to have her in our home.  However, on the flip side she says she is so grateful to be working for us!  Gina has had a few sponsors since she has lived in Dubai, but the last ones were awful.  They treated her like a servant and everyday she thanks me for treating her like a person, a member of our family, and a human!  But why wouldn't I? She is a person and a person that makes my life so easy and also loves my kids... Like, she LOVES them! Corby is going to start wondering pretty soon why her mother is so tan with black hair and black eyes. Unfortunately, I won't be able to understand Corby's question because she will be asking me in Tagalog.

 

 

 

  I hate to think about that moment when we leave here to move home and have to leave Gina behind. She has asked to move home with us many times, but I let her know about the visa process and labor laws.... I try not to picture that day because it will be so hard, so I choose to live in the moment and sip my coffee slowly at the Starbucks because Gina is watching the girls at home. Yes, sometimes I CAN sip my coffee slowly out of an actual mug and not a to-go cup!

 

So when people ask why we haven't moved back yet don't blame me, or Jon, or his job…Blame Gina! If it wasn't for her we may have been out of here along time ago!

 

Until later...

 

Viva Barcelona

 

Here are some of my favorite things in life; Manchego cheese, heavy red wines, pride for your home, fried potatoes, day drinking, naps, pork, late night eating, happy dogs and happier old folks. Well, Barcelona had them all!  Of all the cities we have visited thus far, Barcelona has made me the happiest.  Don't get me wrong, I have loved everywhere we have gone but, Barcelona... well, I could see myself living there and being happy as a clam!

 

We started our trip out with a tapas and wine tour of the city.  Four stops with four types of tapas and pintxos paired with local wines... Nice way to start your first day if you ask me! Our tour guide, Paul, educated us not only on the food and wine, but also the history and culture of Barcelona and Spain and the differences between the two.  There were only 6 of us on this tour and we were all Americans (we are EVERYWHERE).  We can't escape our own kind, ha!  We were joined by a lovely couple from Orange County and neighbors from San Francisco traveling on business.  The food was great and the company was even better!  We ended our tour around 10pm and the next thing we all knew, it was 1:20 and the bartender was closing the bar doors on us. The next morning was a little rough, but with no rug rats to take care of we felt like we could run a freaking marathon!  Wait, have I not mentioned that fact yet?  We went With NO KIDS.... It was glorious!!!!!! Over the next few days we did a walking tour of the city, literally walked across the entire city and ran up to the highest point in Barcelona! We saw some amazing architecture, visited some beautiful parks, met some great people, and drank some fabulous wine (I really dislike French wine but love Spanish wine... crazy because they are so close!). I ate my weight in cheese and ham and enjoyed myself along the awesome ride that was Barcelona!

 

 

AMAZING!!!

 

 

Have a mentioned that we miss good pork? Well, I think we got our fill on this trip! 

 

Fact of the day: Did you know that people back in the day hung Pork legs in

their windows/doors to show that they were Christians?

 

I was training for a marathon during this trip so we literally ran to the very highest point in the city... tooting my own horn... toot toot!

 

Now, it wasn't all rainbows and unicorns.... I literally broke out in a fever on the plane ride there and it never left me the entire trip.. Jon even had to have dinner by himself one night.  But with no kids to worry about, I managed to push through and eat and drink everything in my way!

 

Jon and I will forever be grateful to Carey and Dan Watson for watching our little devils. Two little kids plus a four month old of their own is no easy undertaking and they did it without one complaint. And here is the kicker.... Both our girls fell super ill as soon as we left... Like double ear infection, upper respiratory infection, upset tummy (on a newly potty trained kid) kind of sick. I joked with Carey, who is a nurse, that she deserves continuing educations hours for dealing with our kids.  

 

Until Later...

We did it!!!

Once again Leighton has made Jon and I feel like we are the perfect parents (trust me, we know we aren't!).  I am just now writing about this life event because I didn't want to jinx us at the time, but I think we are good to go now... it's been 6 months.  Leighton is officially potty trained!!! 

 We had a school break due to Eid... It's the second Eid, a religious holiday that occurs about a month after the end of Ramadan.  It's a national holiday and schools shut down for a few days, so we chose this long weekend to be THE weekend to potty train!  Leighton has been really interested in the potty for sometime now. Asking about it, wanting to watch everyone go to the bathroom, and the girl is all about panties (I hate that word by the way!). So, I borrowed "Potty Training in a Week" by Gina Ford, read up on the situation, formed a plan of action with Jon, and hit the road cold turkey on the first day of our long weekend.

 

Day one:  Leighton’s naked, mini potty in the play room, rugs rolled up, couch cushions inside garbage bags with towels on top for comfort of course.  We had a stamp set ready to reward an attempt or success on the potty and chocolate balls for a further reward.  Well, wouldn't you know it?  We went 4 for 4 on day one!!! All pee but 100%.... What what!!!

 

 

 

Day two:  Leighton's naked, mini potty still in the playroom, rugs and couch still under lockdown.  This day we were 90%.... Missing the potty a smidge on an attempt, but we'll take it and here's the big news.... We had a poop!  I understand that one day she will kill me in my sleep for all these pictures but come on, they are hilarious.... (Don't worry, we will have a lock installed on our master bedroom door!)

 



 

 

Day three:  We ventured out and wouldn't you know.... We were happy, dry and an officially potty trained big girl.  Who would have thought it would be that easy?!

 

Don't get me wrong... The first few weeks were torturous asking 1 million times a day if she had to use the potty or if she had to tee-tee.  I was sick of it and she was sick of it, but it worked. We did however have to stop in random places to "use the toilet" as Leighton says...

 

 

It's been 6 months now and I can count the accidents on a little more than one hand.  I am so impressed with our little Leighton and how grown up she is becoming!  I guess I am going to have to keep some of these gem pictures in a secret vault only to be pulled out for the high school "guess the baby" games at sports banquets/ graduation or for her rehearsal dinner! But come on.... Who can wait that long.... These pics are priceless and have to be shared with the world ;0)

 

 

Until later...

 

 

 

I hate running!

 

Pictures like the one above make me want to punch someone in the face! Running has always been that necessary evil in my life.  I have never sucked at running and actually for a "big girl" on most of my teams, I was usually near the front when finishing. However, running is the essential activity in every sport I have ever played (minus golf) that was always part of the training regimen.  In my freshman year of high school, I still remember having to beat an 8 minute mile in order to just try out for volleyball….and in college, running the golf course and double loop around Southwestern in practices.  I remember every horse, hill and sprint-training day of every sport I have ever played and I vividly still remember one coach saying, "we are going to run until someone pukes!"  Maybe that is why I hate running.... I never got to run for "fun.”  It was always something I HAD to do, not something I WANTED to do. 

 

So, let's go back in time about 5 years.  Picture a normal Tuesday night in our house.  Jon and I watching some TV with Walter and Charlie eyeing the delivery pizza on plates resting in our laps as we sat on the couch enjoying a nice cold beer.  For some reason we seemed to order pizza the same night that the Biggest Loser aired.  So we would shovel slice after slice of greasy pizza in our faces and wash it down with a few craft beers as we sat back and judged the people on the show fighting their inner self control demons. I clearly remember watching the episode where the contestants have to run a full marathon and joking with Jon about the amount of chafing that must take place along the run.  All joking aside that episode always gets me.... How do these people, these very recently morbidly obese people run a freaking marathon?  As I looked down at an unnecessary bowl of Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream that was perched on the arm of the couch... I looked at Jon and announced, "I am going to run a marathon before I turn thirty!" This proclamation was met with a chuckle from Jon to which I replied, "No, seriously, I am going to do it... I am going to run a marathon before I am thirty!  Hell, if these fatties can do it... So can I!"   However, as life goes, time disappeared in the blink of an eye.  The good intentions of my words that night were met with new jobs, travel, family, pregnancy #1, a move to Dubai, and pregnancy #2.  Somewhere along the way we managed to fit in the Houston half marathon though.  Jon and I trained diligently..... A whole 5 short runs were made before the big day.  I still remember the half way point where the marathoners keep running and the halfers turn towards the finish area and thinking, "those people are idiots... Why would you run a full marathon?!" After we finished the race Jon and I both looked at each other and agreed that was the first and last half marathon we would EVER run! 

 

Now, skip ahead to our 2012 trip to Athens, Greece.  We were on a walking tour when we stopped at the Olympic stadium, the site of the first modern day Olympics. Our tour guide told us the Marathon story which I had never heard before. It is said that a solider ran from Marathon, Greece to Athens to inform the army of an impending invasion and upon his arrival to Athens, after the 26.2 miles, the solider dropped dead... He dropped dead after running the first marathon ever!  After hearing that story I thought, it's true, marathon runners are bar shit crazy! Although I was reminded of the night that I was sitting on the couch in Houston and a seed was planted in my brain once again.

Thirty came and went and that marathon didn't happen but then 31 happened!  The stars aligned and the crazy goal of running a real marathon seemed possible... I had help to watch Corby and Leighton, I was working out regularly and not in awful shape, and I had time to actually train.  All I needed was to sucker someone into doing it with me.  I know myself and I knew that if I attempted this journey by my lonesome, I would never finish.  I am a good team player... I like the competition and accountability that teammates bring to the table.... And let’s be honest, I am inherently lazy and would find some reason to fall off the wagon at some point. The choice for a running partner was easy...  Stacey, my friend and workout buddy.  All I had to do was talk her into my crazy plan!  The first time I asked her If she wanted to run a marathon with me... I think her initial response was, "NO WAY!" Then it changed to, "maybe." Then to "I am scared!" Then Stacey was emailing our workout instructor asking for tips... Oh, did I mention that this all took place in a matter of an hour! Not days, or weeks... one singular Hour!

 

My plans was in full motion but now came the training... Have I mentioned that I hate running? Oh this was going to be fun (yes, that was sarcasm!) My brother Derrick just ran the Austin marathon so I got the training schedule from him.  It started out small with 2 miles. Then we graduated to 3, 5, 6, 8 and so on.  There was always a long run at the beginning of the week and shorter runs through out the rest.  The training progressed and we found ourselves running 10 miles, then 12 and then 14... What? We just ran more than a half marathon? Holy hell! Every run after that we would finish, high five and both state that that was the furthest that we have ever run before in our lives!  Whenever my body would start to hurt I would think back to those contestants on the Biggest Loser and imagine what it would be like to run this with 100 extra pounds on my body... Then I didn't feel so bad after that. When my knees would start acting up I would think of our friend Kyle who has had more knee surgeries then I can even count, but still managed to complete one of the hardest Ironman courses in an ungodly fast time! 

 

 

 

 

We then progressed to 16, 17, 18 miles... 18!  That was a rough one and the exact reason why I needed a running partner.  I had been sick for several weeks prior and finally went to the doctor only to find out I had Giardia.  It’s the parasite dogs get from eating their own shit... Yep, that Giardia.  I have no clue how I got it.  I wash my hands and I don't eat at totally sketchy places.  Who knows, but I don't wish that on my worst enemy!  Despite this, I ran/walked those 18 miles only because I owed it to Stacey and that day she was my #1 cheerleader.  Last week we ran our longest run before the race, 20 miles and you know what, it wasn't awful.  I mean, it wasn't fun but we did it and we could have kept running!

 

Our Route!

 

 

 

Well, the marathon is next Friday and I still don't like running!  Maybe I don't havt it... Hate is a strong word after all.  I don't hate the fact that my clothes fit me better… I don't hate that I feel healthier… I don't hate the fact I have lost 6 lbs (yes, only 6 but 6 is better than none right?... Or at least that's what I keep telling myself!). So maybe I don't Hate running anymore... dislike or tolerate might be a better word choice. 

So friends, please keep me and Stacey in your thoughts next Friday from 7-11:30ish Dubai time and 9-1:30ish pm Thursday night back home.  I will be saying my own prayers that morning...

May my feet be swift,

May my mind be strong

And please God don't let me pee myself during the race! 

Yeah, running that far after having two kids is not an ideal situation! Oh good God what were we thinking?!

 

Until later...

 

 

 

Happy New Year

This past year flew by... How can it already be 2014?! How do we have two daughters? How do we live in Dubai? How have I been out of college for a decade.... Jesus!  I literally feel like I blinked and 2013 began and ended! We have had some awesome experiences this past year and some pretty awful ones thrown in the mix as well.

February brought us our bambino número dos, Corby.  She was two weeks early and has been getting her way ever since. We love her dearly and her little Aryan blonde haired blue eyed self is the perfect example of how recessive genes work!

With a newborn and a two year old I felt like the spring was a blur of school runs, birthday parties, swim classes, feedings, and naps.  Jon was promoted to General Manager of the Middle East and I couldn't be more proud!!!  My mom came for a visit just after we had Corby and then my sister and her husband came at the beginning of summer and helped me fly back with our newest little family member.... And to enjoy Dubai of course!

The summer was great in Texas.... But I now have so much more respect for single/working parents! How do they do it? I had family around and didn't have a full time job and was still felt like I couldn't get everything done.  Kudos to all you parents working full time out there!  I got to visit with friends and family and it was great, but hard at the same time.  It feels like life should stand still back home while we are gone but it doesn't obviously... People get older, jobs change, children are born, friends get married. Makes me cherish the times we get to go home, but also reminds me to enjoy and take full advantage of our experience overseas!

The sad stuff came in the late summer.  The deaths of my father in law in law, Jay and our sweet Charlie bear.  Now I am not trying to compare the death of a human to an animal but both were huge parts of our family and Jay, more then anyone would totally understand our dual grief. I can't begin to express how sad both loses made our family.  The passings of both Jay and Charlie made us feel empty and alienated.  It was a rough few months around the cumberworth house.... And to be honest it is still rough but we have learned to cherish the humor, love and joy these two bright souls brought into our lives!

Once Leighton's school term started this fall and we fell into our new routine, the fall seemed to pass in a single breath. There seems to be an endless amount of holidays in the fall here, so Jon got random days at home to mix it all up!  Add in swim lesson for both girls and play-dates galore, a trip to Barcelona and we found ourselves at Thanksgiving and then in a rush came Christmas! We chose to stay here this year and while is was a hard choice to make because holidays are always about family, we could not be happier! The weather in Dubai cannot be beat right now, I don't have to fly for 16 hours plus another flight with two kids and deal with jet lag after, I didn't have to live out of a suitcase in multiple houses for a month, and I didn't have to pack all our crap to get it back.  I didn't get a stress rash on my hand which always comes a few days before going home... Hooray! And most importantly we got to focus on our little munchkins and soak them in!  This was the first year that Leighton really understood who Santa is.... And it was amazing.

This year I sent out New Years cards instead of Christmas because I chose to send them from Dubai and well, the UAE postal system is on its own schedule. I mailed all the cards on December 3 and the postal worker told me it would take 7-10 days to make it to the States, inshallah (God willing). Ha... Well, I know a few people still haven't received them. Needless to say next year they will be sent from home because triple the postal and no delivery isn't what I would call a good deal!  So, if you usually get a card from us or if I asked for your address and you don't have a card yet it legitimately got lost in the mail... Seriously! 

Here it is in its training potty glory... I know, Leighton might kill us one day and that is why we have a therapy savings account setup in lieu of a college fund!

 

2013 was a quick one but there were some pretty life changing events that happened. Hopefully 2014 will slow down a bit and we can soak it all in and travel a little more, because we are really enjoying Dubai and our life here!
Happy New Years Y'all!

Until later...

Santa… I know him!

Yes, we have Santa in Dubai.  Actually there are quite a few and they come in all sizes and colors!  Many of my friends have had their childrens’ schools and parties visited by what we call, “Tan Santa”.  It’s pretty hilarious!

We decided to go with our good friends and their two daughters to Wafi mall which has a Scottish Santa in his Grotto…  not a workshop or the north pole… a grotto.  As an American my only connotation with a grotto is from the Playboy mansion.  I had a mental picture of Santa sitting in his pimped out velvet chair, smoking an old pipe while wearing a red silk smoking jacket with a white script SC embroidered on the lapel.  Scantily clad lady elves would be walking around with spiked eggnog in champagne flutes while snowflakes fall around them as a cloud of steam billowed out from the hot tub in the corner where Rudolph was hanging out.  Needless to say my mental picture was WAY OFF!  We pulled up to a cute little layout of two buildings and arts and crafts tables to entertain the kids! 

Luckily we got there early before it opened, but still had to wait about an hour… it was worth it though.  We were there to see Santa be pushed into the Grotto by his elf… and he even gave Leighton a high five.  She thought that she was hot stuff after that.  I think I even overheard her say to a friend that she would never wash that hand again!

Once we got into the grotto, aka a waiting area for the kids right before they see Santa, we hung out for just a few more minutes and then our big moment had arrived!  We were certain what Leighton was going to freak out… like meltdown, sobbing, have to leave the line so you don’t scare the other kids kind of freak out.  She had never had a meltdown like that, but I just knew that this would be the time and place for it to happen the first time.  So, weeks leading up to seeing Santa I talked the big guy up telling Leighton how cool he is and how he will bring her presents IF and ONLY IF she told him what she wanted and sat on his lap.  We even did Santa roll plays!  Well, it must have worked because this is how it went down…

 

Santa's helper with the big girls

She was amazed by the Grotto!

The Secret door to the Santa room opens… oh, I haven’t mentioned that Santa is in his own special room with no windows so you can’t see him prior to actually going into his room.   The anticipation is crazy for the kids!  I am sure this isn’t allowed in the States because of what could happen behind those doors… it’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.  Anyways, we walked in to a cheery and hearty, “HO HO HO!”  Then Santa asked the girls to come closer and gave them cute little dolls all while warming them up with some boisterous banter.  He then asked Leighton, “what would you like for Christmas?” I look over and Leighton is literally chewing on her fingers, she was so nervous.  I pulled her hand out of her mouth and he asked her again.  This time she said in a tiny voice, “a bicycle…” Santa gave a big laugh and said he thought he could handle a bike for such a good little girl.  Well, that buttered her up and she realized it was just that easy so she yelled out, “a DORA BIKE!”  Then she yelled out louder and clearer “a PINK DORA BIKE... and CORBY WANTS A BLUE CAR!!!!!”  I was so impressed that she had such confidence… you go little lady!  Then we moved on to the pictures…. It had gone too smoothly thus far.  I just knew this was when Leighton was going to start screaming.  The photographer wanted a family shot first and then one with both girls if possible.  Jon held Corby and I sat with Leighton as we took the family pictures….all went well.  Then Jon handed Corby to Santa while I gave LC a quick pep talk as I backed away. “Just like we practiced, munchkin!  Smile pretty, be a big girl, you can do it!” Wouldn’t you know it… she was doing it… I was so proud!  Then I hear it… Corby crying…  SHIT, I hadn’t prepped the 9 month old… DAMN IT!!!! So this is what we got!

We then took the little turkey out of the shot and got this ridiculously adorable solo shot of Leighton and Santa… I still am so proud of how she handled herself… such a big girl!

 

I can’t wait to see if Santa will follow through with those big orders that L and C are asking for, however I have a feeling after that great display at the grotto at least the eldest one is set!

Until Later…

Cheese

Leighton has not always been known for taking the best pictures.

Just take these recent examples...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jon and I have tried to tell Leighton that she needs to smile for a camera and I guess when we have shown her how to smile.... Well, maybe we are over exaggerating just a smidge because this is the result...

 

 

Don’t get me wrong, I think Leighton has an awesome smile when she genuinely smiles but when she is faking it you can tell! Here are some candid natural smiles…

With school pictures fast approaching we talked about her smile every day and she got into the swing of a normal, natural, sweet smile…. Then picture day came and went.  Leighton’s teacher reassured me that my first born was totally into picture day and that she couldn’t wait to see the fabulous results.  Two weeks later, I show up to school to this peach of a picture…

 

 

 

And then this one…

Are you kidding me kid…. Seriously?  Well, don’t you worry Leighton… every one of your high school boyfriends will see this gem of a picture.  Thanks for the blackmail material youngin’!

Until Later...