Direct from Mom

 This week both Jim and I had the whole week off for Eid-al-Adha, and it has been a real treat to just have time to hang out together as a family. Yes, I have been back at work for less than two weeks, but still: I don't know when I've enjoyed time off more!!

Katie is definitely growing up and is starting to interact with her world more--which is a lot of fun! Just today she laid on her play mat for nearly twenty minutes, "talking" animatedly with the other little baby looking back at her from her mirror: she was delighted  that the other person smiled back at her so consistently!

Molly & Katie, Sara & Laila

This week we also had a chance to connect with a number of friends and get Katie out a bit more: we had a barbecue (despite the rain) and got to meet up with some friends who used to live her but now live and teach in Saudi Arabia. Their daughter, Grace (2 1/2) was quite excited to meet "baby Katie"! We also spent some good time with the Bridges and their kids--they were Katie's first visitors when she was born and are still delighted by Baby Karis. It's also a great opportunity for Katie to learn about "real life" with other kids running all around!!

At one point during our visit with the
Bridges, Katie got fussy. Jim was walking
her to calm her down, and Sara (the
Bridges'  3 year old) joined in,
walking her "baby" as well!

Monday Katie and I had another "play date" with Sara, a friend from my pre-natal class, and her daughter Laila, who is only one month older than Katie. It was fun to see how much the two girls have changed since their last play date. And this time they even looked at each other: Katie babbling away while Laila calmly took it all in (except when she was demonstrating her great little laugh!).

And Tuesday we took a trip up north to Jerash, giving Katie her first chance to get out of Amman and "smell the air" (Molly's translation of a common Arabic saying). She did great and we were even able to eat lunch at a restaurant with a friend.

By Thursday we were all pretty tired, and we've been taking it easy. Katie has a slight cold . . . but a good friend of ours who is a doctor (thanks, Cal!) once told us that it's actually really good for babies to get sick quite a few times in their first year--it helps build their immune system . . . so Katie's getting started!

Tomorrow we're back to work and a bit more "normal" schedule . . . but we are now counting down the days til Thanksgiving break (11 days!) and then to Christmas (one week, nine days until we get to meet the grandparents!!).