Two Weeks Old

This afternoon, Savannah and Chris hung out so that I could go get my haircut. This would have been a lot easier if Savannah hadn't been screaming when I left, I wasn't running late because she decided she wanted to eat a lot and if the first taxi driver had known where to go. Somehow, I made the appointment and made it home just in time to feed her again (although she was crying again so I might have been a few minutes late.)

Tonight, we tested out the Baby Bjorn carrier at the Mall of Emirates. Savannah got lots of compliments and smiles from other shoppers! She did great in her "new mode of transportation" until... it was time to eat again. (Although, the Baby Bjorn worked great, it will be wonderful to have our stroller!) We decided to make a quick bee line out of the mall and head back to the hotel before there was a complete melt down. I am quickly learning that she now runs the show. Of course it was timed just right that we had already bought her a new dress but didn't have time to look at anything for me! (I am sure Chris was secretly thrilled with this.)

On another note, my Visa came this week so Chris and I are both "official". Now we have to start the process for Savannah. We have her birth certificate in both Arabic and English and now have to file paperwork with the US Consulate to get her Certificate of Birth Aboard, passport, visa and social security number. We attempted to have her passport photos taken tonight, but she wouldn't wake up and her eyes have to be open for the picture. I can also now apply for my driver's license...but Chris first has to write a letter giving me permission to do so!?

I can't believe that Savannah is already two weeks old! We are both loving every minute with her...even when it is at 3:00 am.

Another Day of Firsts

Today we took Savannah with us to take care of some paper work for our apartment. To get there, Savannah took her first metro train ride. Savannah and I rode in the "Gold" section in the train, which is similar to first class and almost always guarantees you a seat. It is also a lot less crowded. (Chris rode in the "silver" section...what a nice dad). We officially now have a place to live. Our lease starts September 1st and we will move in as soon as our "stuff" arrives from home.

Tonight we also met some of Chris' coworkers for dinner. We ate at Asha's, which is northwest Indian cuisine (and again located inside a mall). Luckily, the people we were with are from India, so they took over ordering for us. Everything was delicious and definitely something we had not tried before. Chris and I both really liked a vegetarian dish, Pal Makhni, which is basically boiled lentils that are cooked slowly with spices. It is similar to a stew consistency and you eat it with a thin bread. It was fantastic!

Savannah did great on both of her adventures today!

Over the last week and half we have had lots of Skype phone calls. When there are not "technical difficulties", this has been a great way for Nana, Grandpa, Grammie, Great Grammie and Aunt Kasey to see our little peanut! We also used it to introduce Savannah to our friend Carey. This week we are hoping to connect with Grandpop and Aunt Megan. Thank goodness for technology!

Chris is back to work tomorrow. So Savannah and I will be on our own. It has been great to have Chris off work, Savannah and I will both miss him next week!

Happy Birthday Chris!

Yesterday was Chris' birthday (and Savannah was a week old)! We celebrated by attempting to go out to dinner with Savannah. She did awesome! We went down the street from the hotel to Wagamama's. The food was good, my first beer was fantastic and Savannah slept the entire time. For Chris' birthday, Savannah also tried on her St. Louis Cardinals shirt (which you can see in the picture is way to big...but dad loved it!)

Yesterday, Savannah and I also had our first "solo outing". Although, it wasn't to an exciting venue, we completed our errand with success. To finish my visa process, I had to have a blood test and x-ray taken so Savannah and I caught a cab to Knowledge Village and completed the health test. Again, Savannah did great and slept the entire time! Hopefully, I will have my visa in the next week or so and we can start on Savannah's paperwork. While we did this, Chris had to go back to the hospital to pick up Savannah's birth certificate. She now has a birth certificate in English and Arabic. As with everything else, this is quite a process. Next week, I will have to take her birth certificate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then we take her paper work to the US Consulate to get her Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Once we have this, we can apply for her passport, social security number and visa. It is hard to believe that someone who is so young will have a passport!

After Chris and I each ran our separate errands we met up with the realtor. We have officially found a place to live and Savannah again slept through our apartment visits. We go back this weekend to pay the security deposit and will sign the lease in the next week or so. Unfortunately, our "stuff" is still in the middle of the ocean somewhere so we won't move in for a few more weeks but at least we found a place. We are both excited to have a place to call our own.

I am feeling pretty good, still really sore from the surgery but Savannah is a great distraction!

Savannah's First Outing

What a big day! We took Savannah downstairs to the hotel restaurant for breakfast with us and we also took her her "out and about". We tried to time everything around her feeding schedule and almost made it back to the hotel without a melt down. We visited three potential apartments and she went to her first mall! (In Dubai, most of the grocery stores are inside a mall.) Savannah was awesome! She slept almost the entire time, including in the car and visiting the apartments. We made it about 2/3 of the way through the grocery store before she realized that we were overdue on feeding her. Chris and I quickly made our way to the check out, without half of the things on our list, and got back to the hotel so that she could eat. We have confirmed who is now in charge! I guess one of us will be going back out tomorrow to finish the grocery shopping!

Home from the Hospital

Today we came home from the hospital! Savannah had many "firsts" today...her first car ride (although in a taxi and much to Chris' dislike...a Toyota), her first elevator ride

and her first stay in a hotel. Chris also read Savannah her first book today. They almost made it through "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse" before she decided that she was hungry. We survived the first night on our own but will definitely need to adjust to the 2-3 hour feeding schedule and disrupted sleep. It is amazing how fast one tiny little person can steal your heart, it is truly love at first sight.

How She Got Her Name

Although, we told many people that we hadn't decided on a name yet, we have actually known for awhile...we just decided to keep it to ourselves until Savannah made her arrival. Many have asked how she got her name. Her middle name was easy. Mae is my middle name, my mom's middle name, my Nana's middle name and my great-grandmother's middle name...so it was an obvious choice to pass it along. We wanted a name that was southern to represent our time at Ole Miss, and something that was multiple syllables to go with Sparks. We also wanted a name that was common, but not so common that there would be lots of other kids her age with the same name. Chris also really liked "S" names so Savannah it became.

Hospital Stay

We will be in the hospital for about four days. Our stay so far has been great. We could not have asked for a better doctor or care during Savannah's birth and our hospital stay, which is a relief being so far away from home. We are in a private room, so Chris has been able to stay with Savannah and I. Savannah has only gone to the nursery for a bath and her newborn screening. Our doctor has been in every morning to check on everyone and Savannah is checked out by a pediatrician each morning as well.

It is hard to get any rest while in the hospital. Between Savannah being up at all hours, the nursing staff is in and out checking on the both of us. Although, as our stay continues they seem to leave us on our own a little more often. They must be preparing us for our trip home.

Savannah has already participated in Skype phone calls with Grammie, Aunt Kasey, Great- Grammie , Great-Grandpa, Nana and Grandpa. Savannah is very blessed to have such wonderful grandparents (who are all very anxious to meet their granddaughter and great-granddaughter).

Savannah Mae Sparks

Today we welcomed Savannah Mae Sparks to our family. She was born at 12:09 pm. Our beautiful daughter weighed 6.1 lbs and was 20 inches long. She is so tiny but doing great for being three weeks early.

I was scheduled to go to the doctor today to monitor Savannah and schedule a c-section for sometime next week. Savannah has been breech through most of the pregnancy so our doctor felt this would be the best way to deliver for the both of us. Savannah had other plans! My water broke around 7:10 am and contractions started immediately after that. Luckily, Chris was in the shower and had not left for work. What a way to wake up! Since we thought we were scheduling a c-section, we were not at all prepared for a trip to the hospital. As Chris was calling the doctor he was also trying to pack a bag. The doctor had previously given us his personal cell phone number to call...but he accidently gave us the wrong number. We repeatedly called some random guy (who could barely speak English) trying to get the doctor. We finally got a hold of the doctor through the hospital. The doctor had us come in (and yes, we still don't have a car so we took a taxi). Shortly, after meeting with the doctor I was admitted and taken into surgery. Right before we went into surgery, Chris made a few surprise "wake up" calls to soon-to-be grandparents in St. Louis. I am sure none of them got much sleep after that.

What an amazing experience. Savannah is beautiful and healthy, I am doing great and Chris didn't pass out during the c-section, even when the doctor told him to stand up and he showed him several of my internal organs! We can't wait for everyone to meet her!

Ramadan

Today is the first day of Ramadan. Since we are learning as well, I thought I would attach some information that Chris' HR office sent out today. Chris ate lunch behind a curtain and I went to lunch with a fellow Michigander in a restaurant that had all of the windows blacked out. The restaurant was busy but with other Americans and British customers. Everyday is definitely a learning experience.

Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان‎) is an Islamic religious observance that generally falls during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the "Five Pillars of Islam" (the others being: 1. To testify that there is no God but Allah, and that Mohammed is the Messenger of God; 2. To pray 5 times a day; 3 To pay alms; and 4. To perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) for those who can afford it physically and financially.

During Ramadan, observant Muslims not only abstain from food, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk, but in general practice restraint from all activities or behavior that are not compatible with Islamic values. Muslims are instructed to behave more patiently and tolerantly than usual and more time is spent on religious instruction and reflection.

Throughout Ramadan, there is an emphasis on communal values: People will invite guests to join them for breaking the fast (iftar). You will find many Iftar tents around the UAE, both private and commercial, as well as many of the restaurants throughout the UAE, were people meet to break the fast together.

After Ramdan, (Eid al-Fitr) is one of the most important festivals in Muslim cultures: children are bought new clothes and people travel to visit friends and relatives.

Although we are not required to fast they do ask that during this month, non-Muslims show respect to those who are fasting and pay attention so as not to offend Islamic values.

It is recommended that everyone (non-Muslims included) follow the tips below during this holy month.

• Do not eat, drink or smoke in public view during the daytime (including in your car). This is considered highly disrespectful. Pregnant, nursing women, and young children are exempt from the provisions, but discretion should be exercised.
• Take extra care about your clothing during the holy month. Skimpy clothes should not be worn at any time in the UAE, but during Ramadan the standards may be policed even more carefully than usual.
• The majority of eating and drinking establishments will be closed during daylight hours, but you can find some coffee houses that are screened from public view.
• Driving may be more erratic than usual, particularly during the later afternoon and early evening, be patient and show tolerance especially during this time.
• Loud music and dancing is considered disrespectful during Ramadan. Please do not play music or dance in public areas.
  
  

It should be an interesting month and definitely a good learning experience!

Public Transportation???

We are still waiting on Chris' residency visa, which means there is a lot of stuff we cannot do yet like get a car, sign a lease, get cell phones, have access to our bank account, the list goes on and on. We have managed for the last few weeks to get by with public transportation.The train system is great and cabs are everywhere. Although, there have been a few hiccups. A few days ago, Chris got stuck on the train going to work due to "technical difficulties". Luckily, he was able to get off and take a cab the rest of the way into work.

Today, I was supposed to meet a fellow Michigander for lunch but spent almost an hour and 70 dirhams (about $20) with a taxi driver that couldn't find the restaurant and with no cell phone, there is no one to call and ask for better directions. I ended up just having him bring me back to the hotel and ordering room service instead! An interesting note about the UAE, is that there are not street addresses. Everyone either has a personal P.O. Box or uses the P.O. Box of their employer. The current address system is based on landmarks and some building numbers. As yesterday proved, this is not a good system when neither the cab driver or the passenger know where they are going!

She's On Her Way

Yesterday at my doctor's appointment we found out that "Baby Girl" may make her arrival about 2 weeks early, so we spent this afternoon trying to prepare. Our "stuff from home" (her crib, etc...) won't be here until the end of the month so we will still be living in our hotel, if the doctor is correct. Today, we purchased a "pack-n-play" (or travel cot, as they call them here). Next on the list is diapers, bath stuff, a car and signing a lease (we need Chris' residency visa to come for the car and lease first!).

Tonight we went to a coworker's son's first birthday party. He hosted a "cocktail party" at Carters, a restaurant inside the Wafi Mall. He is from India so they actually celebrate two birthdays each year. Today was his "calendar birthday", which is not as big of a deal in their culture but very similar to a first birthday party that we would celebrate with cake and gifts. In India, they place more importance on their lunar calendar birthday and when the stars align the same way they did at birth.

(The pictures are of the outside of the mall.)

Baby Girl Update

We are officially one month away from "Baby Girls" arrival!

We have found a hospital and doctor that Chris and I are both comfortable with and like. I am currently seeing the doctor twice a week, just to keep an eye on things. My blood pressure is within "normal ranges" but is elevated in comparison to how it has been running throughout the pregnancy. Baby Girl is also still breech (which she has been since at least week 20), so he wants to keep an eye on her positioning. I had an ultrasound done last week and we could make out her little face!

Today, I also had lunch with a fellow Michigander. We met at Baker and Spice, in the Souk Al Bahr, just outside the Burj Khalifa fountain and the Dubai Mall. Lunch was good and it was nice to chat with someone from home. We spent the afternoon talking about how we missed Buffalo Wild Wings and how to get to Pottery Barn (yes, there is one here!).

We will keep you updated on Baby Girl's arrival!