Stuck in the Middle East with you: There goes the neighborhood!

After 52 days at the Marriott Executive Suites we checked out and are now in our place. We were only supposed to get 45 days of TLA but due to the fact that our household goods are a month late, the Housing Office was kind enough to extend us a bit.

Don't let that last sentence fool you...we were also told that even though we had NOTHING, they would not reimburse us for anything we had to buy to live the next few weeks in our partially furnished place. It was really frustrating because we already have what we need coming, so why buy more??? But thank God for great friends that I have made since we have gotten here. Between the two of them we have just the basics and it is great. We did buy Jacob a Pack and Play, and Katie had her air bed already, so we just needed the bedding. Our landlord left us a bed, except the beds here are like box springs! Seriously! So we invested $$$ in a good mattress topper. Now there is no excuse not to come visit. :}

The kids are adjusting well and seem to love our new place as much as we do. Jacob the speed walker loves to wander in and out of all the rooms and has figured out how to open the drawers and cupboards. Katie loves her new bathroom that is all hers. I can't wait to decorate it (I got the cutest Pottery Barn set). With only a slim selection of toys, we have been watching entirely too much TV. Crazy thing though; many of the Disney channels are in a British accent. Little Einsteins, Pooh and Friends, Higgley Town Heros Chuggington...but not Handy Manny :}

We hired a wonderful housemaid named Najma. She is Sri Lankan and has a 10 year old daughter. She will come three times a week and clean. She will also babysit!!! Labor is cheap here, about 6 dollars an hour (in Hawaii I paid $25 per hour for cleaning). Katie is warming up to her and Jacob already follows her around. lol

Today, Katie and I ventured out after we both had doctor appointments. She is now 37 lbs and almost 42 inches tall!!! We then went to the Bahrain version of Home Depot. It is a way out and with many turns and construction, but we made it safely. I also managed to find one of the only drive thru McDonalds in Bahrain.

Another box from my parents arrived today with my birthday presents in it. I got new sheets and a beautiful picture. I LOVE them! They are already in the wash and I do not even care if they wont fit our temporary bed, I am putting them on tomorrow. :}

I am posting a few pics of our place. Can't wait until we get our things so I can post more. Enjoy.