First Stop-Oriental Carpet

Now you can't come to Doha without looking at the beautiful rugs that are available!

Second Stop-The Pearl

What is The Pearl? This is a US multi billion man-made island covering 985 acres (400 hectares) of reclaimed land offshore the Arabian Peninsula state of Qatar - the Arab world's wealthiest per capita country. The Pearl-Qatar is the country's first international urban development venture, its largest urban development and the first to offer international investors freehold. It is a four-phase mixed-use development comprising 10 distinct, themed districts to be developed over five years housing beachfront villas, elegant town homes, luxury apartments, exclusive penthouses, 5 star hotels, marinas, schools as well as upscale retail and restaurant offerings. It will be a destination in its own right - a lavish, secure and exclusive island retreat with a Riviera-style community.





















This has been under construction for some time, but we are now able to get onto the island and take a peak at what is to come. The welcome center is enough to see but we also took a ride down to see the first phase nearing completion.

Don't Forget Papa!

Kelsey Meets Grandma

The pictures you have been waiting for...KELSEY MEETS GRANDMA!!!

Grandma and Papa Are Here!

Grandma and Papa arrived on Friday, December 26! We had the Al Maha service pick them up right as they exited the plane. From the plane, they were taken to a holding area where the Al Maha representatives processed their visitor visas as they enjoyed a snack of dates, cookies, chocolates, tea, coffee, and water. The Al Maha representative then took them to get their luggage and then through customs. Finally, they were escorted through the airport and out to where Michael was waiting. We only live like 3 minutes from the airport, so Michael went to pick them up alone as Kelsey and I waited at the villa.

Merry Christmas!

Where is Santa?

We heard that Santa was at the Ritz today...so we got Kelsey all dressed up in her red velvet dress, compliments of Rajka and headed to the Ritz. Of course, we had just missed Santa! So we took a few snapshots in from of the beautiful Christmas tree!

Grandma and Grandpa Are Coming!!!

Rudolph the Red Nosed Kelsey

Kelsey got all dressed up for her first Christmas party!

Still Sleepy!

Kelsey-Bath and Bottle Time

My dad said that he knew something was wrong earlier this week because 3 days had gone by without any pictures posted. So I hate to disappoint those of you who are watching Kelsey grow! Here is a picture from bath time last night and then a picture of her drunk off of her formula filled bottle! She drinks herself into a haze...it is so funny!

Let's Not Do That Again!

So it has been a long few days. I ended up back in the hospital with postpartum complications, requiring emergency surgery. We are home now and hopefully on the up and up, though I think it may take a while until I am back to feeling 100%.

For those of you who have seen me, you are probably shocked as I seemed to be feeling great since delivering Kelsey. In fact Kelsey had just had a visit from Paula and I felt great! We were actually about to leave for our first play date when I just instantly took a turn for the worse.

















Well enough about that, if you want the details, please just give me a call! Now of course we had Kelsey with us the whole time. I personally wanted to pawn her off to friends (as she had to go on formula due to my large amounts of meds), but her Daddy would just not have that. So she was back in the hospital, where it all started. She was quite a trooper and the nurses of course watched over her while I was in surgery so that Michael be in the waiting room, waiting on me.

Now I know that I have a wonderful husband, I probably don't say that enough...But Michael was absolutely amazing and supporting through this whole ordeal. I think he is up for Daddy AND Husband of the Year! He received a crash course in diapering, burping and bottling Miss Kelsey. If she wasn't a Daddy's girl before all of this, she surely is now!















Thanks so much to Julie for bringing all of the wonderful meals to us. Thanks so much to Alyson for getting us situated in the hospital! Huge thanks of course goes out to the continued prayers.

Macey and Kelsey

So I have not updated on how Miss Macey is adjusting to her new sister. Surprisingly well actually!
She has actually been quite possessive and very interested in where Kelsey is and very concerned when she can't find her. Hopefully this will continue on.

Daddy's Girl!

Are you kidding! Michael went on and on about how he wanted a boy, but truth be told, this little girl already has him wrapped around every tiny little finger! So on our walk, Michael decided to talk with her about what type of car he is going to buy her for her 16th birthday! It is a toss up...the Orange-OSU-Lamborghini or the Ferrari...good thing they have a few years to decide!

I Am Sucking My Mama's Brain

Okay, so my mom says when you are pregnant that the baby is sucking your brains, making you forgetful and absent minded. Not really the case for me. When I was pregnant, I never misplaced things, and never really forgot things either. Now since Kelsey has arrived things have been a different story. So I realized last night that Crazy Mama Syndrome had definitely hit me when I finally figured out that I had forgotten to take Kelsey to her 1 week pediatrician appointment!!! The funny thing is, my friend Adria asked me how the appointment went and I told her that they just don't do 1 week appointments here. A friend of mine here who had her baby 2 days before Kelsey talked about her 1 week appointment for her baby. Finally I decided to check her appointment card and YUP...I had missed it! So thankfully we were able to get an appointment for this morning and thankfully she got a good bill of health! (And yes, when we got to the appointment, I had realized that I had forgotten her immunization card and hearing and vision screening cards not to mention the stroller!)










After going to the doctor, we went for our first walk around the compound. Now I have to write this because I will so seldom have the opportunity to do so, but WE HAD TO RUSH HOME BECAUSE IT STARTED TO RAIN! Yup, rain in Doha, lots of thunder and rain. (Evidently the Emir did a rain prayer earlier this week, looks like it worked!)

I Am 1 Week Old!

It is hard to believe that one week could have gone by so quickly, but I guess we have been busy!

It's A Girl!!!

Baby Girl Kelsey Marie arrived in our arms on November 26 @ 10:30 PM. She weighed 8 pounds and 1 ounce and was 20.5 inches long. All are happy and healthy!