Week in pictures



There has been so much going on this week that I decided to put it in pictures.  Here we go:

I stayed in the American Hospital in Egypt for chest pains, back pains, and timed contractions last night, but I feel much better now. This pic isn't mine, but it looks the most similar to what the workers looked like.  Just paint the walls lime green, add floral wall paper border, some old furniture and it would look like my hospital room.



Large protests in Egypt this week.  It's been crazy downtown for sure, but it's still quiet in our neighborhood and we are thankful for that!  Thanks CNN for this picture!

 

Lebanon (our second home) decided to have protests too! Thanks Newsweek for picture!

Beth (my sister-in-law) had her baby! Jasmine Alexus is my newest niece! Isn't she a beauty!


Last weekend we had some friends and their families over for lunch:

We are so thankful to have awesome friends and get to hang out with their super fun kiddos!  It's been great to see what we get to look forward to as new parents.
 

Decaf please

{Virtual Coffee}

The initial meet and greet:

If we were meeting for coffee together, I would start off by apologizing that I am two days late for our coffee date and then I would model my baby bump and giggle as I ask, "Can you believe how big I've gotton?" Don't worry, you can say, "Yes, you're enormous" without hurting my feelings.

Getting our drinks:

What are you ordering? I really want what you are ordering and if you don't mind, can I have a sip? I'll order decaf coffee for me since I'm not really supposed to be having caffeine. I'm almost 35 weeks and baby Annabelle's ticker is always fast. I will have cream and two sugars though.

The conversation:

How are you? I genuinely want to know and will make it a point to hear about you first.

Time to admit that I'm already a bad momma! I've eaten chocolate, cookies and peanut butter today and not much else. I need to force myself to eat the salad in the fridge. Speaking of food, fruits and vegetables are currently in season in Egypt. They are so colorful and lush. I would probably take you to the souk after our coffee date to show you how the Egyptians stack the produce in mini pyramids. I wonder where they got that idea from...

What have you been doing today?

I've spent most of today listening to songs on iTunes. Jordan and I have been driving around listening to the same songs for months. We have harmonized along with every song in every vocal range. Time for new material. I love these albums and couldn't resist purchasing the top 3:
The House You're Building-Audrey Assad
Alive Again-Matt Maher
The Light Meets the Dark-Tenth Avenue North
As Long As It Takes-Meredith Andrews

How is your family?

I miss mine! They are coming to Egypt in February, March, and April! My grandmother isn't doing well and it makes me sad that I can't be there to help and visit with her. Jordan's brother is also struggling with some health issues and we are praying for him and his family. I've been learning a lot about God's sovereignty and that's been a blessing during this season. I would encourage you to listen to the podcasts, The Gospel of Suffering by Tullian Tchividijian.

What is it like to live in America, I've forgotten?

Jordan says he can tell I've been adjusting to life in Egypt better. He said I seem to have more confidence. Truth is the men don't harass me like they did before thanks to my new figure. I just need to stay 9 months pregnant. That would be painful!

Saying goodbye:

Hug! I would probably invite you over this Saturday since Jordan will be ordering Arabiata (yummy Egyptian fast food) and we will be having some friends over. Coffee next week for sure!

Click here to have virtual coffee...

Annabelle's Nursery

Here are the nursery photos like I promised :) When the doctor puts you on home rest, this is what you turn into: A blogging, picture-taking, cooking, laundry-doing monster! Scary, I know!







Not bad for Egypt, right?! We walked into the store and all the baby furniture was ridiculously expensive and ugly. Just when we decided to give up and buy our furniture from the states, the sales man brought us to the back room to a giant box and told us it's the last model and has been discounted. He said they must get rid of the box to make room in the back...kind of shady sounding! He described us the contents of the box and showed us a picture of the set, but we weren't able to actually see if it was the same set until it was delivered. Turns out, we got a great deal and it was all worth the risk...and let me tell you, it was heart-pounding risky not knowing what we would be getting! We've seen neon green and salmon colored furniture sets for 8,000 LE....barf!

The picture with the suitcase and diaper bag on top is what we are taking to the hospital. I'm not quite sure I'm done with her nursery. I would love to get a book shelf for that wall where the suitcase is, but hubby says he is done furniture shopping until we move to Lebanon. I would also like a skinny night stand to put next to the chair so I can set things on top of it when I'm feeding Annabelle, but unless I find one sitting alongside a curb, I think I will have to manage without. We do have a rotting wooden children's desk sitting on our roof that I am hoping to refinish, so maybe I'm in luck! I also might be on the hunt for a rug. Egypt is full of awesome, cheap textiles and I might be able to convince Jordan to spare $5.

Getting excited!!! 2 more weeks until I'm in my 9th month!

Just the norm

John's back in Cairo on business, but only for three days and without Selen. She had to stay in Rotterdam and work :( I miss her! I apparently grew since earlier in January when John saw me last night, I got a "You're HUGE!" which I love to hear!! I am big! Annabelle sticks out so much I sometimes wonder if I need to put my hand under my belly to support her when I walk. She is heavier than I expected which is causing me lots of back pain:( Tylenol and laying on my side usually does the trick.

We should be getting her chair for her nursery today! Her room will be complete, minus the stuff my in-laws and parents are bringing over. I will make it a point to post pics as soon as Homecenter delivers the chair!

It's very chilly in our house because it's been rainy, overcast and cold (we still live in the desert, right?) The tile on the floors that keep the house relatively cool in the summer are making it seem like we live in a refrigerator. Burrr! I am thankful for house shoes and cozy robes!

This week we are meeting with a pediatrician. The phone conversation went something like this:

Jordan: We would like to make an appointment to speak to the pediatrician.
Receptionist: Did you get a boy?
Jordan: Not yet, my wife is still pregnant and we are having a...
Receptionist: Your boy will not be at the appointment?
Jordan: .....No
Receptionist: Okay, see you Wednesday after 7pm.

This will be fun.

Foodie

I love to cook! I've recently had more time on my hands to think about and prepare menus each week and stick to a schedule where I cook every other night and eat leftovers in between. Jordan and I are making an effort to go to the Souk (market) a couple times a week to pick up some fresh produce so we can have plenty of salads and snacks that are healthy for the baby and for us!

We don't have a weight loss goal in mind (my goal is to gain weight for the baby), but we are trying to eat relatively healthy and still have a little something sweet for dessert each night. Last week, we had shrimp Pad Thai with Asian coleslaw and banana spring rolls with chocolate dipping sauce, broiled Parmesan bassa with chive mashed potatoes and blueberry salad, and shrimp linguine with red cabbage salad just to name a few.

Here are some yummy, but sort of guilty pleasure recipes that we also enjoyed:

On the weekends, Jordan and I like to have breakfast for dinner because we are lazy:) Pancakes are a must! Unfortunately, we ran out of the maple syrup this weekend and so I whipped up a blueberry syrup instead.

Blueberry Syrup
1/2 c sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/3 c water
2 c frozen blueberries

1. Pour ingredients into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Serve hot over pancakes or french toast.


Snack that I had to have at 4:30 in the morning!

Caramel Popcorn
Make the popcorn (I do this on the stove)
1 C brown sugar
1/2 C of light corn syrup
1/2 C butter
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt

1. Melt brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter on med heat and stir for 5 minutes at a boil constantly. It will thicken slightly.
2. Set aside from heat and add the baking soda(it bubbles up), vanilla extract, and salt and stir.
3. Pour over popcorn and mix well


I love rice dishes! Yum! This one made for a great pairing with Lemon Pepper Salmon, Crisp Salad with a red onion vinaigrette, and some sauteed green beans.

Curried Rice Pilaf
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c green onions
1/4 c butter
1 1/2 c uncooked rice
1 tsp curry powder
3 c vegetable broth
1 tsp salt
1/2 c golden raisins
1/2 c toasted, chopped almonds

1. In a large skillet with a lid, melt butter, stir in garlic and onions until tender.
2. Stir in rice and curry powder and saute until slightly browned
3. Pour broth and salt over rice, stir and cover for 35 minutes or until rice is tender.
4. Remove from heat and stir in raisins and almonds.

I haven't made our menu for next week, but I think I'm leaning towards a red meat dish or a roast and possibly some Middle Eastern sides. Any suggestions?!

It's Raining, It's Pouring

The yearly average rainfall for Cairo is one inch. Today was amazing!

Top Ten Predictions

My first post of the new year: Top Ten Predictions for the Stone Family!

10. None of my predictions will really happen since I stink at predicting things! It's more like wishful thinking:)!

9. Baby Annabelle will ace the Babywise technique and Jordan and I will be able to sleep through the night by 7-9 weeks.

8. Kickboxing will become my favorite post-baby exersise. Do they have a Wii version? Hmmmm.....

7. My parents and in-laws will experience what it is like to travel with as much luggage as I do. Sorry guys!

6. I will convince Jordan to go skiing in Beirut this winter.

5. Annabelle will be born with a head full of hair. Not that it matters if she is or not, but Jordan and I both had lots of baby fuzz.

4. Jordan will surprise me with an Anthro gift card for my birthday..hint, hint!

3. I will cry like a baby when we go back to Florida this summer. First Watch Cafe, the palm trees, the thunder storms, Coral Ridge Church, the beach...yup!

2. My sister will have the trip of a lifetime when she visits Cairo! She will wonder how it is that a clean freak like myself has lived in the Big Dirty for 2 years!

1. I will be pregnant with our second child.



I can't wait to see Jordan's reaction to #1 when he reads this!