9 Months and Counting MA

Here with his 5 month old cousin Zohaib. I promise Aneesa and I did not plan the outfits. We packed in different states, but Carter's style knows no state boundaries. ;)





So Deenie is now 9 months old today, and the one thing...or maybe 2 things that I can say stand out right now. We have had 2 and a half days of a pretty clear complexion (MA). Not clear clear, but clear for Deen, which is not that red. And he has turned a corner from being fine playing on his own, even if we are in an adjacent room, to crying the minute we even turn away from him. My feet cannot point in another direction, before he starts wailing. And the minute I pick him up, which is still no more than before, he buries his forehead into my neck and holds on tight, like he has not seen me if ages. He does this to Waseem too.
I wonder if part of it is being over sensitized with family this summer. We went to MD this weekend, and it was even a little much for me, since my sis-in-laws in-laws were also in town. That equals a crap load of people.
I also think he is use to his sister and cousin being around. They drove me nuts for 4 weeks, but they kept his entertained and ambitious to follow them around the house. So I am glad they are in school, and he is missing everyone! Poor baby! What will happen when I go back to work? My heart will break! I don't think Safah was this clingy. Well I know she wasn't. She could play for hours on her own. I had to check on her to make sure she was fine because she was so quiet. Of course she is not quiet now...or ever! ;)

Maryland on my mind...

Esha and Safah (the bunny?)

We had fun in MD this past weekend. A quick trip before Safah started school on today. Her cousins ( the 5, and 7 year olds) love her, and vice versa. They play, then fight, then change loyalties, then play, then cry when the day is over and one of them goes home. Next time, I think I will have to institute a group sleepover so Arooj won't cry that Safah is not goin home right then to stay with her, and Esha won't cry later that Safah is leaving for the night and can't stay. ;( But when the camera comes out, it is all smiles. ;)
Two of my nephews ( second oldest Jawad and youngest Zohaib (Z baba))


Safah chillin' at Dadi's house.

Another kid!

Scared ya huh???

It is funny when the older generation says you should have more kids when you are clutching your infant to you.
We are in Maryland this weekend and we have been told that 2 kids is not enough. My dear hubby reminds people that we have, or I have hecka big kids. What compares to my 1 kids is 2 of theirs. And the next could equal 3 or their kids....at 5 pounds each.
The funny thing is, I say I want more, but as Waseem reminds me, each kid takes such a toll on a woman's body. He sees it with his mom. 9 kids and your body (without GREAT genes and surgery) is never going to be the same. Joints, muscles, skin, shape etc. And that is with 5lb kids.
I would love to have another, not anytime soon of course since Deen is only 8 months. But in a year or 2 maybe. But then you have the worry, and Drs have said this that the next could easily be 13-15 pounds. That is like triplets, that is hard on a body, and I am a small person.
My family is absolutely against me having another. They worry big time that I will have worse nerve pain and pack pain that won't go away next time with the months of physical therapy I have done. Waseem says the same thing. But from the taking care of them once they are here point of view. Another girl and that is another shaadi, either way, it is another college education and activities and etc, etc, etc.
So what is left. Adoption? Waseem and I both say sure. I would love to adopt. I just wonder how other people will treat my child. Would I have to stop associating with some family and friends because they cannot treat that child the same as my biological ones. Cause I would kick their A** if that happened.
So hmmm. When Deenie is 1 or 1.5, maybe I will revisit this topic. At the moment, baby needs Dudu, and only Mamma has the right touch. ;)

Tired all the time?

I have been told that when people ask me how I am, I say I am tired. This seems to be my response most of the time they say. Ok only some of my in-laws say this.
But honestly when they see me, it is at 12, or 1AM after a day of packing and running errands to leave for a short weekend trip. Four hours of driving and dealing with kids and an impatient spouse ( "You and our four year old have to pee now, while we are actually stopped at the gas station"). So of course when it is 1 AM and I get in bed by 12 most nights, and you add all that other stuff, yeah when you first see me and I am yawning, I am tired.
So ettiquite requires I placate and say, "Me teek hu". But I say forget that. This is family, if I cannot say the truth with you, then why bother asking me and/or getting my response!
I could do the "proper thing" that way I don't get the tirade of "your tired, she's tired?" I gave birth to 9 kids. You don't know tired. To which Waseem reminds people that times are different than they were then. You had a village helping you. (you know the addage it takes a village to raise a child) Well that was true. And when they got here, the older kids took care of the younger ones. That was without learning to drive and learning the language. So you didn't have to interact and do other things. It was just the house.
So now, we do it alone. One or two kids or more, we do extra activities with them that they never did. Soccer, piano, ballet, tennis, football, swimming, golf, PTA, our jobs, clean our house, cook, entertain, visit people, see family---who don't live with you, have friends, travel ( and not just back home to the pind once every 2 years) all at warp speed.
So yeah forgive me if I am tired. With my 8 month old crawling over to unplug my laptop again, and waiting for everyone in the house to actually wake up (we were all up at 7:30, and Safah has eaten--I brought the cereal she likes, I have made Waseem and me chai (I miss my coffee--in the morning). And we are still trying to keep the kids quiet so that they don't disturb everyone else. It's 10:30. And we all went to sleep at the same time.

But yeah, Mei bahoot achi hu! Thanks for asking. ;)

9 month Dr. Appointment

So Deen had his 9 month Peds appointment today. As usual, I had tons of questions (freakin excema when will you go!) and they had tons of questions ( formula and eating patterns, what he is doing. etc).

Hmmm what is he doing.

Deenie is 19.6lbs. I know Sarah, he doesn't look it or feel it, but they checked twice. He is keeping steady with his height and head size.

Cruising, babbling, six teeth, still has excema and impetigo (scalp thing--not like cradle cap--that is associated with excema), crawling fast, eating table food--all that jazz. Hmmm what else? Knows his name when you call him. Making consonant sounds. Some seperation anxiety and stranger anxiety. He looks to me to see how he should react to people. But he still doesn't want them to touch him, even if he does smile at them. He will go to those he knows I like. He is really good at figuring that out!
Yells at people to get their attention, gets miffed if they look away from him when he wants their attention.
Loves to blow bubbles on my face and upper arms. And chew on my chin with those really sharp teeth!

Hmmmm I think that is all! My baby is growing up too fast!

Life with a Kindergartner!

Today begins Safah's Kindergarten career. Time for homework (Pre-K didn't give any) and more group lessons, science, social studies etc.

Summer was short! Here is my baby girl!

And with her cousin Dakota, also starting Kindergarten today!!! Coco had a few tears because she misplaced her lunchbag.