And with the rain comes...

RAINBOWS!!!!
And we all broke out into song: "The Lord said to Noah, you got to build an archy-archy-- Get those animals out of the mudy-mudy -- children of the Lord"

Double Standard

We all agree that grandparents spoil there grand kids. On my mom's last visit she insisted that Zaky NEEDED to ride the little train at the entrance of the super market. I never once rode one of these things as a kid. But now I know why. Because now every time we go to the store a strong wine and pointing and cry as he says PL-THIS (please)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hang Time

Some days I start to feel bad that Zaky does not have cousins and his foreign friends to play with, but then other days I have to admit he is a very lucky boy. A few weeks ago on our way back from the embassy we stopped for lunch at a mall. Bill had scheduled a meeting afterwards, which left Zaky and I an hour + to kill. Thankfully this mall has a play area, 3$ for the hour, and you can leave your kid (I didn't no worries). I asked a friend if in America there are places where you leave your kid (which is the normal here, she informed me NO)


Over the last few weeks ALL the kids have started school. One little girl upstairs is available for play, but that is just about it. We do have time to play with kids outside in the afternoon, but with winter approaching the evenings are getting shorter and shorter. So time with Zaky's buddies is now special and sought after.

Smiling

Smiling man! Not to compare, but, Zaky didn't smile regularly until he was 7 months old. Jonas on the other hand is becoming a smiling man.

The other night Zaky had to watch Elmo on the computer because the t.v. satellite was not working. He saw me working on the computer today and in typical Zaky form, tried to get his way. When giving a little wine and calling out Elmo and Please didn't work, he tried the only other thing he knew to do - use the remote. Some mothers teach their children sign language, I have not felt the need.

Easy Piezzy

The easiest meal I "make" and host with is pizza. We had friends over Saturday night for dinner, and what did I serve them? What I serve everyone who comes over for a meal, pizza! I buy the dough from the baker down the street for 2$ a kilo, sauce from a can doctored slightly, and cheese. above is my parenting philosophy at work: it is easier to have him join in then to try to keep him away, then just throw the shirt in the wash.

Side note: our neighbors eat ketchup on their pizza, ugh. Some people must be taught mature taste, like ranch dressing.

Update

I can list all the things I stay busy with now a days, I can go on and on about how tired I am. But who really wants to hear about that. I have no great excuse why these kids grandparents and Aunts have not seen pictures of them or skyped with them in over a month. I will say this in my defense: not more then 2 1/2 hours sleep continuous at night for 2 months makes a body hurt. But back to more important things: the Boys.

Zaky: 25lbs (now maybe 22 after a night of throwing up and diarrhea, I will spare the details but he is better now) He is speaking about 5-6 new words a week. And is now says two 2 syllable words: Elmo and Apple. He is finally saying names: It helps that all our neighbors name their kids Ali and Abass.

Jonas: 10+ lbs, little chunk, can turn his head from side to side and up, has just started to smile, is only waking up 2x a night, naps regularly on schedule.

Idle hands

Since having Jonas I spend upwards of 4 hrs a day breastfeeding. What is a 19 month year old boy to do:
play with toys - usually in short increments
color - this was an option until I found a crayon in Yo's mouth, now all colors are stored away and usually forgotten about by me.
Play dough - now only keeps him busy for 2-3 min, requires me playing with him.
T.V. - primary source of entertainment (hence his vocabulary of Elmo)
letting him wander the house finding trouble - not my first choice but usually the fall back

He is learning though to clean up after himself; something I thought hilarious, he cleans up spills with his foot like us, monkey see monkey do!