Zayd (hearts) NY

My Aunt Regina invited my whole family to New York for Memorial Day Weekend. She'd recently purchased a beautiful home in Yonkers, and true to her giving spirit, she wanted to open it up for our family. Khalid and I have been trying to get up to New York since we've been married. You think a place that is only four hours away would be more attainable to us, For some reason, every time we try to plan a weekend getaway, something comes up. We figured we'd try to get the most bang for our buck on this trip, since my mom and dad would be there... grandparents = free babysitting.

Auntie Nisa flew in a few days prior to our departure to spend some one on one time with Zayd. Zayd and Nisa have always had a very special connection. I really think he naturally thinks of her as his second mother or something. If she had milk, I sincerely think I could leave him for a week or so without him really noticing... I'm for real! it was wonderful to watch them play games together and reconnect. We all also benefited from my sister's superb cooking skills.

Our trip up to Yonkers was pretty uneventful. We left about two hours later than we planned, but we didn't run into any traffic, so no one complained. Zayd was on his best behavior -- way better than he was on the trip to and from the airport to pick up Auntie Nisa. Khalid was the driver, Nisa the DJ, and I the baby entertainer. Together we worked like a well oiled machine.

Aunt Regina's new home was simply beautiful - truly the best of both worlds. Her home has all the old charm of an older home, with new and updated everything within. What made it even more beautiful was that it was filled with her children and grandchildren. It felt so comforting to wake up and hear voices and footsteps of all the different family members in the morning. Zayd passed from arm to arm and Khalid and I enjoyed having a little extra freedom. That evening, we dined on gumbo, potato salad, and red velvet cake. I felt as if I was in Utopia.

The next morning, Khalid, Zayd, Nisa, Daddy, and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and spend the day in Central Park. Mom and Aunt Regina opted to do some major shopping instead. We had such a wonderful time showing Zayd the park. There are so many special moments in Zayd's life that i never want to forget, but introducing him to his first spring in Central Park has to be amongst the Top Ten.










After enjoying a leisurely stroll, we headed back to the house so that Khalid and I could get read to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. Although our anniversary is technically on the 28th, we've always celebrated it on Memorial Day Weekend, since that's when we got married. Strange, yes, but it works for us. Khalid got tickets to see Thurgood with Laurence Fishburn. As a Howard Law grad, the play was extra inspiring to me. We ended the night with a late-night meal at Juniors, before catching the subway out to Harlem to meet up with my mom. While we were at the play, Zayd went to a graduation party with my mom, Nisa, and Aunt Regina. Although he looked a little strange in his baseball pajamas and over coat, he seemed perfectly fine. He did seem very happy to see us when my mom handed him over to me. I can't imagine what was going through his little head at the party-- I bet it was a whole bunch of Where-the-hell-am-I and Who-are-these-people.

the next day Khalid and I decided to just explore the city as a family. Armed with Zayd's stroller, diaper bag, and a Lonely Planet New York book (Khalid, not me), we ventured off into the great beyond. We ended up spending the majority of the day walking around Harlem, before heading to the Upper East Side to observe a little night life. We both kept kicking ourself for not living in new York when we were "young" and "free". My mom swear we're having some type of late -20s early 30s crisis, and she might be on to something. As we rolled our lone stroller down street, we promised ourself that we'd try to do a little more in the fun department. Often times the monotony of life can have you feeling well beyond your years. Although we kinda kept accidently rolling over peoples' heels with Zayd's stroller, it felt damn good to be out past 11pm!! My dad called sounding a little concerned about our where abouts, so we decided to wrap it up and head home.







Here's Zayd on the subway at about 12:30 am.



The next day we enjoyed one last family gathering before dropping my parents off at the airport and heading back to DC. I am so grateful to Allah for cherished memories such as this trip. I pray that as a family, we can have many, many more.

Re-Post

I was told the pictures weren't showing. I hope this works!!




Good morning Zayd. It's 7:37AM, and you are already down for your morning nap. You've already peed in our bed, slapped your father and I on the head several times, jumped back and forth between us, beat-boxed on our headboard, took bath, read a book, attempted to eat a book, screamed like a banchee when I dressed you, and ate four bites of rice and gravy. After finally being wide awake from my tired drunk stupor, you decide that now is as good a time as any to take a nap. You never cease to amaze me.

Of course by now I'm wide awake after performing the requisite jack moves to keep you happy. It dawned on me that this time last year, my life was so much different. Your were a part of me -- an apparent part of me actually-- but your father and I had no clue really what to expect. When you are excited yet scared out of your mind with the thought of impending parenthood, what do you do?

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Go to Paris!!!! We could've used the money for a zillion other things, but in our collective psychosis, we decided to take one last international hooray. Yeah to rash decisions!!

Your father and I share a passion for traveling. If we weren't responsible people, we'd likely buy plane tickets to exotic places, like some folks buy flat screens and cars. We love trying different foods, navigating our way around foreign places, and getting a true feel for the area. I think the inability to travel on a whim was the one thing that we were most afraid of giving up with your impending birth. It's not like we were ever even able to travel on a whim before you came, but at least we had the option.

So, we kind of secretly and quietly purchased tickets during a fare sale on Iceland Air.... never heard of them either. We actually flew out of the town the same night of my last law school final. I was so tired, that I fell asleep on the plane before take off. You seemed to be very excited. It was the first time that your father really felt you kick. You were going crazy when we got up into the air.


We arrived in Paris the next morning and decided to have an "adventure" and take the metro to our hotel. Your pappa's bag broke at the airport, so we likely resembled a pair of rag-tag immigrants with broken luggage and a pregnant disheveled woman.




We'd stayed in some pretty sketch places during part of our time in North Africa, so I wanted to be sure that we had a nice plae to rest our head. After hours on end, during class, on Trip Advisor, I settled on a hotel about 20 minutes on the outskirts of the central areal called Hotel Portee Doree. Great choice.


I think this is one of my favorite picture of your daddy.



I remember how happy he was when your father bought me roses upon our arrival.



Did I mention how irritable I was when I was pregnant with you? Did I explain to you just how much my back hurt?? Okay, maybe a thousand times or so. All I really wanted to do was eat pastries and people watch. Your father, on the other hand, wanted to walk like a thousand miles exploring the city each day. That caused for a bit of conflict, but the great thing about Paris, is that there literally is a bakery on every corner. That inspired me much more than seeing the Mona Lisa.












Okay, I'll admit it, your mother is a wuss. I cried real tears when I saw the Eifel Tower for the first time. I'm scared to know how I'll react when I, insha'Allah, make it to Mecca and Medina. It was just such a dream-come-true. Your father sets the bar pretty high for doing nice things to make me happy. If I ever hear of you doing some raggedy stuff like trying to offer some women Quran on CD for their dowry, or anything else of that sort, I promise that I'll take your little but out. And if by chance I don't make it to that day, trust and believe (I love that phrase) that I got people... Okay, back to our trip..


I was so excited that I made your father take pictures before we even got really close to the tower.

Look at my hand, I wanted you to know that I was thinking of you.





That tower is soo freaking beautiful, Zayd.








The Gardens at Fountaine Bleu made me year for Jennah.







Your papa took me on a boat ride in the park. It took him a little while to get the rowing thing down, but he got it together.








Some things we had to just look at. We said we'd buy them on our next trip (lol).





The good thing is, there was so much to look at.














We want to share our passion with you, little boy. As soon as you can hold the camera for us, you can roll. Until then, you might have some really great trips to your grandparents' house while your father and I follow our wonder lust....



We have so many plans for you, my love.