Thursday, March 18, 2010

Until We Meet Again

At my dearly beloved Deep Southern, old-school, back country, boardig school, we used to sing, "May His Peace be with you, till we meet again". I still love that song to death! Anyway, it abut that time to round up, revamp, reflect, and rebuild. As such, I will be taking a short, insha'Allah, hiatus from my blogging. However, like most bloggers, the urge o "share" is so strong that I seriously hope this break light the fire under my arse to really do what I want. So please remember my for my little band of hooligans in prayer, and I'll do the same for you.

May His Peace be with you.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Slow & Steady

Z-Team,
One can say your father and I are "slow and steady", or one can say that we two just are slow. We are FINALLY putting the final touches on our epic task of....... wait for it.... wait for it..... switching rooms for you two. Our 'Zayd's Big Boy Room' has been a pestering project since -- say, Zuri was born.

Twelve list and fifteen Ikea trips later, I think we are at the finish line ----- insha'Allah. Mind the accent wall that I am so set on doing--- which never seems to get done... ever. So one bookshelf, one dresser, one toddler bed, one new duvet cover, one rug, curtains, hangers, organization mesh net thingies, wall decor... yeah, as you see it's one thing after another.

Your parents are on the cusp-- right there on the edge. Let's just all collectively pray to God that ths project gets done before Zayd refuses to switch rooms. If that happens, Zuri is going to have the flyest transportation themed room on the block.... and Zayd, yeah, well the nursery technically is still his room.

Okay, I have to go upstairs and micromanage your father. He totally loves it when I do that.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Zuri's First Step

Baby girl. You let go of an overturned basket in the living room, got comfortable with a little hang time, then carefully took your FIRST step. I saw it! I saw it all! What a Merciful God is He. I get giddy just thinking about it. I don't know of anything as exciting as watching the evolution of the human brain. Days like this I know that I am EXACTLY where I'm supposed to be. Gosh, if I can only remember that on the bad days.

Thank you Allah for these beautiful children. Thank you for allowing me to watch so many aspects of their development. Thank you for a beautiful daughter who took her first step today. Thank you for her hilarious big brother.

God Is.

** I totally made your big event my FB status.***

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

What is vs. What Ought to Be

I read a case in law school, where the judge made a good distinction about "what is", versus "what ought to be". I don't know, but the sheer truth of that statement really hit home with me. Hypothetically, one would think if one got up at 3Am to have some "personal time" in the bathroom, one would be alone. I mean hypothetically and all. However, what "is", isn't always what "ought" to be. So when Zayd decided to curl up in my arms and join me on this hypothetically 3Am bathroom trip, I was kind of cool. I mean not really, but too sleepy to care. Now when Zuri woke up screaming and trying to get to the new "Party on The Toilet", things got a little strange. Parenthood is some hilariously unpredictable stuff. That is both, "what is", and what "ought to be".

As salaam alaikum.

Monday, March 8, 2010

I love days like this.

Zayd & Zuri,
I enjoyed spending the day with you two -- for the most. Playgroup was quite some fun. Zuri stole the show by literally running across the floor using a push toy. People get nervous to see a child so little so mobile. You are something else Little Girl. Zayd enjoyed playing with so many different personalities. I love the most when he finds another little aggressive bossy kid to butt heads with -- the dialogue is hilarious.

I listened to music and cooked up a really good meal, masha'Allah. I was so proud of it that I made it my status update on FB.

Grilled Green Curry Tilapia, soy ginger broccoli with assorted peppers, Kaila rice, & a shredded ginger, red onion, carrot salad. What did you cook him/her tonight? Seriously curious.




Okay: Zuri in Ergo. Zayd sleeping. Khalid finishing kitchen. Me about to crash while can.

God is Greater. God is Greater.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Whirlwind

A whirlwind of good activities is always a good thing. Alhamdullilah. This weekend was one of those whirlwind times. An aqeeqah and wedding in different parts of Virginia -- hours away from each other different parts-- made this a mileage intensive, but wonderfully fun weekend.

I got to meet sweet little Baby Abiade. He is little, adorable, and loud. Zayd got to play with his good, good, buddy, "Adeew". Khalid and I got to spend some short, but memorable time with one of our happiest and chillest coupes friends ever. Alhamdullilah. There is nothing more comforting than being in a home filled with Sakinah --- our families were collectivelly chill-laxing seriously hard. Did I mention that Auntie Kalia made the BEST sweets, yet again, for the baby's aqeeqah??

I spoke at the lovely walimah of my dear friend Miriam. We went to law school together, and she is as kind and loving as they come, masha'Allah. Okay, your mother is so tired that she can no longer see straight. The good thing is, the weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow, insha'Alah. We are going to be out as LONG as possible!! Z-Team!! Bring it on Monday, insha'Allah.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Good Morning Loves

As salaam alaikum Z-Team,

It's 7:41AM, and for all intensive purposes, this is the time that can make or break our day. Your father just left, frantically, after trying to do a million things. I think that man gets about 4.5 hours of sleep a night. (I have to help enforce a bedtime routine with him...wow, I sound like a mom.) Poor thing, he worked late, only to come home to find me sprawled across the bed with Zuri sleeping on my back in the Ergo Baby. I know I gave him the greetings, before pleading for him to "take her" off my back. On a brighter note, he loved the dinner that I made especially for him... I didn't see him eat it, but he told me such.

Wow, that sounds extremely pessimistic and self defeating, but I've found it to be true, more times than not. Without proper planning, preparation, and set goals, life becomes a little more "challenging" than normal -- and surely Allah knows best.

Alhamdullilah, I've gotten out morning routine much better, but the afternoons still turn into a little bit of a lull or pandemonium. Hence the reason why I am calling my babysitter reference today -- high five to myself!!

Okay, so this is Week 2 of our organizational change. Alhamdullilah, things have been going so far, so good. I'm still not giving the bedroom enough time in the evenings, but FORGIVENESS is my theme of the week -- yeah, this includes forgiving myself.

So, I've laid out your fathers clothes every day but once -- he beat me to it. I've made his lunch everyday but I think once -- yeah, he did it for me again. I've made really GOOD dinners, masha'Allah. I am such an emotional cook. I guess that saying, "Happy Wife, Happy Life", holds a lot of truth.

You guys seem to be thriving off of having a little more predictability. Okay, that's an abject lie. You all seem to be happy just walking around tearing up stuff, but I seem to be happier, and you all seem to be no less happier, so I see that as a win/win.

Wednesday is supposed to be our inside day, however, I'm not sure if I even want an inside day. We've had soooo maaaannny forced inside days with the snow, that the idea of getting out is intoxicatingly fun to me. Zayd loves it. Zuri, you might just be the sweetest anti-social person I've ever met..and I love you, just as you are.

The Family Calender was a lovely addition. Insha'Allah, I can find more working pens -- ohh, my life -- and really pimp-it-out with different colors and stuff. I freaking love organization and predictability.

I'm going to shame myself to stick EXACTLY to our house work schedule, insha'Allah. It's not too hard, and it really makes life easier. So yeah-- shame..

So, right NOW I should be:
1. Thinking about dinner (see, I'm late, that was a last nights task)
2. Laying out clothes for today (yup, another last nights task)
3. Getting dressed to socks (umm..nope)
4. Checking To-Do List that was written yesterday for today.. (dead silence)

Okay, so maybe... yeah, well still it's going better. Not perfect, but better. Gosh, I really need to stop laughing at myself so much. Man, but your mother is funny, masha'Allah.

Ya Rahmaan, Ya Rahim, let me surrender to being be a mere vessel or Your will -- today, and always. Ameen.