You have to do this.

Snakes on a Plane! Have Samuel L. Jackson call anyone you want to pimp Snakes on a Plane. Must hear it to believe it! Thanks Colleen! Click Me!

Seriously, don't read this if you hated my breastfeeding post.

Here are some recent and adorable pictures of Jennah, before I get down and dirty regarding my breastfeeding post. May I say, Mean Aunt Cindy, I love you and please don't be offended.

Poor thing! Got her mommys ears.

What I like about this one is, she is looking at me, not the camera.

I have another sweetie baby on my hands.

Ok, so I guess I do have to call myself a breastfeeding Nazi. I had a phone conversation with my aunt last night and she told me to "get over it." I had to try and bite my tongue at that. I guess I should keep the ranting to my blog and leave my communications with others to bland statements. I don't mean to cause anyone any guilt about their decisions to formula feed. That is not my intent. I am writing how I feel over here. Everybody has their own reasons for things, no matter what my opinions are of those things it is a free country.
Regarding the comments I received, I still think a 15 year old boy will probably pop wood no matter what,seeing someone breastfeed or not though. Don't 15 year olds float boners like 50 times a day? Ewww, I don't wanna think of that. I mean hey, guys used to check out National Geographic when I was in elementary school, before most of them found out that their dads had huge hidden stashes of porn. Not that the internet isn't good for that now, or anything.
I think breastfeeding moms have rights. Apparently all 50 states and the District of Columbia does too, since all have legislation to protect the rights of a breastfeeding mother in public. It isn't a sex act, it is a mother feeding a child. So, sorry "None breastfeeding Mom" (if you are who you say you are, and I don't believe so, just know I know your true identity, because you are not sly. It is good to see you are still reading my blog, bitch) if you feel a woman should stay in her car to feed. I think that is ridiculous. Once again, My blog, my words, don't like it, don't visit. 'Nuff said.

For Colleen

Okay I know that it has taken me a while to come up with this list, Colleen, and I am sorry. First I forgot, then I was in a whirlwind of drs appointments and such lately. So here goes.

here are a few things that have nothing to do with my family, but make me happy:

Watching TV, after the kids are asleep, whatever I have on the DVR. This is such a chunk of what makes me happy that I will list what I love to watch:
Medium
ER
My Name Is Earl
The Office
Project Runway
Kathy Griffins Life On the D-List
Top Chef
Anything that Bill Kurtis narrates
Entourage
West Wing reruns on Bravo
Law and Order of anykind but Criminal Intent.

*whew* it just occurred to me I watch way tooooo much TV.

I also love to listen to music, these days I just get favorite songs here and there, but here is an example, my playlist on Rhapsody right now:

"Bebot" by the Black Eyed Peas
"Don't want you back", by Backstreet boys
"What I got" and "Santeria" by Sublime
"Hate me" By Blue October
"Change" by Deftones
"Rio" by Duran Duran
"It's my life" by No Doubt

I love to bake things, usually quick breads and cakes, and eat them. (no wonder my ass is fat.)

I love my flowers. Mostly impatiens but I picked up a mini rose bush with pretty steely lavender flowers, and killed half of it in the trans plant. It is blooming 4 flowers now and I just like to look at it.

I love to sit in my living room with all the lights off and only candles burning, after I have cleaned, dusted and vacuumed. I feel like I have accomplished something and it is peaceful. Oh did I mention, I do this when the kids are not around?

I think that is all I can think of right now.

Oh yeah, something I have been doing for me for a long time now- blogging. I love it. It rocks.

World Breastfeeding Week.

A beautiful thing. 
I wouldn't call myself a breastfeeding Nazi. Either you are going to breastfeed your baby or you're not. I just wish more women would. It makes me sad to hear women say "it ties me down to the baby" or "No one else can feed the baby" or even the worst thing I have heard ever, and most flabbergasting: "I have a ton of milk I just don't want to deal with it." What a shameful waste. If more women would breastfeed more men would see what breasts are really for, and it wouldn't make people so darned squeamish. And for the religious out there: Hello~!? Jesus did not drink Similac Mary (and/or possibly a wetnurse) breastfed him.
When Ayman was 3 months old he refused to nurse anymore. I had been giving him bottles when we were in Egypt, because I had huge scabs on my nipples, and it was waaaaaay to painful to nurse, and expressing wasn't cutting it. By the time I could nurse again, he didn't want to. Long story short, my feelings were so hurt. I wanted to breastfeed him more, but he didn't want to do the work. I swore I wouldn't let that happen to my daughter. At first I was so tired and didn't feel like waking up to feed. But hey, either you are doing it with the breast, or you are pulling your tail out of bed, making a bottle, making sure it is the right temperature, sitting in the room with the baby and feeding her. I love breastfeeding. It is the perfect MRE (Meal ready to Eat, for those of you with no knowledge of military jargon.)So what I am saying here is think it thru. Believe in yourself and what a gift breastfeeding is. The longer you do it the better. Just do it.
Kristina visited and commented on my blog today. She had a great post that I want to share with you, so please check it out it had some great info, and some links to ridiculous stories that need to be seen to be believed. Thanks Kristin for stopping by, and for writing that post, the inspiration for this rant.
Ciao!

Pain pain p a I n

Well, I decided that a visit to the doctor was required. I tweeked out some ligaments in my knees. My Dr. gave me a cortisone shot and put me off of work for a couple of weeks (darn!) But I am kinda bummed. I was doing good. I will try more when I am better. I think I will have to start all over though. Oh well. It is all good.

Yesterday I went on a tour of the new Morman temple in Sacramento. It was kinds neat. and a little weird. I don't know how to really describe it. Ask a Mormon I guess. It was a good opportunity, since after the temple is dedicated you have to be a Mormon in good standing to get in there. Obviously, being Muslim, I am not going to get the opportunity again. It was beautiful and as I expected, the mormans were very nice. Plus I found out who the hornblower is on top of the spires. Cool.

So everything was going good.

I was running on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. Then I get this idea, "hey why don't I try to wear these shoes to run? They are lighter."
Big mistake.
My knees are totally jacked up now. I mean seriously. I was hobbling around like an old woman at work last night. I had this brilliant idea on Wednesday. I haven't been able to run since. I am going to go back out on Monday though. I don't want to give up. I am a day behind in the training now, but I am still gonna try, no big deal, what is one day? Early this morning I finally broke down and took some Tylenol. Whew, I felt so much better after that. I don't think carrying around my 40 lb son helped matters either. Ayman is into tantrums right now, and has to be physically moved from place to place on occasion. It's fun! Screaming toddler, in public! Everyone should have one. So, to sum up, stupid shoe choice, knees hurt, on injured list until Monday.
Crap.

Guess who has an anniversary on Sunday?
Amr and I! Five years, 4 moves, 1 trip to Egypt together, 3 apart, an appendectomy (Amrs) Rotovirus (Aymans) 2 carthefts and 2 wallet thefts (mine) and, Two beautiful children. Time flies when you are having fun.

Amr and Cass, at Alex and Renees wedding, July 13th 2002. 

Man, it is really hot.

It is too hot to do a darn thing over here. I am crazy. I'm cooking dinner. With a hot stove. Totally idiotic. Still running. Last week, four people in addition to myself had their hands in my mouth. I went to the dentist and the orthodontist. I am going all crazy over here with my dental insurance. Aside from that and a nursing home closing in my town, and causing a mass casualty disaster (one person died, you might have heard about it) due to no air conditioning, I have been laying low and trying to keep cool. Oh, and I found out I don't get to go back to school until January. What a bummer. It is probably for the best though, that is all folks. Gotta go get dinner on the table.

Complaints of a TV addict.

Kathy Griffins show is already over. I don't care what anyone says, I love that woman. It went so fast. At least I have Project Runway. I love Tim Gunn. Actually, I didn't care for Santinos designs last season, but his Tim impressions were dead on and hilarious. What about that weirdo, Malan Breton on the new season? He is strange. I don't know what it is about him. And don't even get me started with Mr.Hooded-Sweat-Shirt-I-Am-Too-Cool-For-This-Shit- Jeffrey Sebilia. That guy gave garbage as a first offering.
I love Bravo.

Okay here we go.

Today was the first day of my two month starting to run program. I nursed the baby at around five, was done by 0515, got out to run walk and was home by 0550. Lemme tell ya, it was 73 degrees outside when I left for my little odyssey, and it was 80 degrees in my house. You have never seen anyone get in the shower quicker. By seven am I will have to turn on the AC. But it is all good if my ass ends up a little less fat. By the end of this two months I should be able to run 3 miles. Thank you to the wiki how page "How to start running." Only three days a week. Maybe if I keep telling myself I can do it I will be able to do it.
Wish me luck.

A couple of Ayman shots for you, equal time and all.

This picture was taken a couple of months ago out at my grandpas house. His next door neighbor has a pen with goats in it. Ayman got to feed the goats some green grass. He thought it was fun. On fathers day, all of Aymans older cousins sat out there watching those goats. I asked my cousin Jacob what they were doing and he told me: "We are waiting for them to fart or hump." Sweet.


Here is one of Aymans new things. He will pretend he is a baby. He will swipe Jennahs pacifier from her, get his blanket, and lay on the floor. Then he proceeds to make noises like a baby, and waves his arms and legs around in the air. Sometimes he wants you to hold him like a baby too. This time, my mom was over and he was really laying the baby act on, so we put one of Jennahs bows in his hair too. We can file this one under "pictures my mom will show my girlfriends when I grow up"
Heh heh heh, can't wait.

The Many Faces of Jennah

Jennah and her little baby expressions.

happy

surprised

almost upset

shocked

chubby
New style pigtails by the way, how cute is that?

Sweet Pea

This is a happy baby. I hope she stays this way forever. (happy I mean) She rolls over now, and is starting to try to laugh at me. She will sleep all night long when I am at work, but not when I am home. She gave us quite a surprise last week when ( I cant believe I am going to write this, but it is my blog and she will read it one day) she fell off the couch. Yes, I left my 3.75 month old infant unsupervised on the couch. With a huge ottoman in front of her. She was sleeping with her back facing out kind of angled down ward. anyhoo, long story short, I came back in from potting a mini rose bush, and Amr was holding her. I asked him if she was crying and he said "she fell off the couch." I was stunned, to say the least, because to get off the couch she had to do a 180 and then a couple of complete rolls from there, but I guess she did. I asked Amr if she was face down or up on the floor, and his answer was, "I have no idea, I heard crying, I came in, I didn't see her, I picked her up. It happened very fast" Oh well. I busted out my little wedgie things for her to lay between now that she is mobile. Ayman didn't roll over until after he was crawling so Jennah is charting new territory with us. Her brains seemed unscrambled and she was able to focus, so we declared her good to go. She also fell on to a soft surface (softer than a hardwood floor that is to say) Long story short, I feel like Brittany Spears. Just not pregnant, rich, and white trash. Lets see what else can my little pixie do these days beside explode her diapers off of her body? She is holding her head up great, and trying to lift her upper body up when I cradle her. She only wants the boob, and is giving Amr a hard time when he feeds her on the weekend, but I am working on remedying that situation. Now we are trying to give her a set bedtime, and get used to being laid down for the night. It is going good so far, and I will keep my fingers crossed. In Ayman news, he got a Hep A vaccination (I think it was hep a.) He didn't even really notice the girl gave him a shot, which was way cool. Today I had him sit on the toilet for about twenty minutes after I found him grunting away by the computer, but that didn't pan out. I guess we will have to just keep on keepin' on with that one. That is it though. Oh and if anyone wants a myspace friend as boring as me, you can find me under cassnasr.

I am going to Hell.

this is killing me.
Click on this and read the kids names. Totally worth it.

Get out your Dramamine, Phenergan or Zofran if you will-

Because this post will make you nauseous.
This morning I woke up to flowers, an expensive and wonderful smelling candle, and a card for no reason at all. Which is Reason #531 Why I love my husband so much.He is really great and thoughtful.. He signed the card from the kids and himself. So sweet. I am a lucky, lucky, lucky girl.
I love you honey.

The MAN, stickin' it to me.

Well, I have talked to my supervisor at work, again, and I guess I have to work for the fourth of July holiday. But I don't mind because of this: On graveyard shift the holiday is the night before. So I will still be able to take the kids to fireworks, and I get an extra day on the schedule plus my payrate at time and a half. Which is SWEET. I am still irritated about it and I am still considering filing a grievance, but whatever. It is all good. Last year I worked all the holidays and they didn't have a problem with it, but if I want to be off for two in a row, Oh hell no. I guess it is more the principle of the thing, regardless of the compensation in pay. They only follow rules when it is convenient to them, not all the time. I guess that is why there is a union in the first place. Bastards.

So Sweet.

Cousins, kickin it.

This is Ayman and his cousin Lexi. They were thick as thieves yesterday. It was so cool to see. Lex wanted to teach him what a "sentence" was and played little piggies with him. They enjoyed their lunch on a quilt and had a nice time together. We got too many pictures of it.

Happy Fathers Day Amr!

We went out to my Grampas house for a fathers Day BBQ. It was a nice time. A ton of food, and good company, it was nice to see everyone and made me think we should do it more often.

Here is something that sucks.

(Let me give a shout out to Ming-Ming, you oughta appreciate this one.)
A couple things, really.
First: My job. I got an email from the woman who writes the schedule at work. She informed me that I would have to work on the fourth of July, even though it is a Tuesday. She told me I had to work it because I didn't work on Memorial day, and because it was in our union contract (it isn't by the way, I read it last night.). Well, let me say right now, F&*% that. I didn't work on Memorial Day because I am on a shortened schedule as of late, due to the birth of my daughter. I had to sign a paper saying I would come back to work 3 days a week starting July 1. So I only work on Fridays and Saturdays. Usually I work Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That is what I signed on for in December of 2004. Weekends only. So Labor Day, and Memorial Day are on Mondays, big deal....Last summer I worked on the fourth of July AND Memorial Day, as a favor to the dingbat that was writing the schedule then. How soon we forget. They don't have a problem with that right? I also worked on Xmas Eve and day, New Years Eve and day, because, hello, they fell on the weekend. Did I complain? No. That is what I signed up for. So I guess this is where I call for Union intervention. I know I pay them 16 dollars a pay period for something. So the boss can suck it. I am not working. She can put that in her pipe and smoke it. She also informed me that I will be having trouble with the other holidays that fall on Monday as well. No I won't. So there.
The other thing is, I defragmented my computer and got rid of a whole bunch of crap. Now, when I went to open Mozilla today, I have a different homepage, all of my bookmarks are gone and when I go to the sites I used to frequent I have to put in all of my passwords over again. That sucks big time. Jerks.

I Love Being A Mom.

Tonight while my son was in the bathtub I whittled down his toy basin. He has a million little happy meal toys and stuff that really hurts to step on in his toy cabinet. I took out anything I didn't see him play with lately, and out in to the garage it went. I am considering giving the crap to a second hand store, because let's face it, my son has too much crap. My husband is as bad as me in contributing to it. We can say we are even. I have a thing for buying the kids clothes, and every once in a while Amr will buy the boy some toy cars from the junk store. Any way, he was in the bath and all the toys in the cabinet turned into, 3 balls (one basketball, a small soccerball, and a nondescript ball) a fire truck, an aquadoodle, and the basin, which now contains his big lego looking blocks, some mardigras beads, and an assortment of cars. Of course he also has that recently popular toy from Auntie Renee,the tupperware ball with the holes and shapes to put in them. Don't forget his Hello Kitty earmuffs either. He can't ride his little scooter thingie with out those:


(that is priceless) I guess, long story short, (too late) I reduced his toys. It works out great (for me at least) and he has so many he doesn't miss them. I know, I know, I am preaching to the choir here, any mom knows about what I like to call "Toy Appreciation" It is a must, or you will find yourself up to your hiney in toys and other crap you manage to accumulate for your child.
After Ayman got out of his bath, his Daddy was getting him ready to go pray the last prayer of the night (Isha'a) at the mosque. After he was dressed he proceeded to open the cabinet and blessedly, did not seem to notice the dramatic decrease in his toys. He did however, notice that I put all of his lego type blocks together and proceeded to play with them. He played with them like he had never played with them before. He played with them like he hadn't ignored them at all in the last week. Then it came time to go. His Daddy was standing by the front door, telling him time for "bye-bye". Ayman jumped up to go. I had just cleaned up the damn toys, so I said, "Put your toys away, baby" and he proceeded to pick up his blocks and put them in the tub. I am looking at Amr like, "huh?" you could have knocked me over with a feather. Then he picked up the tub and put it in the cabinet, and closed the doors. WOW. I was dumbfounded. He never did that before. Of course that is not to say that I didn't waste lots of my breath telling him to, he just never bothered with it. (why would you if your mom is just gonna clean it up anyway?) After that Amr picked him up and gave him kisses while I gave him "Bravo"'s We were impressed. Then Amr told him, "say bye- bye, Mommy" and wouldn't you know? He said it! I was so stoked. Sure all this seems little and trivial, but it was awesome. I had to write it down. He needs to see this stuff when he grows up, and I need to remember how he was when he was little, when he is big.
I am a dorky mom, sue me.