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.

Look at the ears.

Today I had to take Jennah to the doctors office for her 2 month immunizations. Well, she had to get FOUR shots! I guess I forgot about that sadistic crap from Ayman. Anyway, I thought since I was going to be dosing her with Tylenol every four hours, I might as well make it worth it. We went right on over to the mall and got her ears pierced too. She had a very bad day. Actually though, she is doing good. She has slept a lot, blessedly. It looks so precious! I felt apprehensive about it at first, but then I just decided to nut up and do it. I think she will thank me later. (or hold it against me, who knows.)

Happy Family

Another picture from Jacobs graduation party. I think we are all looking at the camera, amazingly enough. Ayman was totally distracted by the last of his Smartees in this sitting so we had to try to take this about 10 times. The joy of a short attention span.

Kickin' it with Uncle Alex.

We went to cousin Jacobs graduation party this last weekend. Luau food and fun was had by all. There was a pinata, and Ayman got some smartees out of it. He is seen here with his Uncle Alex, chillin' and chompin'.

Cass and Jenn

Okay, I know this is sickeningly sweet, but I had too. She is wearing the second dress that was made for her by Gramma and I. Very precious.
I want to take this time to say that we all had a very nice time at Jacobs party. My Aunt Cindy always does such an awesome job on that stuff. Everything so well thought out. She had all kinds of great stuff to eat, and an adorable cake with pictures of my cousin from when he was little on it. What a good mommy. I can't believe he is old enough to go to high school already. It seems like not that long ago that I was babysitting him and his brother so their mommy and daddy could go have a romantic weekend, six weeks or so after his younger brother was born. That was a rough babysitting gig. It made me appreciate family planning in a way I never had before. As in, I planned on having my family in the far away future, and only when there would be a husband involved. 12 years later, here we are. I sit at my computer keyboard blogging away while my son hunches over, quietly behind me trying strain out a poop, without me noticing. (we put him on the toilet by the way, but I think he sees that as somewhere to pass the time before he poops in the clean diaper we put on him when we give up.) Where does the time go?

Sleepin' with Daddy

I came home from work a couple of weeks ago and this is what i found. Amr and Jennah sleeping in similar positions. So cute. He takes care of her overnight on Fridays and Saturdays wheni am working. What a brave soul.

I meant to do that.

Ok, I realize I have not written a monthy update on Ayman in like, MONTHS. Forgive me, between being pregnant, having a newborn, breastfeeding and going back to work, I seem to have forgotten. Let's say he is doing great. He has started really trying to talk, and can say "triangle" and identify the #2. He fetches diapers for his sister and gives her her pacifier when she spits it out. He loves Blues Clues, Wonderpets, and Dora the Explorer, and I love him.
Time to go cuddle the larvae, I will post again soon.

New haircut.

Aymans Gramma Cindy took him for a hair cut on Tuesday. We all think he looks real spiffy.

What the Hell, People?

I was just watching Nightline and they had a story about how a marine unit wiped out three families in Iraq, for no good reason. They were comparing this incident to the My Lai Massacre of 1968. This really sickens me on so many levels. I do not support this war, and never have. My uncle had to spend some time in Iraq with his National Guard unit, and I will say that I support him and respect the job he had to do there. I do not respect the reason we are there or the President that sent him. I think it is becoming more and more of a quagmire everyday. The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Michael W. Hagee, had to fly in to Iraq this week to remind soldiers of the danger of becoming "indifferent to the loss of a human life" .
I feel bad that these soldiers and sailors are even in a position where they have to be reminded of such a thing. They should not be there. Now that they are the stress of the combat situation is turning them into animals. I am not excusing this barbaric behavior. I love Marines. I was a hospital corpsman stationed on a Marine Corps base for my entire service in the Navy. I respect these guys, and the very hard jobs that they have to do. It just disturbs me that this is happening. The kicker here as well, is that this cannot be the only time that this has happened. You just know that it has happened before, and the unit had: A.) no questions asked, B.) some smart folks who made it look justified, and or C.) CO's who did not give a rats ass. (just call'em insurgents!). I think we will be hearing about more of these incidents as this ridiculous war goes on. I am just not looking forward to it. Sorry in advance to any military member I offend. I do have a right to voice my opinion, and needless loss of life hurts everyone. Take it up with the Commander in Chief if you have a problem.

Harold won, and other crap.

Loser TV Report:Harold Deiterle won Top Chef. He deserved it. That Tiffani was all over the place. Taylor Hicks won too, like no one knows that one. I am so happy for the dude. I didn't watch all of Idol, I used to TiVo the auditions, and ole Taylor was on one of them. I am stoked he got it. It serves Simon right for wanting to pass on true talent in the beginning. Such a "suck it" moment for him. Then there was Lost--sometimes I just want to say screw it as far as that show goes. But I know I will be back. The season finale was whole lot of nothing tonight, those jerks. A nice surprise- when I was finished watching the recording of Top Chef, Bravo was having a sneak peek at season 2 of Kathy Griffins show so I watched that. That chick is HILARIOUS. My mom and I went all the way down to San Diego last November to see her and it was totally worth it. I would go again. Anyway, there is my TV junkie report.
In non-TV related news, Ayman got a hair cut. I would post a pic of it, but Kodaks Ofoto is down right now. I started on another dress for Jennah. I got as far as cutting it out, so I consider that a lot accomplished. The boy is finally starting to really talk. Today, Jennah was crying on the couch, and I was making Aymans PB&J, so I told him to give his sissy her bzaza (pacifier). He went in the living room, and I didn't really think any thing of it. Then he came back in and said "I did it!" You can imagine my surprise-- not only did he come in and say a complete sentence (I think) but his sister wasn't crying, he actually DID do it. She had her bzaza in her mouth. I was so proud. Thank you, Dora the Explorer.

Jennahs first ponytails!

Get Out Your Insulin

My mom and I made Jennah a dress. Here she is wearing it, and giving us her first photograpically captured smile. Check out the shoes. I love Wal-Mart. Stay tuned dear readers I just got a new sewing machine (thanks, Dad.)and I am all bout making a couple dresses with hair bows to match, I am just that sickening. Jennah told me she can't wait and wants more, more, more clothes to hang on those cute little baby hangers. I can't say no.

Hello, Gorgeous!

I took this picture of Jennah while she was sitting on my lap. She had smiled at me, but i didn't catch that in time. I'm so lucky, she is a good baby. We went to her doctors appointment and she went from 7lbs 7 oz, to 10 lbs! Woo Hoo my breastmilk must be a fatty brew!
And in Ayman news, he has learned how to throw a classic temper tantrum. Ahhhh the joys of the terrible twos! He will get that long string of drool going and everything. It is lovely.

Fair Winds and Following Seas....

Lee Anne Wong of Top Chef.
I was very disturbed by last evenings' Top Chef. That Dave made it to Vegas, leaving down to Lee Anne and Tiffani (beeeeaaatch) and since Lee Annes dish was too busy, she got eliminated. She should have been going to the final round. Dave consistently f-ed up his dishes and was called out for being the worst, almost being eliminated more than once. Lee Anne was not like this and was very professional. Let's just say I am disgusted. At least that jerk Steven got eliminated though, so I am convinced there is a God.

Aymans Daddy Will Be Thrilled I Showed Him This.

Today I taught my son a Smedley family time honored tradition of licking the beaters. Let's just say HE LOVED IT.

how cute is this?

Waiting In Hell.

Here we are. Jennah, Ayman and I, waiting in the newborn waiting room at the doctors office. We didn't actually see the doctor yesterday, because it turns out the insurance is all jacked up right now. We get to do it all again on Thursday. That was an hour and a half of our lives we'll never get back. Because you know it is so easy toting two kids and their accoutrement. Jerks.