How Bubbles came to stay!

I almost gave away my cat, Bubbles, today. It had been really frustrating managing Bubbles and Eshaal together. There’s fur on the couches, behind the couches, on the rugs, under the rugs. There are scratches on the leather and a million disturbances that come with a pet cat. But, those issues are the least of my worries. Bubbles, although friendly isn’t one to be bullied by Eshaal. She reacts and hits back. So after many disagreements with Asad (did you see the underline?)...

Asad:     If you can’t manage her why do you have her?

Fiz:         Cuz' you just don’t chuck out a family member!

Asad:     You’re waiting for Bubbles to scratch Eshaal?

Fiz:         Bubbles won’t do that...

Asad:     What if Eshaal eats Bubbles poop?

Fiz:         Ewwww…. Eshaal has common sense, she won’t!

Asad:     Yes, like the time her common sense made her drink tiger balm!

… I made up my mind to give away Bubbles. Logic: Eshaal’s well being is more important to me. Also, we won’t have to make arrangements whenever we go on trips, there won’t be a cat screaming in the house and waking everyone up at 6 o clock, there won’t be any Eshaal/Bubbles wrestling matches and most of all no cat-in-heat-find-an-appropriate-mate dilemmas. This little girl called me up to ask if she can have Bubbles and I said yes. This was yesterday and I’ve changed my mind. It will need hell lot more to give away Bubbles than these reasons. Eshaal loves bubbles. That’s the most interesting thing for her when she wakes up in the morning. I can’t do that to my baby... we’ll just have to deal with vacuums and rollers...  Bubbles stays!

Bored of the Boring!

After you have a kid, things change so much on the marriage front. What used to be engaging banter is now discussion on a series of chores and everyday responsibilities regarding Eshaal. Your child becomes the nucleus around which your whole universe seems to be revolving. What you say, what you do, where you go, all such decisions are thought-through with the yardstick that is Eshaal’s moods/routine/behavior! It’s almost as if Asad and I don’t have lives of our own. Even our arguments have taken a funny turn. We used to argue about people, issues, the right and wrong. And now, we argue about Eshaal and Bubbles, Eshaal and Tv remotes, Eshaal and Kitchen limits, Eshaal and Psychology. This little being has taken over our lives! For the most part I love it. But things have changed...

I do miss our old lives where it was just Asad, I and the whole world full of opportunities. Now the ‘whole world full of opportunities’ is basically a bunch of symmetric differences with Eshaal’s world. The two cannot co-exist. But being very clear, it isn’t just Eshaal’s grand entry into this world that is responsible for this. Sometimes, a lil head of opportunity does pop up behind the door, but were too tired, lazy and uninspired to take hold of it. It’s almost as if we’ve settled for the daily ruts of life rather than making something of it! I, for one cannot settle for this! My life deserves bigger, better and more fun! I am taking charge now.. 

(Steamy thoughts! Hilarious..)

Nostalgic Me!

It’s been a while.. Eshaal’s growing up so fast and I can’t seem to stop her (not that I want to either) but just looking at her old baby pictures and those funny home videos, just makes me sigh out loud! Soon she will no longer be my wee lil’ one who I can carry around! I love that she’s such an independent and feisty baby (mashAllah). Sometimes I wish I had actually penned down the things I had done with her training, the successful ones and the mistakes I could have learn from. If my second one turns out to be like Eshaal, I will be very very lucky! (not that its anytime soon..)

Things are going well on the Eshaal front.

• We’ve got a control on the Binky addiction. I did two things, introduce Poochy (the brown teddy) for daytime/car rides and make the rule Binky-cant-leave-cot.
• Eshaal does in-toeing when walking and it’s getting worse. There’s a name to her problem, Internal Tibial Torsion (can u believe that!) Just waiting for a second opinion before making a decision. Hoping for the best!

Dubai Travels!

I’m back. We were on a 10-day holiday to Dubai (Long story). It was a fun, relaxing and learning experience. From meeting up with family to the shopping, from the adrenaline rushes to the wow-ing and of course the lazy mornings and the good food! All-in-all I loved it! The highlight of the holiday was of course Eshaal. She behaved remarkably well and I learned that babies are super-flexible when it comes to such trips. She slept without her cot, ate only Cerelac, worked well without her stroller and car seat. She has made me realize that come what may, she can deal with it (Alhumdulillah), so long as she has her Binky (which we almost lost once on the trip btw.)

(Our few moments from Dubai- Burj Khalifa the tallest building in the world. Dubai Mall Aquarium, the largest indoor aquarium in the world. Ferrari World, the fastest Roller Coaster in the world).

Stop Child Abuse!

Today is one of those days when your mind and thoughts venture away from your comfort zone. I’ve been reading about child abuse… I do NOT understand how anyone can harm a child, let alone their own. How people can actually watch their babies being hurt by their own friends and families? How is it possible?  What is wrong with the minds of our society? What kind of morally reprehensible age are we living in? It’s appalling! And it’s everywhere, no country is safe! While my baby smiles and plays, there are so many others who are in pain! Baby Peter, Victoria Climbi, Shazia Masih and so many more! They all deserved to live in peace!

We all want to do something about it. The Vivint Gives Away Project is a great way to get started somewhere. All you have to do is to endorse Childhelp by clicking here (once everyday). Childhelp is an American non-profit organization that deals with cases of child abuse and neglect, our votes will make sure they get the donation that can help make a difference. To us it’s just a few free clicks but to a little baby out there it might mean so much more- security, protection and love. Don’t let the daily ruts and routines of life steal away the moment when you could have actually done something in making a lil part of this world a lil safer for the lil ones. It does'nt matter which time zone will benefit from your efforts, it matters about that child out there...

P.s. If you wish to get Banner Ads about this charity for your blog or website then click here.

Reminiscing Binky..

This blog is in beloved memory of the Original Binky! Cuz’ guess what? Binky cloned itself into TWO. For those of you who haven’t yet met Eshaal and her beloved Binky, this blog will make no sense. One can never separate Eshaal and Binky save for a few yards! My baby has developed a deep relationship with her comfort blanket. She cannot sleep without it, she can play for hours with it, she can hush-up in seconds because of it, she can drag and clean our floors with it and she will start laughing like crazy when she sees it. Asad questions her dependency on it, but I’m sure she will outgrow it. And well another more selfish reason: Hell, it makes my life so much easier!

Since my blanket-addicted baby cannot survive a day without it, washing it is a nightmare. It’s a no-room-for-errors-mistakes-or-delays mission, which has to be planned and executed like ‘laundry-pros’. Plus, we have to haul it for the car rides (as my very generous daughter has donated her Binky’s smaller version to Carrefour!) It’s just nerve-wracking to keep track of Binky’s every move. So, we decided to split the blanket into two Binky clones… and have successfully deceived our lil baby girl! Although she doesn’t seem to care, I, on the other hand, was having flashbacks while cutting and hemming her lil pink princess blanket. My wee lil baby and her Binky together at the hospital, at home, travelling all across the globe... I am so going to miss her baby-hood, even though it’s not over yet.

(My Baby and her Binky – A trip down memory lane)

May 'End' June

This month has been emotionally and physically taxing. We found an apartment, moved into it; celebrated Eshaal’s Birthday and are still in the process of settling down. A lot went down, good and bad. One doesn’t mind the arduous tasks, but what’s challenging are the parenting wars, differences in opinion, lack of empathy, not wanting to meet half-way, the ego-battles, miscommunication and the list kinda goes on. Though it doesn’t mean you experience them in their full-blown intensity or in one big chunk, but every relationship bumps into them periodically. A few days later you can laugh about it. But when it’s actually going down, boyy do you wish God installed a microphone option in your larynx!

Anyhoodles, I made some June resolutions!

a)      Start eating better and healthier home-cooked food.

b)      Get going on Eshaal’s swimming.

c)      Pay attention to what Asad has to say about the house and Eshaal.

(You won’t even know what hit you!)

Number 1

My baby turned 1 today (MA). Even though I am excited about having a whole digit to my baby’s age, the B-day passed by just like any other. Getting Cerelac on the floor, making silly faces, throwing the camera around, getting chocolate onto her stockings, cuddling, pulling Bubbles ears, funny bath moments, falling off the couch, etc. etc. Asad and I aren’t really Birthday people. But, since this was my first child’s first birthday, we did have a lil’ party the day before.

(Yes, there’s the B-day Baby, decked in frilly-ness & pink-ness)

(..And the actual B -day. Out to buy a present)

(The End to a very special day in her life...)

Although her lil’ party is over, I still have to deal with bowls and bowls of leftovers. We did try our best to hog as much as we could, but there’s still so much to go. I hate leftovers! Asad isn’t ecstatic about them either (obviously). And I’m definitely not throwing out the food. Just will have to hog down some more (for the rest of the week...)

 (..Unless, I figure out how Biryani and Guacamole go together)

Queen Bee..

Living alone, by ourselves has its perks. You are the Queen Bee to the place you call home. Your husband isn’t oh-so-interested on how you run the house, as long as there’s an unlimited supply of food, Gatorade and clean shirts! Of course, there are those unsaid agreements that you have to follow, like, no Hyderabadi food on the table, no Bubbles on the arm chairs, no Eshaal near the laptop, etc. etc. But life’s good, and soon there comes a moment when you know of none other lifestyle than having utter and total reigns to the house. Queen Bee. But, sometimes in those rare situations when you have actually moved to another house, where both you and husband have a gzillion work to take care of, disagreements pop up like candy from a piñata. Reason: The husband critiques a decision and the wife no longer can take criticism.

Fiz:         Let’s put this mat here.

Asad:     Why would you want to put it under the shoe rack? It looks cheap.

Fiz:         Because I like it there! I want it under!

Asad:     Maybe, we should put this basket here?

Fiz:         Nooo, how can it go there! It spoils the whole look! Why would you do that?!

Asad:     Were not going to use this kettle, our old one’s good.

Fiz:         I want the new one!  It’s so hard to make Eshaal’s bottle in this one. You don’t even know what I go through every day!!

Yes, the Queen Bee doesn’t do well when her ‘subjects’ question her. But lately, she’s realized she should be the humble and sweet Queen Bee, who should put her ‘subjects’ interests before her. So she will address this issue with e-reading on this matter. They say you have to take deep breaths, not to react impulsively or defensively, not to take it personally, but, constructively… We could try that.

(..Or this. I am the Queen Bee after all.)

Birthday Suit?

We’re at the new place! It’s amazing. I love it so much (MA.) If there ever were a within-the-budget dream house, this is it! Just trying to settle down, unpack and get things in order. But, I must say, we did an impressive job. 4hrs was all it took for the movers to get-in and get-out. Everything was so super organized for them. Maybe I just might write a whole blog report on the moving.

Eshaal has surprised us so much. She has started walking really well and today I understood why. Our old house had many furniture pieces scattered out, so she’d just hold-walk from one plane to another. The new house is all empty; we still have to rearrange furniture. So there’s plenty of space for her to actually take steps. She’s really happy; you can actually see the pride on her face. My baby, not even a year old and doing so much (MA)... And this reminds me, I’m facing hopeless confusion regarding my baby’s Birthday suit (No, not that one).  Shall I dress her in frilly-ness and pink-ness? Or will it be chic and peachy? Or maybe we could go for Baby-Vogue and green? Confusions, confusion. Too bad there aren’t three sides to a coin, ‘cuz I ain’t bothering with tossing it thrice! I think I’ll let her pick.

Battling future Amnesia?

Somehow Facebook seems to be celebrating a lot of birthdays just now.. That or maybe I’m on the lookout for anything to do with B-days. This time around, I’m actually excited about mine as well. Even though I missed the opportunity of celebrating it in Dubai (moving to another apartment is far far better) Don’t know what the next year holds for me? Another baby I’d like to think! (Asad, are you reading this) Come 19May I will be 23 and come 21May Eshaal will Hit a whole Year (MA) Life’s moving just way too fast these days.. She rolled, she sat, she crawled and she conquered! Yep my lil’ wee baby has started walking (MA)

While she’s growing up, I’m growing old. The worst part is, I keep forgetting where I put things (Did I mention I will be 23?) Expired yoghurt you shall find in my fridge, expired mushroom cans you shall find in my pantry cabinet, expired make-up you shall find in my drawers. Buried somewhere else will be Baby clothes that Eshaal will never wear because her mother couldn’t remember she had bought them. It’s frustrating. Although I pride myself on being super organized, some things just slip out.. But, not anymore. I have touched and examined every pore of my house, from the smallest hair pin to the largest arm chair! Nothing has been above my crazed- scrutiny. I now have an inventory of everything and where it’s stored.

I feel great moving to the new place,

Where everything shall be where it ought to be.

Linens, spoons, heels and spaghetti,

And yes, Queen I shall be sipping my tea!

 

I hope that's not Asad and me 10 years from now. Although, he is’nt any better at remembering either. Maybe we should start eating Almonds (like that would help)

Hurra' Young Mommy

Around morning, chopping some onions to make mince, I started thinking..

Being a young, inexperienced Mother is cool. It has certain pros attached to it that maybe a more wisely and mature mother might be unaware of. Of course, this is by no means a generalization. I admit Young mothers can be terribly reckless, we read about it all the time. But for me, it has been very lucrative.

A.I do the Science!

I admit I don’t have much experience. The most interactive I’ve been with a baby was Sofia, a mild-mannered two-year olds diaper change! I am lost on a number of occasions, specially, when my baby proceeds to give me the most unfathomable of situations to deal with. Knowing you’re ignorant can be a blessing. You strive that much more to excel in your weakness. I know I only got one shot bringing my baby up as healthy, confident and smart enough to know right from wrong. There is no reset button. I read, re-read and then, some more - Finding out the million perspectives on a situation before mixing up my own. It almost always works. The ‘wisely mother’ might not be so open to the new ideas surrounding Parenting & Motherhood. They think they know it all.

B. I remember being a Child..

Asad: Why is she going there again?

Fiz: umm.. Because she’s a baby?

Asad: She doesn’t listen, she’s spoiled!

(Fiz removes Eshaal from the laptop (Read, her drumming gear)

I can understand why she wants to go there. I remember being a curious one. Knowing how to empathize with your baby is so fruitful. I get less mad or upset. I know why she has to do what she has to do. Because, I remember..  Asad doesn’t. The ‘wisely mother’ might not remember the oh-so-important-strong-feelings-and-opinions she once had as a child. Her child might go through the same phases she did. I feel great knowing, come those teenage years, things will be a tad bit less testing (for I was one crazy, rebellious kid and I know that now!)

Yep, that was me almost a year ago! Feels good to have crossed the one year line. Cant wait for Eshaal's Birthday. Just two more weeks left! Yipeeee!

A New High!

This world is one big psychological study. That being said, I am the quintessential person for all case studies (except maybe sociopath's or Alzheimer’s or Schizophrenic's or MPD’s or…) Okay correction: I am the quintessential masterpiece of quite some facets of case studies (the almost-normal ones) Yep, I like that. For example: How many people can tickle themselves? Yes, you heard me. How many have RLS? How many can play whole movie sequences in their dreams? And to top it off, how many can actually go back to their favorite dreams?  Ha!

I feel all smug, hi-and-mighty right now. A complete narcist. I made the greatest Pulao in the history of Pulao-making (Why does that sound so familiar..) I think packing makes me high! I’ve been all over the place since yesterday, which was the official day 1 of packing. Imagine, all those boxes and boxes ready to be stuffed in the most precise jigsaw puzzle way possible. 3/10 boxes done and going steady. I love this.

P.s: Were moving. And Eshaal and Bubbles think it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to them (they’re high too, on the million things-to-destroy-within-their-reach)

He's dead? now what?

Going through my fair share of Osama Bin Laden’s death clips, I came across something that touched me more than the issue about a terrorist’s death. How is an event worthy of a National holiday, not as striking as what I was to read and feel later... 10 years is a long time for a not-a-direct-victim to care about! That, and the fact I don’t even know if they’re true.  I have stopped caring. They say he killed thousands of innocent men, women and children, but the US. Govt. did the same in Afghanistan and Iraq. How am I supposed to rejoice or feel anything when it was never about this one man! What of all those surrounding his mere identity (And they are MANY.) The people of America, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan who have lost, random people who have died all over the globe because of this. How, is this one death even remotely justified? There is no rejoice. At this point, given the turn of events.. I feel indifferent to his death. (Do made-up, imaginary people die?)

More gripping to me was when I came across the horrifying stories of Elizabeth Swan, Natascha Kampusch and so many other cases of children kept in captivity! As a mother I am sickened, scared. How can anyone protect their own in this world? This, I feel much about..  

Pleasant Surprise!

For some reason, I picked up my Life’s Little Instruction Book today. Alone. You see that book has inspired me a lot. So, every morning, while Asad eats his Breakfast, I like to read an instruction or two from it. It’s really nice.. I read it cover to cover (Again!) It’s just amazing. Such small, simple gestures that go whoaaa! A long way!

Anyhow, that’s beside the point. So the strangest and amazing thing happened. I don’t think my day could top this one off! (Unless Asad comes back home with our apartment’s lease documents!). It’s more of a sequence of events:

Last 2 nights read one Bloggers Blog à Commented on her FB page à she replied back à added her on Facebook à swapped numbers à decided to meet her  (with our husbands!). 

So, basically I have a date with a complete stranger, who I’ve spoken on the phone once with. Im thinking ill carry a book (Pride & Prejudice?) and maybe a single red rose! With my husband and baby in tow! Kinda completes the package! I love how corny it sounds! Haha. But I’m really excited =) *fingers-crossed*

Break-through!

Something amazing happened last evening. You don’t get to feel crazily ecstatic twice in a day! But that’s exactly what happened (no, don’t go there!) I was with my Friend Ghada (quick intro: amazing friend, neighbor, party planner, alien who never sleeps, operates with energizer batteries, loves cats and cooking) and we finally hit an understanding with our Business idea. (I had chickened out of it). But last evening was very inspirational. So ive been working on the project since morning. Lots of things to do.

Okay ill give this part away. But really fast. We are starting a catering business called the Kitchen2. We both love to cook, are crazy about presentations and the need for art in food! It’s something we feel very strongly about. We don’t need much capital to begin with; cuz the cooking will take place from home. The set up at the clients place. So don’t need much space too. What we need is some spices, some chicken, spatulas and off we go! (Well not really!) Time, energy and talents! Where I live is a small place, half the people know the other half. They love to throw parties while doing nothing. Bzinnng! We exploit that! Initially it’s pretty small scale. Just want to make a name of ourselves in the first year. Let’s see how it goes. Have cards and menus and recipes to work on.

P.s: I can’t decide the theme of this blog. Is it about the girl whose madly in love with her better half, about the mommy who has a funny baby that makes her laugh and drive her up the wall, about the Muslim whose every action is being recorded and judged, or is it about the entrepreneur whose inspired and passionate about her business idea or is it about those random thoughts that come in your head while you’re doing the most monotonous things in life?

Random Thought #1

Let’s skip the foreplay.

My thoughts for the day have been mostly centered around cleaning! Today’s project is scrubbing down the kitchen top-bottom. Most people would find that boring, but if im in the mood, or so as to say hit by the Fiz-org-bug then boyy is it fun! Why is it so hard to imagine cleaning as a secret indulgence? If something as weird as curling can be a sport, kiwi a mammal, then why can’t cleaning be a hobby? Presumptions, presumptions.

More Later.