A season of firsts

Dear Zaidan, yesterday on October 26 you cut your very first tooth. It's still growing and getting bigger, but you are officially on your way to having a tooth filled smile!!

This morning you made us all so excited by clapping and you are clapping like there's no tomorrow! Now we look forward to seeing your baby signs.

Well we're off to your very first trance dance with Govindas and Shiva Rea. I think you will love this because your favorite thing to do is play drums, maraccas, and rhythm sticks.

OK, off we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

California Inferno and Hello Shakti

Well we arrived in California on Tuesday. You were great on the airplane! You were a bit squirmish and excited by the new environment. But right after takeoff you nursed and went straight to sleep for 2 hours. You woke up and had a playdate with a cute 10 month old baby in the back of the plane. Your dad has been a tremendous help on this trip and i"m really lucky he's come along and postponed his trip to Jordan.

Yesterday we walked about 6 miles switching off wearing you since we did not bring a stroller, and let me tell you; YOU ARE A BIG HEAVY BOY!!!

We walked along the Venice Canals. We walked along the boardwalk and took you to the playground and to the beach to play futbol in the sand with daddy. You love your futbol! You were one dirty sandy boy!

You've been sleeping great here. I know having our wraps and sheets from home helps with this.

I started my training to day with Shiva Rea. She is a goddess and so beautiful and already this is a life changing experience. I'm so happy I came here to do this. It's unlike any yoga class I"ve ever taken before! Today we started with sojme chanting and then yoga trance dance. It was great.

Your dad is taking such good care of you and you guys are going to have so much fun at the beach! I love you both so much!

Oh btw, the whole of southern california is on fire and there is lots of smoke in the air; but we're keeping you safe and praying for those affected by this.
Salaam.

Memory Lane

Some photos of your dad's childhood. Most of his childhood photos were burned in a fire :-( Here's a look at your dad long ago - you do look like him as a baby :-)

So many new wonders

Today you had a special boys day out with your papa! He took you to the sprinkler park for the very first time and you were in heaven!! You were the only crawler there and you were crawling through those fountains like you were in water training! We plan to take you back this week.

I also bought you your first container of bubbles. Now, mommy has a sort of affinity towards bubbles having done a video project in NYC comparing internet communication with bubble communication by blowing bubbles from a window in the East Village. It was most amusing and profound. Nevertheless, we love bubbles and now so do you!!! You are very perplexed by the bubbles and breathe very deeply when you see them. So far I'd say you are in awe of these miraculous bubbles coming from the magic wand!

Last night we went to Central Market to listen to your favorite genre of music - Indian music. Luckily it's mommy and daddy's favorite too. I've managed to teach you some of my Balinese dance arm movements. Now when we play you music you move your arms in waving motion. Your first dance move!!!!! Hoorah!

How Chanting Got the Babe to Sleep

Lately it seems me chanting "Ong, namo, gudu dev, namo" gets you to sleep pretty easily during the day. At night it's usually a mix between chanting, singing, wrapping, nursing, wrapping again, then finally nursing - and your asleep! Seems a bit much as I reread it, but I can't let you cry it out. I guess I take the AP thing to heart when it comes to sleep.

We have also almost won our first battle with a rash. We did a combination of: oatmeal baths, burts bees resq ointment, ed's natural salve, calendula diaper cream, and my favorite;-) letting you crawl around naked alot.

We are planning our first big trip to California. You and daddy get to hang out in Venice Beach on the boardwalk with all the cool artists and musclemen while mommy does her pre/postnatal yoga training. That's right, I'm doing something for mommy!! The schedule is actually very accomadating to us and I'll be back in time for nursing and all bedtimes! I can't wait to go shopping and get a good haircut (I'm just not feeling the love for Texas stylists and wish I could fly to NYC every time i need a cut!)

You are talking alot now!! You love your puppet shows. You are one fast crawler! The other day at our baby weights workout class you attacked two little girls with your funny open mouth kisses. They did not enjoy it as much as you did.

Tomorrow we are going to the water park, and later in the week it's off to grandma's for her birthday!

Photo Slideshow

My Dear Big Boy

Mommy is so tired these days i"m sorry for not writing. We have been very busy the past few days. We had a playdate with all of your friends on Friday. I've also been taking you to the playground alot. You love exploring there. So far Shipe is our favorite bcs it has lots of soft ground to crawl on. I plan to take you to the Barton Springs playground soon to explore since we haven't been there since you were 6 months.
Also, this week we are going to the new water park on town lake to explore!

You love to pull yourself up on all of the furniture. You really want to walk, but are content hanging on the furniture :-)

You also love exploring outside touching the leaves and the flowers, shaking the tree branches. You understand me pretty well when I say "No eat leaves" so that's good.

Today mommy started rollerblading in her quest to work off the baby weight. It was so fun, and you loved how fast the stroller went with me on wheels.

Tomorrow we go to yoga class. I'm so happy to get to a yoga class!!!

You're sleeping soundly and I already miss you. Night night.