Happy New Year everyone!

some of the females

a male snuggling/kissing hashim :)))

these camels are so sweet

Wow... can hardly believe it's 2010! Time sure flies by when you have a little one around. Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and the new year is finding new beginnings for all of you.

I've considered not blogging any longer, but.... after talking with a couple of friends, I've decided to keep on with it while some of you are still interested and/or just bored :)

Being a mother, I find that most of what I have to talk about is my child or home life.... but since there are some times when something juicy happens or too funny/stupid not to sure, I'll try to keep it fun, light and entertaining... try, that is. :)

The new school term has started here and Naief goes back tomorrow. We had a tumble tots class this morning and he loved it. There are 3 other boys in the class and 3 girls... all the same age/thereabouts as him. One little girl scratched him in the face while in class, he cried and then she tried to do again, but I stopped her. Her mother apologized - the little girl wouldn't - and said that she's rough because she has an older brother at home and has learned to be aggressive because of it. So... next class I'll have to keep a watchful eye on her.

Our Christmas was really good. I got gift certificates for a facial and Moroccan bath at a spa here - have already used my Moroccan bath certificate and it was absolutely fantastic. For those who have never had one or don't know what they are.... this will give you a little info on it.... It's done in a steam room where you lie flat on a stone/tiled table, and they first lather your body w/ a special soap which happens to have a very strong odor and if it gets into your eyes... watch out. It stings like no soap you can imagine - I happened to get some in my eye this time around.... not fun. After lying in the steam for about 5 - 10 mins., it's washed off, and you then get scrubbed down w/ this glove that takes off all your dead skin - and sometimes skin if they rub too hard. It hurts a little, but is worth it in the end. Then you are rubbed down w/ a mix of herbs (rosemary, thyme, etc.) and left to soak in the steam for about 10 mins. Again, washed off and soaked in a yogurt and herb mixture where you lie for another 10-15 mins. When this last part is washed off you are then rubbed down with oil. You also get a hair wash, scalp massage and conditioner that is kept on until the end while having your bath.... my skin has never felt so good and I've promised myself to have it done monthly.

Think I'll go this coming week for the facial. Been needing one of these for a while and might even upgrade to one that's more fitted to my skin type and needs. Ahhhh, I love to be pampered and don't do it nearly as often as I'd like to.... but... family first. :)

Thought I'd add a couple pics from this past weekend. We went to the camel/date farm in Jannabaiya and Naief loved it. The camels were soooo sweet and tender. And HUNGRY. Poor things. The thing I don't like about it is that they keep the males tied up to chains w/ their front legs tied together all the time. They said it was because they fight and kick, but I still found myself feeling sad about it. They had some that were probably yearlings and they were soooo skinny and hungry. We fed some, but they told us, after a bit, not to feed too much because they'd fight from wanting the food. :( Oh well, it was a nice morning.

Also went to see Where The Wild Things Are and was somewhat disappointed in it. I found hardly any happiness in the movie... ok, maybe a couple of places were happy, but not as much as I would have liked. I cried at the end... it was so sad. Naief liked it though and hubby didn't seem to be bothered one way or the other.... obviously it was just me.

so many things

Where to start?!! Well... first, my friend wasn't able to come and visit. Bahrain doesn't allow for visit visas from her country, even though hubby was sponsoring her, didn't make a darn bit of difference. :(

Another bird got out. Oprah and Stedman were the only two left, and since putting them in a big cage .... one that my FIL wasn't using... and one that did nothing but create a nightmare for me since Oprah is a chewer, she did nothing but continually bite pieces out of the floor, ceiling and such that created huge holes big enough for one or both to get through. Months ago I heard all this screaming coming from Stedman, ran to the back and Oprah was down on the sidewalk, having fallen through one of the holes... so I got a towel, thew it on top of her and put her back in... but not before covering the hole w/ a thingy that goes on the bottom of potted plants... those things that catch the water.... come on... you know what I mean. :)

Anyway, the last few months has been nothing but an attempt, on my part, to ensure that neither of the birds get out again... which has been a job in and of itself... having to find bricks or those water collecting thingys to put over all the holes. Soon enough though... she started biting huge holes in the top, and last week I went outside to find Stedman down on the sidewalk. I grabbed and towel, tried to get him, but he flew off. I grabbed Naief, ran outside and he had flown over to the vacant lot across the street and was just wondering around - on the ground - so I threw it on him and brought him back. It seemed to work until a few days ago when I saw him on the sidewalk again, but this time, he would have none of my catching him. He flew up into the tree, came back the next to get food and I haven't seen him since.

Now... since she can't fly (ever since that Indonesian housemaid did something to her), I have her in the old cage on the front porch. She seems happy enough. Doesn't seem to miss Stedman too much, which I'm happy about. She's actually calmed down and doesn't seem so mean... not trying to bite me when I stick my hand in her cage to change the water and whatnot. The other day she got out of it because I had forgotten to put the bottom tray in, and I found her rooting about in the dirt... thank goodness the outside cat didn't find her or she'd be dead.

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Henry's doing good altho he threw up 3 times today. Not sure why. We've started feeding him canned food w/ dry in the mornings (only a half can), and rice, chicken and veggies in the evening. He hardly eats it, even though they assured me that he had been fed this same mix at the BSPCA.

He guards the house nicely... barking at every truck that comes along and at most of the Indians. He doesn't seem to like Indians for some reason and they don't seem to like him or are afraid.

We like him.

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I've been taking a break from blogging and getting online every day because I just don't have any time for myself. And I've realized that I really need some time for myself. So... I'll try to continue taking breaks and doing what I want to do while Naief naps or sleeps in the evenings.

Can hardly believe that Naief will be 2 yrs old in less than a month! Hardly seems possible that I gave birth to him two years ago! Time sure flies.... and it's scary!!!! But... I'm really trying to live each moment and enjoy this time, since it's the most precious and he is the sweetest little boy....

except

when he is telling me NO for almost everything I ask of him! :) Actually, I don't mind it too much... I usually just grab him up and we do what I want or change his clothes or whatever needs to be done at the moment.

I'm potty training him and it's going well. He's pretty much peeing in the toilet now, but not poo. We've had lots of accidents in the pants... so I figure it'll be another good month or so before we get that down.

He's talking non-stop now. A lot I can understand, but there's a lot I can't. He has down that throaty stuff that you have when speaking Arabic, so I think it'll come easy to him.... he does say 'bas', 'ba'ad', and repeats most everything I say... words and such.

He is also humming songs. The other morning I realized he was humming "This Old Man"... could hardly believe it. I started humming/singing along. Is this pretty normal????

He loves being in the studio w/ buba and will hit the keys of the keyboard or strum on the guitar or oud.

He will no longer sit in his high chair so I don't make him. Seems to eat better when I don't try to force it... so I tell him that he's a big boy now and can eat from the kitchen chair... which usually works but hasn't for the last few days as he insists to run around, play and eat on the go.

We've started a gymnastics class at Chaoss. Tomorrow is our 2nd time. He loved it the first time. Was really good at everything and was usually the first in line to do this or that, which made me quite proud. :)

And while most kids around here have been sick for months... I'm happy to say that Naief hasn't been and I hope it stays that way, since, a while back, seemed like he was sick every other month.


That's about it for me. Motherhood is keeping me rather busy... and cleaning, of course. We're getting a part-time person to come in and help me 3 days a week. She starts tomorrow. She's an older Indian woman. She has a limp, so I'm wondering how it'll be for her going up and down the stairs... so we'll see how it goes. I'm very thankful since it's been so much dirtier in the house since getting Henry! I like him, but he's messy. I've realized that dogs are soooooo much more messier than cats! Cats are very clean animals, even though ppl don't want to believe it.

Anyway... I've been trying to catch up on my blog reading, but it's going at a snail's pace. Hope you all had a wonderful New Year... and I hope this new year brings much happiness your way....

and.... in 3 days, we'll have a new President!!!!!!! I'm thrilled about watching all the coverage on TV... can hardly wait really.

Oh.. I can't end this post w/out making a comment about Palestine. I think the Israeli's are killing the Palestinians like the Nazi's killed them. They call the Palestinian's terrorists, but they are the ones that are the terrorists. Killing innocent women and children.... and men, for that matter. Seeing the coverage, the bodies, the screaming children... it makes my heart sick w/ every new photo or video clip. Please people... stand up against what is happening... stand up for Palestine. Israel has no right.... and if you didn't know, there are reports that they're using what ppl call white dust... can't think of the substance at this moment - ok, looked it up again and it's 'white phosphorus' and ... but it is not legal to use it against people. It's allowed to cover up troop movement, but they're not using it for these purposes. They deny that they're using it... there are reports coming out that it's being used by the Human Rights Watch... and since they wont allow anyone access into Gaza... no one can find out for sure. But doctors are saying that something is being used that they don't know how to deal w/.... look up articles on this and read for yourself.

New Year's resolutions

For many, over in Bahrain, New Year's Eve is this coming evening. For us in the States, it's tomorrow evening.... either way, it makes me sit back and contemplate resolutions. In the past, I've tended to set some type of goal or want for myself, sometimes achieving it and sometimes not. I've been known to make lists of things I intend to change, try to achieve, give up and whatnot. To some degree or another, I've usually wound up being disappointed in myself for not sticking w/ it or not doing it well enough (that Virgo side of me) or at all, sooooo.....

Nowadays, I try not to set resolutions or if I do, I try not to set more than just a couple. Can't say that I have any for the coming year. I think about things I'd like to change or do differently, but I'm not dead set on changing something in my life... or am I????

I know I'd like to lose some weight, but crap... what happened to my motivation??? If I can't get motivated after having 3 women ask me if I'm pregnant, then nothing will motivate me! And I can't tell you how sick I am of hearing that question!! Ok, I have a poochy tummy, but lordy, I don't LOOK PREGNANT!!! Or, at least, I don't think I do.

I'd like to start cutting a lot of sugar out of my diet, but coming from someone that loves candy, it's gonna be hard. I can pretty much mentally psyche myself out w/ things in order to stop certain habits or to not eat certain foods/drinks and such, but for some reason, it's not so easy when it comes to candy. I desperately love candy .... on days. :)

Ok... so, I've listed a couple things. I'd rather not think about it too much or I might start making lists again! ;)

How about you? Do you have any or are you flying solo this year?

Happy New Year everyone!!!!

Out with the old, in with the New

Happy New Year everyone!! May you find every happiness in the coming year, and may the world be more peaceful.... I really hope for that.

Wow, this past year has flown by.... isn't it odd how the older you get, the faster time flies. I can remember being a young girl and just dying to be 15 or even 18, and gosh, the thought of turning 21, well, it was a day that I longed for.

Now, as I'm getting older, I cherish time more than anything and only wish it would slow down. I can only imagine how fast it'll pass with a baby! Here my niece is 6 years old and I can remember when she was a little baby, which seems like yesterday. My SIL's both have children around the age of 1 1/2 yrs., and I can remember them as tiny babies like it was yesterday.

The new year has been good so far. The hubby spent all day yesterday finishing up or doing the final touches on the baby's room, putting together the crib and helping me w/ all the little extras. It's so cute... actually quite adorable, I must admit. We did a jungle theme in the room w/ two colors of paint on the walls - tan on the top and green on the bottom, w/ the green going up and down like hills - it took him about 3 days to paint it and he did a fantastic job... not sure if I could have done better myself! ;) At first I thought we would try to draw and paint a jungle theme on the walls and I asked my mom to draw some monkeys for me (I'm not good w/ drawing animals), but wouldn't you know it - one of my favorite stores (Manazel) had boxes of all different types of decorating sticker schemes for children's rooms at their store and one just happened to be a jungle theme! I could hardly believe it. It's perfect and it looks so precious on the walls.

There is a tall tree where you can measure the height of the child - as he grows - and the tree has a monkey hanging from the top, there are huge leaves w/ big eyes poking out, a lion, tiger, giraff, turtle, birds, alligator, flemingo, paw prints, big bugs, elephant... just all sorts of animals that will allow for hours of imagination to play in the mind of the baby as he is growing up. I love it and I hope he does too!!

I even have a mobile for the baby's crib that is a jungle theme. It's so cute and goes w/ the room perfectly. We're gonna take pics to send to my mom, so maybe later today I'll post some online.

Getting it done has really helped me to feel more at ease. That room was a total disaster and I found myself getting all panicy over it, and now.... it actually feels like things are coming together. The birds are still in the room and we've decided to move them downstairs today and put them in the office. I hate putting them in there because the window is small and the light isn't bright, but for right now, it'll have to be ok. At least there's a window and we go in that room every day, so they'll have lots of interaction and such.... plus, it won't be as noisy as it is in the mornings w/ them right next to our bedroom.

Well... I hope all of you are having a wonderful new year, had lots of fun on New Year's Eve... and, if you're off, are enjoying the time. Bahrain is on holiday right now for Eid - so here's a BIG Happy Eid to to all of you as well.... gosh, I almost forgot!!

Happy day everyone!