Seven!

This last month with Zaiya has been so exciting.  He is really coming alive and starting to show his strong personality.  He continues to amaze us with his facial expressions and his ability to make us get lost in his laughter - he loves when we get tickled with him and just giggle back and forth at each other until our stomachs hurt!  He is interacting so much with Marc and I and it is such an incredibly wonderful feeling when our eyes meet his during these tender playful moments.  He is such a bright light and we continue to revel in this thing called parenthood.  I hope you enjoy the pictures...

6 month photo session with Mommy

We used Mommy's baby quilt made by my Great Aunt Vivian and it was so much fun to giggle and laugh beside a quilt stitched with Mommy's birthday and maiden name right beside me.  It was quite a special time for both of us and one of the first days that the weather was cool enough for us to hang outside!  I love to play outside!

 

 

 

 

 

Bath Time!  Now I get to sit up like a big boy and I LOVE IT!

I can finally eat my feet and I love them too!!!  

Sometimes when mommy tries to feed me, I just eat my toes.

Sometimes before bed I get to practice crawling in my room after 

Mommy and Daddy grease me up with lotion!!

 

We visited the small community pool for the first time this past month;

I was right at home there, as you can see!

 

Mom-mom even came to take a swim with me in the water!

I'm a little thinker, just like my mommy!

 

I even got to ride in the big boy stroller for the first time on my way to the pool because 

I'm not a tiny baby anymore!!  Daddy pushed me all the way there while Mommy freaked out 

about how big I am and took my picture like a million times!!  She's so silly!  I wonder if she's 

going to do this for the rest of my life!

I am really getting busy on my play mat - I love to role around and try to reach my toys!  I can do lots of tricks and am pretty fast when I roll.  You can see me in action in the video, but these are some action shots Mommy took.  Most of the time I land on my head but I think it's hilarious!

I am really trying to crawl these days.  I can tuck both legs under my tummy but can't quite figure out what to do next.  Sometimes I even try to crawl using my mouth to push forward... mommy and daddy think this is hilarious!  You can see for yourself because mommy taped me playing!

I am eating more solid foods now.  I finally have a little teeny tiny start of a tooth on my bottom gums... Mommy almost cried when she felt it and then she said it felt more like a fang!!!  She can't stop talking about and telling me what a big boy I am!  I am pretty proud of my tooth... look at me chomping down on my spoon here!  Chomp Chomp!!!

I like to feed myself.  Mommy's pretty good at it but I'm a big boy.  I like to play with the spoon and I don't like it when Mommy takes the spoon away for clean-up and nap time! 

Sometimes Mommy and Daddy think they can sneak in on me, but they don't know how slick I am!  I can hear them coming a MILE away!!!

I love it when they come to get me from a good long nap, it's the best part of my day, so I give them a big smile so it's the best part of their day too!

Tune in next month for another update! Can you believe I am already 7 months old?  I remember when I was just 2.5 months old and my Auntie Jen came to take this picture of me!  It's my mommy's new favorite picture!

My little bundle of joy.

The Bottom of the Rice

I have been trying pretty hard these days to be more positive.  I would like to think that I am on my way to enlightenment because reaching enlightenment really would benefit me!!  In my recent quest, I find that I am longing for the days when I was getting better and better at my "Downward Dog" and feeling cleansed and renewed after being assured by my fabulous yoga instructor that every Tuesday night at 7pm or Sat. morning at 11am for a year (give or take a few months) I was "exactly where I was supposed to be and who I was supposed to be" right then and there.  I nearly cried every time she said that.

So, as part of my effort to truly try and be more positive, I am going to list some pretty wonderful things that have happened in the last few weeks, little as they may be (it really is the little things that keep me going lately) in spite of the tornado of not-so-great things that have also been happening.

1. While I was fuming from an argument w/my lovely husband two weeks ago, I angrily got out the rice I had cooked the day before to make myself a small plate of food for lunch.  He had just made his 20 minute appearance in between jobs for his meal and did what he usually does when we're in the middle of the latest battle of Postpartum World War III, which is to act like everything is rosy and wonderful  (He is much better at the positivity thing than I am.)  As I opened the container of white rice I was, admittedly, doing a little huffing and puffing --- and then saw it - the beautiful crispy golden brown clusters that are the best part of Haitian rice.  Those of you who have never had the yummy bottom of the rice that is called "Graten" (it's a creole word so you'll have to forgive me in that I have absolutely no idea how to spell and really even how to say it) will not understand this.  But it is the best part of the rice - the part, especially of the white rice, that soaks up all the garlic and oil at the bottom of the pan and cooks to a golden brown that crunches like heaven in your mouth.  I LOVE IT.  We both love it.  Everyone who ever has it LOVES it, because it is scrumptious.  My husband had about 3 chances to eat it all - and he used to do this regularly and when I would say, "Honey, why did you eat all the "graten?"  He would say such things as, "Oh I didn't know you wanted any!"  (such a man) So, needless to say, I was very touched that he had left me my fair share of this delectable snack - in spite of the fact that we hadn't spoken to each other int he previous 30 hours.  ;)  I had a lil' moment or cathartic breath, if you will, and actually got a lil' teary eyed and sighed, "He DOES love me."  ;)  (I am certain this reaction had nothing to do w/postpartum hormones... and yes, I am laughing at myself as I type this.)

2.  Recently I was able to visit my friend Dimitri and his family.  Dimitri renews my spirit every time I see him.  He is continuing to fight neuroblastoma and the incredible aftermath of illnesses that it left in his body... yet you would never, ever know it.  He is a bundle of joy and truly has no idea the incredible symbol for resiliency that he has become in so many people's lives!  He absolutely loves my baby Zaiya and I don't know who loves seeing them play together more, me or his mommy!  Here they are together, along with Dimitri's incredibly talented older brother, Maurizo, who is possibly the sweetest teenage hip hop artist you'll ever meet.  ;) Check him out! (AB da Best & Rizio)

                                        (I think he's pretty amazing, too, baby Zaiya!)

3.  I love photography.  I do not get to enjoy this hobby nearly enough - however - when I do it is usually when I am taking pictures of this little guy.  I love my nephew, Landon, so much - it is so hard to believe that he is such a big kid now.  It seems like yesterday when he was born - today I love to pick him up and cradle him like I did when he was a baby and tell him how I used to take such good care of him and kiss him goodnight and tell him, "Don't cry, baby Landon" as he giggles and tells me, "I'm a big boy now, Tatti!"  He calls me "Tatti" which is the Haitian word for "Aunt."  It was easier to say than "Aunt Karen" so it stuck.  ;)  These pictures are my favorites from the day; they were taken at Ashlawn in Charlottesville, where we attended my cousin's wedding a couple weeks ago.  It was a photographer's dream!

                         

                                                

4. After running errands the other day, I came home to find my husband playing his saxophone for Zaiya.  Picture it: the most amazing kid's cd ever, Caribbean Playground by Putumaya Kids, and the sound of your husband playing along while your 6 month old watches in admiration.  It was pretty priceless and truly gave me some serious warm fuzzies.  It is times like this that I am so thankful my husband is who he is.  It really doesn't matter what is going on in our lives, he finds a way to bring himself (and me, when I let him!) joy.  That afternoon was my favorite - I literally forgot everything that was bothering me and let myself get lost in that moment.  (He wouldn't let me take pictures or I'd have one to show you!)

5.  My cousin married the man of her dreams.  My aunt sent around a link for us to view the pics from her wedding.  I feel like it was a whirlwind weekend - and I don't think I paused enough to reflect on what was actually happening.  While I was looking at her pictures I got a lil' misty eyed, thinking about all they've been through and all the odds they've overcome... all leading up to some of the sweetest, most genuine moments I've ever seen at a wedding - and a lot that I didn't see that were captured by one amazing photographer!  Here is a picture I snapped of them listening to my parents and my aunts perform one hilarious song for them!  

I am so happy for you, Rebecca and Eamon.  I love you both!

6.  And finally... my crab plant is flowering.  Every day I come home, usually in a mad rush to get Zaiya down for a nap and/or bedtime and my head is a mess until I get to my door and see this amazing sunshine bright flower staring at me as if to say: STOP AND SMELL THE CRAB PLANTS.  :)  As usual, Minkie knows just what to say and just how to remind me that I am where I am supposed to be and who I am supposed to be... every time I come home.

The happiest half year of my life...

At my cousin's wedding this past weekend, a woman approached me to remark how adorable Zaiya is (I mean he is, isn't he? ;)  She asked me how old his was and when I told her, her eyes watered a bit and she touched my arm and said, "Doesn't it go by so fast?"  People have said this a lot to me, but there was something about the sincerity with which she spoke.  She then told me that the day before her daughter's 1st birthday, she was sitting on the toilet bawling!  I assumed the "sitting on the toilet" part of the story was her mommy brain talking... ;)  She explained that when her husband found her and asked what in the world could be so wrong, she said, "I just don't understand how the happiest year of my life could have gone by so quickly."   Now, my eyes suddenly filled with tears.

The past six months have not been easy.  Let me say that again.  These last six months have not been easy. ;)  But I have to say that they have been the happiest six months of my life.  I cannot believe that it is half over.  I have tried to pause whenever I am able and take mental pictures of how I am feeling when Zaiya snuggles his head into my shoulder to fall asleep, or when he stops nursing to look up and laugh at me for no apparent reason, or when he holds my face in his hands and stares at me like I am the center of his universe and I tell him, "I love you, too," or when I am holding him cheek to cheek as we dance around the room, enjoying the calm that comes over both of us.  I pause as much as possible to take note of how it feels to hold my little boy in my arms at nearly every month mark we have conquered (and yes it has felt like a conquering every time!)

I am thankful to this stranger for sharing her experience with me.  There are so many things I wish I had accomplished in the last 6 months (I haven't started Zaiya's scrapbook yet... and I am determined to get through at least months 1-6 before he turns 1 year old!)  But I realize that the main reason I haven't done more is because I can't stop spending time with him.  I am now determined to feel a little less guilty for not doing all the things I said I would do and instead to spend more time patting myself on the back for doing with my time just what I am meant to do for now: enjoy this first year of Zaiya's life.  The scrapbook can wait.  ;)  I have loved nothing more in this life than being a mommy.  It truly is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am planning on soaking up every bit of joy that this first year has left to offer.

Now for a proper update:
Mr. Zaiya is roughly 16 pounds now.   He is at the point where all he really needs to entertain him is interaction.  Toys are great, but laying beside mommy or daddy is even better.  He loves to laugh with us and explore our faces with his hands, show us how he can roll over onto his stomach and now back onto his back!  And watch out, because if you aren't careful, he'll roll right off the changing table.  (OY.)  He can sit up, and giggles when he falls over.  He's even had his first couple face plants and has proudly taken it "like a man!"  You can see below that he has become much more interested in books lately... naturally we take that as a sign of his brilliance.  :)  He loves his newest toy, the jump jump.  He is like a little King in this thing - it's amazing how much this kid loves to be on his feet already so his new favorite place to be is the jump jump!!!  :)

We spent some time in the pool with him at my cousin Rebecca's wedding this past weekend, and he is definitely a water baby!  He kicked and laughed and loved being thrown above the water!  It was so much fun to have him in the water!  We spent a lot of time at Auntie Kristen's house this month and it's really more like an amusement park for Zaiya - you can see him having a blast with his cousins and his Auntie below!  I am so excited about this update because it has videos!!  Please alert me if they do not work for you because they are both priceless and I would hate for you to miss them.  This will be the first time most of you will have seen him live!  :)

Am I cute or what?  Seriously.

I LOVE helping mommy with the laundry!

My son, future Harvard graduate:

Yet another one of mommy's brilliant photography ideas!  "He'll fit in this basket!"

    

This kid is way too comfortable with a cell phone, already...

Another "Mr. T" shot!

Love that smile!

My first Jack-in-the-box!

The latest adventures of Connor and Zaiya!  

Zaiya is learning to hold his own w/his big cousin... ;)

Keep in mind while watching this that Connor is only 3 months older than Zaiya!

Hanging out with my big cousin Landon!  He is very strong!

This kid thinks he's gonna take my piano.  Not MY piano... 

I finished my very first whole jar of baby food!  Yummy Squash!  

(I love his expression - what?  no more?)

My favorites:

All together now:  AWWWWW!!!!!

Finally, you can see how addicting this kid's laughter is!  

I am so glad I caught this on my lil' camera!  Zaiya LOVES his Auntie Kristen!

Hey, check out my new skills!!

Just gettin' a bath.  And lookin' cute.  Yep.

Just takin' it easy, man.  Peace!

My first time in the pool with mommy and daddy!  Zaiya LOVES the water!

      I'm ready to start walking now!                                

Being silly with daddy!

Mommy's happy place...

We love our little guy!

Best family pic so far!

HAPPY HALF YEAR, ZAIYA!!