It's On.

After sleeping through the night from approximately 3 months to about 8 months, Syed Brian has decided that uninterrupted sleep is not necessary. Rather, he views it as a luxury and one of which he has chosen to deprive his parents. Frankly, Syed and I are tired of not having 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. We have tried to be understanding, acommodating, nurturing parents for the past few months, hoping that our loving tendencies would encourage him to see the error of his ways, develop a new appreciation for what we provide for him, and that he would make the right decision on his own to sleep through the night. But he has only further developed manipulative tendencies and he is not taking the hint. Sooo...IT'S ON.

Syed Brian looks like an innocent, sweet, loving, charming little boy. Don't be fooled. He is nothing but a clever manipulator, particularly when it comes to sleeping. And I'm onto his tricks. No more unnecessary bottles (clearly he is not malnourished nor does he miss many meals). No more unnecessary walks around the house with the purpose of soothing. No more unnecessary trips to the swing or bouncy seat (he's so big that they barely swing/bounce anymore). Nope. We're done. The new mantra is self-soothing...all the way to sleep.

Showdown will begin tonight and it will be of an unknown duration. What is certain is that Syed and I will prevail...or at least I will (Syed may be on his own for this one once I am back traveling). It may be a painful, bitter, sleep deprived few nights, but it's time. Syed Brian is stubborn and determined. Fortunately, his mother knows about those tendencies all too well, as she [might] be partially responsible for instilling them into him. At least that is what his father says...

For those parents out there who have been in similar situations, please feel free to share some tips in the comments section about what you found useful in teaching your children to sleep. I'm happy to consider suggestions, appreciate your stories, and would enjoy commiserating. Or feel free to mock us, too.

To Syed Brian, I have the following message: Sweet dreams, my son. I love you. Now bring it on.

Happy Holidays

Best wishes this holiday season!

Yes, I know that Syed Brian isn't smiling. But, every single one of us is looking at the camera. And that is an accomplishment in and of itself given that we used the timer feature on the camera. For 2009, it's as good as it's going to get.

Dear Syed Brian (Vol. 1 Iss. 11)

11 months. And everyone is still alive…and smiling (for the most part). You have given your mom and dad a run for their money in the past month, thus the fact that this letter is being written almost a week late. We have barely been able to keep up with you! You are 100% boy and are beginning to live on the mischievous side of life.

You managed to escape from your parents’ supervision more than once this month by being stealthy in your retreat. When silence rules the house, it is certain that you are in the process of learning a new task or exploring an area that perhaps is better left unexplored. Case in point: bathrooms.

You LOVE toilets and bathtubs. Apparently the water in a toilet bowl is just too much to resist. More than once we have found you dropping items into the toilet to see what kind of splash they make (Shame on us for not learning sooner to close the lid). And when we do remember to close the toilet lid but not the door, you find that unrolling the roll of toilet paper is great fun. The roll seems to spin endlessly and it provides minutes of sheer entertainment for you. When you are allowed entry to the bathroom for the obligatory bath, you are thrilled with the permission to play in the bathtub! If allowable, you would spend much of your play time in the bathtub, even sans water. Splashing and playing you’re your toys provides you with much entertainment. Thus, perhaps not surprisingly, the bathroom is now as secure as Fort Knox. Only humans with dexterity enabling the opening of the door are allowed to enter.

When you’re not playing in the bathroom, you can be found on the stairs. Not only are you extremely efficient at climbing up the stairs (mastered in previous months), you are now very skilled at going down the stairs. It only took a few instances of landing on your forehead to make you realize that perhaps going down the stairs in a reverse fashion on your belly might be less painful and more successful. This was reassuring to your dad and I that there might be some executive functioning happening in your cerebral cortex after all.

Further evidence of executive functioning is your sudden fascination with books. This is extremely pleasing to us as you will sit by yourself, look at your books, talk to them, and attempt to “read” them to us. You prefer some books over others; books relating to robots, monsters, and animals seem to be your preferred reading material.

Curtains are another source of fascination to you. You like to play peak-a-boo in the curtains and style them in different ways. Fortunately, you have not yet managed to pull the curtains down…However, I’m also fairly certain that now that I’ve written this, next month will be a follow up where you have successfully pulled down the curtains. *Sigh*

Upon the completion of any of these tasks, or any of the other that you have mastered, you like to punctuate it with a “high-five.” It’s as if you know that you’re growing, learning, and experiencing more each day. And everything is absolutely worthy of a high-five these days.

Until Next Month…

Love,
Mom

What goes Up...

Football Sunday

What is a football Sunday without food such as cheeseburgers? Syed Brian had his first cheeseburger today while watching football with his dad. He dove in with enthusiasm.

The cheeseburger was devoured in record time...by Simon and Charlie after Syed Brian graciously dropped part of it on the floor to share with them.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We'd like to wish a belated Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Syed Brian had a great first Thanksgiving, which was due as much to being able to consume the Thanksgiving food as it was to getting to spend time with his family. Syed and I are especially grateful that we had a quiet holiday as chasing after a very curious 10.5 month old is becoming a bit ridiculous. And yes, we know we're only getting started. We know that we have much more chasing to do...and we also know that those of you who are done chasing children and dogs will sit back and watch the circus unfold while chuckling to yourself. Enjoy it. Most of the time we do.

We hope that each of you had a wonderful holiday, enjoyed the long weekend reprieve from work, and perhaps found some holiday shopping deals. The reason we're most thankful is below. A year ago at Thanksgiving, we did not know if we would be able to bring him home from the hospital. Now he is trying to wash his car in the dishwasher. Sort of makes sense...perhaps problem-solving abilities are developing after all.

Dear Syed Brian (Vol. 1 Iss. 10)

Stair-climber, foodie, dog-lover, explorer, talker, reckless driver. Those are your latest personas this month. Your curiosity has exploded and has enabled you to find these new facets of your young life.

The month began with your dad and I almost filing a missing child report. I was working quietly in my office and you were playing with your dad in the great room. It was noticeably quiet when the silence was broken by your dad suddenly yelling your name. When arriving on the scene to see what the fuss was about, I found only your dad. You were gone. Really gone. Thus, the search for the missing child began. It took us a few minutes to find you. You had managed to crawl to the front door, up all of the stairs, and into the loft where you were playing with your toys. You were extremely proud of your ability to explore and climb the stairs unassisted. When we found you, there was much giggling and squealing involved as your dad and I breathed an audible sigh of relief.

New foods entered into your diet this month. You are an adventurous eater which thrills your dad. So far, you like chicken parmesan, beef stew, vegetable soup, chicken pot pie, spicy chicken, and toast. This makes me happy as I know we’re just another step closer to being done with baby food and formula bills. You’ve also begun to learn how to use your sippy cup. I think more of the juice ends up on your clothes than in your tummy but you’re making progress. Your willingness to eat food is becoming somewhat reminiscent of us trying to get another member of our household to eat… Occasionally, your dad and I have to act like we’re eating your food or drinking your bottle in order to get you to eat. It seems you much prefer to consume what we are consuming rather than enjoying food that is yours and yours alone.

There has been a love/hate relationship with your dogs this month. Simon and Charlie LOVE the fact that you drop crackers and other food for them to consume. You LOVE the fact that they allow you to “pet” them which essentially means beating them into submission. However, the hate part of the relationship is reflected in the fact that you ran over Charlie this month as he innocently waited for his breakfast. Charlie is almost ready to forgive you…it might take a few more dropped crackers to completely get back in Charlie’s good graces.

Our family had a fantastic “mini-vacation” in Chicago earlier this month. You got to explore the city via your stroller and see things that were completely new to you including Navy Pier, Millennium Park, and Michigan Avenue. You slept through your visit to the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, which was unfortunate as that was the site where your dad and I were engaged to be married. You were very unimpressed and indifferent.

I’ve been gone a lot this month, but you always welcome me home with your sweet smile and adorable laugh. You now give me hugs when I get home and seem genuinely happy to see me. You don’t know how much I need that, little guy. So, please keep it up, Syed Brian, as there is still so much to smile and laugh about.

Until next month…

Love,
Mom

Editor's Note...

The multiple posts entitled "Dear" are courtesy of Syed Brian. He managed to press enough keys on the laptop to post the same thing multiple times. He might be a computer whiz. Or a nuisance of a boy. Or an extremely persistent, curious, dynamic little boy. Or none of the above. You can decide.

Dear

Dear

Dear

Dear

Dear

Sweet Home Chicago

Traveling baby gnome...he sleeps while you take posed photos

The two Syeds at Millenium Park

Looking at Lake Michigan from Navy Pier

Baby gnome in front of Navy Pier's Ferris Wheel

Millenium Park at Cloud Gate aka the Bean

We spent the day in Chicago, enjoying a gorgeous fall day. Only about 2,576,934 people had the exact same idea that we did...so that makes us creative, right? It's hard to believe, but this was Syed Brian's first trip to Chicago that wasn't punctuated by a trip to the hospital so that made it even more fun. We made the most of it - walking to Millenium Park, ESPN Zone (had to watch the Hawkeyes), Navy Pier, and the Hershey's Store for Reese's peanut butter cup cupcakes (needed additional calories after walking about 8.9 miles). We may be biased, but we think Chicago is absolutely one of the greatest cities - you should visit sometime! Syed Brian will serve as your very own sleeping tour guide...or as a traveling baby gnome which is the purpose he served today as we took posed photos of him at various landmarks.

Trick or Treat

NEW!!! This Year!!!

FREE BABIES FOR TRICK OR TREATERS!!!

Terms and Conditions: While supplies last. Available only after candy supply has been exhausted. Only one visit per trick or treater allowed. Subject to parental and dachshund approval.

Hit and Run

Caught on surveillance camera: Red car about to hit innocent dachshund.

Mom and Dad decide to interview the victim, Charlie. See below for Charlie's story

Charlie: I was waiting patiently for my breakfast of scrambled eggs when suddenly I was struck by a red car!!! It terrified me. I am only about 6 inches tall and the car must've been at least 24 inches tall.

Mom and Dad: Did you get a description of the driver?

Charlie: Yes. He was approximately 29 inches tall. He sounded like a sea lion. And there was a hole in the bottom of the car so I could see his feet...except the car was moving so fast that it was just a blur of toes. I couldn't even count the number of toes the driver had because he was moving to fast and it was more than I could count.

Mom and Dad: Thank you, Charlie. We will investigate.

The alleged driver is above and is about to be interviewed.

Mom and Dad: Syed Brian, where were you this morning about 9:00 am?

Syed Brian: No where. I was washing my car.

Mom and Dad: Why do you sound like a sea lion?

Syed Brian: Because I have croup. Is there a problem?

Mom and Dad: Charlie was hit by a red car that was driven by a person about your size who sounded like a sea lion. And there were too many toes to count.

Syed Brian: It was his fault because he didn't move!!!!!

Mom and Dad: You're grounded. Turn in your keys.

Dear Syed Brian (vol. 1 iss. 9)

Nomadic. That is how I describe your 9th month. You have been nomadic in a number of ways, the first being in the car. You have been quite a trooper, and have willingly gone wherever your dad and I have dragged you. It helps that you’re traveling in your new car seat which allows you considerable more shoulder room. Most of your traveling has been to visit family including your great-grandparents in St. Louis and Uncle Brad; you have also tagged along while your dad works on Grandma and Grandpa Azhar’s house.

Your tendency toward being a nomad also extends to your newfound mobility. No longer are you satisfied to stay in one place. You prefer to roam the house and go wherever your hands and knees will take you. When you become bored with this mode of movement, you reach for the nearest adult hands to help you to your feet. Once on your feet, you take off as fast as you possibly can. You put your head down and just go. Whoever is providing the supportive hands must be prepared to travel quickly, because that is the only speed you know.

Another significant milestone is that you said your first word, “mama.” While it would be naïve to think you understand what it means, it does make me feel proud, nonetheless. Along with saying this word, you are babbling. A lot. And we love to hear you talk. We are looking forward to answering your questions…at least part of them. I’m pretty sure that you will have significantly more questions than we have desire to answer. But we’ll eventually find a happy medium.

You’re starting to become interested in feeding yourself more and more each day. You have become a big fan of feeding yourself crackers and tasting soups that your dad and I are having. You are also trying to feed yourself baby food, too. While your attempts to feed yourself usually result in someone or something covered in food and none in your mouth, your desire for independence is admirable. Also worthy to note is that Simon and Charlie are extremely pleased with this newfound interest in food now that it is combined with independence…they get significantly more human food than ever before. And just to return the favor, they share their food and water with you. Yes, you are fascinated with the dogs’ food and water and knock it over any chance you get.

This month, more than ever, you have become a daddy’s boy. Your face lights up when you see your dad, and it melts when he leaves your sight. Although he doesn’t show it, I think his face mirrors yours a bit… He and I have more and more fun with you every single month. While we have sleepless nights because of you, we forget the exhaustion when we see you smile and hear you babble. We are relishing every month, because you’re growing so quickly. You continue to show us that little things are the most important to remember. There are so many new experiences that you are having on a daily basis that fill your life with wonder, intrigue, and interest. Don’t forget to take time to enjoy these experiences, even when they aren’t new. As always, we love you, buddy!

Until next month…

Love,
Mom

Tailgate

Syed Brian went to his first tailgate last weekend. One of the highlights was getting to walk around with his Uncle Brad who flew in for the weekend. It is important to note that while I appear to be happy in this picture, it is actually a smile that is there to hide my remorse as a mother. I feel as if I have failed my son...I dressed him in orange and blue. Orange and blue, and not for the Chicago Bears. How could I do such a thing, especially when the Hawkeyes are doing so well this season and the Illini.....well, their performance this season doesn't even warrant commentary. Hopefully he will find it in his heart to forgive me. After all, this mother's remorse over his attire is his grandfather's pride. And, to be honest, it is in honor of his great-grandfather, who was an Illini and played many games at Memorial Stadium, where Syed Brian had his first tailgate. But it is also important to note that his great-grandfather's first game as an Illini was at Kinnick Stadium - the home of the Hawkeyes, so I'm fairly certain that Black and Gold is in his heritage too.

A Belated Eid Mubarak

Playdate with Simon

Dear Syed Brian (vol. 1 iss. 8)

You are now the size of an average 12-14 month old child, although you are only 2/3 of the way to your one-year birthday. You continue to amaze us at how fast you change, and we are having so much fun getting to know you.

This month, you are so close to crawling…but you haven’t quite figured out how to make your arms work in coordination with your legs. However, the idea of crawling is rapidly becoming boring to you as you would much rather practice walking. You love to hold onto our hands and walk across the room. Being able to do this makes you so happy and you squeal in delight each time you reach a new destination. You use this new skill to chase your toys around the house and to play with Simon and Charlie. You are learning to pet Simon and Charlie and they are learning to tolerate having their tails and ears pulled. You have always been kind about sharing your toys with your dogs, and they are returning the favor…we have found you more than once this month trying to chew on the dogs’ toys. Perhaps their toys have been made more attractive by the fact that you now have two teeth. Teething, thus far, has been an okay experience for all of us, although you have tried, on several occasions, to see exactly how sharp they are by taking chunks out of our fingers when you chew on them.

One of the highlights of this month was our first family vacation. Our little family decided to run away from reality for a while and hide on Maui. It was either ambitious or plain dumb to take a 7.5 month old to Hawaii, but we are glad that we did. You were fabulous on the plane and I think it is fair to say that the 50,000 miles you flew in utero prepared you well for air travel.

Your dad and I would like to think that you found your second home in Hawaii. You loved being outside and listening to the ocean. While you have your ocean sound machine in your room at home, it is nothing compared to the real thing. We sat on the lanai outside our hotel room for hours while you felt the breeze on your skin, listened to the ocean, and enjoyed pureed carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples. You were a big fan of the swimming pool and tolerated the ocean (short of the sand blowing in your face). However, one of the highlights was the luau. You got to meet your first hula dancers, and you made quite an impression on them! The pretty hula dancer picked you up and this thrilled you (as it would any little boy). Your dad was also quite proud. We were able to celebrate the marriage of some of your mom and dad’s friends and we were able to introduce you to a place that we will always hold dear. You enjoyed it so much that we are already planning to take you back in 2010 (if possible).

The month ended with the celebration of your first Eid! You were pretty amenable to the festivities and now have a new wardrobe, new toys, new books, and a new car seat. The best part was that you were able to spend a day with your grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. During Eid, you showed all of us how well you can maneuver yourself into a sitting position while you played with your new toys. As your dad and I watched you master this skill, we realized just how quickly you’re becoming a little boy. We are so proud of how well you’re doing, especially in light of some of the challenges that have been thrown your way. We love you buddy, and can’t wait to spend another month with you!

Until next month…

Love,
Mom

Maui 2009: It's in the Books

We are back from Maui after a 10-day trip that felt like a 2-day trip. We had a fabulous time and are already planning our return to either Kauai or the Big Island. Syed Brian was quite the little traveler and he did great on the plane. Syed and I realized that vacationing as a family is more than a little different than vacationing as a couple, but we enjoy both just the same. We are grateful we had a chance to introduce our son to a place that will always hold a little piece of our hearts and I think it is safe to say that he is a fan of the islands, too. Here are some more pictures from the trip. The Flickr site will be updated soon with many more photos.

Deep Sea Fishing

A total of 22 mahi-mahi were brought to shore by the fearless fishermen seen above. No one was sea-sick and plans are being made for return trips. As an added bonus, we all enjoyed the fresh catch at a cookout after the fishing trip. The marlin remains elusive...perhaps next trip a marlin will be brought in, too.

Dinner Cruise

Beach Bum

Aloha!

We're taking a much needed vacation to Maui. More pictures to come!

Rugby Experience

First Encounter with a Rugby Player (Other than Daddy)

Learning about Rugby from Daddy (Zulu's excluded)

Mommy's happy that Syed Brian won't ever play rugby


Practicing his game face

Happy at the Pitch