He got some vintage 1950's Batman stuff, a huge 854piece Lego Police Station that should take about a week to build, and new size 5 clothes. (Mostly, the shorts are 4's but don't tell!) Zahra bought him a Lion King 2 action figure and wrapped it all by herself: cutting, taping and all. He gave her the biggest thank you hug and kiss but I didn't quite capture it. Zayd was patient and kind and grateful all night. I think we "filled his cup" and his happy face sure filled mine.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Zayd is Five
He got some vintage 1950's Batman stuff, a huge 854piece Lego Police Station that should take about a week to build, and new size 5 clothes. (Mostly, the shorts are 4's but don't tell!) Zahra bought him a Lion King 2 action figure and wrapped it all by herself: cutting, taping and all. He gave her the biggest thank you hug and kiss but I didn't quite capture it. Zayd was patient and kind and grateful all night. I think we "filled his cup" and his happy face sure filled mine.
Monday, March 21, 2016
One Awesome Lady
My grammy passed eight years ago today. I thought about her a bit today and how happy she'd be with the Lady I'm becoming. And how much she'd love those adorable Zs.
I also thought about how awesome it is to be able to recognize, increasingly these eight years later, how awesome my mom is. Many (all?) of those qualities I worshipped in my grandma I can brightly see in my mother today. I'm sure my mother was always courageous, brilliant, and determined... eight years ago or 18 years ago. In my younger eyes, though, and with my grandma's shadow, it was harder to see it then. I think that's part of the complexity of growing up female and knowing everything before your time...you miss so much.
Today, I celebrate that my mom challenges everything and (seemingly) fears nothing. Just like the grammy I remember. Just like the little Lady I'm raising. And, likely, a hell of a lot like me.
Here's to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them. And to my mom.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Let's Rodeo Houston
We took an impromptu trip to the Houston Rodeo yesterday and had a wonderful if a little bit hurried time. Me and my two Z's went up in the Le Grande Ferris Wheel and I was definitely the most scared one. Look for the Astrodome and NRG Stadium!
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Goodbye to the Z^2 nursery
Five years ago, some of my favorite ladies came to town to design what was then Zayd's nursery. San was working in Brazil for the winter and there was lots to do. It was MLK day weekend and the Oscars were on. The ladies brought an unbelievable amount of champagne and then drank it all. I remember so so much of that weekend. As a person who remembers almost nothing, I think it speaks to how wonderful it felt to embark on motherhood with my favorite ladies at my side.
Today, we destroyed the nursery into which Zayd and Zahra "came home". They are getting a new blue room at the front of the house and our little Z3 will get a redone nursery just for himself (and houseguests). This house isn't big enough for everyone to get the space they'd like, but we surely all have more than we need.
It's been a long process just to get us ready to ready a nursery. Our office was dismantled. An office/closet was created and a new desk was built. We painted. As a family, all four of us, we painted. We painted dressers, desks, file cabinets, bedside tables, and finally the Z's room. And maybe you can tell if you see the splotches and the drops on the trim, but who's to say that's not exactly how my two Z's wanted it.
So, now I'm ready to pull the outer space themed vinyls from the walls and create a blank canvas for my last Z. (And then fill that canvas with propeller planes, hot air balloons, and those old timey bicycles where one wheel is huge and the other tiny.) I surely wish my ladies were here and I'll definitely be texting them soon.
But, in the meantime, it's time to purge. All of this stuff can't fit in a clean new room.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
The First Woman President
Me: Kids, did you know today is election day. (They do.)
Me: And did you know that America is 240 years old and we have never had a woman president?
Zahra: Whaaat!?!
Zayd: No women?
Me: No, for 240 years every President and even every party nominee for President has been a man.
(Zahra growls.)
Zayd: Zahra could probably do that.
Me: Be a woman President?
Both: Yes!
Zayd: Yeah, she could do it.
Me: Well, there is a woman running now, and she might be the first woman President.
Zahra: No. She can be second. I'll be first.
(Zayd glares.)
Happy Super Tuesday to you all!