Three Cups of Tea

I just finished reading this book about Greg Mortenson's humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan to build schools for children, written by David Oliver Relin. I urge every single person to read this book. I believe it is pretty popular, but if you haven't already, please give it a read. Tell everyone you know about it. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Afghanistan, and if anyone knows any Pakistanis, you know they are the nicest people on Earth. At least I think so. I'm so inspired by this book, that I want to do something to help. I've been working on tee-shirt designs for a while now, and when I finally launch my site, I hope to donate all the proceeds to his charity, the Central Asia Institute. (We'll see if I ever sell any.) I know my small blog isn't a lot to get the message out that many already know of, but I can't not say anything. Just as I finished reading the book, while sitting in the car in the parking lot of Home Depot, an elderly man came to his car parked next to ours. We exchanged "How are you"'s, and he said "I hope the book is good!" I said "It is! Three Cups of Tea!" He said "What? O yea, I read that one." I was so excited about our little exchange. "It's SOOO good!" I gushed. "Yea, I enjoyed it! Take care." He said. I loved just blurting out how I feel to a random stranger and getting a good response out of it. I really think this is an important book and we should all share these feelings of inspiration with each other.

I have two kids!?

I'm usually so busy with two kids that I don't have time to think about it, much less write about it. But then sometimes I stop and I reflect on it, and I say "I have two kids!?" It seems like I've had an infant forever. But that infant is also growing up, and I see that every day. Then at the same time, I see my baby, and I wonder "I have a baby? Where did that come from!? I don't feel like I just had a baby." I'm confused. But really, I love to marvel at Lyla, I don't feel like I should have a baby this small, yet I do. It's cliched, but it is precious, and I love it. Actually, I must say at least a thousand times a day how I don't want her to grow up. Zalah can be the one we watch grow, and Lyla can stay a baby forever! Yea right, but I wish she could!And I also love to see Zalah do amazing things as she grows at the same time. It is pretty disorienting, but I try to appreciate how awesome it is to still get to have a precious little one when most parents are still rocking one at this stage. Its not a contest or anything, but this is usually the time when parents want a sibling for their child/ren or just miss the infancy that ends as the child grows into their own individual person.


On a similar note, Zalah pooped in the potty and it was the most exciting thing ever.

Love the Leash

I've been away in California visiting my super awesome grandmother for the past two weeks. (Ok, I've been home for a while, things are busy, you know!?) No matter where you go on vacation, if you have the kids, it's still tough. Sometimes even more so than at home where you have everything you need and don't have to worry about baby-proofing. Well, to help ease this situation, we chanced upon something that I thought about possibly buying before while at a store one day. I'll tell you what it is in a minute. It couldn't have come at a better time. I think because of the loss of control we have while so far away and the child's strong desire to explore and leave you in their dust, we felt really overwhelmed. So we went for it; we bought a baby leash. I know many people are really against them, but you know what? I love it. Zalah loves it. We all think its a great thing. She has the freedom to explore a little but not be far from us. Now, I know what you are thinking, why not just hold her hand? Well she really hates that. And just walking a few feet behind her is not predictable enough, she could always run off too fast or get into something. And it is easier to forget about her that way or get distracted. Maybe the idea is also so the parent is more aware and not just for the child.
We tried it out for the first time at the beach. In California, the beach is often very small, and there is hardly any sand at all in high tide. We parked on the street and went down cement steps to get to the beach at a part that was pretty rocky and closer to the water to start out with then over to the left or right. Well a large wave came and scared Zalah and knocked her on her butt and side. It wasn't very high where we were standing, maybe about her waist sitting down, but because she fell in, I was able to pull up on the strong harness that clips across the chest in two places to help lift her up before I could get my arm around her. I thought right away how great this thing is. She loves feeling independent with her monkey friend on her back, and I know she is safe and in my watch.We also brought it to the San Diego zoo, so if she got tired of the stroller (which she always does) we could take her out and let her have a little more room to get to know the animals. She loved that. In fact, she loves animals so much, that she grabbed on the bars and wouldn't let go! Even when I tried to take her off to take her into the petting zoo!
I think its a great invention. I know many parents and people disagree on using it, but if I see a fellow parent with one, I'll understand. I know it's hard to even use it because you always wonder what people think, but we think it works, so we just don't focus on that. And maybe for all the doubters, this will give you the other opinion!