How can one woman compete?

Today I emailed my neighbor just to check in...make sure the house was still standing, you know...

I told him that we're having a blast here in Turkey, and that Alia is doing exceptionally well. She is enjoying spending time with all her relatives, and thriving on all the extra attention. I joked that I dread coming home because I dread the sadness in Alia's eyes when she realizes that it's just Mommy and Alia come Monday morning when Daddy is off to work and there are no grandmothers, aunts and uncles for her to show off for.

But then I realized that I wasn't joking at all. There is that part of me that realizes just how important all this socialization is for Alia. Never before has she gone to new people so willingly. Never before has she had so many eyes on her for so long. She's getting used to this rural Turkish lifestyle where the big events of the day are going for a swim in the Aegean and showing her grandmother all her tricks. We walk through the village after the sun sets every evening and Alia points and whispers "wow!" at all the sights...the dogs walking about with no leashes, the bedazzled ladies of the day decked out in the season's latest bikini fashions, and lets not forget the ice cream man that nearly gobbles her up every day.

What am I going to do when I get back?

More from Turkey....

So today we've been here a little over a week. Dena and Tariq joined us last Thursday, so we have a house full of people. And for Alia? This means that there are more people to watch her every move. Alia is no longer happy with just Mommy and/or Daddy's attention...she wants all eyes on her all the time...our little showman!

Take today for example...Alia woke up on the wrong side of the bed; or who knows, maybe she just didn't get enough sleep to compensate for all the new wonders for her little mind to take in. Regardless, from the time she woke up, she was a Grumple, which is what we call her when her near-constant whine happens for a duration of time. So Alia grumpled about all morning...not this, THAT! Not that! THIS! Not you....Amma! Not Amma, Daddy! You get the idea. And then, all of a sudden, it occurred to her that her Mommy, Daddy, Amma, Auntie Dena, Uncle Tariq, and Auntie Aruna (as well as the housekeeper, Gulhaan) were all somewhat surrounding her and watching her crawl back and forth. She blossomed before our eyes. She flirted with the men, shrieked and laughed for the ladies, and turned into a delight.

But then it happened...someone had to leave. So one else picked up a book. People began to dispurse. And Grumple appeared once more.

More from Turkey

Well, here we are day 3 of our Turkish holiday. Alia has taken to Turkey amazingly. And I don't want to brag, but seriously what's not to love here? I just enjoyed the most decadent outdoor massage overlooking a harbor full of yachts on the Aegean...warm breezes, the sound of music playing from the town below, and the knowledge that Alia is being cared for and surrounded by so many people that love her. What could be better?

Here you can see Ajay and his Mom holding the birthday girl at a new super modern hotel in Turkbuku called Kuum...amazing views, amazing architecture, and a very welcoming staff that were happy to serve the birthday girl her birthday cake...

And Alia really enjoyed the balloons that decorated the table...

Here you can see the detail of her understated birthday dress...she was the talk of the town...

And finally nothing beats crawling around on the ground with Daddy!

All in all, I'd say Alia is having the time of her life. She is blossoming into a toddler before my eyes; she's happily going from person to person, enjoying the attention of her new fan club, and thriving on all the locally grown fresh foods. Do we really have to go back home?

From Turkey

So today I'm up at the crack of dawn here in Turkey...still a little jet lagged on day 3, but am so proud that Alia has adjusted so well and did an amazing job on our 22 hour journey here. Let's just say Alia was better behaved than some of the adult passengers on the plane and leave it at that.

So Alia has taken to Turkey like a duck to water. Her grandmother had a crib ready for her on arrival, so Alia feels right at home. Last night, which was our second day here, we walked through town and got the opportunity to show Alia everything we've been telling her about....the lovely waterfront area of Turkbuku, the glittery hand made jewelry on display for the whole stretch of the waterfront, the ducks, the megayachts in the harbor, and the lovely dress shops for her browsing pleasure. I'd say Alia is happy as a clam.

Today is Alia's first birthday. I'll be writing her monthly note a little later, but just wanted to mark the occasion by saying that I cannot believe Alia has been with us for a year already. My teeny tiny baby has turned into a bright, happy, ready to walk little girl. It's bittersweet, in a way. Now I know why they say that you'll always be your Mother's baby. While I am so happy and proud of the little toddler she is becoming, there is part of me that just wants to stop time and savor this time in her life.

But speaking of teeny tiny babies...can you believe I'm 24 weeks along already? It's crazy...time is flying. I can't believe that we'll be meeting the next little Lalvani in 15 weeks...I'm blown away by this.

That's it for now...time to give Alia her morning bottle...or is it her afternoon bottle? Or what the hell time is it around here, anyway!?

Ava no longer?

Okay, before I scare everyone, my baby is fine, fine, fine. She's big, kicking up a storm, and making sure I pee all the time. Up until now, many of you know that I liked the name Ava for her. Until yesterday, on my neighborhood walk, when I met two toddler Avas in our neighborhood, in addition to the friends of the family with the baby named Ava, and let's not forget Ajay's colleague, who has a baby named Ava. Oh, and let's not forget Ajay's colleague named Eva. Oh, yeah, and Babycenter.com sent me an email of the "most popular names around the world", and I kid you not, Ava was in the top 3 for at least 15 countries. So like I said...yesterday was the deciding day. Ava is no longer Ava. She will now be known as TBFKAA, or the baby formerly known as Ava...like when Prince changed his name to a symbol? And become the AFKAP (the Artist Formerly Known as Prince)...yeah, I'm dating myself.

So now, we're back to the drawing board. I hesitate to reveal TBFKAA's new name, but would probably do so with enough arm twisting, or hell, even an inquiry. I just don't want to unname her again...you know? So yeah, we have a new first name, but no middle name to date.

So I'll leave it at that ...TBFKAA.

Four Years!

So, today's our anniversary! Four years ago today, we got married in Key West with 100 friends and family members. I cannot believe the time has flown by so fast. I look back on the time that we spent in South Beach before the wedding, as well as the 3 days of celebration and events leading up to our wedding and I marvel at how far we've come.



To say the least, I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life. Having welcomed Alia to the family this year, and anticipating welcoming our new baby later this year, I couldn't be more thankful. I feel so fortunate to be married to such a wonderful man who is also an incredible Dad.

Four years....how is that possible?

2 More Days!

Packing for the three of us to spend three weeks in Turkey has been an all encompassing project over the past couple of days. I'm not sure why I didn't take pictures of my staging room...probably because I had already set aside the camera and the charger somewhere but couldn't then find it when needed.

I'm not really looking forward to 22 hours in transit...that's right....22 hours. That includes our LA to New York leg, followed by the New York to Istanbul overnight flight, and finally the afternoon flight from Istanbul to Bodrum. But once we're there, it'll all be worth it!

Did I really just do this?

So to make a really long story short, I've been trying to find the perfect blend of grown up foods for Alia that doesn't either stop her up or cause big diaper blow-outs. Sounds easy enough, but Alia, like her Mom, is an all-or-nothing girl when it comes to things she likes.

Take for example organic whole fat plain yogurt. You couldn't ask for a better food for a one year old...pure goodness even down to the fat content for brain development. The problem is, Alia wants yogurt at every meal...as every meal...as in, nothing but yogurt all the time...and it seems that this causes her to poop little painful rocks every two or three days. It's so sad.

So, I cut out yogurt and all other foods that could bind her up for a few days. I gave her blueberries, peaches, nectarines on demand. And that's when we had the opposite problem...you get the idea.

So today, we're back to allowing yogurt into her diet to slow things up a bit; only, after 5 straight meals of yogurt yogurt yogurt, I thought I'd try to add some other food groups to her diet: Trader Joe's Organic Spaghetti O's....hidden beneath a bed of smooth, creamy yogurt.

That's right...I just hid junk food behind healthy food so my daughter would eat it. Did I really just admit that?

Oh shit!!!!

It's Saturday evening....we're expecting two couples at 7PM for dinner. The table is set with olive branches and votives and fresh lavender and rosemary from my yard. We've set the playlist for the night, turned on the speakers throughout the inside and outside, and are prepared to enjoy a lovely evening with friends...

We've showered, and begin to think about further preparations....hors douvres, shining the wine glasses, adding the place settings to the table when it happens.

See, Alia is supposed to be taking a nap in her favorite swing. But lately, she does not want to take a nap....ever. She squawks, whines, cries, yells at us....you get the idea. And no, she hasn't outgrown her need for naps...she gets really cranky and overly tired and still needs her beauty sleep! So we're hearing her little protests for quite awhile...longer than usual. So I decide to peek in and see what's up...and to my horror, to my dismay, to my absolute devastation, I see my little monkey muffin swinging back and forth, pondering her hands, which are covered in feces.

It seems with her new love of blueberries come some sad side effects... loose stool. Apparently she had a diaper blow out and became curious about what in the heck that stuff was.

So nearly panicking, I shout for Ajay, unlatch her poop-covered safety belts, and whisk her away to the tub. And for the next forty minutes, the two of us worked on detailing the shit out of our house before the dinner guests arrived...that's right...literally! And today? When I hear the squawks coming from the bedroom? I can't help myself...I peek in and check again and again. And ordered a video monitor!

do you guys have one of these?

I'm guessing no, you don't have one of these. Well, I do, and it's because I have one of these...

Alia loves lions...she roars whenever she sees one. So yesterday when I stopped in to Williams Sonoma, she spotted the lion spatula from across the store. Happy to see her so happy, I handed her the lion. My mistake. See, we're at that phase...the phase where Alia has begun to see things as hers. Last month? You could take anything away from her and she'd look at you like, "oh, that's gone now. now what?" But now? Nooooow, she claims things as her own, and you better not mess with her when she's got something in her clutches.

So now we own one very useful lion spatula!

Look Who's Standing!

Finally! She feeds herself!!!

When Alia was eight months old, I got an email from my sister in law giving me all sorts of ideas of things that Alia should be feeding herself...steamed carrots, steamed broccoli, and various other finger foods. And at that time, it was almost laughable because Alia just wasn't there developmentally...her little fingers hadn't developed the pincer skill yet. But since then, I sort of developed a complex...I notice babies everywhere feeding themselves...babies much younger than Alia.

Yes, Alia is 11 months old plus change right now. And all this time...since she was 4 months old and began eating solid foods, Alia has refused to put food in her own mouth. Toys? In the mouth. Rocks? In the mouth. Food? No way, Jose!

So today, I am proud to announce that Alia could now survive in the event something happens to us....given there are blueberries placed in front of her.

Happy 4th!

Happy July 4th!

Today Alia and Ajay and I went to a back yard BBQ to celebrate the 4th.

Alia, decked out in her red, white and blue sundress arrived cute, but very very grumpy. However, as time went on, and she discovered blueberries for the first time, she livened up and was a real crowd pleaser.

Upon arrival, the hostess looked at Alia with a furrowed brow and asked how old she is. I responded "11 months". She raised her eyebrows and said, "Wow, she's a big girl" I, being used to this response, agreed with the hostess. I mean, I know Alia is a big girl, weighing in at 26 pounds and being 33" tall. However, imagine my surprise when in walks her 20 month old boy...who is just slightly bigger than Alia. Yes, that's right...Alia was comparable in size to a boy that is over a half year older than her. I mean, I knew she was a big girl, I get that from people every day; but seriously....she's a big BIG girl!

Back in the swing of things....

Here I am, back at home. Suitcases everywhere. Unpacked, for the most part....well, the dirty laundry has all been unpacked and washed and put away. But the other stuff....clean clothes, Alia's suitcase full of everything from baby wipes and diapers and formula...I'm just not motivated to unpack it. I don't feel motivated to do anything, really. Granted, we're leaving on a big trip in another few weeks, so in the back of my mind, I'm thinking, why unpack it at all when I'm just going to turn around in a couple of weeks and put the exact same stuff back in that bag?

When we got home, I was so happy that the house was clean and everything was pretty much in order. I made a mental note to try my best to keep it from getting really messy again, as I do every time the house is in good shape. But then Alia plays...toys everywhere. I make dinner, and do the dishes, but manage to not wash a few things. And then there's the laundry that was all done within 24 hours of being home...why do I get it 87% of the way done? I put away everything of Ajay's and Alia's, and then leave random stuff of my own out, unfolded, and unfinished? What's my problem? When did being a productive stay at home Mom become a half productive stay at home lazy slacker?

Oh yeah, there is that matter of the human growing inside me. Perhaps that has something to do with it? But the confusing part is I still have all those nesting urges....I just lack the follow through! Where is the energy at 2:30PM?