Elissar is so big!!!

I took Elissar's measurements about a week ago and she is getting
bigger. As a one year old, she is 30 inches and 25.3 lbs. She is
above average on the growth charts, which makes me happy. I am not
sure though that she will be tall like I am. I guess I was unusually
long at this age. She seems to have Zouheir's stature, with the big
butt and all. I wonder if she will end up looking like his sisters.

I found this online game that I have become addicted to. It is
actually a bunch of riddles. I have gotten to level 33, but without
the help of searching the internet for hints. www.mcgov.co.uk/zahada.html
Try it.

She Walked!

Today was a historic moment in the life of Elissar Kheir-Beyck. She
took her first steps today. It was a total shocker, as she is still
not even close to crawling and is a pretty wobbly cruiser. Earlier
this morning I caught her standing by herself and wanted to show
Zouheir what she could do. So, I stood her up (no crawling, means no
pulling up on her own yet) in the middle of the kitchen and let go.
This time thought, instead of freaking out, she walked to Zouheir
(after which, she promptly called out, 'One small step for man, one
giant leap for Elissar').

So now we have a walker. Actually, I think it will be a couple of
weeks before she is comfortably walking around our apartment. She is
still not confident enough to stand freely and insisted on using two
when someone is helping her walk. And as far as Zouheir, is
concerned, she can take as much time as possible before she walks.
His first thought after seeing her first steps was, "God save the
furniture". I can't wait to see her running around this place.

Birthday Pics: Take Two

So apparently, the last upload was unsuccessful.  I hope this time around it works.  Dealing with a 56k modem sucks.

 

Birthday Video

Birthday Pictures

So I finally got around to getting the pictures of Elissar's birthday from Rola.  They are pretty good.  It was a nice party.  Zouheir's mom, sister, brother, and his brother's family were there.  Elissar could have cared less that everyone was there for her.  The only thing she was interested in was keeping her cousin Noor away from her bike.  I baked the cake myself from scratch.  It tasted pretty good and in the pictures it doesn't look too bad.  Everyone had a really good time and really enjoyed coming to our house.

Zouheir\s cousin died yesterday and his uncle died today.  His cousin had cancer of the face (I don't know what it is called).  About two years ago they removed his eye.  But the cancer continued to spread and they eventually had to remove most of his left cheek and left jaw bone.  Zouheir said he died from cancer, but depression is really what killed him.  Zouheir's uncle had been in the hospital for a couple of weeks, suffering from hepatitis.  He has been sick for a while and was not expected to last this long.  So Zouheir is going to be busy for the next week or so with family and funerals.  Here in Syria men and women do the funeral thing separately and since I never met either one I am not expected to attend anything.  I am kinda relieved about that.  Funerals here usually last a few days and it is a lot of sitting around.

 

 

 

New shoes

 

 

 

Sleep

Elissar did not want to go to sleep tonight. She spent about 45 min
screaming in her crib before she finally fell asleep. I hate when
this happens. It rattles my nerves and I turn into a psychotic mess.
I constantly wonder if I am doing the right thing by letting her cry.
I don't know why she does this. This is the first time in a really
long time she refused to go to sleep at bedtime. Obviously, it makes
me wonder if there is something wrong. Questions like, 'is she hot/
cold?', 'Did she have a nightmare?', 'Is she just doing this for
attention?' or 'Is she still sick?' (she was sick for the past couple
of weeks with a cold, but she seemed fine today). According to the
books children may protest sleep or wake during the night (she woke 5+
times last night) after a bout with a cold. I am not sure I
understand the reason behind this and can only infer that she got used
to the cold medicine, which made her drowsy, and is now having trouble
falling asleep without it. Zouheir thinks that she is just not
tired. I would agree, but she only took one nap today and was
definitely cranky before bedtime, both today and yesterday.

Hopefully, the past two nights will be a one time thing (I am just
getting used to sleeping through the night again). I pray that I
won't hear a sound from her room until tomorrow morning and she will
greet me with smiles and giggles. I am going watch her tomorrow and
see if she gets tired around her usual nap times. Maybe Zouheir is
right, and she just might less sleep than before.

The Creepo and Birth Story

Our apartment here in Syria is only about a quarter mile from
Latakia's Sport City. It is a quite area with wide sidewalks and few
cars, so it is a good place for me to run. However, a few months ago,
I saw a flasher. He was hiding behind a bush and when I ran by I
could see that he jerking off. It was so disgusting. I picked up my
pace and took off. When I got home I told Zouheir about and he spoke
with our driver, Ali, and told him to start following me while I ran
in the car. I was annoyed with having someone follow me in a car
while I ran, but agreed to it because I wanted to catch the asshole.
We did see the creepo the next day, but he took off in his car before
we could catch him.

Fast forward to last Sunday. I saw the guy again. And then yesterday
and today. In all I think I have seen him about 5 or 6 times. So far
he has not done anything other than flash me, which leads me to
believe I am not in any physical danger. There are also always
several other runners around as well as a police station and military
post very close by. I waited until today to tell Zouheir about him
because I really don't want to have Ali driving behind me. It makes
me feel weird. But as of tomorrow he will be there. Zouheir
instructed him to keep a distance so we might be able to catch him.
We will see how that goes.

A friend sent me this Birth Story Survey on Facebook. But since for
the most part Facebook is blocked in this country, I thought I'd post
my answers here.

Here you go mummies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's
all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for
yourself! Cause everyone likes a birth story!

1. WAS YOUR PREGNANCY PLANNED?
No

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
Shocked, happy, and a tiny bit scared

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
no

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
I was 25

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
My boobs were looking really swollen, so I bought the test, but didn't
take it. I didn't believe I could be pregnant. A few days later when
Zouheir came home he made me take it.

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
Zouheir. He called his family, then I called mine.

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
Yes, we were asking about at the first appointment.

9. DUE DATE?
February 9th, 2008

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Yes, it was horrible

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
anything with mustard or vinegar

12. WHAT IRRITATED YOU?
indigestion and morning sickness and not being able to travel to
Brazil with Mary

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Girl

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
No

15 POUNDSNDS/KILOS DID YOU GAIN DURING PREGNANCY?
12 KILOS

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
yes

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
I knew about it.

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
No

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
American Hospital Dubai

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
Elissar was born 3 hours after we got to the hospital

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Zouheir

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Zouheir, 2 midwives and the doctor

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural with an epidural

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Yes, and epidural

25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
3.3 kilos

26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN
February 7th, 2008

27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Elissar Kheir-Beyck

Walking

I love that Elissar is now mobile. She is getting around so well and
improving everyday. For a moment we thought she might beat her cousin
in taking her first steps. But alas, it is not to be. Noor took her
first steps today. It will probably be another 3-4 weeks before
Elissar is walking on her own. But that's okay. I am in no hurry for
her to grow up. I love my baby.

The truth is I think Elissar enjoys being a baby. If she was
interested in crawling, she would. Zouheir's mom said he never
crawled and didn't walk until he was 18 months. I think Elissar will
walk before then. She has the motivation and desire to learn.

The pictures are of me Elissar and Noor.