noof and noel wedding (215 photos), by nefret hanna

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

the blog is MOVING!

I was inspired by this . Holler Al, KT, and Corinne.

This week was full of some serious technological assistance and hours of editing. Who should I thank first? Maya, you are incredibly patient with my picky taste in blog themes. And Corinne, thank you for inspiring me, being a technological genius, and for teaching me all I know about blogging and computers.

Bookmark it, follow it, google reader it, do what you gotta do.

TA DA!

Yes, I am Egyptian

And like most Americans, I have been following the riots. And ike most Egyptians and Americans, I am very concerned. My information doesn't come from anywhere special... I read tweets, BBC, and listen to my mother's opinion, but when Carrie Badanes asked me a couple questions about the situation in my "homeland", I thought it approriate to share with the general internet public who reads my blog, you, what we think over here in the Stringham household. Simon is also an Egyptian-American, and you better believe he has an opinion too. He has been cranky lately, and I am attributing that to Egypt's unrest.

Until he learns how to share his opinion in English (or arabic),

1. Explain in two sentences why the people are rising up against Mubarak after 30 years. Speak simply.

A corrupt government that rigs elections and steals money obviously causes a high unemployment rate, and with that, a great amount of unrest. Tunisia started it, the Egyptian community saw their window, and thanks to social media and the unifying ability of the internet, it is finally happening.

2. As An Egyptian-American, what would you like to see for Egypt in the next 18 months?

I would like to see a fair democracy. I have no idea how one does that, and I think the word democrary is overused. How about just a fair government with an ability to help the people rather than harm them? I think I am too much of an idealist to answer this question. Pass.

3. If you were a solider in the Egyptian army, which national monument would you want to protect and why?

The mummies. Duh.

The security at the Cairo Museum has always been weak to say the least. Apparently precious items get stolen out of their basement all the time. Now that there is rioting, I hope they are stepping up their game with security. Save the mummies! Who knows what would happen to those guys when they hit some Cairo oxygen. Yikes. I am pretty sure they would instantly disintegrate.

Is my blog becoming political? I need to stick to a theme here.

what is wrong with this picture?

My grandfather always used to say that nobody learned geography anymore. I didn't think it would come to this....

(thank you, Maya, for pointing this out to me.)

Thank goodness Simon has a map in his room...let the education begin!

the usual evening conversation

Simon loves these pjs. or maybe Noel and I just love them.

In case you couldn't get a good look at them...

Noof: Simon, is Snugglestown in Virginia? I am just wondering, because there is an arrow on your shirt, and it makes me think it is nearby.

Noel: It is in between Crankyville and Happytown.

Noof: NO. You are wrong. It is near Stinkybuttville.

Noel: It is pointing east. It is near the coast.

Noof: Like close to VA beach?

Noel: Yea, probably.

Noof: Let's just say it's near Cutebabytown. or Babysarethebombville.

Noel: Alright. Whatever. (Walks off to make salad for dinner).

simon's new crib (not literally)

Simon has graduated to his very own nook of the living room. Due to our limited space, the play mat only goes to the letter P.

I figure once he learns the alphabet, we will rotate the other letters in.

It seems though that he would rather eat his fist than play with his toys anyways.

trendy baby

someone is sporting some new vans.

(i know, i know, we are working on his facial expressions...he has a perma shocked/deer in headlights look. I believe he is just shocked by how awesome his life is. )

he is actually going to skateboard to daycare today.

thanks corinne. simon has never been so trendy.

it's not over till it's over

My hair is falling out! Though I was warned about this symptom of pregnancy that occurs 3 MONTHS after giving birth, nothing could have prepared me for this. My prenatal vitamins have finally turned against me and can no longer provide me with that luscious pregnancy hair that I have gotten used to.

I have found hair in these places around the house:

1- in the dryer

2-in Simon's diaper

3- in our dinner (sorry. bet you don't want to come over anymore)

4- in the cd player

When Noel was complaining about having to clean up the hair that is currently ALL OVER the bathroom, I cleverly accused him of mistaking our hairs. Yes, short red hair can be confused with long black curly hair.

As my previous roommates know, I hate cleaning out the drain in the shower. (sorry Julia!) Sorry, Noel, it is going to be an ugly winter.

The good news is that this kid doesn't care ONE BIT.

Oh, and he can roll over. Boo ya.

and....let's not forget...

Happy Birthday, Noelpac! You are the bomb. Love, Noofpac and Simpac

Yes, Simon and I had a lot of fun with the camera this morning...I think I had WAY more fun than he did.

belated partying

Happy New Year!

Simon's new years resolution is to wear all the clothes in his closet, including his happy new year tux (thanks Marianne!) Good luck, Simon...

a leaf has turned.

It seems that simon doesn't completely hate his life anymore.




...and with the reason of the season still fresh in our minds , let me just say halleluia!

As he gets happier and happier, sometimes I get teary at the thought that he is getting bigger and bigger and will eventually go to college. I obviously automatically jump there, because it makes the most/least sense.
but then i remind myself that my eyeballs are itchy from exhaustion. so we return to square one: right now we are just working on sleeping through the night and not spitting up/peeing on my work clothes.

This is my prayer these days:

Thank You, Lord, that the days go by slowly. Simon is the best, and we want the days to go slower. But one teeny tiny favor... let Simon sleep through the night! Amen.

cvs santa

Santa was stationed in the Beauty Section of CVS. I was the only person in line at 3:55, and in a desperate attempt to keep Simon awake for his first meeting with childhood magic, I made him sniff all the perfume in the aisle.

Everytime I look at this picture, I laugh. Maybe it is because I know that they draped a sheet over the makeup section to create Santa's "winter wonderland". Or because Simon is so distracted by something to his left (oh what could it be? Should I name all the things that distract him?...the light, the fan, bright colors, his fist, the sky, the ceiling...the kid has no discretion) that he looks like he is trying to leap out of Santa's lap.

Thank you, CVS, for a very memorable first Santa.

purple popsicles and a snowy day

Let me tell you, I chose the right week to go back to work. A Christmas party and a snow day! It can't get any better than that.

Simon prepared for his first snowy day by wearing his ginormous snow outfit around the house. We also read this book together (thanks Emily and Nate!)



We made it to page 2 before Simon started whining, probably because his mother was making him wear a huge snowsuit inside the already quite heated house. I couldn't help myself.

Simon is currently on a medicine that makes his lips and tounge purple. As you can see in the above picture, it looks like he has been eating a purple popsicle all day. We have been teasing him constantly (as if he understands.) Aside from staining everything purple, including my pjs, his spit up, and the snow :) , the medicine cracks us up.

We thankfully and finally made it outside. Noel and I sang "Winter Wonderland" as Simon looked around confused, unsure of what to make of the white stuff.

na-ah

How is it possible that you are already 2 months?!

ALSO

I just checked the calender, and there is in fact T minus 10 days until I return to work.

Doesn't having a crazy kid count as 5 jobs? One more shouldn't matter too much. Perhaps it is a return to civility....clothes with zippers, conversations at the photocopy machines, and e-mails with semi-colons.

I will keep you updated on this working woman thang.

i want to spit up all over the christmas tree

Without Julia's help this weekend , there is no way my Christmas spirit could have been maintaned. We found the most perfect tree in about 5 minutes.






Simon also participated in the hunt for the perfect tree. Here he is, being bossy and ruling the street as we pick out a tree.

After some furniture moving and some serious rummaging in the Christmas box, we managed to create this.



For those of you who do not have inspecter gadget's zoom-in glasses on your face right now, this tree has been topped off with a marvelous hand crafted angel.



Yes, that is a picture of my child perfectly crafted into the coolest arts and crafts project of all time. Julia's hot glue gun skills are incredible. His angel get-up comes with metallic wings AND a halo! Though his behavior has been far from angelic these days, we are hoping this is giving him something to strive towards.




Also, Simon loves to spit up on the Christmas tree. The real question, however, should be: What doesn't Simon like to spit up on?

baby clothes are the best

The demographic of our coat hanger is changing.

Big coat, little coat, big coat.

business in the front, party in the back

Is it just me or is this kid bringing back the mullet?

I have never been so proud.

my newest simple pleasure

Every day, Simon takes about 4-5 naps. He is getting more and more social every day, which means I have to help him get to sleep or else I am pretty sure he would stay awake all day, crying and staring at things in wonder. I made up his "schedule" and it continues to be necessary for his/our/my/Noel's sanity. Getting him to sleep is the HARDEST thing ever and requires a butt load of patience. Since I am not a naturally patient person (working through that one now), I have to dig it up from the dregs of my long lost perfect personality.Yea right.

Let me tell you, though, when I actually make it happen, it feels good. Success is so sweet and the satisfaction of it is on the same level as a) a really good vacuum, and/ or b) driving while watching the light up ahead turn from red to green and without having to press your brake, you bust through the light. You all know what I am talking about it.

sleeping baby. BOO YA. fist pound.

tech savvy maternity leave

Simon is on a strict sleep schedule. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

This means I make Simon sleep even when he doesn't want to (why didn't I think of that BEFORE?!), and I get to fold laundry, do dishes, write thank you notes...

Since my domesticness is limited and I can only fold laundry and nap for so long, I bought myself an early Christmas present. After joining twitter and conquering the world of constant social media (and some encouragement from Corinne), I moved on to this...

I don't watch a lot of tv, but I think I might start. I don't have the energy and mental capacity for books these days, so this will do, and I am VERY happy about it.

In baby news, Simon thinks it is really fun to spit up. It is my favorite thing ever. I guess he cracks himself up, just like his mother.