Decoding Aliya

She speaks volumes and for her age, and shes as clear as a whistle with most of her words but here are a few cute exceptions:
Ee-yah - Aliya
Buhferfly - Butterfly (An improvement from fufferfi which she said until recently)
Monkey cheese- Macaroni and cheese
Butter cheese- Cream Cheese
Fick it- Fix it
Mice- Mine, this is so adorable because everything is "mice, mice!"
Oatmilk- Oatmeal
Bank-et - Bracelet
Cur-el- Squirrel
Pe-yo - Pillow
Ee-yah hep ou (pronounced like you without the y sound) - Aliya help you; which is adorable because she says it when she doesn't want any help, it basically means "I'll do it my self". It stems from when I say "Let me help you" when she is struggling to do something and she responds "No, Eeyah hep ou" and she proceeds to help herself.

Aliya was picking her nose and Rob asked her "What's in your nose? She said "fingers"

Fathers Day Weekend

Friday-
Football was the theme of the weekend. We started out with taking the kids to their very first game. Tampa bay Storm vs. Orlando Predators, I was torn inside who to root for but since we were in Tampa and Aliya fell in love with the Tampa’s mascot, a bear, we cheered on the blue and gold. In my opinion it was too loud in there but Rob seems to think I’m just sensitive to noise, either way neither kid liked when the fireworks went off indoors! The game started after Aliyas bedtime so she was a bit cranky however she still managed to have a great time dancing and cheering.

Saturday-
We started off the morning showering Rob in much deserved fathers day gifts which included a football! Mom and Wayne came over to take on the monumental task of watching both kids while Rob and I snuck off to a graduation dinner. It was nice to have a few hours away from the kids and we really appreciate having such fantastic baby sitters. When we got home Mom and Wayne darted out of the door and looked totally worn out! Both kids were nuts, Kaden never slept and Aliya refused to go to bed, our tv was not working so they didn’t even have that as a relief plus we left them without dinner! They still managed and did such a great job. Even though the kids were crazy they loved having their grandparents over.

Sunday, Fathers day-
We woke up really early to go to the Ismaili Sports Festival which was held in Tampa. Aliya took Rob to McDonalds for his free fathers day breakfast on the way to the festival, a tradition Rob had with his dad when he was a kid. Rob played football while the kids and I just hung out on the grass and enjoyed the shade and cool breeze. We topped off the day with dinner at Texas de Brazil.

To Rob-
You are our rock. Our wonderful life is possible because of you. There has never been a more supportive, understanding, loving, or better husband. On behalf of our children I want to wish you the most fantastic fathers day. We want you to know how very much we appreciate you. From ‘daddies shoulders’ to ‘rock-a-minute’, from ‘no, daddy, no’ with a pointed finger to ‘cuddle daddy’ from spit up to fussy nights you are the best dad to these kids. We all love you infinitely.
To Dad-
I watched as you woke up night after night after night after night. Countless lost hours of sleep so Adam and I could have wonderful lives and that’s exactly what we have. You have taken Rob in as your own son and I can see the love you have for Aliya and Kaden in your face. We are so blessed to have you as our dad. I love you so much. Thank you, dad
To Bapa-
Your initial sacrifice of coming here to America and taking on the burden of switching countries with nothing has given this family so many opportunities. Your sacrifices in life have brought us to where we are and there is nothing we can do to repay you. We love you so very much.
To Wayne and Uncle Pinky-
Thank you both for being such wonderful father figures to Rob and I and our children. We think you are wonderful and are so proud to have you in our lives.

Swimming lesson part deux

Summer Camp

MOSI has summer camps for 2-3 year olds which is so hard to find. Ali loved it! Kaden had the biggest exploding diaper in the middle of her camp but we discretly handled it so no one was the wiser...until now. 

 

Wickedly delicious

Wickedly delicious
She cries from her crib
Rock-a-minute
soft and rhythmic
we sing tasbi
God give her peace
She sleeps
Her lips pout
they’re red and yummy
I kiss them
then her cheek
I'm so in love

Too Sweet

Weekend

Friday- The plan was simple. Go to khane and spend the night at maa and bapas house. After an hour we had made it 6 miles from home when Aliya vomits all the contents of her belly and Kaden decides he is famished since it has been a whole hour since he ate. We cut our losses and turn around leaving the sea of cars behind us. Starving; we stop for dinner to the most horrible service. (I sent my food back because it was covered in gravy made from pork, they scrapped it off flipped over the chicken and brought it back out! And when Aliya threw her toy down the waitress dodged it, stepped over it and didn’t pick it up.) We were to the point where so much had gone wrong it was comical.


Saturday- We made it out of the house and headed to Orlando, after a great day hangin’ out with family, (mom and dad stayed at maa and bapas house too!) playing basketball and on the swings we went to Pirates dinner adventure. Aliya was mesmerized. Thanks so much for the tickets, mom! You rock!

Sunday- Factory Outlet shopping where Rob bought me not one but two LaCoste shirts, a pair of LaCoste sunglasses and a pair of Lucky Brand jeans. Then he tells me “You deserve it, I want you to be spoiled and get the things you want.” These are the things I always look at but NEVER buy. FYI- I didn’t know he was buying them or I would’ve talked him out of it. He just surprised me. I do feel spoiled and so appreciated. Thanks Rob. We ate lunch ate Bahama Breeze with everyone where we said our goodbyes and headed south. For dinner we had homemade lasagna at moms where we spent the evening with her and Wayne. Mom had the greatest surprise for Aliya, her very own bedroom! complete with a princess bed, a little table and chairs and tons of toys. Now the little girl has a princess room at both grandparents homes, how lucky!
 

Swimming lessons didn't go so swimmingly, we had crying and screaming and nonstop asking for 'mommy'. Heartbreaking. Lesson 2 didn't go much better but she turned over and floated on her back on her own when her instructor, Sydney, let her go. It's a great way to prevent drowning if she ever fell in the pool. We played with the rings in the pool after class to try and mask her new hatred of swimming. It worked, so far, we'll see how many lessons it'll take for her to catch on. Kaden slept in the shade, beautiful baby.