In Westerpark

Today to celebrate Mr Baby's half year birthday I dressed him up really nicely and set out to meet a bunch of ladies from a meet-up group. The location was Westerpark, one of my favorite places in Amsterdam.

I have never met these ladies before, but I though it should be quite easy to find a bunch of ladies picnicking in a park. They said they would be in the east side of the park. So I went to what I thought was the east and ran my eyes around for some ladies. 

All I could see were families and children, gathered along a canal, using it as a swimming pool, rather as a beach. I looked at the time, I was already half n hour late, and who knows how long it would take me to find them. Thus, I decided to have a picnic of my own in this fun-filled area. I took off Mr Baby's nice clothes and took him in the shallow water with just his diaper on.

My six-month-old was absolutely ecstatic. He didn't hesitate a bit in befriending the water. His feet were already in it but he wanted to reach it with his hands too, so I carefully sat him in the water. He played for a long time and also enjoyed watching all the kids around him. 

I was so excited to see my baby having fun that I completely ignored my surroundings. It was really one of those special moments in which nothing else mattered. My eyes, ears, arms and mind were all only for Mr Baby. 

It was a really warm day, I could have jumped in the water myself if I had some extra clothes maybe. I just dipped my feet in that cold water and even that worked wonders in providing some relief from the bright sun.

I took him out, which I am sure was a little disappointing for him and went back to our red blanket, where he had his lunch - half a pot of french beans puree.

The exit from Wester Park wasn't very happy as for some strange reason Mr Baby kept screaming in his buggy. I thought he was tired and will go to sleep on the way back home, but that didn't happen.

I have had him for 6 months now, still can't figure this boy out!

Half a year

Half a year has gone already.
My baby is today 6 months old.
He can sit unsupported for quite a while.
He loves playing with anything and everything.
He loves eating almost everything mama offers him.
He rolls over and even tries to crawl backwards.
He goes round and round in his walker.
He smiles when he sees his mama and daddy.
He enjoys going out.
He loves watching nursery rhymes on youtube.
He sometimes smiles for his khala and oma on skype.
He has grown up from a tiny little baby to an active little rug rat.
He has given mama all the joy in the world, along with sleepless nights and many hours of tiredness. But he is worth it all... motherhood is worth it all. 

In Vondel Park

Today I decided to take Mr Baby to Vondel Park. Before hitting the park we made a few short stopovers. All this time, he was really happy, enjoying his buggy ride. However, by the time we reached Vondel Park he became a little irritable.
I couldn't believe how crowded Vondel Park was today. I kept on walking looking for a place which is not too crowded, but not too secluded at the same time. I decided to sit myself in front of the huge fountain in the middle of the park. There was a woman with a small stand selling ice cream, hot dogs and drinks. I bought a choc cone and spread my red blanket under a tree shade.
Mr Baby was quite fascinated by the fountain and also by my icecream. He hasn't been eating much today. I tried to feed him just before we left, but he didn't seem interested. And now, even when I became a naughty mama and offered him some icecream, he didn't want to eat it. I thought he might be thirsty form all the sun so offered him a little water I had took with me. I let him hold the bottle, he played with it more than he drank it. His whole shirt got wet, but that's the best part about summer, I didn't have to worry about wet clothes, the sun can dry them out. I wanted to take Mr Baby to one of the play areas of the park, but he started becoming agitated. 
I thought he might be hungry, so I set off in a search of a quiet spot in the park where I could sit and feed him. But alas, it was very hard to find such a spot. Instead, I found the exit, and decided to head home. Park time is no fun with a wailing baby. Thankfully, he calmed down in the tram, and my little wallet kept him occupied too.
As soon as we got home I offered him some milk. He jumped to it excitedly, but just after a few minutes he started smiling and babbling and didn't want to eat anymore.
Wonder where his appetite has gone...
Vondel Park - I shall visit you again, hopefully if the weather continues to be as beautiful and sunny as it is these days.

Summer Naps

I have no intention to complain how hot it is in Amsterdam these days. This short lived summer is more than welcome! I am taking full advantage of this sunny weather to introduce my son to nature and get some vitamin D in his body. Thus, every afternoon we walk to a nearby park with our little red blanket and find a nice spot under a tree where I can read a book and Mr Baby can play with his toys and the grass. He seems to be loving this adventure and one of its best perks is that he returns home quite sleepy.
So, today as we returned home from the park and Mr Baby silently drifted into sleep, I finally breathed a sigh of relief, took a paracetamol (I am a little sick) and lied down on the bed beside my baby.
Now, my lovely bedroom, with its lovely large windows is not very idyllic for an afternoon nap in the summer. Because of the heat we have to keep the window open, and when living on a main street, that is not a very good idea. While we have learned to ignore the tram and car sounds, the irritably noisy scooters of Amsterdam still act as an effective alarm to wake us from our peaceful slumber.
Summer has also made me realise how thin my bedroom curtains are and how ineffective they are for keeping the sunlight away, which these days shines right at our bedroom till 9pm.
Well, even with all these problems I got a nice one hour nap with my baby. Thankfully, he doesn't feel as hot as his Daddy yet, with whom sleeping in this weather is next to impossible.

Inner peace

I have realised that Ramadan does bring out the best in me. I have been reintroduced to the timid and submissive side of me again. The side that I am most comfortable being. I have tried standing up, making my voice heard, fighting for my rights, but I find it all very exhausting and stressful. And if I just start ignoring things that disturb me and maintain a positive attitude towards life, I feel light, happier and to a larger extent satisfied.
I owe this inner peace to this spiritual month, and hope that the change Ramadan has brought in my personality is permanent and not just for this month.
It also makes my belief stronger in the saying that in Ramadan satan is caged. Surely, it is satan's will to see us disturbed and quarelling with our loved ones. And once he is out of sight we find that there is nothing more important than love in life and relationships.

The story of the highchair

It is quite unfortunate, that S and I have had quarrels about almost every baby item we had bought. We never seemed to agree on anything and always blamed each other if we were not happy with the purchase.
Well, most of the damage was done - the pram, the bouncer and the carrier were things of the past, but we still had a chance to ammend our mistake. There was still one important baby product left to buy. I was hoping that maybe on this one we would agree and finally enjoy a purchase together.
But, alas, that joy remains a dream. The high chair, like all other baby products became a point of quarrel and distress. With me looking at the best high end brands, and S insisting on not wasting money. He called me wasteful and spendthrift and I called him stingy and miser. I am sure later we both regreted our words, being mean to each other just for a stupid chair.
We ended up with the cheapest option available. The simple and famous IKEA chair for only 12 euros, and even on that you get 5 cents back! S promised me that he will buy me a better one, and I should use this just as a temporary solution for weaning. But as I placed my baby in the chair and fed him, I realised how stupid we are to fight over things that the baby is going to use, while the baby is not even concerned with the product. He really doesn't care whether he sits in his walker, his bouncer or even in my lap, as long as he gets new things in his mouth. The high chair is just a convenience for the mother. I still think it is important to invest in a good quality product that you are happy using and that is safe and durable, but not at the cost of mean, heated arguments.

Ramadan 2012

This is going to be my second Ramadan in Amsterdam, but the first one that I am actually going to observe.
Last year because of my pregnancy I avoided the long fasts and paid fidya instead. Fidya is the money you pay someone else to fast in case you are unable to do so because of sickness or travel. Pregnant and nursing women are also allowed to do this.
This year I was also sceptical about whether I would be able to observe the 18 hours long fasts while breastfeeding my baby. However, I decided I would give it a try.
By the grace of God, yesterday the first Ramadan passed without any difficulty. I carried on with all my daily tasks, nursed my baby and just felt a normal amoount of thirst and tiredness.
This made me realise that fasting in Ramadan is a special thing. If in any other month I would be hugry for even a few hours my head would start hurting and I would feel like I am going to dye of hunger. But in this Holy month, Allah gives us the strength to be hungry and thirsty for the whole day. Our energy for this month does not come through food, rather prayer and faith acts as a fuel for our bodies and souls in Ramadan.
I am excited that this year I would be able to keep all my fasts. Inshallah!

Travel to Luxembourg!

Read on my travellogue to Luxembourg published on www.amsterdam-mamas.nl
http://www.amsterdam-mamas.nl/guest/hot-tip-for-a-weekend-away-luxembourg