*ESHIALO SHILALA*: September 2007

Em & Ced visit and Our first restaurant

Em and Cedric visited last weekend (YAY!!!!) and HELPED us in so many ways...happily handling Fazal a million times and generally being an awesome auntie and uncle (and sister and brother). There are a few photos of them here.

And then, they really wanted to encourage us to go out, so we all went to Rein's Deli, a famous New York style deli in West Springfield. It was Fazal's first trip to a restaurant ever!! It was also our first time to use the stroller. He slept through the entire thing...It was great to get out and realize that as long as Fazal is content and we go prepared, it is possible to go places. :-)

Hanging out with dad

I love hanging out with my dad!

This is when I say, I told you I didn't want to take a bath!!!

My four jobs

My pediatrician told my parents that I have 4 jobs: sleep, eat, pee, and poop. So I have spent the first 19 days of my life trying to perfect these tasks. Mom is not going to show photos of me doing all 4 (heehee) but these are of me sleeping, which I am willing to do just about anywhere as long as I am not busy doing the other three...

In my car seat is not a bad option;

sometimes right on the couch;

or just on someone's shoulder.

Grandma demonstrates multi-tasking

Koko was over a few night ago to see Fazal and these are some cute shots - first of her cooking while holding him, and the second putting him in the laundry basket filled with clean clothes when the adults needed some more free hands. :-)

Family photo

Time

Having Fazal in our lives has given new, more complex meaning to time.

To start with, he was "supposed" to be born today, Sept. 20th, but arrived two weeks ago, on Sept. 5th. We weren't surprised because we both had an instinct that he would arrive before his due date, but it was the first indication that we were now on his schedule.

Then there's the fact that he doesn't know the difference between night & day, and seems to prefer being awake at night, at least most of the time. When I think I can't do one more 3am feeding, I think of all the millions of other parents up at that very same moment doing the very same thing.

Fazal stayed with his daddy at work today for several hours while I took the car to be repaired and to stock up on baby items. We are very fortunate to be able to do this and that Jafred gets much time with him because of it. Here I was, on my own, driving around, listening to music...and I missed my baby sooo much I almost cried. A surreal sweet kind of interdependence has developed without us even realizing. I called home three times on my cell phone to check in. A good reminder to enjoy every precious moment with the little guy, whether it's at 12 noon or 12 midnight.

Now to go change a diaper...

Up through Day 11

Jafred and Fazal sleeping soundly

With Christina and her Dad

Just being cute in my sleep

A bit of a smile before I nod off for another nap 9/16 - I am 11 days old!

Koko and Dad hanging out today 9/16

Other visitors

This is Nazly, a Bahai in Wilbraham who has been keeping us well fed!! Thank you!

Aunt Allie, a few days ago

Mr. Samimi, Friday 9/14

Liza, today 9/16

Cousin Matt and Clare, in the area from NYC, on 9/16

Early family visits

During Fazal's first 24 hours in the world, he had quite a few visitors. We are so blessed to be near Christina's family, and all our immediate family was able to come pronto. Fortunately we have been in touch with Jafred's family by phone quite a bit so they can feel a part of it.

This is Koko (Grandma) Candy...you can see from the clock on the wall that he was only about 1 hour old.

Uncle Cedric!!! Whizzed up from RI to be there for the big moment...

Auntie Emily - the world's greatest aunt. Em, you made our first three days so much easier, and Fazal misses you already!

Grandpa Heaphy - just got to hold him when Fazal was saying "feed me already!"

Nana Lois - what a smile!

Hanging out with mom

I love being held...

We haven't used the bottle much, but we have tried it.

This was Fazal's first car ride, the day we came home from the hospital. See his special "going home" outfit!

Fazal photos

more of fazal over last couple of days...so cute...we are doing great...not enough sleep, but love every minute...will return emails and phone calls eventually....his every smile, yawn, stretch, and squeak keeps us laughing :-) tomorrow he will be one week...

Dad (Jafred)

Joy on Day 1!

Napping together on Day 3

Mom (Christina)

Photos of the new mom after Fazal's birth.

Dad and Mom enjoying getting to know our son

This nurse is Michelle, and we owe her such gratitude. She was a fantastic helper and supporter throughout the labor. Thank you!

Fazal's First Three Days

We are very excited to introduce our son, Fazal Heaphy Mato, born Wednesday September 5th 2007 at 6:55pm. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 22 inches long. He is quite adorable, and had many visitors even in his first 24 hours.

Fazal is a Persian name meaning "knowledge". His namesake is Mirza Abu'l Fadl (with a dot under the d), the preeminent Baha'i scholar of the East during the 19th century. We have simply Anglicized the spelling. His middle name is Heaphy, his mother's maiden name.

We are all at home now and doing well. Here are a few photos from his first three days.

His very first photo taken just minutes after birth.