The American Dream...

   So when we thought of purchasing a home a few years back, we envisioned the white picket fence and a fireplace to sit by while reading to our children.  The house has a fireplace, but we are still waiting for closing.  The bank is making our lives a nitemare with all their requirements,  the last addition being flood insurance.  That's an additional $145/mo on top of everything else just b/c they  want it, not that the insurance company deems it necessary.  It's almost unacceptable, and we could walk away from all this-but experience has taught me (Metzi) that whenever challenges arise, it's only a test of patience and whatever is in question is worth the headache.  I  keep reminding myself of this as I want to scream of frustration about things we cannot control or have enough knowledge of to contest. 
   Just when things get so unbearable,  Ashima wakes up from a nap and showers us with hugs and kisses-well, her faces smushes into ours and she goes, "mmmm" as in "muah" and the dark gloomy clouds dissipate.  Who can keep a bad mood when a child's smile is present?

  

P.U./P.D.

   Thanks to Aimee and Kirsten for their recommendations on sleeping books!!! I (Metzi) am in love with the Baby Whisperer and wish someone had gotten it for me 10 months ago.  It's so great.  The whole pick up, put down method is not easy, I have been having trouble with all the screaming, plus I am not perfect in it yet. But today was a breakthrough.
   The method deals with you putting the baby to sleep in the crib while they are awake and they learn to fall asleep by themselves.  After all the picking up and putting down, I told Ashima, "Ok, I am going to sleep in the bed.  I am tired."  I didn't yell, or even sound mean.  My back hurt and I was just going to take a small break while her shrill cries worked on the glass...at first she kept crying. And then she got softer, and all I heard were small sniffles. Oh, how my heart melted! But I did not give in, I was strong.  Then it got quiet.  I was in shock. She had put herself to sleep!  So now I wonder what time she will wake... 

Forsaking the cult

  Being a flight attendant is not just a job-it's a lifestyle.  When I was first hired, someone told me it's like a bug that bites which never leaves your system.  After 10 years, the job affected me.  Last September was the start of my leave of absence until next April, and I am at the end of detoxing from the cult.
   Flight attending takes you many places, whether domestic or international, and escaping reality more than living it.  Somewhere in between all this, a sense of what is real is lost along with where you fit in the scheme of things.  Unimportant people start to take precedence of lifelong friends and family in the name of fun and flying off to exciting destinations.  Soul alignment gets all screwy, especially when single and without much of a care in the world.  
   I am in the final stages of cleansing my mind, soul, and yes, body from all the sewage the job invaded into my life.  Taking a step back for a year has proven beneficial into bringing me back to where I belong: to myself.  
  It's sad how I allowed this to happen...but it was fun.  What a ride! I am so glad it's over and am peacefully leaving it all behind.  Nothing is missed.  Life now has much richer and more rewarding experiences with true meaning.  
   Which leads me to ridding myself of unnecessary connections.  Why pretend to care when we don't? Or care like we did in high school about who was more popular, when the homecoming queen hardly ever makes it in the long run?
It's all so liberating.  Wish this could have happened earlier, could have saved me lots of money and drama!!!

Ashi's first swing at the Kew Forest Park

Today Dennis took Ashima to the Kew Forest Park and she had her first swing. We never knew they made swings for little people like her. She loves being outside and around other children, especially babies. She is a social being already with loads of energy.

How thin is the veil

   Just this past Sunday, I took Ashima to church and something curious occurred.  We were walking along the hall and there was the print  of the Second Coming.  I pointed towards the Savior and said, "Do you know who this is?"  Ashima smiled and started talking to the picture in full conversation.  This happens every time and the same strange sensation courses my body watching my daughter recognize Christ.  How thin is the veil for the innocent?  If someone told this to me about their child, my reaction would be hesitant to believe-until you experience it firsthand, it sounds too fantastical.  But I promise it's true.

Walking the Williamsburg

   On a whim we decided walking the bridge we have used time and again while living in Queens.  Connecting BK and "the city", it's the easiest and most economic access for us to lower Manhattan:free.  What makes it so special is you can walk, run, or bike across it.  Over the years, we kept meaning to do it and yesterday was the day.  
   It was a beautiful late afternoon stroll, probably one of the last warm days of the season. We were on our way home from visiting Nana and Papa Yabut and realized it was now or never.   We bought pizza from a the local corner joint b/c we needed quarters to feed the meter.  What a rip-off~ 25 cents for 7.5 minutes!  But it was so worth it.  

Yes, you can still call

To answer the recurring question "can I still call you since you are now doing a blog?" YES. How ridiculous.

The main reason we started this is b/c since Ashima was born, we have not kept a written record of anything outside her Pooh baby book, which was a very thoughtful gift from Becky S/Ratona. Not to mention it gives far away family and friends an update.

Seriously. Just pick up the phone and call. We can't promise we will, that's why WE BLOG!!!!!!

*love you guys*

Our Almost Home

We originally looked at the house next door and put a bid that went unanswered. We were upset, and I (Metzi) chastised myself for getting my hopes up. "Things happen for a reason", "This wasn't the house for you" were the comfort words of consolation our family and friends offered. And so *sigh* we started our search again.

But lo and behold! The neighboring house went up for sale! Being the sign seeking sinner that I am, I took it as the Universe rearranging things in our favor once again. And so the Universe smiled as we negotiated...and negotiated...and negotiated again on a price.

So here we are. Bank appraisers went in today and we snuck in to do measurements. Not really snuck, but we can pretend we were sneaky. Funny how different everything looks sans furnishings of others. Kitchen and main bath need absolute remodeling and updating, and most other rooms have to come up to speed. But hey, for a starter home, this ain't shabby!

Now it's time to hold our breaths as we get our paperwork and necessary items ($$$$) ready as we wait for a closing date.

The meaning of Ashima

A name is something we have throughout our lives, and is endowed to us by our parents with the best of intentions. We chose Ashima because we wanted to give our daughter a name which would always remind her of her individual potential.

Ashima is Hindu in origen meaning, "limitless, without boundaries"'. Limitless. No boundaries. This struck me (Metzi) the moment I heard it. This is a name a female should have bestowed upon her, especially in the Age of Obama. We want our daughter to feel she can achieve anything her heart desires, without imposed limits or boundaries society places on women.

Beginnings

Today is the start of this online account of our lives as Yabuts. Dennis, Metzi, and Ashima.
I (Metzi) realize the importance for Ashi's sake, as I don't think anyone has kept a record of everything that has happened from the moment she entered all our lives.
In a nutshell, Ashima is the moving force behind many actions in the last year and a half. She came to align our lives in accordance to what had deviated from the path, and for this, we are all grateful. She truly is an angel.

That being said, let's begin!

We are in the middle of getting ready to close on a house in Hewlett. It's a crazy time with much uncertainty b/c neither of us know what to expect. I am nervous, but this is the right decision for us. Returning to the neighborhood I was in for 4 years will be slightly weird, but those were great years. And that is what motivated us to purchase in this neighborhood. School District 14 is what we all aspire to when looking into educating our children.
In between all this, bouts of sadness creep in about leaving Queens. It's been a great 9 years being back in NYC after leaving to Utah (and other places) for so long. No matter what Dennis says, I am a QZ girl at heart, and am proud of it!
Our baby girl has progressed by leaps and bounds. She has a tiny vocabulary, and is learning how to best communicate her needs to us. She is determined to stand on her own, and is headstrong in all she does. We are working on her sleep issues, b/c they are just that: issues.