Zarchy Baby

Zarchy baby is 3 weeks old today!!! We call him Zarchy because there are no words in the english language that accurately describes his appetite - so we made one up!!! And much like his father and grandfather, he tyrannically demands impeccable around the clock food service...

Hope all is well with all of you.

Farmers Market, shopping and Owls oh my!!

As we try to get life back into a routine we headed out to our regular breakfast spot (SF Ferry Building Farmers Market). Ahmad hit up the rock gym and then picked up us family folk.

The weather was in the high 70s, which brought out the crowds and as usual the food delicious!  We then stopped by Union Square to run some quick errands!

Kai was relaxed and chilled and we decided to head out to capture some photos of the owls in Golden Gate Park!! Ahmad was the birding 'Pro' again with his fancy equipment.  The sun was out, baby was staying warm in the car and we quickly played with the settings on the scope and camera try to document the birds.  

Momma Owl

Baby Owl

After this jammed packed day, we were taught a valuable lesson that evening with our first round of crying fits... Jammed packed activity days are not optimal for our 2.5 week old... We are now keeping to one activity packed outing every other day.  We did return to the regularly scheduled nightly routine but we did recognize how delicate a balance we need to keep all parties happy.  I would say this was the baby training his parents!

Sleeping Kai during car ride

Week of Firsts

This week, we did a bunch of First's with our little man.

On Wednesday, we ventured out and hit up one of the great San Francisco Food Trucks for Lunch.  The weather was great and we were able to relax outdoors in Hayes Valley.

On Thursday, we headed out to show Kai the Ocean, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz!  Ahmad hit up the Rock Gym and we walked along the water.  I was hoping to get some photos but the weather was breezy and cold and Kai was cranky.  He seems to like to slow down as evening nears.  Lesson Learned... don't mess with the baby after 5pm.

On Saturday, we took him to Dim Sum to celebrate the Chinese New Year and the fact that he is a Water Dragon.  He was a dream and slept thru the entire experience.

On Sunday, Ahmad and I finally found the Great Horned Owls that lives in Golden Gate Park.  We were able to see two (2) baby chicks and the Mom up in a tree near the buffalo paddock.  Ahmad was a rock star with his scope.  It was quite a majestic siting.  We hope to get some nice photos next weekend to share!

"Never wake a sleeping baby"

Do you know this old adage?  Well, every night I would look at Kai and think about this saying as I tried to wake up our soundly sleeping baby.  I continued to wake him because during our first Pediatrician visit our baby Dr. wanted Kai to get back to his birth weight before we let him sleep longer than 4 hours without a feeding.  Of course, those who know me, know that my next step would be to put the little man on a training program to ensure he gained the necessary weight (6oz in 3days) by the time we went in for our second Pediatrician visit.  (spoiler: He accomplished the necessary weight gain and we are now letting him wake us up at night when he wants to eat).

For those of you worried Kai would not be exposed to the art of sleeping thru the night, no fears... Anyone who knows Ahmad (or has driven with or had Ahmad as a passager in their car) knows he is the best sleep teacher ... and he has been teaching well.

An early morning session when you don't have to go to work. 

Using your hands for impromptu pillows.

How to chillax while watching TV or listening to music

Pediatrician Visit

We were released from the Hospital on Saturday afternoon with a Monday Pediatrician appointment.  Kai was weighed, measured and assessed.  We love our Pediatrician, she is great, however, we are not so sure Kai likes his visits as they involve fully disrobing... but he got Daddy and the RN back by showing his displeasure with a spray of pee.

The Statistics

Name: Kai Cyrus Sadr

Due Date: January 27th, 2012

Birth Date: February 7th, 2012

Time: 3:33pm

Stats:

Weight: 9lbs 3 ozs

Height: 22" 

Head Circumference: 37"

What is behind the name?

I took this picture in Iran (it is Cyrus Tomb)

As we started out on deciding on a name we knew it would be important to provide meaning to whatever we choose.  We wanted to find the right mix of real inspirational meanings and people in which our new one would be named after.

Kai:

• This name has many various meaning in multiple different languages.  We were drawn to the meanings in Hawaiian ("Ocean") as Ahmad and I swam together with baby Kai in the Escape from Alcatraz earlier in the pregnancy, in Navajo ("Willow Tree") as we live off Willow Street in SF.
• Kai is also a reference to the Kayanian Kings from Persian texts as well as in the Shahnameh (or Book of Kings).  Kai means King and would be or is pronounced Kay in Farsi. 

Cyrus:

• Here we were inspired by Cyrus the Great who is well known for his human rights, politics and influence on our (America's) modern day government.
  Maybe I'll write a whole blog on Cyrus at another time.  

If you want to read more about the name and inspiration used to named our son please see the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_(name)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayanian_dynasty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great