We're baaack!

Hello Fam and Friends,
No, we did not fall off the face of the earth. Although it may have seemed like we did. It has definitely been too long since we last updated you all on the happenings of Mr. RaKhem Ajani, so we will definitely fill you in on all of the details that have manifested in the past 2 months. RaKhem is now 20 lbs. A little on the light side according to the doctor (he's in the 25th percentile for weight), but definitely nothing to be concerned about. He is also 30.5 inches long...just 5.5 inches away from being 3 feet tall, which puts him in the 95th percentile for his height! Where is the little baby we had not so long ago? He is a toddler already and he is only (almost) 10 months old! I have probably already said this a thousand times, but I just thought that he would stay little longer. I guess I was wrong. Now he is a big boy who eats big boy food and wears big boy clothes. He flirts with women like a teenager and he knows just when to crack that beautiful smile to get out of trouble (he gets that from daddy). Well, in the last entry I said that Ra was not yet crawling and that he would probably skip that stage all together...I was wrong! Ra is now mobile and getting into everything. Well, that may be an over-exaggeration because the hardwood floor makes it a bit harder for him to navigate around the house. But when he is on carpet...watch out! At first, he pushed himself backwards on the floor to get where he needed to go, but now he can go forwards, backwards, and in circles. Even though he has just gotten the hang of the whole crawling bit, he loves to just stand on people's laps and bounce. No music has to be playing to initiate these bouts of bouncing...it just happens!

Ra not only crawls and bounces, but he can now pull himself up. About 2 weeks ago, we woke up to him standing up in his crib staring at us. I ran to get the camera (still half sleep) so I could catch him before he sat down. Sorry the picture is not more clear, but I mentioned that I had just gotten up. We were so relieved that we had recently adjusted his mattress to the lowest level. If we hadn't, he would have been introduced to the hardwood floor and it would not have been a pleasant meeting.

I mentioned earlier that Ra now eats big boy food. He now has 4 teeth (technically, he has 6 because 2 teeth have just broken through) and he is over the mushy baby stuff that we were feeding him. Two weeks ago we went to a Pan-African Festival where he had some Jerk Chicken and Coconut Rice with mommy. He finished his portion like a champ. He has eaten corn, green beans, green peas, mashed and baked potatoes, and even a little Carne Asada (marinated beef). Of course mommy had to help him out a bit with the beef, but he liked it just the same. This is the look he had on his face when he finished his food. See that smile...he agrees with me!

Overall, RaKhem is an observer with a sharp sense of humor. He likes to study things. He enjoys laughing at his own private jokes. He can entertain himself for long periods of time and seems to get lost in his own imagination. I am convinced that he has been here before (he has a soul that is way older than his ten months). Hasan and I just sit back in wonder every day as he develops into the young man he is meant to be. And as the days go by, we will be sure to keep our family and friends up to date about our little man. Peace and luv to you all and have an early Happy Mother's Day!


Until next time...
Hasan, Des & Ra (and Amaru)