The Haft Seen is set for Persian New year!

Nowruz (Persian New Year) is tonight (March 19th) at exactly 10:14 PST! Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the new year in  Persian calendars.

After becoming a mother, I realize now that I am  accountable for teaching Emerson the Persian culture and keeping these beautiful traditions alive in my family. I try speaking to Emerson only in Farsi (although I forget sometimes!) and after 31 years of watching my mom set the Haft Seen (the traditional table setting for Nowruz), Emerson is now watching me set this meaningful table. Here is a brief overview of the Haft Seen and its symbolism:

Haft-Seen (Persian: هفت‌سین‎) or the seven 'S's is a traditional table setting of Nowruz, the traditional Iranian spring celebration

1. Sabzeh - wheat, barley, mung bean or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolising rebirth
2. Samanu - sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolising affluence
3. Senjed - dried oleaster fruit - symbolising love
4. Sir - (Persian: سیر‎)- garlic - symbolising medicine
5. Sib - (Persian: سیب‎)- apples - symbolising beauty and health
6. Somāq - sumac fruit - symbolising (the color of) sunrise
7. Sekkeh - coins - symbolising prosperity

The  Sonbol - the fragrant hyacinth flower - symbolising the coming of spring

Pardon me

Do you have this Fender guitar in lime green?

Mr Bear

About the same size.

The Zoo

Grandma Dokhi couldn't watch Emerson today, so I took the day off and we went to the Zoo!

Bounce with it

The Spin Master

Seven - Eight Months Old

Emerson seems to have hit a big spurt of milestones all at once. Within a few days of turning 8 months old, Emerson started to crawl, started standing up on his own and has popped two teeth.

We've tried hard to get a good shot of his teeth, but his checks get in the way. And if his checks aren't in the way, his tongue is. If his tongue isn't in the way, he's flailing his arms around and defending his face. It's rare that we get to see the pearly whites, but sure as shit, they are there.

• Crawling like a crazy man
• In size 3 diapers
• Pulling himself up 
• Eating solids 2-4 times a day. He loves fruit and eats just about everything. He isn't a huge fan of broccoli
• He is putting everything in sight in his mouth
• 2 bottom teeth
• Weighs about 20lbs
• Had his first flu shots
• Occasionally he wakes up in the middle of the night crying. Most likely it is because he wants to be held. We have been trying to sleep train him and let him 'cry it out'. We usually fail.
• Its gotten extremely difficult to change him without him squirming around!
• He has a new love in his life: Lola Keach (Jessica and Matias's new baby girl!)
• He celebrated dad's birthday for the first time. We went to the Jelly Belly and Budweiser factory
• We baby proofed the house; but we most likely have a lot more to do
• Emerson loves pulling on our records. We have to keep an eye on him every second
• He watched the SuperBowl for the first time. I think he was bored
• He likes us to read Dr. Seuss books to him
• His friend at day care is named Maddie (she has bright red hair)
• His poops are pretty solid and stinky!
• He loves bath time. He splashes so hard, we have to block him with a towel so he doesn't flood the bathroom
• He is sitting in his stroller like a big boy (no more car seat)
• He LOVES the guitar and having Morgan put on a special concert for him