No need to spend a lot of money buying the original book (although it’s truly  awesome). I’ll show you the ropes.

Tip of the week: Have you told your baby she gets wifi in there?

This year your ass will grow tenfold. Your cheeks will look like farm-ripe tomatoes. Try playing games on your husband acting lazy. This is your last chance to do it so take advantage, ladies. You deserve it anyways for putting on the extra pounds.

You don’t give a shit about anything but your baby. You deserve to be selfish. If someone tries to touch your belly, back-slap the shit out of them and tell them “Give me 50 feet!”

This week you will be having a lot of aches in your back. Look at yourself in the mirror and say I’d do me if I were me. You are beautiful.

This week your baby can tell if you’re lying and you’re eating sushi or crap food. Don’t fool that bitch. Make sure you starve him or her as much as possible because now they don’t have voices to complain. Food is expensive and he or she should be thankful they’re getting a free ride.

Until next week, keep childbearing and putting up with all the things that you do. One day your baby will appreciate it.

Noura and I traveled all around Southeast Asia trekking Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand for nearly 2 months. I learned a lot of life lessons from backpacking and met people from all over the world that truly touched me.

Those were some of the best days of my life with Noura. I never knew how adventurous she is! Notwithstanding stereotypes aside, my Syrian friends in Brunei were pretty impressed that she had the aptitude and athletic prowess to backpack with me. She’s definitely a guy’s type of girl.

If you missed it, you can catch all of my backpacking adventures organized here.

What blessings are you thankful for this year?

Finally posting my wedding photos for the first time. This is a traditional Syrian wedding that starts with a chant as the groom among a pack of men doing a sword dance has to ask for the bride’s hand from her home and take her to the wedding hall; the rest is typical dancing, food, and fun! (August 4, 2008)

Actually, we had no choice. I’ll tell you the story. The landlord “found out” he was not authorized to rent us the place because it was government property and all of a sudden my agency gives us short notice to move. We didn’t want to get into issues with the government because we had absolutely no time for hassle so we just bit the bullet and did the unusual.

Now it turned out to be quite refreshing. It’s wonderful how things you at first oppose can be blessings in disguise. A fresh new beginning before the end of the year when we have to move again…

Honestly, I’ve never bought a brand new car in my life. It’s really high class and beats the hell out of buying an old car – I mean I know anyone can just say that but it’s a tipper when the decision is close. I was going to buy a Corolla, but we decided why the hell not…get something exciting!

With hope I write you and with a sigh of relief. When she tossed her head back in comical relief and laughed at the airport procedures, I felt a drainage pipe break through. It came gushing forth, all coming back to me. The whys and hows all came together like a symphony. Alhamdulillah, Allah has not forsaken me. I am whole again in love.

It’s like in 1 split second the weight of responsibility shifted from one man to another. It is him saying this is the daughter I raised all my life and poured every ounce of love into her and I just hope you can try to do the same.

It is an immense over pouring. It is a quantum leap of faith and security. This is the beginning of my life as a married man.

Her name is Noura…but of course! (What else would her name be?) She is a vibrant character and a very good listener. She’s a very simple girl. Almost anything I say now could be too judgmental so I am just going to ask you to make duaa for me. She seems like a wonderful person. I like her smile, her mom, and especially her Dad. He’s quite an accomplished man. Her family is quite put together and her siblings are young and fun, yet respectful. I’m really happy. I ask that Allah guides me and helps me carry forward. Ameen.