Happy Diwali!

Last week, the family celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights. It is a really big deal and we light diyas (oil lamps) inside and outside our homes. We bake indian sweets and deliver trays to our families and friends. All in all, it is a joyous holiday where we enjoy each others company and eat good food. This year was no different in doing all the above but it was a little on the quieter side. We lit diyas at our house and then went over to Mum's house, where we danced, ate and set off fireworks! It was the first time that Suhana actually got so close to them. At first she was scared, but later warmed up to them and was pretty happy to see them. And Jiana was a great sport, mellow as always!

Diyas outside our house.

The light of my life!

The other light of my life!

Family

Fireworks!

Getting in the spirit!

Everyone was having fun!

Halloween 2012

The Halloween conversation starts early at our house, since picking a costume is a important and key step in enjoying the holiday. Numerous catalogs start coming here around the beginning of September and we would catch Suhana lounging on the couch looking through all the costumes. She would ask what she should be, like a hundred times! Last year she was a bumblebee and I totally thought she would be something different this year, but no. We ended up picking ladybug costume! It was from the same company (I'm pretty sure) and she refused all the other suggestions that Avikar and I had for her. In the end she was adorable and she loved wearing her costume. That's all that matters.

And Jiana was a giraffe, a adorable giraffe if I say so. Don't judge, we used Suhana's first Halloween costume! It needed one more use before it was packed away for good.

On Halloween, we went to the Cerritos Regional Park to the carnival they have set up. Its a fun place with food, rides and of course a haunted house. Suhana is still young for the haunted house but she surprised both Avikar and I this year by demanding to go on a big ride. This was one of those big buses that propel high in the sky and make a full circle. I totally tried to talk her out of it, because I am imagining going up on that ride with her and her screaming to stop it and flailing in my arms! But she was very insistent, and a 3 year old knows how to make a point. So we took her and boy did she surprise us.. she was completely fine on the ride. She smiled and looked around and thought it was really cool. Wow! I was so proud of her and amazed at what she is ready for at this age.

And Jiana had actually fallen asleep in the 3 minute car ride to the park, so she slept most of the time at the carnival. Then we came home and got our pumpkin and went trick or treating around our neighborhood. It was a lot of fun, and this year Suhana was totally in the spirit of saying "trick or treat" and intent on filling her bucket. (which Avikar and I are now eating!) It was a successful Halloween and I can't wait for Jiana to enjoy it more next year.

Jiana's First Halloween!!

Yes, we picked a pumpkin with some growth on it.



Shikash Chachu and Sudhir Chachu came to hang out.

And of course the pony ride.

Feeding the goats and hugging them!

In our costumes with Nani and Nana!!!

Ladybug girl and baby giraffe.

My beautiful bug.

Sleeping beauty!

Happy Birthday to Jiana!

Today is November 1st, and it is Jiana's birthday. It is her golden birthday too! My gosh, how fast time flies and never do I realize it more than on my kids' birthdays. I also get really emotional and sappy about the whole thing. Mostly because before my eyes, my babies are growing up and I cannot stop it. Sometimes I wish I had magical powers to hold everything frozen, this moment held forever. I also tend to relive the birth day a lot, or every hour like "one year ago I was breathing through contractions at this time" or "one year ago now she was born". And since Jiana is my last baby (I said it on a blog! Official!) I feel like I have to savor everything she does because its the last time I will ever get to hold my baby, or last time I see her taking her first steps.. the list can go on. But you get the point.

Anyways, I need to take her 1 year photo, with the sign, but some of the photos from today will do for now. And in the tradition that I have started, here is my letter to Jiana.

Dear Jiana,

Happy Birthday my darling baby girl. I hope your day was filled with happiness and love, because we all love you so very much. You came into this world fast and furious and had a little bit of a rough start, but from the first day in NICU I knew you were a fighter. Every day you got stronger and were able to get better fast and come home. Every hour we spent at the hospital made me love you more and I knew that you were my little angel. You infectious smile, your bright beautiful eyes, and your adorable face just melt my heart every time.

I love you so much, that it hurts sometimes. I always want you to know that I am here for you, no matter what. Even if you think I may not understand anything that is going on with you (clearly I am talking about when you are 16!) I will try my hardest. You always have your Dad and I to take care of you and be your support.

Suhana loves you so much, she thinks you are her little baby toy! She plays with you, Mudoos you, and calls your name nonstop. It is the best feeling seeing my two beautiful girls, running around and playing with each other. I hope that never stops!

I love you and thank you for coming into our family and making us whole.

Love,
Mommy

Check out the teeth!

I'm 1 today! 

Lighting the candle.

Suhana helping to cut cake.

What's all the hoopla about? It's not fun to get messy!

Off she goes!

Jiana has started walking officially! Yup, at eleven and a half months, this kid doesn't want to be carried or held. She just wants to take off. So yesterday at home with her, I captured the walk. Please excuse the wobbliness and its on a phone. So proud of my baby!

Suhana Turns 3! Beach Themed Birthday Party

Avikar and I apparently like to go all out for birthday parties and we end up exhausting ourselves to the point of "we are never doing this again!" Yet, we do it again every year!

This year for her birthday party, Suhana helped us pick the theme "Beach Party". And since it is super hot around her birthday it was going to be perfect. We started planning early and buying things online and in the stores. And pinterest has been incredible! If only I had pinterest when I was getting married! Or before I had Suhana! OMY! The ideas are amazing and since I don't really have a creative bone in my body, I was totally able to pretend I was.

We had to prep the house the night before since the party started around 10 am on Saturday. We hung up fishes, stuck up sea animals on the windows, we had two pools for the kids to play in, with beach balls everywhere and we even made a photo op submarine. The pictures will explain what I mean. It was an awesome spectacle and it was a lot of fun to put together. We had about 50 people coming, friends and family and of course Suhana's friends! We had a great time and we hope all our guests did too. Again, I can't believe my baby is 3 years old. She is the joy of our lives. Happy Birthday Suhana! LOVE YOU!

Welcoming guests

Gift Buckets

Food!

Candy/Dessert Bar

Homemade Sugar Cookies

Beach themed cupcakes by Ayushka!

Floating fishies

Backyard Beach!

Pools!

Submarine Photo Op (painted by yours truly)

Quinn!!

The "layers"

Nani and Jia

Birthday Girl!

Abby!

Our one family pic!

Mango Cake! Check out the swimming teddies.

Happy Birthday Suhana!

Family! The best ever!

Thank you!!!!!!

First Pedicure - Date with Mommy

My kid loves to paint her toenails and as mommy loves to get pedicures, she was bound to love this too. Its about the small pleasures in life, right? Well, I decided last week that she was old enough to come with me to get a pedicure. I figured she would either hate it (as new experiences aren't always the best, she is 3 after all) or she would really enjoy it.

We went to Landmark Nail Spa by our house and she got to pick out her own color! She chose a hot pink, as did I. She sat in my chair with me for a little while and soaked her feet.  (note the hula skirt) Then she sat next to me and they pampered my baby. She even got a flower painted on her toe. She loved the whole experience and next time we will take our own non-toxic piggy polish! But Daddy, better start saving two out the of three girls in your life like pedicures.

Soaking the feet.



Mommy whats the blue?



I want pink please!




Even saw Saima Bua there!