A Weekend in the Northeast

Zonking out to Sesame Street tunes!

OMGosh! Elmo is staying at our hotel!

Okay, I know I'm supposed to wear this for the wedding, but I prefer shorts and a t-shirt.

I'm sorry I stole your car bro', lets hug it out!

Lounging with my big sis Riya!

Stuuuud!

A rare moment when we are all dressed up as a family!

Two generations of goofballs!

Our first home!

A great time on the swings, and I get to watch an ambulance whiz by!

Who says you can't mix storytime and a cold beer?

Our first family trip of the Fall was to New Jersey for Manish's cousin Tarak's wedding in Princeton. On the flight out, we tried out the headset Nisha gave us for Jaidan so that he could watch his beloved Elmo videos. Once he figured out that he could hear Elmos' distinctive shriek through the headphones, he stopped trying to yank them off, and they were a hit!

The wedding was beautiful and Jaidan was enjoying his first REALLY late night (went to bed at midnight.) We were able to watch a social butterfly in the making! At both the Sangeet and wedding reception, he approached other children by waving, sticking out his tongue, saying "baaaaa!" - basically anything to get their attention. He liked having me nearby, but wasn't clingy in the least bit. It's really fun to see him blossom into his own little person. Looks to us that he won't be the one to miss a good party! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

On our way to CT from NJ, we visited a beautiful temple and Jaidan dutifully said his prayers. He has learned to put his hands together in a prayer position and even mumbles while he is doing so! We also visited Manish's aunt and uncles' beautiful home in Cedar Grove, NJ. Afterwards, we headed to CT for the night and then it was off to Brooklyn the next morning!

Our visit to Brooklyn was extra special, because it was the first time for us to visit since we had moved away 2 years ago. It was there where Manish and I spent our first year of marriage and where I learned I was pregnant with Jaidan. I remember walking along all those avenues and taking buses and subways while anticipating my baby's arrival and feeling him move and shake all the while. What an exciting time that was!

We started the day with a fantastic brunch with friends and family at one of our favorite restaurants called Miriam. Beforehand, I bought Jaidan an NYPD toy police car that kept him occupied throughout that meal and the entire day. Later, we headed to a playground where Jaidan enjoyed the swings and spraypark. We also met with our former landlords (Terrance and Ahalia) who welcomed us into their home and treated us to chocolates and strawberries - YUM. It was so neat to catch up with them and see our old apartment again. Finally, the best part of the day, we went to a (kid friendly) patio bar called Mission Dolores. A group of us ordered a pitcher of beer, enjoyed the beautiful weather and Jaidan stayed busy with his cars. Towards the end, little Jaidan made his rounds and greeted the other patrons! He is such a hoot! After dinner, we made the drive back to CT and flew home to Texas the next day. It really was a perfect weekend!

Jetsetters

I've had a few people ask why I haven't updated the blog recently. First of all, thanks for asking! I'm glad people are interested in what Jaidan is up to! This past week and a half have been all about travel for us. We went to New Jersey, CT, Brooklyn and just this last weekend - North Carolina! Pictures and details to come. We had a wonderful time and are now looking forward to a relaxing week at home!

Let's Potty!

We are in the beginning stages of potty training! Yippee! We started by getting Jaidan a new potty, which he likes to sit on and flip open the lid. We also checked out a few potty books at the library to read to him, including 'Caillou and His Potty' and 'On your Potty.' We hope he grows to love potty time as much as his parents do!

Sometimes you just need a lap to lay on...

Cuddlebug

There are definitely moments in parenting that are tough - but then there are the sweet, cuddly times that make it all worthwhile. Tonight was one of those. Manish was out at a work dinner so we strayed from his normal bedtime routine and just laid in our bed reading stories. Jaidan was drinking his milk and I held him close as we read his favorite books. It was past his bedtime, but we were having so much fun that I didn't pay much attention to the clock. He kept wanting to read the books again and I did (in different voices each time, of course.) Every once in awhile, Jaidan would look up and kiss my cheek or playfully pinch my nose and I wondered, "Does it really get any better than this?" I hugged him tightly and smelled all his sweetness and just looked at him in awe. I love you Jaidan, with every fiber of my being. I am so proud to be your mommy!