Chicago!

Okay, so I am backtracking here - sorry, but I want to have a memory of recent events which I haven't had a chance to post. We were in Chicago recently for my cousin Parag's 50th birthday. He and his wife Chris went all out to celebrate. They rented a Hummer limo Friday night, which took us to an exotic Mediterrenean restaurant downtown. This place, Alhambra, was amazing. The food was great, and so was the entertainment, which consisted of belly dancers and flamenco dancers. This night was adults only - kiddos stayed home with the grandparents. We had fun family time during the day though. Jaidan met his cousin Carina for the first time (my cousin Ami's daughter). She is almost two years old and she is a sassy little cutie. Carina and Jaidan had a blast playing together. We took the kids downtown to Gino's pizzeria for some Chicago-style deep dish pizza and took a walk on Navy Pier. A fun weekend, we always have the best time in Chi-town!

(L-R) Manish, Gita, Nisha, Chris, my cousins Parag and Ajay in front of the limo

The nice ride downtown!

Parag and the belly dancer doing a birthday dance!

Jaidan taking in the sights at Navy Pier

Carina looking cute in her hat and pink coat!

Beach Blogger

Ahhhh Cancun. We have just begun our relax-cation in Mexico. We have been so busy these last three weeks, I haven't had time to post updates. But I have a little downtime now! :-) This was a long awaited trip for us.. First getaway for Manish and I together in three years. That seems like a lifetime ago, especially because the last trip we took was before Jaidan was born! Looking forward to a weekend of R&R!

View from our bed as I type - not bad..

A Day out with Thomas!

We spent last Sunday afternoon at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad for the Thomas the Train event. There was Thomas & Friends themed entertainment, including storytelling, music, arts and crafts, and train tables set up for the kids to play with. We ended the day with Jaidan's very first train ride! The weather was unseasonably cold, but that didn't put a damper on Jaidan's excitement!

Jaidan picked out the tatoo himself - his favorite train is Mike the engine

A blacksmith shows off his wares

Jaidan petting the goats at the petting zoo

I let Manish help out here. Petting zoos gross me out.

A magician performs

An electric train display

These conductors took their job seriously

"Smoke" coming out of the engine

OMG it's Thomas! Kids were shrieking with excitement. It was funny.

Posing with the conductor

His expression cracks me up. He couldn't contain his excitement!

The conductor comes by to take our tickets

Jaidan gets a "Junior Engineer" certificate

And now...from the Funny Farm..

Jaidan has been very entertaining with his sweet and funny mannerisms. Some of the latest -

• He toots at the dinner table and proudly proclaims, "I farted!" (I know, this is cute now, but won't be in a few years!)

• When upset, he tells himself, "It's okay, it's okay" calmy and in rapid succession. He learned that from my mom, who was watching him last weekend. He was upset that Manish and I had gone to dinner (we were all vacationing in Chicago at the time) and he was already in an unfamiliar place. My mom would say, "It's okay, it's okay," over and over!

• He kissed a scratch on my leg and said, "Boo-boo all better!" Then he brings over his toy plastic horse with one of it's legs broken off and says, "Boo-boo?" I said, "Yes, that would be a big boo-boo!"

And finally a sweet thing he did the other day... My dad was about to say his prayers - he does so every evening - and Jaidan was waiting patiently for him at the altar, sitting cross legged and hands clasped in his lap! I definitely need to take a picture of that next time!

Hug it out

On the whole, I would say Jaidan is a very affectionate, sweet child. On occasion, when he does something he is not supposed to, I will give him a stern talking to. And then he will do the sweetest thing - he looks up at me with those brown eyes and asks "Hug?" and gives me a big hug! It's almost like he is saying sorry by giving me a hug! He will do this on his own, without my prompting him! I will say it works - I just can't stay upset for too long!