Sachi's appetite

Yeah, Seema Auntie is married...we just came back from Houston, and had a great time hanging with all the relatives.

Sachi is here with her auntie Seema, the day after the wedding. I don't know what was up lately, but Sachi has been eating non-stop. Seema got to witness this firsthand. Sachi just ate half of an avocado and was forcing spoons of yogurt into her mouth after that.Seema was also trying to feed her nephew Krish some of this yogurt, but Sachi put up a fuss. Each spoon had to be directed into her mouth, and into her ever expanding belly.

Sachi, keep it up while it's cute and your metabolism is raging. Do you eat for hunger, comfort, or just plain oral satisfaction? All I know is if you keep up at this pace, your momma is not going to be able to carry you anymore.

The Sun Shines Brighter in Alameda

I recently discovered the town of Alameda, and I love it. It is a quiet island town just west of Oakland. It has a nice shoreline, great restaurants, and mom & pop establishments, and a modern mall with all the necessary bix box retailers, e.g Tj's, Safeway, BB & Beyond, WAMU, etc. I love the grassy parks with colonial gazebos and trickling fountains...reminiscent of Mexican cities I have visited. Alameda is a place where you expect the people to be friendly, and they certainly don't dissappoint!

Anil, Sachi and I went over there on a really nice day, ate some crepes, then walked from downtown to the beach and back. We passed homes on the estuary (reminding me of the Venice canals). It was a glorious day, and since then, I will make any excuse to go back there. Anil is thinking about limiting my trips to Alameda to twice a week...so I can also enjoy a bit of Oakland.

A year in review

We made it through the first year, and still wake up (a little tired) and thankful everyday that Sachi is a part of our lives.

In 2008, we got to see Sachi's wide range of emotions, including my favorite--her uncontrollable laugh/squeal. It is awesome to see her personality develop. Her most recent expression is a pouty face when she is not getting what she wants. It goes somthing like this...I say no, she pouts, then hugs me, and then I succomb to her demands.

Sachi is also close to walking now...standing for 20 secs at a time. I am going to miss that swift crawl. I am also going to miss sitting down, I hear. 2009 will surely be an adventure of sorts.

Like falling in love for the first time

There is nothing special about this picture of Sachi today. But I took it because at this moment, I was thinking how being with her is like falling in love for the first time. I am overcome every day with the emotion I feel for her.

I sometimes (and generally always want to) lie around with her all day.
I am constantly looking at her when she is not watching.
When she is asleep, I lie next to her listening to the rise and fall of her breath.
Everything she does makes my heart melt.
(Today before I gave her a bath, she peed on the floor--so cute)
She is perfect in my eyes.

Sachi's Birthday

Sachi's surprise birthday was lots of fun...about 40 people came out to celebrate. Sachi hung out with a few of her boyfriends(keshav & akash), and made some new friends with all the children that came. She also got to eat some yummy ginger cake.

Sachi now has more toys than she knows what to do with.

Which one should I open first??
I got lots of cool stuff this year...my own MP3 player, lots of educational toys, books (boops), clothes, a hindi alphabet puzzle, stuffed animals, accessories, and money for my e-ju-macation fund. Okay, cool...so where's my milk at?

Curl quandary

Sachi has such terrific curls, that it has become a quandary as to whether or not i should cut them.

In all practicality, they are in her field of vision and who wants to see a big black mass as you are trying to reach for your toys...or better yet, gain your footing so you don't fall on your face! But the curls are so cute, and each one has such a distinct personality. Right now, she has one that goes at almost perpendicular to her forehead. I love that curl.

I know the right thing to do is cut them, or pin them back--but sometimes I don't. Agghhh, am I a bad mom or just obsessed with these cute curls.

Garba Showdown

This is Sachi with her cousin lovingly called "Khushu" by his mom and dad.
They are at a garba and Sachi is pretty sure Khushu has nothing on her. She's got rhythm and a feisty spirit. She is mocking him with a tough smirk. He responds like a gentle dove.
They are both 1/2 gujarati, and have a fighting chance at some fancy footwork.
Bring it!