Chandani's Big Party...she's ONE!!!

You dream it, you imagine it and yet when the big day comes nothing can even come close to the real thing. The decorations, the cake and the sweet little Birthday Girl grinning from ear to ear...makes all the planning worth it!


She smiled, she danced and got LOTS of Birthday kisses...
from Mommy
and her lil' BFF Autumn!

And don't forget the CAKE!!!
Mommy helps blow out the candle while Chandani makes a wish!
Daddy feeds Chandani some cake...

..then Chandani fed Daddy!

Chandani even let Mommy have some :)

However, nothing was as good as feeding herself! YUM!!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE, MY BABY GIRL, MY MIRACLE!!!

C.S.I. (Crazy Sleeper Investigation)

Well it's here...my baby is turning ONE and I just can't believe it! So all this reflection got me looking through old pics. Old pics that took me from "Awwwwww" to "Ouch" (labor pics...LOL). From smiles to tears of joy at how my little one has changed so much and yet remains the same. Same pitiful cry face, same BIG cheesy smile and same...CRAZY SLEEPING POSITIONS! :)

So I thought I'd share some of my favs!

"Hallelujah for my Co-Sleeper Pose"

"Don't you go no where mama Pose"

"Hot dog in a bun Pose"

"Buddy system Pose"

"All played out Pose"

"Daddy & Baby Bear Pose"

"Chill-axin' Pose"

"In my cousin's bed Pose"

"Ninja sleeper Pose"

"Spy under cover Pose"


"Snuggle bunny Pose"

"Pooped out protester Pose"

"Bottom's up Pose"

"C is for Chandani Pose"

How Did I Get SO Blessed?!

Everyday I wake up in a house that is rather small and even plain, yet cozy, warm and full of love and laughter.
Everyday I wake up to the secret language of my darling daughter, as she babbles, coos and often shrieks to wake me, yet I can't stop that smile from spreading across my face.
Everyday I wake up to an empty bed as my husband (and BEST friend) gets up before the sun does so that he can make an hour comute to an often stressful and tedius job just so that we can have food, clothes and so that I can stay home everyday to fufill my GREATEST calling ever as I teach, love and watch our baby girl grow within the walls of our little, plain, BLESSED home :)

Everyday I ask myself...How Did I Get SO Blessed?

Mommy's Little "Service" Snow Bunny!

Even with the weather turning freezing COLD lately, my little baby girl can always warm my heart! I've have so many chances to do service lately for people I don't even know very well, but have come to love. One such act of service was especially dear to my heart because my little Chandani got to help (as much as an 11 month old can) and go with me. The picture above is my little Snow Bunny all bundled up and ready to serve :)

An elderly sister in our ward is unable to do her own laundry, as last time she tried she fell and was hurt very badly, so I was asked if I could go get her laundry from her, wash it and bring it back. She has no husband, no children or grandchildren and all of her family has since passed away...SO SAD! However, she LOVES seeing Chandani at church each Sunday :)

So I go pick up her laundry, sort it and start washing and drying. I'm pulling the dried clothes out of the dryer and putting it into a basket on the floor when I feel little hands on the back of my legs. My little helper has crawled into the laundry room (away from her toys and tv) and is pulling things out of the dryer with me!!! :)

We decide instead of just picking up and dropping off we'll have a little visit. Chandani walks over to her rocking chair, holding onto the couch, and points up at this sister and smiles a HUGE smile as she chatters on with her, having a little conversation of their own. You should have seen this sister's face light up at such a warm, little greeting from mommy's little angel!

MY 2010 RESOLUTIONS!!!

Every year, for as long as I can remember, I have honored the age old tradition of setting New Year Resolutions...and every year I haven't kept one :( LOL!

However, this time it's going to be, well, NEW! I am still setting resolutions but not in the strict "I must do these everyday to achieve them"! I figure I'm just setting myself up for failure that way. So I am instead telling myself, and apparently all of you followers, that these are the resolutions I want to WORK ON and try to keep fresh in my mind for the year 2010.

And the list is...

1) Read from the Book of Mormon and gain a firmer testimony of it!

2) Keep my house more organized and clean!

3) Spend more time with the tv, computer, cell phone and other technologies OFF!

4) Learn to enjoy life more and stress less over the little and big things!

5) Have family prayer and Companion Scripture study on a regular basis

6) Find time to do a physical activity for my health and fun!

7) Not drink soda!

8) Find time for ME on a regular basis to reflect, rejuvenate and relax!

9) Make time for Ravi and me to connect & strengthen our relationship as a couple!

10) Work on EVENTUALLY giving Chandani a sibling by maintaining my health!

A YEAR THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER...

First of all, no one die of shock that I'm actually posting something!!! LOL :)
This year has been like no other in my life!!!

January we finally received the blessing we had prayed for, our sweet little girl Chandani Grace. After 3 longs years of waiting she was here...and boy we had no idea what to do with her (LOL) but hugs and kisses were at the top of the list!

February Ravi turned 28 and we decided that we just might be able to survive a newborn who was SO CUTE...when she was sleeping of course!

March 1st Ravi blessed our litle miracle, giving her a name and blessing as we all shed a tear and soaked in the joy of the moment...on a lesser note, I turned 26 (BOOOOO!)

April is when I finally got the hang of this getting by on no sleep, motherhood thing and watched as my once teeny, tiny baby turn into a little sumo baby...yay for fat rolls and meaty thighs :)

May - June we welcomed warmer summer weather and attended "Mommy & Me Playdates" at the pool as well as had playdates with other good frienads :)

July was the month of some COOL first for us! We finally were old enough for Sun Tan lotion, which we used at the Beach, playdates and Grandma & Grandpas...and let's not forget it's when we started BABY FOOD!!! That was one great month :)

August we took our VERY first Family vacation to New York and SURVIVED! Very Cool!

By September we had just celebrated our FIVE YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY (Aug 27th) at Swanky "Morton's" Steakhouse. It was night I'll never forget! Ravi treated me like a Queen and when the glorious night came to a close and the clock struck...uh, 9:00pm we picked up our little anniversary "present" Princess from Aunt Sarah's and remembered how blessed we were.

October was our first Halloween with our little one as "Lilo" the night of our ward's Trunk or Treat and "Princess Belle" the actual night of Halloween!!! That night was also our first time using an umbrella stroller!

Novemember Chandani enjoyed Turkey (babyfood of course) with the rest of the crew and hit some HUGE milestones...FIRST TOOTH, FIRST TIME CRAWLING and WALKING WITH FURNITURE!!!

AND to finish off the year...

December we were elated to see her pull up to a standing position on Christmas Eve and walk with a push toy Christmas day. Our Chandani is the BEST gift our little family could have asked for and continues to overwhelm us with joy and love EVERY DAY!!!

Hope all of you had a GREAT year and here's to 2010 and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I think I can, I THINK I CAN!

I'm trying desperately to stay as positive as possible, but I feel like a complete FRAZZLE lately :( I never feel like I have enough time for anything...not enough for housework, for Chandani, for Ravi, for my calling, for ME! I write out to-do list and then get depressed when I can't even finish a third of it.

I look around my room, my house, my life and think "why is everything always half done???" I know it's the perfectionist in me but I get so overwhelmed and sad when I can't complete at least one thing to my liking. Am I the only one who feels this crazy? LOL!

On a WAY more happy note...I am very blessed to have such an understanding husband and WONDERFUL baby!