My Daddy as a baby

This is my daddy as a baby in India and this is me as a baby at 1 month old.

We spend a lot of time in the car

Our car has evolved into a diaper changing station, clothing storage facility, and feeding mobile. I can't tell you how many parking lots I have either changed her diaper in or nursed her. I think I've just about hit all of them. I'm a little worried now that summer is coming, it's going to be much more difficult to do that with the heat.
I've come up with some techniques over time to make all of these tasks easier. For example, I have a travel bed in the car which I use all the time to lay down on the seat and change her diaper in. We have the plastic scented baggies conveniently located in the back of the seat along with a pack of wipes for those lovely diaper changes.

For feedings we got the back windows limo tinted so people cant see in as easily and it works like a charm. I have one of those apron cover ups but I really don't like using it because it makes everything much more challenging. If I'm sitting in the front seat to feed her I put up the sun shades in the front window, drape a blanket across the side window as well as the other side of me. This makes a little cubicle for privacy and allows for comfort during a feeding. If I'm sitting in the back seat to feed her I rely on my tinted windows, an emergency cover up blanket, and a blanket draped across the two front seats. It makes a partition just like the ones you would see in a limo. This way nobody can see what your up to. It has taken a lot of practice to find what works best but I think we have it figured out now.

Quick diaper change in my travel bed

It's hard to find clothes that fit

The beginning....

I was about 5 months pregnant in the top three pictures!
While reminiscing about being pregnant I came across some pictures and it's so crazy how over time you start forgetting things... like how big you were, how uncomfortable you were, but also how amazing it was to feel your baby move inside of you. I am so lucky to say that I had an amazing pregnancy with no complications. The worst two things that I recall, of course besides the contractions, was having to drink that terrible sugar drink for the gestational diabetes test and the I did have an extreme case of kankles. For the most part I really loved being pregnant, and I'm sure that's easier to say when your not currently pregnant.

7 months, The Joy of Kankles, & 9 months pregnant

My little baby is not so little anymore

It's unfortunate to say my little baby is not so little anymore. I think I am having glimpses of pre empty nest syndrome. I can already picture her going off to school, prom, getting married, and leaving her mommy at home.
Every morning I wake up to a new baby, one that is growing faster than I can comprehend. Every day is exciting to see each little new change she is going through and how tall she is getting and how smart she is, but there's that little voice in the back of my mind that says, your baby will be all grown up before you know it. Life seems to be speeding up each and every year and now that I have my little angel time is really flying by.
I truly treasure each moment I have with her because I know she will not always love mommie's hugs and kisses the way she does now. One day she will not need me so much but I will always need her. Being a mom is the best thing I have ever experienced and I feel so grateful to have her in my life. At the end of the day my cheeks hurt from all the smiling she brings to my soul. We are an awesome team and I look forward to every milestone of her life...I just have to tell that little voice to be quiet. For we are in the present and it's important to enjoy the now.

Recovering from this cold

So Kira is almost 7 months old and this is her first time being sick. I have to say she has handled it like a trooper. As a mom it's our job to think about everything and one of my concerns was keeping her healthy for as long as I could until she is at the age she can take medicine for it. Some people have been extremely careful around us and know that we have asked them to let us know if they are sick whereas some others have not been so understanding and it's like trying to beat a dead horse trying to get them to wash their hands or tell us they are sick. I think a lot of it has to do with how you are raised. I was raised to always wash my hands before I hold a new baby and others have no concept of this. Anyhow Kira finally caught this cold and is on the tail end of things, luckily, but it sure hasn't been a fun journey.
I give support to those moms that worry about these things too. Of course you can't prevent everything or stress yourself out but I feel like people should respect your decisions for your child. Some people are so resistant to listening to something that is different than what they believe is right.

Girly Mohawk

Our favorite hairstyle for Kira is her mohawk. I think some people think this is only appropriate for little boys but we just love it on her.

Music for your baby

Baby Kira just loves music and we love to dance for her. I look forward to seeing her dance for the first time on her own, it will be so much fun. We always try and expose her to different types of music and I think she has her favorites too. As soon as the music comes on and Daddy and I start dancing her face just lights up. It's really fun to watch. I remember when we brought her home from her doctors appointment for her 2 month shots. She was so upset crying and screaming. We tried everything we could to calm her down, once we turned on the radio she found a peace within herself. There is something so powerful about music, it has the power to intensify wonderful feelings, sculpt memories, and get people through the bad times. Check out our sample list below with a little mix of everything.

Here's a few of our favorites from our playlist:
1.) Everybody Knows - John Legend
2.) Happy - Leona Lewis
3.) That's the way it is - Celine Dion
4.) I want to know what love is - Mariah Carey
5.) Time to Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
6.) Krazy - Pitbull
7.) Hustlers Anthem 09 - Busta Rhymes
8.) Jai' Ho - Pussycat Dolls
9.) Watcha Think about that - Pussycat Dolls
10.) Step Up - Samantha Jade