Thursday, December 30, 2010

The month of December…a little behind.

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Last year we bought a real tree and the thing died within a week and made a huge mess.  The day after Christmas at 9am it was gone. We were one of the 1st Christmas trees dropped off at the dump. I thought maybe this year we would get a tiny real one since we are trying to save money but the price of the small ones were way too much so we decided to buy a fake one. Boy am I glad we did- no mess!
 
 
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Zahra is a graduate of water babies for the 2nd time this year. We love the Y’s program so we did it again!! This time Anil got to go with her a couple times.
 
 
 
 
 
So originally we were suppose to go to Boise, Idaho on a Sat morning flight out of Rochester but unfortunately we had a blizzard that day and all the flights were canceled. To add the bummer of it all Z ended up dislocating her elbow on Saturday when we were out playing in the snow…or maybe when I took her coat off. We don’t know when it really happened. Poor thing. I even have **video of her after sledding crying. I thought she was crying because she loved it so much (which she did) and wanted to go back out in it but nope her poor arm was just hanging there at that point and she was crying because it hurt. After another minute or two I noticed she wasn’t moving her right arm. We ended up having to go out in the blizzard and have a lovely visit at the ER. We were in and out within 30 minutes. They just popped her elbow back then showed us how to do it in case it ever happens again.
 
 
**WARNING- this is sooo sad- POOR Z and I had no idea what was wrong.   I started videoing this because she kept saying more and carrying her snowsuit around with her. Then she said snow a couple times too. At least I know now what to look for in case it happens again (which the doc said its likely to go out again)
 
 
 
 
I know Z’s outfit here is horrendous. PJ’s with tennis shoes- really!  But our flight got rescheduled for 9:30pm from Minneapolis the day after the blizzard. We ended up being 2 hours delayed on top of that. Luckily, Delta is great when it comes to seating an infant in arms next to an empty seat. So we had an empty seat on the flight but I didn’t know it until the it was too late otherwise I would have brought her car seat on board with us. Oh well I learned for the way back and asked and sure enough empty seat! That flight went 100 times better. Z stayed in her car seat the entire flight and feel right to sleep.
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She was playing with this pole for about 30 minutes at the airport…she loved it!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My little chef!!
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Zahra’s favorite thing to do at her Oma’s was playing with the kitchen. I debated if I should buy her one for Christmas but my Mom said I could have that one if we move to Boise. So I am trying to hold out on buying one until we know where we are going.
 
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Zahra experienced her 1st big firework show. It was set to Christmas music. She enjoyed them.
 
 
IMG_4825 Zahra loved Emmy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Back home for Christmas
 
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Opening her first present from her stocking on Christmas morning.
 
 
 
Blake taught Zahra how to play with cars.
 
 
 
 

        Anil finally made it home so we could open the rest of Z’s presents. She was so good at opening presents except for the fact that she wanted to play with the toy she opened for an hour or so before she would open the next one.

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IMG_4876 Merry Christmas 2010

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Some new pictures!!

IMG_4702   Z doing blanket time

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                        My little helper                               Zahra’s favorite thing to do: look at books

 

 

  

 

Playdate with Gavin

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I just love their expressions I couldn’t choose just one pic so I put them all on

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   IMG_4720  Watching & doing ‘Signs’

 

Someone is getting tired

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After nap time she is rearing to go again

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I have had just about every emotion possible this week from sadness to disappointment then hope to contentment. On Monday I just about made myself sick over a decision that me and Anil had to make in a short period of time. I was laying down trying to nap while I am feeling a migraine coming on and was having some major doubt about what we were doing and if it is the right thing for us. Anil came home, we discussed it and to my surprise he took control and made the decision. Anil usually doesn’t do that! I immediately felt a peace about the decision and believe it was the right one whether it works or not. I am so truly blessed by my great husband and wonderful daughter and me being anxious and worried about the future is not okay! This is something I am having to work on daily right now.

My SBS group is 3 chapters into a book called Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. Wow this book is amazing, I feel like it was written for me. The first chapter is called ‘My Journey to Contentment’ Chapter 2 is called ‘Content with Circumstances’ and Chapter 3 is ‘Content to Be Me’. All 3 chapters have blown me away.  Every Chapter has verses that goes with them. I find myself reading these verses over and over several times a day.

Philippians 4:11-13

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

 

Philippians 4:6-8

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Polka dot

Well the last couple weeks have flown by and I've been meaning to put up more pictures and videos for the past week. I feel like she does new things everyday that I tell myself remember to put it in the blog but then I forget. So here are some things I am remembering form the past week or so. Hopefully I will get some new videos and pictures this week to put on here.

This last weekend we all slept in big time. I think it was almost 10am when I finally woke up and realized that we were all still sleeping (of course it was Anils day to get up with her). So I got up and started getting ready when I finally heard her. I went into her bedroom and she was standing up then she pointed to her diaper and said 'poopy'. Sure enough she had a poopy! It hasn't happened since so I don't know if it was a fluke or if she had a moment of clarity after 14 hours of sleep as to what was in her diaper but needless to say I was very excited about it.



Today was a big day for Zahra. She had her first ever 'room time'! For the past month we have been doing 'blanket time' every morning after breakfast. Zahra helps me get the blanket from the couch and lay it on the floor and we put some toys on it and then she plays just on the blanket for at least 15 minutes. When I clean up breakfast, empty the dishwasher, and have my coffee. The first couple times we did it I had to remind her to stay on the blanket but now she just knows. And then when blanket time is over she helps me put the blanket back on the couch. Its amazing to me why I didn't do blanket time sooner. We had pak n play time when Z was younger but once she turned 1 and was more active I decided to stop it. So today after playing downstairs for a while we went upstairs to get dressed and ready for our day. I put on some music in her room and we got dressed then decided 'boy would it be nice to take a shower'. I am still getting used to this 1 nap a day, I think its been a week now. Anyway, we tried to do room time about a month or so ago and Z didn't want anything to do with the gate being up keeping her in her room. So I abdanned the idea and did blanket time instead. Zahra was playing so well I told her that she was going to play in her room and I put the gate up and headed for a quick shower. I turned the montor on so I could hear is she was crying. But not a peep! I took the worlds quickest shower and peeked in on her and she was jsut sitting there reading books! I was amazed. Then I thought heck I can do my hair so I did. Peeked in on her and she was by her toy box getting toys out. I thought wonderful I can put a little make-up on too. Then I peeked in on her again and she had her drawer open and all her pj's were scattered all over her room, holding one putting it over her head like she was trying to put it on. Sweetest thing ever. That was our big accomplishment probably for the month! And as a reward we got to go hang out with our friends at Monkey Junction for a fun playdate. I wasn't going to take Z because I didn't want to go all scruffy without showering.

Another new thing Z has been doing this week is 'playing' hide n go see. Amy, our wonderful nanny, taught her it a couple weeks ago but I think this last time Amy was over is when it really stuck! As we were leaving the house for monkey junction today she runs out to the living room and ducks behind the ottoman. Then she hid behind a half wall by the kitchen. After lunch I was cleaning up when I noticed it was way tooo quiet. I had a moment of OMG where is she!? until I realized the gate is up she couldn't be on the stairs, the spare bedroom is closed, shes not in the kitchen...then I hear the bathroom door creak. That goof was behind the bathroom door in the dark hiding and being really quiet too! This went on all day long.

So Zahra schedule has changed abit being that we are on 1 nap a day now- Woohooo! So Z wakes up around 8:30ish we eat breakfast right away...she is starving when she wakes up. Lunch is at noon. And so far it seems like right around 1pm she is ready to crash for her nap. I get her up at 4pm and have a snack. We eat dinner at 6:30pm now. (We used to eat at 7 or 7:30 so Anil would be home for supper but since the time change its been working out a lot better to eat earlier. Unfortunately Anil is having a harder time getting home on time but we just warm it up for him.) Then upstairs by 7:30pm read books and then in bed by 8pm! I am usually up for another 4 hours and go to bed around midnight but I only need about 8 hours of sleep so it works out perfect!

I know I talk about all the great things that Zahra does but I know she isn't perfect. The last week we have been having major struggles when it comes to changing diapers. Specifically the first one in the morning and then any poopy ones she has. So my solution has been to win the Guinness book of world record for the fastest time to change a diaper and I've been giving Z  her lovie to help. Zahra has also been a little more picky with some foods. She used to love bananas now she can't stand them, same with Kiwi~ they make her gag. She loved cheese but now will only eat cottage cheese. Same with yogurt used to love it now not so much. So at 15 months I would say her favorite foods are: Blueberries (still loves them!), sweet potato patties, and a pigeon pea Indian dish, and toast with PB&J. I tried a few sweets with her but she doesn't like them! I tried giving her sherbert this week and she hated that. She had a couple bites of Anna's wonderful dessert but the next day wouldn't even consider trying it. I gave her a bite of chocolate and her face was priceless with that one.Oh well I guess I should be thankful that the opposite isn't true and have a child that only eats junk food.

I love being a Mom so much and have such a desire to have another one. I can't believe its already the end of November and still nothing. My first appointment when I realised something was wrong was over 7 months ago. We had another appointment with the fertility docs this last week to see what was next... We decided to keep going forth since there is something medically wrong with me why would we not try to fix it? I have to honestly say that I struggle sometimes when ppl tell me to just trust God and he will make it happen. I do trust God and ultimately he will make it happen but I also am going to take advantage of the wonderful medical services that I have access to,  Also Mayo covers 50% of the fertility cost- which is huge!  And what drives me even more crazy is when the ppl telling me this are on birth control. It just seems very hypocritical. But anyway I'm going to blame the clomid for my rant and be done with it now :) Back to the plan...we increased my dose of Clomid hoping it will make some nice looking follies for us then trigger (shot) to make me ovulate (since my body is not doing this) and then go in for a IUI 36 hours after the trigger.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Happy Diwali!

 
 
Our Indian Princess
 
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Anil & I still ‘argue’ over who Z looks more like. I think these pictures shows she is a good mix of both of us…but maybe still a little more like me ;-)
 
 
 
 
 
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Z loved the dance floor~ going to be just like her Daddy!
 
 
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So in these videos they were doing abit of a break from the original Indian music & dancing. This was the only time I could get video since the dance floor wasn’t too crowded. Looks like Z might be a fan of techno.
  Checking out a cute little Indian boy across the dance floor.





  She has the hand movements down

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween



Zahra is changing and doing new things everyday! We had a blast with her this Halloween.
 
 
 
 
 
 Anil’s parents have been visiting for the last week and wow has it been nice. I think I was getting burned out with my crazy meal planning and making these huge meals every night. Grandma Patel cooked us great Indian food every evening and by the last night of their stay Zahra was eating it!! That also left me with my afternoons free, so I went to the gym 4 times this week when Z was taking her naps. Seriously, I’ve been asking them when they are coming back because it was been great. Zahra loves them too.

Before she goes upstairs for a nap or bed she tells her Grandma & Grandpa Patel ‘bye’ & waves usually around 10X times. She has even gone up the first step and peak her head around the banister to get one more ‘bye’ in.  This video she is so sleepy she falls numerous times when she is trying to wave bye~ What a sweetie!!







Having fun at Seekaps with Audrey & Bri
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Peek-a-boo!


 

Pumpkins!

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Zahra loves pumpkins! The big orange ones & any food with pumpkin in it. The pumpkin pancakes were the best!IMG_4551






 
Doing the sign for ‘butterfly’
 
 
 
 
 
Photo Montage of the Minnesota Zoo
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Oct 31st
We went around to the neighbors & then visited some of our friends in Rochester
 
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Z was admiring herself in the glass of the door for 5 minutes.  She loved picking out the candy not that she got to eat any of it~ I know I am a mean Mom but she really doesn’t even know what it is yet so I thought we should keep it that way for a while longer.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

October’s weird weather

Well typical Minnesota is giving us some crazy weather. One day we were wearing hats, gloves, and boots

then the next we are wearing shorts and sandals! It was 86 yesterday!!

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Zahra has a picture of Lulu that she loves to carry around with her.  When Lulu was over the other day I was trying to explain to her that Lulu was here and she just kept thinking and going to go get the picture of Lulu and couldn’t quite get that they were the same person- it was really cute.

I was excited that Z could wear some outfits that she never got to wear in the summer!

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Anil had one of these warm days off so we went to a pumpkin patch. As you can see Zahra had alot of fun!

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Zahra’s taking a potty break at a very appropriate spot ~LOL!

 

Zahra absolutely loves playing in the leaves

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What a great ending to a perfect day!IMG_4387

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The Saga Begins!

The Saga Begins!
August 10th 2007

Welcome Zahra Lynn Patel!

Welcome Zahra Lynn Patel!
Zahra's first breath! August 5th 2009 @ 5:38pm

Welcome Ezra Anil Patel!

Welcome Ezra Anil Patel!
Daddy delivering him on Sept 9th 2011