The night before Christmas.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

in hopes that St. Nick would soon be there.



The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.




Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,



And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back.



His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!



His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.



He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Tiny Dancer.

It's been a while since I put up videos of Avinash here. He has been working on his dance moves. Here is a short sample.

Getting spoiled.

Avinash decided to take a trip back to Pennsylvania with Anuj after he came to Houston for Thanksgiving. He cried for about a minute when we said goodbye in the airport security line. Then, Anuj gave him his cell phone and he only looked back once to see where we were. He slept most of the way there on Anuj's lap. He was a ball of energy once he got home with Nanaji and Naniji. We told them we expected him to learn hindi by the time he came back. Well, even though his Pittsburgh winning streak is now over - he did learn how to signal touchdown. Which he did very proudly while he watched the game with everybody. He shared pizza and ice cream with my Dad. Baby definitely came home with chubbier cheeks and one pound heavier (that's a lot when you are 5%-ile!) I found out what it feels like to be on the other of the internet chat. I loved just leaving it open and watch him patter around the house, babbling and talking Nanaji on walks. He would even take Nanaji by the hands and lead him upstairs when he wanted to go to bed at night. Being to able to express his needs was a real breakthrough. He would also circle around the house, surveying everything. Climbed up and down the stairs. He tried to dangle his legs off the side railing, luckily my mom caught him doing that trick! And, he did puja with my parents, learned how to say jai jai. He went to an engagement party and danced the whole night.

I missed him so, so much. I was nearly jumping out of my skin when it came to pick him and my mom up from the airport.

Ryan even convinced the super strict airport cops to let us idle the car by the arrivals gate while I grabbed a cart and ran upstairs to wait for them. He was less than thrilled to see me though.
My fourteen-month old is not too young to show his mama attitude. How dare you abandon me for three days! He completely warmed up by the next day though.

Oh yeah, he also learned how to give out kisses on command!

Avinash's post-touchdown Celebration.

Wow, Avinash is only home in Allentown for one night without us and he has already learned how to play football. So cool. I still expect him to be speaking Hindi and doing multiplication by the time he gets back!

Avinash's Mundan

or, a One-year-old's Guide to Accidental Wedding Crashing

Anything for ladoos, right?

I'm chewing pan and trying not to laugh.

Well, we decided to take Avinash to the Saumyasaki Mandar so that we could have an aarti for his mundan samskar.

We did aarti there, Avi even got to ring the bell during the puja.

Turns out, the pundit won't actually shave hair at the temple there.

There was a wedding taking place there though, we even ran into some of Anuj's friends from Dallas.

We were planning on having Indian food for dinner anyway, and the people did say there was more than enough food to go around. So....

Did we intend on having Avinash's Mundan aarti be an elaborate catered affair? May-be not, but it sure turned out well!

Funny thing is, we had talked about maybe going to this wedding earlier in the weekend and had decided against it. Since we didn't, you know, actually know the bride or groom.



When we got home, Anuj shaved Avinash while we listened to Ganga-mata ki aarti.
We laughed and cried, well one of us cried.

Until he got his mohawk.


Clean shaven at last.


Praise, baby!


While posing for pictures, Anuj and I found Ryan's silly faces a lot funnier than the baby did.

Thankfull.

We are tired and full, relaxing, watching Elf on TV. Our favorite new classic holiday movie.

Anuj is passed out on the couch as if we did have turkey and wine with dinner. (We of course did not.)

Avinash is having a pretty good time poking him in the face.




It is amazing how quickly Thanksgiving goes by. I spent one hour getting groceries on my way home from work, the parking lot was nuts. Another hour prepping all the vegetables last night.

Twelve hours at work running around. At least one more hour at home to cook everything. Amazingly, the meal came together pretty easily, preparing the night before really helped.

We had a traditional Thanksgiving feast with all the fixings, minus the turkey of course.



Buttermilk mashed potatoes. Buttered corn fresh off the cob. Gingered cranberry sauce. Roast carrots and parsnips with rosemary. And celery, leek, sage stuffing. Definitely the highlight.

Chop three large leeks, half a thing of celery, a small handful of sage and chopped red onion, and a cubed french baguette. Saute the vegetables in half a stick of butter with salt, pepper and a dash of mustard powder, until everything is tender. Add a splash of white wine, then add 1.5 cups of vegetable broth. Bring to simmer and stir in the bread cubes. Place in a buttered baking dish and roast at 425 for 10 minutes until the top gets nice and crusty.



And, after about one minute saying what we are thankful for.



Mostly thankful that we are all together! And that Avinash looks so cute in his wolf pup onesie. I love our family. I love our little family dinner, small but so dear and so much fun.



We scarf down the food in about fifteen minutes. Then crash on the couch for the rest of the night. This feels perfect.

Success!!

The wolf pup hoodie is mine!

Well, technically it is Avinash's, but I have a feeling that we are going to enjoy a lot more than he will. I may need to sew a tail onto it.

The afternoon was crazy, as usual. Three cases going at one time and a huge list of consults. Plus, constant phone calls from a doctor at the rehab center who wanted us to see someone with 'facial swelling.' Tons of drama. Late arrival of the night-shift relief. I thought I would never get out of there.

But I did!



And we went all the way to Sugarland, mishap free!!


Mango lassi, yum.

It feels good to have the entire weekend to look forward to.

Done is good!!

And, I can't wait to get more scrapbooking done.

Here are two of my new favorite layouts:

The pictures from our Central Market "photo session" turned out great. And I even used some actual 'scraps' from a gymboree flyer.


I especially love this red foam sticker I created myself to match the sticker on his shirt. I find it so funny how he looks uncomfortable/borderline upset in half of the pictures because he hated wearing that hat.


This one is all about Avinash's triumphant smash cake moment. I really was worried that he wouldn't get into the whole thing or would create a huge havoc. Instead he was just really intent on eating and totally focused on the cake until we took it away from him.




Lately I have loved each layout a little more than the last.

Random Friday thoughts and a new layout.

I am sooo happy that it is Friday. Today has been so chill and I definitely needed it after so many days of 12+ hour surgeries, on top of being on call for 19 straight days. I can't believe the weekend is almost here.

My life seriously revolves around Janie and Jack, I have been obsessing over their Family and friends for a week.



I literally went online at 11:01 pm last night and ordered stuff on-line using the coupon. Half of it was stuff that I bought last week in the store and now have to return. I was so worried though because the wolf hoodie with ears, very Where the Wild Things Are-esque, was out of stock!

I called stores all day and found one that has it in Sugarland. They are holding it for me and I just hope that I can get out of here in time.

Well, the ER is calling again.

Here is the new layout I wanted to post. It is one of my favorites. I love the colorful paper and those thick velvety black chipboard letters!



Fingers crossed for the wolf costume!