Tasty Toes

When I taught first grade last year I had a student that NEVER took her thumb out of her mouth, not when she was reading, not when she was writing, sometimes not even on the playground.  It was impossible and gross!  Jason mentioned to me the other night…at least Neha’s not a thumb sucker!

Snowed In

Loved all the winter white snow this weekend!   It was wonderful to wake up Saturday morning to see all the white snow surrounding the neighborhood.  It was a perfect weekend for hot homemade soup, bollywood movies, and some fresh snow cream.  It will be a couple of years, but Jason can’t wait to take Neha down the hill on the sled with all the other kids.  Oh what fun times ahead!

Our street

Neha's first snow

Butturnut Squash soup & grilled cheese

Making snow cream

Learning to play drums

Yummy baby food?

Just recently, Neha has begun to eat baby food.  She really enjoys eating rice cereal… so, I decided to try with fruits and also give her first few veggies sweet potatoes, carrots, and some squash.  She didn’t care for the sweet potatoes but after about the 4th day she seemed to love them!  I have really enjoyed making the food for her.  It really makes me feel good to know what I’m feeding her.  To all moms out there, the handheld blender from Farberware is AMAZING! It’s great for mashing baby food, chopping nuts, tofu and making fruit smoothies!  And the cleanup is so easy!  The possibilities are endless!

Farberware Handheld Blender

Yummy! Applesauce/w cereal

First time trying sweet potatoes

First attempt at sippy cup and at apple/prune juice

I think I want some more

Also last night I made an AMAZING farmland vegetable pie with some veggies that I had left over in the fridge…I altered the recipe a bit when I made it myself by adding butternut squash (Neha loves butternut squash), leeks, and peppers. It’s a lot of work but definitely a delicious dish!

Farmland Vegetable Pie (Healthy Version)

For filling:

• Butternut Squash cut into 1-inch pieces ( or summer squash, zuccini)
• 1 bunch scallions or onions chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 pound okra, trimmed and sliced
• spinach
• 1 pound yellow tomatoes, seeded
• 1 canned corn
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely grated Havarti or Muenster cheese (4 1/2 ounces) ( use as much as you prefer) I did!
• 1 cup chopped basil
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal (not stone-ground)
• 3 or 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped (optional)

For crust:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3/4 cup skim milk plus additional for brushing

Make filling:
- Preheat oven to 400°F, Toss butternut squash with little salt, Cook for 30 minutes.

- Cook vegetables in oil/garlic/scallions until tender. Remove from heat and stir in tomatoes ( remove any water/oil)

- Transfer to a large bowl, then toss with corn, cheese, basil, cornmeal, and fresh spinach. Season with salt and pepper.

Make crust and bake pie:
- Pulse dry ingredients w/ butter in a food processor and then add in milk until mixture forms a soft dough.

- Gather dough into a ball and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, 10 minutes.

- Halve dough and roll out 1 piece on a well-floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 13-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch glass pie plate, leaving overhang.

- Spread eggs evenly in crust and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add vegetable filling, mounding slightly in middle.

- Roll out remaining dough in same manner and place over filling. Trim, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Press edges of crust together. Fold overhang under and crimp edge all around.

- Brush crust with milk, then cut 3 steam vents.

- Bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool at least 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

So yummy!

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day! It was in the mid 60’s and so a perfect day for a picnic, some bubbles, and a long walk. What a wonderful day in the McAdenville neighborhood! We didn’t even need our sweaters .

Yummy...can I have some?

Here dad...have some salad

I guess I'll have some too

bubbles

— Also Ashley, a highschool friend recently took some AMAZING pictures last week and posted some on her website…here is the link…Great job Ashley!

http://ashleyburginphotography.wordpress.com/

Here is just a sample …

I love weekends

We really enjoyed the warm weather that made its breakthrough on Friday.  Neha had been really interested in looking out the window these last couple of weeks, so it was great to take her outside to explore the wonderful new world around her.  She loved her stroller ride!  I am anticipating the days of summer on the porch swing eating Tony’s icecream…a local icecream here in Gastonia.  Hopefully this warm weather sticks around a bit longer.  Neha was also able to spend time with both grandparents this weekend. 

- I was also fortunate to have a friend come over this week and give me some photography lessons and take some pictures of Neha in a chaniya choli and me in a sari.  I am feeling much more confident using my camera and taking pictures, thanks Ashley!  Here are some quick pics from the weekend.

Ready for a walk!

Chilling in her swing

Playing house with Gianna

Cobra pose

Meeting baby Darsh

Playing with Ba

So cute

Talking to grandma

Wants to eat some of grandpas food!

Long day, chilling with mommy

5 Month Birthday

Neha is 5 months today. She is doing surprisingly well with her nap and her bedtime routines, for now We feel like we have come to know her pretty well in these 5 months- here are just some of her little quirks and favorites that you might enjoy.

• Her favorite toy is Betsy…the glow worm; she lights up every time she sees it
• Her favorite song is Itsy Bitsy Spider – she tries to sing along while she watches mommies hands
• When she doesn’t want to sleep she takes off her mittens with her mouth….(we watch her with our monitor)
• She does not like her head rubbed
• Neha enjoys sitting on the counter in her Bumbo watching us cook (she likes watching us eat too!)
• LOVES rice cereal with a little bit of banana
• She likes talking to her daddy when he comes home from work…tries to talk..by making sounds
• Enjoys jumping in her jumperoo, pushing buttons to see what happens
• LOVES being read to and turning the pages
• Flying with her dad
• Looking around…especially outside…I can’t wait to take her out…then “the world will be her oyster.”

knock..knock..

Playing some hoops with dada and dad

Happy 5 Months baby girl! We can’t wait to see what 2010 will bring!

A great start to 2010…

Happy New Year everyone!   I hope everyone has started the year off great.  Yesterday we went to see Neha’s cousins and to spend time with her grandma and grandpa Elder.  It was so nice to see her interacting with Lexie, Luke and Logan.  She got to open the rest of her christmas presents as well as spend some quality time with her cousins, grandparents and aunt Tangee and uncle Jon. 

Also… this past week she had LOTS of visitors.  She was finally able to meet her Devi masi (aunt) who, I must say, she LOVED!  Devi masi spent some much wanted quality time with Neha;  she fed her, played with her and read her a story before bedtime.  Neha really enjoyed the one on one attention she recieved from Kiran and Devi.  Neha was also lucky enough to meet two other masis –  Dimple and Jalak Masi.  They drove down all the way from Scrantan, PA just to meet her, she is so lucky!  If that wasn’t enough, she was lucky enough to have her Jayur mama (uncle) and some friends to come and play with her.  It was definitely a wonderful start to 2010. 

Although… now we are having a little trouble putting her back on a nap schedule  

Fun times!

Dimple and Jalak Masi

Two babies!

Devi Masi

Reading Neha a bedtime story (sooo sweet!)

She loves her Kiran mama!

Meera

Deepa

Mom, Neha and Josie

Lexie trying on her police costume

Opening presents with dad and Lexie

Luke and Logan, loving the gift wrap and ribbon

Playing the drum together (I'm sure Jason can show them a thing or two)

Putting it all together...

The Year in Pictures

Telling Jasons Family the good news!

Telling Friends and Family the news!

It's a girl, Cupcakes for all the friends at work!

Such a beautiful babyshower!

Last day of school, it was bittersweet

Preparing for Neha's Arrival!

Soooo ready to meet her!

Neha was born August 10th at 7:30am

Neha only a couple days old.

Neha today

She loves learning how to cook, learning how to make Bruschetta

This year has been an amazing year in our lives.  We are truely blessed to have Neha in our lives, we can’t wait to see what 2010 brings!  May all of you have a very Happy New Year!

Neha’s First Christmas

Neha’s first Christmas was very special but a little unexpected. We usually go to Jason’s parents on Christmas Eve and my parents Christmas day, but unfortunately we found out our niece Lexie and my mother in-law was sick so we decided to stay in Charlotte for Christmas. We were really disappointed, but it was also really nice to spend her first Christmas at home as a family. Since there was a slight change in plans, I decided to make my first Christmas meal for Jason and my family. It was tough and lots of work, but I was so proud of myself!

As I was cooking away, I was remembering telling both grandparents last Christmas that we were expecting little Neha’s arrival in August, we are so grateful that she is now here to celebrate the holidays with us!

Christmas morning

Neha's First Christmas!

Daddys girl

Showing Neha how to make homemade Eggnog

Yummy Christmas lunch!

Opening gifts, Neha was napping

New Clothes !

Having fun with Ba

Talking with ba and dada

Playing with her new toy from ba

Last day of lights in McAdenville....until next year!

Neha & Betsy

Neha has a new friend, her name is Betsy. Neha just lights up when Betsy is around. Hopefully Betsy doesn’t get too dirty or smelly. We love Betsy, thank you Deepa & Rahul, Neha loves her.

Loving Betsy!

Holding on

Reaching for her friend