Our Life, Day by Day - Photos & Ramblings

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2009-02-09T13:15:00.000-08:00

We've moved to a different location...

http://theshahfam.wordpress.com/

l o v e

2009-02-02T20:36:00.000-08:00

Seema has a new cousin.

Briana Kay was born on 1/31/2009 just after midnight. Weighing 6lbs, 15oz, and 20 inches long. Lots of hair, and as cute as can be.
Congrats Lizz & Matt!! You can see some of their maternity portraits here.

Briana was just 10 hours old in these photos... click on photos to enlarge them

We just can't get enough of her.

All Is Calm

2009-01-21T14:54:00.000-08:00

Picture of Seema from this past weekend.
I dress her up so cute in a green mock turtleneck and jeans, then layered on a pink and green hearts sundress. Was trying to get some Valentine's photos... but at last we'll have to try again.

Re-cap from yesterday...
We are excited to have a new President. We are excited to see what change he will be bringing.
Our eyes (along with millions of others) were glued to the tv and computer screens yesterday.

I've been tagged!!

2009-01-13T08:35:00.000-08:00

1. What is your favorite thing to do on a snow day? Watch tv and cuddle up under a blanket

2. What color are your socks right now? Tan and brown striped

3. What are you listening to right now? Me typing on the keyboard

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Not sure, but I drank OJ this morning

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes, but it’s been a couple years and I now tend to ride the clutch LOL-Chris!

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Sales person – sent them to voicemail. ha!

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Definitely. J

9. How old are you today? 26.1

10. Favorite drink? Hot chocolate… mmmm…

11. What is your favorite sport? Geez.. IDK

12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yeah, lots.

13. Pets? Nada.

14. Favorite food? Anything Mexican or Italian.

15. Last movie you watched? Hmmm… Holes, I think that was the last one. We watch a lot of old movies on tv.

16. Favorite day of the year? Thanksgiving

17. What do you do to vent your anger? Eat

18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie

19. What is your favorite, summer, fall, winter or spring? Fall

20. In what outfit do you feel the most like yourself? Depends were I’m at… if at home sweats and a long sleeved shirt (for the winter)

21. Cherry or Blueberry? Blueberry

22. Kittens or Puppies? Puppies

23. Choir, Band, or other? Other, IDK

24. Facebook or Myspace? Facebook

25. Sleeping arrangements? Queen size bed, and the kiddo comes in to take over the bed mid-night

26.Where you'd most like to visit? Canada, again. Europe, Italy

28. Favorite Youtube video? Jeff Dunham with Peanut - yeah that's pretty funny!

29. Favorite smell? Freshly mowed grass, clothes when they come out of the dryer, fresh squeezed/cut oranges

30. Least favorite sound? Fingernails on the chalkboard… - yeah that!

31. What inspires you? My friends and family.

32. What are your irrational fears? Snakes, drowning, heights

33. Regular hamburger, cheese or spicy hamburger? Regular…. But preferably a veggie or turkey burger.

34. Favorite class ever? HMTL - from college; Bellies & Babies seminar - met some new peeps and learned some good marketing things.

35. Number of keys on your key ring? 1 - car key only!

36. Favorite type of shoe? Slip-ons lol

37. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

38. What do you hate? A bit of everything, depends on what’s going on

39. Do you like your handwriting? Sometimes

40. What is your favorite lunch meat? Turkey

41. Do you have kids? Little girl

42 If you were another person would you be friends with you? Heck yeah!

43. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Sometimes

44. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.

45. Would you bungee jump? No, I don’t like heights.

46. What is your favorite cereal? cheerios

47. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? See above shoe question ^

48. Do you think you are strong? Yes

49. What is your favorite ice cream? Rocky Road or Birthday Cake

50. What is the first thing you notice about people? Eyes

51. Red or pink? pink

52. What is your least favorite thing about you? I get distracted easily

53. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Brown pants, brown shoes - yes, I'm the matchy-matchy type of person

55. Do you exercise? Yes

57. Eye color? Blue

56. Do you wear contacts? No

59. Scary movies or happy endings? Hmm… more action/drama/comedy

60. Favorite interjection?

61. Favorite dessert? Brownies

62. What book are you reading now? Nothing for now

63. What is on your mouse pad? My mouse… lol

64. What did you watch on TV last night? Nothing good was on, so watched a bit of Channel 8’s recap of Bush’s last speech -what a joker, did you guys see how he was acting? WOW

65. Why did you complete this survey? Had the time, lol

Simplify

2009-01-09T10:39:00.000-08:00

I have a few things that I use daily to help me be more organized. Really I don't think I could live without them, even though there was a time that they didn't exist in my life.

1. Ping.FM. I am addicted to social network (facebook, twitter, etc) To be able to update all my statuses at once I use ping.fm. This also updates my LinkedIn and MySpace statuses. Check it out, it's a real time saver.

2. Morning Coffee. I'm not talking about a cuppa coffee that you drink, even though that does help me through the day to get with the program. I'm talking about this nifty little application that works similarly to your browser favorites, but will load all the sites you have in your Morning Coffee with the click of one button. For more information go here. I use Firefox most of the time, and this is an add-on.

3. Android G1 phone. I just got this phone recently but it's already making my life easier. I can get my photography emails delivered to the phone, having a calendar always with me is a godsend, to do list application, OI Shopping list (even lets you cross of the item), Compare Everywhere is also a neat application (it lets you scan an items barcode and will compare the prices with other stores).

4. Household Handbook. Have you heard of this? If not you are so missing out. I just started mine in Oct 2008 and it's the best thing. It's a 3-ringed binder that holds everything needed to run the household. Monthly calendars, weekly calendars for scheduling, weekly meal planners, take-out menus, cleaning matrix (broke down by yearly, monthly, weekly, daily cleaning), and more stuff. It's like central command. I keep it in the kitchen by the phone. There's a section for phone messages too. If my hubby needs to know where we're going to be he can just look in there.

5. Magnetic Clips. These are a lifesaver for me. We have a magnetic door and it's just so handy to stick these clips on there. They hold outgoing mail, money, etc. Pretty much anything I might need to grab on the way out the door but otherwise would forget it if it wasn't in front of me.

I'd love to know what makes your life easier?

New Toys

2008-12-28T14:28:00.000-08:00

Seema loves to color. Actually we all get in on the coloring with her new Aquadoodle that Santa brought her!

New John Deer boots that Uncle Chris gave her.

Christmas celebrated at our house

2008-12-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

This was our first gingerbread house. It was one of those kits. Seema just wanted to eat all the candy she could get her hands on without us knowing.

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This year we decided to host a 2 day event. My main goals was to have the family together. That's really all I cared about this year. We didn't cook the big turkey or go all out on a feast. Instead we had a simple Christmas Eve dinner followed by a couple movies, then Christmas Day brunch with a few more movies and games, then a simple dinner of manicotti and salad. It went pretty much as I had pictured.

Christmas Eve table

Grandma and Seema reading a snowmen book

All the movies we watched these two days

She was too tired from all the morning's excitement of opening gifts.
Napping while waiting for our Christmas guests.

Almost ready for Santa to come

2008-12-22T08:37:00.001-08:00

December To-Do's

Outside Christmas decor.
Check.
The drive way is lined with white lights and the wreath is on the door.
Christmas Tree
Check.
This year's theme is red and white/silver.
Seema has done very good with not touching the ornaments, presents, or nativity
Wrap Presents
Partial Check.
Gingerbread House
Check.
We had a blast making this Sunday. Our first gingerbread house as a family.
Christmas Movies
We love that ABCfamily is having the 25 days of Christmas with Christmas movies galore.
Christmas Cookies
Check.
Made Magic Cookie Bars.
Snow
Check. We got 3 inches the last time. It's snowed twice so far this month.
December Daily Scrapbook Album
Partial Check.
It's started, just a bit behind. I'm still on day 12 and it's already the 22nd. Will be playing catch up this week.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day planned
Check.
Christmas Eve we're hosting dinner, then snacks and movies.
Christmas Day we're hosting brunch, then simple dinner.

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I'm preparing for 2009. Trying to think of my goals for this coming year and what I want this year to be for me and my family. I am fully inspired my Ali Edwards. Ali does a "one little word" that you think about the whole year through. Like it guides you through the year and inspires you daily.

These are the list of words I have so far (trying to narrow it down over the next couple weeks)...
Accept {to regard as normal, suitable, or usual}
Appreciate {to be grateful or thankful for}
Discover {to see, get knowledge of, learn of, find, or find out; gain sight or knowledge of}
Invest {to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose or to achieve something}
Moments {A particular period of importance, influence, or significance in a series of events or developments}

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Pictures coming soon....

Seema with Santa
Making our gingerbread house

The Spirit of Giving

2008-12-17T08:59:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be able to join in the spirit of giving this year. I am teaming up with Giving is Awesome and 360+ other photographers internationally to offer my photography services to a deserving family. Visit my photography blog for more details and to nominate a deserving family that you know. http://tinyurl.com/5aonp8

The winning family will receive $300 in custom photography from me. The person who nominated the winner will receive $100 print credit from me.

The winner will be announced on December 29th, 2008 on my photography blog.

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Sarah

Christmas Fun

2008-12-17T06:48:00.000-08:00

Only 8 days until Christmas! I'm no where near as ready as I was suppose to be. The biggie on my list is to still plan out Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch.

Feel free to play along if you want. If you do, post a link to your blog in my comments section. I love to read what everyone puts on these things.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? A little of both. Bags for gifts that I have to deliver. Paper for gifts that sit under my tree.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artifical. We have a pre-lit 6 foot (which no longer is as tall as it used to seem) one. It was a well spent $20 at a Black Friday sale a few years ago. It needs replaced though. I would like it to be a bit taller and more filled out. Plus now the middle section's lights don't work anymore so it looks a bit funny.

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually we pull out all the Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving but this year I wasn't hosting Thanksgiving so I started putting everything up on Thanksgiving Day before we headed to my parent's house for dinner.

4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime in January. I tend to be a slacker in this department. Last year I think everything was packed back up by the 15th.

5. Do you like eggnog? Not really.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Nothing really sticks out to me.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Punit. If he wants something he just goes and buys it. He doesn't let anyone have a chance to get it for him first. ugh.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Seema. Any 18 month old would be easy to shop for!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. I got it for Christmas last year.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I mail out Christmas cards.

11. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received? Not sure on this one either. I tend to blank on these "past times" questions. lol

12. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life we used to watch every year as a family. But now with half of us kids moved out of the house we don't. We really enjoyed Home Alone 3 this year.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When I get my gift list together.

14. Have you ever recycled a gift? Only for White Elephant gift exchanges at work.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peanut Brittle, Peppermint White Chocolate Bark

16. Lights on the tree? Yes, white.

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? If we travel it's only 20 minutes from our house.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Possibly, if you give me enough time. lol

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? We open 1 gift on Christmas Eve. It's always the gift that has Christmas pjs in it.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who are in a rush or grumpy.

23. Favorite ornament or theme color? Red and White/Silver

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Cranberry Sauce with real cranberries in it.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Realistically? New backdrop. Some cash. Unrealistically? A new house with the layout that would work for our family.

Wishing you sweetness

2008-12-15T08:03:00.001-08:00

Seema's first candycane.

Hey All!

2008-05-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our brand spanking new family blog! I will try to update it daily; some days will include photos, others will just be text. Punit will jump on here every once and a while too.

We are going to use this to keep everyone updated on our busy, busy lives. Anyone is free to comment on our posts. We'd love to hear from you.

Punit, Sarah, and Seema

Raindrops falling on my nose...

2008-05-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

It rained all day today. We definitely needed the water, but geez! We had to make due with playing inside.

Peek-a-boo. The all-time favorite game of infants.

And one extra just because you're so cute!

Mother's Day

2008-05-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

So busy!
brunch. cleaned garage. playtime at the park. cake.
flowers. cards. love.

Sunny Saturday

2008-05-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

The temperature right now at 8:30pm is 78 F. So yeah it was a hot one!
This coming week is suppose to be near 90 F.

We went to a birthday party this afternoon.
Seema had a blast.
swinging. scooting. talking with the big kids.

She ate her first icie popsicle. It was pineapple (I think).

Fun-filled Afternoon

2008-05-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

We spent the day at Cowtown with Aunt Lizz & Matt, and Aunt Colleen. Today was Uncle Chris' first day as an employee there. We saw him and he drove us around on the horse wagon. You love it!! The whole time you were staring at the horses. At the farm you loved the cow and it came right over to the fence where we were standing.

It was a fun way to spend at Sunday afternoon.

Afterwards, we went to Grandma's & Grandpa's house for a bbq dinner.
You had some chicken. mmmm, it was good!

Five and a half days

2008-05-23T13:05:00.000-07:00

until Seema turns ONE!
Where did the time go? We blinked and now she's all grown up.

I blew up her baby pool last weekend and we used it twice this year so far. I was driving home yesterday and thought to myself... hmm, where did that pool go?... it's no where to be found. I guess with the windy days this week along with the thunderstorms it was too much to take and blew off.
Oh well... it was a good $10 well it lasted!

Seema just started trying to pull up this week. Since she scoots instead of crawling I've been working with her on how to put her legs to be able to pull up. We need a few more weeks.

At dinner the other night she figured out how to put her sippy cup back in the cup holder!! Way to go girl.

This weekend is a holiday weekend. Memorial Day is Monday.
We're planning on trying to hit the zoo on Monday. Punt & I both have off work.

I am so freakin' excited for Seema's birthday party.
The party's theme is Butterfly Garden and it's going to be so cute!
I have been dying to put up all the decorations for 2 weeks already.

Happy Birthday to Seema

2008-06-01T08:33:00.001-07:00

Seema turned ONE on May 29th.

This was taken Friday night.

Her birthday party was yesterday.
The theme was butterfly garden.
the decorations. the guests. the cake. the presents. the favors.
we had a blast!

Fun at the fountains

2008-06-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

Seema loves playing in these fountains. Too bad they didn't pop much while we were here this time. More of them to come this summer. :)

Love to use my teeth!

2008-06-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right! Seema loves to use her 5 teeth, yes 5!!

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She had her first apples with peanut butter and loved it.

check out the size of that bite!

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Mom there is absolutely no need for forks or spoons when your hands can do the job so well!! Sort of sounds like something Punit would say. hmmm....

This past windy weekend she tried out her brand-spanking new pool that Grandma gave her for her birthday. She absolutely loves it!

Other updates...

Seema now knows how to pull up in her crib, so Punit had to lower it (for the first time!) today. So scary last night when she did that and I had no clue she knew how to.
The countdown had begun, well it started about a year ago when Punit was put on 3rd shift. He officially has 10 days of 3rd shift left!! Of course, they aren't ten days in a row, instead they have to drag it out for another 2 and a half weeks.
Each day I'm falling more in love with my second love... photography. I've been meeting with clients and working on marketing documents.

I am starting a 365 project on this blog! This means that I am committing to picking up my camera and taking pictures every day for a year. I will try to post daily, but we all know that life sometimes takes over...

Look at that cute little baby in the window...

2008-06-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

the one with the bottle in her mouth!

Hanging out at the garage sale. I was tempted to put a FOR SALE sign on her to see what people would say.

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And another for the whole "bean bag lounging" effect. ;)

Updates of the day:

Seema had her 1 yr check up today. Stats: weight: 19lbs 11oz, height: 28 inches (stats at birth: weight: 6lbs 14oz, height 19 inches). She only had to get one shot and did very well after the nurse gave her a toy and then while walking out she had to giggle at all the other nurses at the desk so she totally forgot that she was hurting by the time we got to the car.

003/365

2008-06-15T18:48:00.000-07:00

Early Father's Day gift from me & Seema to Punit yesterday.

(not the best photo of it, it was too dark in the house)

Sitters & Movers

2008-06-15T19:19:00.000-07:00

Long weekend of babysitting and moving!

Saturday I babysat 3 extra kids. A 6 year old, 17 month old, 4 month old, Seema. Colleen came over to help out. WHEW!! The 3 youngest were a handful themselves. lol It was only for 3 hours and after they left Seema and I both took 1 hour naps.

We helped Lizz & Matt move Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Their new 2 bedroom house is cute. The bedrooms are very good in size. Larger than Seema's & guest rooms that we have.

We played outside in the grass for a bit this evening. Had to go back inside before the chiggers came out.

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Updates:

Seema got her 6th tooth yesterday/last night. It's her 4th on the top!
She learned how to high five.

Few extra from the day...

Dreaming of a green thumb...

2008-06-17T19:25:00.001-07:00

My Mom gave me these marigolds to transplant in my own "garden". Currently my "garden" consists of 1 rose bush (that has lived for 3 years without me watering it), and grass.

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We're thinking some special breed of lilies would look good on the side of the garage too. They apparently can go without frequent watering for a week. Now that's my kind of plant!

Ho, hum... nothing but the usual went on today!

Bit of Internet Browsing...

2008-06-18T13:57:00.001-07:00

I found these cute little smock dresses that I'd love to see Seema in.

I so want one of these to lounge around in this summer.

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Couldn't get Seema to look at the camera for anything tonight. She so loves watching the "big kids" run around and play.

We did see some ducks by the lake, or um... the big pond.