One!

My baby turned one yesterday. My BABY turned ONE yesterday! While I took the day to celebrate Nikhil and all that he is to me and our family, I couldn't help but be a little sad that he is growing up way quicker than I am comfortable with.  It really hit me when Baby Center sent me their weekly email referring to my little baby as..."a toddler!" ...I literally got all teary eyed!  It was a sad and happy day for me, but really this post was not intended to be about me, but rather the little man of the day, Nikhil!  While we actually had his big birthday party with family and friends a couple of weeks earlier (pics of that will be up soon), I had had all these great plans in my head of taking the little munchkin to the Fort Worth Zoo for his actual birthday but the week got off to a rocky start with him getting sick. His birthday was the first day that he woke up without a temperature this week so I didn't particularly feel like chancing it and him being miserable later in day. So instead, we spent the morning with him "helping" me make his birthday cake.  I learned that among all his other fine attributes he is an excellent frosting taste tester (ok, I don't normally "sugar-up" the kids before 10am but, hey, it was his birthday!).  After picking up Sahil from school, fighting nap time, taking a walk, and playing outside we decided to meet Rakesh at Central Market for a little birthday dinner. Daddy greeted us with a birthday balloon but of course the birthday boy was fast asleep (due to aforementioned nap fighting) for the entire dinner.  Oh well, we came home and he did end up waking up enough to enjoy a sliver of cake :) All in all it was a great day to celebrate our little Nikki-poo!

So, what have I learned about Nikhil in his first year of life?  Well, he has exhibited quite a strong personality that is for sure!  He is energetic and expressive (do not try feeding him another bite of something he does not want to eat or it will be promptly swatted away by "Baby Kong"--Bina Masi's term of endearment),  playful and persistent, not a good napper but a very good eater, silly and STRONG--don't know if I can count on Rakesh and Sahil to protect me, but Nikhil without a doubt will come to the rescue!!  Which leads into the next description: DE-structive --he can tear the play area apart in mere seconds-- yet, endearing--he will smile and come give me a big sloppy wet kiss after I bust him and say and say "no!" in my firm "mean mommy" voice.

Yes, those are banana puffs all over the floor courtesy of my monster!

He is totally mischievous and a great partner in crime for his big brother, but, best of all...

 he is still my cuddle bear...

Hope that doesn't change anytime soon!

He is my second born, and I often go to bed feeling guilty knowing that because of this fact, he has had to be a little stronger and cry a little louder (and longer) than his brother to get Mommy's attention... but make no mistake he will ALWAYS be tied for #1 in my heart--  Love you my little Googie Bear!