Baby weight & poopy diapers

These hands will do great things. Miss Ariyana Nancy - December 2010

I'm not sure what poopy diapers have to do with this posting, but I sure felt like I changed a lot of them today. My little girl is growing up so fast. One of my favorite outfits for her is no longer fitting her- stretched to the max. My clothes too, my pre-preggo clothes to be specific, are also not fitting me.  This is not acceptable. Now that I've spent the last month and nine days recovering, it is time to get my crap together and start losing some weight. I thought that breastfeeding my little one would help, but until I really start moving more I won't see much progress. Since I've been on maternity leave, I really haven't done much of anything except take care of my little one. Now, in addition of taking care of her and going back to work part-time, I need to start taking care of me. 

For Christmas, my hubby-to-be and I purchased a Lance Armstrong Elliptical machine. It was delivered nearly two weeks ago, and I have to admit, I have yet to use it. Not because I don't want to, but because I really want to make sure that I'm physically set to do vigorous exercise. I don't need to be passing out in the  basement while baby is upstairs napping. The day after Christmas, we also made an impulse purchase of a Kinect system to go with Arfan's XBOX. We got the Kinect Sports, which Angela (Arfan's niece) will love, and Zumba, for me. I loved going to Zumba classes at my gym and they almost always were completely packed. I'm on day two of my Zumba dance game, and O M freaking God, that thing kicked my butt. I'm seriously out of shape, and it's not just my hips that jiggle. I jiggle in areas I prayed I would never jiggle in. Luckily, I have a motivation to lose some weight - Arfan and I are getting married in June. I'm still in the planning stages, and we have yet to make bookings, but there is soooo much to look forward to. And hell, I'm vain as hell for saying it, but I refuse to look the way I do in a beautiful dress on my wedding day. It feels so good to say that. I can't wait to be his bride. =) He's already my family, but it will be so nice to also be his wife. 

As far as the elliptical goes, I'll be jumping on that tomorrow - and then do another Zumba class. I will be sleeping well tonight! Or perhaps not... my sweet Ariyana loves to be up all night! I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Merry Christmas!

Our sweet baby girl's first Christmas was today. It was one that I will always remember. It was just me, Daddy and Ariyana for most of the day and then Sol and Angela stopped by for Christmas turkey dinner. It was my first time going solo on Christmas dinner, but overall it turned out very well. Next time though, I won't be cheating and getting boxed stuffing... I'll make it from scratch. After dinner, we stopped by Arfan's sister Shaista's home and dropped off presents for the kids. We brought Ariyana with us and it is so nice that she is such a beautiful little joy to everyone. I look forward to next Christmas when Ariyana will be just starting to walk and loving the boxes more than her gifts from Santa.

Ariyana's first Christmas tree in Williamsville, NY

Angela meeting Santa at Wegmans

Our first Santa picture. Ariyana is so tiny here!

Ariyana asleep on Christmas morning

Ariyana wearing her knit cap from Auntie Pam. I call this her "Bwahahaha" look

My first Christmas turkey. Mmmmmmm

Taking it all in

I can only imagine what this little life learns in one day. Ariyana is so alert and focused, she is like a little sponge, looking around and taking it all in. I wonder how she perceives that world. How she perceives me as her mom, as she develops trust in me and her Daddy. I never knew a love quite like this. 

Ariyana's one month doctor visit!

Our little girl is growing up! She met with her doctor for the first time today and she's a perfectly healthy little girl still! Dr. Bonnevie is wonderful and the whole practice has been fabulous. The whole team of practitioners there really helped us to get breast feeding underway and made sure our little one was healthy.

When Ariyana came home with us she weighed 5 pounds and 13 ounces. By breast feeding alone, today she weight in at 7 pounds and 11 ounces and is now nearly 21 inches long! Our little peanut is growing so fast! I couldn't be happier than to be her mommy!

This is what family is < 3

I've always wanted to do family pictures growing up. I suppose up until now, it just wasn't my 'families' thing to do. It was always something that I felt was important though. To take family portraits together. Luckily, for the first time that I remember, I was able to have family portraits taken... I love my family more than anything. <3 

We are so blessed, that for an early Christmas, my brother Gary and sister-in-law Tiffany were able to come in from Germany. 

I never knew a love like this. 

Arfan is the best Daddy I could have ever asked for. 

During this whole photo shoot, Ariyana was completely asleep. So precious and content. She will grow up so fast. 

Nursing

This post will probably be controversial, but all things considered, nobody really views this blog but me - and I'm writing this blog for my own purposes. 

Anyways, after getting over many hurdles with breastfeeding, Ariyana and I really got the hang of it. There is something that I have found to be very bonding about nursing her as opposed to formula feeding. I'm so happy that I'm able to provide for her and know that she's growing because I'm providing it for her. 

This is one of my favorite pictures, innocent and so full of love. I love the way she folds her hands together. So tiny and growing so, so fast. 

Sleeping princess

Usually Ariyana sleeping in her napper in our room, or also, her car seat out in the living room. We have no idea why, but she seems to love that car seat! We put in it and she drifts off to sleep. Today, Ariyana fell asleep in her crib for the first time! I felt like a creeper staring at her for a long time, realizing this really is my beautiful daughter. So peaceful and content just to exist. 

Ariyana sleeping in her crib. 17 days old

Little Hands!

I really do admire how special our little girl is. I especially notice how precious her hands are. She always seems to do the cutest things with them! Clasping them together or positioning them just so. They are adorable and they will do great things one day!

Love her little graceful hands!

Ariyana was sleeping at this time, she had her hands placed like this for quite a while. It was adorable.

Bringing Ariyana Home!

We are so thrilled that our little Ariyana - lovingly we call 'Peanut', was able to come home after only a short stay with me in the hospital. Although I'm sure she's seeing the world as if through a glass an inch thick, we really think that she loves her nursery that Arfan and I put together for her. She will just stare at the brightly colored walls. It is so amazing and surreal that this is our little girl. Daddy and I are completely exhausted, and I still have a lot of healing to do. I'm running on about 20% right now. I wouldn't trade anything for our little girl though. She brings us such joy and happiness. Such a content and wonderful baby. 

Ariyana on her changing pad. 4 DAYS OLD!!! She is such a tiny little girl. She swims in all her newborn outfits! She'll be able to wear them so much longer! I hope to always remember her this little!

Just got changed into a new outfit! Her first real scream. It was so funny because it was the first time we really heard her make much of a fuss and it wasn't for any real reason. It lasted only about 10 seconds, which is why it was so cute to us!

Ariyana newly-arrived!

After a very long and hard labor, Ariyana is finally here. Although I already posted some 'already-cleaned-up' photos, I think I should also capture a little bit of the first moments our sweet daughter gave us!

First getting checked out by the NICU team. Since she was early, they gave her a good look. They said she looked great with APGARS of 8 & 8!

Checking my weight!

I've got quite the cone head! It went down before I went home though!

I'm still adorable even covered in gunk!

Proudest mommy in the world!

Sweet Ariyana is here!

I'm the proudest mommy in the world right now. After nearly 40 hours of labor, I gave birth to our sweet daughter Ariyana. She was 36 weeks in gestation but she came out healthy and happy. She made it known that she was done cooking - she wanted to meet her mommy and daddy! We couldn't be happier!

Ariyana spent some time under bili lights to correct some newborn jaundice. Aside from that she came home with us! We couldn't wait to show her new room to her. I think that the butterflies all over her room suits her well. She's such a beautiful little spirit with endless possibilities that we can't wait to provide for her. We hope that she will have the courage to reach for any dream and to never doubt herself with whatever she wants to do. We are so lucky and blessed!

A quick look at the hospital photo that was taken

Our sweet and content little girl all bundled up

She's so tiny. Born at 6 pounds and 3 ounces 19.5 inches long

Time to go home! She was all dressed in her going home outfit!

Daddy's little princess on her little onesie. All of her clothes are going to be super big on her!

Happy Halloween & a sweet surprise!

Today we finished up decorating for Halloween. Daddy painted my Ariyana belly as a pumpkin and left his artistic hands. Also, mommy had a fabulous day! After raking up some leaves Arfan officially proposed with a gorgeous ring! Life is so good and we can't wait to meet our sweet little daughter!

Ariyana's belly!

My beautiful engagement ring! I can't wait to be his bride!

OUR PROPOSAL STORY

Arfan had taken me ring shopping several times before, so when he took me ring shopping again, I hadn't thought much of it. That 'shopping' day, we found a beautiful ring. It was sooo perfect. I tried not to think about it too much though. After all, with the up and coming birth of our little one, we had other things to think about. 

A few days later, thanks to my 'nesting' instincts, I was out in our backyard raking a ton of New Yorks fall leaves. Arfan came out and noted that I was not wearing a coat so he went back in and gave me one of his and joined me in raking. I continued to rake and Arfan suggested that my hands were cold. They really weren't but he was pretty  insistent that they were so I put my hands in the jacket pocket. There was the box that held the ring that we had picked out together. It was gorgeous and THERE IT WAS. I was so excited and everything else seemed to be  a blur. I'm certain he got on one knee and asked me to marry him, but aliens could have landed and I wouldn't have noticed, my mind raced so fast because I knew that I was going to be his bride and I could finally start planning our wedding!  It wasn't an elaborate proposal, but it was just us, at home, and it was perfect in our own way. 

Ariyana's first Halloween in my belly. Our little pumpkin

Our front porch. A pumpkin for all of us. Daddy, Mommy and Ariyana

Our furballs also have a pumpkin on the hay stacks. 

Closing one chapter

Today was my last day in the Army. Although I left active duty two years ago, I just finished my reserve duty with the unit that Arfan is still in. It is bittersweet I think. The Army was a big part of my life, and now that it is completely over, I realize that there is a whole new life that I'm transitioning to. I'll be a mommy very soon to a sweet baby girl, and as I continue to finish up my degree, I realize, life really is good. I've gained so much from the Army but it is really time to move on, not that the Army wasn't bad, but I've got so much to look forward to!

Ariyana's Nursery is Finished!

Okay, okay I know, I'm a super anxious mommy-to-be. Ariyana is not scheduled to be here until December 15th, but my nesting was in super over-drive and we finished her nursery already! It is so beautiful and I'm so lucky that Arfan has put up with all my fussing over getting it done! Together, we made our little girl's nursery perfect and I look forward to putting her in it for the first time. I can't wait till her eyes start to develop and she can really see all the beautiful colors and butterflies. Life is good!

Her Love you forever book. Her first Teddy

Bibs and daddy found her lots of cute socks

A look at her crib. Her name and butterfly mirrors above

Her butterfly bedding! 

Clothes!!!

Little Reading Lamp

Her rug that we found at Pottery Barn Kids

Ariyana's first Build-a-Bear Bunny from Mommy and Daddy

Her reading and nursing corner! I love her tree!

Her quote reads: I'll Love You Forever

I'll Like you for Always

As long as I'm living

My Baby You'll Be

We've already been shopping! Between Mommy and Daddy, she will have so many cute clothes!

Chamber's Wedding & Camping!

We just returned from upstate New York after attending Mike & Daisy Chamber's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and we were happy to have been able to be there! Daisy was beautiful in her gown and we're pretty sure that Mike had shed a couple of tears!

After the wedding, we had an Army weekend camping at Higley Flow State Park. It was a beautiful campground and it was nice to get away. Nice trails to hike on, but the fishing didn't prove to be very good. Not a thing caught. Over all it was a blast and we plan to return next spring when Ariyana is here (this time with a pop-up camper!). 

Before the wedding. All done up. I'm looking pretty large with Ariyana in my belly!

At the Catholic Church

At the reception dinner

 

Along the trail at Higley Flow State Park

Proud parents to be

Enjoying the lake view

Proudest mommy to be in the world!