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.