lil sontakey

Dear Sareena,

You are 11 months old here.

You are so inquisitive. You are always interested in what is going on around you. You respond to the softest noise or touch with pure attention. It is making you such a smart girl. The things I watch you figure out are wondrous. You are so sweet, always sharing. You hate to see other babies cry and will move to them with a toy to share or put your tiny understanding hand on them in solidarity. You are strong, always showing us that after a quick hug session, you are ready to brush off your falls or trips and try again. You are loving. Your sweet baby kisses are what Heaven is made of, I am certain of it. Your hugs are like butter and when you wrap your tiny hand around my fingers or place it on my cheek, I am overwhelmed with awe. If there is ever a moment that I don’t pay attention to you or I’m talking to someone, you grab my face and turn it toward you and plant a big kiss on me! You are assertive in the sweetest, most affectionate way.

You are playful, always wanting to interact with us. You are a jokester and I rely on your bright smile to give my day depth. The simplest things still make you the happiest. You love taking the cap off of a water bottle and putting it back on yourself. You shriek with laughter and delight and it seems to never get old!

This month you claimed a stuffed caterpillar as your baby and would love to swing it in the baby swing. You’d call it your little baby! This just adds to your already sweet and nurturing quality! This was also the month you became OBSESSED with hats. You took one look at yourself in the mirror and just knew how gorgeous you looked.

We got you a learning tower so you can stand next to me in the kitchen as I prepare our meals. You used to sit on the counter and watch me or play with random objects (colander, measuring spoons, spatulas etc) but now you can “help” me prepare meals! You enjoy helping me rip up lettuce for salad, and pour and mix things with me. Sometimes you like playing with scraps of veggies that I cut up for dinner and exploring their various textures and colors in their raw form.

You’re our little beach babe!

Your crazy hair whenever I take your hair ties out! (Also, this is probably the 3rd time you’ve stepped foot in that decorative item called a crib)

You graduated with your friends from Mommy & Me class this month! It has been so amazing seeing all of you grow up with the same babies since you were all newborns! We’ve now moved onto Toddler & Me classes together with everyone <3

Seriously how cute is this??!!

On your way to see Santa. You did not care for him. I felt so bad!

But then you got your first look at yourself with a hat as you went shopping with your Azo. Oh man oh man, once you saw how gorgeous you looked in the mirror, your hat obsession began. (even now that you’re currently 16 months as I write this, you’re obsessed with hats! We love it!)

99% of your clothing has been organic cotton clothing. About 75% of them have been from Burt’s Bees Baby because they’re just so soft, comfy and high quality! So naturally we had to get adult organic cotton matching pjs from Burts Bees for our cheesy family photo.

You slept 30 minutes past your 8 pm bedtime to celebrate New Years! You party animal you.

“Mama nigh nigh!! Mama nigh nigh!!!” You’re so cute I can’t take it.

You just love the swings!

You never fail to make us laugh.

Checking out a local storytime. I didn’t know that it was meant for 3-5 year olds but you enjoyed the stories and activities tremendously!

Your eyes are so expressive. I can read all the curiosity, wonder, excitement, questions, happiness, everything in your eyes. You make everything more beautiful, and for that I am grateful to you. I look forward to continuing to foster your interests and nurturing your mind. I try not to look at this as the last month of babyhood, but try to look at it as a step toward a stage that will be even more fun.

We love you forever and ever,
Mommy & Daddy

Dear Sareena

You are 10 months old here.

You find joy in sharing your belongings with others. You LOVE sharing so much you sometimes open our hands and place objects within our fingers and close them so we have a firm grasp on the item. You now shower daddy with kisses besides just me and your stuffed animals. Your love of books continues to grow and grow and it’s now something we can do for hours and hours at a time because it’s something you constantly ask for. You are so obsessed with doggies that we now have a basketful of books dedicated to all things dogs. You cannot get enough of reading about them and discovering the different types of species. I love snuggling up with you in my lap while nestled in a cozy blanket. There’s no better way to spend the afternoon.

You are a little parrot and constantly repeat so many words we say the best you can. For example, milk is “golk”. One thing we find adorable is how you’ve been saying “night night” for when you’re feeling tired and want to sleep at night, and it’s almost always at your bedtime at 8pm sharp. I still wear you and nurse you to sleep and am happy to do so for as long as it takes. It’s our special moment, and I wouldn’t change anything.

I’ve become more mindful in how I incorporate you in our daily life. We are together all day everyday, so that means that you join me in every activity, whether it’s going to the beach, park, yoga, or going to the grocery store and running errands. I love how you can make the most mundane tasks into something more exciting and as an opportunity for you to learn. You are learning how running errands work, how grocery shopping works, how cooking and housekeeping work, etc. I make sure you are an active participant rather than just someone who is tagging along because you have always expressed in interest in whatever it is that I am doing. You always preferred being with me than playing on your own. So while the same task may take 4x longer now, it’s 4x more enjoyable because I’m sharing it with you.

Your favorite toys. Daddy’s feet and mommy’s hair tie.

You look like a pocket sized squish here!

I had to get this mini toilet because it was too cute not to get. I sat you on there. You actually went poopoo in it on your first try!!!!

Such a lady.

First time mommy took you on a slide. You sat in my lap and had a blast!

Helping me pack some extra cute in my luggage

Helping me marinade chicken for dinner! You are so helpful

SO affectionate as usual.

You are so silly.

My little chatterbox

Never missing an opportunity to dance!

Pushing Kiyaan in the swing while screaming a lullaby for him.

You loved Drogo so much you didn’t know what to do!

There is never a dull moment with you around!

We love you forever and ever,
Mommy & Daddy

Dear Sareena,

You are 9 months old here. There were a few firsts in this month: your first tooth began to sprout, we did our first sign language class and soon after you began making your first sign in the proper usage (It was dog. Go figure), and it was the first time I sat you on a baby toilet and you actually used it for poopoo on your first try!! You also went to your first pumpkin patch, petting zoo, and Halloween.

The highlight of the month was your passion for reading. This was when you fell head over heels in love with reading! You would constantly pick out new books to read from our book basket, crawl into my lap to sit up and interact with the story. I like to think your imagination was running wild with each smile and gleam in your eye as the stories went on. You established a few favorites already (basically any of the Van Fleet books) and would even say “agai agai” for “again.” I remember reading Moo by Mathew Van Fleet to you about 36 times in a row once because you loved it so much. I’ve memorized all your books at this point.

We began taking American Sign Language classes together and found it so useful! You actually signed so many words in the proper usage even to this day (at 15 months) without me really practicing with you! Now I wish I had practiced sign language more with you because it amazes me how fast you learn.

We already know Kiyaan was the first person you properly kissed, but now you’ve given me the honor of making me the second person you properly kissed on your own! I was so happy, my heart wanted to burst. You are so affectionate and we love it!

You were like, umm hello he’s crying! Why isn’t anyone coming here?!!!

Daddy’s favorite hiking backpack! Packed with extra cute.

You began your cute little morning ritual with daddy. While I got up early to cook & get things ready for the day, daddy would snuggle and sleep with you a little bit longer (since he’s usually up working late). Then you’d watch daddy brush his teeth, wash his face and help him shave by “holding” the razor!

You loved playing fetch with Snowey!

Zoodles!

Enjoying our picnic at the lake

I started using Google Photos and they sometimes turn your videos into mini movies of a typical day!

You loved playing peekaboo with us!

Daddy visited our mommy and me class today! He saw how much you love bubbles

You love ducks!

We haven’t ever shown you screens or tv or anything like that. And when we’re out and it’s on in public, you aren’t interested so we’re not even worried about that. The only time you ever see a screen and it’s sparked your interest is if you’re FaceTiming with Kiyaan or you see photos of him! The joy you get whenever you see him is so heartwarming.

The feeling is mutual on Kiyaan’s end <3

Well, mostly.

No one could deny how much you love him!

That time we had a wild chicken running around

Bouncy, Bouncy, Bouncy, Bouncy!

Telling Snowey you want to play fetch!

hahaha I don’t even know why we got the pack and play. Most useless, and unused item ever.

Your first time trying a lime. Your reaction was not one we expected.

We’ve always thought of you as a little creature roaming about our home

Licking the fridge.

Daddy would sometimes wear you and take you on a walk while he got some coffee. You would sing yourself to sleep during your naptime.

Sareena, this age is extra special because you are out in this world just as long as you have been inside me. You will always be my little baby even as you keep growing and growing. I cherish how you love being held against me and how wearing you and snuggling you close to my heart is your favorite place ever.

We love you forever and ever,
Mommy & Daddy

Dear Sareena,

You are 8 months old in these photos.

You are a happy, giggly, growly 8 month old with personality for days. You have a contagious laugh that gets everyone around you giggling. You’re the sweetest baby I know, and I’m not just saying that because I’m your mom. Admittedly, I am biased but I cannot believe I get to call you my daughter. You’re a perfect little human with an uncanny ability to make everything brighter. I am so glad I get the opportunity to play with you all day; everyday. This has got to be the most fun I’ve ever had and you’re helping me grow and learn a lot about myself too!

We’ve still been spending the majority of our time with the usual: socializing with your mommy and me pals, going to baby & me yoga, shopping at farmer’s markets, relaxing in nature, and snuggling and playing at home. We went to our first baby pool party together and you LOVED swimming with me in the pool. We were spinning, splashing and swirling around.

This was the time when we left you alone for the very first time. Your Azo, Aji & Aki watched over you for 2 hours while mommy and daddy went on their first date night out together. It broke my heart to see you so sad because you’ve never been separated from me and as everyone has seen (even still to this day at 15 months old as I write this) you hate being away from me. But you ended up having fun playing with everyone and Kiyaan! We came just in time to find you asleep in Azo’s arms. I’m so appreciative that you get to spend so much time with your grandparents, aunt and cousin brother! It’s important for you to be close to them and for you to see your mommy and daddy as romantic and in love as well! We want you to grow up seeing and knowing your parents love you and each other very much <3

You love Kiyaan so much! You simply adore him, kiss him, cuddle him and hold his hand any chance you get!

Enjoying bath time with your farm buddies!

So well mannered.

Drogo loved you so much and wanted to protect you at every moment. But he was very confused as to why you insisted on tugging his name tag. We worked on you being gentle and after a couple times you understood it wasn’t nice to do that 🙂

You always stop what you’re doing or get self conscious as soon as you know you’re being recorded. I swear you were giggling like a maniac earlier.

We love you forever and ever,
Mommy & Daddy

Dear Sareena,

You are 7 months old in these photos.

We started the first day of you being 7 months by collaborating with Sakura Bloom on their ring sling collection for Theory! It was such a fun project for us to be a part of because baby wearing has been vital to our journey. There’s no better way to incorporate you into our life, rock you to sleep, and get snuggles than it is wearing you so close to my heart. Besides, you wouldn’t have it any other way!

We started going to Baby and Me Yoga in Palisades Park. It is such a serene location surrounded by palm trees and overlooking the beach. It’s a place that’s always been 10 minutes away from us, yet I never went there before you. Exploring through your eyes is making me take the time to appreciate the beauty surrounding us. You make me fall in love with our world even more. We decided to make this a regular activity and even take frequent picnics here.

Enjoying our shoot for Sakura Bloom! Full photos here

You were in love with puppets and would often giggle in delight whenever you’d see one. But nothing beat the joy you’d get from seeing your baby cousin brother, Kiyaan!!

I mean this video speaks for itself. This is you FaceTiming him.

Your mischief is evident here!

(You slept like this only once for 4 minutes. I had to take a photo though.)

With Shauray Mama and Shivani Mausi at a park when they came to visit you!

Not a day goes by without you smiling, laughing and squealing in glee. Same goes with us, you have brought so much more laughter and happiness into our lives.

We love you forever and ever,
Mommy & Daddy