Birthday fun with the family!

My family, extended family and friends got together for a Birthday Bash at the beach for my youngest nephew, Wesley Kade, who turned 1 year old on August 28th. We had a great time!!

Wesley had one awesome green snake cake! Daniel insisted on eating THE WHOLE HEAD! Jaxon enjoyed his box of Nerds! Junu had a blast watching all the craziness, and playing with her Uncle Jimmy! It was too much fun!!







It was the first time Junu and I saw a lot of family and friends since we got back. It was a ton of fun!! It was also crazy to see Wesley turning 1! All my nephews are growing so fast. It seems like it was only a couple months ago that I was keeping Melody company in the hospital just after Wesley was born. Now Junu is here, we have been to India and back to Cali, and are now enjoying birthdays on the beach with my wonderful family! Life is continually blessing us, and from the looks of things, it might just keep getting better and better!

A new start in Pasadena

Junu and I have been in California for 4 weeks now. Coming back home has been extremely refreshing, and brought me a new outlook on life back in the states. The California sunshine has been perfect since we arrived, especially when compared to the monsoon rain in India that we left. And after being in India for so long, I was longing to come home to be with my family, and have Junu meet her grandparents, cousins, aunts, and great grandmother. And honestly, I couldn't ask for a more supportive family that welcomed us home with open arms and endless support!

When we first got here, we headed to Hemet to enjoy the fun at the Percival circus! Just check out the pictures and you can tell how much fun we all had. Junu loved playing in the pool with her nephews, and my Grandma, Dad and Mom thoroughly enjoyed their Junu bonding time!







But, after spending 3 weeks in Hemet, cramming my parents house full with 9 people; my sister and her husband, their 3 boys, Junu and me, and my Mom and Dad, I was a little ready to find a space of our own.

My cousin Kim, her husband Allen, and my Aunt Louanna, invited June and me to come and stay with them while I get back on my feet. We moved in on the August 15th, and have enjoyed every minute we have been here. They live in a gorgeous house in South Pasadena, and have really extended their support to me, making this whole transition a lot easier on both me and Junu. Of course its been hard being a world apart from Sunil, he misses his June Bug tremendously, but we are making plans for the future, and know that we will be together again very soon.

The plan from here is to try and stay in Pasadena. I am job hunting now, trying to find a career path that will allow me to use my international experience to help better the lives of others. Of course I am also looking for a job that isn't too demanding, and gives me time to be home with June. I would love to stay in Pasadena because I am completely in love with this beautiful town, but I am looking all over LA to see what I can find. Junu and I are here to stay, at least for awhile. :)

Here are some more pictures of our time in California!

Back In CALI!!

Life has been taking us for a ride, and we have landed in California. Junu and I arrived in LA on July 27th, after 20 long hours on a plane, with my wonderful family waiting for us at the airport. Since we arrived, everyone has really been enjoying Junu with her giggles and smiles. We sure are happy to be home!

I have to admit that India was getting under my skin a little. Its a busy, chaotic, sometimes overwhelming place, and well you just have to put up with it to find all the beauty there. And, I think I was having a hard time finding the beauty in the everyday hussle and bussle, and just wanted to be back home for a little bit. So, here we are.

Junu is really loving the California sunshine. She is having so much fun with her active cousins who have a blast making her laugh. We went to the LA Zoo yesterday where we saw lions and tigers and bears! Junu also got to finally meet her Great Grandma. She loves it here. She gets to swim in the pool, play with her cousin Wesleys toys, and chill out in her super cool Bumbo chair, watching all the busyness around her.




The plan now: We are probably going to be staying put for awhile. Im exhausted from moving around so much, and well I am dying to have a little stability in our lives. I think we are going to base ourselves in Los Angeles for while. We are going to move in with my cousin Kim and her husband, and I am trying to find a job. Hopefully something fabulous comes up!

Sunil is going back to Nepal where he is trying to get going on a coffee export project. We are going to try and see if we can start importing some goods from Nepal to California, which might just work out. We are also trying to work on getting him a visa to come visit. Junu and I miss him a lot, and hope that we can be with him again very soon. However, we are happy to be back in California, and cant wait to catch up with all the family and friends we have missed so much!

Bangalore, "The Garden City"

Well, we have finally arrived! After 13 hours on a bus to Delhi, 4 horribly hot and humid days in Delhi, and then a terribly long 46 hour train ride, we have finally arrived in the city we are now calling home. Its beautiful here! All the walls are painted with murals, the roads are wide and well built, the buildings are new and modern, and well, there is just a great energy here! Bangalorians love their city, and they take care of it! There are trees everywhere, and its illegal to cut down any palm tree, so you see many houses built with palm trees growing through them. Of course its still a big city in India, and has the traffic to back it up, but we have only been here for 12 hours and Bangalore has stood up to all of my expectations.

Currently we are staying with our friend Mandap who has welcomed us into his adorable and humble little home! We have also met up with another friend of ours, Abow and his sister, who live not to far from here. And, Abow's sister has somehow managed to arrange a job interview for me as well. We will see how it all works out, but since the moment we arrived, we have felt at home!

Now on the agenda, find a job and an apartment! :)

Sorry my little Blog, its been too long!

I dont know why its been so long since I last posted. Maybe it because we didnt have the internet at home, or because we were lost in the Himalayas for almost a month, OR maybe its just my lack of inspiration to write. I dont know, but now its time to catch up!

The past 2 months have been amazing! We left HOT Goa, and landed here in beautiful Vashisht (Manali). We visited Parvati Valley, and got stuck in a small village nsmed Kalga for almost 3 weeks. We also went on a small trek to KhirGanga which is 3800 meters up into the Parvati Mountain range. It is a beautiful and holy place filled with people who come on pilgrimage to worship Shiva and Katik as well as enjoy the gorgeous natural hot springs. It was very special for us to take Junu there, especially since we were able to find a Baba to do her Kundalini (a reading of her astrology) on her 12 week birthday! We are told that Junu is our good luck, and she will always have good luck in her life. We were also told that her feet will be like a deer (meaning she will travel the world). Of course he told us much more, but we will leave that up to Junu to share.

Now we are back in Vashisht and Junu is 16 weeks old! She is getting so big. We have started feeding her rice cereal as well as mashed up fruit and nuts. She loves it (well when she is not too hungry and has the patients to play with her food). We are still enjoying our slow days of going on long walks and picnics, giving her a bath and massage twice a day, and enjoying evenings of live music with friends. However, the time is coming to leave this hippie life behind, and head to the city for work. We are leaving Vashisht in the next couple of days to go to Bangalore, India. Hopefully we can find work quickly and settle down without too much trouble. We are excited about the move, and excited to head into a new adventure and new beginning with our little June Bug!!

I have posted some recent pictures of Junu on Facebook, but here are some more pictures of our time in the Himalayas.

Beautiful Manali

We finally got out of the heat and found ourselves in beautiful Manali. We arrived on April 24th, and found here many of our friends from Goa. It was a warm welcoming even though it was freezing cold! The journey to get here was very long. A 30 hour train ride from Goa to Delhi, spent one night in Delhi, and hopped on a 16 hour bus to Manali. Junu was an angel the entire trip! It was amazing, the train just rocked her right to sleep. I think she slept 90% of the trip. I loved it because I too was able to catch up on my sleep, and it made the entire journey go by a lot faster.

It was raining in Manali for an entire week before we arrived, and rather cold the day we got here. A big shock from the incredibly hot weather we just came from. We quickly found a room, and crashed for the entire day under very thick blankets. Then, we woke up to the warm sun shinning upon the Himalayas, and welcoming us to Manali.

We are now technically staying in a village named Vishist located just above New Manali. It is a small mountain village filled with wood and stone houses, scattered with guest houses for the many travelers that find their way here. We already found our favorite Chai shop, where the Didi makes us hot water for Junu, and Dal Bhat for Sunil and I. We are still searching for a room with a kitchen so that we can do our own cooking, but it seems that even though we arrived early in the season all the rooms with kitchens are already taken. We might just have to buy a little propane stove to sterilize bottles and make hot water, tea, eggs, ect.

I have managed to capture a couple shots of the mountains, but since the screen on our camera is broken, I can never tell if my scenic pictures have come out or not. I dont think these shots are very good, but at least you can get a glimps at the amazing view of the Himalayas that we get to enjoy from our balcony. I have also included some pictures of Junu in her adorable winter outfits. Living in Goa I didnt think we would get to use them before she grew out of them, so I am happy we get to them. However, I do miss having her hang out at as a naked babe.

Things have been so wonderful since we got here. We have been continually blessed since we arrived, and the fresh energy is revitalizing for us. Junu is also really enjoying the mountain energy. She hates being inside, and always wants to be outside in the fresh air. We started going on evening walks, and she is so stimulated by all the fresh smells and sounds. She loves the mooing cows and the soothing sound of the waterfalls.

Even though it was a last minute decision to come here, we are happy we followed our hearts and decided to change our plans. Manali is where we are supposed to be right now. We can feel it in the air.

Baby Exercise

Sunil and I were wondering how many calories Junu burns a day doing her little baby exercises, so I told Sunil to exercise with June. Here is a funny video of him working out with Junu. As soon as he started, she just stopped and stared at him. It was so cute!

He could only do it for a couple of minutes, and she does it ALL day. lol Daddy needs more endurance!

Leaving Goa!!

Today we are leaving Goa, and we are headed for Manali and Dharmasala. For the next month or so we are going to be in Northern India. It is going to be beautiful!!! I am so excited!! New energy, fresh mountain air, and away from the heat for a little bit.

We are still planning on moving to Bangalore, but have delayed our move by a month or so. Next month is the hottest month of the year in Bangalore, and since we are already miserable and melting in the heat in Goa, we figure it wouldnt be the wisest thing to try and move to Bangalore right away. Plus, I am really happy to have at least another month or so at home with June before trying to find a job. Sunil has some work to do in the north, and wont be able to do it after we go to Bangalore. So, going north is now or not for a very long time.

We are getting on a very long train to Delhi today at noon. Then once we reach Delhi its another 12 hour bus to Manali. Its going to be a long journey, but I think we are ready.

Update on June: We went to the doctor yesterday. She is 4.5 kg, and growing well. She is super healthy, and doing great!!

Keep us in your thoughts during our long journey to the north. We need all the good energy we can get!!

Daily Outings to the Beach

So even though we live in Goa, we don't actually live ON the beach anymore. Since we moved to Siolim village at the beginning of March, we are now a 5 min scooter ride to the beach. And since I wanted to have Junu in Goa to be near the ocean, we decided that we needed to start actually taking her to the beach.

Now that June is a month old, we have started making daily outings to the beach for the sunset. Its been really nice for all of us. Sunil and I enjoy getting out of the house to do some yoga and meditation, and June loves the ocean breeze and sound of the waves. She usually sleeps through the whole trip while she is in sling, but yesterday she was wide eyed, and smiling while we were walking down the beach.

Here are some pictures of our outing to Morjim beach.

Trip to Mumbai

Mumbai, the largest city in India, and a place like no other in the world! I like to describe it as a glorious combination of 3 amazing cities thrown into India; Los Angeles, the glamour and spark of Hollywood meets Bollywood; New York, the awesome train system, sky scrapers, and mass amounts of people walking the streets; London, with the old British architecture, taxi cabs, pubs, and brick roads. It is such a beautiful, lively city that is always changing, and offers you an adventure around every corner.

This past weekend we took a trip to Mumbai. It was my third time to the city, and I have to admit, I was a little intimidated by the thought of taking our one-month-old baby there. We traveled from Goa on a nice Volvo bus 12 hours north into the city of Mumbai. The bus ride there went by quickly, and before you knew it we were getting into a cab to search for a guest house in Colaba (the area of Mumbai where the Taj Hotel and Gate of India is located). Once we found a very tiny, but clean room to stay in for a night, we checked in, took a breather, and headed out into the blaring heat. We walked around and did some window shopping for a couple of hours, and treated ourselves to a delicious meal at a restaurant with A/C! Then we headed back to the room to feed the baby, and to take a breather from the heat. Around sunset we headed back out to explore the streets of Mumbai, and enjoy the cooler night air. We had an amazing time just walking around, exploring, and people watching. Mumbai has my dil (heart).

Junu was so amazing the entire trip! I have this awesome sling called a Maya Wrap that my sister gave me. Once I put June in there she is fast asleep. However, after 3 days of being in the wrap I was tired of wearing it, and June was tired of being bundled inside. However, without a stroller or car seat it makes caring June around the city and riding on a 12 hour bus a much easier task. Our purpose for going to Mumbai was to declare June’s birth at the US Embassy and apply for her passport. Once we finished all of our work, we headed back home to Goa, and completed our first big trip with little June.

Here are some pictures of our trip to Mumbai with Junu.

Our Little June Bug (this blog has lots of pics! )

Junu is now 20 days old, and too cute to put into words. She is always wide eyed, and just hangs out as a happy baby for hours at a time. Sunil and I have the most fun talking to her, singing, and dancing for her. She smiles all the time, and loves to have her hair played with.

Our June Bug! :)

Our Little Super star

We learned that she doesn’t nap/sleep so well unless she is bundled up like a caterpillar in a little cocoon. However, June isn’t so fond of having her arms all lock inside her blanket, and its funny to watch her wiggle her way out. (A special thanks out to Uncle Eric for the wrap blankets. I would be a sleepless mother right now without them.)


On Saturday, March 20, 2010, Sunil and I had a little ceremony at home for Junu. In the Hindu religion its called puja, and is more or less like giving her a blessing in the Christian religion. Very religious Hindus would have a priest come and do a full on ceremony singing mantras and chants. But, Sunil and I are more spiritual people who wanted to have a little ceremony to thank the Gods for sending us this little Goddess, so we decided to just do puja for Junu at home. Here are some pictures of our little ceremony!






Here is a fun video of June crying. I thought since no one has met her, you haven’t heard her adorable cry either. So, her is her little whine and cry.




In 2 days we go to Mumbai to get Junu her U.S. passport. Even though she was born in India, she will have dual citizenship, American and Nepali. She might possibly also have Indian residency, but we are still looking into that. We are a little nervous about our big trip to the city with our tiny baby, but we have to go to declare her birth and make sure that she is registered as American. Wish us luck and keep us in your thoughts during this big trip.

I wanted to say Thank You to everyone who gave Junu and me presents to help us prepare for her arrival. I am surprised at how prepared I was, and I owe it all to all of you who gave us gifts as well as money. We used the money given to Junu to help pay for the hospital bill, and thanks to all the thoughtful presents, we haven’t had to purchase a single thing for June. Im serious, not a single thing! Not a diaper, or wet wipe, or binkie, or blanket. Nothing! We love our cloth diapers, and thanks to my wise older sister who is a mother of 3, she stocked me up with everything that I would need as a new mother. Honestly, we are very blessed, and I want you all to know how much we appreciate your thoughtful gifts!

Here are some fun pictures of our little home in Goa. Sunil sold his motorcycle so that we could bring Junu home to nice apartment instead of a little hotel room. I am very grateful to him for this gift to Junu and I. Simply put, I would be miserable anywhere else, and I owe it all to my amazing boyfriend! He cooks delicious meals for me everyday, and really enjoys his time playing with Junu (even when she is hungry and crying)! I am very fortunate to have such an amazing partner and father for our little June Bug.

This is my washer (the 2 buckets) and drier (the sun):)

June is hanging out in our hanging chair

June chilling out in our Chill Out area

Our GIANT kitchen!

The Balcony. We spend most of our time out here!

The is our amazing bathroom! We even have a bathtub! (you can kinda see it in the mirror)

The bedroom