Valentines Day 2011

Aren't the Shetty boys getting big? We use www.Shutterfly.com all the time to try to keep up with all our pictures. It's great. We store our pictures and also make fabulous and easy projects such as photo albums, cards, magnets, and mugs.

Heart Stripe Red Valentine's Day Card

Modern greeting cards and party invitations by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Ajay in the States

Life has been sweet for Ajay and the Shetty's. We can't believe how well everyone has adjusted. Ajay is sleeping well through the night and is such a happy baby! He hardly ever cries. He loves to play peek a boo, laugh, dance and sing. He is loving all the attention he is receiving from everyone. Today, Grandmom & Grandad Doc stopped in for a visit, as well as some of our neighbors. We had Ajay out on the patio in his exersaucer and he was positioned in the center of everyone. He kept looking around making eye contact with everyone and laughing and smiling at each one of us. He loves to swing on the swing set and is constantly smiling. We keep saying what a great fit he is with us. It already feels like he has been apart of our lives forever.
Tomorrow we plan on getting Ajay a haircut and possibly getting family pictures. This weekend we have been busy shopping for the big party we have planned on Saturday. We are celebrating Dhruv's 6th birthday and also welcoming home Ajay. Dhruv is very excited about his party. He can't wait to have everyone over to show off his new brother! We can't wait either!
Love All!

Welcome Home Ajay!

We arrived home safley this evening after 36 hours of travelling. We are all exhausted and were extremely grateful to see Trish's smiling face when she arrived at the airport to pick us up. We were also equally appreciative to Mom & Dad Doc for preparing a wonderful home cooked meal for us. We have so many great friends and family we are so lucky to have them. We were greeted with welcome home balloons and "It's a Boy" banners. It felt so incredible to drive up to our driveway and see them and know we were rriving home as a family. Ajay enjoyed all the attention and kids.
Ajay fell asleep in Grandad's arms after dinner and is in his own bed now. We'll see for how long. Dhruv was so happy to finally be home and see his frineds. He is sleeping over at Dominic's house tonight. We have heard nothing but Dominic throughout our whole trip. We are so happy he is able to finally play with him again! It's so great to finally be home with Ajay. It's simply amazing! Vick and I are off to sleep...finally!!!!

Last Day in Nitte

Tonight is our last night in Nitte and we're spending it with family at home. It's raining again, big surprise, since it's monsoon season now at Nitte. Dhruv has been enjoying the rain all day. He enjoys dancing in the rain. Shrima (our cousin) has joined us today as well as Great Grandma Shetty. She keeps asking Dhruv if he could stay and live with her. The school is located directly across the street from her house.

Dhruv was finally able to milk the cow, without any crisis this time. He didn't really like it though. He described it as, "being smushy" and "yucky". After that we pet another cow like a dog and he loved it! Then we visited a cousin a few houses down who has chickens and a rooster and Dhruv fed them.

Yesterday, a major catastrophe, for some. For others it was shear entertainment! Ajja (Dharmaraj) was holding Ajay and he realized he was feeling a little warm and then wet. Ajay has officially christened him into the family as well as Nemiraj Uncle. Ajay was a party "pooper". It was really funny (for some!) We were on our way to lunch and we had to purchase new clothes.

The high point to my whole trip, other than getting Ajay, Vickrum took me to the jewelry store yesterday! They are making me a ring.

Today, Vickrum is feeling sick. He has the Nitte flu and has been laying around all day. Poor Daddy! Hopefully he'll be better tomorrow. We are looking forward to be moving on to Delhi and air conditioning again! It's so hot and muggy here today and the electricity keeps going out and we lose the only thing that keeps us cool.

Talk to you all soon, the trip is quickly coming to an end, we're looking forward to coming home!

Love All

You Mess With the Bull...You Get the Horns!

We arrived late last night due to monsoon weather in Mangalore. It was Ajay's first plane ride and boy was it a rough one! We had turbulence and a very rough landing! Our plane had to circle three times before we could land and then we drove to Nitte Village, approximately 1 hour from the airport. It is the home where Ajja was born and raised. It's a large and beautiful home located out in the country. Vishali Auntie and Nemiraj Uncle currently live here.

Today was a rough day for Dhruv. He was so excited to meet the one month old, all white baby cow on the farm. He also wanted to milk the mommy cow. When he saw it walking by the house he went out and was able to feed it. She ate bananas and mangos and loved them! Dhruv was so happy to feed her. Then when mommy went to get her camera and daddy went to get the video camera, Dhruv walked outside with his Ajja and he got a little too close to the cow. The cow got scared and charged his stomach. Dhruv was thrown up in the air and landed on the steps leading into the barn. He was scared, but tough, he walked away with only a horn print on his stomach.
Then, Ajja yelled at the cow and threatened the cow with bodily harm. Holy Cow!

Then, we went shopping in Mangalore, and Dhruv had another episode. He fell down the escalator and escaped with minor cuts. The security guard rushed to his aid and quickly turned it off. What a day, poor Dhruv!

Ajay continues to be a pleasure and Dhruv quite the big brother anticipating his every need. We are all doing well and bonding as a family. It's really great! Looking forward to returning home next week.

Aunt Susan - Just to let you know it is monsoon weather here! No one looks good no matter how good the pictures look. At least her eyes are open!

Love All

Leaving Bangalore

Today we're taking a plane from Bangalore to Mangalore to visit with family there for a few days. I am feeling much better today (thank goodness!) Ajay took a shower today with Daddy and seemed to really enjoy it. Yesterday we tried to give him a bath in a large bucket (no bath tub here). He really did not care much for that! He mostly cried, but I think it was because he wasn't able to hold on to Daddy. Ajay is taking his nap now. He seems so happy and much more comfortable with us now. The first few days he was a little scared and mostly clung to the men.

Today, he has come to me a lot and even gave me snuggles for the first time, which I absolutely LOVED! We had waited so long for him and it just felt so incredible to finally be able to hold, kiss, and hug each other. Those moments were so special to me!

Dhruv is really being a great BIG brother. He has been anticipating Ajay's every need.

Sick in Bangalore

Unfortunately, mommy has been sick in bed most of the day with Bangalore belly. Ajay spent most of his day with daddy, BIG brother Dhruv, Grandmom, Ajja, and Nemiraj Uncle. We posted more pictures so take a look when you have a chance. Ajay and all are adjusting as expected. He loves the men! Daddy, Ajja, and uncles have been holding him most of the day. Grandmom was able to hold him today too. All in time.
Love All