We didn’t have a huge celebration this year due to the passing of Tina’s father just a couple of months ago.

We had planned on having a nice picnic lunch in a nearby park (the same park where Tina and Raj had one of their Baby Showers). However, due to rain, we had to move the party into our home at the last minute. (It really was the last minute…we decided two hours before the party to make the change in venue!) Since Parin’s First Birthday was on a Monday this year, we held the party the day prior as it was a Sunday and most people don’t have to go to work that day!

Tina baked the birthday cake and cupcakes and her mom decorated them! Also on the menu were jello jigglers which is something Tina’s mom always made for Tina and Bobby’s birthday parties growing up so it was only natural that she would make them for her grandson’s birthday as well!

Thank you to everyone that was able to help us celebrate Parin’s First Birthday!

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during his One Year Birthday Party.
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Back home in Irvine, California, Parin had a lot of catching up to do since he had been gone for so long. He and Tina met up with Tina’s co-workers for a nice lunch (they all worked with Tina while she was pregnant with Parin and were a tremendous support group for her).

Afterwards, Parin reconnected with Karina on another playdate. They were much more active this time as they were both now crawlers. Much more fun than staring at each other from their bouncers!

This month, Parin also took a trip to Bloomies to watch a cooking demonstration and even tasted some of the yummy mashed potatoes with truffle sauce! Yum.

Big milestone – no more infant car seat. Parin surpassed the height requirement of the infant carseat and so we had to get him a convertible “big kid” car seat. Let’s see how long this one lasts!

Parin’s Dada and Dadi celebrated Parin’s first Holi with a small puja in their home in Bakersfield. He wore the same outfit that Raj wore for his first Holi many, many, many, many, many years ago.

As Parin’s first year wrapped up, he became an expert stair climber, had a total of 8 teeth, and started sleeping in his mommy’s crib. Yes, the same crib that Tina slept in many, many years ago. It was locked away safely in storage so now, Parin gets to use it!

Parin has always loved water, and now…after coming back from India, takes his baths in the “adult tub”. Speaking of water, that’s how Parin spent his birthday, March 23, 2009. We went to the beach! This time it was Laguna Beach. Parin, his mom, dad, maternal grandmother and maternal uncle all spent the afternoon with him. That evening, we were joined by James and Lauren for Parin’s official birthday dinner at Taco Rosa where the waiters sang Happy Birthday to him. We do believe that he must have been their youngest birthday patron!

To everyone that has been a part of Parin’s First Year…thank you. We are so blessed to have so many people in our lives. Parin is especially lucky to have you all in his life as well. It’s been quite a year with all that has happened. In the end, we are reminded by how precious life is and how the circle of life continues on…

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 12.
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After arriving in Assam, India, Parin had adventures at every corner. He got the chance to meet up with many of his relatives on Tina’s side of the family. The main reason for going to India was to scatter the remainder of his Koka’s ashes. This was done in Gauhati, Assam in the Bramahputra River. Parin’s Bobby mama and Aita also went to Haridwar to scatter the final ashes in the Ganges River but Parin didn’t got with them on that trip. He was too young to make that journey. But he wasn’t too young to make the 10 hour car journey to Sonarie where his Aita’s family is from. That’s where all the tea gardens are!

Highlights include Parin getting to see his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grand-aunts, grand-uncles, riding in a car without a car seat, mosquito nets, and riding on so many airplanes.

Parin had an exciting three weeks in India and there’s just too much to write it all in here…the pictures speak for themselves!

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 11.
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Parin celebrated his Annaprasana this month. This is a Hindu ceremony for the first time a baby eats rice. This ceremony is performed by the maternal uncle -in Parin’s case, it’s his Bobby mama! Due to Parin’s Koka passing away, we did not hold a big function and just had a small ceremony in our home.

A lot of new activities for Parin this month: first time getting a gift from Santa Claus, first time on a swing, first time he was cruising around the furgniture, first haircut and first time traveling!

Where did Parin go? To India! Not only was this Parin’s first International trip…it was his first time on an airplane!

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 10.
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Parin started out his Month 9 by seeing rain for the first time. He also learned to pull himself up to a standing position and even took his first “steps”. Just a few steps…two to be exact. It was also an exciting month as Parin met Santa Claus for the first time at South Coast Plaza mall.

This month, Parin’s Mazujethai Aita and Damn Koka left to go back to Assam, India. He missed his mornings with his grand-uncle on the swing. However, his Chandresh Kaka (paternal uncle) came for a visit shortly after and we all continued to stay with Tina’s mom during this time. We all went out to show Parin Xmas Lights for the first time and he seemed to love it.

Though it was the middle of December, the beautiful weather had us outside to take several candids with Parin in his Aita’s front and backyard.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 9.
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With Parin’s grandfather passing away just days before, this month was filled with Hindu mourning rituals. Parin met a lot of his extended relatives that lived outside of California as they were all coming in for his grandfather’s funeral and services. Our family is very grateful for all the love and support shown to us during this most difficult time.

Towards the end of Month 8, Parin’s Kindermusik class was coming to an end and his Mazujethai Aita and Damn Koka accompanied him on one of his last classes.

Parin also made a trip to Long Beach with the family to scatter some of his Koka’s ashes in the Pacific Ocean. (The remaining was kept to be scattered in India.)

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 8.
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Parin ate solid food for the first time this month – rice cereal to be exact. He loved it. So much that he would try to grab the bowl during feeding time and try to lick the contents!

Lots of extended family members came to visit this month as Parin’s Koka was still in the hospital. Raja Jethadeuta and Gitu Jethai visited from Delaware. From India, Rohon Jethadeuta, Bhonti Jethai and Ruchi ba visited to help the family out during this difficult time. Good friends of Tina and Raj from Northern California, Harmish and Anita also visited with their daughter Brianna. Parin also helped celebrate his grand-uncle’s 87 birthday!

Parin went to his first Durga Puja this month. He was a source of light for everyone around him during this difficult time. His smiles, his nature…he has a lot of the qualities we all loved in his Koka.
Just three days before Parin turned 7 months old, his Koka (paternal grandfather) passed away on October 20, 2008.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 7.
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Parin started sitting up by himself this month.

He also attended his first “Annaprasana” (rice feeding ceremony)…not his…but Kaveri’s! That evening, he attended a Surprise 70th birthday party as well. Unfortunately, the next day, Parin’s Koka fell ill and was hospitalized. He was so ill, Parin’s maternal grandmother’s sister and husband came all the way from India to lend support. It was nice for Parin to be able to spend time with them, though it was under unfortunate circumstances. This month, Parin and his mommy stayed with his grandmother and Bobby mama while his grandfather was in the hospital.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 6.
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Another busy month as Parin first celebrated his Bobby mama’s birthday (maternal uncle) at a fancy restaurant. So fancy that they warmed his bottle in a champagne chiller bucket! Parin’s maternal grandparents, his Koka and Aita, bought him a swing which he loved to hang out in.

Parin had the most fun on his first trip to the beach! Newport Beach to be exact. It was a little chilly that day so his mommy kept him bundled up but he still got to stick his little feet into the great big Pacific Ocean.

More “firsts” included a trip to Donna’s place, playdate with Shaili and Shaan, Poker Night at Vibha’s, brunch at Taco Rosa and first trip to Bakersfield, California to visit his paternal grandparents, his Dada and Dadi.

Oh, and one more thing – Parin started rolling this month!

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 5.
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What do you call a month that involves: one mouse, two cousins, two birthdays and many stars? Parin’s fourth month!

The month started off with celebrating our nation’s birthday – Parin’s first Fourth of July. During the day, we went to the community picnic and in the evening, went to the beach to enjoy the fireworks. Parin loved the fireworks at first, but after about 10 minutes of loud “popping”, he decided he’d had enough.

Just nine days later, Parin helped celebrate his mommy’s birthday where he saw his first Shakespearean play in a park. A week later, Parin’s twin cousins from India, Joyee and Jayati, came to California for a visit. His Raja Jethadeuta (Tina’s cousin’s husband…did you follow that?) also flew in with the girls. While showing his cousins around Southern California, Parin got his first official EARS…that would be Mickey Mouse ears from Disneyland. Joyee, Jayati, and Parin all enjoyed their first trip to the Magic Kingdom. Two days later, Parin and his cousins visited the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as other sites on their day trip around Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 4.
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The previous month was quite a busy one but it didn’t seem to let up this month either! Parin attended several birthday parties this month (more along his age group) as well as a Surprise 25th Anniversary party. He was busy watching quite a few Laker games as well. Parin’s grandparents held a Satyanara puja in their home. Even though Parin was now staying with his grandparents, the visitors kept coming. Parin’s cousin, Mihir (along with David Fua and Nimisha Foi), who live in Philadelphia, were in town and stopped by for a visit.

This month was special for Raj as he celebrated his first Father’s day!

Parin moved back to Irvine after spending 4 weeks with his grandparents. Back in Irvine, he met Tina’s high school friends and watched more Laker games. Even the ones where they lost.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 3.
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Click here to see thumb nails of all the photos taken during Parin’s 6 Week Portraits. These photos were taken at Linnea Lenkus Studios.
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Now that Parin is allowed to leave the home, he took full advantage of it! He attended his first wedding! Tina’s college roommate, Tina Phillips got married and Parin attend the rehearsal dinner on April 24th and the wedding two days later.

This month, there was a lot going on in Parin’s life. He took his first “walk” . . . well, stroller ride. He helped his parents host his first Poker Night. Soon after, he went on his first “playdate” with Karina who was born 2.5 weeks after he was. He did this on the same day that he received his first set of immunization shots! Parin also got a chance to meet all of Tina’s co-workers. He was finally able to put a face with all the voices he heard during his 9 months in Tina’s tummy. Parin also attended Seema’s Sweet Sixteen party. What a busy baby!

This month was extra special for Tina as well as she celebrated her first Mother’s Day with Parin. After Mother’s Day, Parin moved in and stayed with his grandparents for about 4 weeks! Don’t worry, Tina and Raj were around as well.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Month 2.
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The final week in Parin’s first month! He had his first oil massage (compliments of his grandmother!) and on April 23rd he hit his one month milestone. According to Hindu custom, Parin wasn’t allowed to leave the home until then (except for doctor appointments, of course). Where did Parin go on April 23rd? First to the Hindu Malibu Temple…and then to grandma’s house, of course!

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Week 5.
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This week, Parin celebrated his first Rongali Bihu (Assamese harvest festival and new year). Since he hadn’t hit his one month milestone yet, he couldn’t attend the bihu festivities so we celebrated at home. Parin also gets his first bath this week as well as even more visitors!

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Week 4.
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Even more visitors stopped by to visit Parin this week. Raj’s brother, Chandresh (Kaka), also stayed with us for a week which was a big help. Big news – Parin SMILES! No, it wasn’t gas. We have proof in the pictures!

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Week 3.
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Parin’s second week was filled with visitors as well as a family celebration – Tina’s mom’s (Parin’s Aita) birthday! Parin’s umbilical cord also fell off on Day 10 and another Hindu ceremony was performed on Day 11.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Week 2.
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Our first week with a newborn was not as bad as we thought it would be. The first night home from the hospital was the “sleepless” one. After that night, we actually got enough sleep to make it through the week.

Raj’s parents (Parin’s Dada and Ba) stayed with us for the first few days and we held the “chhati” ceremony on Day 6.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during Week 1.
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Parin left Hoag Hospital on March 25 to head home. Raj is normally an aggressive driver, but that day with Parin in the car seat, he was barely driving the speed limit! He got a lot of stares from other drivers on the freeway. Parin slept most of the way and rode in style by having his Aita and Koka (Tina’s parents) provide the “grandparent police escort” from the hospital to his home in Irvine.

Before entering the home, Parin and his mom were received by Parin’s Dada and Ba (Raj’s parents). Parin’s grandmother gave blessing upon entering the home.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken when Parin came home.
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Parin Kumar Rajiv Ladva was born on March 23, 2008 at 12:13am. He weighed 5 pounds and 14 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. He was quite alert and seemed to recognize our voices immediately! He was born at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California. We had a wonderful stay there and have come to refer to it as Hotel Hoag. We were sad to leave when the time came and wished that we could’ve taken a few of the nurses home with us!

Parin means “champion” and is also another name for Lord Ganesh. Kumar means “prince” and is also his maternal grandfather’s middle name. Rajiv is his father’s first name and it is customary in some Gujarati families to carry on the father’s first name as a part of the child’s middle name.

Click here to see thumbnails of all the photos taken during our stay at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.
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Hoag Hospital Website

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