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Monday, July 25, 2011

Life as a family of 5 (insert great big toothy grin here)

Still can't get over that our little family of 3 overnight grew to 5?!  It seems surreal still when I look at these two precious new bundles of joy.  How on earth did we get so blessed?  So far (touch wood) both the little ones are a very similar to Blaze's temperament.  Jett is the relaxed 'chilled out' one who stares with his big beautiful eyes at you.  He is so similar in looks to Blaze when he was a newborn.  He likes his soother and loves to snuggle into his sister.  He is so relaxed it takes us much longer to wake him up during his feeds just to get in the minimum amount of nutrients.  Dylan is very different.  She is definitely a princess already.  Her little tiny facial features (and Daddy's nose) are just like a little girl should be.   She eats like a champ, putting her little brother to shame.  She looks around very bright and alert, but very quietly taking everything in.  She is our little alarm clock.  When its time to eat, she lets us know!!!  She wants nothing to do with her soother and loves to grab onto everything her little hands can get a hold of.  I think we may have a diva in the making.   Both of them love to be snuggled in their swaddlers (aka straight jackets...right Tracy?).  They sleep wonderfully and love to get kisses after kisses after kisses from their big brother. 

We are so happy to be back in India again.  This is our 5th trip, and its amazing how differently we look at things that were once so very foreign to us.  I even venture out on the rickshaws by myself now.  Seeing Blaze interact with his God Parents has been absolutely priceless.  It brings us both such joy to see him with them.  He took to them immediately and loves to be with them every chance he gets.  It feels like yesterday when they brought him to our hospital room after discharge from the NICU.  He is so full of love and he certainly showers them with affection.  It is more then I could have imagined it would be.  We tell him all the time how very special his God Parents are and how they helped to create him.  The fact that he took right too them from moment one is proof that kids have a keen sense about them.  He asks for God Papa and God Mama all day long when they are not here with us.  He jumps into their arms with the biggest smile when they first arrive and never wanders far from their sides.

We are staying at a different hotel for the very first time this trip.  Its a Marriott chain and is called the Lake Side Chalet executive apartments.  We couldn't be more pleased with our accommodations.  It is a 15 minute rick shaw ride to Hiranandani hospital and to Powai shops and grocery store.  The room has a kitchenette with stove, microwave, large fridge, etc.  They even had a play yard set up for us when we arrived.  The hotel has lots of green plush trees and grass surrounding it and walking paths throughout.  It has 8 restaurants including a wonderful buffet breakfast each morning with fresh blended fruit juices made right in front of you and made order pancakes, french toast, eggs,...you name it you got it.  The waiters absolutely love Blaze and bring him his special highchair and kids plate every morning when we arrive.  The have a beautiful play room that is open for the kids from 3-6pm daily with 2 women providing activities and toys etc.  They have 2 huge edgeless pools and kids pools.  A resident stray kitty ('Meow' as Blaze likes to call it) who comes to greet us daily at the front doors.  A private rick shaw driver who takes you anywhere on the property with his fancy painted rick.  He too has fallen in love with Blaze and while Mommy and Daddy take a walk with the twins, Blaze goes riding up and down the paths with his new best friend.  Their are laundry rooms on each floor and you can do your wash for free any time.  That has been a huge bonus as with newborns you tend to create a LOT more laundry then expected.  They provided us with a roll-away cot today for my niece to sleep on when she arrives tonight.  It was more like a plush twin bed.  We were amazed!  We can't say anything terrible about this place it truly is awesome accommodations for IP's to stay for baby pick up.  

We have been quite busy with the little ones, but have managed to get in some visiting.  Last evening we went with the Docs to Amit's (our local travel guy and dear friend) new home for dinner, hosted by him and his lovely wife, Shikha.  The twins were their usual relaxed self and slept the entire time.  Blaze was of course the center of attention and loved dancing with Shikha while we watched the IIFA awards televised from Toronto.

We have plans to visit Blaze's surrogate KT and her family.  She has just now decided she would like to be a surrogate again and is currently being cycled for another SI client.  We are so pleased that she had a good first experience and is wanting to do this once again.  She told the Docs, the first (Blaze) was for a new home and now this 2nd one is for her boys education.  She is an amazing woman, we can't wait for her to see Blaze in person for the first time. 

We saw FB (the twins surrogate) in the hospital briefly before we discharged, but plan on meeting up with her again to give some gifts to her and her family and get to know her a little better. I also have planned a full day of shopping with her once she is up to it. 

We want to take the ferry over to Elephanta Island so Blaze can see the wild spider monkeys.  And are hoping to take a short get-away outside of Mumbai.  We are also wanting to take the entire SI staff out for a day of fun to show our appreciation for all they have done for our surrogate and us.

We have met a few other IP's here in our hotel from Rotunda and SI.  It is nice to be able to share our experiences in India and show off our new little bundles of joy.

Gotta cut this short....babes are calling.  Absolutely love that sound.