Apologies for our late holiday greeting for we have been busy! In case you hadn’t heard, 2009 was a big year for us as we welcomed our baby daughter Naina to our hearts and our home. Plus, it has taken us some time to figure out how to blog! (Click to expand photos or videos.)
Our Adoption Journey To Japan
Our family building process turned out to be more than a 4 year long roller-coaster journey, with unexpected twists and turns. But the final steps of the adoption moved at rocket speed. In April 2009, we decided to make a leap of faith and switch to VIDA Adoption Agency. In May our baby was identified, on June 12th we were officially matched and, on July 4th, we picked her up in Tokyo! We felt like we woke up one day and found out that Haruka was 8 months pregnant. 6 months later, we feel like the luckiest parents in the world now that Baby Naina is with us.
Within 24 hours of landing in Narita, we met Haruka’s brother Tamao, and together we met 3 women from VIDA’s Japanese partner agency. We spotted each other, bowed like Japanese people, and spent the first hour going goo goo gaga over the most adorable little 3 month old baby girl. During the second hour we signed piles of documents, with Tamao translating for Murali. Then, with the magic words “Yoroshiku onegai shimasu,” a baby, a bottle and a small bag of clothes were transferred over to us. It was incredibly surreal.
Our 12 day trip to Japan was packed with visits to the US Embassy, a doctor, and many relatives and friends. It was so wonderful to be warmly welcomed by everyone, particularly since this was Murali’s first visit to Japan. Thanks to Tanja for taking us to Akachan Honpo (Japan's Babies R Us). In Tokyo, we saw cousins Shogo, Toru and Keiko and their familes. We also saw Haruka’s cousin Moana and her 2 week old daughter and our 95 year old Obaachan (grandmother). We appreciate the Circle of Life. Many thanks to aunt Etsuko and cousin Maria for hosting us for 3 days by the oceanside in Kujukuri, Chiba.Her Name: Naina Yamashita Murali
Many of you have asked about Naina’s name. Our daughter was named Nana (菜々 in Kanji or なな in Hiragana) by her Japanese birth mother. In Japan, the name Nana comes from the yellow mustard seed flower which blooms in early spring. You can read an interesting blog we found on the internet about Nano Hana - Appreciating Mustard Flower Season in Japan. Haruka loved the name since it sounded beautiful in both Japanese and English. However, when Murali explained that Nana means “grandfather” in Hindi, we had to think of some alternatives. We started to consider a similar name Naina, derived from the traditional Hindi name Sunaina which means “She who has beautiful eyes." We were excited to discover that this was a synonym for Murali’s mother’s traditional name, Kamakshi, especially since in Murali’s Tamil community it is customary to name the first daughter after the father’s mother. Is that a cosmic coincidence or what?!
We also recently learned that Naina has meaning in Hawaiian. Na’ina means conquering, endeavoring to examine or understand. Pretty cool!
Our daughter’s middle name is Yamashita, Haruka’s family name. Her last name is Murali, because in Murali’s community the tradition is to use the father’s first name for the child’s surname. (FYI, Murali’s father’s first name was Balasubramaniam.) The name Naina is pronounced more like Nana, phonetically Nay-na, and not Na-i-na or ないな. After her adoption is finalized by the Alameda Courts (hopefully in Feb 2010), her name will officially be Naina Yamashita Murali. Her Japanese name will be なな (Nana). Feel free to call her Naina-kutty (Naina-குட்டி) or Nana-chan (ななちゃん). We still call her Naina-bear since we thought she was like a koala bear. For Halloween Naina was a koala bear and we were koala trainers! Naina has slenderized now, but we also have cute nicknames for her from when she had had super chubby cheeks: mochi-cheeks, korakattai-kutty (கொழகட்டை குட்டி), idli-cheeks (இட்லி-cheeks), Anpan-Nana, etc.Life with Naina
Naina has been very busy ever since she joined us. It’s a good thing that Naina travels so well, because we’ve taken her all over the place. As you know, she started her life with us by traveling back to the US from Japan.
In August, Haruka's friend Shelli helped organize a fun Baby Shower with her girlfriends. In September we had two more Welcome Naina Parties. The first was in New York, with her Ojiichan and Obaachan (grandparents), Kasumi, and old friends: Naomi, Elaine, Kulravee and Mary (+10 kids!!). Then we had a Welcome Naina Party at our home in Dublin with South Indian Catering. Yum! Thank you all for your many generous gifts!!
In August, Haruka's friend Shelli helped organize a fun Baby Shower with her girlfriends. In September we had two more Welcome Naina Parties. The first was in New York, with her Ojiichan and Obaachan (grandparents), Kasumi, and old friends: Naomi, Elaine, Kulravee and Mary (+10 kids!!). Then we had a Welcome Naina Party at our home in Dublin with South Indian Catering. Yum! Thank you all for your many generous gifts!!
In December we made a family trip to Hawaii’s Big Island and Kauai to celebrate our 5th Wedding Anniversary. She was a trooper! She loved hanging out in the baby backpack, exploring rain forests, beaches, lava tubes (caves) and volcanoes of Hawaii. We did hikes by sunrise as well as after sunset and she loved them both!
Naina’s days in Dublin, California are spent with Haruka, who is currently enjoying her new job, as a Full Time Mom! On weekends, Murali happily takes over as PPU (Primary Parental Unit). We are getting to know our neighborhood through new eyes and meeting other infants from local Mom’s clubs.
One of the most wonderful things to watch is her growing relationship with her 3 grandparents. Even though they live in New York and Kolkata, we get to see each other using Skype (free video calls), almost on a daily basis. They sing Japanese children’s songs and nursery rhymes and send animated electronic greeting cards. Naina brings so much joy to all of us.
Naina is 9 months old this week. She now has three bottom teeth and enjoys Gerber level 2 solid foods. We are beginning to make our own food and look forward to using our new mini food processor. She crawls and can stand supported. Her favorite activities include licking and drooling over everything – her toys, her fingers, hands and toes, our furniture, empty plastic bottles and, her favorite, ribbons! At her peak, would you believe she had more than 35 bibs and went through 10 a day? She sleeps soundly from 10 pm to 8 am which is awesome, but naps only 45 minutes twice a day. In 2010 we hope to work on her Baby Sign language. She's got such a wonderful personality – she is very curious, easy-going, friendly, and tough (meaning that she doesn’t cry very easily)! Stay tuned for more updates on this blog. For more photos please check Haruka's Facebook page, and videos posted by Murali on YouTube (Tag: nainamurali). We love visitors so don't hesitate to reach out to us or to Skype us!
We'd like to take a moment again to thank everyone who made 2009 the most memorable year for us. Thank you for your gifts of love and friendship. Special thanks to Shelli & David, Naomi & Roby, Manas & Seema and Johnny & Yuko for writing our adoption reference letters which helped us bring our dream to fruition.
We'd like to take a moment again to thank everyone who made 2009 the most memorable year for us. Thank you for your gifts of love and friendship. Special thanks to Shelli & David, Naomi & Roby, Manas & Seema and Johnny & Yuko for writing our adoption reference letters which helped us bring our dream to fruition.
Making our House our Home
This year we had plans for a variety of home improvement projects. First we added accent colors to the walls of our home. Then we decided to update our fireplace which was boring, with white painted bricks. We literally rolled up our sleeves, mixed mortar and added slate tiles to the fireplace façade. Finally, we got an energy efficient gas fireplace insert installed. The sunroom is so cozy and warm now that it’s become our favorite room in the house. Check out our album below.
Just as the fireplace project was completed, our existing water storage heater unexpectedly broke down. We decided to switch to an energy efficient tankless water heater. This ultimately turned into a major plumbing project since we needed to to re-pipe the whole house with copper lines. These changes broke our pocket and so we will probably hold off on home improvements in the year ahead!
Just as the fireplace project was completed, our existing water storage heater unexpectedly broke down. We decided to switch to an energy efficient tankless water heater. This ultimately turned into a major plumbing project since we needed to to re-pipe the whole house with copper lines. These changes broke our pocket and so we will probably hold off on home improvements in the year ahead!
Visiting India
Murali took a whirlwind two week trip to India prior to our Japan trip, so that he could visit his mother and sister in Kolkata before baby Naina came into our lives. Of course, at the time we did not know that Naina would travel so well. Now that we know her, we are contemplating a trip to India some time in 2010 to show off baby Naina to Murali’s relatives in India.
Work and Such
Murali continues to be gainfully employed in Cisco. It is his 10th year at Cisco. This is the longest he has ever been in one place! After many months of studying, Haruka took the PMI-PMP exam and passed! Hopefully the Project Management Professional certification will help her find part time work later this year in spite of the current state of the economy.
Volunteering for Cornell, ASTD and Lick Observatory
Naina has kept us busy but we have continued to volunteer for our favorite organizations.
Haruka has found passion in volunteering for Cornell through the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (CAAAN). She leads the Alameda County Committee of volunteers who reach out to high school students who have applied to Cornell. Another activity she loves to do is to volunteer as a board member for the Mt. Diablo Chapter of the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD). She loves these activities and hopes that these experiences will help her with a job transition in the future.
Haruka has found passion in volunteering for Cornell through the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (CAAAN). She leads the Alameda County Committee of volunteers who reach out to high school students who have applied to Cornell. Another activity she loves to do is to volunteer as a board member for the Mt. Diablo Chapter of the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD). She loves these activities and hopes that these experiences will help her with a job transition in the future.
Murali and Haruka volunteered together at Lick Observatory's Music of the Spheres for the 5th summer in a row. This year we were pleased to bring Naina who, at the age of 4.5 months, was the youngest person ever to peek through the Great 36 inch Refractor telescope! Murali also purchased a new telescope and is determined to go out for more observations this year. Let us know if you have any interest in joining us.Our 5th Wedding Anniversary
Can you believe that it has been 5 years since we travelled to Hawai’i to get married? Perhaps some of you reading this also have warm memories of our fun wedding at the Pink House in 2004. Back then, we promised that we would return there on our 5th anniversary. Well, this is the year and we did return to keep our promise, with our little one in tow! We are happy to see this milestone reach before we knew it! They say time flies when you are having fun! Check out our album below.
The year ahead
But reflecting on 2009, the year seems like it was both the best of times and the worst of times. The economic climate has continued to be challenging and we have so many friends who are in transition, looking for better employment opportunities. We hope that the 2010 is a year filled with health, happiness and prosperity for our friends and families!
Haruka and Murali
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