tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35315266370168828352024-03-12T16:42:51.684-07:00Malena James is bornAngelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14163072886211937564noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531526637016882835.post-33999304702199093372011-03-27T00:52:00.000-07:002011-03-27T00:52:38.676-07:00Malena James is born<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Malena James Reed-Maroulis is born!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I decided to start this blog on Malena because I simply can not keep up with her and how fast she is changing. I want to share some of our precious moments together with my family, who we are now away from, and her daddy who is still away on tour. The last month I was pregnant felt like an eternity, the days went on and on and I thought she would never arrive! It felt like forever, waiting for her. Now that she is here, I can not keep track of the time. The past three months have already flown by in the blink of an eye. I can not look at her long enough, I can not hold her tight enough, she changes right before my eyes. I am very selective about the memories and photo's I share of my baby girl and family. I must already have a million photo's, most will remain just for family but there are a special few I would like to share. I hope that what I share brings as much joy into your lives as it does mine!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It's a cool evening here in NY. Everything seems as though it is the same, cabs buzzing by, the sound of the train passing below the city, people racing on the streets to make their destination. Yes it is exactly how I remember it, the city has not changed it's me who has changed. I am not thinking of where my friends are and what we might be doing tonight, what local bar we might stop in and get a drink at. Instead I am making a bargain to keep this tiny little human happy! I will make you a bottle, ok I will rock you, how do you know I am not standing up? How about your swing? I know you must want to be swaddled?! How about a nice warm bath, or some music? No? Nothing? Ok you can have whatever you want if you will calm down and be a happy girl again! I don't swaddle as good as my sister Mari, (the baby whisperer)! Her legs are still kicking and now her little paws are free. She gladly accepts her bottle and she is happy! And now I am happy! I burp her and then set her in my arms, we both look around and I can tell she knows she is in a new place. I explain to her that it is for the best. Malena this is where I know you can thrive and live and do anything you want to do in life. I have a little cry, which I allow myself anytime I need! It is our first night alone in NY and away from my family and Daddy is away working hard. I think about how much my family has meant to me and what they have done for me. I cherish every moment I spent at home with them and everything we did together. It's rare for an artist to spend extended time with their families, especially holidays. I have been away the past 2 years and missed every holiday and birth day. We are family, we love and hate each other, we fight and scream like all families do. Then we make a feast, settle down to our nightly movie and everyone is very happy! We are a small city family and our everyday is spent focusing on each other. Home is humble, kind, simple in comparison to the big city and most of all full of great food and love. Lots of Love! I want to thank all of my family members who welcomed me home and loved and cared for Malena like she was their own!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> She is already three months and I can not believe it! She smiles all the time now. It feels like the excitement of a Christmas gift when she smiles. It's amazing actually to see that she understands she is smiling and that her smile in return makes me smile back at her and then she smiles even bigger......!! We walk through Central Park together and I feel incredibly proud, I stop and reflect on how happy I feel in this very moment and try and hold onto it. There are people all around us and i wonder if they know what I am feeling or if they can see how beautiful she is. I wonder why everyday of my life hasn't felt this way. I feel so alive and have so much to live for. When we get home I turn the news on. How incredibly awful to see how so many people are suffering around the world right now. I think of them and the burdens they have and give thanks for being with my baby girl. Here's to a new season of my life. Mommyhood! It is a challenging task, back breaking work and more rewarding than anything I have ever done in my entire life. Not everyday is going to be easy or full of sunshine but i have a reason to live and someone to love and care for every hour of the day, ok every minute of the day, alright every second on the day, OMG every mili second of each and every single day!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't trade it for a billion dollars! : )</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN79l8uoF8lmdq47ry3onme7WlJs8pdWCqtITbrc8EZ70tl3QuocUScwk6twIekYjxRAskFM-G7dVu_NQwVcOAzA-O28CUTR6eCiF5-FJDzM476-V5sJjv2YIpCfPtC-VndWcuIKA7ys1/s1600/Picture+41.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN79l8uoF8lmdq47ry3onme7WlJs8pdWCqtITbrc8EZ70tl3QuocUScwk6twIekYjxRAskFM-G7dVu_NQwVcOAzA-O28CUTR6eCiF5-FJDzM476-V5sJjv2YIpCfPtC-VndWcuIKA7ys1/s400/Picture+41.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo from Malena's beautiful birth announcement! She is stunning!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Emily Little Loftus<br />
Sleeping Beauty</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2 Home from the hospital at last!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin Lilly, Eli and aunt Teresa!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ventura, CA<br />
My mother and her family lived here for many years, my sister's and I were also born here. We brought Malena to say goodbye to my mom's Aunt Jean. One life began and another ended. This was a remarkable journey for all of us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Ventura, CA<br />
Grandma Eilene and Aunt Mari taking many photo's with their baby Malena!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Daddy's favorite photo's!<br />
I love my bow!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbn2n4KVh8dOzSp02UHkd7SoAExibV2j2SiF9Nj6Bj8gJ7gSRbDnGZqXWqlYc5XP2gtYKrwznxusPDdRiZm-5ItNnTEgkX0eHkVSbh0CUFBseSwVF2OHHjnNc4bfVXbT-LBR3vhUsMp2I/s1600/0-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbn2n4KVh8dOzSp02UHkd7SoAExibV2j2SiF9Nj6Bj8gJ7gSRbDnGZqXWqlYc5XP2gtYKrwznxusPDdRiZm-5ItNnTEgkX0eHkVSbh0CUFBseSwVF2OHHjnNc4bfVXbT-LBR3vhUsMp2I/s400/0-3.jpeg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hate my bow!<br />
She got this scowl from her daddy, this is her usual look!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoFp15a66hTkKbxjb5Z4c6eXvvZcakX9dD9BR6t9N84c8uB5Yx5cuD7ypRVR56D-OTMAxWNtawVT0vTzaSw5oLocZH2sY3WrBU5iGTtJSUeXChxZ6h-zsMuHcL-FIorl6gbp6kqQYbu8e/s1600/0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoFp15a66hTkKbxjb5Z4c6eXvvZcakX9dD9BR6t9N84c8uB5Yx5cuD7ypRVR56D-OTMAxWNtawVT0vTzaSw5oLocZH2sY3WrBU5iGTtJSUeXChxZ6h-zsMuHcL-FIorl6gbp6kqQYbu8e/s400/0.jpeg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin Melissa and Malena!<br />
Hamboussi and family bought her this beautiful dress! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wjXg_qT9-WbOuTANkzMTf9_dCV9Jp2DHc-6IbiatEK8ycDrboVm1dN_EXCC6OE5GVTOACMkujzDvcwQG4S_w10n305zA-gnjFgzK55An-TQbsW7fNQjLHj8VryphJttk_tijVPCKJvKW/s1600/IMG00106-20101225-1237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wjXg_qT9-WbOuTANkzMTf9_dCV9Jp2DHc-6IbiatEK8ycDrboVm1dN_EXCC6OE5GVTOACMkujzDvcwQG4S_w10n305zA-gnjFgzK55An-TQbsW7fNQjLHj8VryphJttk_tijVPCKJvKW/s400/IMG00106-20101225-1237.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our nerve wrecking 1st car ride home from the hospital Christmas Day!<br />
Daddy drove and avoided highways, I sat in the back praying to god to just get home safe!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb3tEZdpLBp0X5gX6RduNZFdYCKKVXsXFNns_ogTi3Su-cFQvfbUjPqc2hTCLWNXMPbhnfMbBYNO9pB9O-s7lZuegO-Vf7dcGAgZw3kFlHIRQeKP2LixhFACYOTUmGGMKEIZKwMhDCya8/s1600/IMG00089-20101224-1713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb3tEZdpLBp0X5gX6RduNZFdYCKKVXsXFNns_ogTi3Su-cFQvfbUjPqc2hTCLWNXMPbhnfMbBYNO9pB9O-s7lZuegO-Vf7dcGAgZw3kFlHIRQeKP2LixhFACYOTUmGGMKEIZKwMhDCya8/s400/IMG00089-20101224-1713.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin Melissa in the hospital with Malena</td></tr>
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