I am David Gaines » Najwa

Najwa Already Shopping Like a Pro [Video]

David Gaines — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:22:31 +0000

Not even a month after entering the world, Najwa went on her first shopping trip ever. And following in the footsteps of her mother, her first shopping trip was to DSW. So, here we are a year and a half later, and Najwa is back at DSW, only this time she's the one doing the shopping! Now if they'd only open the DSW in Columbia Heights so we don't have to keep going out to Virginia!p />

Najwa and Her Valentine’s Day Balloons

David Gaines — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:04:38 +0000

Ok, they were really for the lady, but Najwa was just so entertained by the balloons, we just say they're hers...

But what was really entertaining to her was watching the balloons float to the ceiling. And then the fun never ends because we pull them back down for her, in which she promptly lets them float back to the ceiling, even more entertained, and looks at us to fetch them again. And again. And again...

Najwa Facing One of Her Fears: Alleys

David Gaines — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:12:25 +0000

Overcoming fears is obviously one of the challenges we all encounter. One of mine [mildly, not phobicly] has always been heights. That's why the plan is to skydive, bungee jump and one day go hang gliding. I also have a fear of burning or drowning to death, but I have no plans on taking on those fears head-on.

As Najwa gets older, she will encounter many fears of her own. One already is the Cookie Monster and those weird eyes that never coordinate. She's not too fond of Yo Gabba Gabba either.

The other day we were around the corner by the alley. Najwa is always looking down the alley as if she wants to explore. Usually we're on the way somewhere and don't have the time, but this time, I let her have it...

Najwa Takes a Shot at Eating with a Spoon

David Gaines — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:11:48 +0000

I remember when Eric's fiance, Vickie, said the two things she was most excited about in the raising of their daughter, Erykah, was first when Erykah was able to burp on her own and when she could hold the bottle on her own. Nduku and I were still new the parenting thing and didn't quite get it then. It didn't take long before I was waiting for the day Najwa could hold the bottle on her own.

And yes, it's a moment of progress that doesn't get as much attention as potty training and the first word. But then, the next phase kicks in. It was one thing to hold the bottle in one hand and the remote control in the other; that was okay. But it takes two hands to spoon feed a child. And sometimes that's not enough.

So the other day, why not, let's let Najwa try to feed herself...

And I got it on video

Short Video of Najwa at Home

David Gaines — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:33:16 +0000

Just a small moment in time of Najwa at home... Click to watch the video

Najwa and Her TV Programs

David Gaines — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:05:39 +0000

Another one of those small Najwa moments in time captured on video. When Najwa starts watching the TV, there's really not much you can do to get her attention, other than turn it off. Of course she's learning how to turn on the satellite box and the TV on her own.

As we look back to this day, the shows she likes [that we'll let her watch] may not be popular in the future. I grew up on Tom & Jerry, He-Man, The Flintstones, GI Joe, Transformers and Autobots, Scooby, Thunder Cats and a bunch of others I'll remember after this gets posted.

Najwa's generation include Dora the Explorer and Diego, Caillou, Blues Clues, Elmo and the Sesame Street gang [I watched that, too], Chica and the Sunny Side Up Show, Nina and Star with the Goodnight Show, Chuggington, Tinga Tinga [actually, I haven't seen this lately], What's Your News?, Monkey See Monkey Do, The Wiggles and some others I'll remember when Najwa jacks the TV from me.

Then again, maybe when Najwa gets my age TVs will be pass´e; and her kids' shows will be in 3D on handheld entertainment devices.

Click to View Photos and Video

Najwa Enjoying the Warm Winter Day

David Gaines — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:05:20 +0000

It was a [relatively] warm winter day, so Najwa took a little walk...

Walking SW Waterfront Before The Upheaval

David Gaines — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:12:29 +0000

We started the year with one of our typical walks, this time at SW Waterfront by the water. It won't be long before this entire area sees another facelift, as it did decades ago during the urban renewal. The Odyssey is one of the boats [or is it a ship? or a yacht?] that is part of the landscape, part of the definition of SW Waterfront. Hopefully it sticks around when the cranes come to rip its new identity out of the ground.

Najwa at Fayetteville’s Only Landmark

David Gaines — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:58:48 +0000

Photos from Najwa's trip to Fayetteville, NC, visiting the Markethouse.

Najwa Learning How to Use Eating Utensils

David Gaines — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:28:31 +0000

Chad was in town, and as usual, his schedule was so chaotic that we didn't catch up until the next morning at IHOP. And he got front row seats to watching Najwa pretending like she knew how to use eating utensils.