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!
Anyone with a child — especially a 17 month old who’s practicing for the terrible 2s — knows going shopping is like stepping into the unknown. One moment your little angel is flashing that adorable smile causing all the old ladies to “oooh” and “ahhhh,” but the next she’s terrorizing the fellow shoppers. If you get separated from mommy and baby, just walk towards the screaming a few aisles down and look for the flustered parent.
What works one trip to the store is obsolete by the next. Pacifiers are passé. You can hand them anything for a moment before everything ends up on the floor. But every now and again, something happens that calms little angel down and takes her attention off re-merchandising the store for a few minutes…
It’s pretty amazing, almost scary, what babies will mimic. Though it was a bottle of cold syrup for her nasty cough, Najwa was going through the motions of putting on lotion or baby oil.
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…
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 at it…
Collection of African proverbs about love and marriage, dedicated to my ladies, Nduku and Najwa…
— Lesotho Proverb
— Burundian Proverb
— African Proverb
— Kenyan Proverb
— Ethiopian Proverb
— African Proverb
— Kenyan Proverb
— Liberian & Madagascan Proverb
— Cameroonian Proverb
— Senegalese Proverb
— Ugandan Proverb
— Namibian Proverb
— Ghanaian Proverb
— Ghanaian Proverb
— Ugandan Proverb
— African Proverb
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…
Just a small moment in time of Najwa at home…
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.
Every now and again we’ll go wherever the wind blows to find something to eat. Barracks Row is a common landing spot to find something new, well, it was for Nduku. She got breakfast from Spring Mill Bread Company, while Najwa, as kids do, entertained herself with the beverage case.
It was a [relatively] warm winter day, so Najwa took a little walk…
The ladies and I headed out to Gessie and Carl’s to celebrate the first birthday of their daughter Aiyana. Last time I saw Aiyana, she was the size of my palm with a head so full of hair she looked like she was wearing a wig. A year later and my goodness how fast kids grow!
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.
A few photos of Najwa on Christmas morning…
Though everything in me wanted to do something in The District, Nduku had never been to the National Harbor in PG County, so off we went. I’m not the biggest fan of it, perhaps because they took The Awakening away from DC, but it definitely has character.
It’s amazing how after all these years, this is the first time I actually visited Fayetteville’s only landmark — the Markethouse. Probably because back in the day it was where they sold slaves, but still. I called a couple of my people and they all not only mentioned they never visited it, but they asked why I was there.
Regardless, we took Najwa downtown Fayetteville, NC, where there was a little festival and people walking around in character to Dickens’ Scrooge. I don’t know the story like that, but did Scrooge have a slave?
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.
If she could only reach the gas pedal [or more importantly, the brakes], maybe I’d let Najwa take the wheels out for a spin.
NOTE: There were no animals injured or killed during this photo op. But 15 years from now…
It’s funny how when you’re a parent, your weekend plans change. It used to be resting all day to hit the streets at night. Not it’s attend birthday parties by day and rest at night. Most of the time.
This weekend we went to Falls Church to celebrate Simone and Mars’ son’s first birthday. The theme was Transformers. Why? Because his name is Optimus. Only Mars!
Considering the cost to fly to India for a week with a one year old, Nduku and I are postponing our plans for celebrating Diwali there. Luckily, there was a Diwali celebration right in our backyard. But, of course, not quite the same.
Until we make it across the globe for the original, we hung out at FedEx Field where there was a celebration. To my dismay, and perhaps it’ll be the same on the subcontinent, there was no meat in the food! But there was plenty of entertainment with music and dance, plenty of new sights and sounds for Najwa to experience and a lot of eyes on us, three of the maybe 10 non-Indians amongst the hundreds.
When I went to the ticket booth to buy the tickets to enter FedEx Field, the ticket seller politely informed me that it was Diwali and not a Redskins game going on. Funny.
Comcast is a joke. We’re virtually begging them to take our money and set up our internet, but for whatever reason, they continue to find ways to not set us up for internet. Hence I’m just now getting around to posting the photos from Najwa’s birthday party at Mandu. I’ll b!tch about Comcast later [then DirecTV after them]. For now, here’s Najwa:
Other than her mom and dad, Najwa spends the majority of her time with the babysitter and the other kids she watches. Here’s Najwa with Dillon, one of the other kids who’s known Najwa for more than half her life…
After we wrapped up Najwa’s birthday party at Mandu [I'll post those photos in a moment], Nduku set an appointment for us to take some studio portraits. My mom is in town and bought Najwa a traditional Korean dress called a Hanbok, worn for celebrations. I’m relieved Najwa cooperated, well, as cooperative as we could’ve hoped for considering her temper [which she might've got from daddy?] when forced to do things she doesn’t want to do [just like daddy].
The other dress Najwa was wearing was a gift from Belinda Sillas-Robinson, a friend from back in my Westover days. It was a BaByQ Shower gift, and we’ve been waiting for the right moment or it to make its debut.
Najwa is her very own room after we finally got everything moved in.
Doug and I did a preliminary drive-by to see what we were up against. We averted our gaze from the clusters of individuals eyeballing us suspiciously but with anticipation. We rolled by as if we were uninterested, but really we were plotting how we were going to make our move without getting mobbed.
We parked not too far away when Doug said it all: “Feels like we’re hunting for a prostitute.”
Last time my mom was in town, she was there witnessing Najwa come into the world. Now a year later,she returns to celebrate Najwa’s first birthday.
As usual, being a typical Gaines, we don’t know what time she got to DC, but she just knew she remembered how to get to our pad. She did get one thing right — we live just off of M Street. Only she was on M Street SW instead of NW and after a turn here and there, she was in Oxon Hill.
Once we got to the pad, though, it was play time for Najwa…
Najwa actually has a few weeks and a pound to go, but instead of waiting, we went ahead and turned her car seat around. At first I was skeptical about her sitting in the middle, visions of her flying through the windshield in an accident. Our friend Jenny, though, mentioned that most accidents tend to be t-bones, getting hit on the side by people running red lights or stop signs. Or if the car flips over, you don’t want your child right at the shattered window.
With the number of straps and belts connecting the seat to the car, I’m pretty sure she’s the safest passenger in the car. And now she has a view to go along with it.
Video of Najwa playing in the water when we were at the Sculpture Garden’s fountain at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
A couple of photos of Najwa Gaines and Nduku Malombe as we lounge around the pad…
When Dr. Anderson said it’s better to overfeed than underfeed an infant, well, it freed us from the anxiety of asking ourselves if we were feeding Najwa too much. So, we fed her. Sure, she has chunky cheeks, and she’s got some weight relative to her age, but she is far from having an obesity issue.
Actually, she looks like a well-fed child, a healthy one with no risk of malnutrition, a fully developed body meaning a fully developed everything else, from her heart to her bones to her brain. I’d rather spend money now on an extra jar of pureed squash than save it for medical bills later.
But of course kids are kids, and one of the kids at the babysitter likes to call her “Fatty Mama.” Doesn’t faze me. It’s kind of cute, actually. It’s said out of affection. The kids at the babysitters love Najwa. And vice versa. As soon as we walk through the door they’re all in each other’s face and so far, Najwa doesn’t have separation anxiety as we leave, engrossed with her extended family.
But as she gets older, kids will evolve into little imps. Little devils. And eventually, someone’s kid is going to say something, not kidding, but meant to be hurtful. And there may be haters. And bullies. And there’s going to be a time when she comes to me asking for advice of what to do.
One lazy day, doing nothing but watching some Sprout TV, Najwa decided to add some sound effects to whatever we were watching. She’s developed a nice little range of sounds to her repertoire and is going to be a chatty one when she figures out the meaning of whatever she’s saying.
Here’s just a sample…
We got Najwa her own pair of shades, but maybe it’s because of the elastic band that she simply won’t wear them. She thinks it’s a vice grip squeezing her skull. And she keeps her eyes closed the whole time as if it’s really a blindfold.
But, she got her hands on mommy’s shades. She’s just waiting to grow into them…
It’s been a while, but it still happens. No warning signs, no gut feelings, no way to know that Najwa is about erupt like Mount Vesuvius spewing formula everywhere!
We were heading home the other day, just passing U Street when all I heard coming from the backseat was Nduku spouting the long version of OMG sprinkled in with a few other expletives. Najwa had just downed another bottle of lactose free formula, but apparently there wasn’t enough room for it in her tiny little belly. So what goes down, must come out all over her clothes, the car seat and a little contact spray for Nduku.
I couldn’t assess the damage from the front seat, so I was going to stay the course. But from the sounds of disgust Nduku was making, it became obvious I had to pull over. When she handed me Najwa’s bib, I could tell that all five ounces got evicted from Najwa’s stomach.
We had to take her pants off and figure out how to clean out the car seat before we got back on the road. To make it easy, we put Najwa in the passenger seat [while parked of course], and it didn’t take her long to find something to satisfy her curiosity.
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-watching-tv/thumbs/thumbs_2642najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-watching-tv/2642najwa.jpg){kind=link}
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![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-watching-tv/thumbs/thumbs_2650najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-watching-tv/2650najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_2564aiyana.jpg]Aiyana](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/2564aiyana.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_2567aiyana.jpg]Aiyana](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/2567aiyana.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_2568aiyana.jpg]Aiyana](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/2568aiyana.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_2583aiyana.jpg]Aiyana](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/2583aiyana.jpg){kind=link}
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![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_2571kids.jpg]Aiyana and Najwa](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/2571kids.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_2572kids.jpg]Aiyana and Najwa](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/2572kids.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_2574kids.jpg]Aiyana and Najwa](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/aiyana039s-first-birthday/2574kids.jpg){kind=link}
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![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/thumbs/thumbs_najwa003.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/najwa003.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/thumbs/thumbs_najwa001.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/najwa001.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/thumbs/thumbs_najwa002.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/najwa002.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/thumbs/thumbs_najwa004.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/najwa004.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/thumbs/thumbs_najwa005.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/najwa005.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/thumbs/thumbs_najwa006.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/christmas-2012/najwa006.jpg){kind=link}
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![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/thumbs/thumbs_1658.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/1658.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/thumbs/thumbs_1659.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/1659.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/thumbs/thumbs_1688courthouse.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/1688courthouse.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/thumbs/thumbs_1705.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/1705.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/thumbs/thumbs_1708scrooge.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/1708scrooge.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/thumbs/thumbs_1717.jpg]Najwa is just determined to get her hands into the water at all costs.](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/fayetteville-nc/1717.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/thumbs/thumbs_1524najwagaines.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/1524najwagaines.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/thumbs/thumbs_1525najwagaines.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/1525najwagaines.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/thumbs/thumbs_1528najwagaines.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/1528najwagaines.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/thumbs/thumbs_1536najwagaines.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/1536najwagaines.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/thumbs/thumbs_1527najwagaines.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/1527najwagaines.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/thumbs/thumbs_1529najwagaines.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/1529najwagaines.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/thumbs/thumbs_1533najwagaines.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/1533najwagaines.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/thumbs/thumbs_1537najwagaines.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-at-ihop/1537najwagaines.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/thumbs/thumbs_1326najwameetsoptimus.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/1326najwameetsoptimus.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/thumbs/thumbs_1335optimus.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/1335optimus.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/thumbs/thumbs_1337cake.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/1337cake.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/thumbs/thumbs_1355.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/1355.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/thumbs/thumbs_1347.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/1347.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/thumbs/thumbs_1333optimus.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/1333optimus.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/thumbs/thumbs_1336optimus.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/happy-1st-birthday-optimus/1336optimus.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1224najwaandnduku.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/1224najwaandnduku.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1243najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/1243najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1253nduku.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/1253nduku.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1254najwagaines.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/1254najwagaines.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1262diwali.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/1262diwali.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1264diwali.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/1264diwali.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1265diwali.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/1265diwali.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1246najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/diwali-2011/1246najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1160najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1160najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1161najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1161najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1165najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1165najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1168najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1168najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1171najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1171najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1174najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1174najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1177najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1177najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1179najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1179najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1182najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1182najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1183najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1183najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1188najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1188najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1189najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1189najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1190najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1190najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1191najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1191najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1192najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1192najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1193najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1193najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1197najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1197najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1198najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1198najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1205najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1205najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/thumbs/thumbs_1207najwa.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/mandu-sept-17-2011/1207najwa.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa12.jpg]Najwa wearing a Hanbok](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa12.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa13.jpg]Najwa wearing a Hanbok](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa13.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa14.jpg]Najwa wearing a Hanbok](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa14.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa15.jpg]Najwa wearing a Hanbok](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa15.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa03.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa03.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa04.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa04.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa06.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa06.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa02.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa02.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa07.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa07.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa10.jpg]Najwa, Nduku and David](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa10.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/thumbs/thumbs_najwa11.jpg]Najwa with mommy and daddy](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/portraits-from-najwas-first-birthday/najwa11.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/thumbs/thumbs_0991grandma.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/0991grandma.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/thumbs/thumbs_0996grandma.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/0996grandma.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/thumbs/thumbs_1002grandma.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/1002grandma.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/thumbs/thumbs_1001grandma.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/1001grandma.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/thumbs/thumbs_1006grandma.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/1006grandma.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/thumbs/thumbs_1010grandma.jpg]](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/grandmas-back/1010grandma.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/thumbs/thumbs_0908najwagaines_carseat900.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/0908najwagaines_carseat900.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/thumbs/thumbs_0911najwagaines_carseat900.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/0911najwagaines_carseat900.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/thumbs/thumbs_0899najwagaines_carseat900.jpg]Najwa Gaines and Nduku Malombe](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/0899najwagaines_carseat900.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/thumbs/thumbs_0910najwagaines_carseat900.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/0910najwagaines_carseat900.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/thumbs/thumbs_912najwagaines_carseat900.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/912najwagaines_carseat900.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/thumbs/thumbs_0909najwagaines_carseat900.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/0909najwagaines_carseat900.jpg){kind=link}
![[img src=http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/thumbs/thumbs_0906najwagaines_carseat900.jpg]Najwa Gaines](http://davidgaines.com/wp-content/flagallery/najwa-finally-facing-forward/0906najwagaines_carseat900.jpg){kind=link}