Fantastic Three Months (June to September 2008)

Yes, fantastic months which Aditi had during first trip in India to meet her roots. I think she needs to be applauded for her adaptability to new environment with such strength and patience. Kudos!!

Seven month old did not bother her mummy in flight, although she was getting familiar to this experience for the first time. She was looking around with strange eyes at the airport while we both were waiting in the waiting lounge to board the flight from Heathrow Airport. I think she was enjoying those bright, sparkling and colourful lights with bunch of people walking around.
She slept well, but did cry while landing as her ears were hurting. I was helpless and had no other choice except to calm her down.

Aditi enjoyed lot in Meerut. Her stroll with Nanna, were really long. Felt a little vacuum for that period. I was giving Aditi more space to mingle around. Mama’s car ride were initially strange as there are NO CAR SEATS IN INDIA. Aditi understood fast and enjoyed jumping around in the car. Shouting and screaming was accompanied by Mammi, it uses to be like a competition to find out who has got the highest pitch. Both Anukirtie and Aditi gave each other good company for fights, hugs, sharing biscuits and to mess around with Nanni’s chopping and peeling on the floor. Two kids under one roof. The fun was natural......

She enjoyed ride in every kind of transport from three wheeler rickshaw to black and yellow colour auto to long lasting train.

In Meerut she learnt to sit on her own and crawl. It was nice seeing those developments in her. Her activities were just full of fun and laughs. These new developments bought some different kind of energy in me as I had to be more mobile, vigilant and attentive for my little one.

Flight from Delhi to Mumbai was fun too. She did not sleep during the flight and was just playing on my lap, passing smile to other passengers as she knew them for ages. In Mumbai she was joined by very much awaited grand parents. She enjoyed the company of her Dadda (grand father) same like she enjoyed the company of her Nanna in Meerut, with Daddi (grand mother) she was like Ok! Ok!

During her stay in Mumbai she took part in a fancy dress competition on the occasion of Janam Ashtami (festival where the community celebrates the birth of “Lord Krishna"). I came to know about it during the same afternoon while doing shopping for fruits and vegetable in Reliance Fresh. With little time in hand, I decided to dress her like modern RADHA (beloved of "Lord Krishna"). Thanks to Nanni for making that beautiful halter neck Lengha Choli. Little participant was looking cute in that blue-magenta colour outfit with matching bangles, bindi and white pearl necklace.

And guess what!!! CONGRATULATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS have COOKIES, as nine month old participant won second prize. Those cookies were relished by all of us later. Mummy had great time for planning it in such a short span of time.

Later in the trip she was joined by her Fuffaji (papa’s sister’s husband) and her cousin sister Neha. It was nice family getting together. Aditi enjoyed all those outings to shopping malls and restaurants.

This new arrival in the family was pampered by everyone and it was really fabulous trip to back home, never wanted to come back but had no choice except to come back.

Well Aditi and I are already longing for next trip to India same like our families back home.

Off we go!

Yes, Aditi and myself are off to India for couple of months. We both are excited about these holidays for different reasons. Aditi will get to meet her Dadda, Daddi, Nana, Nanni and so many other relatives, list is just endless!!!!!

Papa will join us later, obviously we will miss him during our stay in India and he will too for sure.

I think best is to keep this post short and sweet, will share all the experiences about a trip on our return.

Being holiday season around I wish all the holidays makers a very happy and fun filling vacations.

Turning, Spinning, Round and Round….

Dilemma of Colours?

I was quite eager to find out why association of the colour “pink” is with baby girl and “blue” with baby boy, in case Aditi asks me when she grows up “Mummy, why mostly I was dressed in pink?”

Infact, this hasn’t always been the case, blue was more often associated with girls and pink with boys as per the below stories..

In the west during the Middle Ages, the colour red was associated with the masculine because it represented strength, war, fire and blood. It was fairly common that if a man had coloured clothing, it was dyed red or pale red (i.e. "pink"). Pink was often used for male children, being a pale version of red.

The colour blue was associated with the feminine since the colour often represented peace, harmony, water, the sky (and thus, Heaven), and the Virgin Mary. Even today, the Virgin Mary is associated with blue. They next time you see an image of Mary, notice either the blue shawl or the blue background. Arabs in the Middle East continue to paint the doors of their homes blue in a tradition to frighten away demons.

Despite regional differences in dress and culture, but there is evidence that these colour conventions were adhered to through much of Western Europe and later on in the Americas. Apparently, pink sailor suits were common for boys in the early twentieth century.

While no one can say with certainty how people started associating the colours differently with the genders, changes started as early as the mid-1800s. " In the 19th and early 20th centuries, baby clothes often were all white. The identification of pink with femininity started to become widely accepted around the time of World War II.

So, is pink for girls and blue for boys? It doesn't seem so clear to me... and to break the norm I decided to dress my little model in blue colour. Looks like Aditi enjoyed the change, same like mummy and papa did as it bought tons of smile on my little model's face.

Love my blue angel.....

Mummy, I'm growing fast...

It’s has been an incredible five months. Baby Aditi has changed so quickly - from a delicate newborn to a smiling, wriggling bundle of joy. The five months Aditi has been through many milestones - the broad smile, outcry , sobbing , first buggy ride, first trip to shop, but 3rd May 2008 is one of the major milestone as she turns 6 months, from now to the next 24 months, her physical development will be faster and more dramatic than at any other time in her entire life. She’ll struggle and succeed, struggle and fail and she’ll need our encouragement as she passes each new milestone, what may look like a small achievement to us will be a major achievement for my little struggler.

This 6 months milestone is more to cherish as yum yummy: because the world of solids food will open for Little master taster - Aditi shows great signs that she is all out to venture solids and forsake milk, after all Chef’s daughter!!!

She simply enjoys the process of watch us, eating our food .she sees intruding to all kinds of pastas , sandwiches, fruits, and all different colour vegetables gravy and lentils !!!
And guess what?? our little master taster has two front lower milk teeth to aid her in this new adventure.

Although milk will still be the main food for her for months to come, but it’s good to let her have some experimental tastes of other foods now.

So I am all geared to nurture her as an individual and you guys do not forget to find out how my little master taster takes this exotic journey from a world of milk to world of solids food and for now I leave you to treasure the moments of Aditi’s first 5 months.

Happy Eating…

D Cheeks!!!

I have been attracted by D Cheeks and envied for them, tried so many times punching in the cheeks of my hubby , poor him. but very few people are adorned with dimples. The blessed, have a gorgeous smile and show signs of elegance and beauty. I am proud Aditi has a few, always to entice.

I noticed her dimples when she was around one month and my reaction was hey!!! She gets dimples on her cheeks. I was very thrilled.

Research says that dimples are visible indentations of the skin, caused by underlying flesh, which form on some people’s cheeks when they smile, also shows that dimples are genetically inherited ,but I am not very sure from where Aditi inherited them??

Dimples are considered attractive and dominant and seems to carry different believes with them.

Babies commonly have dimples, but sometimes these disappear or become less noticeable as the muscles lengthen with age. Obviously, I will never wish to happen that as Aditi’s dimples are very unique and cute, specially with her smile. Its like ice cream with a cherry top.

The name game....

Namkaran is the traditional Hindu Indian practise of naming the baby child.
Nama literally means ‘name’ and karana means ‘ to make to effect’.
The Namkaran is held at home or in a temple where the father of child whispers the name in the child’s right ear.

An Indian name is unique, traditional and ethnic drawing from the years of Indian tradition. The naming of the child is the most critical Samskara(rite) or scripture based rite of the Hindus. Hindu names are hence chosen with great care and caution, after consultation with elders, holy books, priests and the stars. Friends and relatives are invited to celebrate the Namkaran ceremony.

When it came to naming our baby we never wanted to follow cycles of popularity because, What’s hip now might be the Mildred of future !!!

From my experience I feel that there are other factors which helps in deciding a name like: how the name will be spelt?, will it be shortened?, Does the name suit your child as a baby and adult? The reason I am saying this because I was very keen for “ Juhi” as my baby name, but had to forget about it when couple of people said it sounds like Julie!!!!!!!!!!! And it will get shortened to “Ju” which is very much in vogue in this part of world.
Keeping all in mind we stepped to the perfect choice of choosing Aditi for our daughter.
Aditi means “ Mother of Gods”.

For Aditi’s namkaran ceremony we did not have anyone from immediate families (really missed everyone) except Mummy (Aditi’s Nanni). Being in this foreign land we decided to go with both the countries tradition. Small pooja was organised at home in the morning with only four of us and of course Panditji (Priest) and threw naming ceremony ( a namkaran ceremony is called naming ceremony in English culture) party in the cold chilly evening of November month, where every invitee came to share and be part of our happiness. I think which ever you choose is a very special way of celebrating the birth of your child and welcoming the new arrival into the family and the wider community. Both ceremonies are unique occasion for everyone to feel involved as they pledge their love and support for your child’s future development.

In the album below I share few pictures from that beautiful evening and take this as platform in thanking every friend and relative from here and miles away to be part of our happiness and joy.

From womb to the world...

It was a brilliant start of the year 2007, to discover I was pregnant. I felt blessed by the almighty.

My first appointment with the GP and the midwife schedule. The much anticipated first scan on 27th April 2007 (three months). Rahul and I eagerly waited for our turn, to see our baby. It was a sheer bliss and could not stop tears trickling down my cheeks!! It was emotional to hear the little heartbeat flickering on the screen. Incredible technology!!. Just fifteen minutes was too less for the introduction. We were dancing with joy for these photos and broke the news to friends and family with great excitement!!! The words of cautions from all were endles.

Pregnancy came with its pampering morning sickness-thou not much and yummy food cravings. My Chef hubby had to be unique and excite me and baby always. He did do the job very well.
Lucky me!!!

I think , there's the feeling that you're looked after. Not just by your husband, but by your parents, in-laws, by your friends, by everybody no matter they live close or miles and miles away.

I was enjoying it. I enjoyed the newness of it, enjoyed thinking of the baby.

Sometimes I felt really low. I think during pregnancy you have more extremes of emotion. You get more easily upset about things, and you can more easily get very happy about things. I remember when I just went into tears while washing dishes.

The second scan, 11th June 2007, was a little tense as they would check for the general growth of the little one. All were assessed, and the result was all clear with long legs. We were ecstatic and glued to the screen!! The little one is playinng a mischief was the verdict by the obstetric.Glad we did not find out the sex and thought to leave it for a sweet surprise, although my gut feeling was it's a girl.

Time was just going slowly managing with full time job and doing everything on my own from chopping to cooking, washing to ironing, mopping to vacuuming and at the same time telling myself that I’m supposed to be conserving my energy but hey-ho. No rest for the wicked!!

Mummy arrived from India on 1st October. To be a part of our celebration.

Hooray! my due date arrived at last (20th October 2007) baby was ready to be born - but many first babies like to hang on in there for a while (Aditi was definitely one of them.). Two weeks passed by and no sign of baby to arrive, was tied of answering calls and text messages from anxious family and friends. Finally Kathy Penny (midwife) who was great support throughout the nine months booked me for induction.

Birth Day!!! Rahul, Mummy and myself left for hospital at 7:30am ( I did my pooja, took his blessings and prayed for everything to go well, I am firm believer of Gayatri Mantra). I was induced at 8:00am and our gorgeous baby girl, Aditi opened her eyes into this beautiful world at 7:48pm, 3rd November 2007.

I loved every second, every minute of being pregnant. It was really a very beautiful and wonderful feeling.

It was like being drunk. I felt so special, so full of myself and what i'd done and welcomed ourselves to the world of Parenthood.