Thursday, November 25, 2010

November Rain

This has been a year of contradictions. With some happy and some sad moments, it has been nothing short of an adventure. While I am glad the year is finally coming to an end, it will forever live in my memory. They say when it rains, it pours. Well, this year the sky fell upon me on Sep 1 when dad passed away. But the seventh heaven beckoned on 12.11.10 when my child was born. In January, I felt sad shifting from my old rental place because Cubby was born there. Little did I know, in less than a year the new place would enjoy the same privilege.


The ped came out of the OT on that cloudy Friday morning and asked "Who's the father of the baby?"; when I went up, he clasped my hands and said "Congratulations, you have a daughter. Both mom and kid are healthy". This time, we were so sure it would be a boy (determining sex of the foetus is illegal in India, so it remains a surprise) that I was once again at a loss to react. Just like we were so sure it would be a girl the first time round. Happily, Bub (short for Babli, which is what I plan to Blogname her after that spunky movie character) completes that fervent dream for me and my family.

The next 3 days were just a pleasant cycle of going home to pack the food, visiting mom & bub during the day, and cleaning poo between snatches of watching "Rakhi ka Insaaf" on TV. Curiously, stormy winds and lashing rains kept the weather cold and wet. Who'd have thunk we'd worry about clothes drying for a November baby?!!

Wife's folks were such a fabulous support and continue to protect our sleep even today, isolating us from Bub's nightly wailings. No one can pamper us like moms can -- it is such a blessing! The hospital, a smallish affair close to home, was also a great caregiver. Pleasant rooms, pleasant nurses and despite the chaos in the outpatient area the inpatient billing was a breeze. The best part is how chilled the doctor was, making our lives that much simpler.

The highlight of this birth was to see how my first-born would react. We were all eager to know, and that wait got extended because he went to school, then went home, then had a bath and followed his routine before arriving around 2PM.



At first he didn't know what to make of this bundle in the cradle. He had always seen his sibling as this extended tummy of his mummy, and now to be asked to believe that this very real baby is that tummy was a bit much. But he is a sweet kid and within a few minutes, Bubli was in his lap. Of course, we sweetened the deal by making sure he enjoyed hospital visits-- Bourbon biscuits, fruit juices, chips, jumping on the bed and running down the stretcher-ramp. By the last day, he was all excited to decorate the house for Babli's welcome home and even helped carry the bags.


Ever since it is a pleasure to watch him copy us in every way-- whether rushing to fetch the wipes, replacing the nappies, singing her to sleep or just random acts of affection. Considering she gives zero response so far, I am impressed that he keeps at it without losing interest. I am told the sibling rivalry truly kicks in only little later. Somehow I have a feeling it is not going to be that bad for us...! In fact, he seems to have grown up little too fast-- and we need to consciously treat him like the child he is. Suddenly, he is all mature, all caring and very understanding. Believe it or not, he even seems taller than he was!


We are also experimenting with an ammaji imported from our native this time. That has been going great and she is a huge support. Such a professional despite her illiteracy, it is a comforting sight to see her massage and bathe the baby. Sadly, she's here only for 3 months and will get us addicted to the good life by then. Like all modern parents, our #1 worry is finding someone to raise the baby we produced ;-)

As we look back upon the last nine months, we have a lot to be grateful for. The best of all was the love and blessings created in the blogosphere, which truly made the experience fun and protected us from evil eyes and Voldemorts. As per the wife's instructions, one of the first few sms's to go out included the blogging moms. I even asked some of them to pray hard, when they wheeled her in for the (brrrr...) operation (ok, ok, i mean, the C-sec). The fabulous baby shower, the elated announcements, the many many congratulation messages, some very sensible advises on managing siblings, the baby-name polls.... thank you, ladies, for making it all SO special.

Sach, is baarish mein aaj doob jaane ko mann karta hai.

Welcome, princess. Wish you a life full of health, zest for life and a sense of humour...


32 comments:

Dee said...

How adorable was this post!! I think even better than Abha's :D

I even commented that I felt Cub looked so much more taller suddenly!

U guys are pretty much amazing and I am so glad that the baby tries to fill the large gaping hole ur dad left in ur lives with her tiny adorable self :)

God bless!

starry eyed said...

Lovely post, M. Very beautifully expressed, Bub and Cub will love reading it someday!

Momo's Ma said...

ur wish has finally come true of having a girl. n such a lovely post.as i always say, u guys rock, n ur kiddos r gonna do too.god bless the little princess and her adorable big B.

BangaloreMom said...

Awwww!!! How sweet is this!! May this be the start of a beautiful bro-sis relationship...sometimes stormy, sometimes warm and sometimes so exclusive that you and A are excuded yourselves!! Princess, welcome home, baby!

Trishna said...

Hi M,I came here-because I knew atleast one daddy will do full justice to a baby announcement post!!And you didn't disappoint me!!
Congratulationssssssssss once again!!very well written!
Trish
http://littlediva.wordpress.com

Mama - Mia said...

i am bawling away to glory! i LOVE YOU!!! :)

and as Dee says, awesome awesome post! wayyy better than mine. Cub and Bub are blessed to have YOU as their father!

here's to happy times sweets! :)

hugs

abha

Mamma mia! Me a mamma? said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful post, M. It touched me to the core.

You are a truly wonderful father...your kids are lucky to have you!

Nazar naa lag jaaye!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful post M...so heartfelt :)
Lots of love to you and your lovely little family...Bubs is absolutely gorgeous...waiting to see what you guys name her (in real life)

Swaram said...

Aww such a beautiful post. Cub and Bub are such sweethearts :) Hugs to both of them :)

dipali said...

What a darling post! May your brand new daughter bring all possible joy to her family and loved ones, and of course have a wonderful, blessed life. Take care.

Monika said...

what a darling of post M... and I agree with Dee abha's post doesnt stand a chance against this

and I love the name bub so cute

pass my hugs to cub-bub :)

Iya said...

this is such a beautiful post, no wonder i have tears..u don't know me, as i have never been here before. Abha does and Abha - aren't u lucky! the guy is a gem..take care of him..

lots of love to this beautiful family!! hugs and some more..

Suhas said...

Long Live the Family System!!! Your family has now four corners - Mum and Dad, Kabir ans his Sister( name pending).

We Indians are like Italians - Families are important to us - they make us and nourish us.

All the best for your own Family now more complete than ever!!!

Artnavy said...

i was so glad to see u guys this weekend- and I can vouch that Cubby is really a good brother already!!

Sue said...

I can't get over the pic of Cubby carrying the bags... must send it to Vicky.

Congratulations yet again, you guys. Although I don't know why you should be surprised... I specifically told Abha I wanted a girl this time and she's nothing if not obliging. :)

Unknown said...

Congrats Mayunk! Wish you guys all the happiness in the world!

kamna

Preeti said...

Awesome post.... makes me even more desperate to make that trip to your place soon....

Angel's Flight said...

LOOOOOOOOVE the post...you sure have a way with words!!!

Now I cant wait to read about ur adventure as a family!!

Vidooshak said...

Thanks everyone for the adoring comments. Bubster's even more blessed to have such a warm online welcome!

Poppins said...

What a sweet post! Lovely. And I SAID it would be a girl. Hmpf. Non Believers :)

Now go on and name her quickly (not Bubs, the real name - we're all dying to find out her name!)

maami said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
maami said...

Very touching...A mom and a dad who can pnen their thoughts so well...lucky kids will never run out of stuff to read on a rainy afternoon

Just Like That said...

aww.. this was a lovely post, M. And that expression on Cub's face as he holds Bub( I LOVE her blog name! You guys need to come up with a real name to match it for cuteness and total FIT!) for the first time is SO wonderfully warming.
am sure he'll make a wonderful big bro- lookit him carry all those bags!!! LOL.
It sure was a mixed year for you guys, but ultimately, the pluses outweigh, methinks, and I'm sure your Dad will be the first to second me on this. Hugs to all of you.

Violet said...

LOL at 'Like all modern parents, our #1 worry is finding someone to raise the baby we produced'.. the ironies of life! Lovely post, the Cub-Bub duo is just gorgeous. Wish you all a lot of happiness and luck.

Collection Of Stars said...

Lovely post! You sum it all up :)
Wishing Bub the same as you - a life full of health, zest for life and a sense of humour...

Swati said...

aww..what a post ..so so lovely !! I have been checking Abha's for a glimpse of baby and I missed yours :P

How are you guys doing ?

R's Mom said...

Hopped over here from Abha's so the late comment :) but never the less..what an awesome post to welcome the princess in your love..and I love the name Bub..you seriously need to think of a real name to match up with the blog name :):) congrats congrats and to many more such lovely posts!

Unknown said...

:) glad u posted a link to Abha's blog who had posted a link to urs!!!!
Such beautiful expression! I'm glad I didn't miss reading it altogether. God bless n be with u guys always. Much love.

memoir of a lifetime! said...

you have outdone abha for sure :) and I have never seen men acknowledge anything except themselves! :) you will be doting father to the new one...i know from your experience :) lots of love to all four of you :)

Ugich Konitari said...

Thanks for your comments on the blogpost ! Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, and a fabulously touching post.

I kind of surfed around some blogs and comments, and figured out you are Abha's husband . (I am probably Aji level, but have been reading about tghe baby shower and stuff. )....

My best wishes to your wonderful family !

Vidooshak said...

@Aji - very perceptive of you to detect who I am by just surfing. I am impressed at how easily you seem to use this technology, which has even people my age foxed!

Thanks for the best wishes. They mean a lot.

Dro said...

sorry to hear about your dad & congratulations on the continued journey of fatherhood! it's been months now. perhaps an update.....nicely put.