Chai Time Chitchat # 20

Pull your chair and please have this cup of Coffee of your choice. Mine is very very less sugar and STRONG with half milk- half water. I am about to vent out happy moments and really frustrating ones. Lets start with happy ones!..

My Kaka and Kaki from US of A, had sent me the most precious Baby shower gift which finally landed in my hands (literally from Mr.ISB's bag) after, oh so many months! I could not stop myself from trying them out at once and more than how smart this pair of earrings look, it reminds me of how much warmth I feel when I talk about them, talk to them and dream of spending time with them outside virtual world. Not to forget the personalized message on the card they sent with the gift - Needless to say, such thoughtful gifts keep me sane. Not many do it. I am a big time lover of such thoughtful gifts! Yeah, call me materialistic!

Daily, I search for products which can make my life easy but my frugal jobless self stops me most of the time- and the not so frugal but frustrated soul wants to try things out. A folding stroller (Front facing, travel friendly strollers with some non-ornamental cost is a rare breed!), Formula-mixing bottles (because, believe me- when you are in a car with a baby in your arms - one needs three people to finally feed your baby some milk!), a white noise machine (more than me, it is me who get to sleep!) , a dual breast pump (which is not going to be bought anyways because I have realized my body is not supporting further ), A traditional comfortable Kurta for Abby as festivals are approaching, a device which we can carry with us and can rock Abby to sleep so that I can live my life for two hours every evening in Mumbai. Ah, I am telling you- hardly anything is going to get converted into an order online from the cart! Hahaha.

Pinterest and Nursery as well as living hall ideas- both are my new obsession to divert my mind from feeling the fatigue of managing a new born. I actually day dream a lot now a days even when I am more than nervous this time- Settling down with a baby, finding a good job, starting up something on my own (?) ah, and more than that saying 'BYE' to parents and travelling to Mumbai without Abby creating ruckus. God Bless Us.

I have been neglecting my fitness so far, however I now try to walk for minimum fifteen minutes a day. Let me tell you, even when I trust my mother completely (more than me) for managing Abby, it is so so difficult to leave home for the walk. So difficult. I sometimes feel, I am going to die like this. Not exaggerating but I hardly see a hope, even when I am all excited to enjoy coming months socializing in Mumbai.

I'm also very concerned about the habit of a desi 'Ghodiyu' or a rocker, Abby has cultivated. No, this instrument gives me a lot of peace of mind! (Yeah, it is actually a 'Little' bit peace of mind but that is a 'Lot' too!) However, I shudder to think what if this constraint will put me in a cage? Days together at home is nothing but SAD to even think about.

What are you guys upto? Do you think I sound like a person from another world???

Abby Notes #3

It seems like a long time I have been posting updates about Abby. Ah, ironically now only around 25 days left for me to enjoy this phase in Ahmebad. Yes, we are going (another) home in Mumbai- Back to Pavilion? Ah no, it feels like I am getting married again with all the 'settle-down-at-new-place' anxieties with an added responsibility - which is HUGE- of tiny Abby!

Let me update you guys before I rant about how nervous I am about everything in life and I have many times reached to a point where I had to cry A LOT in the washroom- and had thought of of leaving every one and live in a forest in Himalayas- yeah that specific but I again digressed, let me go back to Abby.

My dad had gone to Turkey around the same time Mr.ISB was at home. I was under the impression that Abby is again going to be a stranger in behavior but God Bless my Dad's whistling and singing skills, they had started their singing sessions again on the day he was back. Ah, yes I used 'had' because Abby is going through a serious growth spurt I assume.  Dad gets to see him either cranky or already asleep by the time he is back home from office. And... I am hardly getting fifteen minutes to myself by the time it is 10 pm. I rush to have my coffee, to take bath, to take my meals and I literally browse Internet for 'Baby Stuff' to keep myself - ah, 'Myself when he naps exactly for twenty minutes or chat with friends. (Read: Rant) Then he pees many times/poops, there is a change of diaper, he plays for fifteen minutes, realizes he could have slept off so throws tantrums which brings him to the cradle and these two Panda Eyes females- yours truly and my mom- either of us rocks him to sleep. Cycles repeats, Entropy in my mind increases. (Ah, Abby's forced Geeky Mom!)

My brother has some special connection with Abby. Both actually watched Formula One Racing together - and what I liked about these two incidents, is - ah, I could have my cup of coffee which did not go cold! Hhahahaha. I suspect the Formula One Lover Mama and the Top Formula Feb baby are ganging up against me in future to not to let me watch Forensic Discovery Channel! (Ah, we are weirdos!)

We have started traditional 'Malish' after Doctor's green signal, obviously with a strict No-No to weird practices like putting oil in nose, squeezing nipples (Oh yesss!) , hanging them upside down etc. Ah, and Abby? On the first day he did not enjoy one bit. He yelled and cried and cried and cried. On the second day, he was sort of okayish with massage part but as usual hated taking bath. We are contemplating -not continuing. We are giving Abby five more sessions to get habitual or else Abby's Momma going to make use of this massage time as the Bonding time! :)

I make Abby wear mostly new dresses we have got as gifts every day. Most of them are comfortable, however my eldest cousin P has sent some cutest Onesies which I feel like making him wear everyay- and ah...Photography blocks. I can not get over them and shoot so so so many photos of Abby and send them to all grand parents!

We now go out with Abby every other evening and while mostly he behaves (Read: Sleeps), he hates an old stroller we have. We are trying to figure out what would work for him!

Week 8th was a week of plenty of social smiles for Abby. I hope I am not jinxing it but he smiles at me so many times that I just cancel the plan of going to the forest, every single time. hahhahaha. Cheesy Mommy, I am!

Yesterday, amidst Abby's tiring daily schedule I dressed him up in a traditional Kurta Chudidar sent to him by my MIL and a tricolor pin of my Dad on it. I had to make his first Rakshabandhan and Independence day special! By the way, Abby got three Rakhis...
.... and obviously he showed his tongue out while my mom tied them on his wrist while asking for a gift.No Kidding!

:-)

Chai Time Chitchat #19

From 18th post to 19th post of this series, in these three months, your truly has become a hyper I-want-to-do-everything-female to a confused-anxious-Momma. However, unlike Abby series, I am going to continue Chai Time Chitchat with everything non-baby-stuff of my life. Atleast hope so! Because, I want to avoid the discussion of Postpartum Blues thanks to Breast feeding issues - a very wise soul had told me that Happy Mother=Happy Baby and Baby is a part of you, not YOU. So, on that note - I want to continue sipping hot coffee (yeah, for a change), pull a chair for you too and chit chat.

-I need good clothes. I am not kidding. I am yet to shed those 6 kgs left from 9 kgs I had gained during my pregnancy. Hence old clothes are tight for my comfort and maternity clothes look like tents! However, after a lot of efforts - I went on online spree and after a week could process some orders. Only to get three pair of decent Kurtas for myself. Just to realize, I still look pathetic and under confident. I have finally cut my hair short and waiting to really get time and guts to go and shop some smart clothes.

-Lipsticks. I am finally using them. Pregnancy is over and so is the self imposed ban. Going out and dressing up gives more joy to me than eating chocolates now a days! Lipsticks anyway is the first prob which makes me look groomed enough.

-I have started going out for a walk in our colony which I am already loving. However, I need a push from someone to really do that every day. My Mumma and Mr.ISB (He is on Paternity Leave here, in Ahmedabad) can really inspire me to not to miss it.

- I am training myself to manage Abby single-handedly. Which is nearly impossible- but if I aim for 100% independence, I would manage difficult situations like absence of maids, care takers etc in a much better fashion.

-I am very very and very excited as well as full of ideas (not enough though) to set our bedroom once again. We are trying to figure out weather to buy a portable jhula (if we do not wean Abby off the habit) or should really invest in a baby cot. We also have a Palana/Hinchko/Sofa/Almost a cot designed by my dad, however it is meant to be in the hall. Coming to which I am doubly excited to design the decor of our side of hall which is right now empty.  I really want to set it up slowly before I resume office. Do you think I can do it?

-My free minutes before falling asleep in day time is to find functional yet good looking (and cheap) trolley to set up as a diaper and feeding station, as well as some storage boxes to store toys and other tiny baby stuff.

-Did I tell you I am already hatching plans of going out for a small domestic vacation as a family of three in December? or January? Before making any plans of a trip outside India next year. I REALLY REALLY REALLY need that VACATION.

- I can not wait enough to meet our Kaka and Kaki from US, in some months. If you are reading this, please please lets plan something? I so want to spend quality time with them and want them to really meet Abby. Abby needs to know how much his parents (Specially the mother) love and respect them.

-It is a matter of a month now, after which I will be in Mumbai. It is heart breaking to even think about leaving my parents'. After ten long years I have spent six months together with my family (and now I am floating in my comfort zone.) I am doubly attached to my mom dad and brother while they are 100 times attached to Abby.

-Talking about comfort zones, I am now unplugged from my life of Mumbai. I will be home with a baby all the time and this means everything is about to change. Apart from the same old challenges with the place I used to face. However taking stress is not going to work and so is adjusting for the sake of it. I hope I would find the right balance.

-I am in the process of really collecting shattered pieces of my lost identity and create one new. I have many doubts about myself. I have to rediscover that confidence and fun in my personality. For the sake of my happy baby and our little new family.

Abby Notes #2

-My In-laws (FIL, MIL and SIL) came to see Abby for two days and Abby had a gala time with every one pampering him. Abby received different gifts from all three of them and we suspect he has covered all his wardrobe essentials now with two pairs of shoes he has received.  MIL also bought a Kurta Pajama for him from Bhavnagar, her home town, hence even his festive wardrobe has started getting built!

-He has received his first pack of rattle toys from my Best Friends (SC, SK and R)! He has also received a pile of wooden toys from my Frock Buddy N, along with oh so many Onesies! His only eldest Masi and my Cousin P from US has sent oh so many clothes (again) new and hands me down of her cousin, Abby's only sister. Abby is already a rich guy.

-There was a patch of 4-5 days when he was very very very hungry. He would be fussy due to over consumption of feed (what to do when he wants 'more'!) and wont sleep much. I suspect that was the growth spurt.

-Some where around sixth week, after those difficult 4-5 days, Abby seemed to have discovered Tubelights (No pun intended), he kept on staring at them. We also realized he suddenly started smiling a lot. Specially in front of my Dad, when he is whistling, when he is in the lap of my Mumma, when his stomach is full. Funny thing is, once he starts smiling during feeding, he wont consume a drop of milk further. The weird thing  which worries me the most is his erratic feeding- less and more. However, demand feeding is what we are following- ignoring his gags, gas and not accepting feed after smiles!

-Abby does not sleep much after evenings which makes me very nervous as I am trying to get myself trained to manage him independently ( without any one), while I know after going to Mumbai every one would help. However, it is better to over prepare than to under prepare.  I am yet to be hands on because apart from nervous evenings, I still rush to my Mumma at odd hours of nights to get help.

-Abby's Daddy, Mr ISB is currently on second half of his paternity leave but it seems more like a vacation for me! He can pretty much do everything possible, obviously apart from Breast Feeding but even his presence is my comfort zone out of which I never want to go out. Thanks to Mr.ISB and my Mom- I am relaxed. I want to do all Non-Baby stuff so that I can rejuvenate myself and once Mr.ISB goes back- I can get into the training mode again.

-Abby is also addicted to massages done by my Mumma, it seems and this dear Dida of Abby leaves no stone unturned when it comes to managing his stuff. In addition to this, thanks to her perfect hygiene habits and organization (Read: OCD) I am sure I am getting atleast 50% of these habits and what worries me is, it takes a micro second for me to get cranky to see Abby's stuff in a mess. God Bless Mumbaikars!

-Abby has started visiting the balcony garden to get some sunlight and God forbid, get his day and night cycles correct. Or else, I am surely getting into a jetleg mode without traveling to US.

-Abby has started straightening his neck with a bit of control. For Week 7, it is a good milestone apart from his attempts to roll almost twice in four days. However, a complete roll is expected only once he gets the control of his neck muscles. As of now all grand parents are bragging about the somerset roll. *Rolling my eyes*

-It is fun to see Abby growing. Many of his new clothes which looked like tents on him in the first month, have started to fit really well. Ah, so well that I have started making him wear mostly new clothes every day so that he does proper justice to all the clothes received!

Right now we are waiting and watching, how our one week Family Vacation with Mr.ISB is going to be. Lets see what updates we get about it next week! :)