A Day in New Mom's Life When Aadya is Three Weeks Old

               This is just a new idea that came to my mind a few days ago (after reading a post by Colleen Oakley), to pen down how my days are going after you were born. A drastic change has come into this new mom's life and I want to see and compare how it gradually keeps changing here after. I had a million doubts about motherhood. Is looking after a baby as hard as everyone tells? (Yes) Won't a mother get time for herself at all? (No) I have heard that babies sleep a lot! Can't I be free when baby is sleeping? (No)

               I couldn't believe that this little creature who only eats, sleeps and poops can keep me this busy. This is a regular day picked up when you were three weeks old. Here goes the 24 hours of a random day :

• 6.00 AM : Day began with Aadya's hunger cry. (Or has the day already begun at 4 AM? Or 2 AM? Or 12 AM? Or did the day ever really end?) Anyway, 6 AM is a good time to consider the beginning. I get down from bed and walk like a zombie to switch on the light. Then I reach for Aadya and pick her up to feed. I am rocking back and front, not for the baby, but to keep myself awake. She is falling asleep every two minutes and I tickle her, lightly change the position constantly to wake her up.
• 6.44 AM : Done with the feeding and when I just kept her down, I hear an explosion from her diaper area! If  she was a rocket, she would have reached space! (This is normal according to my bible babycenter.com) And my mom comes to bedroom from kitchen smiling. I give her the baby for changing her diaper. I still feel weird to touch her poopy diaper, my mom is there to help me anyway and I take her for granted in this matter. I don't voluntarily change her diapers unless mom is not at home or in the bathroom. I wish she could do this work from India once she goes back!
• 6.52 AM : She is dozing off. I am dreaming of sleeping some more once the baby falls asleep. I thank God for sending my mom here for help. As far as she is here, I don't need to worry about cooking, cleaning and diaper changing! 
• 6.58 AM : Baby is asleep in my arms! I slowly get up holding my breath and tiptoe out of the room. 
• 7.01 AM : Aadya is awake and crying, I pick her up again. 
• 7.02 AM : Aadya and I play the fall-asleep-in-my-arms, attempt-to-put-her-down, wake-up-crying-immediately, I-pick-her-up-back-again game. She is winning every time!
• 8.00 AM : Dad is having his breakfast and leaving to office. Granny takes my place in the game. I go to put dad's lunch box in his bag and to say bye to him. I brush my teeth, take a few minutes in the bathroom. Meanwhile grandpa invites us to a video chat to see his grand daughter.
• 8.20 AM : I get back to the game, Aadya is hungry again, I feed her. My mom gets relieved from the game to have her breakfast. Video chat with grandpa is going on.
• 9.05 AM : Granny is back to the game, she changes the dirty diaper and I am off to have my breakfast.
• 9.20 AM : Done with breakfast and the video chat. I take over and I am totally in a mood to put the baby to sleep.
• 9.29 AM : Aadya is knocked out. I put her in bed (successfully). I crawl into bed next to her, fall asleep in seconds.
• 10.24 AM : Aadya cries. I open my heavy eyelids, sit up straight and pick her up to feed. 
• 10.44 AM : I give her to mom to change her diaper after half meal. Feeding continues as she dozes off and I wake her up. (Doctor has advised to do so since the baby's weight needed to be increased) 
• 11.01 AM : Feeding is done, Aadya is wide awake. Granny takes her to play. Though I want to sleep so bad, I can't stop staring at the happily playing baby and its granny. I look at those moving tiny arms and legs and melt for the 54th time in the past three weeks!
• 11.20 AM : Granny applies sedi hodi water on Aadya and massages and then lets it dry. I am free for some time. I take a shower. It's a long process now, since I got to sit in warm water for half an hour to heal my wounds before shower.
• 12.04 PM : Baby is getting tired and granny takes her for a bath. I stay with them, watching the little human in her little pink tub and helping granny.
• 12.22 PM : Aadya is all fresh with new diaper and wrapped in a cloth, sucking her free fingers. Universal symbol of hunger! I feed her.
• 1.04 PM : Done with feeding and baby is fast asleep. Totally content after a good bath to an exercised body and a full meal. 
• 1.08 PM : Granny and I have our lunch. 
• 1.22 PM : Granny doesn't let me sleep immediately. So I watch some music show with her for half an hour. 
• 1.54 PM : My eyes are closing, pain is not completely healed yet. I go to bed and fast asleep again in seconds. 
• 2.37 PM : Aadya is crying. Time to breast feed. 
• 3.18 PM : Diaper change.
• 3.20 PM : I walk around with Aadya showing her everything (That is ceiling fan; this is granny, her name is Vijayajji; you too have a name, Aadya; these are dad's shoes) 
• 3.35 PM : Baby's eyelids are heavy, she is fighting sleep and granny is trying to put her to sleep. When she is asleep granny keeps her down on bed.
• 3.38 PM : Aadya is crying. I take over and rock her. She is asleep again and I am lowering her to bed and she cries. 
• 4.00 PM : Aadya is asleep on bed!
• 4.42 PM : Baby is up, time to feed again.
• 5.25 PM : Diaper change. Dad might arrive soon, so not putting back to sleep. He will scoop her up as soon as he arrives. Now granny and I are playing.
• 5.41 PM : My husband Aravind is home. Granny goes to kitchen to give him snacks and juice. He picks the baby up and walks around as he munches his snacks.
• 5.54 PM : Aadya is falling asleep in dad's arms, dad holds the sleeping baby for some more time and puts her on bed.
• 5.56 PM : Baby is up crying. I rock her and put her to bed. 
• 6.07 PM : Aadya is asleep. I am now free, either I can go online or sit with family for a while or take a nap (what I want to do) or sit in warm water once again (what I need to do). I sit with granny and dad and we talk a little.
• 7.00 PM : I hear the hunger cry. 
• 7.42 PM : Diaper change. And Chooooo!! Miracle of Miracles! Baby is asleep on bed!
• 7.45 PM : I have not combed my hair yet. I sit in front of the laptop and check facebook. Fold a few clothes. Have dinner.
• 9.00 PM : My baby has an alarm system set in her! It's been exactly two hours and her stomach is empty. Babycenter.com says their stomach is of the size of a walnut, no wonder it gets empty so often!
• 9.38 PM : Diaper change. And there starts mommy's "jo jo laali naa haaduve..." (note to self : need to learn more lullabies soon)
• 10.13 PM : Baby is asleep and everyone at home sleeps.
• 11.27 PM : Aadya is crying. I pull my eyelids to open and feed her, change her diaper.
• 3.17 AM : We are still awake. I have fed her twice in between and changed her diapers. Don't want to wake others up. Granny already offered help twice, but that's ok, let her sleep.
• 3.20 AM : She has slept and I put her on bed.
• 3.24 AM : Aadya is up and crying, I'm too. I feed her.
• 4.00 AM : She is asleep. I crawl into bed and pass out even before pulling my blanket up.
• 6.00 AM : Aadya is up and a new day begins! I haven't fought and won a world war, but certainly in the last 24 hours, I have kept my little bundle of joy alive and helped her get a day older! And hey, today I will make time to comb my hair for sure!

21 November 2012 - My Little Golu Molu

               Yesterday you had your 2 months' vaccination and for sure it was a bad day for you, because you got 3 injections and it was the first pain you ever felt! You cried a lot and slept off after some time, and at home whenever you woke up from sleep, you kept crying and you were finding it difficult even to fall asleep. It really hurt me when you looked at me helplessly with so much pain and even I couldn't do anything to make you feel better, soothing words or rocking you in my arms were of no use! But anyway, you got better by night and this morning I could say that you felt super fine, because you woke up at 3.45 in the morning and started cooing and screaming and smiling! None of us could sleep after you woke us all up. Your granny and I were enjoying your cooing and your joy was infectious! And your dad took out his laptop and started working. When we were little tired, it was his turn to play with you. And of course, he too enjoys playing with you. Your weight is now 13 pounds, height is 23 inches.

               Your looks are noticeably changing everyday and every time your Chaithra atthe doubts if you are the same baby she saw the previous week! You are growing chubbier and cuter day by day and learning new things. Your dad tries to experiment a lot of things with you. If he walks around you, you turn your head and follow him with your eyes. If he disappears from your view, you keep staring at the place where he went. Now you know to shout and to pep talk. You like sleeping on your dad's broad shoulders, that is quite spacious for you. Sometimes when you are irritated, I try to console you by carrying you and patting your back and you continue being irritated. When your dad carries you, you immediately stop crying and enjoy the view from his height!

               We went for a walk for the first time on October 22nd, you cried a lot and we went again on 24th for the second time and this time you enjoyed watching the sky, trees and breeze. On October 23rd, I heard you cooing for the first time. Your voice is too melodious when you say "aah", "hmmmm" or "eeh". You went to Kroger for shopping on October 26th for the first time. On October 27th, you went to another house, and it was Anvi akka's house. On October 30th, your mommy had her doctor's visit and amma's doctor looked at you and said "you've become so big"! You stared at TV on October 29th for a long time. And on October 31st, you said, "duva", "aguva" and "guve"!

               You have attended a Havyak get together in Sugar Land at Suprabha atthe's house and everyone enjoyed holding you. I was proud of you when people said "she is adorable and she does not cry much!" The day we went to Anu atthe's house, at night you vomited a lot after the journey and it happened for the first time. We went to San Antonio and Austin last week end (On 17th and 18th November) and that was the first time you stayed out overnight! Your dad, mom and granny - all of us were happy and relieved that you enjoyed the trip and let us enjoy it too. That was 7 hours' longest car journey you had in your life so far and you were fine!  

               Your skin has all peeled off and now you have a brand new skin! You keep getting newborn rashes and they go on their own after a few days. But they have not affected the smoothness of your skin nor the shine. Your granny had brought many cute little clothes for you and I am sad that I can't use them on you after just few more weeks. Some of them are already small for you and you are growing! Now a days you smile much more compared to last weeks and you do "talk" to us, but unfortunately we have forgotten that language in time immemorial!

02 October 2012 - You are Growing!

               You are growing right in front of my eyes and I can't believe it! Everyday you look so different compared to the previous day. And it is amazing to see how your face is changing. You looked like your 'sodara atthe' day before yesterday, you looked like your dad yesterday and today you look like your 'sodara mava'! Somebody commented on Facebook that you look like your 'ajjana mane ajji' 3 days ago! But so far, hardly anyone has told me that you look like me! That makes me little sad, everyone wants you to be like them!

               You have already developed your own ways of communication. You turn completely red before you start crying and that works as a good indicator! You make your nostrils look big when you are peeing! You put your fingers in mouth when you are hungry and you touch either your ears or your eyes when you are sleepy! We enjoy seeing you wake up from sleep, the first reason is because you start smiling only when you are falling asleep and when you are waking up from sleep. The second reason why we enjoy it is because you show so many different expressions, make so many funny noises and the process of waking up takes almost half an hour. It is entertaining! Once you completely open your eyes, the first thing you want is to have your food! You even cry with your eyes closed until the tears fall off and once you open your eyes, you realize that people are there around you and you start staring at everyone and forget your cry! 

               You need to burp every time after you drink milk and it took this long for me to get the knack of making you burp! I get hundreds of doubts about your growth, your food, your clothing, your sleep, your bath, your health. Your granny tries to clear all these doubts, but I don't get satisfied and I search everything in internet and that obviously makes your granny angry! 

               You like your sun bath in the mornings and I hope you get enough vitamin D. It's fun to watch you sleep and I can spend hours watching you. I can say that you get sound sleep, in fact, with a lot of funny sounds you make in sleep! I really can't find out if the sounds come from your mouth or nose or throat! You have already started asking for attention, you love when we hold you in our arms. In the evenings, you don't sleep unless we hold you and rock and the minute we keep you down on the bed, you wake up and start crying! The only time it makes me happy when you cry is, when I go to the bathroom and you cry for mommy! Yesterday morning, as soon as you woke up, you smiled at your dad and I was jealous! 

               On 27th September, I left you for the first time with your granny and went to Kroger with your dad. But I was missing you a lot for that one hour and dad was purposely asking me whether I wanted to eat at Taco Bell which I had never said 'no' till then! But that day for the first time I couldn't stand the thought of staying away from you for some more time and your dad had a good time laughing at your 'changed mommy'! 

               You watched rain for the first time on 28th September, though I don't think you realized what it was. You have been finding it difficult to fall asleep in the evenings and you cry for a few hours. Whenever you are angry you swing your arms rapidly. This makes your granny laugh and I am sure you will get more angry once you start realizing it! When granny cooks and the aroma of seasoning (oggarane) spreads the house, you are the first one to start coughing now!

               Today we had another visit to the Pediatrician's Office  and I was too happy to know that your weight has crossed 7 pounds! You had to give your blood sample today for 2 week screening and these 20 tests need to be done according to the Texas law. Your blood spots will be preserved for 25 years with them.  

20 September 2012 - First Pediatrician Visit

               Your Pediatrician is Dr. Elizabeth Fowler and your first visit was on the 18th. You were healthy, but we were quite worried when we got to know that you have lost 11% of your birth weight! Usually babies lose up to 8% of their birth weight in the first week. You are only 3 days old and already lost 11%! Doctor even suspected you having Jaundice and sent us to the hospital for your blood test. Your dad and I were with you when they pricked your little foot and squeezed it so many times to get some blood. You were crying in high pitch and with every squeeze, your dad and my hearts were breaking into pieces! And when we got the test results we were relieved that you are fine.

               Today there was another pediatrician visit and the doctor was amazed to see that you have put on quite a lot of weight in two days! You crossed your birth weight too and now you are 6 pounds! Your birth weight was 5 pounds and 15 oz. We were even more happy to know that! After coming home from the hospital, you didn't cry as much as you cried in the hospital and you were comparatively much more calm and content! So you are getting adjusted with the world quite well. This doesn't mean that you never cry, because you do! 

               You had some more visitors like Madhavan uncle, Rubashree Aunty, Shireesh uncle, Purushottam uncle, Krishna uncle. They brought you clothes and toys. But you are not big enough yet to enjoy the gift!

               I have not yet started the work of changing your diapers. Your granny does it for you and my work is to feed you and put you to sleep! Your dad looks really happy with your presence, he tries to play with you and feels proud when you stare at him or when you fold your tiny fingers around his big finger! He lies down next to you staring at you for hours and really enjoys his quality time with you. He took off from office for 3 days and he is back to work since Wednesday. I am sure he misses you.
               Your dad has told me to give you sun bath everyday for a few minutes and you like it. Your granny gives you sponge bath everyday since 18th September and if the water is warm enough, you don't cry.
               It is nice to see you smile often, you never smile at any one of us. You smile only in sleep and especially when you are falling asleep or when you are waking up from sleep. The minute you widely open your eyes and see us, the smile disappears! But you smile or not, I just can't stop looking at you. You are my prettiest baby on earth and you have the cutest smile I have ever seen!!!

17 September 2012 - Special Journey with our Special Person!

               You are already 2 days old! Yesterday you had your first visitors - Chaithra atthe, Ashwin mava and Anvi akka. They came with a "Congrats" balloon and Anvi akka came with a lot of questions! Once she saw you and after she was quite satisfied, she said you can go back to Uma atthe's stomach now if you wish! I am sure she has a lot of love to give her new little friend and she seems ready to share her toys with you once you grow up! Anvi wanted to touch you, kiss you, hold you and you were busy crying and staring at her!

              Everyday and every night we were given different nurses and they were all good, friendly and caring. They called you little pumpkin and cutie peanut! You had your trips to the nursery for various check ups every now and then and once for vitamin-k injection. But amazingly every time you came to our room from the nursery, you seemed satisfied and happily sleeping wrapped in cozy blanket! But whenever I tried consoling you, your cries seemed to have no end! You cried through out the night and when all my efforts to keep you calm went in vein, even I joined you in crying! Your granny couldn't console you either! By this morning, we all were tired.

               Methodist Willow brook Hospital is where you were born and our room number was 2324. Hospital staff had tied a number tag on your hand, foot and on your dad's hand and one on my hand for all these three days. Every time they took you to the nursery and brought you back, we had to check if that nurse has a pink badge and it was nurse's work to check the number tags on our hands and see if it matches, before handing you over to us! Only the people with those tags could go to the nursery. And there was a tag on your umbilical cord which was for your safety and in case if you were taken out of the hospital boundary, alarm would ring! So you were totally secure in the hospital. Your ear test was done in the hospital and the certificate was given to us. Your mom's food was provided from the hospital and I just had to call from the phone next to me and order whatever I want from the menu given. Food was good, care and facilities in the hospital were excellent! 

              We could video chat with your grand parents today both to Bekur and Jogibettu and they were very eager to see their new grand daughter. Your Divya atthe also came online and your cousins were happy to see their little atthige. Your sodara mava and atthe were the only people missing to see you since they are in a trip and they were disappointed that they couldn't see the new little one! I am sure, your pijji is also waiting in Bangalore to see her chiLLi.
               Finally we were discharged today at 12.25 pm. Hospital provided us a gift bag with 2 shirts for you, a hat for you, a pair of mittens, 4 blankets, 4 big towels, 8 wash clothes, many formula bottles for you, a pacifier, empty bottles, water can, a pack of diapers, a pack of wipes, bulb syringe for your nose, 2 gowns for your mom, sitz bath tub, ointments, creams, pads, sprays and medicines for your mom, 3 waterproof sheets, a bowl, shampoo, liquid soap, and some more items. You and I were taken to the car in a wheel chair. You were dressed in colour clothes for the first time and made to sit in the car seat. That was the very first journey of your life from the hospital to home. You didn't cry during the travel and you seemed to enjoy the journey home! Your dad carried you inside our home for the first time and you were fast asleep! So here it begins - your normal life and our special life with you!

                                                                 Ready to go Home

15 September 2012 - Little Angel on Earth!!!

               Entire last night went on with severe contractions. But when your dad suggested that we must go to the hospital now, I was hesitating because of the last two experiences. But when the pain was coming every two to three minutes and when it was unbearable, we had to go to the hospital again. All the three of us were hoping to see you today. We reached hospital at 11 am. For the third time we filled the hospital admission form. I was worried when the nurse told us that I was still only 2 cm dilated. I thought about the return trip once again to home with disappointed face! But after measuring the pain, they finally told us to stay back! That was a happy news. :) Since it was a week end, my regular doctor Dr. Kristie Moss was not available. Hospital arranged Dr. Norton for my delivery. 

             We were then taken to our private delivery room. Two bottles of liquid with medicine and drips were hung. My blood pressure, contraction pain and your heart beat were constantly showing on the monitor. I was given a personal nurse, Ms. Jenny, who made me comfortable and helped me fill all the required forms. Your dad and Granny were sitting in the same room consoling me. But after a few hours, I couldn't bear the pain any more. I was already crying every time I got contractions. Pain was too severe, with every contractions, I thought I was dying! I asked for an epidural shot. After the specialist came and gave me an epidural shot on the spinal cord, the pain finally reduced! That was when even your dad and granny could finally smile at me! 

               I was told to inform the nurse when I felt the urge to push you out. My water bag was broken forcefully at 1.10 pm. I was not allowed to have my lunch nor to drink even water. My bladder was emptied and when I finally felt the urge to push, I told the nurse who was really sweet and caring. She immediately informed the doctor, and along with the doctor few more nurses came to the room. They changed my bed to the delivery bed within no time, without making me get up from the bed. I was told what to do when I get my next contraction and now I could feel the contraction pain to some extent. Epidural didn't make me numb, but only reduced the pain. But that was more than sufficient. Finally it was time for me to push 3 times with every contractions. After 4-5 contractions and pushes, I heard you cry at exactly 5.06 pm!! Your dad and granny were in the same room. With your first cry, I saw your dad's face and he was in extreme joy and relief! I saw your granny's face, and she was busy crying along with you! The doctor kept you on my chest even before cutting the umbilical chord. And then you were taken to the baby table where you were cleaned, measured and then weighed. After wrapping you tight with a cloth, they gave you in your father's hands. He looked so different when he carried you for the first time, he held you for some time and then gave you in my hands! Mean while, I was cleaned too. Until you were born, all the attention was on me and as soon as your first cry was heard, both your dad and granny focused their 100% attention on the new creature! Then it was your granny's turn to hold you, and she was still in tears! (which now she says, it was because she was promoted to an older generation!) It took some time for all of us to settle down!

                                                                     The First Cry
             
     
               You are such a cute tiny creature! And in just two hours after you were born, you scratched your face with your long nails and there were marks on your cheeks already! Your granny was already trying to analyze whether you look like your dad or mom. Nurses were happy to see that you already have eye lashes. When the nurse took your foot prints for the birth certificate, your dad took a print for my baby scrap book too! My first thought when I saw you was that you are too small! And much later your dad told me what was his first thought seeing you. He was worried seeing your hair which looked as though stuck to your head in patches! That was because you had just come out from those 9 months' stay in water. But your dad had thought that's how your hair would look forever and only after you were bathed and given to us, he realized that you have got such a cute, smooth, straight hair! Also, your head looked so long, because your bones in head overlapped while you were passing through the birth canal. I hope your head won't look elongated forever! You were weighing 2 kg and 705 grams. Your entire body length was 19.5 inches. Once everything was done, you were taken to the nursery for detailed check up and your dad and granny went to have dinner. I was given a menu card to order whatever I want. Your dad thought I would order some healthy food, gave me the menu and went out. When they returned after their dinner at home, your dad was shocked to see me happily eating pizza!! 

             When I touch my stomach now, it feels so empty and I don't feel as though I am touching my own tummy, it just feels like touching an aired out balloon! Your birth announcement was made to family and friends. All were really happy to hear the sweet news. Later at 7.45 pm, we were given a private room and I was given a different nurse who was on night shift. You were brought to the room directly from the nursery and that was when my breast feeding lessons started. You were hungry, I was new to breast feeding and you were new to the world itself! I didn't know to feed you and you didn't know to drink, so you were crying. Only one person was allowed to stay at the hospital. So your dad stayed till 1 am in the hospital and then went home. He definitely didn't want to leave you and go, but had no other option! So that was the first night you were not in my tummy any more, but you were in my arms! I didn't sleep the whole night, neither did your granny, but it was such a beautiful feeling, can not be expressed in words! Felt as though even I have come to a new world altogether!!

14 Sept 2012 - Due Date and No News!

               So, today is The Most Awaited Day! But still you are inside happily playing and kicking! I have been getting my labour pain since last night. Kept count of it through out the night. It was coming and going every now and then, but not in exact intervals. Since the pain was more, I made your dad take leave from office and we went to hospital with all my luggage and hospital bag. But after they kept me for observation monitoring the pain for half an hour, they sent us back home saying that, I am getting contractions and not the true labour pain. So we came home again with all the bags. Your dad stayed at home, rest of the day consoling and supporting me.

                                                         All set ready to go to the hospital


               That was not over yet! I had pain coming and going for the rest of the day and by the end of the day, my pain became even more serious. It was coming in exact 5 minutes intervals and the pain was quite intense. So we decided to go to the hospital once again with my baggage. Went to the hospital at 8.30 pm and I was kept for pain monitoring once again. Pain was coming every 4 to 5 minutes and according to them the pain was not intense enough and I was still dilated only 1 cm! My nurse sent us for a one hour walk in the hospital lobby. I was sent with the hospital gown and many wires hanging on me like a robot! So your dad and granny in normal clothing were accompanying the "walking robot" in the hospital lobby! We walked for an hour, went back for the pain monitoring, stayed there till 11.30 pm and we were then sent back home saying that, it is only the early labour and not yet reached the stage of delivery! I don't want to mention how disappointed were we when we were coming back home once again with my luggage!

12 September 2012 - Get Out of Me!

               Finally I have been getting some contractions. I ate pizza yesterday and when I got pain after that, I thought pizza has pleased you and you have made up your mind to come out soon! I was hoping that yesterday's would be my last OB visit with the doctor, but once again I am disappointed when doctor told me I am still only 1 cm dilated and there is no progress since last week! Even more disappointing news is that I have my next OB appointment scheduled for next Monday. So I think doctor is indirectly telling me that, you are not planning to come out anytime soon!
               I am wondering where did all the oxygen on the earth go! I am running out of air to breathe! I have a doubt that your dad and granny are taking all of it and not letting me get any!

              You can never imagine how irritated am I right now! I am shouting at you to get out of me! You are quite heavy to carry in my belly. And your kicks right on my ribs are torturous! Of course I haven't stopped loving you, but pushing days waiting to see you in my hands! Every time I feel less movements from inside, that worries me even more! Your dad and granny say that you are moving less because you don't have enough space to play. Please show some pity on me and come out!!
               

5 September 2012 - Still not Ready to Come Out

               I have been visiting the doctor every week now. Had an appointment on 21 August and had another on 28 August. I was checked for signs of infection last week and there wasn't any. Your heartbeat was 144 per minute. Your mom weighs 134 pounds now!! So I have put on 30 pounds altogether in these 8 and half months! Your heartbeat on 28 August was 155 per minute and doctor said you might stay inside for some more days. I was disappointed to hear that, because I had been waiting to see you since more than 250 days!

               You kicks have been really stronger now. Though you are now upside down and not turning around, you still twist and kick in that little space you have. You make your grand father laugh when I tell him how you get irritated if I keep a book on you. I feel like asking you, what is your problem if I touch my stomach! You have been thinking that it is your private property and have been kicking me as per your wish! Hello!!!! It's my stomach! And it hurts! 

               I had another appointment today, went to the hospital hoping to hear that you might come out soon. I was neither disappointed nor happy, because doctor said you might come out any day from now and if you still plan to stay inside for some more days, I will have my next appointment next week! Your heart beat was 148 per minute. Your maternal uncle thinks that you are very lazy and you are happily sleeping inside. My patience level is going way too bad. Your dad and granny are getting to know my mood swings a lot. Even my students had never tested my patience so much!

               I have been getting dreams that you are finally in my arms and in the mornings when I wake up, I realize that you are still inside. Every part of my body aches and pains and there are many sub-categories in stomach ache too. But still I haven't experienced "the" labour pain, which I am desperately waiting for!

25 August 2012 - Surprise Baby Shower

               When I woke up this morning, I thought today would be just another Saturday. Day went on as a leisurely week end day, we didn't go out for shopping since it was already done last evening. I didn't force your dad to take us out, he too needs a day totally off once in a month or so. 

               We just cleaned the house as usual and in the afternoon your granny wanted to prepare Gulab Jamuns for us. I didn't know why she was adding more water to the batter and then to make the batter proper, she was adding some more powder and then again batter was too thick and some more water and some more powder and finally we prepared more than 60 Jamuns in it! Mom said we can give some to friends too. There were a few over ripe bananas and mom gave the idea of making Mangalore buns and we could skip that day's dinner. Your dad said that is fine and even buns prepared were a lot because there were many bananas, had to finish them somehow. 

               In the evening your dad got a phone call from somebody and after some time he asked me if we could go for a walk. We do go for walks sometimes and your granny didn't want to join us. We walked near the spa and sat there with our feet dipped in water. There was a nice breeze late in the evening and sat for half an hour. Since your dad has never taken me to spa earlier and he was not even willing to go home so soon, I was wondering what was wrong with him! After few minutes, he got a call again and told me one of his colleagues was calling. Since there was the noise of water falling, he got up and went away to talk on the phone. Then we returned home and there was a bi......g surprise waiting for me. 

               I noticed a few pairs of shoes near the door and immediately heard the "SURPRISE!!!" cry from inside the house. Our living room was all decorated with pink balloons and baby shower board and hangings saying it's a girl! I could find Chaitrakka (by the time you read this blog you might be calling her Chaitra atte or Chaitra doddamma), Ashwin and Anvi, Prasanna and Sunita aunty, Dhaval, Manali aunty and Rishab, your dad's colleagues Purushottam and Priya, Shireesh and Tejaswini aunty and of course your granny dressed in saree. (When we went for for walk, she was in Choodidar). I turned towards the table and it was filled with fooood! Oats - Rava Idli, Lemon Rice, Mangalore Buns, Gulab Jamuns, Potato Chips, Coke, Watermelon pieces, paper plates, bowls, glasses, napkins and there was a big chocolate cake with a cute pink baby bassinet in it and Congratulations written on it. (I am writing this blog 4 days after the baby shower and still somehow could't cut the bassinet from the cake and eat it! It's just too cute to cut). We then had a little chitchatting, I was sent inside to wear saree and then your granny and Chaitrakka took 'aarati' for your dad and me. They put kumkum on our foreheads and dinner followed that. Then came the cake cutting part followed by a lot of talk and play with Anvi. Everyone enjoyed playing with your Anvi akka. Looking at her, I was even eager to see you at her age. 

               So that was my Surprise Baby Shower. Your dad and Granny had done a good acting to keep it a secret from me! Chaitrakka and Ashwin had taken a lot of trouble arranging it. After dinner when you started dancing inside me, I knew for sure that you thoroughly enjoyed your party!

16 August 2012 - Granny has arrived

               I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday.

               Your grand mother has come from India 2 days ago to America to welcome you! She and your dad were with me when I went to the hospital yesterday. Your heart beat is 150 per minute. Your granny didn't realize it at first that she was hearing your heartbeat. But later when she got to know that, there was a broad smile on her face!

               Your granny has brought a lot of eatables for you and I make it reach you. America is new to her and she still has not come out of jet lag. Her supplies from India for her grand daughter includes frocks, towels, bed sheets, baby blankets, pillow for you, clothes, bangles, 'kaadige', powder dabba, puff, socks, frilled under wears and so on... Some 'arishtas', 'lehas' and ayurvedic medicines for me to take and once again that is for your growth. She also has brought colour papers, gift wraps, paints, colour threads and feathers for me to make a baby scrap book. So indirectly even that is for you along with all the food items she has brought! She is my mom and not even a single item exclusively for me! How can I not be jealous when all the attention I used to get is diverting from me to you?!

My Childhood Story Told by my Parents to me

               I was too small to remember this particular incident, so this story was told to me by my parents. It happened long ago when I was 2 years old or so. My parents, Brother and I had gone to a circus show in Mangalore. In the row, towards my right side, my family was sitting and towards my left, the was a lady wearing her 'Burkha'. Her face was also covered and I didn't realize that there is a human being in it until she started moving. That was when I got terrified, moved closer to my parents saying, "there is something black next to me and I think there is a creature in it, because it is moving!" The lady's husband understood why I was scared and with a smile he made his wife remove the cover from her face! 

Pictures

YOUR DAD'S 30th B'DAY GIFTS

AND 

Discovery on Agarbatti

               All of us have done a lot of discoveries during our childhood. Some of them might have lead us into trouble and some have taught us new things. At the end of it, these discoveries are the ones made us who we are today!

               This new discovery of mine was made way back in 1993 or 1994, when I was still in my 2nd or 3rd standard. My parents were not at home, I don't remember where my brother and grand mother were. I was wearing a skirt, which was bought for me to wear on my brother's "Upanayana" ceremony, and it was over long before then. I found an Agarbatti (Oodubatti) somewhere and had lit it and holding it. That was when I accidentally touched my skirt with it and was surprised to see the beautiful tiny hole it made on my skirt. I discovered that, it is very easy to make holes with agarabatti and they come exactly in round shape! Creative side of my brain worked then and I made hundreds of same sized round holes around my skirt. Had done it very neatly and beautifully in circles on my skirt and I was very happy with my new achievement. But the broad smile of achievement remained on my face only till my mother came home and found all the holes on my skirt! So I don't have to say what happened after that, but never did I try it on my clothes again!

Brother's Essay on Mosquito

               I have already mentioned in my previous post about an essay my brother wrote on mosquito. If you haven't read the mention of it in my previous blog post, here is a little introduction about it. 

               When I was 9 - 10 years old, I was asked to write an essay on a Kannada proverb, "Kai Kesaraadare Baayi Mosaru" (Implied Meaning : Hard work pays you rich dividends. Literal Meaning : When your hands get dirty (while working) your mouth will be filled with food). That had to be written on my neatly covered and maintained essay book. I started with the introduction and wrote "if we sit at home with our hands folded and still, ..." and that was when my mother called me to the kitchen. My brother was completing his home work in the same room when I left from there. After some time when I came back, this is what I read in my essay book, under the heading "Kai Kesaraadare Baayi Mosaru" :

               "If we sit at home with our hands folded and still, (it was my hand writing till here) mosquito might come and bite our hand. Then we will have to forcefully open the folded hand and move it. But by the time we move it or shake, the mosquito might fly away. That might make us very sad. So there can be another method to keep our hands. You need to keep them on your waist, so that when a mosquito bites one hand, you can move the other hand slowly from your waist and hit on the mosquito. And that is when the mosquito gets killed successfully and that might make you extremely happy! So I can conclude that keeping hands on your waist is always better than folding them. Moral : Kattida kai mahaa maari, sontada melina kai santhoshakke daari (Folded hands are very problematic and hands on the waist are the way to happiness)!

My Treasure Box

               Everyone has his or her own unique childhood memories, I consider them as personal treasures. Some memories might have brought tears in our little eyes, but once we grow up they make us smile and are priceless. As many people, even I have a treasure box of my own, which looks like a garbage box to my brother, mother and father. What my family calls with various names like "Uma's bhandaara", "Uma's kasada raashi", "Uma's santhe", "Uma's haragana" or "Uma's kaatu kattale", it has a different name is my dictionary and that is "Uma's Treasure Box"! I am planning to dedicate this post in my blog exclusively for this little box of mine! Though my family has been laughing about my treasure box ever since I was five years old, I have not let them throw it away till today. When I got married and went to my husband's house with my belongings, it had become a new subject for my brother to laugh at saying, "why don't you take your 'bhandaara' with you?" But all those memories belong to the place where I was born and brought up, it will remain there forever and I don't let anyone touch them even now.

               Anyway, that was an introduction to my little priceless treasure. Let me now give you an insight to my box. First of all, I am very proud of the hundreds of colorful feathers in it. I collected them during my school days and that reminds me of the shouting I used to get each and every day from dad for roaming in the forest on the way home from school. That was the reason I used to reach one and half hour after my brother's arrival at home though we used to leave our school at the same time. But I am still very proud of those colourful original feathers in my box ranging from 2 cm to 25 cm. It still makes me smile when I remember my dad's unsuccessful attempts to stop this habit of mine by saying "birds don't take bath everyday".

               The next treasures in the box are a few nests I collected after the birds flew from them. I had to hide them near the jeep shed since it was not allowed inside the house. I did try to hang them on the trees and make the birds re use them. But none of the birds accepted them.

               Then there are a few of our childhood drawings. These are the drawing of my cousins, my brother and my own. Most of them are cartoons and our childhood hero characters from our story books. They are not drawn on a neat drawing sheet, but drawn on regular paper pieces and I get to see scribbles behind them. I get to see the way how my and my brother's signature changed in the course of time!

               Also there are a few poems I had composed and a few pages of my childhood diary. Poems are absolutely in free verse, no rhyming words in it, nor any subject. And sometimes, the subject has nothing to with the poem. So I can now say that those are modern poems and it is left to the reader to find meaning in it! These poems make even my parents smile now.

               If you still keep opening my treasure box, you can find a few favourite chocolate wraps, neatly pressed under a book. I had preserved some to show my dad after eating some particular chocolates, so that dad could get the same chocolate next time. We were not allowed to eat chocolates without wrap, so some were preserved to prove that the chocolates I ate did have wrap and are of 'campco' company!

               Next comes a few old stamps, but some of them were not postage stamps. I had not realized it then. So it was collected and preserved. I also have a huge collection of greeting cards we got.

               When I became a little older, I started collecting pictures of a favourite writer of mine. Though I haven't read many of his books, I have a great respect for Dr. Shivarama Karanth and collection of his pictures was the outcome of it. 

               I also have a few torn pages of stupid essay my brother wrote on my essay book in my absence to get me in trouble by the teacher. That reminds me of the time he wrote it. I had a homework of completing my kannada essay on Kannada proverbs and had started with the first line of introduction. That was when my mom called me to the kitchen for some work. My brother was sitting in the same room and when I returned from kitchen, the essay was complete. And the entire essay was written about a mosquito that bit him! Anyone can imagine the huge fight we had that day, and the complaint went to parents and the deserved person got punished too. But today when I read that angrily torn page of my essay book, it brings a huge smile on my face! 

                You can also find peacock feathers kept safely under the pages along with a few pieces of paper for the feathers to eat and grow. Because that was what my friends and I believed back then, that if we feed peacock feathers with paper pieces, they don't just grow in size, but also in numbers! Since I didn't keep an exact count of how many feathers were there when I kept them in my book, I can't say it if the number of feathers has increased. 

               So the list of items in my treasure box goes on from a stick I hid (so that nobody would find it to hit me) to dry flowers (which I had found beautiful) from various years. I had considered all these items as a treasure, I am considering it so even now and I will call it treasure in the future too. Because my childhood is exclusively mine and I don't want to forget these tiny funny details of it ever! 

2 August 2012 - Hospital Tour, Regular Visit, Hiccups and New Clothes

Hospital Tour on 31 July 2012 (Methodist Willow-brook Hospital) :

               On 31st July, we had a tour to the Methodist Willow-brook Hospital where you will be born in another 5-6 weeks. Our appointment was at 7 pm and it was really nice to "fit in the group" of big belly women! I was not the odd one out for once, all the other 15 women had equally big stomach as mine. Some had even bigger ones! And your dad was one among the other 15 future fathers. It was exciting to see the labor room, after delivery rooms and newborn nursery where we could even see the little ones. All the guidance and instructions were given to us, made us really get the mood of welcoming you and made us eager to see you. 

Regular Visit on 1 August 2012 (Your head has come to position) : 

               

               We had our regular hospital visit (Northwest Women Center) today and I was expecting just the usual check up. But after testing, doctor had a good news for us, that you are already in upside down position! So you are no longer going to keep turning in my womb. You have already come to the birthing position and settled there. No wonder I have been feeling a little bump on the upper side of my belly. It is the size of peeled coconut and so far I thought it is your head. But now I know what it is! Whenever you trouble me, you made it easier for me to hit on your butt! Your heart beat is 150 per minute as always and my baby bump measures 33 cm. And your kicks are still wonderful and welcoming no matter how many times you woke me up early in the mornings.

Felt your hiccups today :

               It was a funny feeling when you started fluttering rhythmically inside my stomach. I kept wondering for a few minutes about your new kind of light kicks. But then I realized, since your legs were up, tickling below my naval can not be the kicks. Then I realized that you were hiccuping. I could feel your entire body shaking and the time gap between hiccups was very short. It was too cute, but after 10 - 15 minutes when it still continued, I could say that you were getting irritated. Your kicks began, you were restless and I didn't know what to do to calm you down. Gently patting on you didn't help, so I had to experiment. Drank water, ate a dosa, drank lime juice. Somehow slowly it stopped after some time. But I don't know if it stopped because I ate and drank or it just stopped naturally. But altogether it was a new, cute experience. When I checked in the internet, it was given that hiccups are very very normal for the babies in the womb. 

New Clothes for a New Baby :

               It was another nice thing for today to receive the courier of newborn clothes set! I couldn't stop staring and touching and holding those tiny little clothes with a broad smile on my face. I was lost imagining you in those little pants and hats till your dad came home from office! Then it was his turn to examine them. It was a set of  5 creepers, 3 gowns, 2 body suits, 4 pants, 3 hats and 4 pairs of mittens. We can use it till you are 6 months old and I can't wait to see you in these clothes!

10 July 2012 - "The" Baby Bump

               Yesterday I had an appointment with the doctor. Your heart beat was 140 per minute. Your dad and I  somehow never get bored of hearing your heart beat, every time it sounds cuter than the previous appointment. We have already registered in the Methodist hospital for your birth and going to find a pediatrician soon for you. Now my baby bump measures 30 centimeters, which looks quite big.

               Well, that reminds me of the drawbacks of having a big tummy, which I am facing right now. While I cook, accidentally sometimes my tummy touches the hot vessel. I realize it only when it burns! I can sleep only in two positions - either left or right. I am desperately waiting to sleep on my stomach! I can't see the floor or steps right under my feet, because you come in between! I forget to keep extra gap between table and chair, so when I sit for dinner, my tummy hits the table first! While taking bath, I can't bend and reach my feet to wash them! I can't stand and wear my pants, have problem lifting one leg and balancing my body, so I need to sit every time! While brushing my teeth, if I can't bend to the sink and the toothpaste from my mouth falls right on the baby bump instead of falling into the sink! If I am sitting on sofa, eating or playing games, I automatically keep my plate or laptop on my stomach as it works as a table for me now. And the plate gets kicked by the human being inside! I happily wear some top and feel terribly sad when it gets stuck near the tummy and doesn't come down even if I pull it! While washing vessels, all the water gets splashed only on the baby bump and at the end, my t-shirt gets wet in a round shape! I can't stand, walk or travel continuously for more than a few hours, since there are hundreds of new found aches of pregnancy! I have already got used to the habit of searching for a bathroom as soon as we enter a shop! I feel conscious when we are outside, lunch gets delayed a little and my stomach starts shaking in all the directions! So the list of what I had never thought before goes on.

               But your tickling kicks are amazing. And the way you respond to my voice and touch makes me forget all the discomfort. Even if you are fast asleep, when I touch, you sometimes wake up and give me a high five with your foot and I find it really cute. Your sleep-wake schedule is almost set now according to baby websites.

               Your granny had her visa interview today and she has passed it. She sounds happy, excited and she too is looking forward to see her first and brand new grand child as soon as you arrive! She is going to get a lot of things from India for you, but unfortunately you will be too small to enjoy them. Don't worry, your dad and I will enjoy the goodies on your behalf! :p

                

19 June 2012 - Your favourite song

               I had an appointment with the doctor yesterday and was happy to know that I am neither anemic or do I have diabetes. So that tells me that I can go on hogging sweets every time you ask me for it! Your heart beat is still quite fast i.e. 150 per minute which is normal. Your dad and I were happy to know that both you and I are absolutely healthy. I had never thought of my health so far in my life, but now since you are inside, I need to take care of myself too. I can see your dad already taking up the role as a dad and that too a very good one with a lot of sacrifices. Earlier your dad loved bananas. But now if there is only one banana left at home, he doesn't like bananas that day, and if there are three, his stomach will be full after eating only one! So I already see a caring dad in him. :)

             I was listening to music as usual today and I noticed that you react differently when I listen to 'barbie girl'. You seem to like that song very much! I can feel you dance from inside when I listen to it. This afternoon, after playing for sometime, you fell asleep and I was reading a book. Thought of listening to music and the first song went on peacefully. 'Barbie girl' started next and somebody woke up immediately and started jumping from nowhere! I wanted to test it again - changed the song and there were no movements. Played 'barbie girl' again and my entire tummy began to shake!

               Today I felt my stomach clenching a few times and then I realized that I have been feeling it since last few days, once or twice a day. My nurse in hospital had asked me yesterday if I feel contraction. I had said "no". But today I got to know that these are the contractions I am supposed to feel. So my stomach is already practicing and getting ready for labour!

05 June 2012 - Dad saw you kick

               Today is the first time your dad clearly watched you kick! He kept watching for a few minutes and I am sure that he was amazed to see it! Now he has no other option than believing that you have the capacity to shake my entire tummy. Earlier he thought either that I am exaggerating it or that I AM shaking it. But today he saw the tiny creature kicking me from inside. Though the kicks were only on the left side of my stomach, entire tummy was shaking. And you repeated the kicks several times. I saw your dad smiling to himself after that! :)

               I read in the internet that you are breathing the amniotic fluid regularly now, you swallow it and you get hiccups too! The only toy you have to play with is the umbilical chord. You can hold it and shake it as well. I feel you play inside after lunch and rotate on the same place. I talk a lot to you and you have that only way of responding. I hope you recognize my voice. 

               Tomorrow I have my diabetes test and a test to know if I am anemic. I hope you are getting all the nutrition you need. 

30 May 2012 - I want all the food in the world

               I am hungry 24/7.. It's just the opposite of how I used to feel in the first 4 months of my pregnancy. I hated eating then, I would have been the happiest if I had to skip a meal. But now, it's YOU who is making me eat a crazy amount of food! Don't you believe me? Then listen to my eating schedule. I have my first breakfast with 3 dosas at 8 in the morning and I am hungry again at 10.30! I eat my second breakfast of either fresh fruits or dry fruits and nuts with biscuits and milk. Then starts my first lunch at 12.30, second at 3 p.m, snacks time at 4.30. How can I not eat at 6 p.m. when your dad comes home hungry after a long day's work? I give him company though the bigger amount goes to my stomach. Then dinner at 8.15 and before going to bed, I eat again. Or else who wants to wake up at midnight and eat like I already did a few times?

               Let us talk about you now. I am used to the hard kicks I get these days. But the new thing is, where I get those kicks! You don't kick me at one place now, it keeps changing every one hour! If you can't stay still for more than an hour and if you keep turning round and round 3 months before you are even born, I wonder how much trouble will I have catching you once you are out and start running around the house! But I really enjoy the fact that you are quite active in there! The only trouble you give is, you like kicking on my bladder. When I am outside the house shopping, the first thing I will have to do now is, search for a bathroom and stay close to it!

               I had my doctor's appointment today, and I am not very excited anymore about the appointments because I know I don't get to see you here after until the last month. But your dad and I were happy today to hear your heart beat when the nurse placed the heart beat instrument on my tummy. It was 140 per minute - still super fast. Now in malls and shopping centers, everybody notices that I am pregnant. And I am proud to carry you.. :) You can hear even your dad's voice now and you listen to music. As I already said, you kick more in response when I keep my hand on you, but I can already see your respect for your dad because when he keeps his hand on you, you stop all the kicks! You are quite partial I say!

30 April 2012 - Got to know the gender!

               So finally, the curiosity has come to an end! 

I had an appointment today and I had not slept well last night. The past one week went terribly slow and I felt like taking the clock and turn its hands! It felt like a whole month and I was desperately waiting for today! Because I am going to know if you are my little angel or my little hero! I waited for your dad to come home from office and the appointment was at 4 p.m. I called him several times and told him to come early, got myself ready for hospital visit at 2 p.m. itself. 

               Your kicks these days are not really that soft, you literally shake my tummy at times when you are full after lunch or when your mom is relaxing! I do feel extremely nice about your hard kicks and I kept telling you since past few days to show all your kicking talents when the ultrasound is going on. So that I can even see you kick and even your dad! Because your dad is missing the kicks! 

               We were at hospital at 3.40 p.m and they called us to the ultrasound room only at 4.10! You can never imagine how slow the time passed, I was continuously talking to your dad for those 30 minutes out of excitement! And all these 30 minutes, even you were kicking me really hard and I kept reminding you through out to save your energy to kick when the ultrasound is being done! We finally got a chance to get in. But again you were not willing to tell us your gender so soon. The lady at ultrasound had to try shaking my tummy to make you change your position. You had slowed down the kicking speed, but she could not measure the length of your legs since you never kept them still even for a second! You weighed 11 ounces and made your parents proud! The ultrasound lady was trying hard to make you turn or spread your legs, you looked quite stubborn! She had to finally focus from under your butt and found out that you are a LITTLE BABY GIRL!!! Your dad and I looked at each others' face and both of us were unable to stop smiling! So there you are our tiny daughter!! We were really happy to know that and this time without me asking, your dad took me directly to Taco Bell from the hospital for a little treat! 

               Though I am very happy, I need to tell you how terrified you looked in ultrasound too! The previous few ultrasounds had shown us the cute little baby and you were getting chubbier every time and looked more and more like a cutie pie! Therefore I was expecting to see a even cuter baby this time. Doctor first focused on your spinal chord which was normal. Then your little legs and hands and little body - everything looked transparent this time. We could see the outline of your skin too! But when she focused on your face, I really had to struggle to get my heart beat back! You looked quite scary with the face of a skeleton! Two big holes in the place of your eyes! And your face looked separated from the rest of your body! The first thing I made sure from the doctor that you are normal. She said you are absolutely normal and as soon as we came home, I checked online for mid-pregnancy ultrasound pictures to check if all of them look like you. I was relieved when I noticed a few more skeleton faces! 

               It was exciting to tell everyone about your gender! And now I am waiting for my baby girl to grow soon and show your real cute face!

21 April 2012

Noticed colostrum. So I am happy to know that your food is ready, you just have to arrive!

18 April 2012 - More kicks and play

               12 days are over since I felt the real kick from you. Though I was worried in the beginning, now it is the fun time! I had felt you on Saturday and the next entire day I waited for you to kick me and you didn't. You kicked me again on Monday, and didn't kick for the next 2 days! I waited every minute on those few days to feel your movements and at the end of the day I was on verge of crying because you didn't kick me! Your dad even made fun of me saying he is willing to kick me if I need it that bad!! 

               But you are a sweet heart, because there after you haven't missed even a day without kicking me! I have noticed that you kick me when I am hungry, and I get to know then that my poor baby is also hungry inside. Sometimes when you kick, I keep my hand on my tummy and you kick even more. I can't understand if you are responding with love to my touch or getting irritated with the heavy burden of my hand! But I enjoy it anyway, because it makes me realize that you are really existing! All these while, I of course knew that I am pregnant and there is a life in me. But that had not got into my head so clearly and now I proudly feel that I am a mommy! After all, there you are reminding this fact to me quite often. 

               I can now clearly differentiate your kicks as well. Some of your kicks are genuine - like when you turn and change your sleeping position or when you are hungry or irritated! But there are times I know for sure, you kick me for time pass! They are like rhythmic kicks several times! You are just so jobless there, aren't you? You play there with my tummy, thinking that it is a wall and your mom definitely does realize it. Since you are quite naughty, sometimes when I get sudden pain in my womb, I wonder if you are biting me!!! I saw some of the "inside womb" videos online and saw the babies playing with the umbilical chord - holding it, shaking it and putting it in their mouth! You must be doing the same too! I am eagerly waiting to see you do all that on the 30th of this month, and you better be awake. If you are not, I am going to shake my tummy to wake you up! :)

15 April 2012 - Last puke

               Since the topic is disgusting to some extent, I am writing it in short. I puked today while brushing my teeth and I hope it to be the last time!! :)

7 April 2012 - First Real Kick

               Time has come to say "hurrey"!!! I woke up today with a huge smile on my face and the credit goes to you!!! Yes, I felt you move inside. It is Saturday and since it is a holiday, I woke up and was just lazily lying down on the bed this morning. It was when I stretched my legs on bed yawning and staring at the ceiling, I felt something in my tummy. I gave more attention to it and it was you!!! It was not something that usually happens in my tummy - not a hunger growl. I don't know if you were kicking me or turning in the little space you live in. But you actually did it this time! Made your mommy feel your existence. So two weeks ago what I had felt was an imaginary kick for sure. Now it was such a light movement. Hardly I could notice. But was a different one. It was like a butterfly fluttering around and it happened several times and slowly you calmed down and you made my day! 

2 April 2012 - Still didn't get to know the gender

               I had a lot of expectations for today - because I had my doctor's appointment and was hoping that I would get to know the gender of my baby. But I happened to be little disappointed because I didn't have any ultrasound prescribed for today. 

               I can say that it was a scary day as well. When the nurse came in smiling and told me that she is going to test the heart beat of the baby, both my husband and I sat in pin drop silence to listen to it. She moved that little electric machine all over the tummy and as the seconds passed, her smile faded away too. She was growing impatient and later she said, she will be right back and disappeared. In a minute, another nurse came in smiling and with a different machine. She tested it this time and I could see her worried face. She kept asking me questions like, "How many weeks now?", "When did you come for your last test?" Finally I couldn't keep quiet anymore and I asked her if something was wrong. She remembered her forgotten smile and said, nothing to worry and it is possible that baby is small, because the mother looks small too. But somehow I couldn't smile back at her. She told my husband that we can test the heart beat via ultrasound. They took me there and I was so relieved when I heard the super-fast heart beat and I knew for sure that it wasn't mine. Even my husband was smiling now. Test said that the heart beat of the baby is 148 per minute and that was normal. 

               It was later when doctor asked me if we got to know the gender, I realized about it and regretted for forgetting to check that. Doctor also said, the nurse would have told you that, if she could check the gender, it is possible that the baby was sleeping with its legs crossed hiding 'it'! But at the same time, we were happy that the baby is fine. 

               So today I thought I would know if you are my daughter or my son. Of course I was disappointed. But I was even more disappointed with you because you were fast asleep today! We had seen you just for a minute and couldn't you at least wave at your mom and dad? Last time when we saw you, you were dancing inside! You were kicking me so hard, I even wondered how in the world is it possible that I still don't feel you! I must be really thick skinned! But it was wonderful to see you so active. But what happened today? You were neither boxing nor cycling and you were busy sleeping! But anyway, happy that your heart is beating well, and you really looked even cuter this time. You didn't look skinny today. Compared to last time, you were chubbier. That makes your mom so happy and I wish I could touch your little cheeks and pat you! I love you! 

30 March 2012 - Miss my Waist

               I am four months' pregnant now. Or here in America, I would rather say 17 weeks pregnant. And I have already started calling the baby with a lot of nick names. Since I still don't know the gender, I call her/him as "baabe", "puttu", "oppakunhi", "muddu" and list has no end. It even includes meaningless blabbers which I am embarrassed to mention here! My husband is used to hearing all these by now, so he doesn't think I am mad anymore.
               And yes, most importantly, I do miss my waist now. I used to be in a good shape, gone are those days. Now the only thing I can do is to wish to get the same shape after 5 months! At the same time, can't negate - I do love my growing belly!! Particularly, the one inside my belly!!!

25 March 2012 - Sick and Surprise

               I think I am going to remember this day for a little longer time, or may be even for the rest of my life! There was a pleasant surprise (hope it is a real one) as well as a bad time. 

               Let me start with the bad one. I had a normal day and for dinner I had prepared ridge gourd chutney along with sambar. Somehow the chutney had become very spicy and I had eaten some because I didn't want it to go wasted. After dinner my stomach started burning a little and I drank a lot of water to cool it down and even milk. Then I thought I will sleep it off and once I fall asleep, I won't feel the pain. But unfortunately I slept only for an hour. I woke up all of a sudden at 1 a.m with terrible heart burn and I had to immediately rush to the bathroom and puke. Even after that, my stomach was burning a lot and neither water nor milk helped me. I couldn't stand, couldn't sit nor could I sleep. I looked at my husband, he was happily snoring! I tickled him to stop it, but it stopped only for a few seconds and continued in a different style! There was no point in waking him up, because even he can't do anything to stop my pain, so I let him continue snoring. But all of a sudden he woke up to my surprise and started asking what happened to me. 6th sense I say when it comes to his child inside feeling uncomfortable!

               Now let me come to the surprise which I am hoping to be the real one. Just as I was lying down, I felt as though something moved in my tummy. It felt like few bubbles suddenly hitting my stomach from inside, it wasn't painful but that was surely something I had never felt before. The next day when I browsed, not even one site told me that there are chances of me feeling the baby so soon if it is the first pregnancy! In the later pregnancies, mothers might feel the baby very soon because they know exactly how it feels. I was disappointed with that information, but I am still hoping that it was my baby inside. I am going to wait for some more time until I feel the movements and going to compare the feelings. If it is the same like last night, I am going to conclude that I felt my baby on 25 March 2012! :)

17 March 2012 - Baby bump!

               I was wrong on the 11th of March when I thought that is going to be the last time I puked. Till this afternoon I believed so, but after eating a banana, I was proved wrong! So now hoping that this is the last time!

               I am a member of baby center now, I get in touch with all those who are going to be moms in September (some of them for the second or third time)! It's nice to share each others' ultrasound pictures and compare. They all even share the pictures of their pregnancy bump. But I am restricted from doing that (My mom doesn't let me upload pictures)! All are mentioning these days that their morning sickness has reduced. So even I am hoping to come out of it soon. Baby center said, now you are almost 4 inches long from head to toe! I am waiting for you to grow soon. And I am tired of waiting to feel you inside. But I know I need to wait another one and a half month! 

               I have become a member of another such website, which tells me your growth everyday. So the first thing I do in the morning these days (as soon as your dad goes to office) is checking what you are doing today. Yesterday your hair follicles were developing. Today you are inhaling and exhaling the amniotic fluid, so you have already started practicing to breathe. Everyday it is fun now to see what you are up to.  

11 March 2012 - Feeling little better

               Finally I am hoping for something good for me. Yes, there are chances of I stop vomiting. Yesterday the whole day went without nausea. Yaayy!!! But today I vomited after breakfast and I really hope this is the last time! 

               I have been singing a lot for you of late. Though the singing is terrible, at least you will get used to your mom's voice! I make even your dad talk to you. He must be finding me weird for the same reason. Poor him! :)

               I treated you today with ice cream, chocolate and chips after a long time and I think you liked it, because I did! :) Every time I see a cute little frock in a shop, I hope you are a baby girl and every time I see a tiny t-shirt with wordings "I am not chubby, it's all muscle!" I smile and hope you are a baby boy. If you are a boy, I want to play with my naughty son. If you are a girl, I want to squeeze my doll like daughter. Really can't wait almost 6 more months to see your first cry! On my next appointment on April 2nd, I will know if you are my handsome hero or sweet angel!