Oh and she definitely has her favorite person picked up – who other than her Baba…
the kid adores him and is crazy about him. No wonder she stops eating and gets cranky when daddy is away on business trips. I feel sorry for her when she runs upstarirs to look for her daddy and then in the basements and when he is found no-where she’ll bring the phone up to me asking “Mamma,….Baba phone please”…..truly daddy little girl.
Well I could just go on and on writing about her new activities but I’ll resort to posting more pictures with some titles instead. Our little baby is turning into a little girl for sure and she is getting even more adorable and fun and life’s getting full of excitement.
Our Dearest Papa,
You taught us to work hard and enjoy family. You taught us the price of honesty and that it cannot be negotiated. You taught us about life by always setting up a personal example… and we are humbly grateful to you – our life long teacher.
When we were young, I would wake you up in the middle of the night asking for milk- fearing that I would suckle my thumb otherwise and you would get up every single night to fetch me milk. We would wake you up to go to the bathroom with us since we were scared and you would give up you sleep just to comfort us and make us feel secure… for this we are grateful to you - our pillar of strength and support.
When we were growing up, you were stern when you needed to be, but mostly loving because you just couldn’t stand not loving us for a single moment. Never once did we not feel your love, even when you were angry. For this – your immense patience with us and never seizing love we are grateful to you – our guide and mentor.
And now, that we have grown, we remember the mornings we have had together and the many more mornings we will share. Although, the distances have increased physically, but we always remain close in thoughts and heart and the most important thing that has not changed is how we still look up to you - our Hero, our Guide and the Best Friend ever!
We love you, our dearest Papa, exactly like we told you when we were young… “we love you like the sun, big and warm and shiny”
With Love,
Your Children
We had a wonderful father’s day celebration with Gauri this year. She knew it was father’s day because she and I were busy preparing card and planning the activities for that day for quite some time. Gauri gave baba 2 gifts – a Movie Day Pass (a day of his choice where all he does is sit on the couch and watch his fav movies ALL-Day-Long. Godfather, Starwars, whatever he wishes, snacks and drinks placed at arms distance so he doesn't have to even open the refrigerator or get up from the couch, baby sitting and mommy-sitting all included) …. Hummm does that sound like every guy’s dream day or what?? I am sure daddy was thrilled.
We also found a special SPA place and really cool package for daddy called “Real dads do SPA”. After talking to the spa staff, we were sure it would be a fun experience for daddy and a much relaxing one too.
We spent the evening with 3 other dads and their little ones, two of whom we were meeting for the first time and had much fun making new friends with. While the dads were BBQing and chatting and having good laughs, all the mommies were making sure they keep the little one fully entertained so we didn’t have to look up to dads for any help (well, alteast for a few hours). Gauri played nicely with other kids and was very supportive of dad by trying to remain awake till 9 PM or so. After that she was almost ready to crash and fell asleep on our way back. Thanks to our wonderful friends for planning the BBQ party, we all had wonderful time and made new friends.
I have to admit that we the moms, sometimes take dads for granted and think of them as second parents but in fact it’s far easier to be a father than a dad. The level of personal commitment that our kids require is challenging, sometimes even overwhelming. Without the support of these wonderful life partners whom our kids call “dad”, we would not be able to "survive" - at times.
I found this interesting statistic on Career Builders’ annual Father’s Day survey thought it’s worth sharing:
Survey showed that 37% of working dads would leave their jobs if their spouse made enough money to support the family.
Given the choice, another 38% would take a pay-cut to spend more time with their kids.
FathersAtWork.com reported that 70% of working fathers have a difficult time balancing their professional and personal responsibilities.
When we became parents, we made a life decision that carries more responsibility than any other. Without the commitment and support of both parents I cant imagine how we would ever be able to make these tiny people responsible and good human beings. Thanks to all the dads for being the pillars of support for the family.
Last Tuesday (May 20th) while I was on a conf. call we got a call from the daycare, and all I knew was Mani was running around looking for his wallet and car keys. I was half listening to what he was trying to tell me. Then while rushing out of the house, I heard him say, Gauri’s fingers …. and that’s all that I heard. This was enough for me to get me anxious and nervous and I was somehow trying to end the conference cal, but you know how when you want to get out of something, you feel like you just cant!! As soon as I hung up the phone, I tried to call Mani’s cell phone, all I heard was my poor baby screaming in the background and Mani asked me to call up Pediatrician right away as he was driving to their clinic. Dare I ask how was Gauri, from all the screaming I knew she was in too much pain, but in a very timid voice I asked how bad was it - “Not good Pragati….her fingers are bleeding profusely…now call up the Dr.”. As I explained to the lady at the clinic what had happened she seemed so relaxed about this accident, advised me to keep Gauri home, wash the wound and watch if she can move her fingers. Damn, she sounded COLD!! I agree kids do have accidents and Dr.s see it all the time, but not my child – its her very first cut, very first accident, very first bleeding and she is the most important thing in the world (at least to us). So I kept insisting that we need to see a Dr. and she said only after an hour. I wasn’t happy with her answer. I tried to call back Mani and he wouldn’t pick up his phone. I kept dialing like a maniac with all the wrong thoughts running in my head – “what’s going on, why is he not picking, Is Gauri Ok, is her hand OK, are fingers still intact” (my heart pounding like it was going to come out of my body), redialing with one hand, I was trying to see who to call and ask for a ride, my car was with him….. Finally after the longest 1 hour he called back confirming she was Ok, no fractures and the Dr. did see her.
But he also told how embarrassed he felt at the Pediatrician – “embarrassed why?” As he was fighting, arguing and shouting at the reception staff who refused to have a Dr. see Gauri, trying to tell she is too much pain and “look her hand is all bleeding” and blah..blah…blah…blah… Gauri stops screaming and starts insisting on getting down on the floor to - go play with the big toy stove and refrigerator in the play area!! “Hahaha…. Poor dad – he thins his little darling is in too much pain, but guess what daddy is in more pain… sure this is their first kid…hahaha”. I am sure this is what was running in the minds of everyone witnessing this scene.
Gauri came home, she wasn’t crying but her face had turned crimson and eyes puffy from all the crying, I looked at her bandaged fingers and as Mani described to me that her nail-bed might be damaged and that has serious implications, she pulled the bandages off and there I saw - ripped-up fingers, the open wounds and nail under the skin..God, how could someone do this to my little sweet-pea, my jigar-ka-tukda (piece of my heart)…and there you go….I was crying…crying hugging her closer to me and she started crying when she didn’t now what was mumma crying…..
when she speaks either one of the languages, its is so amazing that I cant express in words.
Later Gauri and I watched some videos and read some books and did I ever mention how crazy she is about her “buuks”, she needs them when she wakes up, when she eats, when she comes back from play outside, when she sleeps and now even at bath time.
Hope these babies fill your lives with immense joy and love.
Mommy & Gauri.
Ok, now I shouldn’t but I am writing this little post about me instead of it being about Gauri. But I was so touched by a beautiful card I received from MY daddy that I couldn’t resist sharing it with you all and specially with Gauri, so she knows that no matter how grown up she may get, but she will ALWAYS BE DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL (just like her ma is for her naanu (Grandpa) )
Here’s the card that brought tears to my eyes and took me back to my cherished childhood:
Dear Daughter,
You are our biggest happiness.
When you came into our life,
It felt as if the moonlight just came down to light our home
Your smile has decorated every corner of our house
May your life bloom like a beautiful garden,
Our world has become beautiful just by having you.
Thank you Father,
you are simply THE BEST
and I will always love you.
Happy Easter everyone. Hope everyone had a nice time on this holiday and all the little kids lots of fun dressing up like little bunnies and going for egg hunt.
She also dressed up in all pink and was putting up quite a show in that fluffy skirt. I had thought earlier that she might find it difficult to wear the skirt and so I asked her teacher to take it off and put on another pants on her in a while. When I went to pick her up I found her still dressed in her fancy outfit and fluttering around daintily like a beautiful butterfly- 
I was told by her teachers that she loved all the attention she was getting because of her dress up and she just would not let them take the dress off - how funny!! Our little bunny had a lot of fun going for egg hunt although she was little apprehensive about the real bunnies she saw there. It was only at bath time that she finally let me take that skirt off. She loved the eggs she found since for once mommy wasn’t taking those away from her and they wouldn’t break into that messy yellow things that she so dislikes :o) Its always os much fun to see her happy !
I am still discovering about raising a child, but by far, I think, Toddler stage is probably the most difficult one. The kid is more “I”, “me”, “Myself” yet wont understand when you try to tell them something. They are exploring everything around them and there is nothing that can stop a “curious George”. 
"Mommy, my hands are messy" 
Parenting is hard enough but trying to raise a little with out an in-home partner is undoubtedly twice the work and most challenging for both the parent as well as the child.
And if this is not enough, just add to this mix – a full time job!! And even if you are sick and extremely exhausted it falls on you to step up and do what’s required.
