15 Marbles

Date- August 21st,2007
Time- 8.15 pm
I was getting aadya ready for bed. Our bed-time routine starts at around 7:30 pm wih a massage,followed by tummy-time and bath.Then,moisturise,get into PJs,a few minutes in the crib with the butterflies and then rock off to dreamland.
That day,after finishing the body massage,I sat Aadya up for a head massage. She has been sitting with support for quiet some time now.And after the head massage,I just let her sit with the support of my folded legs.I saw her lean towards the mat. I didnt really pay attention to it.That’s because these days,she is so attracted to colors.And tries to touch the pattern on the sheet or mat,even on our clothes.So,I let her lean,thinking she is probably found something interesting on the mat. but she just stayed that way leaning downwards.So I looked to see what was it that she was so interested in.And what do I see? My little girl is trying to focus all her energy into sitting. She was concentrating on balancing her weight on her hands! I slowly slipped away from her.. And there she was Sitting!! All by herself!! Like a froggie!
Two little fists, digging into the rug, one tiny head focusing on staying that way. I called out to DH,he came running not knowing what was going on.He just looked at Aadya and smiled. and then I slipped even further away from her! And His eyes widened!!OUR BABY WAS SITTING UNAIDED FOR THE FIRST TIME!! DH grabbed the camera.And clicked her pics. She stayed that way for a good 3-4 minutes,even raising her head victoriously and smiliing at her dad!

( P.S. This picture was taken next day.And though it does look like she has the support of my leg,there was a good 3-4 inches distance between her butt and my foot!)

I was so proud!Am so proud of my little Angel.We sent SMSes to everyone! And then there were calls from proud grandparents.And this little achiever,oblivious to all the frenzy she had created!
Another milestone,another achievement,another sign that she growing up. My baby is growing up!
God bless you,my little froggie!

Last weekend Aadya had her first Sleepover guests.I say,it was Aadya’s Sleepover party, because thats how things are these days.All our friends want to come over ,so that they can spend more time with AADYA!
So,When we invited our friends C&L to come over for the weekend,they gladly accepted our invitation,so that they could spend more time with Aadya.We went and picked them up on Friday night.C had made some great chicken Curry. L and DH have become very good friends over the last few months but the first time I got to meet C was at the party and we just hit it off. That was incidentally where I met Baby J’s mom too.
And the result was this sleepover.
The plan was for them to come over and spend friday night with us,dinner,movies, long chats and then a late brunch and picnic on saturday morning and finally we dropping them off on saturday evening. But,it just seemed like all the time had come to a standstill.Friday night was slightly rough with the beginning of Stranger Anxiety in Aadya..but that calls for another post. After dinner and chit-chat we sat down to watch a movie at 12.00 am. Movie and midnight dessert. It had been ages since we did that. And they were both great sports about pausing the movie,for Aadya’s feeds or fuss 🙂
Next morning,we were a little late getting up but C&L had made themselves at home. It was nice to see them relaxed.I got to the business of making breakfast.DH and L were busy surfing the net and discussing PS3 games,while C watched over Aadya and played with her.Even rocking to sleep,for her morning nap. With Aadya down for her nap and the breakfast all ready,we sat down to eat.The Menu was- Masala Puffs and Vermicelli halwa and Cold coffee to wash it down with.Aadya woke up in time to shower us with her smiles just as we were finishing up.Breakfast done with, we got down to the business of enjoying. Looking at the hot day outside,we decided to postpone the drive to the lake to a little later in the day and we sat down to watch a show online that we all enjoy.While I cooked,DH and L sipped beers,while we girls sipped our coke..(me milk,actually) and munched on telly-time snacks.It was just a relaxed relaxed weeekend. No rush-rush, no formalities..Just fun. Again the show was paused atleast twice for me to nurse Aadya. We are used to watching movies and shows that way.. but it was really nice that C&L didnt mind it.Even offering to rewind and pause for me!
Just as we were sitting down to eat Lunch,someone glanced at the microwave clock and it was 5 pm! We gobbled up…everyone offering the last chapati to the other one..It just never felt like we had met only recently.
We were having so much fun, DH casually asked them,if they would like to stay another night and they agreed! And the fun continued.More movies,more chit-chats.We went out to pick up Chicken biryani from our favorite Indian restaurant,the only one here to serve biryani like in India.
Aadya was having such a nice time with these guys. Though C was the one holding her and playing with her more..she took a fancy to L. She would keep looking at him or calling him till he didnt look back or talk to her.. and he was almost always instantly rewarded with a smile.All through the weekend,we kept telling them-“You guys are so good with kids,we saw it at the party and then with Aadya…You guys should have a baby soon..”Only to be met with shy smiles 🙂
Sunday morning,we talked some more over a breakfast.The menu this time was-Egg bhurji and toasts,Poha and cold coffee.These guys were again so cool and gulped down our “sweetened with Splenda” cold coffee without a fuss.It was like time was flying and we still had so much to talk.So many funny memories to share and to make so many new ones.After breakfast,we went to drop them back but, the house suddenly felt so empty. After so many years, we felt that way. The way your house just seems empty after your family or cousins come for a visit and leave.
And what timing? Finally when I was at peace with this move and looking forward to a new place,I meet all these lovely people. I get attached to people very easily. And if its someone that is on the same wavelength then,that attachment increases 10-folds.When DH told me,that we would be moving from AZ,I was excited.All these months here..almost 11 months,I was so lonely .DH was working long hours. I hardly knew anybody.And for the first time,I was just “more-than-happy” to leave. I thought I was growing up.But The Big Man up there had some other plans.
These last two weeks here have been so nice.So much fun.It feels so nice to be able to call up and talk to someone,without calculating the time difference or thinking before speaking.I am so glad, we cut our trip to the Grand Canyon short and ran into all these lovely people. Hope we stay in touch!

This is what Aadya got as a gift from a friend.Kids these days are going hi-tech. Mommy still doesn’t own a MP3 player or an IPOD..and here Aadya has this
Needless to say ,Daddy is really happy..And this baby is clueless.. She didn’t care much about the gift.. her main interest was the gift-giver..Baby Janis, a 2 month old.
We took aadya to visit with her last weekend.
She did everything to try and attract Janis’s attention-by calling her, crawling over to her..cooing.. smiling at her parents and finally when nothing worked..complaining to her Papa!!It was so much fun watching both the babies together. if one cooed the other would too. We put them both on their backs and they moved their limbs in perfect tandem!It was like watching a perfectly choreographed act.Both the dads went crazy taking pictures and shooting Videos!
One funny thing about that visit was..When we reached there,baby J was sleeping and Aadya was getting fussy/hungry just as we were reaching. The moment we entered Aadya started bawling.I took her to the bedroom to nurse her.. Her crying had woken up Janis and she was playing happily in her crib,quietly.So, we got down to the business of Nursing. But have I told you.. that Aadya doesn’t let her anger go unnoticed. So,she unlatched herself to scold Mumma.. and Baby J heard her. And then it was Janice’s turn to coo.And as if cued in,Aadya latched on fiercely and possessively, her hand resting on my breast..as if to mark her territory!
Baby J is such a sweet baby..Cries also so softly..From what I could tell she looked like a sweet-tempered baby.. Just like her mom..This was the second time I met this girl and I already feel so close to her.

That day for the first time after Aadya’s birth,I sat down for lunch,without Aadya in my lap. Why? Because Baby J’s grandma,another sweetie,took both the babies to the bedroom. Asked us- new parents, to eat,while she took care of them. I was mentally prepared to go and pick up Aadya half way through the meal.We had just loaded our plates with the yummy food and I heard Aadya cry. I went to the bedroom,only to be shooed away by Aunty.After 2 minutes,the crying stopped..And then after 10 minutes which stretched like an eternity,I couldn’t control myself..and went to peek..and Lo! what do I see?Both the babies are comfortably sleeping..One on her grandma’s shoulder and the other in the car seat fixed on the stroller!I am so in awe of Aunty.The way she took care of my baby.. has filled my heart with so much love for her..There was just no difference between her care of Aadya or Janis.
Yesterday they came over to spend the day with us. It was just so nice.It was like meeting cousins.The thing that touched me most was- Aadya’s Massage.As I sat down to Massage Aadya before her bath,Aunty offered to do it for me. I was pleasantly surprised.That sweet lady,put a cloth on her stretched legs and started to massage my baby,methodically..Not flinching when the baby cried.She kept talking to her calmly all through the massage session.Midway through Aadya started bawling..literally..but unfazed she finished the massage and handed over my baby to me!It really warmed me up.. because this was the first time,someone did something so selflessly,for my baby and me and making it sound like “not-a-big-deal” and brushing away my thanks with just a “Arre,not a problem,I liked doing it”.Others have offered too,but a crying (read screaming)baby is enough to unnerve them.First time since my pregnancy and delivery..these people made me feel so loved and so treasured.. and my baby so much more special and pampered!!
Thanks Aunty!