Gold, honey and mustard seeds

Coming home has opened my eyes to some of the traditional, ancient (and fascinating!) practices followed by our people.

Here’s one of them: When the baby’s born, the first thing fed to the newborn is a jot (just a dab) of honey and gold mixture.

Another intriguing practice: To ensure that the baby’s tender head attains an even, rounded shape, lay the little one’s head on a tiny, homemade pillow of mustard seeds.

Hmmm ... sounds interesting. Need to do some research on the whys and the hows and ...

And here's our little angel:



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A new doc, a new hospital

After visiting a doctor who’s been a great source of encouragement to us as first-time parents-to-be, we wondered how the new doctor near my parents’ place would be. Well, it’s been a lovely surprise.

The new doctor is warm, almost motherly and importantly (for me!), someone who smiles a lot. She’s very happy with our pregnancy. I have to visit her every week now. (Now that we’re so close to the due date – will she let me know if it’s a boy or a girl?)

The hospital is as good as it can get – Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences at Trivandrum.

So finally, this is where our baby’s going to be born.

Baby Reuel, welcome to the world in God’s own country! :-)

Picture credit: tciconferences.com

Alrighty! I’m online!

This has been a huge surprise for me! I had no clue how an online connection would work out for me at home but what do you know? Here I am! Thanks bro.

So the blog continues …

I’m with my parents - at home – secure in a place that holds the fondest memories and enfolds me with a warmth that cannot be replicated by anyone or anywhere else. (Of course, it’s going to be a little difficult getting used to having my husband here only for the weekends, but I

Amongst the three major challenges that faced us with regards to this decision to be with my parents, one has been tackled – that of arriving safely at home.

Two more remain. I shall reveal those when we cross the bridges …

And meanwhile, our baby’s grown ...

Leaving for home

Well, this weekend I shall be leaving for my parents’ home – for some long-awaited parental pampering and TLC! :-)

And, of course, to bring a new citizen into this beautiful world. Can’t wait to hold our cuddly baby in our arms! :-)

I might not have access to the www but will keep updating the blogs as and when it’s possible.

Bye for now!

We’re going home ...

We’re going home i.e. to my parents’ place! After eons of dragging our feet over this decision, and booking tickets for a tentative journey – we’re finally on our way home!

Of course, nothing like going home to breathe some fresh air and enjoy the refreshing monsoon winds as against Chennai’s burning landscape.

To be pampered by mom and dad.

To know that you can sleep with nary a care in the world.

To take a break before one gets into fulltime mom’s work.

To know that our baby will spend the first few months of his / her life in the bosom of nature rather than a concrete paradise.

Those were the good points.

And then there were those difficult choices.

How could my husband and I be apart for three months? Well, he's there on the weekends.
What if he can’t make it in time for our baby’s birth? We both hope that he’ll be the first to hold our baby.
What if we don’t make it in time to the hospital? The best hospital is a long drive away.

It’s not been easy but we’ve been led to appreciate the dynamics of family life. Sometimes, choices don’t quite appear with black and white options. There are areas of gray too. But we have been learning to just believe. And take decisions.

And our baby is 33 weeks old!



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I’m so grateful ...

I wonder why I’m so blessed.

I have a neighbor who insists on sending food to me.

When I suggested to my boss that I was willing to help out online during my maternity leave, he insisted that life changes with a baby around and that he expected nothing from me during those three months.

When I informed another team leader (who I was working temporarily with) that I would be glad to help during my maternity leave, he says, “No! It’s your exclusive time with your baby. I will not contact you during that time!”

These may be small gestures for many but I feel so happy knowing that there are many in the world who believe in the sanctity of a family.

God bless you all.

Picture credit: verysmallarray.com

Baby lists!

I’m grateful for lists! Here’s a list from J and J’s Baby.com (great site!) for the baby nursery. It was a great help for me. Sharing this for other moms-to-be:

In the Medicine Cabinet

· Rectal Thermometer: The most reliable method for measuring baby's temperature
· Rubbing Alcohol and Cotton Balls: To help keep the navel from becoming infected
· Fever Reducer: Infants' TYLENOL® Drops to reduce fever and relieve pain. Use only as directed.
· Infant Gas Reliever: Infants' MYLICON® Drops to gently break down painful gas bubbles in minutes
· Rehydration Solution: A rehydrating solution to replace fluids and nutrients lost due to vomiting and diarrhea
· Nasal Aspirator and Saline Nose Drops: To help relieve baby's stuffy nose
· Petroleum Jelly: For easier thermometer insertion
· Diaper Cream: Johnson's® Diaper Rash Ointment with zinc oxide to heal and prevent diaper rash
· Baby Nail Clippers or Scissors
· Cotton balls, squares or rounds

In the Baby's Room

Clothing
2 hats
1 baby bunting (a hooded sleeping bag made of napped fabric)
6–8 outfits
6 one-piece undershirts
a sweater or jacket
socks and booties
Stretchy suits
Onesies
6 sleepers
6 bibs

Equipment
Crib
baby carrier
bouncy seat
swing
stroller
highchair
monitor
play yard or playpen
mobile
infant toys

Baby Blankets
2 to 3 blankets to keep warm and to change when you're away from home

Bathing Supplies
Plastic bathtub
Washcloth
Mild baby wash – Head to toe
Baby lotion
Baby shampoo
Baby soaps

Diapering Supplies
Diaper bag
Diapers
Baby wipes

That's all, folks! :-)

Picture credit: anthonysiciliano.com

Baby and Dad

I can sense a heightened excitement in my husband as he prepares for the DAY. He’s not a mass of emotions neither is he a cold, lock-it-all-in statue. There’s a wonderful mix of father-husbandness I can see emerge out of that fun-loving exterior that I’m so used to.

He enjoys establishing ‘contact’ with his baby. The baby gets smothered with kisses, first thing in the morning and as a good night wish.

He loves to feel the baby’s bumps. He enjoys the kicking and thinks it’s his child’s way of getting through to him.

Strangely, I’ve also noticed that once, my husband comes back from work and we begin our usual ‘exchange for the day’, there’s sudden movement within me. I can almost say that Baby Reuel recognizes his dad’s voice through all those layers of tissues and blood vessels.

Well, we’ll have to wait for science to prove it some day.

Picture credit: pbskids.org

Our world

As another day ends, I find myself increasingly aware of a strange phenomenon – I’ve become part of a very private world that I’ve only just begun to explore.

It’s a world that has two citizens - Baby Reuel and I. I talk to the baby and the baby nudges back. There’s a magic there that I can’t quite explain.

I find I can enter this world anytime I want. I just have to shut out the ambient noise and send my thoughts to our baby – and I’m in!

Boy, am I getting impatient! I can’t wait to see our darling! :-):-)

Picture credit: pure-force.com

My coffee adventure!

I have restrained myself from consuming caffeine in ALL forms. Anyway, since we have cut down on our social engagements, it was not so difficult to maintain the discipline either. However, the other night, we just had to check out this new pizza place which happened to co-exist with a coffee pub.

Since we were in the mood for trying out new stuff, I decided to throw caution to the winds and ordered a cold coffee with whipped cream sprinkled liberally with nougat. It was heavenly and I left with happy memories.

Only when I attempted to sleep that night, I was more than a little flummoxed. I just could not sleep!

I realized my body, which had been deprived of high sugars and caffeine, was probably experiencing something akin to an overdose.

Anyways, I got to sleep through the next day! :-)

Also here’s our baby update:



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