It's 44 after 1

Time flies............and it flies fast. No warnings....no replays.....no rewind.

Time brings with it moments which unfold with every passing day...every passing hour....every passing minute... And it was in such a passing minute that Tanya chose to walk! This was a minute of waking to a realization that bunny was growing up and boy...was she growing fast.

27th January 2013....Republic Day.....at Nana-Papa's home.......Tanya walked.

To an extremely charmed audience comprising of her Nana, her Luiza nana....Jocelyn mashaan, Sybil mashaan, her mamma, Dada and her Didi, Tanya showed off her newly acquired skill with so much enthusiasm and delight it was impossible to take our eyes of her.

"Come to Mamma", " Come to Dada", "Come to Didi", "Come to Nana"..........and awwwwww she obliged us all with that endearing smile that never went away from her face...........100% satisfaction guaranteed :-)  

That is probably one of the few milestones I have been able to record of my sunflower...my little bunny girl.

Today.....44 days after Tanya has turned 1 year old; I Annette.............mommy to Aisha and Tanya am again attempting to script memories for my loved ones, my friends and my family. And I hope I am able to do justice to my girls :-)

To Aisha and Tanya!

Aisha makes her wish!

It was a warm July afternoon in the year 2011.........

We were at the baby shower of my sister-in-law when I knew something was different.......
I dint feel good....was tired....looked terrible!!
I recalled how Aisha kept asking me if I was having a baby in my tummy as well as if....... a baby in her aunt's tummy meant all other women also have babies in their tummy's. ......which thus included her grandma's as well.
In her own trademark style she'd ask "Mamma in your potu babu is there?", I'd say, "Nope".
She'd then run to Amma and ask,"Amma, aapke potu mein babu hain?" (I was amused everytime I saw Amma chuckle at Aisha's silly questions)
One fine day.....she came up to me and asked me the same question.....to which I answered...,"no baby....no babu in mamma's potu"....to which she replied, "In your potu babu is there!!" (ofcourse i wasn't amused..)

Deepu at her Godh Bharai and feeding a kid a piece of boiled egg  which is a custom
Well, the sole boy got the first preference...however, I was sure deepu was having a girl...
The glow of a girl is seen on Deepu's face.

Well, a week later we are at Deepa's godh bharai (baby shower)
and I am delayed by a week. And by the punctuality of my dates, i decided to take the test......and Aisha was right!
Manish & I were expecting our second baby and .....Aisha;
.....her sibling! Well, Manish excitedly broke the news to puppy and asked her the obvious question...,"Kuku....Mamma ka potu mein babu is there!!!, what you want??? brother or sister???"
Aisha does not hesitate a moment before stating,"I want a sister"
And....there's silence......and ....ahem........looks were exchanged.........
Oooopss.......everyone at home which includes me were like,"sister!!! why don't you want a brother???....if u have a sister, you will have to share everything with her".....but that never changed Aisha's preference.

That's my little puppy....with her little cousin Pritika, whom she couldn't keep her hands off.....(all of 2 years and 10 months......clear in her head......throughout the nine months......Aisha was sure.....she wanted a sister!
The wait had begun.....she was to have her sibling in March.(coincidently...Pritika is also a March baby :-))

at a loss of words

That's probably what losing a loved one does to you....... Never ever thought that I'd spend hours and days wondering what to write. People always said that I was gifted at being able to pour out my feelings in black n white.





But here I am.....at a loss of words...unable to express the why, what, how and when's of my life of the last 13 months that have flown by almost unnoticed by me. As I write today..... Life has changed....and I find myself orphaned by the loss of my father and gifted in the birth of my second daughter. Someone somewhere has some sense of timing!!! I love you daddy.....and I promise you....Aisha and Tanya will never forget you.

mamma's lil love letter to you....

I have held you in my arms & promised myself never to let go

When I looked at you & you looked back at me I was so happy
Each time I placed my finger on your palm & you closing your tiny fingers around my finger was more security for me than for you.
Everytime you call out to me....maaammmmaaaaa..........I feel a joy I cannot express to this day
The big hugs and tight kisses are oxygen for my daily survival.

If I have one reason to come back home it has to be you..........
If I have one priceless moment I won't let anyone take away from me is to be by your side when you wake up & smile.

That is how important your being is for me.
Each time I say, "Aisha I love you"......and when you respond with a, "I love you mamma" ....its......an inexplainable feeling

Aishuneeeee.....puppieeeee..............kukuneeeee........lotsa love....hugs.....kisses & all thing bright & beautiful............All I could ever wish for......I wish for you......and your little sibling to be :-)

Mamma loves you BIG!!!!!!

cares unspoken.....yet answered

T'was a nice weekend that I spent at mom's place.....

Guess Aisha realises that I love going over to mom's place and her enthusiasm from the moment I announce that we have to go to her Nana's place makes the visit to mom's even more fun.

Mom and dad get to meet Aisha over these weekend stayovers or when mom n dad visit our place for just a bit. My mom n dad live by themselves.......courtesy Me & my brother....

Me...:Well I got married like any other girl & had to move out to live with my husband.

My brother....lives in the US

So......since the time Aisha was born it was a new reason for their existence...

When purchasing fruits.......papa buys two papayas.....cause his potli girl will ask," you bought only one papaya papa????"

Mom goes shopping for random stuff for her home & picks up things for her babunee....nighties, pillow covers...cute lil inners....socks......raincoats.....petticoats.....cherries....choclates...etc etc..the list is endless.

I also remember mom n dad having fights on how to feed her..."mash the rice well".......dad would advise....& mom would frown back....."I know!! this is not the first time I'm feeding a baby" :-)

Well....all for the love they have for their grandchild.....

While on this weekend visit Aisha went up to mom & said....."Nana when u become very old.....I'll come and stay with you...ok"

Mom was touched ofcourse but more than that totally taken aback at the profound statement her lil princess had made...

As she asked me why Aisha made such a statement I didn't know the answer but mumbled something to mom and in my mind I kept wondering.... it was as if.....Aisha knew all the anguish I was going through about my lonely parents.....and that she wanted to let me & my parents know.....that she is aware & she will be there!

to this day i have come to realise the many bonds that motherhood creates....

I love you Aisha.

Girl Power Prevails

And the mystery was unfolded when Deepa, my sis-in-law delivered her first baby on 28th September'2011
A sweet little baby girl......
Something about babies born on 28th September.......the first one was my lil Aarushi :-) pinkest,prettiest...puppy girl.

Wel....my niece was pink too......like any other baby who's gone through the ordeal of a natural birth and the striking resemblance she had with her father was amazing! Not that we doubted whether she'd ever look her dad but the whole thing surrounding pregnancy, birth and the similarities they have to family members is just a miracle.

Well, I must say that Deepa was blessed with a very fine & peaceful pregnancy. What more can you expect when you have mom ke haath ka bana khaana......a lil niece like Aisha who's a delight to look at.......just 30 minutes of travel to work.....that too to & fro.....add to that a vehicle pick up from just accross the street. Now, that's really something preggy women would look forward to in the busy hustle bustle of Mumbai. What's was even better was her labour!
27th September, 11:15pm....her water bursts......11:25pm she's inside the hospital..........12:00pm she is into mild labour.........28th September 1:59am....she delivers a healthy baby girl! Lo! and we never thought she'd have such a smooth & quick delivery. But.....some people get things real good!

So.....
The chinese calendar went wrong..........& my prediction came true.
Deepa had a girl.......& she's one kid who's here as a surprise package cos other than her dad & her aunt (which is me) nobody expected Deepa to get a baby girl.
Leaving the boys for the second round......Girl power prevails! .......Girls rule......Girls Rock!!!.....

Morning Glory

This is to my morning glory......my Smiley Aisha.

well.....
wake up time is probably not the most endearing time one would spend with kids.....
it consists of loads of prodding, tickling, pulling, carrying straight into the bathroom etc etc....
but with Aisha.....it's always been waking her up to see her smile.
may have to do with the wake up regime that we follow with her.....love filled calls of Aishuuneeee....kukkuuu......some amount of tickling in the way that she likes.....
but i don't think that should take away the credit from her of being such a delight to wake up.

When she was little....she'd call out..."mammaaaaa.........& with those tiny fingers curling up calling...."ummmm....ummmm" (Read come...come)

Well...she still calls out to mamma and many a times to her dada as well............
the "ummmm" has now been replaced by "Come" and the fingers don't curl up to beckon anymore..

Nevertheless Aisha is a delight to wake up to........and a delight to wake up too....

Our Morning Glory.