First tooth...finally

I have been going on and on and on about how Joy hasn't yet got his first tooth...well.... a few days back.. I suddenly felt something very very sharp cut my finger which was being chewed on by Joy....

I pulled out my finger and saw some little marks on it amidst all the drool...

I was thrilled... I immediately pried Joys mouth open.... yes I had to pry it open.. he just wouldn't let me check... which is really hilarious coz.. otherwise... his mouth is always open....all his pictures have his mouth open .



When I finally managed to peer into his mouth I saw two little white thingys in there.... one was out and very very sharp and the other was also almost there....



Yippppeee.e... my baby had finally gotten his teeth....!!!



I felt a little sad as well thinking he wouldn't give me his famous toothless smile any more....but ..well... am glad the teeth are out.. poor chaap has been struggling with them.....



I am also sorry about no picture proof... coz he is just refusing to keep his mouth open long enough for me to click a pic...

Will do so as soon as I can and upload..

Curls

The other day I was chatting with Joys pishi.... when I mentioned that Joy had inherited my curls.. much to my despair.....I hate..ok hate that much but don't like my curls that much......the only time I am very happy to have them is when I hear people have spent millions getting perms or curls done to their hair.....I have been born with natural curls.... at any point of the day or night .... the lower part of my hair hangs in ringlets.... yes.. the kind you get after putting curling irons in your hair..... I have been told I am blessed.....

But...

I guess the grass is always greener on the otherside....I on the other hand pay millions to get my hair straightened.... I have done it all... straightening irons, blow drys, combing my hair for hours.. even hang things from the ends to have them stretch out.....everything.....even had them chemically straightened....

My brother too has been blessed with curly hair.... and he has a weekly appointment with the barber to trim it so that it doesn't start curling upwards..... he hates it too.....

So the minute both of us noticed that Joy has inherited the curls... we looked at each other and sighed.... here goes a few more millions....

But I must say Joy looks adorable with his locks... they are soooo cute.... he has his trade mark two curls which are like lil horns on two sides of his head... and now at the back he has two rows of curls.... he doesn't have a very thick growth..but yes.... they curl alright....

check them out....

Joy's curls....don't miss the shadow against the wood

A close up...

Update

I have been warned by members of my family that if I don't update my Joy Updates regularly.....they will kill me.....so... this post is for THEM!!!

Joy is a big boy now.... he will be a year in a lil over a months time,....(which reminds me I need to organise his birthday party)

Joy has become very "dushtu...."...there is no other word for it....He is just very very "dushtu"...

He is standing up holding on to every and anything......even his Baba's hair ( on the leg)..which is very very painful for his Baba...and the other day I saw his Mamu wince..when he was given the same treatment....

His sweet Mamu however....said....well he is growing up..so what if it is by holding on to my body hair..... let him..lol.... his Baba however....was not so kind....

The husband's latest name for Joy is Partner....yes he is a big Govinda and Salmaan Khan fan...lol.....

Very often I find lil Joy sitting at his fathers feet and getting a "Listen Partner " talk..with his Baba telling him a few facts of life..... and my darling Joys answer is always the same...."pppffffttttssss" with drool all over his face..at the end of the lecture...very cute..am going to capture it on video as soon as I can....

Joy also now refuses to be carried... he has to be let down on the floor and then he just rushes all over the place crawling like a maniac....yanking things off their shelves... his favourite spot is his Ganga Mashis puja area..... the poor gods are always in the danger of being toppled over....

He is babbling all day... most of the sounds are Baabaa....and naanaa...but still no Ma..or Maamaa....am still waiting...

Some pics :

Joy after toppling over Ma's bangles

Joy sitting in his stroller on a visit to San Marzano for lunch

Potter mania....

To make things clear even before I write my post.... I Don't read Harry Potter...I never have ..and I don't think I ever will.....



Ok!! So everyone knows my stand... If you don't agree please don't read further....If you are ok with it..read on.....



So..as I said..I don't read Harry Potter...I must admit I tried...it was difficult not to when the only other person you live with goes into a self imposed "coventry" ....So not being too much of a TV person and coz I love to read ..I tried to read one of the previous books.....couldn't go past page 27....May be I just don't get this genre of fiction .....or whatever.....I Don't read Potter....



After marrying the husband... I learnt that there were somethings we had to do together.... I mean if he could accompany me to watch "Maid in Manhattan"( quite a bad choice on my part I know)..I could go with him and sit through a few hours of Potter.....So since 2003 I have watched every Potter movie made....and have forgotten what I saw the minute I walked out of the theatre....

I have had to sit through hours of discussions and analysis and future predictions done by the husband and his Potter crazy friends....and wondered...what was so great about this little specky guy..and his friends with weird names .....



This year, the husband asked his mother-in-law to give him the new Harry Potter instead of new clothes for Jamai Shoshti and she obliged....He booked it on one of those online stores who promise to have it delivered the same day it hit the stores and gave him some discount as well...anyways...I was quite amazed with all his planning....all for a Harry Potter.....!!!! Ok!! I go and pre order a few books I want to read as well... but that is only when the store doesn't have it in stock...and so I order and they get it for me....I wait till they do so ....



I have seen my young nieces and nephews and some cousins running to buy the books... I read about people who reached the stores at 4.30 am... I heard about some stores offerring breakfast options with the book...I saw pictures of people sitting outside stores all night waiting for the first copy.....and thought What total crap!!! What craziness....!!!!

The funniest was in school... now I teach a class of children in the age group of 5+....they can't even read.. they are just learning to read three letter words and understand blends....and i almost fell off my lil chair ...when during the Show and Tell session in class... there was a child who had brought his little scrap book on Harry Potter.....he lisped through the entire thing and called Harry Potter -Halley Poller...and Hermione...-HerLineOnly.....and Dumbledore....Duffelbore.......



Another kid brought a stick and tried to tell us that it was Potter's wand....and then the worst of all.... one kid...wanted to tell us a story.... and so I said..."sure darling....whats the story called....?" and..yes... you guessed right...it seems.. the story was called Harry Potter and the deathly hallows......it seems his Dad ..had some how gotten the book online...and read it ...and then gone on to regale everyone at the dining table about the new Harry Potter story......



Now....I am all for parents spending quality time with their kids... reading to them ..telling them stories....playing with them.. taking them for trips...even if it is to the bookshop( I encourage that actually..we take Joy to the bookstore almost every weekend.. so what if he can't read..(hell..he can't even talk as yet) there are lots of lil books with bright picutures on them.. and we pick up something for him... which his ma can read to him...).....anywhere....do whatever ..as long as your kid and you have a good time... but these kids are not even 6 ..spare them please....at 6 years of age.. I don't want my kid asking me what deathly hallows means....or what prisoner means I am sure there are better stories for them to hear.... let them grow up and read Potter if they want to....



Anyways... the husband made me stay home the whole of yesterday...waiting for the package to arrive.... and called every hour to find out if it had...or whether I had gone off galavanting...lest his precious courier would have to face a closed door....then when he realised that no package had been delivered..he called up the online bookstore and threatened them with dire circumstances....

Well..we are still waiting for the book......I am glad... it hasn't come yet...coz.. I was trying to prepare my self for a weekend with out the husband... who had begged to be left alone for a day and a half...... so that he could spend it with Harry.......so yippee.... we got the weekend....!!!!



For all those who think I am insane to not like Potter..or understand the mania... please ignore this post...and spare me any

Tenth month birthday

I forgot to do a post on Joy's tenth month birthday..... I have no excuses ...I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten... sorry my darling.....

Your ma may have forgotten but two people didn't .... your D'shona and your Nammi...

I came home on the 6th to find Joy playing with his D'shona who had come to spend the day with her Grandson...She came like she usually does ....aka.. Santa Claus..... she got some bath stuff for Joy....Three huge packets of wipes for me to use.....two new T shirts for Joy and some other stuff for our house..... since when did we also get presents for Joys month birthdays...we don't know... but we have realised that there is no point in arguing...so we don't ..and just accept everything and anything...

Joy's Nammi this time did something different as well... instead of her usual poem..she sent some prose....

"Our Little Love - on your 10th month b'day let me explain to you the "Power of Ten"
........... Thus begins your journey to be within 10, because yardstick of all competitions in life is measured from 1 to 10. We hope you shall not be forced to join the race for competitions. Grow to be a cool dude & we know you'll surely remain within 1 to 10 wherever necessary. Our prayers are there.....................................

Nammi - Dadabhai"

crisis # 2

I had just written about the first crisis after I started work.... that was Joy related...... well..... am two weeks into work and am also in the midst of crisis # 2.....

I got the viral fever....

Yes ...its being doing the rounds all over...the part time maids seem to have it...my upstairs Aunty has it.....some kids in my class have it...some of the teachers have got it... some of the husband's colleagues have it ...everyone seems to have gotten it.... WELL!!!!!! I definitely have .....

So,.... I am sick....have a heavy feeling in the head...feverish..temperature the last time I checked was 102 degrees.....body ache is tremendous and my throat feels as if it is going to burst...can hardly swallow.

I couldn't go to work on Friday....was in such a bad shape..... went to see the doc ..who refused to give me any antibiotics.... and told me to have patience and bear the viral out.....so that was that...I have been surviving thanks to a combination of crocin and combiflam and a betadine gargle..... so every 6 hours when the medicine starts wearing out .... i start to feel sick and disgusting again ...and then after a fresh dose am a little better.....I hate it when I am sick..... and since I am not sick that often....I hate it even more...

I was a little worried about Joy getting the viral.... but was told by the doc...that he would get it anyways and if he doesn't then I should count my lucky stars.....There wasn't much I could do to prevent him anyways.... he was at home with me....I was home the whole day....and he was all over me.... despite my shutting myself up in my room there is only so much you can do when there is a lil someone banging his lil fists on my door and screaming his lungs out.....

Anyways I have to go back to work on Monday and I hope I feel better by then.... and I hope and pray that neither Joy nor the husband get the viral from me.....its horrible..... and if they do....I will have to live with them and nurse them back to good health....I don't know which is worse..being sick or looking after someone who is sick.....specially if it is my shona baby..my lil Joy....

We are moving

The husband and I got married in Jan 2003...and now have been married for almost 4.5 years.....in these 4.5 years we have moved 4 cities.....

First stop for us was Bangalore....we were there for a year and a half and then Hyderabad for a year and then Mumbai for 5 months.....and the last one being Delhi for the past year and a half......
It's become a standard joke in the family about our frequent moves and whether or not we shall be in the same place long enough for people to visit us a second time.... we have grinned and borne the brunt of all these jokes....

Each move for us has been a better posting or opportunity for the husband ...both financially and professionally...... and me... I get a job in each city before we can even finalise a house...lol....so we haven't had much of a problem.... we have gotten used to the shifting to such an extent that we even know the packers and movers numbers for each city...and what kind of packaging material would suit us best.....etc...

The reason why I am writing about our moves all over the country is because we are all set to move again..... this time not all the way across the country...but yes all the way across the border to Gurgaon.....
The husband's office is moving there by December and the husband has always maintained that he would prefer to live close to work....he hates commuting.....Now if I hadn't gone back to work.. I would have told him that he would have to do the commute cos there was no ways I would move.... But now that I have started work and my work place also happens to be in Gurgaon.....it just makes sense for us to move....
There is no point in each of us commuting .....in which case we would both spend less time at home and with Joy....so in this case.... we should move just to make matters easier for all of us...

We are now doing the rounds of brokers and apartments and everything.... with the hope of finding something suitable by September.
If anyone knows of any apartments going for rent in Gurgaon please do let us know.....

My school is in a very central part of Gurgaon and has some very nice residential complexes around it....so our main aim would be to find an apartment in one of these complexes....This would mean my commute time would be almost zero.... I could leave for work at 8.10 am and be home by 2.45 pm.....what more could one ask for ....????

I have a cousin who lives in one of these complexes and her two lil boys are Joys best friends.....so I know he will have a great time.... My cousins maid and mine are friends as well...so that solves two problems.... two important people who need to adjust well to the move....My son and the maid....


The husband and I were just talking about what all we need to get done before we move...and the list reminded us of our earlier moves..... we called some packers and movers today.....surveyors should be visiting us soon.....so yes we have set the ball rolling.....

My mum has been very supportive....despite knowing that my moving away would mean that she wouldn't get to see her darling grandson everyday.....she has been telling everyone she meets who ask her why we were moving and how both she and my great grandmother would miss out on Joy and stuff....that she supports our move.... she keeps talking about my in-laws who get to see their grandson only on and off.... and that she was lucky to have had us near her for so long.... plus Gurgaon was only an hour away..and she would see us on weekends and holidays etc.....
She has been a darling....and has been all positive about the move...specially happy that I was back at work and that I would now be close to home as well..

Anyways... we are moving.....so anyone in Gurgaon ..please get in touch ....and let me know if there are some nice apartments going ok....

crisis....# 1

Today I completed a week of being back at work... and didn't have a problem with the waking up..Joy grinned at me as I left... everything seemed cool.....

Joy and I woke up at 5 am.. and we cuddled and played for sometime... till he found the maid more interesting and went off for his tour of the house... and his Surya pranaam...( yes !! she makes him do it everyday... I was quite amused to see him in her lap looking at the little idols with a mischevious grin ..but with his pudgy arms and hands folded....lol)...and I was left to my cup of tea and the newspaper...

On sunday, the husband and I had noticed a small mosquito bite on Joy's hand... and had dismissed it as just another one... ( we had been told the previous week.. that junior was allergic to mosquito bites....after we had taken him to the doc...with some really bad bites which were looking really scary...however, Joy was as cheerful and did not seem to be affected by these bites....)..so we just put some of his ointment and went about with our normal activities...

This morning... Joy was at his energetic best...he was grinning, laughing loudly crawling all o ver the place ...nothing unusual and amiss.... so i kissed him and went to work..... before I had even reached work... I get an sms from the husband... telling me that Joy's hand is swollen.... but he was absolutely normal.... so i should get back home and take a call about the doc...

So naturally I was a little worried... I called home and was told by the maid that he was wrestling wih the cook and I should relax...and come home at normal time... but yes the hand was a swollen.

I got back around 4 pm....and saw Joy all excited and normal... yes his hand was still swollen.... So I took him into meet his old pediatrician.... hoping he would be at the hospital that day.... He was.. and was quite thrilled to see us.. especially Joy... he examined the hand and also agreed that my darling was allergic to bites.... and these would cause inflamation sometimes.... he would however not be in any kind of discomfort.....

Anyways medicine was prescribed and the next morning Joy was fine....

That night the husband and I were looking at our sleeping son and chatting.... I asked him a question that had been niggling in my mind since this had happened....

I had not till that time been worried about going back to work.... and asked him if this was a sign.... or something..... thank fully he looked at me .. and told me that I was just getting worried.... Joy was fine and that I had taken the right decision.....He was happy that I was back at work.... and quite happy to have me telling him about my day ... which was not just about diapers and potty and baby food....

Joy and I are loving our time together....in the mornings and the evenings..... I keep going into the nursery section in school... its right next door to my class... and look at the lil ones.... they seem to be having a ball...and think of Joy....

I love this school.... and love the methods they use.... the kids are so happy ...I can't wait for Joy to come to school with me as well....

But that is still a couple of years plus a lil more away ....... I think....

Back to work....

Have been missing in action for a while......and I am guilty......whenever I have a few minutes to my self..... I can see my computer beckoning me....but the temptation to curl up and go to sleep is just too much to handle...... so sorry my dearest blog..... I will write..but not as often as I used to....

One of the main reasons for being irregular is coz now I am back to work.... yes I joined work yesterday....It's been two whole days and AM LOVIN IT!!!!!

I have been dying to go back to work ...for my own sanity and have written about it a few times as well... now that I am back at work..... I have no regrets...

The past few weeks have been quite crazy coz I had to prepare my household and my sweet son for those few hours that I wouldn't be home for...

Actually for the past few months I have been slipping out by myself.... for a coffee ...to meet a few friends....to a book shop.... out shopping ....something.... or the other.... I would be gone for a few hours and would be back in time for Joy's meals.... he would either sleep or be playing with his toys ...or supervising the household chores.. which he loves... LOL!!!!

I needed those few hours to myself....then....to be in a pleasant mood for the rest of the day..... Now that am back at work....it is tiring .. but am happy....

I have set a routine for Joy ...I firmly believe that kids thrive in a routine... and with Joy atleast it has worked out very well....

The husband and I have from day 1 been quite firm about what time he should sleep and he should eat his meals...his bath time ..his park time.....his play time..... every thing....and so much so .. that initially if we extended any particular scheduled activity... Joy would get cranky and be difficult to handle...

As he is growing up some of the timing we maintained have gotten extended ...but those are only natural and a part of his growth process ....but by and large he still sticks to routine....

Anyways... I had set a routine for Joy and we had been following it for the past few weeks to see how it would work out .....

The past two days with me at work haven't been a problem so far....am keeping my fingers crossed.XXXXXXX

However, I have to be thankful for the fabulous help I have...

I crib about them from time to time...hell even I am human.... but well.. if it wasn't for them.. I may not have gone back to work....

Joy wakes us up as usual at 5 am.... but now both the husband and I wake up and spend time with him.... after his diaper is changed .... he is now welcomed back into our bed to play and snuggle with us .. unlike earlier where he was sent off with the maid.....

The at around 7.15 am... I slip out while ..he is being fed his breakfast...... After his meal he spends time with his Baba.... and sees him off.at 8.30 am.. like he used to ...do with me...

The maid then makes him go to sleep.... for his morning nap..Joy sleeps at this time for about an hour and a half.... after which he is given his bath.....and then fed his mid morning snack.... which he loves and looks forward to...

My cook cum cleaner comes around this time...and keeps an eye on him while he does his work...and then is around for an hour.....

Joy then plays with the maid and does his dushtumi... all over the house....

At around 12 noon.... he is fed his lunch...after which the cook comes back to play with Joy ( also to give my maid a break)...till he falls asleep..for his afternoon nap.... this is also usually for an hour and a half.. and sometimes if we are lucky.....it stretches for two hours as well....

By this time its almost 2.30pm...... Even if he does wake up and play for a while.... or is fed a small snack of a biscuit .. at this time.... before he knows it I am home.... I get back around 3.30 pm.... and then after resting a while... I play with him and take him to the park around6 pm.....

The husband usually picks us up from the park or my mothers house.. where we go and pay my grandmother a visit every evening.....

I am enjoying my work... the change in my life....

as my sweet mother-in-law smsed me this morning.....

"All the best for the new job..... you are now starting a new and doing two of the most important things that women do best....teach...and the other is being a MOM.....You will be good at it like you are good at being a mother..."....Amen to that!!!!!