Happy 6 months Ansh

So we just got back from our 2 month long vacation in India. Lots of “First time evers” happened on that trip. First airplane ride, first time meeting grandparents, first Diwali, first mosquito bite, first time fighting jet lag, first auto rickshaw ride…... and so much more. But another post will follow to talk all about the India trip, as I can possibly not fit all the expeditions in one post. There’s a lot to talk about. This post is only about Ansh's 6th month milestones

Tell me you did not fall in love after watching this video

Oh my! Where did the time go… My best guess would be, in Ansh’s delicious chubby cheeks ;)

My how you’ve changed! And so quickly! Other moms tried to prepare me for how fast you’d transform week by week, right under my nose, but I couldn’t possibly understand the truth of that until I experienced it myself.

I am fighting back tears as I write this post. It’s not because im sad that he is growing, changing, learning, expanding, exploring, becoming even more lovable and fun. I love every minute of being a part of that! I think it’s really about fear of the future. This phase will only last so long. Soon he will crawl, then run and before I know it, he will be in college. He won’t need me anymore. Ansh still seems so small and sweet and is my little baby. So I am going to try my best to let go of the worry that my baby will grow quicker than my heart can bare. I am going to enjoy every moment as I have been, encouraging his milestones, and teaching him more every day. And when those days come when I have to pack away more and more of his clothes that no longer fit him, I will quietly go and scream in a pillow and then thank God for my son who is growing healthily.  

As for me, I’m feeling good these days. I would venture to say that I’m pretty much back to normal. Emotionally, I feel pretty good too. There are days where I think I’ve got it all figured out and there are days where I’m halfway to a meltdown because I dropped his pacifier and I can’t find another one fast enough.

I love the way he has changed. He is so much fun and fill our home with such love and joy with his playful spirit. My days with him are such a gift. He literally takes my breath away when I stare at him. He is so beautiful when he sleeps, so beautiful when he smiles, so beautiful when he needs me, so beautiful when he trusts, so beautiful the way he plays, so so beautiful… there is no better way to describe him. He is beautiful. The most magnificent beautiful being I have ever seen. I’m forever thankful for him and cannot believe that God chose me to be his mama.

 Here's a video of him waking up. The cutest thing you'll see today :) 

He was talking to his bear when I walked into the room

I'm pretty sure he said "I love you"

I want to remember all of him, every inch of him. Here are some beautiful things about his 6^th month: he laughs like crazy, smiles all day long, he understands some of the things we say, he looks when we call his name, he still can’t keep his hands and toys out of his mouth, he is starting to try to wiggle and move, he rolls all over the place, he sleeps on his side, he loves to bounce (my absolute favorite… it’s like a human trampoline), he is a mama’s boy (I’m not complaining ;)), he is a cuddler, he throws his arms up and down (as if trying to wave “hi”), I love waking up next to him because he greets me with the cutest smile, his eyelashes have somehow grown even longer, he started on solids and loved the rice cereal (Avocado - not so much). He is our greatest gift. And he is 6 months old today. Did I mention, this has been my favorite month so far? Although I’ve said that for every month of his life J

He is so much fun to be around

Here's him playing with his dad

I caught him playing in his walker

My baby boy is 5 months old

I remember when Ansh was only a week old thinking about how I wish he’s stay this little forever, but I can honestly say that every month just keeps getting more and more fun. I’m really hoping this continues forever. Or until he turns 14 and inevitably decides that his mom is no longer cool. For now, I love (absolutely love) the way he looks at me, as if I’m his hero.

My happy, sweet, adorable, lovely, darling baby boy is 5 months old. I’m going to freak out next month when he’s halfway to being 1 year old! I’m SO not ready for that. He still seems so tiny and such a baby to me. I’m going to have such a hard time one day when I realize how big he’s gotten. For now I’m in denial. Im enjoying my “infant” (supposedly they are “infants” until they are 6 months old) cuddling him closely, and soaking up all the love and attention he gives me. I know one day, not too far away, he will be crawling and then running! I want to remember all of him, every inch of adorable baby fat, every deliciously chubby wrinkle on his leg, neck and tummy; the way he smiles at me right after he’s fed, his soft silky hand brushing against my arm or chest as he nurses, the energetic happy kicks he does all day long, his squeaks, yelps, and giggles. The way he looks for me when he’s uncomfortable, as though he wants me to rescue him and hold him close. The smell of his hair, his cheeks, and his breath. The softness of his tummy, his bums and his feet. The way he is ticklish now. His tiny little neck and his pointy chin, his delicious lips that are always rosey and so luscious and filled with drool, the way he puckers and sticks out his tongue. The way he wraps his arms around me and holds me in his tiny hands. The sweet sounds he makes to let me know he’s awake from his nap. His eyebrows always have such a concerned look on them when he’s curious. He is calm in crowd and crazy at home. He is so playful, so cuddly, so loving, so gentle, so excited, so so sweet. I want to remember all of it. I wish I could. I already have forgotten so much. I know it’s not possible to remember every single detail…. But I want to so I keep updating my blog.

My sweet baby boy, Happy 5 month. Now let’s freeze time and stay here for a longer moment…. Because I’m pretty sure this is my favorite stage. Although I’ve said that every month of your life.

This past month (things to save for my memory):

·         He rolls around everywhere. Sometimes I find him sideways or facing the opposite direction

He loves people and being held

·         He went through the 4 month sleep regression

·         We fought jet lag for nearly 2.5 weeks

·         He doesn’t complain about mosquito bites as much as his mom does

·         He watches TV without blinking (just like his dad)

He still loves his baths

·         His current favorite toy is STILL the piano

·         He’s not a big fan of loud noises

·         He still adores his feet and pulls his socks off so he can suck on his toes as often as possible.

He still raises his finger while sleeping. Just like this :) It's so adorable, I could eat him (sometimes I wonder, how do people not end up eating their babies ;))

4 month old- adventures of Ansh and his mama

Before I had Ansh, I felt like I never had enough time to get it all done. Between work, dance class, community work, quilling, chores of everyday life, and spending time with family and friends…. My schedule was always packed. I couldn’t spare 10 minutes to take a shower. It looked like a waste of time to me.

When Ansh was born, I suddenly found myself knee-deep in diaper changes and marathon feeding session. I couldn’t imagine how I ever felt busy before. How much time I must have wasted, I thought. Watching television, spontaneous lunch dates with friends, lounging on the couch all weekend in my pajamas… what was I thinking?

I’ve only had a small taste of motherhood yet, but I’m gonna take a stab at guessing and say that life with a baby becomes 10 folds more challenging. Every single thing, from having breakfast to taking your phone out of your pocket, seems like a hurdle worth a reward.

We recently took a trip to Quebec City. Ashish had some meetings to attend there, so I thought of tagging along since I adore the city and it would also give me a taste of my upcoming travel with Ansh to India. From the moment I woke up in the hotel, gave Ansh a bath, struggled to make it for breakfast in time, tried to eat breakfast while entertaining a crying baby, finally gave up on breakfast, stepped outside to explore the city, barely reached a km when it started to rain, managed to find a cover up for the stroller and ran towards the market, had to pick up the stroller and carry it inside the shops as there were no ramps, got out of the store (because I couldn’t stay there forever without buying anything), tried to take pictures when it started to rain again, ran uphill with a stroller and against the wind, made it back to the hotel all sweaty and drenched. You probably don’t realize it until you have to experience it, but even to get the stroller inside and outside of a door, that’s hard to hold even otherwise, can make you wanna cry.

So the next day I decided to ditch the stroller and take Ansh in my baby carrier. That seemed like a better idea after realizing that Quebec City isn’t a very handicap friendly city and doesn’t have ramps anywhere for strollers. I ventured out again. New enthusiasm and new zeal. I carried a handbag with his milk bottle, a blanket, couple of diapers, change pad, wipes and a selfie stick. This was fun and easy. Everything was going smoothly until I decided to take a break and sit in a park. I got him out of the carrier to realize that there was poop everywhere. All over the carrier, his clothes, my clothes…. Now this is usually a situation which would make me cry. Instead I laughed. I laughed so hard and called up Ashish to tell him what a pickle I was in. It couldn’t have gotten more challenging. I managed to clean everything up with the wipes, put him back in the carrier and ran back to the hotel, because I couldn’t find a public toilet anywhere.

That is how, my once favorite city isn’t my favorite anymore because it doesn’t have ramps for strollers, or public toilets for cleaning up babies. How priorities change.

After my little expedition alone with Ansh, I was terrified of taking this trip to India with him. I was prepared for the worst. Considering my track record, the worst was going to happen. He was going to vomit all over me and himself. As soon as I would change him back, he was gonna poop everywhere. When I had that under control, he was gonna cry and wake up all the co-passengers. I wasn’t gonna get any sleep, food or a visit to the washroom. I had a very “scared and apologetic-in-advance” look on my face. Probably that’s why everybody around me was calming me down and helping me with Ansh. Or maybe because I have the cutest kid who wouldn’t stop laughing and playing. Either ways, travelling with Ansh was a breeze. Mr. social bee was busy playing with other co-passengers while his mom caught up on some sleep.

Yes, life with a baby is 10 folds challenging, but also more adventurous, more exciting and more exploratory. I would have never realized what I’m capable of, if it hadn’t been for Ansh.

On his 4^th month birthday, here are the milestones I want to remember:

His sweet smile has gotten even sweeter (if that is even possible). He has learn to roll over from his back to his tummy, he smiles a ton, blows spit bubbles (my absolute favorite), he has mastered bringing his toys to his mouth, holds up his head without any trouble, he knows who mama is, he’s a curious little guy who loves to watch people, he makes the most insanely adorable sounds (coos, screeches, and all sorts of laughs), he still looks like his dad but people say he has my eyes, he knows how to suck his thumb and is often shoving his hands into his mouth and drooling a ton. He’s growing into such a handsome little bud.

Happy Four months my little beautiful peach. 

Three months old - newborn no more

My little baby turned 3 months old this week and I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around this fact. When people tell you that time flies by, they’re most definitely not kidding. He’s gone from an adorable newborn to a little human that’s full of personality, the cutest smiles and little giggles. He is a fun addiction.

Month 3 has been the best one yet (I feel a feeling I’m going to keep saying that in the months to come). 

So much has changed over the past 3 months and every single one of those changes is for the better. Sure there’s less time for blogging, sleeping and doing my hair, but I’m so smitten with him, none of that matters. I’ll happily blog a little less, sleep for only about 5 hours, and step out with messy hair to spend just a little more time with Ansh.

The third month certainly had its challenges. Ashish had to go to India for a few days, which meant I had to manage a baby all by myself. Initially, I was terrified. I mean, after an entire day of changing diapers, being thrown up on, giving baths, washing clothes, feeding, sanitizing bottles, and putting up with all the crying; I didn’t have anybody to blow off my steam at…. But in no time, it got really good. I bonded with my little champ like no one’s business. I understand all his cues, he gets my humor, we dance (sort of) to my favorite Bollywood tunes.. we are just happier together. The way his eyes look for me in a crowd, it makes me feel like his hero. It’s a wonderful feeling. When people call him “Mama’s boy”, I stealthily smile.

He also got his first set of shots in this month, which he took like a champ. Don’t believe me? See it for yourself (Hey, don’t judge me for videotaping his misery. I want to record all of his important moments)

Despite the current scheduling and sleep challenges I do feel GOOD though. I mean, I’m really happy and feel totally centered somehow even though I’m walking into doors and constantly forgetting stuff.

When I would hear people say, “I can’t imagine my life before my baby,” I was never really able to grasp the statement. Sure having a baby changes so many things, but that statement becomes so profound once you hold your baby in your arms. At that moment, you truly can’t imagine your life any other way and that feeling only gets stronger with each passing day. My life revolves around his eating, sleeping or awake time.

The first few months with your baby are so hard and exhausting, and yet when I look back on them, even just a few months later, I have almost an admiration for all those sleepless nights and moments of desperation that come with a newborn. There is something so powerful and overwhelming about somebody needing you so wholly, but is it also so BEAUTIFUL. I’m just nostalgic today and going through all of his newborn pictures and videos. Here’s his Second Month and  First month update.

 Three month milestones:

·         He is incredibly alert and loves to look around at the world. 

·         He smiles, coos, “talks” back when you ask him questions and generally just hangs out like a champ. He babbles a lot and is loving all the funny noises he is learning to make.

·         He laughs at himself a lot.

·         He reaches and almost grasps things now, which is wonderful… except when it’s my hair.

·         He started rolling over from tummy to back when he was 3 days old, but he also rolled over from back to tummy… one time!!!

·         Now that he has discovered his hands, they are always in his mouth. Sometimes he tries to shove both is fists in his mouth which is adorable to watch. I can’t keep his hands out of his mouth for long…unless he has a blanket, his toys, his shirt or something else in his mouth instead. (We may have a teething baby soon I think!)

·         Ashish held him up high and blew on his tummy, when he laughed for the first time. He often gurgles when he smiles, but this one time that he laughed, was magical. He sounded like an adorable squeaky toy. I’ve tried to replicate it every day since.

·         Ansh is also on the move these days with all his rolling around. He’ll do a complete 180 on his playmat! I’ll turn around for one second and he’ll be positioned differently. He’s a ninja!

·         He is always giggling when we play with him (he sounds so cute too),

·         He enjoys having lots of kisses (yay!)

·         He loves having his photo taken (he looks right at the camera and sometimes, smiles),

·         He really likes going for walks,

·         He is totally into his playmat now. He will happily spend hours there sometimes

·         He loves cuddling us,

·         He isn’t that keen on any of his toys or books yet because his focus still is on mommy, daddy and milk.

·         Oh and everyone who meets him falls in love.

BTW, this is my favorite video of him: