Happy Birthday, Papa ji!

Dear papa ji, happy birthday! Remembering you today and walking down the memory lane.

Often times, Sumit and I talk and share with each other how fortunate we have been to have you and mama as our grandparents. We consider ourselves really blessed.

The love, affection and the values you taught us are our inheritance and we hope we can preserve them and do a good job of passing them along.

I remember how you used to say that I had holes in my hands as I would drop things so often and I would smile. Also, remembering how you used to call me "Gudiya" and the way you said it, instantly told me that you needed water and I would ask, "papa ji, paani?"

Remembering, the pink ink, felt pen, I once gifted you on your birthday and the jokes you wrote with it from Reader's Digest. The image of the large collection of diaries written by you, lined on our dining table, is right in front of my eyes.

When Billy Joel played the mouth organ, when I was at his concert, two night back, I recalled, the mouth organ, you got for us (Sumit and me) and how you would play it for us sometimes too. How you wanted to learn a musical instrument; the Violin, and you went looking for one in the musical instruments shop at Ghanta Ghar.

The shadow hand puppets you made for us when the power was out.

Remembering it all and tearing up as I write this today.

Papa ji, I love you and miss you so much. I hope you are happy and are blessing us from above.

Tight Hug,
Gudiya

Happy 7 months!

Vir, you are 7 months already!! I'm late in publishing this post as we were out traveling and this time without our computers.

You celebrated your 7 month birthday in San Francisco! Sumit Mamu and Aman Mami joined for a few days too, and you met them for the first time.

For the rest of us, it was a re-union to remember, like any other that we have had before. Kabir has been missing Mamu and wants him back! :)

You had a bit of a stranger anxiety initially but next day, you were friends!

And here's a group selfie! :)

We did our best to keep up with your schedule while traveling. We didn't have a big agenda, so our days were not over busy while we still did things that Kabir enjoyed, like we went to the zoo, exploratorium, aquarium, the coit tower, etc. Below is us at the exploratorium! :)

While Sumit Mamu and Aman Mami were there, grown ups indulged in a day trip to the Napa Valley!

It was interesting living in the city. There was so much to do at walking distance. The tough part was carrying the stollers up and down the steps and walking up the inclines. We stayed at two houses and both were on hill tops, so we got good exercise! :)

There were times when you were in the stroller and other times, I would just put you in the carrier and you were happy! You napped well and it was easier to get around.

You have been pushing a lot and trying to crawl, i think it is coming soon!! :)

You are the sweetest baby i know, always happy and smiling!

There's something about Kabir that makes you smile every time he's around! Anything he does, makes you laugh. I Love it! It's super cute! :)

You graduated from your Bumbo chair and have now been sitting in the high chair for meals

and some playtime!

For the trip, we carried the portable high chair and it worked great for you. That's you and K waiting for breakfast! :)

Soon Daddy joined too!! :)

Some breakfast conversation with Dad.

You can hold your sippy cup and take it to your mouth to drink water!

 And have been sitting with just the back support for a longer time!

Earlier in the month, it was father's day and Daddy and Dadu celebrated together with you boys!

While all the grandparents were here, we had Shauna from photography Du Jour, come and take some family photos. These were taken when you were 5 months but I received them recently. 

Each month brings out something new, something more exciting but I miss the months that have gone past. I miss the first days and the first months. I wish I could pause the time and keep you as a baby for a little bit longer! :)

I love you sweetie, we all do!

Mama