Happy Birthday, Vir!

Vir, welcome to the world and to our lives! Here's also wishing you a very happy birthday! :)

Who knew you would be born today, it was only yesterday that my mind was rushing with thoughts like "If I would be able to take good care of two kids?", "If I'll be able to love both Kabir and you equally?", "If I'll be a good mother to you both?" and many more. That night, I slept with all this nervousness in mind and then I had a dream which suggested that your birth was coming close, but how often do dreams come true?!?

In the morning when I woke up, I started counting the number of days left from my actual due date of Dec 20th and thought with Kabir born 8 days early, you could be born anytime now too.

I got dressed to leave for my doctor's visit before heading to the training I was supposed to be in that day. As Doctor Kacedan was examining you through the ultrasound, he said the amniotic fluid is down to 7 and we should deliver the baby today. I had my mouth wide open with "WHAT?"

He said I was 2cms dilated and they would induce labor and it should go smoothly. I said I needed to talk to your Dad. He ran a stress test to check your heart beat for about 20 mins and that looked great.

After all the tests were done, I called your Dad and updated him and we decided the next course of action, which was for both of us to get home, pick up the stuff for the hospital and check-in.

We checked into the hospital around 1pm and the doctors and the nurses hooked me up with the medicines I needed and then the wait for your birth began! :)

While we were waiting, we decided that Dad would bring Nani and Kabir to the hospital, so we could all be together while we waited for you. The timing worked out perfectly. Soon after they came, the nurse examined me and said that she could feel your head and I was ready to deliver. I couldn't believe it. Dad had stepped away and I didn't know when he would be back and if he would be back before you were born? Doctor Kacedan was summoned. Luckily, Dad was back on time and you were born at 6:54 P.M. weighing 5.78 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches in height. 

You, my sweet little pea were put in my arms right after you were born and I fell in love with you right that second. All my nervousness was gone and I was just so happy to see you, to hold you and to have you with me. It was the perfect moment, the one I will always remember and cherish! I was happy from within.

I was so relived that the rash didn't get to you. (I had been taken over by Pemphigoid Gestationis, since the start of my third trimester and there was a slight chance of you getting the rash, which I had been praying for not to happen.)

There was excitement everywhere; the room was full of smiles. For Kabir, it was like he got a new toy. He loves you dearly and wants to be with you all the time! :)

Dad, Nani and Kabir, got a cake to celebrate your arrival!

Kabir was excited to cut it! :)

Since you are so tiny, you were monitored very closely. Initial tests showed some concerns with the blood sugar being low and the heart rate going down in-between to the baseline but after several repeated tests and some feedings, we saw good results and took a deep sigh of relief.

Here's praying and hoping it will all go well from here.

Happy Birthday, my love! You are absolutely precious and are a pure bundle of joy to all of us. We can't have enough of you!

Lots of blessings and a whole lot of love!

Mama

K starts Pre-school!

Last Thursday, Sept 12th, Kabir started pre-school. It was the day of the orientation, so Kabir and I went together to his school. It was a fun filled day for Kabir, with lots of toys to play with, story time and even a visit to the playground!

We came back happy!

Even though, I had enrolled him into this two-day a week program and I went to the orientation with him, it didn't strike me, till the next day when I dropped him off at the carpool that he's now a pre-schooler; a boy who is growing even though for me he is still little.

On Friday, Sept 13th, Kabir and I were in the car and I had his name tag on the windsheid, saying "Kabir Upaday", I was talking to him, telling him that he'll be going inside the school with his teacher and will be there for a few hours and then I will come and pick him up in the afternoon. Kabir listened and said to me, "Can Mommy come inside too?" I told him, "No, mommy can't come inside, Kabir has to go by himself. He's a big boy now". He was quiet. We stopped in the carpool line and a staff member, opened the door and greeted Kabir with a soft and cheerful voice. She un-buckled his seat belt, held him in her arms and walked him inside to his class room. I looked back and Kabir did too, my eyes full of tears. My little boy, was now a pre-schooler; going to school by himself, where I couldn't call and check on him. I had to wait for it to be noon to pick him up and take him home.

It was a big day; a day Kabir was starting to be independent and a day I will always remember.

When it was time to pick Kabir up from school, I was waiting in the carpool line behind two other cars. I reached 10 minutes early, excited to see him and find out how his day was?

Sharp at 12:00pm, the kids were there standing in line. I could see Kabir through the glass door, standing in the large room; stretching himself, going round and round; totally carefree. I smiled to myself, feeling happy to see him that way.

Soon Kabir's teacher saw me with his name tag and brought Kabir out. Kabir and I looked at each other and smiled and then something totally unexpected happened. As he walked to the car, he didn't want to sit in the car seat. He just wouldn't sit and was crying hysterically. I hadn't seen this side of him before. I got out of the car and picked him up. Tried to console him, bribe him with his favorite videos, but nothing was working. The carpool was blocked for 15 mins, because I couldn't drive without him sitting in the car seat. I was so embarrassed and felt really guilty, but didn't know what to do.

Kabir's teacher suggested, I park the car in the parking lot and she will walk Kabir there. So, that's what I did, but Kabir still wouldn't sit in the car seat. He wanted to sit in the front. With the car parked, I sat him in the front, gave him his bottle of milk and just sat there till he finished it. Afterwards, I finally was able to convince him to sit in the car seat and we drove back home.

I guess, with toddlers come tantrums and I just was caught off-guard.

I am a now nervous of how next week and then each week after, will go after having seen this recent outburst. Something I have to wait and experience. 

Other than that, I heard from Kabir's teacher, that he had a great time in the class, he did a project, where he made a caterpillar, he made a friend named Claire and even ate his snack! :)

Happy Pre-schooling, Kabir! I am hoping for pleasant drives back home going forward. :)

Love you a whole lot!
Mama

Happy 2013!

Sweetie, as we end 2012 today, I wanted to reflect on how this year went for you.

• You turned 1! 
• You learned  
• walking, running, climbing and jumping
• talking in sentences and can now converse very well
• counting, alphabets, rhymes, shapes and colors
• to tell your name!
• saying "Thank you"
• cleaning up
• Started school
• Took trips to NYC, Pennsylvania, Montreal and India
• Spent time with family and got a LOT of pampering!
• Fascination with Trains, bikes and cars started
• You started screaming, so much so that sometimes my ears hurt and I wonder what your throat must feel!

It was a great year, full of many new and wonderful beginnings.

As we enter 2013 and beyond, I have several wishes for you. Here goes!

I wish 

• you grow strong and healthy
• you always stay very inquistive
• you continue to amaze us, just like you do today
• you continue to play, experiment and learn
• you stay loving, courteous and respectful to others
• you always have great mentors and are surrounded by people who love you
• you become truthful and can tell what's right vs. wrong
• you get the best of education and never stop to learn
• you have a million dreams and the ambition and the strength to make them come true
• you always stay joyful and make everyone smile, just like you do today
• you and I become the best of friends 

I wish you all this and more! Have a wonderful time forward and I look forward to more exciting times with you!

Love you now and forever!

Mama