Childproofing your house

Each milestone requires a different set of things that need to be done to childproof your house. Some of which I have learnt from my personal experiences , some from both the set of parents and some from the experienced friends.

So here it goes:-
As your child starts to roll over, or is about to reach the stage in which babies roll over their tummies, one needs to get alert at all times. Safeguarding all ends of the bed with pillows and never leaving the baby alone. I have had some scary experiences where Eshu fell down from the bed, so its best to place the baby down all times unless and until you are around.
Those tiny heads have a lot going on within, which makes them extremely curious about their surroundings. So never leave anything around them which attracts them and could prove dangerous.

When the baby reaches the crawling stage, there is a lot that needs to be done.
First and foremost, remove all the needed stuff from the ground level that can be reached easily. Secure all the electric points with a tape. Putting their tiny fingers into the power points and switching on and off the plugs is an interesting game for them.
Leave no wire hanging down on the floor. Every thing that reaches their hands, finds its way to their mouths.
Keep all door mats, slippers/sandals away from their reach or vice versa. Shoes somehow attact them a lot.
Never keep the bathroom door open. Be very cautious about closing the door after each use.
Never leave the bucket/bathtub filled with water.
Never leave the main door/entrance open.

There would be several other things which people might like to add to the list with their experiences. Eshu is yet to reach the standing up(without support) and walking stage. But I know the task would only get tougher by the day.

Childproofing your house would never be completely done, atleast till the time he is old enough and understands what is harmful and what does not need to be done. Till that time just be a little extra cautious by keeping an eye on them all the time, because stopping them just won't do the job... it will only make them do more.

Messy and fussy

Ever since Eshu was some 2 months old, he had this habit of sucking his hand, his index finger and middle finger in particular. We found it funny and wierd as we had always heard of thumb sucking babies. This habit has slowly given way to putting anything and everything in his mouth. He bites and licks everything that comes his way-toys, sandals, slippers, door mat, cell phones, utensils, almirah, doors, latches, knobs, and to the extent his very own clothers that he is wearing. Just anyting. The minutest of the particle lying on the floor might go unnoticed by us, but not by him. I stop him as much as I can and finally when I get tired, I just give up. Much of the blame is put on teething. I guess it could be partly or maybe completely true.


At times, he sreams at the top of his voice for no reason at all. All he gains is the attention of the people around and immense pleaure from the reverbaration of his own voice. Who cares whether it is at home or at some public place. Look at his face at that time. How elated he looks when people look around to see him. A task accomplished.


Feeding him is another uphill task. Just 4-5 spoons full of anything I want him to eat and that is it. After that his lips would be so tighly closed that I just can't put anything in his mouth. Or even if I try, he will blow it off with such an intensity that it will end up sticking all over his face, my face, clothes and everything in the vicinity. After repeated efforts, I stop forcing him, because it doesn't work well for him or for me and leaves both of us frustrated.


Potty training seesions have been so much of a mess, that I have stopped doing them for some time atleast. His new potty seat has been fascinating him so much that he tries licking it as soon as I make him sit on that. I am just waiting for the day when he gets potty trained and at least is able to tell me that he needs to poop. Much of my tasks would be relieved then. I was telling this to my dad and he said, once he starts doing that you would long for the day when he starts cleaning it too on his own. I just smiled. I guess he is right.

And now comes the sleeping time. Eshu has been a very very scrace sleeper, anythime of the day or night. No matter how good I masaage him,feed him ,bathe him ... no matter how sleepy he is, rubbing his eyes vigorously or yawning with a full mouth, he denies to sleep. He becomes extremely cranky at that time but just won't sleep. It takes a lot of time, effort and immense patience to comfort him and make him go to sleep.

The list goes on and on... When I massage him, bathe him, dress him up, feed him. He seems to run away from my grip each time. The bowl of oil fascinates him as I massage him. The mug, bucket and the boby wash fascinate him as I bathe him. The cream /powder fascinates him as I dress him up after a bath. The bowl and the spoon fascinates him as I feed him. He has his hand on everything. The curiosity never leaves him. And, the vast reserves of energy and enthusiasum he carries, amazes me.

Each phase passes by ... leaving back memoies which are mostly sweet. Because the phase in which Eshu is or the phases which just passed by have been full of innocence and ignorance. I wish the ignorance disappers slowly but the innocence remains.

Happiness

Watching you sleep is HAPPINESS.

Tracing that curve of your lips as you sleep is HAPPINESS.

Kissing your forehead when you sleep is HAPPINESS

Feeling the warmth of your snuggle is HAPPINESS.

Seeing you smile back every time I look at you is HAPPINESS.

A glimpse of your bunny teeth is HAPPINESS.

Watching you make faces when you like/dislike something you eat is HAPPINESS.

When you crawl so fast and jump to hug me is HAPPINESS.

Holding you in my arms is HAPPINESS.

Feeding you is HAPPINESS.

Singing to you to make you go to sleep is HAPPINESS.

Seeing you scream in delight as I bathe you is HAPPINESS.

Watching you engrossed playing your toys is HAPPINESS.

Feeling your hands run through my face, cheek and nose as though caressing me is beyond HAPPINESS.

And, seeing you happy and content is HEAVENLINESS.

Baby, my happiness lies in every little thing you do.

My happiness lies in your very existance.

Smile-An everlasting smile

Smile is such a wonderful thing! And when it comes from Eshu, it simply makes my heart grow fonder and happier than ever. Just a mere smile from him and it relieves me of all the tiredness and fatigue on earth. His smile just works wonders for me and Anshu. It lights up any dull moment of the day. It is such a delight to see him smile now, with his two set of pearl visible clearly. He looks adobarle and the cutest with them. When Anshu is back from work, you just got to look at Eshu...his happiness knows no bounds. He just smiles, laughs and jumps around in happiness. He just can't wait for daddy to hug him, kiss him and hold him in his arms. It seems he has been waiting for it from the moment daddy left for office.

Eshu is such a happy child. He smiles at just anybody and everybody. I have rarely seen occasions when he doesnot smile... and those are when maybe he is sleepy, hungry or in some sort of pain. Whenever we go around with him, people just can't go without noticing him ... the way he smiles at them, it is sure to leave a smile on their faces too.

Now, when Anshu is not around for a month, I have seen Eshu searching for him at times. I see his lips curve into a beautiful smile when he sees daddy's pics on laptop. I know how immensely Anshu is missing his darling baby and counting days, hours , minutes and seconds to be with him.
Eshu's smile is one of the most precious things on earth for us. He is too young now... but when he grows up and reads this post of mine, I wish it leaves him with the same sweet and innocent million dollar smile of his. Love you baby.

My Daddy Strongest

Just wanted to take a minute off and wish all the daddies out there a very very Happy Father's Day!!!

I am glad my dad is here with me in bangalore today. Though there is nothing special I am doing today, but just the togetherness means a lot. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY papa... I can't thank you enough for all that you have done for me... infact just a mere 'thank' won't suffice... All I can say is, I am glad to have you as my dad. I could not ask for more. Love you papa...

And again there is no doubt's that Eshu too has an awesome dad and he's a great man on top of all. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, Honey! You are such a great dad and I know how special the relationship is between you and Eshu. This being your first father's day, I know how much you would be missing your chonu. Just want to let ou know, Eshu too misses papa a lot, his hugs and early morning kisses. Come back soon....

Are you working?

Or..." So when do you plan to join back work?". These are some routine questions that people have been asking me since just 1 week post delivery. I have been trying to answer this question for quite some time now. But with the increase in the number of similar repeated questions by a smiliar set of people, it really is getting on my nerves. I am simply fed up of giving the same answer over and over again. And now I just feel like replying.." Why can't I just be a mom and stay at home?" Is that so big an issue for people. If they can not come in terms with the fact that I am happy being a stay-at-home-mom and take care of my son, i'd rather want to stay away from such conversations and company.

Becoming a mother is a very special occasion in my life, as it would be in any woman's life. And when I decided to be one, I and Anshu never had any debates over whether I would be working post delivery or even when I would join back work. It was never an if-else-if situation or choices on raising our little wonder. I would stay at home and take care of him- and that was something I was more than willing to do.

Call me outdated, foolish or whatever, but please spare me the same routine question over and over again. Parenting was never a career option for me. And please don't pity me either, as I am NOT sacrificing anything for my son.

Life is tough being a stay-at-home-mom . Managing things from the crack of the dawn until half the world goes asleep is definitely not easy. All this hard work doesn't earn me a penny but it leaves a million dollar smile on my face.

So, to all those who have asked me this question or the ones who were going to ask me next... Maybe I will go back to work when my little wonder has grown old enough or whenever I feel like ... or maybe not... until then please don't make parenting sound too low a job to have traded my career for.

Milestones

From the day your baby is born, there are different milestones he/she achieves. And seeing your baby achieve them is absolutely thrilling. Eshu is now 9 months old and it had been a wonderful journey till now. From the time when he first lifted his head to being a crawling machine now, each milestone has been an acheivement for us too.

He arrived at 11:14 AM (EST), on August 31st, 2008 .

On 14th October, he gave his first social smile. This was one thing I craved to see and was glad to see that at about 6 weeks of age.

At about 7 weeks of age on 28th October, he laughed for the first time. He loves smiling at anyone and everyone. Infact he smiles more to strangers than he does to us.

On December 20th he held his head up..

He rolled over for the first time on December 26th at about 4 months.

He sat up without support on January 27th.

One major milestone, "crawling" happened at 7 months of age, on March 8th. Today at 9 months of age he is freaking fast crawling machine. I wonder how this 70 cm tall human keeps me on my toes all the time. He just won't be confined at one place for more than a minute. No toy keeps him captivated for more than a couple of minutes.

On 2nd April, he pulled himself up to standing. And he loves doing it to the extent that I find him standing up against the wall in the middle of the night. Now since he can not see anything in the dark, he holds onto it for some time and then starts crying.

One thing that is an absolute pleasure to see him do is playing peek-a-boo, which he first played on February 18th. He loves to play it the most with his mamma. He just screams and laughs hysterically while he plays it.

And just last month, he got his first set of pearl... They are yet to show up clearly when he smiles. I have heard babies look very very cute smiling with those 2 teeth showing up, and I am waiting to see him with them pretty soon.

Off lately he has started babbling alot. The biggest milestone for us being when he said "papa" and "mamma" for the first time . Though the words"mamma" and "papa" just came out of his mouth while babbling and it was not something which he said by us asking him to say so. But I simply love it when he keeps saying"mamma" for most of the time that he babbles.

With each milestone, my little wonder has only grown bigger, stronger, older, more unmanageable and more adorable. Having a baby is the most precious feeling and incomparable to any other feeling in the world. Watching them grow and develop in front of your eyes, is an important part of your memory that will stay with you till you live.