Half-Day Outing with My Daughter

 It was a regular day. My brother and his wife came visiting me and our parents. They basically came to see my daughter, Pranika since she was born. It was Bhabhi's first visit to my house at Greater Noida.

One of the days they decided to visit the property of Vasundhara while I decided to stay at home with my daughter. The nanny, Aarti, took medical leave. I was again more than elated to be with her- Pranika for a good half day and spend five to six hours alone at home.

It felt like a 'home picnic with music, fun and frolic'.

As soon as everybody left, I first put on some of my favorite YouTube videos on mysticism, law of attraction, good intention, happiness and joy. First of all I began her hour-long massage, front back, hands and feet. She remained dipped in mustard oil for half-an-hour, her feet first, then her stomach, torso and hands. Soon after I heated the water and gave her a warm shower. Just as she finished her hygiene routine, I warmed up her milk (60-75 ml of NAN-Pro, Stage 1) and she gulped it down in ten minutes. Super speed. As she slept off in the warm winter Sun of Magh Maheena, I warmed my tehri and matar paneer to have a little picnic at the terrace with her by my side.

She enjoyed the warmth of the sun against her body, a bit full of rashes from the nappy pads. I then put out her clothes for a drying routine under the sun as I also made myself some tea.

After finishing my daily gratitude exercises, I again warmed her milk, put some clothes out to dry, cleaned her poop and washed a few more clothes.

It was now time for the cleaner Swati to arrive and Pranika's Mama-Mami and Nana-Nani to come back too from Vasundhara.

I kissed her and sang her a lullaby with some mantras, readings from Durga Saptashati, Ramayana, Jay Blumler's book and Dadaji's storybook.

Yippee! A day gone by too soon to remember what happened!!!

First Forty Days of Baby Pranika

 Pranika, inspired by the names of my former employers of NDTV- Prannoy+Radhika=Pranika, was a name kept after much thought and research. Pranika is also the synonym for Goddess Parwati. Born in the midst of echoes of 'Ram Rajya', she came to me by as much surprise as anybody, yet after a lot of prayer.

I always compared her to Lord Patanjali, for I had heard the story about how he fell into the palms of Sage Gonika, while she used to perform her daily ablutions to the Sun God. Pranika was no different. She was after all born to a yogi mother.

Initially I got anxious as my mother made me nervous that I may not be able to hold the baby or carry her properly. But things fell into place as I changed her nappy, cleaner her faeces and massaged her once in a while.

The first thing I bought for her was a baby carrier which was shaped like a kangaroo bag. The next thing I bought for her was a box full of rattles and tingles.

Pranika was also a harbinger of several guests at my place- beginning with both my Mama-Mamis and their assortment of warm blankets, mustard pillow, langots like g-strings among other things for the child. Next came her own Mama-Mami, Dhrubedita with their set of things for her.

As she turned one month on January 15, there was a Sundarkaand Paath for her and some small celebration. As my own birthday followed suit on January 18, I rushed to turn 44 with Pranika in my arms. Kanika Kaul, my friend from Welham, had sent me a fruit cake (eggless) which made my day with my parents, Pranika and her caregiver.

So this is how first forty days passed with few trips to the doctor for her first set of vaccinations on December 18 and some medicines to save her from recurring loose motions. She also continued to get her regular doses of Vitamin D3 drops, Folic acid among others. Neosporin powder came very handy, too.