Sssshhhh…. Celebrations should be quiet

On the other day we went to a restaurant for dinner and there was a group of about a dozen people in the nearby table. All of a sudden, they started singing "Happy Birthday" for one among them and Anirud - being a phobic of sound started crying loudly that their singing was lost in the noise he raised. We felt a bit embarrassed but more than that they felt the same. They were constantly looking at our table to see if he is alright. It seems that one another person too was celebrating his/her birthday in that group and the group were about to sing "Happy Birthday" again. On sensing this, we were trying our best to distract Anirud by doing things for which he would normally laugh, while they finished singing - of course with all their eyes on Anirud. Thankfully, he let them sing without his background music.

Sit.. Kneel... Stand

Two new developments w.r.t. Anirud

1 - He has got a little but a very sharp teeth in the lower jaw. Another 'arisi pal' is on the way.

2 - For the last few days, he was trying to stand from the kneeling position and he finally did. He was holding a low level plastic stool for support and that was about to fall down. Yet, he some how stood and we didn't want to help him out until he made it on his own.

Now, we need to exercise more caution as he can easily reach sofas and we have lost one more place for safe keeping the things.

Addiction?

On the other day while having Strawberry Trifle after dinner, we took a bit of cream in a spoon and put in Anirud's mouth. This was probably his first taste of something outside his routine diet of milk & other baby food. The minute he tasted it, he had an immense liking and was salivating. After few more spoons, though he was craving for more - we had to stop it as he was just getting better after his tooth issues. Perhaps, this is how addiction towards sweet & creamy stuff starts.

Teething Issues

Shortly this little fella is gonna sport a teeth. Now, he feels like biting anything that comes his way, but not the one that is meant to be bitten - teether. Well.. that is what kids are about. For the last three days, he was suffering from diarrohea, slight rise in temperature etc. But what bothered us more are his incessant crying and also the fact that he was less active than his normal self. Docs & other new parents who have experienced this tell that it is normal and today there are signs that he is returning to normal gradually, which is great.

hmmm... if it would be like this for a single teeth, how would it be for the rest?

Wash Watch

One of the favourite pastime for Anirud is to crawl up to the kitchen from where ever he is and watch the washing machine spin from close quarters. The whirrring sound and the movement of some colourful stuff inside appears to fascinate him. Its a joy to watch him watch.

What a fall

Anirud fell off from the bed yesterday. Usually, he sleeps in his cot which has got its fence kinda thing for safety. But yesterday morning we put him in our bed for some reason and erected a pillow cordon around him. This brat woke up a bit earlier than usual and didn't make even a mild noise. Instead, he started crawling over the pillows and unfortunately landed in the floor with the thud. Though he hit the other cot (his own) and brought down the study lamp, he wasn't injured. He cried for a little while and was back to his own self soon enough. Thank god for that.

Sound-o-phobia

Anirud is very much scared of any jarring sound. In the few months he was in India, he used to cry when he hears the bell if taken to temple, where as at home, he is scared of cooker whistle. Ironically, this fella is fond of music. He grins when the music player is switched on or when one of us hums or even whistles.

Battery Blast

On the other night we were having dinner and Anirud was playing quietly when we heard a sound like that of a deepavali cracker. My first instinct was to check the gas appliances and when that was intact, I found a little black rod lying on the carpet, which suggested that it could be from a battery. I was sure that there were no batteries lying around in the house. It was then I saw a piece of red plastic along with some greasy stuff that made me check one of Anirud’s battery powered toy of the same colour. Indeed, one of the AA batteries, which was there in the toy had burst out though the toy hasn’t been in use for quite sometime. Thankfully, the little fella wasn’t too close to the toy at that time.

My Son & I

Got to see Anirudh for the first time on a beautiful Monday morning. Like he does most of the time these days, he was happily sleeping underneath a little mosquito net. I knelt down, but wasn’t exactly sure how I could lift him as I had never lifted a kid that small. I couldn’t exactly express how I felt that time, as ‘elated’ would be too small a word, but seeing him in real life did give me a sense of pride. I touched him on his soft cheek and he immediately changed his posture. Seems that he is so very sensitive to touch that as soon as I mildly touched his palm, he gripped my finger immediately. Didn’t have the heart to release my finger from that little palm. Minutes later, with a thumping heart I lifted him up in my arms and he greeted me with a drizzle.

Thanks to the lovely Chennai/Trichy weather (bloody hell.. they are all the same), I remained indoors for most part of the time and all I did was watch Anirudh sleep. Fresh after a bath one day, we made him wear half a dozen dresses that I got for him and merrily clicked as many photographs I could. I am glad that he cooperated very well though some of the dresses were big enough to accommodate few more kids. The night before I left, he demonstrated how a knackered night would be if he is not in the best of his elements. By & large, he is quite calm & doesn’t cry too often. But then, 40 days is just too early to say anything. It was very tough to leave him, but I have promises to keep. By the time I meet him next, he would be slightly bigger and might even have some pranks under his kitty. Looking forward to that day.

Changing Times & Changed Me

Made the first purchase for our newborn yesterday. In fact, it happened without any planning. I was out on the street, doing the usual weekly shopping when a smart dress displayed at the window of the kids’ wear shop caught my eye. Instinctively, I entered the shop, scanned the varieties and made the quick purchase. This shop has been around for so many years at the same place. I have gone past this shop tens of hundreds of times before, but I have never bothered to glance at that side. Times have changed very quickly and before I could realise, it has changed me. With the addition of a new member in the family, the entire thought process is slowly but steadily undergoing lots of changes in the last few days. From the need to allot more space to accommodate this little chap’s paraphernalia to placing the kid’s requirements first in every bit of planning to eliminate certain words in my vocabulary (that is the most difficult bit), I am thinking about lot many things of late.

In whatever I do, my mind right now is with Anirudh. I am trying to put down things as I think at the moment. Perhaps, all these might be nothing but initial euphoria and life may continue as before.

Introduction

Forwarded to you by a proud dad!

—– Original Message —–
From: Anirud Chakkarapani [mailto: anirud@chakkarapani.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005
To: All of you!

Hello

How are you?

I am Anirud. At the time of typing, I am just about an hour old, as I was born at around 7:38 pm (IST) on Wednesday, 20th of April 2005 at Trichy, India.

My mom & I are doing great, but a lil’ tired at the moment. We are just waiting to get home & join my dad. I’ve said ‘Nah!’ to photo-shoots so far. But I was told that my dad is already pestering for my snaps. I would oblige him a bit later. Since I am busy receiving relatives & friends, I have asked my dad to keep in touch with you all on my behalf.

Catch you all a lil’ later folks. Lotsa things to do now. See ya.

luv,
Anirud
s/o Chakra & Charu (Ramya).

Dad: +44 (0) 773 667 6377
Me: Would get one soon!