His Xmas Gifts by SantaClause

It was as usual morning rather a Thursday blues but the best part was it is holiday and that too a week day off. Coincidentally it is Christmas... Dec 25th 2008.

Being a Xmas day, I decided it shouldn't go off as dull as the previous Xmas's. So to make it more exciting and thrilling I started thinking of better rather best options. Lots of options struck my mind like go out with family for a dinner, go for a movie, go for a small long drive etc etc... but all these didn't suit just because of the congested traffic jams in and around bangalore.

Finally the best(est) option that I could see and which was gave me the most satisfaction was to play the role of Santa Clause for the first time in my life. Believe me or not the same thought was expressed by my wife Payal. Both of decided lets go to a good toy store and get some good gifts for our Dearest Prince... "Atharva".

Moment we entered the toy store (few kms away from our home)... Atharva got excited.... he used to point at each and every toy that he could reach and say few words which definitely meant..... this one, this one and this one.

After spending considerable amount of time at the store finally we but all this.
-- A Block game where he needs to identify the shape and insert that block correctly.

-- A Digger Dog which can be pulled along while he takes a stroll in the house.

-- A book which showed some good pictures.

-- and a toy dumper with various buttons when pressed will make different sounds (this toy dumper is a fire brigade dumper).




And after reaching home, Atharva didn't wait for a minute, not even allowing us to unpack the gift.... just continued pointing at the toys and screaming to the max with full excitement. These where few precious moment captured on a Xmas day which made me and my wife feel happy and thought of continuing this tradition henceforth.

I am coming... pepepe..... move off the track.

on to a joy ride.... wanna join.... :)

Say Cheese......... :)

My Little Boy

the count down has begun.... 3...2...1.... bingo.... he gonna be back on sunday and its will be a bang.... its been roughly 5 weeks since Atharva has been away from me n i am waiting for him...completely charged up.... excited .... !!!

No amount of gold could ever compare, to the gift of love that my son shares.
I've been blind and I couldn't see that all the love I've wanted is right here in front of me.
He gives reason to get through another day.
Maybe it's how he loves me in his special little way.
And when it gets hard for me to sleep at night....
He wraps his little arms around me and says God will make things right!
From sweet gentle touches to his bear hugs and a kiss...
He makes this hell on earth seem more like a peaceful bliss.
That great big kool-aid smile and the twinkle in his eyes....
Every time I look at him it makes me want to cry.
But they're not tears of sorrow; they're tears of pride and joy....
Too know that all the love in heaven is wrapped around my little boy

I am Loving it.... :)

atharva at McD with Ronald the clown character

cheering the crowd at McD

atharva..... enjoy the french fries (he loves them)

and... finally the ice cream "yummy"

sochte raho....

what could have made payal to react this way when she was clicked? was it atharva pinching her or i just managed to click at the right time.

no re-takes, just in one click....

the gr8 atharva....(some precious moments)

Its fun experiencing this

Payal's visit to parlour was pending for past few days infact few weeks. Finally today, saturday, she told me in morning she would go to parlour once Atharva goes to sleep after he takes bath. I got the indication that today is gonna be the day when I need to change my role from father to baby sitter.

The moment Atharva went to sleep, payal got dressed so fast that I couldn't believe where as she would take pretty good amount of time to get dressed up... hmm.. after all she is a girl and how can I forget girl's best(est) jewelry is her makeup (shingaar), good attire....etc... After she got ready, she asked me if she would get dropped at parlour ASAP. And as perfect husband, I did.

Now at home, it was the father who was taking care of his son, but more importantly it was the father turned into baby sitter who was taking care of baby who was in deep (sound) sleep. All the precautions were taken like TV volume reduced to lowest, living room window closed, etc... so that Atharva doesn't get disturbed and I don't need to be on my toes running here and there..... finding ways to settle him down.

After roughly an hour, I heard him crying.... got the signal... dude the king has woken up... time to be on toes. I took Atharva in my arms... while he was crying... he directed me to different rooms in search of his mom... and the moment he couldn't see her... the volume of crying increased (but bearable....).

After trying all sorts of tricks,I managed to get him back to sleep.... and this helped me to take a deep and calm breath. I must say.... it was fun experiencing the change in the role.

There he goes...

In a day, sharp at 10am and 6pm Atharva will walk towards the main door of our home and start pointing out.... well that's the indication from him... Papa/Mamma, I want to go out.... believe me, this is his daily routine and I really don't know how could such a small kid of just 14 mnths old who doesn't know what is a watch/time, but definitely knows that his timings of going out and have fun.



And moment the door is opened, there is big smile on his face and he rushes (walks with full throttle... ) towards the staircase. He stands there and say few words which cannot be translated into any langugae but can be understood... "I want to climb up the stairs"... and he does... step by step he climbs up the stairs and the moment he reaches the platform, he stands up there and give a big smile and again moves up....



Believe it or not... Atharva enjoys the most this way and I think he makes us also enjoy.... :)

He talks to everything

Atharva has been watching his parents for almost 13+ months now since the day he has born. And the funniest thing that he has picked up is.... anything he holds in his small hands.... to start with is, the mobile phone (doesn't matter how has he hold the phone), tv remote, a toy, his munching plate (oh the list is too long)....straight away goes near to ear and this is what he says..... aaha, aata or quick n sweet laugh...

He believes he can talk to everything, anything.......... :)

Quote of the Day

Atharva (our son) says these few words now a days.... "aata, dedo, kut kut, amma, mummy, pa........", these few words are so beautiful to hear that it relieves us from all bloody tension, stress etc.

Not to forget, these few words are always accompanied by a handsome smile on his face.

He Just Missed... Thank God

It was a usual monday blues, after returning back from office... thought of relaxing and having a cup of tea and go through the newspaper. All glued to the newspaper and cup of tea, my wife said she is going to neighbor's home along with Atharv. For a minute I didn't hear what she said, just nodded my head and when i turned back... i was all alone at home (did get some naughty ideas definitely not those of "Home Alone" types....hehehe).

After a while I heard the crying voice of a kid, initially thought it would be some one else but later I realised its my son Atharv who has is crying like mad.... I thought his mom must have tried to make him drink milk from the bottle which he hates the most.... later when both of them entered the home, I the news of my life.... he ramed himself to edge of the bed and got hurt. I asked my wife how did this happen, as usual she said, he got excited while walking,lost his control and booooooom...... into the bed's edge.

I could see blood clotted which turned into blue on the left side of his left eye accompanied by swelling. We applied ice and could see the swelling coming down. Luckly "He just missed hurting his eye...." Me and my wife (in chorus) said... thank you god for saving his beautiful eye.... :)

Here I come

Every parent's dream would to see their child taking the first step.... Yes, finally Atharv has started walking few steps on his own. Earlier when he use to try, I could see a slight fear on his face while taking those initial steps... but now there is smile on his face to reach the other end towards which he is walking.




In this video, his dearest friend... "Jerry" is accompanying him as well.



In this video, his mom called him... and he did walked towards her (although she isn't there in the video).





In this, he walked to get his stuff toy..."Duck" and ..... :)

Its his first birthday

Yes, you heard it right... Atharva has just turned 1 today 6th Sept. We all had decided to celebrate his first birthday in fantastic way for which all the required work was done like, hall was booked, flowers were purchased to decorate the hall, cake was ordered (after brainstroming session finally the cake's shape was decided... a teddy bear) that too black forest.... yummy... :), invitation were sent to all the guests.

Apart from these, we had orderes a small special cake for him... before going for the party... we had a small pooja for his good health, prosperity. He finally cut his first cake.


We all reached the party hall at 6.45pm. The hall was decorated really well, which tempted us to have few photo sessions with the birthday boy... flowers, balloons everywhere.... I gave Atharva a balloon... he smiled... and grabbed the balloon with both his hands... and moment i turned around... i hear a sound.... boooom... his eyes were wide open with a smile on his face.... (wish i had camera that moment).

For an hour or so we thought that did we inform the guest about the time or not.... till 7.45pm the we were only guests (host). After few minutes, guests started coming... first... second.... soon & so forth. Everybody asked used to wish us as well (atharva's parents)... by saying... atharva won't understand so its better to congratulate his parents.... (it was really feel good factor).

Finally the time had come to run the knife through the teddy bear i mean the cake. All of us gathered near the table where the cake was kept...My wife and me grabbed Atharva and with his small tiny hand held the knife.... and... in chorus this could be heard.... Happy Birthday to You...Happy Birthday to You Atharvana.



Time really flies....

Time Really Flies....

On 6th Sept 2007, We got blessed with best gift of our life.

I was all excited to hold him the very first time.

And finally he completed his 1st month. Ah kya style hai yaar...... the new style icon.

I wonder what is he thinking after completing his 2nd month. Options are: 1) what would he seeing at that point of time 2) what was he thinking that made him to click a snap in this pose. 3) i don't know.....

Yes, he is now 3mnths old and sleeping to glory with all his friends around him and watching him, singing..... (i wonder what his friends would be singing for him....)

He is looking much better now.... after completing 4th month.

This one looks much better right..... 5th month completed successfully.


After completing 6th month... he is all set rock the floor..... :)

After completing 7th month.... this is what he is... Pirate(s) of Ganges: Captain Atharva (where is my one shot gun)

He is so excited..... after completing 8th month.

Yes... he finally did he... got up on his own... that happened after completing 9th month.


And finally.... 10th month completed.

Doesn't he look naughty... like.. all set to play mischief... 11th month completed.


And.. in another few days (count down has begun... 5...4...3..2......)... he will complete 1yr..... we (parents) are so excited... waiting for 6th Sept 2008 to come.... he gonna rock the dance floor.... :)

Its his first birthday

Every step you take...

It is said that we should start our day with good, positive thinking the moment you get off your bed. Earlier my day used to start by seeing my own or room-mate's face with all that ugly or wacky looks. Slowly days passed by and I got married.... life did change after that (i don't have elaborate here as a married person's experience does speak about it). After this, my day used to begin with all the happiness, joy... by looking at my face in the mirror, I could judge... its a beautiful day... ah ha... :)

And now after almost three years of marriage... life have changed a lot.... it has become even more better comparing the initial days of my marriage.... and all credit goes to my wife who gave birth to our first child. From the day our son has entered our life, the life has totally changed. As mentioned earlier my day used to get started by......... but now it all starts with my son.

WOW!! Every day is being memorable day of our life, since the time he has stepped into our life. Its like.... Every step you take, every move you make.... it brings smile on our face (god is definitely watching us).

Few of the most cherishing moments are:





Its almost end of his 11th month,since the day he has come, every morning has been so beautiful that the happiness (rather early morning smile) on my face says everything and all the credit goes to my son. Before opening his eyes, he yawns, stretches his body to the max limit he can do (i guess) and while he is stretching his body, yawning, etc.... he look so cute.... we just can't control our emotions and jump on him to hug him. And finally he wakes... looking around... passing smiles to us... he will arise his hand, point his finger to the toy hanging over the bed and say... tis, tis...

Moment I enter home after coming back from office, he smiles showing his bright white shining teeth (although few have come by now in his 11th month), claps, starts shaking himself showing his happiness and finally crawls towards me (doesn't even allow me to put off my bag) and jumps into my arms. If by mistake I ignore him, thats it.... I have to redo the act of entering home..... ring the door bell, he smiles........ Once he comes to me, his mother will call him... he will react saying... na.. na.. and taken forcibly he cries to top of his voice. Of course not to mention... it does make me feel.... i am on cloud no. 9.

Last but not the least, I would say:

Teeny, tiny little toes
Small and round little nose
A precious gift from heaven above
My sweet baby that I love

We’ve longed to see you face to face
And we’ve prepared a special place
Just for you, our baby

this made me smile to glory

With all excitement, nervousness and mixed feeling, i drove the car back to home from the hospital. Given a chance i would have driven the car as if i am driving on the formula 1 race track but all this was a dream as my wife and our newly born baby were sitting in the back sit with other family members.

At last we reached home after diffusing through the heavy traffic (although hearing... drive slowly). As a gentleman i opened the rear door and helped my wife to step out of the car, slowly walked towards the main entrance of our home sweet home.

A grand welcome awaited her (of course for our baby), filled with traditional flavour, and the ethnic essence of the proceedings appealed to me. She crossed the threshold, putting our baby forward as he is the one who has just stepped into our world.

Relatives, friends hovered around, apparently trying to make our baby comfortable, but at the same time extolling the virtues of the groom and telling my us, finally you guys have entered in the next phase of your life... of course how to forget the other things... which the old people give advises....

After a good feast at dinner table, with all the giggles and gossips etc, I went to our bedroom and after seeing our baby sleeping... it was like, oh yes how could i forget about him... (in my mind was, it gonna be yet another titillating night)... I lied down next to him and was adoring him all over, suddenly he held my finger within his tiny fist. I would feel the softness of his fingers... (although his nails were pinching me). Moving my hands on head made me feel, he is so delicate and definitely demanded "utmost care".

Moment i thought of taking him into my arms, my wife said, what is stopping you by taking him in your arms. She said, i know he very delicate and lots of care needs to be taken (how could she get to know all this that was running up and down in my mind). Finally with all thoughts kept aside, i picked him up and.... i looked at him with mixture of fear, nervousness, joy.... all i could get in reply from him was a sweet smile which shot off all my fear, worried into the air and a big smile was all left on my face..... :)

the first encounter

Roughly two days were left for the D-Day... (my marriage), I was having tea with my entire family and all of a sudden my dad's mobile starts...tring tring....... he passed a smile to me, its your........ (oh my god is she that desperate to talk to me at this point of time....), your what...... your father in law.... (he smiles again). I didn't show much interest after that.... (initially).

After a while, there was huge discussion going on between my family members.... should the Groom be taken for such a function or not. I joined the conversation late and got hear this news..... and guess what a current passed within.... butterflies started flapping their (tiny) wings inside my stomach.... (so the call was for this purpose and wasn't from her...... hmm). Everybody started looking at me, few smiled, few laughed by all looking at me.... and i just couldn't stop blushing ..... (rather thinking whats gonna happen now).

Finally all dressed up...... (like a gentleman).... i was asked to drive the car by myself...... no ways....(i don't want to spoil the crease of my shirt) immediately there was an echo.... bhai come on.... you should its your time now... be a king and drive like as if you are driving.... Benz... (S Class).

On my way to the party hall (not forget, i was accompanies by all girls... my sister and cousin sisters... they just couldn't stop themselves by pulling my....). The more closer we were to the hall (distance wise)...the faster the butterflies were flapping their wings..... and finally the butterflies started flying initially in my stomach.... and later...... hehheee.

After parking the car.... (some remote car of the parking lot)... I was standing behind few of my family members.... suddenly i was pushed to front and the lights were on.... (a film director shouting "lights, camera.....ACTION"), all focused on me. And I see bunch of new people (my would be new family members) in front me.

From the extreme left corner of the gang, i could smell some one is actually gazing at me... who is it... (koun hai woh.... dekho dekho koun hai woh).... (i wish it was.......) it was none other than my Sister-in-law. I looked at her.... gave a smile (although i was already smiling). With eyes wide open.... looking at me... with a big question mark on her face and on this question mark i could see a smile... slowly coming up... (and here it comes......... the smile) . I was rushed in with a sudden pull.... (was this pull from my sil.... i don't remember).... and a voice struck my ears..... "JIJU" ( is this the only word left in the webster's dictionary)... now i came to know actually that call wasn't from my father-in-law... it was meant for the caller's JIJU.......

this one changed my life

It was a hard day at office, and luckly i reached home little early which was a surprise for my wife. After a while she told me need to go for a checkup basically for a Pregnancy test, I was like are you really..... lets go...

We reached the lab, doctor took the blood sample, said to wait for some time.... meanwhile both of us were holding each others hand tightly.... praying to god... we get to hear what we want to. After a while the lab assistant called us and said you can collect your report tomorrow. Both of us looked at each other.... (is it no)..... from the lab's huge window from where the patient collects the report, the lab assistant peeked out and called my wife and whispered something into her ears.... I could see a small tiny ray of smile slowly coming up on my wife's face.... And then what... all the guesses of the world were right...... Yes I will be called as DAD.....soon.

This news actually passed a current from top to bottom of me.... (can't say what was the watt). Both of called our parents, informed them and few close friends as well. Every body was like hurry.... got hear words like "Mein Dada banewala hu".... "Mein "Nana banewala hu".... mein mausi/bua banewali ho" etc etc...... All these words actually brought such a smile on our faces that we couldn't stop blushing..... all we could do is just imagine how will the day be when the baby comes......

After taking atmost care of my wife.... with all ups and down of mood, days which went by..... seeing her growing... etc etc..... the d-day was approaching near. Around 7th month (if i remember correctly) we decided to have the baby delivered at my wife's place... Varanasi. Her father being doctor that too child specialist and having good contacts in the varanasi hospital, the final call was taken... Varanasi... the holy city.

Although it took some time for us to finalize a name for the baby after having long fights (hey not that fight you are thinking).... we had shortlisted two names one for a boy and other for a girl.

I reached varanasi 5days before the baby was born. At my in-laws place we all were like..... kab aaye ga/gi kab.... all excitement, nervousness was visible on my face... body language was like.... oh my god... kya hone wala hai.... oh god everything goes well.....

Finally the d-day came.... At 6am, my wife told.... hey rush me to hospital.... i asked her are you gonna..... he gave me a wried look.... "what makes you ask this question when the situation is known to the whole family".... I was like ok ok.... i got your point... i said to myself.... She was rushed to OT as soon as we reached hospital....

Out side the OT.... i was sitting, looking around.... i saw my mother in law chanting some shlokas..... soon my phone rung... i thought it was from OT... but it was my dad who was about to board a plane in delhi.... he said... don't worry... sab theek hoga..... My father in law asked me just one question... what you want boy or girl... said... who ever it will be.... definitely gonna change my life for ever......

Around half past 11am, i got a call.... i was like who the hell is calling me now..... (i am yet know the result).... but the call was of the doctor from OT... he said listen to this..... it was the cry of my "baby"..... who had just stepped into the world..... and before keeping the phone down, the doctor said... its a boy..... After while i was holding him in my hands... all shivering, smiling to glory.... i just couldn't stop .............smiling... cherishing the moment..... all i was searching was my wife as i was eagerly waiting for her....... :)

Here is the first snap of my Son when he came out of OT: