Finally and unfortunately, I see Aura

Today i.e. the 12th of June 2013 at 9. 30am I had my first migraine attack with an Aura.

It was just an ordinary morning with no prior migraine symptoms. But when I walked on my office floor, I suddenly realised that the lower half of my left eye went blur and there were squiggly and wavy lines in it. The center of my right eye also had these wavy lines. It was like looking through a semi-transparent/patterned glass. 

I couldn't read names on my mobile handset or see faces of people clearly. Thinking that this was another of a low BP symptom, I ran to eat breakfast in a fearing that I will faint. I had almost fainted once in my college and didn't want to do it in office. I drank a can of slice and ate a big dosa. 

Just to make sure nothing serious would happen, I went to the doctor in my company. He told me what I already was suspecting, that this could be happening due to migraine. He however didn't rule out the Low BP bit as it was low too. So, the Rx was rest and eat a lot and drink sweet stuff. 

I took some tablets and slept there for about 1 hour. The headache was very mild but the aura was really frightening. It lasted till 12.30pm, after which I was ok. 

During the whole episode, I was feeling dizzy, confused and lost.  I felt like I was about to pass out or become blind. Or like I had some grave problem in my eyes - like you know something big. I tried reaching people from my family, so someone could get me home, but they couldn't.

I am not sure if this is the peak of the migraine that I am suffering from since many years now. I only hope I don't get such auras again.

Wanted to note this down as it might help someone somewhere reading this and it will help me recollect the symptomps later.
 

"That's The Way It Is" - Celine Dion

This is one of my favorite songs by Celine Dion. So meaningful... and such beautifully sung!


"That's The Way It Is"
Artist: Celine Dion

I can read your mind and I know your story
I can see what you're going through
It's an uphill climb, and I'm feeling sorry
But I know it will come to you

Don't surrender 'cause you can win
In this thing called love

When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is

When you question me for a simple answer
I don't know what to say, no
But it's plain to see, if you stick together
You're gonna find a way, yeah

So don't surrender 'cause you can win
In this thing called love

When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is

When life is empty with no tomorrow
And loneliness starts to call
Baby, don't worry, forget your sorrow
'Cause love's gonna conquer it all, all

When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is

When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is

That's the way it is
That's the way it is, babe
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is.

Chubby cheeks, Dimple chin

When I woke up yesterday morning, Arya was already staring at my face, waiting for me to wake up. When I did, he began poking my cheeks and eyes, saying 'A Mumma, A Mumma'. This is our routine.
 
Arya (poking my cheek): "Mumma..... Chubby cheeks, Dimple cheeen".

Wow! I couldn't believe that he said those words. He cannot talk clearly yet, and I have never attempted to teach him to say these words. You know, like lots of parents who make kids repeat words after them.

We do have videos of nursery rhymes, and me and Yogesh sing them for him sometimes. We teach him parts of the body though.
 
So this little guy sang the above 4 words. I once again underestimated him and began repeating the same line over and over again.

Arya (pointing at my teeth): "Mhan" (Say).

Me (now getting it): "Rosy lips, teeth within."

Arya (pulling his hair now): "Mhan hail". (Say hair)

Me: "Curly hair, very fair. Eyes are blue, lovely two."

At this he poked his finger in my left eye.
 
Me: "Mothers pet is that you?"

Arya: "Yessss, yesssss, yessss"

.....................................

Oh, yes and he keeps saying 'Jindal bell, jindal bell' for the song 'Jingle bells jingle bells jingle all they way.

He makes nice hand gestures for 'Twinkle twinke little star'. I have taught him to make a diamond shape with his two hands for this rhyme. The poor guy puts a huge effort to do it in a hurry before the last line is over. He repeats 'Tinkle tinkle, staal'. He points to stars on his bed cover and says 'Mumma, bagh tinkle stal'. (Mom, look there is a twinkling star.)

I think his rhymes are going to be fun!
 

New article on what Arya's saying

Arya has started doing 'A mumma' 'A papa' a lot lately in various tones, and he does it repeatedly until we notice. I specially love it when he wakes up in the morning and waits for me to wake up beside him. He lovingly pokes his fingers in my eyes, ears, mouth and keeps saying 'A mumma', as if he wants to tell me some story. But all he wants to do is grab my attention and show me that he loves me so much.

He says 'Plane kute' (Where's the plane) or 'Cal kute' (Where's the car)

He searches for his dad when Yogesh goes out of the house. He says - 'Kute papa, kute papa' and after some time if he cannot find him, he says, 'Gela papa'. It is quite funny to hear with the tone he uses.

He recognises Yellow color sometimes (says Lellow)

One day he got his small board book of Animals to me for reading. He says - vach, boot vach.

It has a picture of an animal on a page and a name written. We had started reading such books to him since he was 6 months old, even though he wouldn't have understood them back then. So he came and began pointing out the animals that he knows - Cow, Baba (i.e. sheep), Holse (Horse), Hen, Cat, Bhubhu (Dog), etc.

Same was with the small board book of Birds. He identifies Hen, Pallot (Parrot), Palow (Sparrow), Eagle, Vultul (Vulture. I was shocked to know that he remembered this too), Penguin, etc.

Sometimes when he is hungry he runs into the kitchen beating both his hands on his chest and saying - 'Bis pahije, tula paaje, tula paaje'. He says 'tula' (you) instead of 'mala' (me) while demanding things.

He has a cricket set - stumps and all made of plastic. There is a base for the three stumps. We have to insert the stumps in the base. Arya makes us put 1 stump in the center hole to convert it into a make-do hammer. He runs with that plastic hammer shouting something and bangs it on the wall a few times like demolition workers do.

He has begun to love Mickey Mouse (a cartoon that I hated). He sways whenever Mickey dances. He gets into a fit of laughter when he sees Goofy and Donald slip on some Peas in the garden. He loves to see cartoon characters suddenly run or appear fast.

 

I can't explain it, You won't get it...

Work hours increased. Strict in-out timing followed.

Driving the car to office everyday. 2 hours commute.

Started gymming for some time. Want to reduce weight.

Tired at home mostly.

Arya gets even lesser time and an irritated mom.

Time duration to force feed Arya reduced by 15 mins. Arya is happy. I am worried.

Fights between Yogesh and  me have reduced. Reason, no time to communicate and no energy to argue.

Any food cooked by Maushi is Ambrosia. Feel like cooking something myself if I get time.

Learnt baking a 4 minute microwave cake. Turned out to be better than I expected.

Thinking of doing swimming or cycling or singing...

Thinking of starting to eat brown rice and organic stuff.

Worried that Arya isn't getting potty trained.

Want to do the kitchen and cupboards in the house sometime.

Want to sit looking out of the car window while Yogesh drives it to office.

Want to stay competitive in the job and learn new things.

Thinking how Arya is getting sweeter every day. How he gets excited to see me come home every evening at 8.30 or 9 pm. Says -  "A mumma, A mumma, A mumma, bas ithe bas." Etc.

Missing him now.

.... 

Arya's second birthday celebration!

He is two already! Every mom wants to see her son grow up quick and I do too, but I already miss the time when he was a baby that would fit in my arms while I rocked him. But his latest gimmicks come ahead each day and I love him even more!

This time decided to do the celebrations on a smaller scale. I had to invite the women in my apartment complex who had invited me earlier and a few who are really friendly. Plus some kids nearby and my immediate family of 10 people! All in all, we had about 15 elders and 14 kids.

Us
 

My mom, sister and her daughters with
Arya

Arya with his cousin Pranjal

We had decorated the entire house with cartoons and stars and balloons. Yea, most of the stuff was leftover or salvaged stuff from Arya's last birthday celebration. I can be a spendthrift if I wanted to! His happy birthday banner was last year's too. It doesn’t have a number on it so it is reusable. There were happy b’day caps too.

Chhota Bheem cake!

Arya secretly eating the cake!

The cake was bought ad-hoc without any pre-booking. It was a 1.3 kg chocolate cake with Chhota Bheem on it, so Arya immediately fell in love with it and started dipping is fingers in the icing. Chhota Bheem is a craze with the kids.


Last year during Nivedita’s daughter's birthday she had organized a game that involved both kids and adults. I decided to do it too since it could be played with kids of any age group.

Colored balls in the bag...



Pranjal doing her try

I took a red cloth bag and put few multi-coloured plastic balls in it. (It was a red satin bag with a golden lace at the borders. I had got fancy shoes in it from Dadar, Mumbai about 6 years back!) Each kid would come forward and announce what colour ball he/she wanted from it. The kid would then close his/her eyes and draw a ball. If the ball is of the same colour as announced, the kid would get two Cadbury chocolates, else just one. One chocolate for the loser was a must if I didn’t want crying children in the party!

One of the moms said that she wanted to try it out too. So I had another round for the mommies! This time the losing moms didn’t get anything! I had to make up for the lack of chocolates.

The fun part was when Pranjal (Namita’s daughter and Arya’s cousin) walked to me during the game, and said that she wants to play too. She had a try an d was really sad that she didn’t get the right ball. I gave her a chocolate anyway. Sejal, her sister, directly went to the box and took her chocolate without bothering with the formalities.

Arya came next and took a ball. Everyone clapped because he was the smallest of the gang. Arya began looking at the audience and started clapping (I’m guessing that this kid is won’t have stage fear). He didn’t bother to see if the ball was correct or not and directly grabbed his chocolate. Again he waited for a moment for everyone to clap.

Dinner time!

I dropped my plan to make pav-bhaji and hired a caterer we know. The menu was simple pulav, chhole, gulab jamun, puris, and salad, apart from wafers, chocolates and cake.

Kids got apple shaped lunch plates as return gifts! And Arya got a cupboard for himself from Namita maushi, Mega Blocks wagon with building blocks from Asmita maushi, a bicycle from grandparents and parents, and lots of other gifts!

My new Bike!



New cupboard for my stuff!

 

The biggest blackmail scandal exposed!

I have unravelled a huge blackmail scandal! It is going on all around in the world, and right near you! Young and unsuspecting parents are their easiest catch. They take your time, money and love and they always want more!

I’m talking about the little ruffians in our houses with cute and chubby faces.

My son has learnt every trick in the book. He is becoming stubborn by the minute and creates a tantrum if I do not comply with his wishes. He tries to throw himself on the wall (bodily), bang his head, and beat his fists. He comes back to me when he has inflicted pain on himself, saying ‘Mamma dokala (Mamma my head is hurt)’ / ‘Mamma botale (Mamma my fingers hurt)’. He knows that I would rush to his aid.

He cries till his voice goes hoarse and even tries diversion tactics while eating food. He tries to show me his bicycle, toys, cartoons while innocently saying ‘Nai kaycha (No mamma, I don’t want to eat.)’

He has also started beating up people with fists, and it hurts so much.

We have learnt to ignore some of these tantrums and tactics. When it gets too much and we want to punish him, we make him stand in a corner. We say, ‘Jaa ubha raha tithe. Yeu nakos. Ani doka aptu nako. (Go stand there. Don’t come back till I say. And don’t bang your head in the corner.)’ He does it.

But these days he starts looking for a sentimental person in the house who will pick him. He sniffs his nose repeatedly to mimic crying and purses his lower lip, to show he is so miserable! He fidgets with his fingers showing he is so afraid right now.

This is enough to melt the soft person he was targeting. He yelps with joy the moment someone calls out for him, and forgets everything about the punishment. Even the reason for the punishment!

We think of newer strategies every day and each day we fail. We do not quit though! A tantrum might bring irritation, anger, tears, pride, or awe in us, but still enriches our memories of a lifetime.

So what's the point?

I'm not sure what's the point in even writing a blog. I cannot write about all the real stuff going about in my mind. Like what I think of his behaviour, her attitude, the clashes, fights, arguments, depression, anxiety, stress!

I want the blog to be great to read for me at a later time. And what I want to write is not so glittery.

We did have a small function for Arya's Second Birthday in my house. It went great.

There was also a small function at my moms place, a baby shower for my younger sister! It was amazing too.

Will come back to write about it later.
 

Jai bappa! ek don teen char!

Got a few minutes of free time and have so much to write about Arya!

So these days kiddo is getting smarter by the day. He has learnt a lot many many things. Sometimes I feel I should record each moment but the kid never poses or repeats something in front of the camera – ofcourse he wants the camera in his own hands!

Thanks to his babysitter Mangal, he has learnt counting in Marathi! So he goes ek, don, teen, char for each and every thing…give him few toys, few stickers on the cardboard, few steps to walk he constantly chats don, teen char, teen don, teen don and so on, not necessarily in the right order.

He has picked up the phone attitude from adults like making faces, laughing, waving hands aimlessly, even the fake coughing, and saying accha bye, ok bye, thik aahe bye like me!

He sits and does pretend reading of books. The other day he lied down with is head on my pillow while I was cooking. He started reading the novel I’m reading now and in my style. Lying down sideways and holding the book horizontally and disregarding everyone who wanted to talk to him! Fast learner he is.

Arya is a very God and elder respecting person you might think. Yea, he suddenly remembers that he wants to touch your feet and starts a paya-padne or feet touching for ashirwaad spree. He makes me and Yogesh get our feet on the floor if we are sitting with our legs folded, after that he makes sure he touches each foot! He never passes a single zhendu/marigold flower garland without doing namaskar saying jai bappa. All god statues and idols in real life or TV need to be revered by doing namaskar. Even my asafoetida bottle that has a Laxmi goddess photo gets its due namaskar!

Ok, leaving for the day. More about Arya as soon as I get time!

New list of words and a new pair of shoes

Arya's new vocabulary

• पा : पाणी or पापड 
• ब SS : बस (sit here)
• का : कार 
• ठो : थ्रो (throw the ball) or ठेव 
• ये : come 
• जा : go 
• पल : चप्पल 
• शू : shoes 
• पापा : dad 
• बॉ : ball 
• हा SS : hot food item 
• hmm : thinking aloud 

The other day I got new red and white shoes with lights for the little guy. I had decided not to buy expensive shoes for him as he outgrows them within 6 months and we can't buy too big ones either. So this pair was not very expensive, but looked okay. 

He loved the pair when I showed it to him and wore it immediately. He didn't remove it during his afternoon nap too! He kept stomping around in the house with those LED lights blinking. When we finally got to keep them in a corner, this guy would go and sit there just admiring them.

Needless to say I got so many kisses and hugs from him without even asking! He would run to me saying maa maa and kiss me!

Amazing experience.

Shrawanmas - by Traymbak Bapuji Thombre (Baalkavi)

Continuing the same thread on the Marathi poems that I still remember after about 20 years... here is one more that was my favorite! It describes nature's beauty during the month of Shrawan.

Shrawanmas

 

by: Traymbak Bapuji Thombre (Baalkavi)

 

Shravanmaasi harsh maansi hirval daate chohikade,

kshanaat yete sarsar shirve, kshanaat firuni uun pade.

Varti baghta indradhanucha goph duheri vinlaase,

mangal toran kay bandhile nabho mandapi koni bhaase.

Zaalasa suryasta vaatato sanja ahaha to ughade,

taru shikharanvar uncha gharanvar piwale piwale uun pade.

Balack mala udata bhaase kalpasumanchi malachite

utaruni yeti awanivarti grahagolachiti ekamate.

Uthati varti jaldanvarti anant sandhya raag paha,

sarva nabhavar hoy rekhile sundarteche roop mahaan.

Fadfad karuni bhijale apule pankha pakhare savarati,

sundar harni hirvya kurani nijbalansaha bagadti.

Khillare hi charti raani gop hi gaani gaat fire,

manjul pawa gay tayacha shravan mahima ek fule.

Survarnachampak fulala vipini ramya kevada hi daravalala,

parijatakhi baghta bhama rosh manicha mavalala.

Sundar pardi gheuni haati puropakanthi kshubdh mati,

sundar bala ya fulamala ramya fule patri khudati.

Dev darshana nighti lalana harsh maayina hrudayaat,

vadani tyanchya vachuni ghyawe shravan mahinyache geet.

 

 

(I copied this and Patharvat from http://gadgilsanjeev.blogspot.in/2011/04/shravanmaas.html)
 

Patharvat - Amar Sheikh

A few days back, I remembered a poem I was taught in school in Marathi. I had loved it back then too and now I realize the core meaning of this. The poet tells us to come together and help break our old, obsolete beliefs and superstitions. The poet calls us to build a new society with new thoughts and ambitions that will take humanity back to glory.

Patharvat - Amar Sheikh

 

Junaat imala zala saara

Paduni taaka deuni dhakka

Aaj imarat junaat zali

Jeev akaran martil khali

Mhanuni adhi ya

Padun taka

Maara haka jamva loka

Lokashakticha sadhuni moka

Padun taaka

Aanik bandha navi imarat

Patharvat me navya yugatil ahech sobat

Asen jari me adnya rangada

Ek dagad tari ghadu dya re ya majhya hatuni

Ek channicha ek ghaav tari basudya re ya dagadavari

Manavteche navin mandir

Yethe banddha ya jagevar

Padun taka deuni dhakka

First Wedding Anniversary in Nivati-Bhogve, Tarkarli, Malwan, continued...

This is a continuation of a previous article. I saw that I haven’t finished writing the complete account of my First wedding anniversary trip. Click here to read the first article.

Our first day was spent visiting Tarkarli, Malwan and Sindhudurg fort. Here's the next day.

26th Dec, Early Morning:

Devbagh-Nivati-Bhogve visit: The next day we woke up and decided to visit the Devbagh beach.

We took directions from our home stay owner ‘Namita’. (We were staying at the 'Namita beach resort', a home-stay facility facing the Tarkarli beach.) From our home stay, the walk to the tourist boats was just 1.5 km and a pleasant one. There were lots of boats around offering to ferry to the divine destinations Devbagh-Nivati-Bhogve beaches.

We booked one such boat. The ferry started and we saw a beautiful sight of seagulls. They flew up as a flock, the moment our boat passed them. There were so many! I had only seen such a scene in movies.

The cruise booking agents do tell us that we can see Dolphins here, but we weren't so lucky. Actually, I think this is just a gimmick.

We took around 40 minutes of the lovely boat journey to reach a small cliff. I was confused when our boat slowed down. In a moment I saw another movie scene - a beach, totally secluded from the world by rocky cliffs on 3 sides! It was the Nivati-Bhogve beach.

The waters were clear as glass and you could walk for about 60 meters into the sea and yet the water level stayed just at your waist. The sand was white and the waters blue. Boats were anchored in middle of the sea. There was a small crowd of people having fun. The beach is extremely clean and spotless. There are no vendors selling food, water and drinks (So you have to get those with you).

Me and Yogesh tried everything - diving, swimming and floating in the waters, even though we didn't know how. It was amazing. Yogesh kept teaching me how to dive and I kept drowning in the waist deep water.

We climbed on one of the cliffs and saw the sight around. It was breathtaking. I didn’t want to leave this place at all!

Next we stopped at the Devbagh beach. It is a small beach with no vendors around - a gift for the eyes.

We also stopped by to have the famous Malvani Ghavan. A villager would get few ghavan's (It is just like dosa but very very soft), and tea from his hut nearby and sell them on this temporary island. It was our bad luck that Ghavan's got over before we reached him. I could guess how tasty they were though, looking at people smacking their lips. We had a few cold drinks and left. Our boat brought us back to Tarkarli.

From here, we went back to our homestay and packed for our journey back to Malvan at 12.00pm. We had reservations for Pune on the evening bus that left at around 6.00pm.

We thanked the owner of ‘Namita beach resort’ for the tasty food and hospitality.

26th Dec, Afternoon: When we reached Malwan, we had lot of time on hands. So we booked an auto to show us some good sights nearby. He took us to…

The Ganpati temple: This was built by 'Salgaonkars' the owners of 'Kalaniryana' calendar. It is a relatively new temple, and a peaceful and beautiful one. There are 2 beautiful baby elephants at the entrance that I liked the most. There are carvings on the pillars and roof.

The Rock Garden: This is a small garden adjoining the cliffs at the sea. It takes about 15 minutes to reach here from Malwan bus stand. The garden is mediocre and has a red toy train (Kids would love it. I didn’t have Arya back then) The rocky cliffs are amazing to look at. The waves lash at them forming white foam all around. There are numerous crabs - small and big, scary to look at under every rock. We need to be extremely cautious while walking on these rocks. They are sharp and the waves are powerful.

Lastly, we went to a small 'Math' by a saint (like a monastery), few kilometers away from Malwan.

26th Dec, Evening: The auto dropped us back at Malwan ST stand well in time.

We did some shopping for Amba vadi, Fanis poli, Kokam syrup, Awla syrup, and waited for the bus.

When the bus came by, there gathered a huge crowd around it in an instant. People were throwing bags, clothes, caps inside to book seats before boarding the bus. Thankfully we had done a prior reservation. Most of these people had to go as standees. I had never seen so many standees in any bus before. Another new experience for me.

27th Dec, Early Morning: We reached Swargate, Pune at 5.30 am in the Morning.

The anniversary was a very memorable one. Again, no matter how many times I visit Konkan, it never fails to rejuvenate me.

My Guilt - being a working mom

Few friends said that as time passes, you will get used to it. Others said that it never goes away, it grows.

“The guilt of leaving your baby behind to go to work.”

All working moms know what I mean. I used to believe that I was not a sentimental person, and ambitious as I am, I wanted to pursue my career to reach where I wanted to. But a baby changed many things. Now although I still have career aspirations, they diminish the moment I see Arya in tears when I leave the house for work.

Yes, I have tried everything. First, I tried taking him to another room before leaving, with my aunt distracting him. I used to leave the room stealthily. He outgrew that. He now knows why we take him there and refuses to leave the living room.

Second, we tried convincing him that we are taking him along for a walk. He gets all hyped up and my aunt strolls with him in the corridor. I leave the moment he turns to the other side. I hear his cries when I go about a floor down.

It is heartbreaking to see your child wave goodbye to you with tears in his eyes. Especially when he now knows you are distracting him, and he evades your tactics trying to outsmart you but failing in the end. No child would understand why you leave him for 10 hours a day everyday.

Arya notices us getting ready, wearing office attire, having tea. He cries the moment I wear my jacket and Yogesh gets his helmet.

What provoked me to write this article?
Yesterday, Yogesh picked up the helmet to leave. Arya began crying. I wanted to hold him close to make him stop for now. But he didn’t come to me, knowing that I will hand him over to my aunt after few seconds.

He wanted to be smarter and went to the door, waiting. I told him that he was going too, so he should wear his Chappals. He wore them eagerly and came out to wait for the elevator, clapping and talking loudly in his language. I was so broken inside. How could I leave like this, betraying his trust and feelings?

Yogesh went down and I waited on my floor. My aunt and I took him to a neighbor’s bicycle, away from the elevator. She hid him and I sneaked away. When I was about a floor down, I heard his screams. He realized I was gone after all!

When I was leaving my building parking, I saw him standing near the bedroom window looking at the road (I wave goodbye to him every day from the road. He waves too). But yesterday he didn’t wave. He just looked the bike going away, with a sad face, and so much hurt.

I couldn’t stop my tears all the way to the office and I could see his face all through the day. I wanted the day to be over as soon as possible, to meet him again.

When I went home, that little guy actually danced with joy in little circles to see both of us. I hugged him and spent every moment of the evening with him.

I’ve tried to think it over – being a work from home consultant, to quit my career totally, or to start my own shop someday. Each will be a life changing decision. But whatever I chose, the guilt would always stay – in some form or the other.

I guess women suffer at their own hands. We choose our own path - to work or be a stay at home mom, and yet we want the best of both worlds.

I guess that is being a women and a mother. Joy, yet there’s suffering. Pain, yet there’s so much happiness.

Arya's baby talk in Marathi

मी:     आर्य?
आर्य:  काSई

मी :    शोनुडी
आर्य:   काई

मी :    छ्कुडी
आर्य:   काई

मी :   योगेश
आर्य:   (no reply)

मी :    बब्बू
आर्य:   काई

याला कोणी सांगितले कि याची नेमकी कोणती नावे आहेत?

मी:    जेवण देऊ का?
आर्य:  नाइ

मी:    मार खायचा का?
आर्य:  नाइ

मी:    पप्पी पाहिजे?
आर्य:  नाई

नाही हा शब्द  लवकर शिकला पोरगा!

बाकी सकाळी सकाळी उठून "मा मा, मा मा, मम्मा" चालु होतं. आज तर 'पप्पा' सुद्धा म्हणत होता!

'ज'  नीट म्हणता येत नाही. आजीला 'आई' म्हणतो.

पाण्याला 'पाई' किंवा 'पाली' असा म्हणतो. Ball ला 'बा'  म्हणतो.

'दुदु' म्हणायचा ऐवजी  'जुजु' म्हणतो, आणी ते  पण ओठ  पूर्ण चंबू करून.

Arya’s First Birthday and Naming Ceremony

WARNING: This is a huge article giving a detailed account of Arya’s Birthday planning and celebration. It is written more with the perspective of bringing a smile to me and Yogesh on reading it after a few years. Advance apologies to persons reading this and getting bored.

I don't know why I delayed writing about this when it is so important to me. Maybe it was because words are not enough to describe the planning, effort and the fun we had!

1. Planning:

I was getting anxious as the event date approached. Yogesh and I had decided that we would not hire an event decorator due our budget. But I had made Yogesh promise that we will still do the best ourselves. 

The Cake - Mickey playing cricket!



2. Food:

We hired a Rajasthani Cook who had cooked for 900 people in Namita's wedding 6 years back. It was finger-licking delicious back then. He was somewhat expensive than the other caterers we could have hired, but we thought that food needs to be great to win the event!

3. Cake:
After visiting a few shops, we finalized a butter cream chocolate cake weighing 3kgs from Monginis. The design was Mickey Mouse in a cricket costume. Personally I hate Mickey (Why do kids like a mouse? I’m sure it is a big deal in US because they don’t see mice as often). I think the cake looked good though.

4. Shopping:

We got a beautiful Sherwani Suit in maroon for Arya, a red chiffon Saree for me and a new shirt for the dad. 

5. Invites:

We sent the invite to all friends and family. I called a few of them on phone to stay home prior to the event.

6. Guests:

Some of the guests came from Mumbai and few from Pune city to stay over. It was fun. Few stayed after the event too and Arya got to know them better.

7. Venue:

We had decided that we would have this event in our own society club-house. It was newly painted and clean. It would be convenient for all guests to come and for us to organize things. It is a one floor structure with an open terrace for functions. It can accommodate a crowd of 150 persons easily (catering section separate!)

8. Club house decoration:

Cake cutting done... Notice the lights and flex banner!

As the terrace was not covered from all sides and it was January, we decided to cover it with a colorful Pandal from all sides leaving the top open. We hired a guy to do light strings of various colors thrown on the trees and pandal. It gave a great celebration effect.

For the stage background, we arranged for a maroon velvet curtain with a peach frilly lace on the top and lights again. Sudhir bhauji had arranged for a beautiful flex printout to be stuck on it with Arya’s face and a happy birthday message!

We had got buntings, shiny stars, big cartoons, happy birthday cutout, alphabets of Arya’s name, lots and lots of red and blue balloons, shimmer, table decoration, all kinds of tapes, etc. from Pune city at wholesale rate. Yogesh was frowning on the demands but I'm sure he loved how it all turned out. 

We got musical candles, a “1” to be placed on the cake, and lots of b’day caps and return gifts.

9. Return gifts:

I wanted these to be useful for the kids. So chose apple shaped microwaveable kids lunch plates in various colors! We packed these in happy b’day return gift bags and kept them ready.

10. Balloons:

I wanted many many balloons, so we got a pump for inflating them and stayed up till late night. We made sets of 3 balloons for decoration. Maushi, mom, dad, me and Yogesh inflated about 170 balloons! We kept them in Arya’s room, filling it to our waists.

The little guy cried each time a balloon burst and I became more apprehensive about the balloon thing.

Hanging the balloons up on the Pandal was another huge task for us as they kept bursting or flying away due to the strong afternoon wind. Few balloons were even stolen and burst on purpose by neighboring kids too when we were not around! Somehow we managed to keep few them stuck.

The almost decorated background..

11. Table:
Table was wrapped with my white wedding Saree and maroon net stuck with balloons. We put a white table cloth on it, some stars and it was done! The cake went on it, a musical candle and the “1” letter too. Kid’s b’day caps were kept there for taking.

12. Food arrangement:

The hall for serving dinner had French windows on 3 sides. It was decorated with cartoon cutouts and stars and balloons. Buffet was set up there with chairs in case few people didn’t want to bear the cold.

13. Music:
We got a music system from my dad’s and played light instrumental music in background (The CD was purchased for my wedding but handed been heard so far!).

14. House decoration:
We decorated our house too with cartoon characters, balloons all over, and a “Happy Birthday Arya” cutout.

15. Naming ceremony on 19th Jan, 2012:

B'day aukshan. See the
decorated crib behind.

Before the birthday, we wanted a proper naming ceremony for Arya. Yogesh and I decorated Arya’s crib (the one discarded 5 months back) with buntings and Mogra garlands. We decorated the house with rose bouquets.

I'm gonna buy this cake
today too! Yummy!

Arya was dressed in a Krishna’s costume that was gifted by my friend Nivedita. He looked very cute and adorable.

I invited about 5 women for a quick Haldi Kunku and the naming ceremony. Neelam had got a Palana song written for singing during the event.

Asmita was to get the honor of saying Arya’s name in his ear along with 4 other pseudo names (I think they were Ayush, Harsh, Ashish, etc. dunno).

We tried making him sit in the crib but he wouldn’t. Ideally we needed to pass the baby from under the crib and over it 5 times or so, but he wasn’t as small anymore, so we let it go.

He had just begun crying, so I played a Palana song on my cell phone that I had downloaded from a website, “Halke halke jojawa baalacha palana”.

Asmita whispered Arya’s name & 4 other names in his ear. We had to beat her up with our fists as a ritual, and we loved that part. Done, he was officially named!

16. The real birthday celebration on 19th Jan 2012:
Immediately following the naming ceremony, we had arranged for the cake cutting. We changed Arya to a cute kurti and churidar. There was an amazing strawberry cake that we cut. Kids loved it. Arya might not know what was happening, but he seemed very happy to see so many people.

17. Birthday bash:
The venue was ready with colored lights, pandal, decoration, balloons, birthday banner and all.


Arya, Yogesh and me!

   The flex print looked amazing. The caterer was doing his job.

We were ready. Arya was in his new maroon sherwani dress. Mangal looked after him mostly.

The cake was delivered and looked wonderful. When I saw kids reaction to the cake, I knew I was wrong in thinking that cake was not a big deal. Cake is the real key to the event! And Mickey Mouse, sadly, has to be loved.


Cake cutting!

 Many guests complimented on Arya’s resemblance to his dad. Ruchi was very sweet. She took care of distributing the birthday caps to all kids.

Arya cut the cake and we blew the big musical candle over and over again, as it rekindles! The firework rocket was lit and it blasted to shower many shiny and crape paper bits all over the place.



Ruchi distributing cake.

 Ruchi was an angel again and distributed the cake to all. Oh yea, and I had missed out shopping for the cake spoons! But people anyway helped themselves with a second and a third piece!

Next Arya got up on the cash counter to collect all the gifts (figuratively speaking)! He was now wearing a white suit Namita had gifted him.



Dinner buffet.

Indoor seating. Check out the
club house. It's converted to a gym now.

Dinner was served and the indoor cum outdoor seating proved to be amazing. People loved the food!





Nivedita and family, Jayant and
family traveled a lot to reach here.



On their way out we thanked the guests and handed the return gifts to kids. They even got to choose what color they wanted. I got a feedback few days later from almost all moms that their kids wanted to eat only from those plates!

Arya changed to his comfortable clothes. We were the last ones to have dinner and finally relax. After the huge anxiety and effort, the event did go as smooth as butter.

Here are a few photos of the event.



Sinhgad college staff and families.

 

Arya admiring the gifts and
his new white suit

 

Guests



My sisters and their families!
Mani is married now though.



Mom and pranju



Mani and Arya



Dad and all.