This is for you sunny!

Those who have children already know what I am going to talk about, but for those who haven’t had the privilege so far: parenthood is one of the best experiences of our lives. It’s been over 6 months since our Arnav  was born and I can proudly tell that nothing matches the sense of fulfilment than seeing your baby grow. Pooja endured the climax of human physical pain when she delivered him, but the sheer sound of him crying in the hands of the maternity nurse after he came to the world made us forget the ordeal that lasted for days and nights (especially for Pooja). I realized why delivering baby is called labour. It must be the greatest labour of all.

So when he opened his eyes, it was the beginning of a new world for us. Since birth, he has been showing us new things every day.  His first movement in his mum's tummy, the first reaction at the songs we used to sing for him when he was inside, the first touch at that tiny delicate new born, his first bewildered gaze at us, the first effort to suck from his mum, the first night after birth, the first nappy that I had to change, the first turn he tried to take, the first attempts to smile...Wow! Sights of unimaginable beauty and incredible pleasure-words cannot describe them, honestly!

Praz is approaching 7 months – so quickly. He can sit on his own; he drinks his milk himself, tumbles around and makes attempts to toddle. He can tell when he is hungry, he smiles and giggles too, he can make you a fool or even manipulate you- he is very crafty. The little pair of teeth he shows as he tries to emulate our kiss is a joy to behold. How swiftly he catches your finger and drags it into his mouth to scratch his itching gums. When we are around him, he plays and laughs as if there is no tomorrow. Leave him on his own for a minute and he cries so loud that it reverberates across the neighbourhood. He even moves his hands around in his sleep to make sure that someone is nearby.

He loves going out. Being a boy perhaps he loves cars. He keenly watches them skidding close and away. With his intelligent eyes, he studies everything new he sees. He has been to malls, he has seen the London Bridge and we have even taken him for a visit to the Eton College. Computer, mobile and cars are what he is interested on the most. He already behaves like an adult in many respects. We build our dreams around him. Seeing a baby grow in front of you makes your dreams change, reset your ambitions and invigorate you with unassailable energy.

Of course the ride is not a smooth one. There is pain; there are worries and many sleepless nights. Juggling between your jobs and looking after your baby make you drained and pale. But as soon as you have your little one in your arms, you find a new world of happiness in front of you. Every hardship you go through turns into blessing. Every pain you endure turns into pleasure. And you feel you have  the most valuable thing in the world in your palm.