Aarush and Pamela playing with soap bubbles ; this video is bit old when he did not started walking at that point of time. He was bit amused with bubbles trying to catch them but could not.

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Now, Aarush started to twitch, smile, frown and stretch a lot after waking from sleep. Amazingly ( I never knew this) and apparently babies between three to four months are at the stage where they get very playful and drinking milk is not a priority anymore, I believe. They prefer to talk and coo to adults, and being very observant at this stage and they are attracted to moving objects, colours and everything new around them. So was our little one.

It was not even month stay at Durg, on april 8th Santanu came to meet Aarush for 3-4 days. Before leaving from Mumbai Santanu warned me not to pamper him much by taking him in arms all time but later I found… on hearing one shrill cry he use to run to him.

Aarush now started cooing in response to gentle, soothing words of his didu. Keeps his fist in his mouth most of the time and drools sometimes. Enjoy holding his toys for a short period of time. Turns head towards sounds. Rattles, bright pictures use to attract him. His Mesho (maternal uncle) came to meet him unexpectedly. Now he started liking to be held upright.

By now he can lift up his head and hold it up quite steadily for quite a while. He smiles when we tickle or touch his cheeks, and his cooing just melts our hearts away! He captures the hearts of every people who come to meet him. Now lots of visitors come to meet him.

Sometimes he use to blow bubbles a lot. Nanu and didu were very happy with his stay at their place. Every morning nanu use to spend quality time with him. Every hour or so his nanu use to come to see and talk to him. My dad is not at all trained with baby care but then also use to carry him with nervous hands and Aarush never use to do any mischief with him. Thrice he put his grandson to sleep when I and my mom were busy in work. So, were the days at our end.

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Parenthood is a lifelong journey. No amount of training and preparation can ever prepare fully for it. We are learning about our little helpless bundle and same probably on his side. After returning from official trip santanu was agog to spent more time with Aarush as if it was ages he has spent not seeing him.

Aarush now learnt to squeal in delight as his arms flail about in the air above him. Cooing and soft throaty sounds were heard from him time to time. Sometimes if he is in good mood he use to play of his own for few min. with his arms and legs.

His tiny hands use to tug our hair. Music use to be one of his favorite. Bright colors catches his attention. We figured out this month he is (still he is…) fan of ceiling fan; he loves ceiling fans so much…. no matter on or off. Whenever he is moved to any new place, first thing he tries to locate is ceiling fan. And as soon as he gets to look at the fan we switch it on and he would give a million dollar smile. Sometimes while crying, if he happens to spots the fan, he giggles a bit and then resumes his crying session.

This month he got DPT triple antigent shots causing a little fever. But he was not at all cranky only thing was he did not play much that evening with his hands and legs.

At first he didn’t use to enjoy oil massage but slowly started liking it. If held in a standing position, he use to support his body with the legs. His neck was not yet firm. His head use to wobble if not held properly. Santanu also tried his hand in giving him evening massage – and Aarush too liked it.

While Aunts and uncles rejoiced his arrival, friends called up to congratulate. His maternal aunt was so happy on his arrival that she sent one box full of clothes and needful things through courier.

After my mom left on march 9th – hubby and I went about in a daze not quite sure how we were supposed to handle little screaming, pooping bundle that we had. But those two days he comported himself. And after 2 days we too flew from bombay to durg without much fuss. That was his first air travel. Maybe Aarush was happy to be in secure hands while I was not much interested to go to Durg but Santanu and his mom wanted us to be there for a while.

His grandparents (my parents) were very happy to see him there. One maid was appointed for me as well Aarush for oil massage twice a day.

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For Aarush, his umbilical cord also fall off after 10days, he lost his weight in first 12 days. He got oral polio drops and one shot of BCG this month but didn’t cried almost – behaved very well with me outside house and in front of doctor.

After discharge from hospital it was tough to decide where to put our little one. Though Baby cots, cradles and moses baskets are widely available today, in India. But, I strongly felt breast-feeding would be easier if he sleeps with me as I won’t have to get out of bed every time to feed. So, weighing the pros and cons we made the decision together that he will sleep with us. Till date he does sleep with us only. At nights when he use to cry on and off mainly being hungry or wet – we felt our decision worked out best.

We truly spent hours staring at the little one cozily nested between us, observing his facial expressions while he snooze – particularly grinning or making crying face with his eyes closed and when he purses his lips is truly irresistible. At times we wondered was it a reality or dream – with Aarush we’ve created a home nest that brought incredible joys and ofcourse not to mention sleepless nights. As soon as he use to woke up he would stretch a lot. His tiny hands use to remain tightly clenched while awake. In the form of short naps he use to sleep around 15-18 hrs. Whenever he was startled by a loud noise would thrust out his arms and legs and drew back them or start crying. Yet, he couldn’t focus far off objects and that too small ones.

Mostly, my mom use to take care of Aarush be it potty cleaning, massage or giving bath. His thamma (my MIL) was anxious to try her hand seeing his didu (my Mom) doing everything it was hard for her to resist. She also got chance when didu was down with fever for 2-3 days. My dad and mother-in-law left after 15 days of his birth.

After 15 days we appointed one maid who use to give him oil massage as well bath and thereafter wrap him tight in cotton cloth just like a small parcel. Soon after he use to have his milk and fall asleep for hours.

By then, I became milk vending machine. Feeding every 2 -3 hrs was bit troublesome …it took me quite a while to adjust to the same. Often for fun when I use to rub my finger to the corner of his mouth, he would immediately turn towards it for sucking – my mom use to scold me a lot for this action of mine.

On 21st Day we all went first to Kalibari at Vashi to offer puja (from this day onwards me and Aarush were supposed to go anywhere). There also he behaved very nicely and priest took him in his arms to give him blessings of Goddess Kali.

For Santanu, it was hard balancing work and home life.Along with me he was learning to become fully trained, hands-on the nappy, changing, up-all-night which was definitely tiring. Big change over at work, Long commute by locals – Obviously… it was juggling act of enourmous proportions. At end of month Santanu had to leave for Bangalore on a week long trip and missed first month milestone of Aarush.

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Aarush never likes to sleep when ever we tried to tuck his hands….I mean with buritto wrap. If wrapped he keeps on moving his hands in discomfort until he is unwrapped. He always loves to have his hands free, outstretched in upward direction. This series of pictures which were taken during half an hour cat’s nap. So many positions for two little hands

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Hello Aarush,

Today you are four months old…though nothing remarkable but for me it has been days now since we met last. Hope you to be fit as fiddle.

I came to know from your mom that now your vision is focused more or less, you are trying to grasp objects; can bat and swipe at dangling toys. It seems now you are ready to rock and roll as you have started taking side turns with squirms, giggles and wails… You respond to your nani (granny) and aunt with big toothless smiles as well with coos and making happy noises. Do you still continue to often soothe and calm yourself by sucking your fingers; and do you bicycle your legs and wave your arms when placed on your back with jerky movements.

Hope your head and neck muscles are getting stronger and able to lift your head to look around. I know that these muscles will still need support, so we have to be careful to guard your head and neck while lifting and holding.

Well, enjoy your time with your aunt and two elder cousin sisters. But do n’t get spoiled with too much love, care and attention.

Darling, it seems besides all care and love you are not keeping a good progress as recommended by your doctor. I just want to let you know that ‘am are not worried as long as you are happy and at ease.

Sorry my child, I miss you a lot and hope to see you soon. You are always in my heart and on my mind.

Loving you… Your’s DADA

P.S. – For others please check Aarush new pictures

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Currently I am spending my life as forced bachelor with Pamela ‘n’ Aarush at Durg. I was looking for an outing from a long time as completely burn-out with new and old responsibilities at personal and professional level. Spending weekends, doing absolutely nothing other than sleeping and delaying all household work for next weekend. Made few phone calls here and there to old friends to know about their latest updates.

Sameer told that they recently bought a small house in Nagaon near ‘Alibag’ and he would be visiting soon and asked if I am interested to come along or not. Without thinking twice I said OK that sounds like a plan. Alibag is in south of Mumbai; just across Mumbai harbor. Some super rich businessman takes their speed boat from Alibag to commute to Mumbai. Spending weekend by beach front is very common gateway for Mumbaikars and there lots of places like these to choose from. Have not visited many ourselves in last one year as of expected parent we had to put a complete stop on traveling.

There was no such formal plan for Sunday but on Saturday evening came to know that other two who were supposed to join can not make it. So it left to two of us only. Sameer called me at 6AM informing he started from Thane and will be reaching Kharghar in next 50 minutes or so. It was quite early for me but I was ready on time. We hit the road quite early with the thought of going to Karnala first; do a quick hike before it is too hot.

Crossing Panvel we stopped at Petrol Station to buy some water bottles and Sameer decided to fill car as well. But then there was glitch as those guys in the Pump were unable to connect to Credit-card bank to swipe our cards and after trying for almost 20 minutes or so we decided to pay by cash. Together we were only able to put 1167 Rs still short of few rupees but they let us go. Now there was no ATM nearby and we had to cross a toll booth soon. To be safe we turned our car for Panvel. By the time we found one ATM and reached the same petrol pump again; we lost more than hour and had to cancel Karnala.

The drive was pretty good and we reached Nagaon around 9:30. I was reading Sunday newspaper while Sameer watered all the new plants. We headed for Kashid (30 KM south) beach. Drive is more scenic as we cross few jetties and drive along coconut trees and sea. Kashid beach is clean and not that crowded but there were enough people. Only thing bothered us was horse cart. Those horse carts are real nuisance for a beach as you have horse shit every where. After strolling and spending some time we headed for lunch. Lunch was simple but it was more than enough. We went back to Nagaon for a nap. With clean cool air breezing we slept long enough on Sunday afternoon before returning to Mumbai. End of the day nothing special but looking forward for more trips likes this to spend a quite, relaxing and refreshing Sunday.

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Aarush has crossed 6 weeks mark now and till recent time there was no picture of him with me. Well, there was no specific reason for the same. Normally, when I leave for work he is sleeping and in the evening it is dark and we are against using flash while taking pictures of Aarush. That leave only weekend but recent weekends were very hectic and I was away to Bangalore and the stories goes on…

So one fine morning just before leaving for work we had photo session; and according to me it came out best – special thanks goes to Pamela for capturing this magical moment. Now I have to click some picture of Mama and son

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