HPP BIDAY DR ARNAV (Happy Birthday Dear Arnav)

"Arnav look at me" I said

"What?" Two big eyes stared at me from the nook of my arm where he lay cradled.

"Happy Birthday"

"Oh is it Friday yet?" Big eyes got bigger with surprise.

"Yes baby"

We all broke into the Happy Birthday song. The family was piled up in our bed this morning. And I couldn't help but marvel at the simple bliss in an otherwise insanely complicated and busy life. it's the same feeling every time - did we really create these babies? The train of thought was broken by Arnav saying

"Thank you Mommy"

"Thank you Papa"

"Thank you Manav"

I started thinking again, he didn't say "Thanks Mommy, papa and Manav" as I would. It was a genuine unhurried acknowledgement of our wishes.

They have all the time in the world. And that jolted me to the realization that it's NOT a weekend. What are we doing in bed at 7:15 am? The bliss was gone and we all were hurtled into the mad world from the bed turned trampoline.

Time now to relate Arnav's birth story. We weren't aware he was amongst us till I was 3 months pregnant. Sometimes I look at those pictures of Manav, Caunteya and myself when we were totally unaware of Arnav's presence. I can never forget the moment when we found out that we were pregnant. I will not write about our first thoughts and feelings. When it kind of sunk in, I remember thinking "At least, let it be a girl". Even that was not to happen. We survived the bleak and tired winter with lots of guilt and heartaches. The toughest was to wean Manav of his sole source of sustenance. That baby hadn't had a chance to get to the bottle, never tasted formula in his life and one fine morning we just thrust these things to him. Maybe an entire month or more went by without him having little to no milk. We introduced Manav to daycare at the tender age of 1, me being scared of harming the other baby and too physically tired to care for both.

And then ""We are delighted announce the latest addition to our family. Manav's kid brother was born July 29th at 7:45 AM CST. He weighed in at 8 pounds and 4 ounces and 19 inches tall."

Since he was born Arnav has shown us how to live life to the fullest. Unlike Manav he had no hardship whatsoever to latch on and feed. He had no issues with sleep, feeds and poops. Or if he had we didn't notice. The reason was partly that we were so easy with him. We just "knew" what to do. We didn't reach for "What to expect - babies' first year" every 10 minutes.  We didn't maintain a log of feeds, poops and sleep. We did (or didn't do) stuff that every second time parent already knows. And Arnav was happy to just reciprocate. 

Arnav is a surprise, joy and delight for the family. He is always at his cuddly and nuzzly best. He loves to pout and express mock anger only to burst out laughing at the next moment. We love him to pieces. The story continues in pictures.

Arnav's first cries at Presbyterian Hospital Plano

Arnav's first birthday party at Preston Meadow Park

He started walking at 11 months and sprouted his first tooth at 4 months. He just cannot wait to grow up and bridge that 15 months gap between him and his brother. He is almost as tall as his brother and both wear the same size clothes.

Arnav's second birthday at Home, put together last minute by my father

Arnav in his 3 year old grandeur

Manav's card for Arnav, he didn't wait for me to help him spell

1st one is for Arnav - Arnav in red holding Mommy's hand and a ball, with the "rainbow rectangles". 2nd one is for Papa - Special double layered cake.

Now the quiz question - which one is Manav, which one is Arnav? Answer in next post.

After 3 and 4 years, no marks for guessing in this one.

Another interesting trivia, such a coincidence. Post birth recovery room at Presbyterian, Plano was the same for both boys - C475, exactly 15 months apart.

Tomorrow (rather today, it is 2:01 AM now, thanks to Blogspot.com which made me write this post 3 times, crashing consistently) is Arnav's birthday party. So pictures will continue.