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Well, a writer needs some appreciation and all of my earlier blogs have died premature deaths since there has been nobody to read them. But with this one I am sure, I have a reader who will go on till I did. So will wait for the comments!

Today you're 18 - it's been an eventful time with the hospital and stuff. We have had no problems otherwise. Been running around for your passport, insurance & other papers - but now that will have to wait till the time our 'good' marriage certificate is attested in India & sent back here. Grandadi leaves town on the 1st of May with that.

She's had a lovely time I suppose. She's been certainly pleased carrying you about at times. She's posed nicely for pics & videos now - now that we own a VIDEO CAMERAAAA!!! Yay! You have seen the one. It seems to an okay kind, the 'ancient' mini-DV type. But I have been told by the wisies on the internet that mini-DV scores over the other media when it comes to quality. And don't we love quality.

So am gonna run home now and shoot! And edit! And dub!!

2nd Home coming...

So the doctor allowed us all to go home today. A huge bill set off by the insurance, thanks to a great tip from Brian, my boss. Had called him to update and ask for leave, and he told me about another colleague Neil Tovey's case. His daughter was not breathing at birth, and had to be resuscitated and kept at NICU. Tovey himself called later and told me the whole story. They had arrived at Welcare hospital, 2 hours after birth and the reception asked him for the new born's medical card. Ridiculous?

Few futile arguments later, Tovey called up the office accounts and asked them to work out the insurance. The insurance was done as a special case, and his huge bill was settled easily. I called up immediately and all worked out to be a great relief for us. The bill would have been a huge hit on finances. Thank God for small mercies.

Talking of God, have quit smoke, beer & also red bull for good measure. All for your good health, and great future.

Hospital weekend.

The jaundice is gone, but the doc suspected some bacterial or viral infection. That's the reason we are going to have to stay here for a whole week. The weeekend has come & gone, and we are all here in the confines of our tiny room.

Been having fun replying to all the nice messages people have sent for you on facebook, mobile etc. Of course everybody thinks you are the cutest & the most beautiful. And I am a proud Daddy.

Calling the name.

Naamkaran - the naming ceremony in India is an important one for all hindu children. The larger family gathers up along with a pundit at an auspicious date & time. Following a small havan, the father & mother whisper the name in the baby's ear. Don't think we will be doing all of that elaborate ceremony in the sandlands.

For deciding your name, we called the pundit in India & told him the date & time of birth. He figured the nakshatra - the birth star for you as Shatabisha and according to that the hindi letters for the name were Go, Sa, Si, Su. We have been thinking so far of names starting from A or K - much of our favourites started from these letters.

Kimaya - meaning divine, was a favourite of Nanay & Mom. Anya was a brilliant one suggested by Nitin Uncle. Ayanna was another one of Mommy's choice. Came across Samya on the interent and all of us instantly loved it.

Samya meaning exalted, noble minded - has arabic origins. Suits well, since your place of birth is Dubai.

Miss Samya Nuguid Kulshreshtha

It is official. Been put on the birth notification issued by the hospital - now waiting to formalize on the birth certi. Everybody likes the name - Parul Bua, Tinkoo Chacha, Grandada & Grananay. But of course mom & I love it.

It has been a better day for all of us. The lamps have turned you into a healthier pink - more like the original packing you came in, and we are feeling pinkier ourselves. What a joy it is to see you feeding happily - towards evening mom had a hard time with the job, but later she's taken to it like the super mommy that she is!

Hope a last day here tomorrow and we can all go home. No fun to spend your first days at the hospital.

4th Day, Iranian Hospital Room 121, Pediatric Ward

The morning has started albeit peacefully. We have came to terms today with the ordeal of the night. Dr. Vahidi has adviced phototherapy, and you are cooking your bilirubin away under the light of 12 special Philips lamps enclosed in an oval box.

We are both thankful for the presence of Grannanay. If it was not for her, we wouldn't have known what to do. She has been the pillar on which both of us are leaning right now, through this harrowing experience. From changing your diapers, to staying awake to feed you every hour and talking us out of our misery - she has done it so well.

Hope we don't have to see the inside of a hospital again - till the time you are ready for your own progeny!

3 days old Samya - wiser to the pain of the world!

What was meant to be just a casual first checkup visit, turned out to be the first parenting nightmare. Nothing seem to go right, right from the tussle of securing you in the car seat, and then walking through the crowded hospital, to the finality of the doctor's comments. Jaundice is pretty normal in new-born kids like yourselves -but wasn't an experience that we were prepared for.

Least to say that watching you go through the admission of IV, and that harried look on your face, not helped by the sight of your blood and the attitude of the nurses - was too much for all of us to handle.

It was actually supposed to be a beautiful day, what with us finalizing your name and all! How does it feel to be called Samya - the noble minded. Mommy thinks your friends will shorten it to Sam - uber cool, isn't it? Or is it?

Home coming.

Two nights in Iranian's room 305 later, we brought you home today.

Yesterday was show time. All friends came and cooed and wowed and generally went silly looking at you - the cutest one. Rekha & Lewis
Nitin & Kamna
Sonu & Sapna & Nayonika

It feels like a dream - holding you and burping you and singing to you. Holding you is a bit hard on the back, but not your fault - Daddy needs to exercise, he he! Will practice singing better so that can do the lullabies properly.

A very Happy Birthday and Welcome to the world!

So we are blessed finally to see you! We were quite sure that you will arrive this weekend, and what an experience it was!

Thursday night mom started feeling mild pain and dropped her plug and so yesterday morning, we made the first trip to the hospital. In the words of Grandi, it seemed like we got out for a picnic. Mommy's sun hat, loud music on the radio, food and the bags. After a quick check up, they asked us to come back later but Mom ended up not feeling any pains throughout the day. The pains became more intense later - she was up all night and quite uncomfortable. But these were nothing compared to what was coming, as she found out today.

Today we came here by 9am, and Mom was admitted immediately. She was separated from us and put in the labour room alone to go through the big ordeal. After a long wait on the bright red sofas outside, we heard the news. At 5.38 pm, you were born - pink & healthy. The 3 of us gathered outside the delivery room, to catch a glimpse of you and can never forget that first look you gave us.

15 minutes later, you were ready for the intro & some pics by papa(razzi). Aren't you the prettiest little one! I am so so so proud and already competing mentally with all the other fathers out there. Guess I am not wrong - decide yourselves...

WWW

Waiting - any time now?
Worrying - a little bit
Wanting - a lot
Wishing - good luck to us all

The looong Easter weekend.

So you stayed in for the long Easter weekend? No problems honey, take your time. We will wait for when you are ready. Mom's been feeling super uncomfy, so we are hoping to hold you and see you in person soon. No more talking through the walls, he he.

We were hoping to bring Grandada over, but looks like he won't be able to. Tinkoo Chacha is held up in Delhi for his job, and so Grandada can't leave Aditi Chachi and Jiyamma alone. Guess Grandada & Grandadi will be able to fly over later in the year. Probably this year's Diwali they can celebrate in Dubai and then mom, you & me can go to Philippines to celebrate Christmas & New Year.

Hmmm, what more? Wait, I guess!