Daddy's first DSF

Dubai Shopping Festival used to be a time for fun and frolic with the last job. The new job has brought with it new client and a very hectic schedule. Been coming home late nights and full working days. But this long weekend is here. 

The new big car is here.

Explorer arrives. Daddy went to pick it up - hoping that all will come - only later mommy got up and brought everybody else to the showroom in a taxi. So we all then sat in the big car and went to Mirdif city center to eat at the food court. Fun!

Fun with GranDadaji..

Today Grandadajee arrived as well. Fun and games with him - 

Grannanay's birthday.

How old did she turn? Today we did short and sweet celebration of Nanay's birthday - she was quite happy to get all the gifts and the cake, and a rose from Daddy (me).

Sleeping Duty.

Once again, Daddy and Mommy are at it. It used to happend quite a lot during the first months of miss Cookie - the three of us including Nanay getting up trying to manage Cookie's needs and sending her back to sleep. For some reason now, her sleep is quite disturbed and we are having a hard time.

Oooh, they grow big so fast!!

Often heard but really experienced today. Saw little miss cookie eat her food by herself with spoon, perched on adult chairs barely reaching the edge of the dining table - but oh so skillfully. Had to believe but was hard - since not so long ago most of the food went everywhere but in her mouth.

Grandadi is here...

So today Grandadi arrived from Jaipur, India. Cookie kept her distance from her being shy and all. Funny was the incident when Dadi got up from the dining table and cookie said buh'bye shee you - in her usual cute tone. Grandadajee will come next week, and so will our Explorer. Daddy is getting tired driving the small rental around town. 

Simba, Samba, Saffa, Shayya!?

So little miss cookie has learnt to say her name. When asked what her name is, she promptly replies 'Samya' but with a new twist to the name every time. She has also been parroting words said by Daddy and Mommy. That's apart from the regular babble that goes. Waiting to hear all you've got to say.

Cycle through town...

It began last week. Nitin Uncle started this discussion about how good it will be to take the kids out for ride on a bike. I was immediately interested but skeptical on the whole money issue - hobbies are expensive in da Dubai. Since then how I got hooked, spent sleepless nights and went driving around town in search of the best bargains and the best baby bike seat is just indescribable. Let's just say, Daddy got the bug. Friday morning the bike came. The rented Mazda 2 (the much awaited Explorer is still not here) somehow accommodated the thing and the many accessories in its belly. And then the fun began. Today is Saturday, and Cookie and Daddy have traveled the length and breadth of Motor City on the bike 3 times. Daddy doesn't know now how to pass the week of work. Hard to wait for the weekend to go again on the ride. Mommy is sad that she's missing on all the action. Mikie is inside, so obviously - but surely can hear about it.

A Pink winter...

So kids, the weather has become lovely and the three of us outside mommy's womb are waking up daily to beautiful and chilly mornings here in the new home at the Motor City. Mikie dear meanwhile has been kicking up a storm inside. Today we found out that the kicking is from lovely, delicate pink stockinged feet when we went for a checkup with the nice Dr. Yamini at Welcare clinic in knowledge village.

That was after Mommy had another shot at the road test and failed to make it again. Well let's all wish better luck to Mommy for the next time. My guess is that she's waiting for the Ford Explorer to arrive. Now you know that Daddy booked the new one because we didn't find a good old one.

For the house we manged to find a good second hand dining table. Little Miss cookie had more fun climbing up and stomping on it than actually eating her food. Next on the list are curtains, lights and a bunch of other things. The house is coming up nicely. 

Driving crazies!

So kids, mommy took her first ever driving test today. Not a happy outcome, but that's how it works in da Dubai. Even though she drove well, the first test is always hard to pass. She will probably pass on the next attempt. Meanwhile, little miss cookie continues to drive all of us crazy. She needs no driving test for that!

Baby love...

Both mommy and cookie carry their babies these days. Cookie is inseparable from her baby doll - day and night, sleeping, eating, bathing - cookie carries her baby doll every where.

Moving madness...

The long Eid holidays was considered an opportune time to move to the new dwelling at the Motor City. A whole day of packing and moving had Daddy and Mommy thoroughly tired and weak.
Even with the expensive movers, the moving exercise was quite a task. Thus was spent the 4 day long Eid holiday this year. We can hope to do something exciting like having a decent vacation when both of you have grown to a manageable age.

Motor City is far from the hustle and bustle of Lamcy where Daddy and Mommy started from. It is quiet, pleasant and green - like a proper community. There's a pool right outside our apartment, where you kids and Mommy can frolic as much as you like. This house has been bought hoping that both of you will grow up in lovely surroundings, and not spend your childhood playing in some parking lot. There is enough to explore, plenty of kiddy friends and lots of activities nearby.

Wishing and praying that we spend some lovely years here.

Chop chop kick!

29/10 So Mikie dear, your eagerness to arrive into the world shows by the excited kicks that Daddy also felt today. Mommy has been feeling them for long now. We are as eager to receive you baby. Haven't been able to find out if you are a girl or a boy till now - no luck with the few hospital visits we've made lately. Harder to get out of the office these days for Daddy, and Mommy gets tired carrying both of you and Grannanay around. Cookie meanwhile you got your first proper hair cut. Chop chop at the barber shop. Today was sort of a family hair cut day - Mommy had her first ever parlor visit in Dubai. I took my usual monthly as well. The cut has got you looking like a boy. But cute all the same. Now we feel that ear rings would go well with your new cut. So time to put holes in those lobes, and for Daddy to put his fears away.

Grannanay is here.

When did she come? Here on residence visa. It will be good for all of us but not so much for the family in Philippines. The cousins were upset to let her go, but we've got rights on her too, haven't we? he he.

September...

So kids, September started with full working days for Daddy, and great loads of work. Early this month, we have started the longish process of transfer and hope to finish it in the next few days. Then, we hope to shift there as fast as we can.

So here we were, at Ikea yesterday looking for some furniture ideas for our new place and when we arrived in to the kids section, Cookie you just loved the kids bed there. Mommy seemed to like the bunk bed more for both of you, but given the kind of space that we have I prefer to do it once and make your own spaces for both of you.

House House baby!

What was the date that we got the keys to the house? Date of transfer. DAte of griha pravesh - about the pooja - soon we are going to shift. Going about looking for furniture - we need a new sofa set, dining table, maybe also new beds for all of us. Must is to put curtains - there aren't peering eyes out there, but the sun is too bright in the morning. What a beautiful smell in the balcony. On the night of griha pravesh, all of us slept in that house with just one mattress. Daddy cooked and ate maggi - midnight snack with the camping chair. It's gonna be beautiful - cant wait to shift. CANT WAIT TO SHIFT (blog title)

Bye Pajero..

Sold off the dear old pajero - felt very bad saying good byes - the metro ride home was depressing. So many memories, not enough pictures though. This was the car in which you came home from the hospital for the first time. We struggled so much to fix the infant car seat which you outgrew and then the new one.

Now we are moving about in a rented corolla which is temporary. Looking to buy a used Ford Explorer. Meanwhile mommy's learning how to drive, she has been doing driving classes with her instructor who is kabayan and is taking good care of mommy. Mommy passed her assessment test on XX of october and now we are hoping that she'll pass her road test and get the license by mid November. Then she can drive you all around in the new Ford.

The long Eid holiday

For all the years that we have been in Dubai, Eid holidays have been a time for frolic and fun a - getting out of the country, or do fun camping / outdoor trips etc. However, since the Islamic calendar is based on the moon, Eid keeps moving forward by a few days every year. And this year the holidays happened end of August, which meant that it was too hot to do anything outdoors. Moreover, the house purchase and a lot of other expenditures meant that we couldn't travel abroad either. So the whole of 5 days was spent doing absolutely nothing.

Next year, Mikie will be too small for us to do much but also, cookie will be big enough for us to stay indoors and do nothing. Hmmmm!

So, what's your gender?

Well kids, some people choose to keep it a surprise till the very end, but we have always preferred to find out whether the baby in mommy's tummy is a boy or a girl. It helps us to plan ahead, shop and otherwise prepare for the newcomer's arrival.

Now we eagerly await for the next month to find out whether dear Mikie is a brother or a sister to little ms. Samya. Of course, we would love for you to be a boy, so that we have a complete family, but no pressure there darling. You could as easily be a girl, and Daddy and Mommy would shower the same kind of love on you too.

Catch up with the news day.

So today is the day that I realize again that I've not been writing in since July 25th and I would like to make up for it. Now I start thinking about what has happened since then, and it is a whole whole lot. We won't be able to capture the whole story of the days of our lives into this blog anyways, but here goes.

GranNanay arrived to take care of both of you and Mommy especially. Mommy was struggling to keep up with all our demands and we were getting worried that Mikie, sitting inside Mommy's tommy is not going to take it well.

We bought an iPad and that brought up the gadget count. Cookie, you are a pro on it already, playing whatever games or videos you want. Guess it will be outdated by the time Mikie can look at taking it up.

Our house has come to a final deal situation. We chose a reasonably good 2 br apartment in Dubai's Motor City and Daddy got the loan to pay for it - not without problems but at last. Hoping to shift there by October, in time for the lovely winters.

Hmmm what else? Again the search for a new car has started, because the small Pajero won't take all of us in when Mikie has arrived. All of us including Cookie would love to buy a LR4, but Daddy should instead save up that money and keep it for bringing up both of you. :)

More later I guess!

Playtime again, and always!

So we've been doing this often (forgive your old man for memory loss, if I have talked about this in my earlier posts) - going to find a bit of social life, atleast for little Ms. Cookie. Went to the Magic Planet at Mirdif City Center yesterday. Turned out to be quite a fun-filled evening. Specially after last week's Fun City visit where there were no kids to be seen.

Cookie, you are clingy these days and at first you cried when we put you down to play there. But afterwards, you were just fine and quickly made friends with bigger kids - girls who wanted to touch you, play with you and lift you. It was plenty of fun.

Later we ate lots in the food court and returned home!

House Hunt Ho!

Kids, as you know we are looking for a new place to call home - for now, a place of our own in the Dubai and maybe a different country altogether if destiny so permits!

For the ownwed home hunt, we have seen quite of lot of places, and now are shortlisting apartments in Motor City in Dubai. Motor City is a fun community for Children - surrounded with lawns and pools and a lot of kids around to play with.

Probably, we will move there before the year ends and Micky you can arrive into our own cozy home.

The iPad is here!

Guess I'm gonna start each post now with "Kids, ...." just like the beginning of each episode in How I met Your Mother - the TV show.

So kids, to add to all the fun that we have with gadgets, Daddy has purchased the latest iPad2. It has been supposedly bought to be played by Cookie, but looks like Daddy and Mommy can't keep their hands off it.

Daddy downloaded a bunch of baby playthings and we even brought it in the car, with its separately purchased seat hangar. More fun anyone? (Okay that's a bit duh)

Back up!

A lot of tears, sweat and all of that later, Mommy's back in action (she even squirted a bit on to me to show off - eeks!). It is much peaceful that way. Though we don't know if we are eating out of Micky's quota of food, but have got to balance both ways. Hope that dear Micky, you will turn out just fine.

Mother Dairy shuts down.

Today was a horrible day. No more milky from mommy. I purchased some four different brand of formula and we're trying those on you. You don't want any of those. So a hard day for me & Mommy. Can't see you crying like this but have to wean you off soon.

The first time away.

Not such a long trip, but certainly felt that way. Haven't been away from the family in a long time.

It was nice to meet all the people back home, but bad to run away after just one day in Jaipur. Malibu deal wasn't finished fully - just the initial bits.

Life's gains & losses.

Now I have got to start addressing this blog to the two of you. Just yesterday we confirmed that Cookie is going to get a younger sibling. Well, we all know I won't sustain a new blog, so I will do the other thing and make this blog for the two of you.

But today's been the day of good and bad news. In the evening, we got the news of Jiyamma passing away - Great Grandmother from Daddy's side is no more. She left for the house of god, finishing a long life of over 90 years.

I will travel to Jaipur to meet the family for support for one day, and then go to Gurgaon to sell our house in Malibu Towne. The deal's been done, and we'll get the first instalment of cash by this weekend.

Mommy will take care of the two of you, and cookie, you will take care of Mommy. Okay?

Welcome Micky!

Hello new one! We've just confirmed that you have arrived in Mommy's tummy. It is great news. We don't know if you are a boy or a girl, but Micky is a name good enough for both. We will decide your nice outdoor name when we find out your gender when you are 5 months old inside.

Cookie, welcome your younger sibling to the blog. We had suspected it for a while, with all the symptoms being there. And today it got confirmed that he or she's here in Mommy's tummy.

Love you - kisses!
Daddy and Mommy.

Arrivals from PHP

So this month we had two of Mommy's relatives arrive from the Philippines - Your Tita Mhay, who is the daughter of Grandmother's sister, and Tita Nhing, who's the auntie of Mommy. They came here to look for jobs and not without difficulty arrived in Dubai and found work.

Hope for the best for them. We now have some relatives in Dubai, at least for Mommy. She had wanted this for a long time. Hopefully Tita Mhay would be able to meet us now & then.

Hot hot summers

Summer is set full on, and we are roasting days. Eventful month, lot has changed so fast. You have grown up so much and learnt so many new things.

From the simple hide & seek, to opening & closing cupboards, getting down from the bed and climbing up with help, pretend talks on the phone, playing with the TV remote (changing the channels as we watch) - it is amazing to watch all of that.

Daddy's job has been very busy and days have gone by so fast, hard to catch up on the blog. Mommy's the one who watches all of your new tricks and rattles them off to me when I get home - but hard to keep pace with your energies.

Look ma no hands!

This weekend brought it on! You no longer want our fingers. Now you are walking tippy toes all over the floor. It is such a pretty sight. Both of us got emotional on that.

Photos of you.

So were looking at the pics from the first few months, and laughing so much! We found you the prettiest baby then, and you certainly are the prettiest thing on earth right now. But look at this! We laugh so much.

Sealed with a kiss.

Ok don't mind the cliche title - I've just gotten my first one! So finally we have been able to teach you how to kiss. Mommy got 5-7 in one go, and just one for me - am sooooo jealous. Guess that's her payback for all the good that she does for you. Hoping to get a kissy send-off to office on Sunday morning!

Weekend masti

We've been offered outings by our friends & neighbours quite often, but we haven't been too excited to go until today - when we went to Dreamland Aqua park with uncle rob and vicky aunty. Your first encounter with water out of the bath tub was at the beach - but you were scared of that quite much. Today you were like a fish by the end of the day - savoring every moment of being wet.

Mommy's been craving to get herself some water time for ever - but it had never worked out till today. She enjoyed plenty, going on all the crazy rides. And guess what, Daddy braved it too to make it through a couple! Good time it was. Here's some pics.

One year plus, plus

Was going through all the facebook albums of yours - just one year and you have changed soooo much. So much growing up has happened and now we're just trying our level best to catch up.

Opening bottles and spilling water all over yourselves - check!

Opening cupboards and going through the contents, throwing all that doesn't interest (pretty much everything after two seconds) - check!

Getting off from the bed & sofa by yourselves - check!

Fall face-down while attempting above - check!

The Presents!! Yay!!

So there were lots of people at the party, and what lots of gifts they brought. We carried them all back, and the left over food in two carrefour trolleys. Thanks to Tarun uncle to push the trolleys and Kamna aunty to help mommy pack.

The presents were duly displayed next to your play area, once back at home and mommy & I decided to open them only by Sunday the 10th, the actual birthday. But they kept staring at us, packed in all their beautiful packaged glory, till we gave out to temptation and tore each one of them open.

And out came lots of pretty dresses, lovely toys, some jewelry and a blanket!

The Party

So it was a day to remember! Your first birthday party, my first birthday party and mommy's first birthday party went off nicely. We met some people after a very long time, and what a sweet bunch of people. Even though they came late, but everybody made it. Picture this, we were being pushed to pack up and leave by the magic planet staff and there were people still walking in. We could not even feed them cake!

Talking of the cake, the 3 gelato cakes from Bacio Gelato in Al Barsha were a huge hit. And because there were three, people had double and triple helpings. There was fun-fare and there was games, and party. Pity I could not enjoy so much, and I guess also mommy because while I was busy directing the guests to the party till the last minute, mommy was busy trying to shush you and you, scared by the clown I guess, were bawling all through the party.

Guess it would have been better to follow mommy's idea of going for a retreat for the 3 of us - if only the idea did not come so late.

The Planning - 2

So today we decided not to go for a hotel, since mommy wants a fantasy party but not at a fantasy price. And daddy didn't get his act together all this while. (Work has been busy, I am tired, you know the blah)

Went off and paid magic planet - could be a fancy one after all. We will buy fast food from the food court next door, and bring icecream gelato cakes. Everybody would get a 30 AED card for the rides, and voila 2+2 = 4!!

April Fool

Mommy was a sitting duck for this one! I hadn't done this in a long time, but mommy came in too easy. She was lying down next to me, and all 3 of us on the bed when I had just woken up. I changed my name in her mobile address book to Mashreq, and sent sms from my phone informing her that she had won a million dirhams in the march 31st draw. Worked like magic! HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAA!

Only didn't want to hurt my sweetheart so much, so I had put April fool at the end of the same message. Otherwise, mommy was willing to go the full nine yards! Easy peasy!

Putting the teeth to use.

So there are four of them now. And you look the cutest with them. But the point of the teeth, which Mommy has been the first one to get, is to bite into some good solid food. So from mashed up pulp of pumpkin, potato etc you have moved on to munching up some real food. Mommy who was already worried about what to feed Daddy, is now faced with a fresh dilemma - what to feed you!

I for one absolutely love to share my food with you. You have gobbled up Dal rice, chapati, sabji, chicken and some other stuff, just spicy enough for your palate. The other day was fun when I fed you all the peas out of my mushroom-mattar dish one by one, and the peanuts out of my breakfast poha.

Million Dollar Dreams.

Mom & I have been harbouring these dreams of getting rich quickly for quite some time now. More than that dream we firmly believe that we are the only ones dreaming. So we've got our millionaire savings certificates and the saving accounts tied to the million prize draw, and we've been waiting forever. We have together been on day trips spanning the various vacations and the retirement homes and the farm-houses and the beach soirees etc. and the comfortable lives of all near and dear ones.

But the only win so far has come from unexpected quarters - I managed to win a Samsung Galaxy Tab worth nearly AED 3,500 from Citibank. That was good. Yet to get our fingers wrapped on it tho! The thing will be handed over to us in a ceremony, that's been pushed twice now. Waiting for this next promised Wednesday. Plan to sell it and get some goodies for all 3 of us.

Birthday season - part II

So the rest of my famlee is celebrating the birthdays - Mommy her 26th and you - the first!! Yay!! It is very important to Mommy that we throw a big party at least for your birthday. She's ready to give up her own birthday presents for the sake of the same. Now it's upto me to organize a rocking birthday party for both of my darling ladies and razzle & dazzle. We are planning the celebration to be on the 8th of April, a Friday - convenient to all the invitees. Still a month to go.. guess I should start now & plan properly.

So, what's the news!?

Life's changed all over again, once again! I gave up the whole business entrepreneurial do-my-own-thing thingy and took up a job with VA at his new venture BA. So Dubai Media City is the new home. Driving time has gone up and so have the hours. I am surely missing the easy lazy mornings and the early days. Now I guess we will be one of those baby & daddies who see each other once a week! :(

You the lovely you.

The days go by. But they are not ordinary days. Each day is filled with a new surprise that you might have thrown, a smile like no other and love like I have never known before. I wish these days would never end, and yet I get scared. Hope to read this with you 20 years from now. If not then you should know that I loved you more than any man ever would.

Hope your future is filled with happiness. I will make sure it is. I will be watching over you my sweet angel.

(Mommy, daddy's been drinking again!!!)

Winter, Weather, Worries...

February begins, and we have a beautiful winter this time. The weather was especially lovely this weekend, when we went to see the birds gathered up in Ras Al Khor Birds Sanctuary. They come every year, but in my 5 years in Dubai the first time for us. We saw plenty of flamingoes, grey heron and others whose names we don't know. You got busy making friends with all the people present. Incredibly social aren't you?

It gets a bit nasty for mommy and daddy with all kinds of people smiling, cooing and talking to you. Sometimes there's touching of your cheeks, which irks us both no end! I could bite off some of those fingers, I tell you!!

News from Philippines - Tita Maricel, the wife of Tito Michael and the mother of four of your cousins, got herself a Sari-sari store (General provisions shop). Some people getting old and sick - Our grannanay is getting weak eyes and ears and that's worrying us badly. Grantatay's sister got a stroke in December and continues to be unwell.

Some people planning to fly over to Dubai, with our help to find here a well-paying job. We are hoping that the monies would be sufficient to keep everybody happy and contented and the bills paid.

Hmmm, after all the news follows the weather report. It rained for a few days and it is pleasant, sometimes cold and the last couple of days were windy and dusty. Good time to be out and about. It was your friend Ate Abby's birthday on the 1st Feb and tomorrow we are invited to a party at the Safa park. Hope the weather will allow.

More later...

Long, long time!

Today's been a long time since I properly wrote something here in this memoir for you. Sorry about that - it has been a general lack of inspiration, some laziness, a lot of ennui and also since a lot has happened with you, catching up with everything was an enormous task.

There's been a lot of stress, since the job got over a couple of months back. This month things have started to look up and there's a lot happening that might work out well for the future. My feeling is that this is the good luck that daughters bring to fathers, and you've brought mine to me - my little Goddess Lakshmi.

You've become very active, very loud and very very naughty. There's not a moment of rest for Mommy with you. She needs to manage us two babies and the washing, cooking and household errands for both of us. Hee Hee!

Almost every week there has been something new to cheer about with you as you go on learning new skills, putting your tiny hands and feet to proper use. First it was learning to sit by yourselves without support, getting up on all fours, and then trying to crawl and the latest one is pulling up with support of walls or bedside or mommy's or mine!

Daddy turned 35 this 13th - that is a whole lot of years. You turned 9 months on the 10th. Another birthday is Granddadi's which is tomorrow.

We flew kites and had some fun this weekend. Some pics of that on facebook - hope the thing stays let's say 20 years from now.

More coming later...