Drinks of more than one kind

Another first - Vir had water for the first time ever yesterday - the 25th of June. I gave it to him in his glass. He seemed to like it, although, as expected, most of it just spilled and drenched his clothes. He kept wanting to bite the edge of the glass. Anything and everything goes into his mouth these days - from the corner of a cushion, to the corner of my laptop! Except of course his cerelac, which he hasn't really taken a liking to. Today was hilarious - he just pursed his lips tight as can be and refused to let the spoon of cerelac get into his mouth even a little bit! When I tried a little harder, he just made a ptttthhhh shoud making the cerelac fly all over him and me! I can see fun times ahead trying to feed him.

Meanwhile, Vir also visited a pub sort of place for the first time yesterday. I know how that sounds but it wasn't so bad! A few friends from work were getting together to celebrate a happy occasion and the only way I could go was to take him along with me. We were the only ones there since it was 7 in the evening. So it wasn't noisy or smoky - just a nice, relaxed place where we were all together. Vir loved it. He sat in his car seat, which I had perched on the couch, and basked in the compliments my friends were pouring on him! He's so well behaved any time I take him out - I hope he stays that way and my luck doesn't run out on that one since I love being able to take him with me wherever I go.

Moving on to bigger things

Vir had his first cereal on the 23rd of this month! It was SO exciting to be able to give him something solid, or at least semi-solid for the first time. Well, I guess I had cheated a little once, a couple of weeks ago, and given him a tiny bit of mashed banana, but let's ignore that. This was his first legal helping of anything other than milk. It was pretty hilarious too. I took a really long time to prepare the cereal, trying to get it just right. Vijay switched on his video camera as I tried to get Vir excited about the upcoming new experience and sat him down on my lap. Baggdu realized something important was about to happen and arose from his usual state of slumber. Finally, I put a small amount of Cerelac on a spoon and brought it gingerly to his lips to give him the slightest taste. Before I knew it, Vir had grabbed the spoon and lunged at it with his mouth open and shoved the entire thing in his mouth.He realized soon enough that this was far from what he had expected, made a disgusted face, and emitted the entire thing from his mouth. This process was repeated a few times and thus ended his first solid meal. It was a lot of fun. He is now allowed to sample from quite a long menu - daal, cerelac, banana, papaya, sooji, soup, stewed apple, and other stuff along these lines. The only downside I can see is that his poop is now much more offensive than the non smelly stuff I've gotten used to in the last almost 5 months. He doesn't seem to think that's a big deal. In fact, sometimes I think he poops just so he can see the expression on my face.

Mataji and Pitaji

Another huge development to report! Vir said mama!!! He doesn't know what it means yet - he can just say the "m" sound and that, combined with his crying sound, sometimes makes mama. Or mamamama. But I only focus on the first two times he says it. Mama. I think that's one of the best sounds in the world coming from him!

Vijay has been trying to figure out, since before Vir was born, what he wants to be called by his kid. There are so many choices - there's Teta, which is what he calls his dad. But, really, there can be only one teta, so that just sounds weird when referring to Vijay. Then there's Deota, which is the Assamese word for father. He thinks it's nice but a little too high and mighty. Then there's papa, which is in the running, but a little behind for some reason. I think Vijay's not used to it and doesn't like it much. Other options are Dad, daddy, pop, pater, father, deta, and pitaji. When you think about it, it's quite a challenge to pick the one thing you want to be called by the people you're going to end up loving the most and thinking about almost all the time. He needs to decide quickly though; time is running out - Vir will be talking soon at the rate he's going!

Four Months!

Here we are, at the 4 month mark. I cannot believe how time is flying. Here's the list of things he can now do:

• Reach out for things held out in front of him, or even to his side and get it right almost always


• Put everything possible in his mouth


• Laugh


• Turn over on his stomach and stay that way for at least 2-3 minutes at a time


• Laugh when I mock swing him in the air and express dissatisfaction when I stop


• Hold up his head really well and even turn fully to look another way when on someone's shoulder


• Hold entire conversations in gurgle speak


• Turn in the direction of sound


• Recognize my voice, I think

Can you believe it?

First train journey

On the 29th of May, 2007! I was so nervous that he'd be cranky and noisy and painful. But he was an angel! I took his car seat and stuck it in the train seat, so he was on familiar ground. That, plus the fact that it was morning sleepy time, plus the rocking of the train did the magic. He slept almost all the way through except for one little meal and 20 minutes of playing. So, not the most educational experience, but a very peaceful one. I have my fingers crossed that the way back will be equally easy.

Dr. Seuss is my friend

I had a really great trip to the bookstore the other day, ostensibly to buy books for Vir but really, I thought they would be more for me because he's so young for books. I got that one wrong! He LOVES them. I should have discovered Dr. Seuss as a kid, but he's as much fun for adults - so it's so much fun reading his books out to Vir. Shroopie and Ajesh have discovered Dr. Seuss too and now also keep buying books - also "ostensibly" for Vir!! I can't blame them. Who can resist a book that reads:

You can think up some birds
That's what you can do
You can think about yellow
Or think about blue

You can think about red
You can think about pink
You can think up a horse
Oh, the THINKS you can think!

Oh think thinks you can think up
If only you try
If you try, you can think up
A guff going by!

Vir has a great time with the colors and the rythm in all of Dr. Seuss' books. And I have a wonderful time watching him respond the way he does. I know reading time will always be my favorite! I hope he always loves it the way he does now.

I can say Koka

Vir met his grandfather again. Put up a really good show too. Though he can't say 'koka' (the assamese word for granddad) yet, I think he really wants to:-) It was nice to see them spend time together. I got some great pictures. Teta says he's lucky to have seen his grandson in his lifetime. I think it's the other way round. Vir is very, very lucky to have had all his grandparents waiting right outside the operation theater where he was born. Right after he met me, he met his dad, nani, nana, aita, and koka. Who can beat that?!

The other big, no - huge - thing that happened since I last posted - Vir can now roll over on to his tummy all by himself! (ta-daaah!) That happened on the 8th of May for the first time, and now it's almost a daily thing. I'd like to say he loves to do it, but it's really more of an accident most of the time when he's turning his head in all directions in the hope of finding some milk. He actually hates it since he gets his arm stuck under his tummy when he rolls over and doesn't know what to do about it except lie there with a really sad expression on his face till I yank his arm out and roll him back over. I'm worried that his arm and chest muscles won't be strong enough if he doesn't spend enough time on his tummy. Teta says I'm expecting too much out of a three month old. That may be true, I suspect. Anyway, will update this space as more happens!