Day 2 of Gratitude

Yesterday began with a caesarean section which I attended in view of fetal distress. What made it so memorable was the fact that the grandmother and father were overjoyed and had tears of joy when I showed them the baby girl. I am accustomed to seeing such happiness when the parents see a male baby but seeing them such pure unadulterated joy and celebrating the baby made me so happy. 

Yesterday seemed like a typical monsoon day in coastal Karnataka and it rained through most of the evening and night. Watching Sujay enjoy the rain, attempt to catch the rain drops and squeal in delight is another priceless memory. 

Suraj and I also took a rainy visit to Reliance Fresh and I got a jar of my guilty pleasure ( Nutella)!! 

Another good news was knowing my proposal went through the IEC Pre-Screening. :)

Day 1 of Gratitude

 I realise that I probably crib and cry about so many things without giving due credit for the good things happening around me.

I’d like to change that. I want to practice mindfulness and gratitude for everything we have been blessed with.

Yesterday Sujay turned 8 months so we did our usual photoshoot. We also did a small Krishna themed shoot. We also had fun giving Sujay a tub bath and he loved being watching the toy octopus spray water all around the tub. 

One of the underrated pleasures of staying in Karkala on a Sunday is driving to Bajagoli in the evening for tea and vada pav. Watching the rain turn everything green-er and shiny is another simple joy of life that we don’t notice enough. 

Reminiscence.

 

Maybe motherhood was not just about me embracing my little one but also appreciating and being grateful for my own mother. 

I think the hardest part ( Like I have repeated often) has been about how I have begun to see how it might have been for my own mother, her dreams, aspirations, difficulties as she navigated through motherhood. 

So many events and instances, I have begun to see in a different light. It has been a revelation of sorts to understand everything my parents did and continue to do for us. 

Life lately has become very hectic and there is not much time to stop and smell the roses, as they say. But I do try to ensure that Sujay has the time to smell (and also hold and squish) the roses, if he chooses to. It is good to be busy but it also means I am almost always doing something or thinking about what to do next. It feels like several tabs are open at the same time in my brain and I am slowly trying to come to terms with multitasking. 

A typical morning involves me waking up by 6:30, staying in bed till 7 so that both of them don’t wake up. By 7:15 I finish my ablutions, then try and clean the kitchen a little and plan what are the meals for the day. I put the clothes for wash and then go for a small walk in the campus. I usually have a chat with dad at this time and also get some milk if needed for the home. Then I proceed with getting ready for work and also start preparing Babba’s meal if required. I join rounds by 9:40 after giving some time for Baabunni for his morning walk and also give him his first meal for the day. Post rounds I come home for a bit to check on Sujay and feed if needed and sometimes grab a quick cup of tea with Suji. After this, it’s back to OPD where I see patients or administer the questionnaire for eligible patients or sometimes correct student papers or work on the next protocol/ chapter/ article. 

I make a visit around noon for a feed and then come home for lunch by 1:40. Baabunni also has a meal by this time and then its time for a quick nap (if the stars align, both Sujay and I have a nap together or else its just him or sometimes its just me (trying to nap)).

By 3:40 we go back to the OPD and see some patients and then proceed for rounds if its my duty. I usually wind up by 5:30 and then we say bye to Akka and go to the canteen for a quick bite (for me, while Sujay watches hungrily) and then have a walk in the campus and listen to the birds as they chirp on the way back to their nests.

We spend the evenings on the floor or sometimes with books, sometimes with the most mundane household items which are exciting toys for Sujay. Post another quick meal for Sujay (and for me), we head to bed for the day! While he does wake up a few times to feed, he (thankfully) has no interest in playing at night and chooses to feed and sleep.

Most days are busy but it’s also exciting to see him learn and explore more of the environment around him. He is now trying to hoist himself up by holding on to any elevated surface and while this is very gratifying to watch, it also requires us to be very vigilant since he doesn’t know how to break his fall yet.

My recollection of my routine will be inaccurate without the mention of N aunty, P akka and M Akka who are the backbone for our household and Sujay’s playmates during the day. Their love and affection for Sujay is evident and it is only because of their care and warmth, he doesn’t mind me going to work. :)