Ranbeer takes his first steps

Finally people, finally Ranbeer walks…
I was so done-to-death by everyone and anyone asking me if Ranbeer had started walking.
The kinds that came by :
**Oh he hasn’t started walking yet? How old is he? 1..already…( ya, whats already? has your son started to scratch his crotch yet..what already???))
**Really…he must be slow on this one…our so-and-so was walking at 9/10/11 months ( get them an Olympic medal then)
**Oh have you got him checked by the doctor for abnormality ( and this one was fricking me out)
**Maybe he doesn’t like to walk (like is there a “like” to it???)
**Maybe you are not encouraging him enough ( yes, yes, its my fault now)
**Its high time he stops crawling and cruising,,,,and start walking.tch tch…poor you! ( Yes, thank you for sympathy)

** These things happen, after all he has smart parents..he'll get there..( now what was that, but thanks for your vote of confidence)

I am sure you have all awarded me the desperate jealous bitch title by now.. Cmmon man…he is a baby…and has his own developmental cycle…if I tried hard enough..i’d probably get him to say “fuck you” to your nonsensical ramblings before I can get him to walk.
My pediatrician wasn’t worried. He said its normal for kids, especially boys to walk as late as 1 and a half years, and why was I in competition anyway?? But, hand over heart..yes i was getting a bit worried..
So coming back to Ranbeer taking his first steps. I remember the day, 5th Feb, Friday evening, somewhere around 7 :30 pm.
The family was sitting in the drawing room with usual chit chat about the day, and suddenly Chota Chowdhary got up and took his first 3 steps from the sofa to the carpet where his toys were kept.
This wasn’t it though. He forgot about walking the next day. Over the next week, we use to try to get him to walk, but he still quite didn’t take off.
Then I landed in Corbett on the 12th Feb noon, and was trying to get Ranbeer to have his lunch. I was alone with him in the room, and he was scampering all over the place.
He took fancy to an empty metal dustbin kept in the room. In order to get the dustbin away from him, I moved it in one corner of the room. Before I knew, this one just walked towards it. OMG, he walked like, 10-15 steps…and I went crazy….
I kept repeating the exercise over and over, hoping that he doesn’t forget…Manish had set out to check out the resort with his friends and organize lunch for us.I gave him a call, and all of them trooped over and clapped !
Thank you Uncle Jim…you got us good luck…and yes, Ranbeer is getting better and better at taking steps each day since then.
Right now, he looks like a cross between an astronaut and a toy taking measured steps, while trying to walk. I know he is trying to get his balance right and his confidence rises with each passing day.
He looks so cute trying to get his steps right, to turn while walking and to balance other things in his hand while walking…
And yes, for some unexplainable reason, this seems like a big achievement to us as parents…

Here’s a video of him walking the first time in Corbett !

Dhruv Bhatia...R.I.P

I lost my 1 and half year old nephew to a freak accident on 18th late night.
Dhruv was my 1st cousin, (mama’s son) 1st and only child.
A boy of sunny disposition, the apple of everyone’s eye, fell to the wheels of time, most tragically and unnaturally.
He was playing with the TV trolley, and the trolley fell on him.
The TV fell elsewhere, and without a scratch, and the boy fell on the floor as an impact of the trolley falling on him. He sustained head injury and could not be revived.
My heart and spirit is totally broken. The family is still reeling under shock and is totally devastated.
I am a mother too, and Ranbeer is in the similar age group, and in my wildest nightmare also, I don’t wish for such pain for any parent.
I cannot imagine how my brother and his wife are coping with this….
It is so chilling that I am having cramps in my stomach just thinking about this…
I pray to God every minute to give the family strength and peace to tide through these times. There is no greater loss than the loss of your child, nothing, absolutely nothing compares to it.

Dhruv, sweet baby…may you become the star, just like your name, and shine ever so bright in the sky…may you send peace and good luck to your family….and come back soon, in another form, to fill the void left by you in our lives..

Congrats !

Happy 4rth wedding anniversary to two of my most favorite people Binnie and Amit......Many congrats to my dahling sister and my dear “Kalu”
You are a classic example of best friends getting married. It so amazing to see two people together, and so in love.
Cant believe that the term “ high school sweethearts “ suits you so well.
Thanks B…for being the best sister and the bestest friend ever..
And Kalu…for being the life long best friend to my best friend…
Love ya both...muaah !!

Calls of the Wild

The fam decided to spend the long weekend of 12-13-14 Feb at The Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve.
I wasnt keen, and you know why...i was going to have the least fun, managing a restless 15 month, and hubz was going to have the maximum fun, as his 3 best buddies ( read drinking buddies were gearing to drown the place in rum and coke).My biggest heebie gibees was managing Ranbeer is a car. Given that Ranbeer is so restless, i wasnt sure how i was going to endure the 7 hour journey.
However i did agree, and on 12th morning loaded ourselves into 2 cars, 2 families in each, and headed into wilderness. Missed Sumit and Rupali who couldnt join us last minute.

Photo :Bhajan ka Dhaba, Gajraula, NH-24. Stopped for breakfast, dhaba-ishtlye
For Ranbeer, ofcourse, it was fun ! New place, new things to see and mommy and daddy all the time!
Thank God for Meenu getting her portable DVD player along in the car. When nothing works to keep two 15 months old boys in place, then Old McDonald would.

Photo : Meenu, Aarav and Ranbeer and faithful ol nursery rhymes
Manu Maharani Corbett Resport is a simple, homely kind of resort. I believe that it was newly renovated in terms of cottages. However they seem to be still working on the grass.
River Kosi was a beautiful view from the open air cafeteria.
http://www.manumaharani.travel/
Ranbeer made friends with Raghav and Dushyant, and found many fans in Garima, Punkaj, Kapil and Neelima with his playful and naughty ways.

Photo : Ranbeer and Dushyant, goofing around
Hubz was happy at night with friends and rum, while I played a tired mommy to a sleeping baby.

Photo : The men and the boy(s), warming next to a bonfire
Obviously with kids we were not allowed a jungle safari, but we took them to the local museum and clicked many photographs.

Photos : 1.The Jim Corbett National Park, Dhangiri Gate 2. Hubz and Chota saying Hello to Uncle Jim 3. Mr Rawat, caretaker at the museum for last 35 years ( and looking like something the big cat dragged in, literally )

Photos : Chota Chowdhary playing out his wild fantasy !

Photo : Raghav, sulking ( oh so cute), angry at his parents denial to buy him a binocular !

Finally, returned home late on Valentine’s day….my report card says a decent break for all of us!

Introducing Priya Anya Khanna

Yieepee, i am an aunt again...Roma, my chacha's daughter in the US has had her second child, a girl they name Priya Anya..
Got the below mail on behalf of Rajan Neil ( Roma's first child, and Anya's brother). Ofcourse, Akhil ( Roma's hubby)wrote it!

How i envy people who have children of both genders, and have them close to each other in age...

Is Hubz Chowdhary listening????

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Hi Everyone,
I'm sorry about the delay in getting the announcement out to you, but Mommy and Papa have been in the hospital most of the week and I've had to hold down the fort at home and take care of the grandparents.
My little sister arrived on Monday, January 25th at 1:25 in the morning. She and Mommy both had a great week and came home yesterday. Priya weighed in at 7 pounds and 13 ounces and was 20 and 3/4 inches long. I've attached her picture here-- this from when she was only one day old. Yes, she has a lot of hair and Mommy and I are wondering if we can find a way to transfer some of it to Papa!
Thanks for all of your good wishes. We hope all is well with you and your families.
Love,
Rajan

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Woopie congrats to the Khanna and Bhallas and much love and luck to the angel Priya Anya

Asia 7

Pali cooked up a plan for everyone to meet for lunch, so that she could get to say bye before she leaves for UK. Everyone confirmed, and just as it always happens, 2 dropped out. Salz bro and sis-in-law had a baby this morning ( Congrats, and God Bless little Yash), Aryan wasnt well, so Mona didnt turn up ( missed you gal), The Kumars came, yes, all 3 of them, and to keep Papa Kumar company, Papa Chowdhary was invited too.

We picked out Asia 7 at the Ambience Mall, Gurgaon. This is my 2nd time visiting Ambi Mall, and i am struck again at the sheer size of this mall. Had never heard of this place, and was pleasantly surprised to find a reasonable buffet at Rs 425 + tax per person of a wide array. I believe that its called Asia 7 owing to 7 different Asian cuisines : Burmese, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and Indonesian all from across the continent, right under one roof.

The noon was filled with non stop chatter, and Kumar's stories and puns on Pinky...little Bani was a tad unwell, and lost among the elders..grub was nice, and yes, the variety was huge. So i recommend for a one time visit atleast.

My take... it's a Seven Up!

Where : Third floor, Ambience Mall, NH-8, Gurgaon

Meal for two: Rs 1,100 (without drinks)

Ring: 4665571