Those Amazing 262 days

The wonderful quotation made me re-live amazing memories of close to 2-2.5 years back, yes those 9 months, the most special ones, when for the 1^st time I established the fact that there was a life bubbling up in me!

Well, so different was that day, amidst the hush of life, when the purple line in the test suddenly got me in qualm..Dilemma on how my professional life would move ahead? Serious skepticism on how will I raise up a life? Was I competent enough to have a perfect blend of raising up a kid with ample ecstasies along with the smart work of my professional life? With so many If’s & buts on my left logical side, the right side of brain was enjoying the moment..Hilarious, It was sensing something beautiful, something striking a chord with my life. Yes it overtook all the pessimism of left side with a lovely aura of spending the upcoming 9 months with full zeal & zest, blissfully counting on the days to hold a delicate tender darling.

With ample questions every day, wrt developments every week rather every day, how the nutrition needs to be tied up irrespective of anything, what all precautions one need to carry along..Registration to baby centre became my handy guide. Yes, numerous directions flew every day from both the Mom’s, which actually gave me a sense of great feeling..I was suddenly on the “prime list” of every family member.

Wanna eat Ice cream & Jalebi at 11 in the night? Eat, don’t control. Wanna rush to a lush garden & have a leisure time, come let’s go. No dinner mood..Leave it, ample choices to be spoilt for. Why drive, cabs are there to help! Oh God ,those superb 9 months ,full of tantrums & excitement ,those were the moments which made my family re-pamper me to the heights & I actually lived my sweet old days .

The routine was more or less the same, being a working woman, It was great to go to office & try to be the same person for close to 5 months.. Any cravings, any discussions with close friends were not allowed to be over heard to other colleagues ( Out of sheer shyness & strict instructions from in-laws to not leak out the good news) .The biggest difficulty was when I moved in 2^nd & 3^rd trimester & had to somehow hide the baby bump;) Well, thanks to the little one inside who did not allow me to put on much & was able to work out till the last days. Thanks to him that he allowed me to keep on my pace while working. There were amazing sentiments, while talking to your boss, you get a high kick from inside & you just stammer upon, unable to utter or laugh (& then later on you see yourself giggling ;)). I got so lovely colleagues who asked me to slow down & not to lose the appetite completely.. It was a great time to hear from people that your kid will be a super active kid (I certainly had no doubts on it looking at the life I led;)) , & the most precious comment from a close colleague when I told him that “I won’t come from tomorrow.. Hey why are you quitting the organization?” Ha Ha I was stunned but upon telling him with the fact, stunned him all the more.. 8.5 months sitting beside me & unaware of this reality..It felt as WOW..People didn’t even realize that I was expecting!! Incredible journey by me 😉

Initially there were days of upset-ness in first 3 months which I usually felt during evenings post returning from work. But being blessed with an amazing partner, those moments were always lightened..Sometimes “Doughnut guy” was ringing the bell & other times, my loved starters would!! We would sit & play “Scrabble to Ludo to Carom & to utterly kiddish “Guess who ;)”..We would be madly dancing & roaming around in the lanes for night walk. There were daily “Rasgulla’s” in the fridge & Coconut water, soya chips & what all not; all these were a daily part of my bag. God, it was extreme coddling. My better half was all the time on his toes to get me all what I even thought off J Every months there were surprises hidden (Don’t know if they were for me or the little upcoming champ) .

There were days when the visits to hospital made my heart beat go up, sonography’s longed me to see the face of little one (But I wasn’t lucky ,he was so shy to face the camera;)) , switching & increasing of the medicines putrefied my face ..Any comment by the gynecologist suddenly made me all the more cautious…There were wonderful counseling session in the last trimester to make a new mom understand the new life..

There were numerous changes going on in my body every day every minute ,sometimes eating became difficult ,sometimes travel & other times even breathing.. But it all perished when “we” used to chat & smile; When he used to kick & revolve all around inside (as if surveying the upcoming world) ,when the hearts used to beat in sync with one another ..It was the most beautiful feeling to which only I had the access & that was the feeling of “Being a Mom”. Those were the moments when the emotional bond had already been developed, we already knew each other & the only word which existed between us was of “Love, Love & Love”. We were far away from the reality of this world & were lost amongst each other.

& then there was the day ,when he was there in my arms ,so close to me ,I could feel his every breath ,I longed for him close to 9 months & yes the best gift of God was there holding me !

“I’m writing about my wonderful journey of pregnancy for the #YummyMummy blogging activity at BlogAdda
in association with Marico Bio Oil.”

Massage with -Dabur Baby Massage Oil

The tenderness, love a child brings in one’s life is certainly a bliss in our life .To see them grow & nurture healthily is again a big challenge which takes most of our time & brings out the best from us ,be it from feeding them with best organic foods or giving them a hygienic environment or sharing with them BPA free toys .Amongst all this lies a very important part of a child’s growth ,Massage ,which is a wonderful way to express our love ,care & give our child a healthy life.

Importance of Child Massage:

Since ages, massaging child has taken on its roots in India, with the reasons making it mandatory as:

1. An important gentle & rhythmic stroking which tones up baby’s muscles & makes bones strong
2. It also enhances blood circulation & moisturizes baby’s skin
3. Some people also say that it helps in weight gain due to toning up of body
4. A gentle massage on tummy & chest help in releasing out the gas & improves digestion for the infant as well.
5. It also acts as a big relaxant for kids, as it eases out the muscles & help in a good sleep post facto.
6. It is a great method of bonding between a mother & child, as it is said that during massaging, oxytocin hormones are released which gives a warm feeling to the baby.
7. Further it is also said that massage is a great option for pre-mature kids ,as it stimulates vagus nerve (connecting brain with major body organs) resulting in improved circulation ,digestion ,right bowel movement . Also, it leads to better brain activity for pre-mature infants.

Requirements of Massage:

1. A perfect baby oil
2. Towel
3. Nappy kit

Right strokes with right baby oil matters a lot. Now –a day’s one can get so many baby oils in te market but it plays an important role in identifying the correct oil & apply it. I have been using Dabur Lal tel & Olive oil alternately on my kid from past 9 months ,the reason being Lal tel is a genuine & proven oil ,best for the strong bones & Olive oil has immense goodness of olives which not just moisturizes the skin but also helps in reducing the stress ,stiffness if any ,hydrates the skin ,induces better hair growth ,& also helps in better sleep which is must for infants.

So when I came to knew of Dabur’s new Baby oil having the goodness of Olives & Almonds, I did apply & wanted to test it out on my baby with a strong believe in Dabur products.

1. A sweet interesting packaging which prompted my kid to pounce on it even before I tried to unpack it 😉 SO once he was satisfied & played for next 10-12 minutes, I finally grabbed it from him, to have a look & apply the same on him. So the start seemed to be interesting enough!!
2. Studying on the compositions which clearly define as Almonds & Olives ,helping out in perfect nourishment to the child & making it all the more soft due to presence of Almond oil (which acts as a moisturizer as well)
3. Further, felt pleased to know that the goodness of these oils had been enriched with the absence of any Paraffins & artificial colors, Paraben, unlike many products which up sell with added colors & fragrance. For infants, purity should be the final touch!

Application:

Once satisfied reading & making myself aware of the natural goodness of this oil, I was prompted to apply it on my baby. As such my kid loves getting massaged & I was eager to see him react when this goodness reached him all throughJ

Gently rubbing the oil between my palms, I started massage from the legs, starting slowly to being a little tight on thighs & calves & see here I saw him squeaking & smiling back 🙂

Moving upwards his chest & tummy making “I Love U” signs ,& using fingers to gently stroke in circles ,make him giggle & jump a lot ,but this is the way he enjoys. Similarly moving on hands & back I applied this oil with full faith & my kid loved the massage, which ended with a 2-3 minute session on his scalp which he loves the most.

Post this fabulous massage with perfect textured oil for a tight massage, some exercise made him sleepy & I felt pleased to see him sleep with a smiling face & relaxed body.

Conclusion : I found this oil perfect for people like me who love doing tight massage with not-so-light oils which are sold in the market .Along with this ,the freshness of almonds & Olives could be felt easily which act as “essential oils” for kids (although for us too..So even I applied it on me once ;))

Although this post is being written for Dabur Oil, but the goodness explained & experienced is very true ,as true as my baby & for the well being of all mothers like me. Do try out the product, which is quite reasonable & comes in 100Ml bottle. I’m sure you’ll be contented enough for a good tight massage.

I am writing about Dabur Baby Massage Oil with the goodness of olive and almond for the #FirstLove activity at BlogAdda.’

Happy with my oil:)

Protected: Tears of Ecstasy!!

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Hyderabadi Biryani -With secret spices!!

“What ..How can you expect my son to help you out in kitchen. He is the king of home. He’ll just sit back ,relax & enjoy his life.. It’s you who ought to do your daily chores & keep your men happy!!

A distressed Sonia on hearing out these words went back to complete her routine life ,a life which starts with giving her better half, Kareem & in-laws a cup of bed tea ,cleaning the house ,preparing breakfast for them ,serving them hot breakfast & then it’s when she gets time to take breakfast herself. But not in a relaxed manner. It’s hardly 10-15 minutes time as here comes the voice.. Do remember you need to wash the clothes & then prepare sumptuous lunch for us on time!! It had just been 3 months of her marriage & she was completely exhausted .

Oh. What the hell. Am I a work Machine? Don’t I want some special time for myself? Am I not a human & don’t have the right to sit back & relax like Kareem? Why is this male dominated society so self centric? Why are these men not so poignant? Will a small helping hand at cleaning the dining table or washing the clothes not lower down her pressure & she may attribute more time towards her family, a quality time to look at some creativity she has within?

Half day passed on with such thoughts lingering her minds ,when she finally got an hour to relax .Switching between the TV channels restlessly ,she broke into laugh ,when her restless mind saw something unusual…A lovely narration of #Sharing the Load …Instantly she hopped ,pounced ,sat back & started hearing to the poetic lines —

My Better Half, is my best half,

He loves to make me merrier,

He loves encouraging my creativity,

He loves “my quality” time,

He loves my social indulgence,

He loves my poignancy,

He loves discussing matters with me,

& all this is feasible as,

[ “Soniya couldn’t resist…Tring Tring..Tring..Yes soniya, What’s up ?Kareem ,hear out something unusual on the TV & believe me your mind will be forced to accept the truth ,stand for it .But Soniya ,what is it all about? Kareem for just 15 minutes, quietly sit in a closed room & watch…Beep…Beep”]

He is there to give me morning tea, while I’m high time with my kitchen spree,

He is there to cut my veggie, while I’m hunting after our kidzee ,

He is there to clean the dust, while I’m cooking lunch at my best,

He is there to do the laundry, while I binge on the utensils cleaning & drying,

While I pounce on fresh veggies, he is there to catch on Fruits ,

Be it night ,be it day, Be it hot ,be it cold, Be it Rainy ,Be it Dry,

Be it alone, Be it in family,

He is there for me in every need, every pain..

Just to give my life a beautiful name… With #Sharetheload

[Huh!! What was Soniya pointing at? What a home it would have been, where all members do the work equally…How & why had I closed my eyes & mind towards her pain? I took so many vows with her. Why have I left her in a lurch? It had been very mean of me..I’ll apologize, for sure …]

“Tring Tring..Hey mom!! Give receiver to Soniya Pls..Kareem Baba, you are aware that at this time she is busy preparing snacks & tea for us, I cannot ask her to leave it & have a lovely gala time with you!

Mom, pleading..Just once…Here came Soniya with a hiding smile..Yes Kareem, I’m there to listen to voice, I’m there to listen to your Orders..

Soniya ,No…Pls I apologize ,I heard ,I thought ,I co-related & I felt your pain terribly..You will no longer face all this, as I’ll be there for you from today itself..Hung up!

Couldn’t believe her ears …Will have to wait & watch, just then door bell rang.Kareem..So early ..Yes dear, I’m there to cook special Hyderabadi Biryani for you today…”[And the secret Spices were that of Love ,Care & respect for Soniya]

Tears fell from her eyes ,with a heavy heart ,Kareem & Soniya hugged each other & again vowed for a new start!

From that day till today ,Kareem has held Soniya’s hand to make their struggling house a beautiful home ,to part away their miserable lives with enchanting ways ,they watch movie every week & dance together every night !

Such a bliss has their life become ,Soniya’s Treasure Hunt “Smile” has become an all time “Shine”. Every minute is a rejoicing moment whether they are working separately or together!!

Well ,It would have had been such a lovely family ,if all Indians would have come out of the mental blocks & recommended the #ShareTheLoad initiative. But still behind in the society in many towns & cities ,many such Soniya’s reside ,for whom this is a brilliant initiative taken by Ariel.

Me, a working mother living in a nuclear family has seen ample of challenges with respect to prioritizing house chores or Managing office work ,there has been many moments wherein you have in-laws & relatives coming over to spend a quality time & then it becomes a task to manage but with support ,its so easy to manage!

Well, every female including Soniya deserves a partner/household who is there to share her load physically as well as emotionally. With the changing times, when women is multi-tasking, when she has started ruling corporate life, there has to be an environment of equality within the household, be it a nuclear or a joint family.

My better half #SharetheLoad 🙂

Sharing the load is not just between a husband & wife ,rather it is between a family ,every member of the family ,It is the very beginning for the foundation of a happy home ,a basic seed which grows into the tree of care ,love & mutual respect .Be it Joint or Nuclear family ,all basic chores as Cleaning ,washing ,grocery ,Kids need to be divided amongst the couples/members basis the time & life style.

All these acts need to be mutually decided & carried on with a consistent “SMILE” which would ease up the load of life & make it more enjoying!!Such a house would definitely be called a “Paradise on earth” ,wherein the space is occupied by “Love” , “care” , “Compassion” & is devoid of “Rude” , “Jealousy”, “Self Centric” !! Let’s enliven our HOMES:)

“I am writing for the #ShareTheLoad activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ariel.”

My Memoir

Everyone in this world need love ,an unconditional love be it from Spouse or Parents or Siblings or close friends ,as this love is the panorama which provides immense strength ,faith in ourselves ,it acts as a booster dose to move ahead in life post failures or agonies ,it is the only refresher which motivates one to take the risk ,go ahead & capture the dreams sought after .

However strong one may be ,there is always an emotional side of a person ,which always need expression in some form or the other ,which might be in the form of immense care or it could be just 5 minutes of togetherness which fills life with radiance. Being an ambitious girl with respect to studies & career & post that marriage has posed many challenges in front of me ,there were many instances in my life wherein my parents & my friends ushered a new light ,a new hope in my life ,looking at the negative circumstances with optimism ,fighting against the odds & moving ahead in life. For me, Love & support from them has always been the riding factor of life.

With such a beautiful topic in hand relating challenges with optimism, I would love to narrate one of the incident during the fundamental & the most decisive year in my education life. With high hopes & dreams to have a tag of “Dr.” ,I was deeply & madly engrossed in my preparation of entrance for MBBS .I has given my complete 1 year for the preparation ,with average of 18 hours of study daily to excel & ensure my parent’s dream come true. Such had been the condition, that my house lady pitied me upon, & took special care of me in all terms, be it food, or freshness or love or any of my requisite. Seeing me so much engrossed in my dreams, she herself made a motive to be my endearing support & help me out in all possible manners. From morning till night ,she was there besides me & acted like a second mother to me(in the absence of my mom with me ,as I was in another town to take up the tutorials).She used to check me out in the night ,& even sometimes made me sleep in her lap. Such was her radiance that her one smile made me calm & ushered optimism in me. Days & months passed by ,we had filled up some 3 entrance test ,3 best in India ,but the seats in comparison to the applications has always been a challenge for the top tier institutes but I had a firm confidence in me up clearing the entrances for top notch ones.

The day came to write up the exams, with folded hands, my time either went to pray to God or to just revise my hardwork, & exams did go well &I was desperate to see the outcome of my work. Post writing up my exams, I had moved back to my home, to be with my family & have some quality time. But the phase between writing exams & announcement of the results always kept on hounding me & aggravated my feelings on seeing the frequent discussion about it at home. It was the worst phase ,neither could I laugh loudly nor could I be as I was …For me ,it was just the result awaited which would decide upon my fate.

One month later ,results announced ,1^st test I was 4^th Waiting ,2^nd Test I was 10^th & 3^rd I did not clear all together ..So shattered I was …No one could guarantee waiting clearance, my mind stopped working, I was into tears, where did I lose? Where could have I been negligent ,How did I miss the most precious year of my life ,How come I not make my parents feel proud , I could not fulfill their dreams?So many How’s & why’s pondered me over..It felt I would lose my mental balance, but suddenly amidst all this, the presence of someone changed my thoughts. My house lady had come over the next day to be with me, on knowing of the result. As I saw her, I jumped & hugged her so tightly & cried like hell..She let me cry..She heard me wailing..She heard all complaints towards God.. & Just narrated one line.. Baba ,you’ve not lost anything ,you’ve not lost me ,you’ve not lost love of your parents ,You’ve not lost love of your friends ,then why to act as a loser? See the love all have in their eyes, see the pain when you are in pain, Is it not sufficient, you will have more chances to succeed in life, give it another chance .Yes, her beautiful words acted as a pacifier to me & I controlled & decided to give myself another chance. But ,I wanted to move away from medical field (as I had so many bad memories of them) ,I consulted ,graduated in Biotechnology from Top Institute in India ,bagged a Gold Medal in my Graduation as well as Post Graduation & today I stand firm a, successful & ambitious professional ,a successful home maker & a mother to 7 month old kid.

Yes life teaches one a lot & mostly few people, their love & their simple guidance pour optimism in life.

For me, my house lady, Prerna aunty was & is everything to me, just like her name!

Similar is the positivity@ Housing.com .Do check out the link https://housing.com/ & the initiatives taken by them.