Ira Khan

Yesterday Ira started rolling over on her own. She’s been trying to turn for a couple of weeks or so, and did lift her body a bit to turn to a side once in a while. But yesterday she rolled over all the way from being on her back to being on her tummy. Big sis Ria was of course the most excited person and the first one to notice!

Once she has started there is no stopping Ira, and she keeps practicing her new skill. Leave her on a mat or on the bed, and she promptly starts trying to turn, succeeds pretty soon, and then once on her tummy, starts shifting around (she manages to change position quite a bit lying on her tummy, even rotating 180 degrees), looking around, lifting her head, and looking pretty proud of herself. Keeps at it for quite a while and then tired with the whole exercise, turns to the side and dozes off to a long sleep session. This is keeping her pretty busy past couple of days. Didi too is usually by her side when she is home, talking to her, encouraging her.

Talking of Didi and her little sis, it feels so good to see these two bonding. They love being around each other. Most mornings they wake up with a bit of time to spare before Didi needs to get ready for school, and I take Ira out of her cot bed and put her down next to Ria. They happily lie there, talking and holding hands. Ria tells Ira stories, sings her songs, talks about stuff, while Ira listens attentively and coos back replies, reaches out and touches her, holds her finger. They do this till its time for Ria to get ready for school.

We got Iras’ pierced today. We wanted to get it done yesterday, which was when she turned 3 months old, but turned out it was a Monday, and the place where we wanted to get it done is closed on Monday. This is the same place we got her didi’s ears pierced about 4 years ago – Waman Hari Pethe jewellers, and we wanted to get it done there this time as well.

So today morning we were there, in fact, a few minutes before the opening time of 11 am. We hung around while they were finishing the shop opening processes. Then sharp at 11, we entered the shop, ready to get down to business. The earrings got selected, plain gold wire with a sharp point which would be used for the piercing and would then be twisted into a ring and locked with a loop, making the earrings. While IAK settled down on a chair with kiddo on his lap, at the same place where he sat with Ria on his lap 4 years ago, I got the guy to sterilize the earrings, his pliers and his hands.
Last time (with Ria) I had panicked, fled the scene and hid behind a pillar, not being able to bring myself to watch the process. This time I was determined to stick around, and I did, all thoughout. The guy put dots with a pen first, confirming with us that the location of the piercing on the earlobe was fine by us. Then, while IAK held Ira still, the guy quickly pierced one ear, and looped and locked the ring. She cried, not immediately, but after a second or two of delay. He then moved on to the other ear, and got that done as well. Nice and swift. Ira had pretty much calmed down by the time we were out of the shop, same as her didi.

Getting Ira’s ears pierced

Back in the car, we were on our way to pick up Ria from school, while kiddo sat on my lap for a while, looking like she was reflecting on what had just happened, and then dozed off peacefully. Woke up when we reached the school and parked, and was back to her usual smiley cooey self. Didi of course was very excited when she spotted the new earrings on her little sis.

Every weekday morning she wakes up and is all excited and happy, the event being the trip to Rias’ school to drop her off. We change her diaper give her a quick wipe with her wet wipes (nothing beats Johnsons on that front tried them all and sticking to Johnsons baby wipes), put her in the car seat and head off. But that’s not the end of madams morning adventures. When we get back I put her in the baby carrier and Sonali and I go for a walk (on days when it is not raining). She is super excited and keeps talking and making happy sounds for the first 500meters and then she falls into a contented sleep. Wakes up around 30 minutes later when we’re almost back after our ~3km walk and can’t stop beaming. This is what she looks like once we’re home:

 

From July 2012

 

On the weekends I try and take her out with me on my runs, give her a ~1km walk drop her off at home and then go complete a larger 10-13km run. Simple things to keep her in a good mood through the day. Thankfully so far both kids have been simple happy babies who love and value family time a lot.

Today mornings walk.