NEVER SAY NEVER! 2014 you make me smile :)

I'm singing a very different tune from the end of last year as I write this today... not only did we change our mind about having a kid...we've had one already!! HAHA!!!
I had no idea a year could change so much so fast! 

Welcome to our lives -  Aaliya:) And before you ask -  no it has no connection to my being named that in Chak De:)

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the sound of a burp or fart would give me sooo much joy. Children do change you... forever. 

I know its almost impossible to talk about anything else once you've had a baby, but Ill try! 

I finally got our wedding album printed this year, big big deal for me, given we've been married almost 3 years, have had a baby and I still hadn't gotten down to it! (pat myself on the back) Finished a Vidal Sassoon course in SF a week before we found out we were expecting, it was brilliant! Had to quit work a month into the pregnancy, so hairdressing will be revisited once Aaliya is a bit older I guess. 

Everyone asks me "How does it feel?" and all I can say is "Different". Apart from being madly in love with her and all of the natural emotions one experiences being a first time parent, I feel like a 'different' person and thats as best as I can describe it! My body feels different, emotionally Ive changed forever, I can no longer just get up and take off when I feel like, run 100 errands a day, because I now have a whole life I'm responsible for, and that takes getting used to. 

I've heard so many women talk about how proud they are of their post delivery bodies, having "scars of war" as they call them…and all of that….  Good for them…I'm not a fan of my new body and thats the truth! 

But then there is a smile, that lights up your entire being when you see just a glimpse of it. And if you know its directed at you then its like Diwali is being celebrated inside your being. Crackers, lights, noise everything erupts inside of you! Its crazy. Waiting 15-20 minutes to see her roll over as we all sit around and clap as if it were the most complicated circus act of all time that was performed. Having her look up at me and give me her most charming dimpled smile as she feeds. Her falling asleep on my chest as I sing to her. Her recognizing my voice and instantly calming down as if all is okay in the world again. Her absolute helplessness that makes me feel like I am the most important person she will ever have in her life...... When people say its indescribable... I had no idea this is what it meant. It is the most intimate relationship I've ever had and as beautiful as it is its equally petrifying.

I feel we have such a huge responsibility in not just bringing her up and providing for her, but in ensuring she grows up as a happy, secure, confident child who knows she's loved before she knows anything else. 

And so as AAP takes over Delhi and Modi takes over India hopefully... there is new promise and hope that I see all around me... but above all the promise and hope I see in our lives personally as we begin this New Year with our precious little one. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! This one's to the first page in a whole new chapter of our (Akhil & I)  lives...

Love,

Anaitha