4 months old!!!

This past month has really flown by so fast. I can't believe its time for me to write an update once more.

One of the nicest things that's happened relates to Project Winkie. In the sense that it is a project no more. Yippee!! Here's the scoop...Winkie who could not bear to fall asleep by himself, has begun to do just that! And what set the wheels in motion was the presence of his little brother. Winkie's okay with falling asleep on his own, so long as the passage lights are on, the door remains open and Thambi sleeps in the bassinet next to him. Now if that isn't a good enough reason to have baby # 2....I don't know what is!!

Baby # 2 is finding his voice. In sweet song. Nowadays, it is not unusual to find him lulling himself to sleep. The sound of his own voice really helps him quiet and unwind. We all find it utterly butterly lovable. And for days, we've been trying to capture it on video, albeit unsuccessfully. A funny tidbit : Today I had massaged him with oil before bathtime and lain him on his tummy while getting his bath ready. It was well into his naptime. He wriggled and squirmed around for awhile before starting off his own soft lullaby. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....aaaaaaaaaaaa....aaaaaaaaaa....for about 5 minutes and he'd dozed off in smooth, slippery splendour!

He has a decided favorite in the house now. And just in time for Father's Day, I reckon. For all the time he doesn't get to spend with his younger son, Rajesh gets compensated ten-fold, by the 100 watt gummy grins and eyes lighting up like fireworks the minute he gets home and his voice is heard! I forsee many conflicts ahead, on who gets Appa's attention first, including me!

He is trying to sit up. And I don't get what all the hurry is about. *sigh*. He has this technique whereby he bunches up his head and shoulders and gives his upper body a heave-ho and up he comes about half way. He starts from a 45 degree incline of course, which is mostly when I lay him on my lap. Now, that's one more added distraction while nursing, that I could have done without.

He started off on semi-solids. May 20, 2007. Yeah, that does sound like a bit early, but I decided to go with my Mom on this. She made some nice boiled rice kanji at home, and I wanted him to have full benefit of the typical way we do these things back home. He seems to like it rather well and is averaging about 2-3 tbsp once a day. I can't help but recall how paranoid I was when it came to Winkie starting solids...not before he completed 5 months, and only the store bought Gerber rice cereal would do. Because that is what the books said. This time its sooooo... much nicer. More relaxed. More confident. And definitely more laid back!

Sathya doesn't seem very travel friendly yet. We're planning a big huge road-trip to Niagara come July (*fingers crossed multifold*) and are doing some practice stunts with him...and its not very encouraging. For starters, he doesn't seem to like the carseat much...definitely not beyond 15 min. Secondly, all my ideas of babywearing, at least outdoors, seems like a washout, given that he hates being strapped tight to anything. But of course I am not about to give up yet. With Winkie, I bended over backwards to try and accomodate his schedule and routines, and for the first 9 months, beyond an India trip, we hardly did anything. But this time....this time....I can't get away with saying....my way or the highway...considering they are one and the same. :)

This one point is a bummer! For one wonderful, miraculous month, I enjoyed uninterrupted sleep the whole night through. But the 4th month has seen a reversal of this trend. 3:00 AM is the appointed tryst when, without fail, he starts to whimper. For 5 minutes I am able to pretend I didn't hear it, and once it crosses that threshold, I give in! Now what befuddles me is how he manages to wake up at the same time every night. Some programming, that!

Its close to midnight now. 4 months ago to this day and time...I had already said a heartbreaking goodbye to Winkie and gone back to my labouring. Now both my sons are asleep upstairs. All the craziness of the initial months now seems muted...a semblance of normalcy has crept back into our lives and the little 4th member has completed the last piece of our little unit.