What DO you call her?

So, it's official now.
It was a very small ceremony with her grandparents and a couple of great grandparents. We did it the Malayali style, quick & short.I really appreciate the style, great economy of movement and effort. Aarti and baby were first smothered in 'vibudhi' and 'sandal' followed by rice on the head and a sip of milk from a gold coin! Baby got very angry. She wailed through the entire episode. Maybe she wanted a spoon.


The naming itself was fantastic for me, I got to do the 'whisper in her ear' thing with the Beetel leaf. Everyone was complaining that they didn't hear what I said. That was why I whispered!


And then, engineer thatha found a way to make a megaphone - with the beetel leaf.






Banker thatha threatened to call her Adithi, and was firmly wrestled to submission by both parents... Or was it only me. Banker thatha wanted to feed his baby first, and this big baby, being what she was, kicked up a fuss and pulled a face and refused, must be the lack of a spoon.

A big relief for me was the absolute non-proliferation of banana and the atrocious concoctions with the fruit, ubiquitous in anything to do with Kerala.
Adhiaa went absolutely quiet after screaming her head off during the entire ceremony. She made an appearance afterwards and spent some time socialising. I wonder if we will ever find the switches?

Aarti's dad has been transferred to Madras now. He now spends nights at my parents' place and walks over to our flat for meals. My dad is constantly out of town following his wife and paying her electricity bills in Delhi! I am not kidding. My mom and dad are right now in Bangalore, dad supposedly on work and mom definitely on work. Aarti's mom is with us. It's like a formula one pitstop lap. I'll let you know when it all shakes down.

We were over at my mom and dad's for lunch on Sunday. Yes, both of them were in Madras as well on Sunday! It was nice spending time with mom. Both Aarti and I agree that we miss her very badly. Here's a snap of Paati and baby. We miss you mom! Finally Adhia has added a few more expressions and grunts to her vocabulary. Apparently she gurgled the other day. And she now smiles every now and then. Take a look at this...


Adhiaa and I passed a new milestone of familiarity on Sunday. She threw up on me! She proved to me I can handle "output", although I admit my reaction was a tad dramatic. I am absolutely certain I can hear cheering on the sidelines.

Adhiaa is slowly settling down to a routine, but I'm still using her as an excuse to be late at work, wasn't 'Hadhia', Arabic for "guide to righteousness"! Hmmm...