Saturday, July 28, 2012

Day 134

So far Vidhi had access to all toys of her elder cousin Nitya and some of them started to show signs of wear and tear. We wanted her to have some more of teethers and decided that it's time we get her some fresh toys. We were bit disappointed to note that there weren't many options for her at young age of four months except teethers/rattles. However, our enthusiasm was not dampened and we ended up buying few teethers, rattles, and even toys up to twelve months old. Below is her loot...
Vedika Y01M05 16

Later that evening we went to a favourite Mexican restaurant for evening dinner. While we enjoyed burrito, nachos, falafal, etc. Vidhi tasted at least five menus and about same number of paper napkins. What would have waiter thought of the mess she made?!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Day 130

Today was first day when Vidhi was fed milk by her Chachu Mr. Nishant Gupta...





Sunday, July 22, 2012

Day 128

Vidhi has been particularly cranky these days and can manage to cry for hours with no notice. At such times, her cries are blood curdling and will take anywhere between one to two hours to get under control. One wonders at ferocity of her screams that how can she cry even louder were something more terrible (say, physical pain) were to happen.



Recently we dared to go to Food Bazzar to do bit of weekly shopping. Her bouts of sobbing in middle of shopping soon turned into screams by the time we were into checkout and almost everyone from 100 feet turned to look at us. Same thing happened, again, few days later at Shooper's Stop. When that happens, I feel so embarrassed that I run with her outside even though her cries are enough to warrant a good look from every one. In case I am in middle of checkout, Radhika has to run to car to console or feed her.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Day 122

Some pictures from fourth month of Vedika i.e. Vidhi...


























Saturday, July 14, 2012

You are fired!

No other act has seen use of so many euphemism as corporate action of firing employee off. In quest to be as sweet as possible while doing the exact opposite, corporate HR should probably won some kind prize for coming up so many ways to not say what they want to. Not that I believe companies shouldn’t fire people, but it will be worth a bit honesty and ethics to not rub salt on it. Of course, honesty and ethics are kinds of things you wouldn’t associate with any big company anyway.

In the sprit of doublespeak, then, here is collection of what ‘you are fired’ may sound like:

assignment ended
assignment expired
best shoring
bought out
bounced out
career change opportunity
career transition
cashiered
contract not renewed
contracted out
decruitment
discharged
dismissed
down size
early retired
eased out
end of trial period
freed up for the future
going in different directions
headcount adjustment
headcount reduction
helped with exit
invited to be successful elsewhere
involuntary separation
laid off
let go
made available to industry
made redundant
make internal efficiencies
managed out
off shoring
optimized
outplaced
outsourced
personnel realignment
personnel surplus reduction
position has been eliminated
promoted to customer (retail workers)
pursue other opportunities
rationalize the workforce
reclined to extend
reduced headcount
reduction in force
re-engineered
regime change
released
released from the talent pool
relieved of duties
reorganized
re-prioritizing labor expenses
resource action
responsibilities have been reassigned
right size
separated
services no longer required
skill mix adjustment
smart size
stepped down
taking it for the team
terminated
unassigned
we really feel like we’re holding you back here
workforce efficiency initiative

Day 120

Vidhi has been in Bangalore for about two weeks now. She is developing into beautiful and smart infant and is absolutely adorable when not crying. Her fits of crying occur randomly throughout the day but are more prominent before her bed time between 9-10pm.



By now, her mom and I have developed a reflex kind of reactions to her tantrums. If you are watching her before she starts crying, you can see it coming about 5 seconds before as her mouth takes the position most conducive to high decibel noise generation. From sound of her crying, we can immediately decipher whether it is ‘come to me and pay attention to me’ call or ‘i am hungry or you can never guess what happened to me’ call. If it’s former, naturally, resolution is swifter. Just by coming into focus of her vision and making some soothing sounds, she will calm and start playing. If it’s later then, we go through a series of motions in trying to ascertain any reason for her distress.



Firstly, we’d check her nappy and make sure it’s dry. Next, we’d sooth talk her and caress her. Singing, clapping and other attention grabbing follows. Lifting her on arms and rocking her gently comes next. Her favourite songs* will be played then. Her mother will attempt to feed her. If by now, she hasn’t stopped, and about 15 minutes would have passed, we’d get bit worried and prepare ourselves for long haul. A quick search of her clothings will ensure that there isn’t any insect biting her. At this point, our order of motion will become bit random. Talking, sooth talking, singing, playing music, shouting at her, putting her on bed or rocking in arms will happen in random order. She will be passed among her mother, father and chachu. At the end of one hour, at worst case, she will typically calm down or fall to sleep. In such extreme cases only her mom remains the hope for any respite.



*Her mom claims that "ek ladki of dekha" is her favourite though I don't see any clear indication.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Day 118

Vidhi manages to suck her thumb — of her feet! (we didn’t manage to catch that moment though)

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Day 113

Today was Vidhi’s fourth dose of vaccination: DPT and Polio. We found out a cheap nearby hospital since we just wanted someone to give her injections and didn’t need expert pediatric advise. Baby was nice as she can be and cried only a little when needles were inserted. Her measurements:

Weight: 5.2kg
Length: 59cm
Circumference of head: 39cm



According to this chart, she should be 6.4kg 62cm. Her doctors say expected weight is 5.5kg. Apparently there is different scale for Indian babies and American/developed nation's babies.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Day 111

Vidhi has been in Bangalore for about three days today. Her night time interruptions are at 4am and 6am. When she is not crying, she listens to songs on her mummy's mobile (particularly, Rooth Na Jaana Tum Se Kahoon To) or looks around. Few times in a day, she manages small chuckle or smile. One of her way to keep peace with herself is to suck her fingers.

Today, she had first outing on her pram and was taken around our apartment.

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