13. The Reward

How much our life has changed! That small 5kg thing is now the center of attraction. Life is slowly getting in terms with its new role and we are enjoying every moment of it. The nappy changes are much easier than I thought. Even those greenish black sticky things did not feel like shit. Things like the changing colour (green to yellow) and texture (sticky to granular) of her potty made us happy. Never thought that even shit can bring so much joy. Someone rightly said, there is nothing bad in this world.

12. Advice Advice!

First time parents find themselves short of time, space, sleep and sex. But there is one thing they won’t find themselves short of – advice. From the aaya in the hospital, to the stranger in the road, to your over-paid maid; everyone will have at-least one advice for you. Luckily you can easily ignore their advice. It is the advice from your close friends and families that you will find hard to ignore. And you know what is worse? Two mothers together, with totally opposite advices. Yes you are trapped, you have reached the limit of your temper and you are about to burst. Your ego might make you want to shout, ‘It is our child, you have had your share of parenting, let us have ours’. That's exactly how we felt.

11. New Member

After nine months baby is finally here. The battle is won, but the war has just begun. When we first saw her during USG she looked so cute and we wondered when we are going to hold her. Now she is here, and she looks prettier, but she looks fragile too. There was no ‘handle with care’ or ‘this side up’ sign! I was afraid to hold her the first time. But I soon got better of my fear and there she was, in my arms. My first lesson – babies don’t break easily.

10. The D-Day!

She was admitted on the night of 4^th October when we went for a regular check up, ten days before the due date. We stayed overnight in the delivery suite. Next day morning our parents joined us. She was having strong contractions. The doctor ordered us to take a seat in the sofa, and closed the curtains. I wonder why in India they still don’t allow the husband to be with his wife during normal delivery.

09. As D-Day Approaches

They say ‘mard ko dard nahi hota’ (men does not feel pain) with pride. But they forget, aurat ko dard hota hai tab hi jaa ke maard payda hota hai! It’s through the pain of a woman that men are born. Pain is not something to be ashamed of.

08. Name Game!

One of my friends once asked me if I want a boy or a girl. I said, a girl. She inquired, “Why?” Obviously I had a selfish reason, “Girls are daddy’s girls!” But over time that feeling changed. Many people came and blessed my wife saying that she is going to have a boy. Some even went to the extent of predicting a boy from the shape of her tummy. As if pregnancy was an exam and its success and failure depends on you having a boy or a girl. 

07. Sympathy Pain?

If you think it is only the women who enjoy the pains of pregnancy, think again. Recent studies have shown that men also suffer pregnancy symptoms with their partner. From cramps to morning sickness, to food carvings, to gaining weight, to mood swings, to contractions, they have it all. In fact some men are reported to have a swollen stomach as well. Don’t believe me? Check this! 

06. She is Back!

Once the first three months were over, she felt a lot better. She was back to herself. We planned a short vacation to lazy Kasauli, our first trip with Hridhima.  Next 6 months passed smoothly without any trouble. We didn't even realize how fast the time passed. 

05. That Bitch*

She was pregnant again and we knew that the first 3 months are going to be the toughest. But I was ready. I learned new lingos like LMP and trimesters, I learned to count weeks instead of months, and I made sure I attend all the doctor appointments with her and even saved appointment reminders in my phone. I thought I was well prepared until she asked me a simple question, ‘Do I look fat?’ 

04. Coping with the Loss

We fell in love in 2004, got married in 2007. Three years later, in 2010, we decided to take our relationship one step ahead. She was pregnant and it was twin pregnancy. Everything was normal till the 8^th week. The USG revealed that the embryo was not growing. The doctor recommended an abortion next day. We were heartbroken.

03. The Breaking News!

February 2011, she told me that she has missed her periods, and she felt as if something was different. We went to our doctor on 16^th. She broke the news and congratulated us. We can’t tell how happy we were. Our life has already changed.

02. In The Beginning…

Sometimes you want a baby but nothing seems to happen for months. Don’t panic, it will happen. You have to remember three key things: Sex, sex, and more sex. A time will come when a smart sperm (or two) will hit the target at the right time. Till then enjoy sex without the rubber! Sometimes you don’t want a baby but it happens. Don’t panic, because you won’t regret it when you hear the heartbeat of the life you created.

01. Evolving Daddy

For men SEX is always FUN, right? Wrong. The time you take the decision to take your relationship one step ahead, sex is not about having fun, it is about having…BABIES. There will be changes in your life- good and bad. No more do you need to remember the special dates, like the first time you had strawberry ice-cream together, to have good sex. Instead now you have to remember the right day in her monthly cycle. No more will your sex performance be rated by your ability to make her have orgasm, but by your ability to get those blue lines on the pregnancy test.