21 things I am grateful for this Thanksgiving

In this busy life, it is easy to forget what things we have going for us and keep focusing on things that are not. For instance, focusing on not getting the promotion you were gunning for and forgetting to be grateful for having a job. Getting upset over not being able to get that branded bag but forgetting to be grateful for the other bags you already have. Crying over baby having diagnosed with down syndrome at birth instead of being grateful for this tiny miracle you created.(see what I did there 👶❤)

I know this blog is not completely from Laksh's point of view or even fully about him like it usually is, but I needed to put this in writing for him to see when he grows up. It being thanksgiving weekend, I decided to come up with reasons 21 that I am thankful/grateful for this life that God gave us. (21 has become my most favorite number recently, oh & also, it is my birth date)

1. We have Laksh and he has us
2. We have a roof over our heads
3. We have food in our bellies
4. We have love in our house
5. We have people that care about us
6. Laksh has both sets of grand parents
7. Laksh has two older sisters (cousins but closer than the real deal), aunts and uncles
8. Laksh has a fur brother
9. We are healthy
10. We have an amazing online DS community, our extended family
11. We have jobs so we can provide for our baby
12. We have access to great medical care
13. We became parents
14. We saw his first smile
15. We heard his first cry
16. We celebrated his first Rakhsha Bandhan
17. We celebrated his first Diwali
18. We celebrated his first Bhai Dhuj
19. We celebrated his first Halloween 
20. We celebrated his first thanksgving
21. And last but not least, we will have the rest of our lives to see his many firsts and seconds and more.

Never forget to be kind to others as kindness is all that matters. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours.

The light of my life

I know my last blog was a bit more focused on me and less on Laksh. I promise I will do a better job of talking more about him and his day than me.


October 19th 2017 was my baby's first Diwali (For those readers who are not familiar with Diwali, here is a website that beautifully explains it; http://www.diwalifestival.org/diwali-in-history.html ). Diwali has always been one of my most favorite time of the year, second to Christmas of course.

That day started like any other. Laksh woke up 3 times in the night to feed or get changed or just to snuggle (like he does every day). He did not know this is a big day for him but I did. In my head, I was trying to figure out a way to make this Diwali special for him. Of course, he is too young to know what it means just yet but I still wanted this to be something awesome for him to look back to.

As the day went by, Laksh and I got caught up in our day to day activities and the focus on Diwali kept slipping. Diwali is where spring cleaning meets Christmas but neither was the house clean nor was it brightly lit up. Hubby was at work and I was enjoying the last of my unpaid maternity leave with Laksh (that is a whole other discussion) when I got a minute to breathe and saw the clock. It was already 4.30, Hubby was still at work and everyone else was napping (excluding Laksh of course). I called hubby and asked him to leave quickly while I started deep cleaning the apartment like that is the last thing I would do. In two hours, we had the apartment cleaned up and decorated, sweets made for the pooja, and showered and dressed up versions of ourselves were ready as well.

Electric tea light candles and string lights

Paper lanterns placed all over the apartment

Laksh's first Diwali gift from his older sister Sheen

Sweets for pooja and the mandir

            My mother (type A personality just like me) bought us some matching traditional outfits to wear



Then began the pooja (prayers) and celebrations. If we would have been in India, we would have lit some firecrackers as well. Did I forget to mention firecrackers? Well in that case, Diwali is mix of Christmas, 4th of July and Spring cleaning with plenty of firecrackers (which now I am against, global warming and all).

We got so caught in these minute preparations that we simply forgot to cook any dinner. In a way we started (or were forced to start out of severe hunger) our own tradition of eating out. Diwali dinner would be a 'family dinner' just not in the house. When Laksh is older, we will tell him how well thought out his first Diwali celebrations were and how we intentionally started this tradition of eating out.

Diwali is a symbol of triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. In a similar fashion, my precious baby has helped me replace all the darkness that years of ignorance had created with the light of awareness and acceptance. Thank you my preciousness.

Memories of moments celebrated together…….
Moments that have been attached in my heart, forever…….
Make me appreciate you even more this Diwali.
Hope this Diwali brings in Good Fortune & Abounding Happiness for you my darling boy!


PS, adding some pics about his first Bhai Dhuj as well (http://www.hindustanlink.com/festival/bhai-duj-history.htm)