Holding my first child

This weekend went really hectic. Well it was my daughter’s birthday…she turned five this year. We had a great party, with over 50 people were invited to a dance cum dinner party. She wore pink cargo trousers, with a white/pink tshirt (with pink Barbie on it); and her curly hair were all blown up with a band to keep them away from eyes. I had put some casual make up on her face so that her face shines a little bit. When the guests came over, one of my uncles asked her to give a peck on his cheek…she refused saying that her lipstick would go off. Well that surprised everybody. Hmmm…my little angel is growing up fast.

That night my thoughts went back to the day she was born. It was early July morning; at around 3:00AM I experienced the first labour pang. As I was at my parents place, I woke up my mom. She got up with a jerk…and quickly started making preparations to take me to the hospital. That got me nervous, and I started crying. She told me ‘Don’t worry…just think of the gift that you will get’. Well I could not understand what she meant.

I was taken to the hospital. The pain escalated as the time went by. It took me16 hours to deliver her. By the time she was born (around 5:55 PM) I was drained out of energy. Finally she was born…the docs took her to a pediatrician, and within few secs I heard her cry… a shrilling but a very sweet sound that sometimes still rings in my ears. The doc brought her to me to show that it’s a baby girl. Now I see this very fair pink child…crying in the arms of the doctor. I felt something strange in my chest…a feeling that’s hard to explain in words. My first few moments of motherhood were that of awe. I was surprised…and was continuously looking at her till they administered the valium shot to me, so that I could sleep. When I was brought to the post natal ward, I was asleep.

After few hours (around 9:00 PM), one of the co-inmates of the ward woke me up saying “Hey didi, wake up. See your child is fairest of all babies in the ward. She is so lovely and is awake”. I opened my eyes and was surprised to see her lying just besides me. She was looking directly at me, as if figuring out whether I am her mom…Then I got up to sit, even though staggered for a while.I held her.

I won’t exaggerate if I say that I totally forgot the 16 hours long pains that I had gone through. It was an eternal moment of joy and happiness…truly speaking it bettered all the joys of the world. It was a moment that took me to an altogether alien world of motherhood. I was smiling, and had tears in my eyes. Now I knew what mom said ‘The Gift’. She is the gift of life to me...they say once you become a mom, you stay so for all your life. Yes!!! I am a mom now. I held her close to my chest, and thanked God for giving her to me. I and my husband had already chosen a name for her: Jessica. It is a hebrewish word meaning wealth.

During my stay in the hospital, I had my worst experience of the gender bias in India. No one in the ward congratulated me…I was surprised and disappointed. Whoever heard it is a girl child patted my back and said ‘Never mind. Next time we hope you have a son.’ I felt like hitting them...When my hubby held her in his arms, he thanked me for giving him such a beautiful child. He told me that I had given him the best gift of his life.

Daughters are a true treasure of life. As a daughter myself, I know the kind of affection that a mother daughter relationship holds. Even though the wishes of my well wishers came true and we were blessed with a baby boy last year, Jessica holds the same position in our lives. She is an apple of her dad's eyes. Even her little bro (who often is manhandled by her :-D) adores her completely. I very fondly call her 'Chandaa' (moon). May god bless my little girl with a happy and successful life.

This goes perfect for her:

Chubby cheeks, dimpled chin
Rosy lips, teeth within
Eyes are blue (naaahhh light brown)
Lovely too
Momma's pet, is that you?
Yes I am, Yes I am

Watch her sing