New Photo / Videos

Uploaded few new videos and photographs today. Not to mention, Ritvik has become a bit more naughty and playful

Measured Measures

Ritvik visited doctor today. Doctor David Schoff suggested that he should now be moved to his own room during night. We somehow found it strange :-). Indian thought process. Ratna and I have decided to make him sleep in distant corner of our bedroom, and will shift him to his room only after his first birthday.
Here are Ritvik's measurement as of today (he completed 9 months couple of days back)
Weight - 21.13 Lbs
Height - 29 Inches (2 ft 5 inches)
Head Circumference - 18.5 Inches.

Ritvik is above 78 percentile in weight and height and little more than 86 percentile in HC.

Clipper Clapper

Yesterday morning (14 Dec 06), I decided to try to clip Ritvik's nails. Actually it was for my benefit as I get scratched most of the times. While I failed to even clip one of his nails, I noticed in the process that he has learned how to clap. YES....... he started clapping. Since then whenever we clap, he starts imitating and starts clapping, though he does not create any sound, it is good to watch him.
He is getting more and more "samajhdaar". He runs superfast towards the door when call bell rings. Ratna says that he gets disappointed to see someone else other than me.
Ratna regularly takes Ritvik to Caltech. He is kinda charming boy, people get attracted towards him.
I have brought alphabet picture cards for him. He does not understand anything of it. I keep saying a for Apple but he picks cat :-(
I know he is too small, but I do not want to leave any stone unturned :-)

Poo From China

While performing morning ritual of cleaning and changing diapers, Ratna noticed something shiny and tiny, clinging to Ritvik's diaper. Upon careful inspection (She is mommy you know), it turned out to be a silly sticker with embossed "Made In China" words. Ratna says Ritvik must have put it in his mouth, consumed it and failed to digest. I wondered if great God has outsourced some of his "manufacturing" process to China.

Run Away Kid

Ritvik now knows what running away means ? He picks almost every visible thing from floor. If he notices that someone is watching him, he crawls super fast towards some corner and then examines his finding. It is so much fun to watch him doing all these funny things.

Wagon Wheels And Cheerios

Ratna has taught Ritvik how to pick small food items, like wagon wheels, cheerios and cheese from his tray table. It is proving wonderful technique to keep him busy for some time. He used to get restless in high chair and feeding him was becoming more and more challenging. So in babycenter.com terminology, Ritvik is finger food ready now.
Ritvik now sleeps without much of efforts. Sometimes we play songs like "Aa Chal ke tujhe main le ke chaloon" and he seems to like it.

Ritvik on his cycle

Here is Ritvik riding and falling from his new cycle cum walker

Updated updates!

Ritvik
I have been very erratic in blogging your activities. It is not time consuming, it was somehow being missed. I will be more regular.
Hey when would you be able and enjoy this.
Jona Di brought a tricycle cum walker for you and you really enjoy it. You do not like senseless toys (like teddy bear or stuffed toys). You are attracted towards toys that do something to attract you and keep you busy.
Yesterday night, you woke up at 4AM and came to my side. Since it was dark , you started touching my face here and there with your little hands. I woke up and could not sleep.
Ratna has a collection of lullabies and baby songs. You like song "Aa chal ke tujhe main le ke chaloo".

Caltech Walks

Ritvik, you like to go out, specially during bright sunny days. We live just opposite to Caltech (California Institute of Technology) and that's where we go for walks. Ritvik likes it very much. We keep going through departments, alleys, big NASA labs and you keep staring at buildings, as if it is some place you are very much familiar with. That day I was telling Ratna about Dr Feynman and his work in Caltech, and (to me) it felt like you stopped your routine of seeing here and there and started paying attention to me. Everytime we go there, we stop near rose garden and you somehow keep staring at flowers. You also like water fountains.

Super Crawler

Ritvik is super fast crawler now. You crawl more or less whole day. You give me hard time in making sure that no electrical point or wire is open. Our apartment has at least 4 dozen cupboard, shelves and we are afraid. With all my child proofing, I have developed a confidence of getting instant employment from Boo Boo Busters.
Today we spend 2 hours in making sure that every wire in this house is concealed somehow, but you took that cardboard off :-(

Car Seat Vows

One thing you really dislike is to be confined in car seat. Our own driver "Mishra Ji" in Mumbai was fun Ritvik, aint'it buddy. No car seats, no belts and you used to sit in my lap watching outside. It is crazy here, they spoil entire fun. First there is no driver, so I drive, and second you sit in the backseat, rear facing :-(
But it is very very necessary Ritvik. Cars run at very high speed here and it is for our own safety. You give us hard time, you cry so much. When we went to Corona to meet your mamaji, you created havoc there in back seat.
Now it is Dec, seems you have started adjusting.

Sitting on your own and travel to US

You started trying to balance your body to sit in second week of August, but it was on 26th Aug that you first time sat on your own, without support.
31st Aug we traveled to US. You were very supportive throughout the flight. You being a charming boy were well taken care by aircraft staff. They took you with them and gave you Gerber, so Ratna and I slept while you were pampered by crew members. We gave you a little walk at Frankfurt airport. You did not feel much difference in weather either. California weather is very similar to Mumbai. We stayed in hotel initially and there also you fell off the bed, but this time there was a blanket and carpet on floor to save you.
On 3rd Sep, we went for a dinner party. Avani (Daughter of Prasad and Sonal, now our neighbour) was also there, and voila, master ritvik started crawling forward.. and there you go boy, with your single tooth you bit her .
We shiftet to our new apertment. This house is big, with very huge living room and two bedrooms. I have converted one room as my study cum office cum den. You really love to come to my room and play with my laptop and stare at books. You recycle a magazine to pulp in less than 10 minutes. You have unlimited supply of saliva too.

Annaprashan and all

Writing this backdated.
21st July was your annaprashana. This is hindu ritual to celebrate first feed of grain to you. My mother came to Mumbai with BalKrishnaJi after a lot of problems due to train cancellation and all. Ratna's mausi/mausa also joined to celebrate. We went to Sai Dham and in front of Goddess Durga, my mother fed you Halwa. You did not liked it at all ( at least your expressions said so Ritvik). Then we returned and small party was organized.

5th Aug Mummy/Papa/ Siddhartha visited from Varanasi. You were so happy in their company. You were part of my birthday celebration first time.

Your dadi tried hard to teach you how to speak and on 11th Aug, you spoke your first words. It sounded like "Bua" but it more of "BoooHaaaa"

12th Aug you fell of bed. Ratna tried her level best to keep you protected, and surrounded you with all pillows, but you a naughty chap, managed to sneak through and THUD, thats what we heard. You started crying, We were so worried .

Turns and Twists

on 27th July 2006, Ritvik turned to his belly while lying on his back. And yes, now he knows how to repeat this. All we need to do is to put a toy by his side. He will look at it, smile, sometimes coo and then he will smoothly turn onto his belly :-)
Today on 4th August, he first time tried to crawl. He firmly fixed his foot against bed, stared his toy and applied a lot of force. Now see what happens.............. he failed to control his movement and actually crawled backwards...:-))

My mother says he will learn crawling in few days.

Pushpak's visit and Ritvik's fourth month Bday

On 15th July Pushpak Sen visited Mumbai to meet Ritvik. He came on 15th morning and I went to receive him at Mumbai Central railway station. Ritvik liked him a lot and was very happy with him. He even cancelled all his plans of going to sleep for the time being, but somehow Ratna managed to make him sleep at around 1 AM in the night of 15th /16th.We went to Hiranandani Gardens for go carting and also to few malls on 15th. Ritvik was amzingly happy as it was not too hot outside, plus he liked outing.

It was Ritvik's foutrh month birthday next day, i.e. 16th July. We brought cake and master Ritvik happily saw people feasting on his birthday while he got nothing special to eat :-)

We visited Gateway of India, Nariman Point and Marine Drive and then Pushpak left. Ritvik was a bit cranky on 16th as it was warm and sunny outside. But he became OK upon return to home.

Your first food

Today on 11th July 2006, Ritvik had his first food. It was a mashed banana. He liked it very much.

Ritvik's Doctor Visit

On Friday, 7th July we visited Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital to see Dr Praveen Gokhale. It was terribly congested on all the roads, as Mumbai witnessed torrential rains on 3/4/5/6 July. However we managed to see doc. Doc said Ritvik is absolutely fine. He administered couple of vaccines too, but amazingly Ritvik did not cry at all.
His weight is 7.26 Kgs now and he is 26 Inches tall. I wonder the pace at which kids grow. Ritvik has gained almost 100% weight and 25% height in just 16 weeks. His ability to learn and observe is increasing as well. Ritvik is now able to perfectly focus on all the objects. Upon making sound, he is able to judge direction of source and focus in that area. His hand eye coordination is getting better, he is able to capture and hold big colorful objects.
Doctor suggested to start mashed fruits and dal/rice water, but we decided to wait till his Annaprashan which we are planning to do on 21st July.

Few Firsts of Ritvik

3rd May 2006 -> First train ride in Pushpak Express from Mumbai to Kanpur.

4th May 2006 ->First party on the occassion of Goldy's first anniversary at Raves, Kanpur.

5th May 2006 -> First visit to Varanasi. First sight of Nana/Nani.

10th May 2006 -> First rain of your life but Ritvik did not get wet.

16th May 2006 -> First visit to Balamau.

19th May 2006 -> First rain drop on face.

28th May 2006 -> First turn on his own. Also first visit to a five stat hotel, Taj Ganges Varanasi.

4th June 2006 -> First air travel from Varanasi to Mumbai on Indian Airlines flight IC 805.

12th June 2006 -> We applied for your passport.

13th June 2006 -> :-) We noticed a tooth. It is a tiny lower jaw front tooth.

30th June 2006 -> We got your passport.

5th July 2006 -> We saw you trying to crawl.

21st July 2006 -> Annaprashna of Ritvik. First time you had anything other than mother's milk.

27th July 2006 -> First turn from your back to your stomach.

04th Aug 2006 -> You are able to crawl, but backwards.

09th Aug 2006 -> First Rakshabandhan. You got Rakhis from Goldy and Preeti.

11th Aug 2006 -> First words spoken by you. You started saying "Booaaa". Or Bua (Aunt)

12th Aug 2006 -> You fell of bed (1:10 PM IST). You managed to make a way through pillows which surrrounded you and fell off.

26th Aug 2006 -> First unsupported sitting on your own.

31th Aug 2006 -> First overseas travel to USA (Los Angeles).

03rd Sep 2006 -> First forward crawl, to bite toe of Avani in a party.

23rd Sep 2006 -> You are able to sir perfectly and crawl (forward) on your own.

08th Oct 2006 -> First wound and blood after getting hurt from a table.

29th Oct 2006 -> First sight of ocean. Pacific ocean, Venice beach, LA

A short account of our vacation in May 06

We took Ritvik for his first outing in May 2006. We started on 3rd May from Pushpak Express. We halted at Kanpur to participate in Goldy's first anniversary. We also went to Guddu Mama / Meera mami's place. Ratna and Ritvik went to Varanasi on 5th May. Papa and Mummy were extremly delighted to see their 3rd Nati. Papa purchased a pram for Ritvik. Papa organised musical recitation of Sunder Kand. It was fabulous. Gaurav and Nidhi also came to Varanasi to attend Nilesh & Mansi's reception.

On 16th May we arrived at Balamau. It was Ritvik's second month birthday also. We had another wonderful experience there. BK bhai had got our traditional temple fully decorated as well as our house. They burned crackers and Ritvik cut cake.

Ritvik and Ratna returned to Mumbai on 4th June.

My Delicious Account

Delicious is a wonderful website to store favourite links. I have stored links of Ritvik's videos and other things pertaining to him. Click below and have a look..
Here are my favourites.

My Photo Album

A google photo album has been created for Ritvik. Check out ...
My Photo Album.

A Collage Of Ritvik's photographs

"Hello World" Post

We have created this blog to capture day to day event of our life with our boy, Ritvik.
Ritvik (DoB 16-March-2006 at 20:07) is something new and something very special to us in every aspect of life. We want to record all the happenings, all the experiences and all the milestones. We have a diary where we write ( or at least try to) these things. But during all these years in IT, we have lost our capability to hold a pen.

Then we thought, why not blog every thing?
Hence this Blog for Ritvik.


Vinay & Ratna