Fatherhood has started!

The baby is now 10 days old. I’m learning to be a father – not even a good one, but just enough to take care of the child properly. Rupali was discharged from the hospital in 3 days. I wasn’t there for the night in those 3 days. So I would just see the baby during the day, when his crying and feeding and pooping seemed normal.

The first night after we got him home, we stayed up for more than half the night, Rupali feeding him, and me trying to get him to sleep again. The next night, same routine! Now I’m realizing that people never exaggerated about the trials of raising a child, especially in the first 1 year.

Baby cries. Baby sleeps. Baby feeds. Baby poops. Mostly, baby cries. Sometimes, and I didn’t think it was possible till I saw it, baby does all of it at the same time!

Before becoming a dad, i used to stay away from babies, especially if they have no control over their pooping! But now, I can’t wait to take my child in my hands. Rupali keeps scolding me “Let him sleep”, “Let him feed”, “wash your hands, legs, face, stomach, chest, etc… before you dare touch him”. (I feel she’s acting like a mother tigress – growls whenever a tiger comes near her cubs!)

How am I feeling after becoming a dad? Can’t really say! The first time I saw the the baby coming out of the operation theatre, that ugly looking thing – the most beautiful sight in the world, I couldn’t help but feel a overwhelming happiness. I shed a few tears as well. Choked up when I was giving the good news to our parents. After 10 days, the happiness is still there. But there is also a sense of wonder – the baby keeps doing something new everyday.

Keep checking the pictures for more pictures of the baby.

Saala main to baap ban gaya!!!

Saala main to baap ban gaya!

Baap ban ke kaisa tan gaya!

(with due apologies to the original lyricist).

Good news from my side – Rupali gave birth to a baby boy on April 20, 2010 (a Tuesday). Both mother and the baby are doing fine. The father, on the other hand, is terrified, petrified, scared at the prospect of raising a kid. Most of the people I meet have a serious opinion that I need raising myself!

I’ve never been more scared in my life. My wife doesn’t let me handle the china most of the times, lest I break it. And babies are infinitely more delicate and precious. How am I supposed to handle them? I am careless, lazy, and with an attention span of an amoeba. All these qualities make me the unlikeliest person to take care of a baby. But now I have a baby of my own. Any hints, advices, suggestions, tips and tricks to take care of a baby are welcome. The other day when I was in a grocery store, a lady with 4-5 yr old daughter was ahead of me at the checkout counter. Like all kids, the girl was throwing a tantrum. I mentioned to the lady, I’m just observing how you are handling the kid, as I have one on the way. All she said was “Best of luck!” Rupali, though, will make a great mom; she is full of love most of the time, and stern when needed to be. I can’t be stern. Whenever I try to be, I end up looking like a clown, and that encourages the kids to get into more trouble.

3 years ago, when I was getting married, I thought I was going into an unknown territory. But compared to what I feel now, that seems like a walk in the park. The baby looks small, but is more than a handful. A day earlier, he was bent on crying. And now matter what we tried, he just wouldn’t stop. I’m getting a taste of all the stories that my friends told me. One of them told me that I will keep wondering “how can such a small thing cry so much?”

I’m also at the other end of the spectrum at the same time. The lilies look whiter, bougainvillea look pinker, roses are more perfumed, birds are chirpier... The romance of taking care of the baby, observing him every minute I’m there with him, every little movement, every little sound from his small, pink lips, every furrowing of the eyebrows, everything is exciting. Even the way he cries is cute – no sound could be more melodious. (Of course, when the crying starts at 3am, I’ll probably feel a lot different).

I could’ve written a succinct blog, informing that I’ve become a father. But even this long post doesn’t even begin to describe what I feel. Every day I will discover something new; not all of it may be pleasant. But all of it is fun.

For more photos, check First Baby Pictures. Also check this video if you are interested in seeing the baby cry.