Family Notebook

Dearest Zany Zoo,

Go on. I’ll wait. Roll around the floor laughing at your geek of a mother, but keep in mind it was your big sister who started the Zany Zoo trend when we checked out a library book, titled Zany Zoo. Its cute. One day if/when you’re a daddy, or uncle, or any male figure to a small child you’ll stop teasing me.

I’ll get on with it…

At the very start of the month I was over the moon that you decided that sleeping on top of my arm all night long got uncomfortable. You happily went into your own bed, I was able to roll over. Things were looking up!

Soon enough, you started teething. It was a long time coming but I was happy to hold onto my little gummy shark as long as I could. I packed and prepared to make our journey back to India. You cried. You gummed your fingers. I felt bad. Eventually on January 19th you added two new pearly whites to your melt-any-heart grin.

As our life in Australia drew to an end, we packed in as many activities as possible. You rode with your sister in as many shopping center rides as possible, chowed down on Aussie cuisine, fought over soda cans with your buddy Jacob (why do I buy you toys?) and took a big paddle in a canoe. You tasted sand, played by the shore and soaked everything up.

On the 26th of January, we celebrated Australia Day. In true Aussie fashion, we dined on BBQ’ed meat, lamingtons, cheezels and chocolate. We spent hours in the pool. We decked you out in sun safe gear but your little cheeks looked a bit pink by the end of the day. I felt awful.

February 4th was the day that you got your first big boy hair cut. Daddy took you to the hairdresser - Cousin Fiona - and you sat in Grandma’s lap while she tamed your baby mullet. It wasn’t too bad and I was happy that you came back without a shaved head, mohawk or something equally crazy for a baby boy that only your father could justify. You looked handsome and not too much older.

On the 9th, you had your first ever flight. We stopped by Nan & Pop’s house before we made it to the airport just in the nick of time. Grandma and Grandpa were going to miss your crazy shouting and your funny little ways. Tearss were shed, hugs were given and we made it through security just in time to throw up on Daddy. Your reflux, or whatever it was, had been under control for quite some time but you have a knack for surprising us.

We walked toward the plane, waving to Grandma, Grandpa and the Kirkman Family. I got you “settled” and buckled in, you don’t like to be restrained. You were grizzly before the plane left the tarmack but we survived, you did ok, I suppose. That night we had dinner with Aunty Ally and Uncle Mark. You were very out of sorts and just wanted to go back to the place you knew as home, Grandma and Grandpa’s house. You refused to eat much and eventually we settled you into a port-a-cot for a few hours.

The next day we had a quick lunch with Aunty Ally, then prepared for our big flight to Singapore. You enjoyed the hotel room, all that space and a phone within reaching distance.
The flight to Singapore was relatively uneventful. You played in front of our seats for a long time, slept for a while - no longer than 10 minutes in the bassinette provided, killing mummy’s back is top priority. You were good. You did very well and I didn’t feel like the 8.5 hours we spent confined to our dingy little spot in Economy class were a living hell.

We arrived in Singapore late at night and after we checked into the hotel, we took a midnight stroll down Orchard Road seeking ice cream for your big sister, Mc Nugget for you. The night was rough but the next day we were feeling ambitious and visited Sentosa Island. It rained on and off but you were good in your bjorn carrier, worn mostly by Daddy. You saw the Pink Dolphin Show, fish, stingrays, sharks and a whole lot more when we went through the tunnel.
You ate singaporean food for lunch, which you loved. Afterwards you napped while we went on Luge rides and for a look around.

That night you missed the night safari, which means you missed out on seeing “Marty, Gloria, Melman and Alex!!!!!” according to Ria. I couldn’t have expected you to stay awake, it was a lot of getting used to for you.

Another rough night passed, another day began. We visited the Science Museum and then some old friends from India. Day 3 was spent relaxing and strolling around, wasting time before the journey to India.

On the plane to India you played quietly with a pack of cards after crying on and off through the airport, eventually napping in your stroller. You slept for a couple of hours and then after we landed, immigrated and found our baggage, you met your Dadima, Dadaji, Uncle Rupen and Rahul Kaka for the first time. You didn’t warm up to them at first but they won you over in not too much time. Baa was over the moon, we were all happy to be home.

xx Mummy