Akshra is growing up already. Gone is the girl who would sit there and let us do whatever we wanted to do. Not that she wasn't responsive but she was always peaceful. Over the last few days we've seen her become a bit cranky. She does not want to follow the schedule we set for her. She wants to follow her own will which is obviously not the most convenient thing for us. While this growing up is all good, we know, and we are happy for it because it just proves that she is a healthy baby and all her faculties are good, there is still this sense of regret already that she is slowly slipping out of control. Obviously only very so slowly today but throughout the rest of our lives she will be moving away from us only so much faster.

I was watching The Daily Show the other day and Akshra was playing in her little gym. Puja and her mom were out on a walk. I suddenly burst out laughing and Akshra looked at me her whole body shook and she wailed like she had never wailed before. This type of thing also happened this week when I sneezed loud. So, it seems that Akshra has finally figured out what "fear" is. She knows now what it is to be scared of her environment. She knows that an appropriate reaction to fear is to cry and that if she manages to cry hard enough she will get support and folks will make her feel secrure by hugging her or talking with her.

After her misadventure with the shot last week, Akshu has discoverd the joy of wailing. Once in a while she find a reason to wail at the top of her lungs. It could be because she is hungry or she gets scared of someone's loud sneeze. She cries very hard and tears boil up in her eyes. It is quite touching but totally fake. I am beginning to realize that this is how kids go bad. They start out nice and lovely and soon they begin to have a mind of their own. So not right. I so resent her growing up.

So we spoke to the doctor who said this was a normal reaction to the HIB shots and nothing to worry about. We should giver her Tylenol infants to help her deal with the pain and put ice packs on her thighs to deal with the swelling. Much too our chagrin we didn't even have Tylenol at home. We attribute this to our baby that has decided to doggedly remain healthy so far. So I rushed downstairs and thankfully the Duane Reade store remains open until midnight. We fed her .4 ml of Tylenol via a dropper.

This morning she is very chatty and seems to be doing really well. The ice packs have reduced the swelling but not completely eliminated it. The Tylenol seems to have done its job. She clearly does not seem to be in any pain.

Amazing stuff happens. Akshra hasn't been feeling too well for the last few days. Runny nose and caughing. Puja finally decided to book an appointment with the Doctor. When she called Riverside Peds they told her that she is actually due for her shots today! Puja was under the impression that the shots were due on the 6th!

Anyway, she went over and they gave her two shots -- one on each thigh -- and another orally.

She took it bravely my wife tells me but soon wailed like there was no tomorrow.
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For the last few hours she wails once in a while - anytime her legs move -- like we've never heard her wail before. We thought all this while that it was just the pain from the shots and generally just dealt with it. However, while trying to change Puja just realized that the thighs near the shots are swollen quite a lot. Now that explains the strange and uncharacteristic wailing.
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Got to know from someone that their child had a cleft lip and had their 4th surgery coming up shortly to fix the problem. I am sure there are many such stories and worse. These are the times when you look at your baby and you are filled with joy and you want to say Thnk You to her for coming in this world just perfect.

Its November already and the baby is 56 days old today. I can hardly believe that. At some point in time though the element of surprise will have to subside and give way to an acceptance.

Generally Akshra has been a darling so far and is a contented child as long as she is fed. We beliee in this more when we see other children that are gassy and fussy and have trouble digesting and hence are cranky as hell.

Ravindra and Tulika were here over the weekend. They saw Akshra for the first time and were surprised at how quite the child generally is. I hope this is a good thing.