Today is your first birthday and it has been a great year, spending time with you and seeing you grow day by day. Your naughty little acts have been enjoyed and cherished. The child inside me has come to life again and the parent outside has become more understanding and responsible just because of you my Daughter, Lavi. Happy First Birthday to You....God bless and lots of good wishes from all in the family.

Father's feeling

I found one article published on net written by one Father who wanted to share his feelings of joy with the whole world and I really found it very supportive…Would love to share...

“Hearing the faint but audible heartbeats of a baby...my baby... was one of the most rewarding moments of my life. I agreed to visit the gynaec with my wife partly out of curiosity and partly a desire to know that everything was fine, after which I planned to skip future visits. Little did I realise that there would be no more talk of my missing out on those visits - in fact, I don't remember missing even a single one! Seeing and hearing my baby was just too wonderful an experience and it turned out that I would be the one to push for the check ups!

The miracle of childbirth absolutely fascinated me and I liked to think I was in total control of the situation. I remember the state I was in during that first appointment - I was almost choked with emotion and I felt a wave of tenderness engulfing me whenever I looked at my wife. She was carrying our child and she it was who was going through innumerable changes in her body; it was she who was making all the necessary adjustments to her life like taking a sabbatical from her job, and I was filled with awe at what she was going through. You might say that it was after all only what any woman went through, but, to me it was special because this was my wife and I felt a responsibility that I had hitherto lacked.

This feeling lasted all through her pregnancy. I was supportive, I was eager to please and I was ready to make compromises on my over-busy schedule to accommodate the visits to the doctor. We decided that we would take a decision on where the baby would be born, and, as I had a heavy work schedule, I did not want her to go to her parents' place. I wanted to be a part of the whole birth process, and not miss a single moment of our baby's coming.

Now, months after our baby's birth, she continues to be the centre point of our lives, especially mine. I would give up anything to be with her and attend to her needs, and I consider myself blessed to be the father of such a beautiful baby. I ask myself, what is it that has made me such a willing slave? The answer is simple. The love of a child is equal to no other. It is total unconditional love and you must love them unconditionally in return. This love and relationship between a parent and child is truly unparalleled. This is the reward you reap for bringing this new life into this world, for creating this miracle. Look into the sheer innocence of your baby's eyes, and you will be ready to do anything for her and even life's complicated journey seems simple. The great swelling pride you feel when your baby turns over, sits up, crawls is totally unique. You did not react that way when you excelled in your school or college, or, more recently, in your job! My baby's eyes simply light up when she hears my voice or sees me in her room and I am rewarded with an instant toothless grin. At that moment, I know I am everything to her and I send up a silent prayer of thanksgiving to God who has deemed it fit to gift me with this beautiful bundle of joy.

Was I ever indifferent to children? In my present state of bliss, the very thought seems totally farfetched! I can't ever imagine life without my baby!”