Tag: first-year-baby

Priyank: Papa, Porter, Planner & Professional Baby Handler

Dear Monkey Boy,

There are some stories about a trip that don’t make it into the photographs.

The beautiful mountains are photographed.
The castles are photographed.
The lakes are photographed.
The happy baby is photographed.

But somewhere behind every one of those pictures was Papa, quietly making sure everything happened.

And the Swiss trip in particular deserves a little story of its own. Because while Mumma was busy making sure you had your food, your clothes, your things and everything a baby could possibly need for nine days in another country, Pappa was the person making sure the entire trip actually worked. He handled this trip like an absolute pro.

From the very beginning, Pappa took charge of the planning—working out the itinerary, figuring out where we would go, applying for visas, booking our Airbnbs, sorting out tickets and making sure all the little pieces of our Swiss adventure came together. And then came the less glamorous part: packing and lugging all that luggage.

And there was a LOT of luggage. Because apparently travelling internationally with a baby requires taking half the house along. Pappa carried it all. Suitcases, baby things, bags, stroller, everything that needed carrying—and probably a few things that Mumma had packed with a very confident “we might need this.”

And while all of this was happening, Pappa wasn’t just managing the trip. He was managing you too.

He helped with your meals, your naps, your outings and your countless little needs throughout the day. He became an expert at handling you on the go, figuring out when you were sleepy, when you wanted to be carried and when you were simply ready to get down and explore.

He gave you your baths.

He got you ready.

He carried you.

He entertained you.

He took you around.

He handled your naps while we were out.

And whenever you decided that sleeping on Mumma, Pappa, the carrier or the stroller was perfectly acceptable, he happily went along with the plan.

There were no complaints.

Just a very capable papa quietly doing papa things.

And somewhere in between figuring out Swiss trains, navigating new places, carrying luggage and keeping up with a nine-month-old explorer, Pappa was also taking care of Mumma.

Making sure Mumma had eaten.

Making sure Mumma got a break.

Helping with you whenever she needed it.

Sharing the load without being asked.

And making sure that Mumma wasn’t spending the entire holiday worrying about everything. That might not sound like a grand romantic gesture. But it is. Because sometimes being the best husband isn’t about grand gestures.

Sometimes it’s carrying the bags when your wife is carrying the baby.

Sometimes it’s taking the baby so she can eat.

Sometimes it’s handling bath time.

Sometimes it’s taking over nap duty.

Sometimes it’s figuring out the next train while she is busy feeding the baby.

Sometimes it’s simply noticing that she needs help before she has to ask.

And Pappa did all of it.

He didn’t just travel with us.

He travelled for us.

He made sure Mumma could enjoy watching you experience your first international adventure instead of worrying about every logistical detail behind it.

And perhaps the sweetest part was watching you two together. You were completely comfortable with Pappa. Whether he was carrying you through a Swiss town, helping you nap on the go, giving you a bath after a long day or simply being your entertainment between destinations, you were happy to be with him.

And Pappa was equally happy to be wherever you were. Of course, he still had to deal with your enormous feelings and those ridiculously shrill squeals of excitement. But somehow, he seemed to enjoy those too.

This trip showed Mumma something she already knew but perhaps appreciated even more after becoming a mother:

Papa is not just an amazing husband. He is an incredible papa. The kind who doesn’t wait to be told what needs to be done. The kind who carries the heavy things without making a fuss. The kind who gets involved in every part of raising you. The kind who makes sure his wife is okay while making sure his son is okay. The kind who can plan an entire international holiday and then happily spend the next moment giving his nine-month-old a bath. The kind who makes the overwhelming parts feel manageable.And the kind who somehow makes you feel like you’re doing this whole parenting thing together—not alone.

So, Sharva, when you read this years from now, you may remember Switzerland as the trip where you saw mountains, castles, lakes and playgrounds. But Mumma hopes you also remember this:

You had a Pappa who was right there beside you through all of it.

He carried you.

He carried the luggage.

He carried the responsibility.

He carried the itinerary.

And, in a hundred little ways, he carried us.

Your first international adventure may have had Switzerland as its backdrop, but behind the scenes was one very proud papa making sure his little family had the best possible time.

And to my husband—

Thank you for being the person who makes the big things possible and the difficult things feel easy.

Thank you for being such a hands-on papa.

Thank you for taking care of Sharva.

Thank you for taking care of me.

Thank you for carrying far more than just our luggage.

And thank you for making this trip one that Mumma and Sharva will remember for a very, very long time.

You were the planner, porter, navigator, baby-handler, bath-time assistant, nap-duty champion, luggage mule, travel partner, husband and papa—all rolled into one.

And you did every single role like a pro.

Sharva is one lucky little boy.

And I am one lucky wife.

We love you, Papa. ❤️

Love,
Mumma & Sharva

The official Nap-in-charge 😎

Flights, Trains, Buses, Trams or Gondolas Papa had things to show you! 🧑‍🧒

The best Naps were always on Papa, No Stroller or Carrier could match those 😴

Soaring High with Papa 🥰

Papa made sure you saw everything that was new for you! 😍

Everytime we clicked your picture, Papa made sure you dont fall! 💪🏻

The stroller was strolled #nocomplaints 🥹

The Luggage was Lugged #nocomplaints 🥹

The museums were experienced with you in arms #nocomplaints 🥹

The castles were explored with you on him #nocomplaints 🥹

Statues were touched 🧑🏻‍🦱

Fountains were played in ⛲️

Playgrounds and Toy Trains with you , for you 🥰

Unlimited fun, laughter and travels 👨🏻👦🏻

October 6, 2026
Postcard for Sharva from Switzerland 🇨🇭

Dear Shaviiiiiiiiiii,

You were just nine months old when you went on your very first international adventure, and what an adventure it was! Mumma, Pappa and you packed our bags, boarded your very first flight and set off for Switzerland. We had no idea what to expect from travelling internationally with a baby, but you surprised us in the most wonderful way possible—you were an absolute angel throughout the entire trip.

Right from your very first flight, you handled everything like a little pro. You slept when you were sleepy, whether that meant curling up on Mumma, snuggling with Pappa, sleeping in the carrier or peacefully napping in your stroller. You never seemed to care where your bed happened to be that day! And somehow, despite all the excitement and all the travelling, you slept through the night every single day. Even our flight back home, with all its delays, couldn’t disturb your champion traveller status—you simply slept through it all!

We had carried your familiar home-cooked meals with us, and you happily ate your food wherever we happened to be. But being the curious little foodie that you are, you also wanted to know what Mumma and Pappa were eating. You tried a little bit of everything from our plates, discovering new tastes along the way. And then there were the fruits! You absolutely fell in love with the berries in Switzerland. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries—you were happy to eat them all, and your love for fruit meant we hardly needed any of those random “nonsense snacks” people insist you need when travelling with a baby. You had your meals, your water, your fruits and your giant appetite for adventure, and you were perfectly happy.

And adventure there certainly was. Every place we visited seemed to become a little more special because you were there. Bern, Gurten, Thun, Wengen, Oberhofen, Montreux, Gruyères, Broc, Corsier-sur-Vevey—every single place gave us another memory to tuck away forever. You looked at the mountains, lakes and castles with those wide, curious eyes, completely awestruck by the beauty around you. We would stop to admire a view, and there you would be, quietly taking it all in before suddenly breaking into the biggest smile or one of your wonderfully shrill little squeals.

Bern gave you your very first playground abroad, at Rosengarten. And naturally, you had to try everything—the swings, the slides and every little bit of the playground that caught your attention. Watching you experience your first Swiss playground was one of those simple moments that somehow became a huge memory for Mumma and Pappa.

And you quickly established a rule for the trip: if there was a playground, you were going to play on it. If there was a garden, you explored it. If there was a sandpit, you were in it. Your first proper sandpit adventure in Oberhofen was especially memorable, and watching you discover the sand, gardens and open spaces made us realise that it didn’t take much to make you happy. A little space to explore, something new to touch and your Mumma and Pappa nearby were enough.

You became a little people magnet everywhere we went. Strangers smiled at you, waved at you and stopped to admire you. And, much to our amusement, you were constantly mistaken for a baby girl! Maybe it was your curls, maybe your cheeks, maybe those beautiful expressive eyes—or maybe you were simply too handsome. Every outfit Mumma dressed you in somehow made you look even more handsome, and we couldn’t resist taking approximately a million pictures of you in every possible Swiss backdrop.

You also became a complete public-transport professional. Trains, buses, cable cars and everything in between—you handled them all like you had been travelling through Switzerland your entire life. Sometimes you watched the world go by through the window, sometimes you happily interacted with everyone around you, and sometimes you simply decided it was time for a nap. Mumma and Pappa were busy figuring out tickets, platforms and routes while you calmly went about your very important business of being a nine-month-old traveller.

And somehow, every restaurant and café visit became fun with you too. You sat with us, watched everyone around you, enjoyed your food and brought your own little energy to every meal. You made even an ordinary coffee stop feel like a memory worth keeping. We loved taking you everywhere with us because you never made us feel like we had to stop living our holiday just because we had a baby. Instead, you simply became part of everything we did.

From the beautiful streets of Bern to the mountains of Wengen, from the peaceful views of Thun and Oberhofen to the charm of Montreux, from the cheese-filled world of Gruyères and chocolate heaven of Broc to the laughter and fun at Chaplin’s World, every destination had something different to offer—and you loved experiencing all of it in your own little way. You saw castles, lakes, mountains, gardens, playgrounds and some of the most beautiful scenery we had ever seen, and while we don’t know how much you’ll remember of Switzerland when you’re older, Mumma and Pappa know that we will remember your expressions forever.

Montreux gave us another reason to celebrate you. At the beautiful Quais de Montreux garden, we had a little birthday photoshoot to mark you turning 10 months old. We put up a “Happy Birthday” garland, put a tiny party cap on your head and brought out Ladurée macarons for the occasion. There you were, celebrating your 10-month milestone in Switzerland, looking like the star of your own little birthday party. Of course, you were far more interested in being your happy, curious self than in posing perfectly for Mumma and Pappa—but those pictures are all the more precious because of it.

We will remember the way you smiled when you saw something new. We will remember your excitement, your curiosity and those incredibly shrill squeals that announced your happiness to everyone within hearing distance. We will remember you napping peacefully while the world went on around you, waking up ready for the next adventure, and then ending the day by sleeping peacefully through the night.

We went to Switzerland to give you your first international experience, but somewhere along the way, you gave us something much bigger. You made us experience the trip differently. We noticed the little things because you noticed them. We stopped at playgrounds we might otherwise have walked past. We spent more time in gardens. We explored sandpits. We smiled at strangers who stopped to admire you. We slowed down for your naps and celebrated your meals. We watched you look at mountains and lakes as if the whole world had just been created for you to discover. And perhaps that is what made this trip so incredibly special.

It wasn’t just our first international holiday with you. It was the first time we watched our little boy discover a completely new part of the world. You were happy, curious, fearless, playful, well-fed, well-rested and wonderfully, completely you. You made every place brighter, every journey more fun and every memory a little sweeter.

So, Sharva, when you read this years from now, remember this: at just nine months old, you flew across the world, conquered Swiss public transport, explored every playground and sandpit you could find, charmed half of Switzerland, tried new foods, became everyone’s favourite little people magnet, slept through the nights, slept through flight delays and spent your waking hours smiling your enormous smile and letting out your signature shrieks of joy.

Your first international adventure was Switzerland. And you, our little traveller, were the very best part of it. Here’s to Switzerland, your first passport adventure, and to a lifetime of places still waiting for you to explore. ❤️🇨🇭

Love,
Mumma & Pappa

(24 September – 4 October 2026)

First Flight and look at the grin 😎

Day 1 at Bern and you decided to nap for our first Family Photo of the trip! 🙈

Playtime at Rosengarten! 🛝

Every Fountain needs to be Touched! 😎

Gurten Park Playground: where fun was had 😅

Making new friends everywhere! 👯

First French Fry 🤤

Snacks on the go are a must 🍓🫐

Wengen: The place may be beautiful but Nap is Non-Negotiable😴

Family photo at Lauterbrunnen ✨

Oberhofen Sandpit: where fun was had and clothes were spoiled 😎

Exploring the beautiful Thun 🏰

Papa Showing the World to his Baby Boy 🧑‍🧒

Navigating Trains like a Boss 🚞

Lake Geneva in all its Glory while Baby Boy decided that Beauty Sleep is important 😴

I am 10 month old todayyyyyyyy 📣🗣️

Mom and Baby Boy lost in their own fantasy world 🦄

First taste of Chocolate at Broc, because Chocolate must be eaten where Chocolate is made! Enjoying the Cailler Life! 🍫

Had the best time at Chaplin’s World! 🥸

Castle Views and Best Seat in Switzerland 🏰

An Absolute Pro Traveller! Slept 13 outta 15 hours on the flight! But made sure fun was has at every Airport especially the Lounge because food is life 😎

Back to Base ✌🏻

October 4, 2026
The Yellow Moustache Diaries: Food Review by a 6-Month-Old

For six whole months, my menu was pretty simple: Mumma’s milk, served fresh and on demand. Life was good. Then suddenly, everyone started talking about something called “solids.” Apparently, this was a Very Big Deal.

The excitement actually began weeks before the big day. Mumma, Dadi and Motamummy spent hours researching first foods! Mumma was reading articles, watching videos, and asking every parent she knew for advice. Packages started arriving at our doorstep almost daily—silicone bowls, tiny spoons, bibs, sippers, food-grade feeders, suction plates, and all sorts of baby dining accessories. If there was a gadget for a baby starting solids, chances are Mumma bought it.

And then there was my fancy new high chair, lovingly gifted by Raju Uncle and family! Thank you Misha Didi. It had been sitting in the corner for weeks, waiting for its grand debut. Every time Mumma walked past it, she’d smile excitedly and say, “Soon, Sharva!” Finally, the big day arrived. 30th May, 2026, a Saturday!

My very first meal was moong dal porridge with Dudhi (Bottle Gourd)—a traditional and gentle first food chosen with lots of love and care. But honestly, the food wasn’t the main attraction. The audience was.

My Dadu, Dadi, Chachu, Chachi, Naniji, Mumma, Papa—everyone was there. My Motamummy and Motapappa were on videocall. It felt less like Lunch and more like a championship final. Cameras were charged. Phones were ready. Dadi made me offer my first meal to all my god friends in the temple in our house.

After that everyone gathered around my high chair, smiling, laughing, and cheering me on. The room was filled with excitement, nervousness, anticipation, pride, and about a hundred other emotions that grown-ups seem to experience all at once.

Meanwhile, I was mostly interested in the colorful bowls and spoons. The bright silicone utensils and shiny silver bowl immediately caught my attention. I poked them, grabbed them, waved them around, and generally inspected the equipment before agreeing to participate in the actual eating part.

Then came the moment. My first bite, that my Mumma fed me. I opened my mouth, tasted the porridge, paused, and gave everyone my best look of complete confusion.

Wait.

What was THAT?

It wasn’t milk.

It wasn’t familiar.

It was warm, soft, and entirely new.

The adults held their breath. I thought about it. I made a funny face. Everyone laughed. And then, surprisingly, I decided it wasn’t so bad. Spoon after spoon, I kept going. The cheering grew louder with every successful bite. Before anyone knew it, I had eaten almost the entire meal. The adults looked as if I had just won an Olympic medal.

Naturally, I couldn’t let things stay too neat. A good solids journey requires a proper mess. There was porridge on my new kurta. Porridge on my hands. Porridge on the tray. Somehow, there was even porridge where no porridge should logically have reached. By the end of the meal, I had developed a magnificent yellow moong dal moustache that everyone found absolutely hilarious.

Then came water. Now that was truly confusing. Why would anyone drink this clear, tasteless liquid when milk exists? I stared at the sipper suspiciously. I chewed it. I played with it. I spilled some. I looked deeply unconvinced by the entire concept. The grown-ups, however, were thrilled by every tiny sip.

Of course, no milestone is complete without photography. Between bites, smiles, funny faces, and the legendary dal moustache, hundreds of photos were taken. Someday, when I’m older, I suspect Mumma will show me every single one of them.

Looking back, my first solids meal wasn’t really about food. It was about love. It was about great grandparents and grandparents proudly watching another generation grow. It was about parents celebrating a milestone they had been eagerly waiting for. It was about family gathering together for something that might seem small to others but felt enormous to us.

A tiny bowl of moong dal porridge marked the beginning of a whole new adventure—one filled with new tastes, funny expressions, messy fingers, colourful plates, and countless memories. And if my first meal was any indication, this journey is going to be delicious. Mumma better be prepared, the critic is ready!

Love,
Sharva ❤️

Sharing my food with my God Friends! 😇

First Reaction 😵‍💫

Pappa says Yum, so maybe it is Yum 🤔

Let me check 😎

Give me the bowl 🤤

Independent from the beginning 😂

What is this water thingy 🙄

What do you mean its over? 🫩

Half way to One and Step One towards Solids! 🥳

You get Cake, I get Dal and then you guys compensate with Kissi! 🥺

May 30, 2026
Not Just Ours, Their Sharva Too

There’s something incredibly magical about watching your little world grow bigger—not just with milestones and firsts, but with love pouring in from every direction. And for you Sharva, that love has come in the most beautiful, overwhelming ways, through Mumma and Pappa’s friends, their people!

It feels so special—almost indescribable—when friends go out of their way, beyond their busy schedules and daily chaos, just to hold you, see you, and shower you with affection. It’s not just visits, it’s intention. It’s love in action.

From day one, you were welcomed with open arms. Hinal masi, Navil masa, Yash mamu, and Palak mami made sure they were there right at the beginning—meeting you, blessing you, and instantly becoming a part of your little universe. And it didn’t stop there. Calls, messages, video calls, constant check-ins filled with warmth, as if distance was never really a thing. And they even found their way to Ahmedabad just to see you again.

Hinal masi has been your personal gift fairy, always bringing the cutest surprises that somehow feel just as warm as her hugs. Vidhu masi didn’t wait long either—she came all the way to Rajkot with love (and gifts!) and has always made it a point to meet you in Ahmedabad as often as she can.

Even from afar, love found its way. Ishani masi, though she couldn’t come in person, made sure you felt her presence through countless thoughtful gifts—each one a little piece of her love wrapped just for you.

And then there are the ones who made their way as soon as they could—Rohan chachu, Vasu mama, and Pranali chachi—arriving in Ahmedabad and coming straight to meet you, bringing along not just gifts, but memories we’ll always hold close. Harsha masi added her own special touch by sending the same things that Kush loves—because what’s loved once must be loved again.

And for all the many others who couldn’t physically be here, their love still reached you. Through calls, video calls, messages filled with excitement, curiosity, and affection—they made sure they knew you, and more importantly, that you would always know you are loved. Because that’s what this is, really. Love. Pure, effortless, abundant love.

Our baby boy, you may be tiny, but you are surrounded by something so big—an entire circle of people who love you like their own. And as parents, there is nothing more heartwarming than seeing your friends become your child’s people.

And somewhere in the middle of all this love, Mumma and Pappa have quietly realized something too—we truly have the best friends in the world. The kind who show up, who stay, who love deeply and selflessly. The kind who turn moments into memories and make this journey even more special. And one day you will realise that some of your “aunts” and “uncles” are the relates by blood – they are friends that we love so deeply, they became family. And that is the beauty of chosen family – love that goes beyond last names.

Sharva, you truly are one lucky little boy.

And our hearts? Just a little fuller because of it.

Vidhu Masi ❤️

Pranali Chachi ❤️

Vasu Mama ❤️

March 18, 2026
One Baby. Many Arms. Zero Silence.

15th January 2026. Some days feel bigger than the clock allows them to be. This was one of those days.

After spending the first one and a half months wrapped in the quiet comfort of Dadu and Dadi’s home in Rajkot, it was time for our little world to move again—this time to Motapappa and Motamummy’s in Ahmedabad. Of course, we left late. Not fashionably late, just family-with-a-newborn late. Bags half-checked, hearts full, and one tiny baby completely unaware that he was about to steal yet another household’s peace.

The car ride was one of those soft, in-between moments. City passing by, halt at Chotila, quick lunch at HFM, hushed conversations, stolen glances to make sure our miracle was still breathing, still sleeping, still perfect. Everything felt slow and fast at the same time.

And then—we arrived to your Mumma’s city.

If love could shout, Motamummy Motapappa’s home would have echoed. Balloons everywhere. Beautiful decorations. Cake waiting patiently. Doors opening wide like they’d been rehearsing for this moment. Aki Mamu’s joy was impossible to miss—pure, loud, overflowing happiness. Himani Masi came rushing in to meet you too, and suddenly the house was full of voices, laughter, movement, and arms competing for their turn.

It was chaos. Beautiful, noisy, heart-bursting chaos. Everyone wanted a glimpse. Everyone wanted a cuddle. Everyone wanted to say, “He’s here.” And in the middle of it all, you were calm, tiny, and completely in charge without even trying.

That day reminded us how love shows up differently in different homes—but always in abundance. It reminded us that family isn’t quiet, or orderly, or planned. It’s messy, loud, late, emotional and absolutely magical.

Now, for the next few weeks, this house will hold your days. You’ll grow here, nap here, be adored endlessly here. New routines, new memories, same overwhelming love.

But in all this happiness, we will miss Daddy and Stella deeply everyday. Daddy, whose presence makes everything feel complete, and Stella, whose playful energy and unconditional love are always part of our world. Motamummy’s house is full of warmth, but their absence will be felt in the quiet moments and gentle pauses of the day.

And one day, when you’re old enough to read this, I hope you smile knowing this:
Wherever you went, joy arrived before you did. And it always will. 💙

January 15, 2026
The Great Snuggle and Snacks Era

Sharva one day, when you’re older and reading this, you probably won’t remember these days at all. But we will. Because they mattered.

You are five weeks old, and since a few days the world feels big and loud to you. You have begun to wake up to it. Your eyes are staying open a little longer. Your cries are sounding more urgent. And you suddenly seem to need us in a deeper, more intense way than before. These few weeks as the internet suggests are often called a “fussy phase,” but that word doesn’t quite capture it. You aren’t being difficult. You are learning how to be human.

Right now, you want to eat often—sometimes what feels like all the time. You want to feed, pause for a short rest, and then want to eat again. Cluster feeding is your way of growing, finding comfort, and telling our bodies and hearts exactly what you need. To us, it means long evenings on the couch, soft lights, and learning patience in new ways. To you, it means safety.

You also don’t want to be put down. At all. You sleep best on our chests, curled up against the steady rhythm of a heartbeat you have known long before you were born. All you want is contact naps. If we try to lay you in your cot or bassinet, you let us know—loudly—that you aren’t ready. And so your Dad, your dadi and I hold you back. A lot. Arms tired, backs sore, but hearts full.

There are moments your Dad and I wonder if you are feeling unwell. But the truth is, you are doing exactly what newborns are meant to do. You are asking for closeness. For warmth. For reassurance that the world outside the womb is still safe. And every time we pick you up, every time we let you nap on us or feed you again even though you have just eaten, we arw answering you the only way that matters: We’re here.

These weeks will pass, as all seasons do. You will slowly learned to settle. You will sleep longer. You will need us in new ways instead of constant ones. But this chapter will always stay with us.

So if you’re reading this years from now, know this:
You were never “too much.”
You were never needy.
You were learning, growing, and loving the only way you knew how.

And we loved you right back—every fussy, clingy, beautiful minute of it. 💛

Mommy Duty

Daddy Duty

January 2, 2026