This tiny girl amazes me! She’s got me completely wrapped around her little finger – twice over. She only has to coo and I start babbling baby talk like a blithering blidiot. I love it! When she is a sleep, I gaze at her. What is she dreaming? Is she happy? I wonder at this miracle and our good fortune to be enslaved by her.
Here, she is napping after her bath, which as you have all witnessed is a chaotic experience. She smells of Mysore sandalwood soap which has bathed scores of the Shanbhag clan. I cannot help but breath deeply. I had to memorialize this. As I reach for the camera, M berates me not to use the flash – it might awaken Meera!
I agreed and proceeded to compose the pic. M, ever suspicious of my acquiescence, waits and watches, hands on her hip; ready to pounce and tear me to smithereens. What do I do? Of course, I don’t use the flash! My survival instincts are definitely honed!
I am glad, the natural light diffusing in the room cast Meera in a soft glow. M was right, but don’t tell her that!
Previous Posts on Meera:
Marathoner, Professor, Author, Citizen Journalist, Fitness Nut, Foodie, Meera's father, Hindu, Scientist, Photographer.
Happy Father’s Day!!
After your beautiful Mother’s Day remarks, I’m looking forward to your (or M’s) Father’s Day comment. I often check your site and love your photos & words on Meera and your friends’ children.
Thank you Kathleen –
Not that great, but i did post something for Father’s Day!
http://arunshanbhag.com/2009/06/20/meera-fathers-day/
Thank you for checking on Meera!
She’s lovely and it’s a beautiful picture. She looks like a little angel.
Thank you Grace for the kind words!
She is such a delight and we are soooo fortunate to be her parents! Thank you!
Keep posting photos, it will be fun to watch her grow up.
She is so sweet…though I have taken same type of pictures of my twins, I regret not blogging on them…they make such fab treasure later right..kids when they are sleeping are so serene!..
Thank you Srivalli for sharing your thoughts. I saw some of the pics of the twins’ hands on your site! Very cute!
And yes, with all the madness now, I still want to document this NOW, so decades later we can enjoy all together!
and sleeping is good for another reason – then we have a few minutes to peacefully do our work.
Best Wishes to your kids!
bilcul bombay dyeing model!
lisa (ray) who?
Arrey! Lisa Ray!
Oh Oh!
Thanks
Arun
PS, Finally got into NYC Marathon for Nov 1 2009!
FINALLY!
not sure if you have seen those old BD towel ads with these beautiful women
your pic (and the gorgeous angle) reminded me of that.
CONGRATS on NYC. Wow! So happy for you. Now train carefully.
Karthi
I sure missed those ads! Must look for them now! Thank you!
Yes, keep my fingers crossed for NYC
Oh.. is’nt she so cute! I get really eager when my daughter (14 months old) is asleep.. I try to wake her up and my husband chides me..hehe..when she is up I can’t wait for her to be quite and asleep, but when she sleeps I feel sad.. is that weird? This is a great shot.. hugs to Meera!
Anu
Hi Anu!
Thank you for sharing this dilemma – we all share it!
Particularly M! When she is asleep, are the ONLY few hours she gets to do her chores, check mail or do anything!
and, mea culpa! i am the one responsible for occasionally disturbing her sleep
Thank you and certainly more hugs to Meera!
Have fun with the daughter!
Arun,
Awesome picture. Meera is soooo cute! Congratulations!
Kanchana
Thank you Kanchana for your kind words.
She is something and has already learn’t to get us to do her bidding.
I can see why you gaze at her when she is asleep
I know, I am smitten!
blissful.. beautiful photo and am sure M was happy you didn’t wake her up!!
YES! M was relieved as this is the only time she gets to take care of her own chores, or even catch up on email.
Thank you.
Little m is absolutely beautiful and adorable. How do we lose the innocence and beauty when we grow up…. I wonder….
Now as she grows older, she IS getting mischievous and very daring! so she is learning to explore her boundaries – physical and otherwise. I guess along the way of exploration, you start to make compromises to achieve what you want and lo and behold, we end up in a completely different place than when we started.
Best wishes
Little M is adorable! I think sleeping babies are a wondrous sight and not only because it means you have a little time to get chores done around the house! Makes you want to sit there and just look at them. Lovely photo!
you said it right; when meera sleeps or naps, M takes it with a sigh so she can do the rest of her work, or even step out to get things.
and it is a wondrous sight. I’d rather just watch the little girl grow by each breath.
Thank you for stopping by.
She looks so cute and innocent.. no wonder she has got you wrapped.. god bless her
we miss the pics with papa though!
arrey ujwal –
pappa is always taking the pics and Amma says she does not understand the camera – what to do.
One of these days!
and thank you!
So lovely!
THank you Navina; means a lot!
OMG, she is such an angel Arun. So very cute! A big hug to her.
Thank you Dee! Good to hear from you!
I finally see you on FB.
Hope work and play are going well.
And certainly a big hug to Meera, … when she wakes up.
She looks so cute and beautiful. The snap has come out very well.
Is she still in India or have you taken her to US?
Cheers,
Poornima
Hi Poornima:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. This is one of my favorite pics of meera! Sooooo peaceful!
yes, they are still in bharat – C’est la vie!
but soon, hopefully
serenity…captured beautifully! enjoy it to the hilt. Life is beautiful
Thank you Jolly!
Seeing you here – finally!
now you know why I don’t leave mumbai! ha hA!
She’s so very beautiful. Excellent shot! and I remember those bath days with our daughter. We finally figured out that it should be mermaid-based, all water experiences.
I can almost smell that soap, myself. lovely post.
Thank you Jessie for your kindness in sharing your thoughts. I like the mermaid theme! lets see what the princess will tolerate – she is getting very picky you know.
Best wishes with you daughter and;
you have an interesting site.
princesses can often be swayed by mermaid things. our princess named herself princess sea at the age of 2. so…
you might have a dual
thanks! we love sharing all that travel info on our site. makes me want to travel even MORE!
I think our princess is 16 months running on 2 years! Quite a handful! I get the distinct impression, the rest of my whole life is going to revolve around this little bundle with the most disarming smile. BTW, I think she is trying out different ways to smile.
BTW, I love those D&K Eyewitness Guide books you talk about on your site. We have one for every place we visit. Compared to the DK, the rest appear so pedestrian
Nice, you need to do more in that section.
yes, it is true – our princess sea is almost 7 and our whole life DOES revolve around her. we chose to do our site bc we wanted to travel as a family, and have her involved (she writes book and game reviews, etc). i am so happy you have meera!! life is GREAT with a bundle of sunshine like her. lucky you!!
yes, i love DK eyewitness travel guides. they are so incredibly detailed, works of art in and of themselves. i’ll add to it as i can. no hardship, reading travel guides…
Very innocent and look like an angel!
Thank you Sonu!
I guess we should enjoy these years!
Very nice pic.Meera looks sooo adorable in this pic, so cute, innocent and peacefully napping.
Thank you Rajita!
Yes, super cuddly.
When i am with her, I nap whenever she naps; so I’m not cranky too.
)
Too cute for words!!
and you are faast!
you should be taking a nap!
do you want me to send you the pipi- saunf? email me your address. You get one five (ok, a few more) – just in consideration of your sweet tooth!