Meet Ceyone Tiwari

Dear Ceyone, 

You came as a blessing to us on 22 Dec 2012 in Tokyo. You arrived early and mumma still had to finish some preparations for your arrival. Mumma had already decided a name for you. I wanted to select a Japanese name for you since you were born in Japan and I love that country very very much. I wanted to express my gratitude to Japan by selecting a Japanese name for you. I searched hundreds of websites, newspapers, books, contacts to find a name that was Japanese, had a deep meaning, was short, easy to pronounce, unique and sweet. Finally, I found your name which has Indian origin, sounds Japanese and means 'the rising sun', which indeed you are in our lives. It matched perfectly as you were born in the land of the rising sun. 

I had to go for my hair rebonding treatment on Saturday 22 December 2012 but I landed at the hospital and you were born. In just a few hours monumental changes happened. Papa was in Singapore and he took the first flight available and reached Tokyo in the evening to meet you. Thankfully, your Naani (Aai, my mom) was with me ALL the time and is still with me every time I need her. When you grow up, you'll be able to understand why everyone crazily adores Aai and why at just 11 months old, you could say her name and look for her the moment you opened your eyes after nap. 

You were born in the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, Ikashika Ochanomizu. When I saw you for the first time, I couldn't stop my tears. I wanted to lift you in my arms, sing to you, talk to you and make you mine forever. 

The initial days were spent in the neonatal unit but you showed fast recovery and were soon out of the incubator. Those days were very tough for us as we were very concerned about your health. When you were just under observation and no treatment, we were very relieved. We couldn't wait to bring you home and counted the days earnestly. 

Your birth weight was 2.5 kg and was considered very well by some doctors for premature baby. In no time, you started to gain weight and your cheeks started to plump up. The hospital staff was very helpful but they went by the book for everything and the milk they fed you seemed to be less and less for you. When Papa found out about it, he had a good discussion and argument with the doctors to increase your milk. Papa also went to the extent of keeping a five rupee indian coin in your towel during your weight taking before the milk. The doctors soon gave in and increased your milk. Papa and I visited you every day in the hospital for 2 weeks and held you in our arms for kangaroo care for nearly 7 out of the 8 permissible visiting hours. We loved every tiny square nail of your body. 

On Jan 11 2013, we changed you into new clothes, wrapped you in a white blanket and brought you home in a taxi. You slept like a cotton ball in my lap. 

                      

To express our happiness and gratitude, Papa and Naani arranged for 70 odd boxes of Lindt chocolate to distribute to the hospital staff before we left.

Naani was waiting for you at home with a plate for pooja and aarti. 

That evening, Papa's good friend Bonnie uncle came with his uber cool DSLR camera and clicked a hundred shots for you. We were so lucky to capture your yawn and smile. You slept throughout the photo shoot. 

For the first few days, you slept most of the time. When you got hungry, first you'd curl up your lips, then move and then cry. Usually, I offered you milk at your slightest movement. We all just looked at you all the time.

It was very cold in Tokyo in January and it snowed one of the days. 

In the meantime, Papa got a new crib for you. You seldom slept in it but we used it for your play time and later when you turned one year old, you stood in the crib and threw balls for everyone to field. You had the art to spin the ball beautifully. 

When I cut your nails for the first time, I was very excited. For me, it was not just cutting the nails. For me, grown up nails indicated growth. It was a clear sign that your body was growing. Seeing you grow up was our biggest pleasure. 

When you were about 7 weeks old and I was nursing you late in the night, I lovingly poochied you. You smiled. I did it again and you smiled again. And then a third time. I was SO excited to see your first response to my voice. I hugged you and fell in love with you all over again. No matter how big you grow up, for me you'll always be my little baby who smiled for the first time just for me. You are the best blessing to me. 

I love you so much my little munchkin. 

With all my love and much more,

Mumma