The Smile

We picked up Orion's passport earlier this week, woohoo! Everyone's happy:



The Canadian consulate here in Mumbai has just been outstanding. We are so lucky to be Canadian. Our stay here has not been easy but we realize and understand that others before us had it far more difficult than us now, as well as do many other individuals who come here from other countries around the world. When we remember that, we know that we are fortunate. Also, I could not have done this without my parents being here and their support, as well as all of the kind people I've met here in Mumbai. So many lessons learned. Hopefully for next time, a few years down the road, the process will be simpler and more manageable for 1 or 2 people. To those that come here on their own and are able to get through it all, you are amazing and so admired.

Next week is our appointment at the FRRO and our last week here. When we get home, Summer will be over and Fall will be just around the corner. Where has the time gone? We left Canada July 21 and since then it has felt like we've been living in a bubble. Orion's one-month birthday is tomorrow (26th) and my birthday was last Saturday.

I am so anxious to get home and just get back to "normal"... whatever that is. I want to take Orion out for walks in his stroller, take him to the park, take him to the hill out back behind my house, have him meet his aunts and other grandfather, sleep in his own room, his own bed... the list goes on.

For now though, here are some more smiles! Keep smilin'!

Daddy Wow!

I'm 3 weeks old now!

(Or alternatively captioned: COME AT ME BRO!)

Canadian Consulate Adventures

Tuesday was Orion's two week birthday! To celebrate, yesterday all of us (me, my mom, dad and Orion) took a field trip to InOrbit mall. Honestly, I don't know what I would do without InOrbit. Every Canadian having a baby here should visit there at least once. There is a Shoppers Stop there which includes a Mother Care section on the 2nd floor. Then there is a Spencer's which is like a grocery store and value clothes store. You can find essentially anything there like cheap but good quality t-shirts (250 rupees each = $5 CDN), sandals, belts, toiletries, snacks and comfort food you love in Canada (i.e. chips lol). They have 2L bottled water for 70 rupees a pop, juice, etc. Thank goodness for InOrbit! Anyway, we took Orion with us and he slept the whole time. We were only out for 3 hours but we timed everything with him well. I brought my diaper bag with an extra bottle, change of clothes, diaper etc but he stayed in dream land the whole time. Not 5 minutes later after we got back to hotel home, he started to wake up for feeding time. Such a good and well behaved baby :)

Rewind to last Wednesday when we spent most of the day at the Canadian Consulate in south Mumbai. I thought I was prepared and had everything ready such as the photos for the passport, visa, citizenship application etc but I wasn't. Upon arrival, I was told the sizes were not acceptable. This was unfortunate as I had been very clear regarding measurements to the photographer at the photo studio we went to in Mumbai. My advice for other Canadians doing this in the future: don't spend the time, energy and money going to just any photographer with your baby at any photo studio. Before going to the consulate, go see a photographer about 5 blocks away from the consulate building. Specifically, as you're exiting the consulate building from the main entrance, go right and then about 5 blocks later, you'll come to "Mamta Foto Centre." After our photo sizes were not accepted by the consulate, they recommended we go there before the doctor came in for the DNA testing. We found Mamta and they knew the sizes for all the photos by heart. Just go to Mamta and ask for Chintan. I have their card so if anyone wants their contact information, just e-mail me and I can provide you with their coordinates.



At Mamta, ready for his photo shoot but he had other plans, i.e. napping!

So I was with the contact from the consulate all morning, finalizing all of the forms and payment. I must say, the contact and the rest of the staff at the consulate have done nothing but gone above and beyond in terms of service and trying to help us. Not having a support system while being on the other side of the planet is difficult so having their help has meant a lot. After lunch at 1pm, the doctor came in to do the DNA test on Orion. Specifically, he took a swab and also a fingerprint which the consulate staff wondered if really necessary and if newborns even have fingerprints at that age. One person remarked, "That is definitely the smallest fingerprint I have ever seen."

Once the test had been done, we were able to leave. The DNA sample was Fedexed to the lab I had chosen to work with on this, Maxxam, in Guelph, Canada. They received the sample Friday afternoon and now we are waiting for them to confirm the results. We've kindly asked them to help us and expedite things but I have not heard anything from them in the last 2 days, which is unusual. I've sent e-mails everyday, called and left voice messages for several people from India, kindly asking to be updated as a courtesy but no response. To be honest, I don't think I will do business with them again and I can't say I would recommend them. I get better service at McDonalds for a $2 cheeseburger opposed to a $800 DNA test with a baby involved. Any response would be appreciated to give us an update but the one thing I can't stand is when businesses don't reply to correspondence from clients that have already paid for a service.

Amidst the waiting and anxiety to get home, we are all spending time with Orion and getting to know him better. Swaddling didn't last very long as he worms his way out and likes to sleep like this:



Look dad! No hands!



Victory dance! Rawwwwwwwr!







Little bug.



On Grammie's shoulder.



Happy dad!

Until next time :)

First Smile

Orion's first smile (not caused by gas). Here, we were lightly tapping his hands and making funny sounds, which he seemed to like. He may have been smiling as a reflex from us tapping his hands rather than genuinely liking it and thus smiling but what's important is that it was not a gassy smile. We did this several times and he smiled each time. p.s. Please excuse the strange sounds we're making in this video. We're not crazy. Although Orion probably thinks we are. Also, I have no idea who that sleeping hobo is on the couch in the background. He may or may not be my dad.

My Little Lug

"O hai!"

Orion's one week old birthday is today!!! I mentioned to my mom earlier that I feel like I've already known him forever. There is just a connection between him and myself and his grandmother that feels... perfect. He is such an alert and curious boy. He is most like this after feedings/diaper changes. He just looks at you and around the room, starry-eyed. He is very strong too... sometimes giving me headbutts as I'm burping him, waving his head around. He likes to lift off too, against anything he can press his feet against. He is a chilled out and well tempered baby overall, so I feel very lucky and fortunate *knocks on wood, that this continues*

Tomorrow is our appointment at the Canadian consulate... I'm hoping everything goes well. I'll take pictures and put them up when we get back, as he has special Canadiana apparel to hopefully make a good first impression there haha. It will be good to get out and about with him, get some fresh air as our outings thus far have just consisted of mini trips around the hotel.

Last night there were some amazing fireworks in the sky in Mumbai around Andheri East. Does anyone know what they were for? They were big like July 1/July 4 fireworks... such a spectacle to look at.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't getting anxious to get home and resume real life... I'm hoping we'll be able to get home sooner rather than later.

That's it for now, nap time! ZZZzzzzzzz...