And I quote, "AH-thpllpthpthprrp!"

Charlie has spoken his first words! Sadly, they are from some distant alien tongue. "Tongue" is the operative word here: he begins with a declaration of intent, a mighty "AH!" From there his missive dissolves into a sloppy gargle of resignation and relief. I would not be surprised if he was letting martian forces know the layout of earth via these otherworld words of his.

He's most communicative during diaper changes, for some reason. There is something absurd about changing a diaper to the sounds of AH-thpllpthpthprrp over and over, combined with extra-googly eyes and a flapping tongue. Anyone witnessing the scene would question the mental capacity of the diaper-changer, but how can not burst into tears as the little man learns how to stick out his tongue and make ridiculous noises? His eloquence in silliness is unquestioned, and we are all better for it.

Charliepics: Another Christmas

Charlie was showered with gifts for Christmas. Since he was generally uninterested in the whole gift thing on Christmas day, we decided to put most of his toys in the closet until life settled down and he could appreciate that he was getting some things to enjoy and play with. This weekend was that time. Here's a few of the items we unearthed for him.
What's this? More gifts?
Sigh. Okay, let's get this over with.
A baby blue gorilla and a steering wheel. Next!
Dad and brother hard at work assembling the next items.
What in the world is this torture device?
Still uneasy...
Wait, wait, I think I'm enjoying this!
Excuse me--a little privacy, please? I'm trying to bounce.
Genius at work.

Charliepics: At Home With Dija

January is winter break for college students, so Dija has been home with her brother the entire month. One day recently the two of them decided to have a photo shoot. Major kudos to Ms. Bhulasar for some spectacular photos.

Early Songs

It's fair to say that Charlie's cultural upbringing will be anything but typical. We are a veritable United Nations here at 10 Holyoke Road, and unabashadly so. I will be fascinated as I watch Charlie start to understand all the different parts that make him up.

Culture is wonderfully abstract and individualized as a concept, a unique combination of religion, habit, location, legal standing, and local custom. As interesting as this conversation may be, I'd rather now jump to a piece of culture much more earthy and catchy--music. Perhaps second only to food as an understood embodiment of one's culture, music is sure to be key to Charlie's upbringing, his links to the very different members of his big family.

The first songs I had him listen to were from Beethoven, part of a Baby Beethoven collection. Sure, maybe the whole popular idea that classical music stimulates a baby's brain is total farce, but I don't suppose it hurts the brain, so why not give it a try? Turns out these songs hurt his brain--he hated the Beethoven CD. That was at one month old, so maybe I should give it another try, but not now.

This has been the only fail that I'm aware of. Otherwise, he's had no problem with all kinds of rock, hip-hop, chutney and soca (songs from Trinidad), jazz, blues, gospel, and of course children's songs. Before he was born I was singing the Beatles to him through Lisa's belly. Brandon will sing him lullabies. Stephan had him dancing to Baby Got Back. Lisa shared Trini Christmas music with him. I cannot wait to see my son as a man who is shaped by these experiences. Of course, I also cannot stand to imagine him growing up faster than he already is (seven months old on Saturday...).

Part of writing these blog posts is to remember the specifics that time eventually erases from our minds. I want Charlie to know more than general stories--I want him to see his life as it happened.

With this in mind, I'll close with a link to a special song that we share: "My Heart Is an Apple" by Arcade Fire. Many people don't know Arcade Fire; of those who do, few know this song, which is not often played or known. I don't know why I like it so much. It's pretty, it's honest, it's personal, all hallmarks of songs I typically like, but I feel this song more than most. I sing it to Charlie all of the time, not so much because I want him to know the message, but because he has a physical reaction of calmness and relaxation as I sing.

So kiddo, I don't know if this song represents your culture, or mine for that matter, but it exists as a nice bond we share: me making you feel serene, you resting your head against my chest. As much as I felt this song before you were born, I assure you I feel it so much more now. It's now a part of me because it's a part of us.

Thoughts on a New Year, and a New World

Good morning, Charlie.

You don't know this, as evidenced by your infinite joy and good spirits, but you were born into a difficult time for the world. You don't yet have the capacity to understand lousy phrases that adults do: Recession. Unemployment rate. War. Insurgency. Casuality. Genocide. Your eyes are too bright to show a recognition that these terrible things exist.

I'm glad you don't know about such things. It's not time for that yet. However, I want you to understand that this is the way of the world you were born into. While you don't know of this sort of hardship, your parents do, your family does, your country does.

Why would I tell you about this now? Because I want you to know that soon after your birth, the world was poised to change. Tomorrow the United States has a new president taking office. This is not to say that the previous president is responsible for all that is wrong, or the new one can make everything better. What the new president represents for many of us in the United States (that's your country) and the rest of the world is something called hope. Hope that an end will come to some of these hardships and struggles. Hope that unnecessary war doesn't have to be a way of life, and opposition to war is not an opposition to patriotism or freedom. Hope that differences in humans are something to celebrate.

You can't have hope if all you've ever known is happiness. At this point in your life--coming on seven months--you don't need hope. You need love, security, exploration, nutrients, and sleep. But life is long. All of us eventually struggle, whether worldwide (as we are doing now) or just through something personal. In those times, it's healthy to look back at our roots, our heritage, and our upbringing for a sense of strength and a guide of how to take on whatever we face.

When it's time for you to do just that, I want you to be able to understand that you are a child of hope, that you were born in what I believe will be a time of moving from something not good to something spectacular, something spiritual, something that reminds us that life can be bigger and better than ourselves.

If you know you have that within you, then maybe you'll understand what to do in the future when the world again needs hope. Love you, kid--Dad

Charliepics: January Adventure

We are a family that likes to get out of the house. Charlie, being born as the summer began, started life on the go, with trips all over Massachusetts, a venture to New Hampshire, and even a two-day jaunt through all five boroughs of New York.

As summer turned to fall turned to winter, we have naturally curbed some of our explorations. Early in January 2009, though, the whole family decided it couldn't wait for the weather to improve before going out. So, we bundled, huddled, and headed to Boston and Cambridge. Here's the trip.

Into Boston we shall go.
Our hero is adequately dressed for winter.
In front of the Frog Pond, Boston Common.
Boys and frogs.
Charlie meets Auntie Mala.
West Indian Jewelry's new mascot.
My favorite bar. Coincidence about the name, I swear.
Charlie at Charlie's.
Brothers being brothers.
Parents out enjoying themselves.
Nice perspective.
Charlie dancing to the blues.
Not the last time his name will be in lights.
The verdict? The smile says "great day."

Charliepics: Christmastime

Christmas was joyous. We stayed in Lynn. Uncle Mikey was the surprise of the year--sadly we don't have pictures of Stephan's face when he realized his dad flew in for Christmas. Here is a sampling of December 25: