Surina! Surina!! Surina!!!

The best place in the world....Aja's safe arms.

She is a tiny bit and fills our whole universe right now. Ever since she came into our lives we have not thought of much else. We have shortened the distance between Omaha and Lincoln by frequently visiting her. Holding her in the arms stills the restlessness we feel when away from her. Are all babies this special? We are losing our objectivity. But of course objectivity is over rated.

She weighed 6lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 in. long at birth. Her card stated her age as 'zero'. The time of birth was 10:18PM (Nov.17,2008) and she was delivered by C-section. She was born with her eyes open and stared into the camera as it flashed to capture her images. We were expecting her eyes to be closed and were amused at her surprisingly inquisitive expression. In the above picture she is two days old, safe in the arms of her Ravi mamu, watching her dad take her picture. What a Diva.

Jyoti and Surina may have been physically separated but are emotionally still very much attached. Their rythms are a little bit off though. One wants to sleep at night and spend the day awake; the other is ruled by hunger and sleeps in 1 to 3 hr slots; day and night. Jyoti is learning to cope. Maternal instinct is baby's greatest weapon for survival.

Jeff had no idea he could be so tender. Surina at age zero grabbed her dad's heart and will not let go. Jeff has her picture on everything he uses. All his friends have Surina's picture and his vocabulary does not stray too far from his daughter's name. He is a 'hands on' dedicated dad and is proud as a peacock of his beautiful daughter. We love this quick transformation.
Just like us Jeff's family has been recording Surina's every move and gesture. Here Jim (Jeff's dad) is video taping her and Brad (Jeff's immediately older brother) is clicking a few pictures while grandma Norma and aunt Kelly (Brad's wife) are openly admiring Surina. They had come to our home for Thanksgiving dinner.
Naren and Vivek were here too, to complete the get together. They come and always energise all of us. And look how good the Mahapatra boys look posing for this picture. Thu...thu!! (as Sini would say).

Naren and Vivek gave a wonderful gift to Surina. They framed a picture of her with a shirt that says 'my heart belongs to my dad', and photoshopped 'uncles' over 'dad'. Then they invited and penned in messages (from all the family members that they could contact) on the matting around the picture. Jyoti and Jeff were greatly touched.

Here are all the messages:


All of God’s love and blessings, I wish for you…
All of my love and blessings, I am sending you… JeJe Oie
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Dear Surina,
Showers of blessings on the cutest face ever seen.
Feasty congratulations to your proud parents.
Well done, Jyoti & Jeff.
– Papji & Vadhe Biji
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Dear daughter of the Sun, sunshine of our hearts,
Always walk straight and choose to be happy.
Make your own destiny. Remember that we love you very much.
– Biji & Aja
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Dearest Surina,
We have loved you from the minute we first saw you!!
What joy you have brought to both families.
We will always love and cherish you.
– Grandma & Grandpa Burlington
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The grand Brahman is pure energy. It pervades everything.
In a unique miracle, this energy manifests itself in the birth of a child.
May the Brahman manifest in Surina light the diyas of your hearts forever.
Love & Blessings,
BodoJeje and BodoJejeMa
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Dearest Surina,
Welcome to the world lil angel!
God bless you!
With lots of love and blessings,
Nandini Aai & Swarup Aja
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May you outshine both your uncles (Ravi and Suraj)
and always be the pride of your parents and grandparents.
Love and blessings,
Sudha Jeje & Subhu JejeMa
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May the Almighty Lord Shower
all His blessings on our sweet little darling........Surina.
With Love & Blessings,
Sini Aie and Sanju Aja
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Blessings from above,
Luck from well-wishers,
Hugs & Kisses from all,
Welcome, Little one!
– Babi Jeje & Vicky JejeMa

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"Every child begins the world again" (H.D.Thoreau). We know that Surina has already changed your lives forever & will continue to make it richer, fuller and more wonderful than it has ever been before.
– Seema Mausi, Sandeep Mausa, Salas & Anamika
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Dear Surina,
All that you dream of,
All that you wish for,
All that you hope to be… is within you!
We wish you life's greatest gifts –
happiness, memories and dreams.
Love,
Pinky Mausi, Sushmit Mausa,
Rahul Bhai & Ria Apa
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Dearest Surina,
Welcome to the world lil one! God Bless you!
With lots ‘n’ lots of love, hugs and kisses,
Leema Mausi & Achintya Mausa

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Dear Surina,
Looking forward to spending all the joyous days to come with you.
You are more loved and adored every day.
Much love,
Uncle Brad & Aunt Kelli
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Dear Surina,
You have been sent to us as a special gift from heaven.
Love & Blessings,
Jeet Mamu & Gitu Maie
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Behold the Mahapatra Family, for here comes Surina, walking into our lives, with a new wave of dreams, wishes, happy moments, and glittering glimpses of tender moments in all our hearts.
Love and blessings from Joy Mamu

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Love has known no greater expression than in the birth of a child.
Lot of Love,
Vivek Mamu, Naren Mamu & Namrata Maie
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Dear Surina,
Four years ago, I made a toast to Jyoti and Jeff.
You’re their (and our) dream come true.
– Suraj Mamu
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Surina,
The day you were born was the best day of my life!
I can’t wait to be your favorite Uncle.
Love,
Ravi Mamu

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Dearest Surina - my "meeta" - you are sooooo divine and gorgeous.

Hope you find the new world you have just entered as cosy and most blissful as the place you have just left inside your mom. With a buffet of blessings, kisses and hugs, and of course a dessert of love,

Yours Grandmasi...Bablee.

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If your message is not there, send it to us and we will include it. There is more space available on the mat.

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Naren and Vivek have earned the title of Godparents and are responsible for Surina's spiritual and physical well being. Right now they are just overwhelmed by the miracle of her existance.

She was the main attraction at the Thanksgiving celebration. Thanksgiving is a nationally recognised festival honoring the time when America was new and Europeans were trying to get a foothold here. A colony of Britishers would have starved and vanished but for the help of American Indians who introduced them to corn and shared their hunt of turkeys with them. Thanksgiving comemorates the coming together of different people in peace and co-operation. It is celebrated with a feast of roasted turkey, corn bread, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and apple pies etc. etc. (a mix of Native American and European dishes). We added fresh Pomegranite, samosas, pakoras and mango icecream as our Indian contribution. Thanksgiving is a time for all to count their blessings. And we had so much to be thankful for this year.

This was Surina's first visit to her Naanke (mother's home). Jeff and Jyoti introduced her to all our ancestors in the prayer room. We lighted agarbati (incense) and candle to honor our family's religions and read paragraphs from the holy book. We also offered a memorial to Naren and Vivek's Tata (maternal grandfather) who had, just the day before, joined the ancestors. They shared their happy memories of him with us. Jeff fondly remembered his grandmother, Grace Burlington, who passed away in September of this year. I remembered my brother, Kuku, who so loved Jyoti and will be Surina's guardian angel. It was a wonderful ceremony and we concluded it with Prasad.

The mamus spent the day admiring their newly found love. Surina was passed from hand to hand, fast asleep and enjoying the cozy comfort of warm hands.

She has had many visitors and is now convinced that she is the center of the world.

Nana Anup checked her out with a doctor's eyes and declared 'Cute and Healthy'. Nani Sarbani looked for resemblance to Jyoti and Jeff and decided Surina is her own special person. We think so too. Sachi, however, can see slight resemblance to Jeff from a particular angle. I can see resemblance to Jyoti when Surina cries.

Amit Mamu - the doctor, and Apu Mamu - the lawer, looked at her from their own special perspectives and judging by their expression came to the same conclusion: She is quite something. So are you mamus.

Meet Surina's pretty cousins, Isabel and little Finley. They came to visit in the hospital with dad Jim (Jeff's older brother) and mom Noelle. Grandpa could barely conceal his pride at seeing his grandkids together. Isabel in the end managed to steal the show though with her flirtatious demands for attention and ladylike antics. She will not easily give up her status as queen to Finley and Surina.
This is Uncle Brad and aunty Kelly, getting their first look at Surina. Kelly is natural with kids and is beaming with joy. Brad likes to enjoy them only with his eyes right now. No pressure uncle Brad. There is plenty of time.
Surina left the hospital on Nov. 20th. for her home. Jyoti and Jeff's nest is now complete. The whole house is filled with baby things. They live to fulfill Surina's needs which, to their amazement, happen to be many for such a small bundle. They are sleep deprived and exhausted but happy.

I visit Omaha often and spend the time holding her while Jyoti catches up with some sleep. I love bathing and tenderly grooming her. Jeff calls me Surina's spa; Jyoti, being a daughter, dispenses with diplomacy and calls me the bath lady. But what do they know. I am the lucky lady.

Thanks to the digital age we can share our happiness with you.
. . . . . . . . . Ambi.