Navya Landis Jha

On July 2, 2011, Navya Landis Jha graced us with her presence.  She was born at 8:21 p.m. at the Goshen Birth Center (Goshen, Indiana), in the water, after about 5 1/2 hours of labor and 3 minutes of pushing.  Anuraj is a stellar "coach," leaning tower, refreshment gopher and all around calming presence! And with that kind of labor, I could crank out some more babies (if only my pregnancies were so stellar)!

Here are her stats for those of you who are statisticians: Weight - 2.89 kg / 6 lbs, 9 oz., Length - 19 1/4 in.

Yes, she was born in the water, and for the first 20 minutes after she was born she didn't cry, and I kept her body (not her head, not worries) submerged underwater.  It was the most beautiful, tranquil experience. She just stayed there and looked around and soaked everything in.  (She still loves bath time and is definitely my water baby!)  At the Goshen Birth Center, you leave 4-6 hours after birth, so after having my parents and Anusha visit us, after my post-labor herbal bath and getting everything and everyone situated, we headed home (my parents home) at 2:30 a.m. where we all slept for a solid four or five hours and woke up quite rested!

It is so wonderful to finally see this beautiful little girl!  Anusha is absolutely smitten and loves her baby sister and so do we!

Only in NYC, #3

Ashton Kutcher

Anusha and I were walking down Central Park West End around 68th Street with our friends.  Heading to our bus stop, we were chatting when I glance over and see a man pass us . . . light blue denim long sleeve shirt, jeans, no sunglasses.  My mind calculates the facial image I have just seen.

x98wljclknbwhsl =

Ashton Kutcher.

No.  I tell my friend, "That guy is a Hollywood star!"  I am not going to be a dork. I am not going to say something to him.  I am going to let him enjoy his walk in peace, despite the fact that he's not trying to disguise himself at all.  I watch, and as he glances back, I see it again . . .

Yes, it has to be! I just saw my first super-famous, handsome movie star on the streets of NYC!

I make my friend snap a pic on her iPhone but you can barely make out his flowing denim shirt.  I seriously need to get an iPhone.  Oh well, it is etched in my mind. Cinco de Mayo, the day that Ashton Kutcher brushed by.

Now, to write his wife about her new endeavors in Nepal . . .

Only in NYC, #2

Man Escapes from Hospital?

Yesterday Anusha and I were heading to the bus stop after a lovely indoor picnic lunch with our pastor in the Gramercy Park area.  It was raining, the sidewalks were strewn with puddles, everything was damp.  After crossing a road, I looked up to see a man in scrubs running.  No umbrella, no raincoat.

My first thought was, "Why would a doctor be running down the road?"

Then I noticed his feet.  He was running through the rain with socks on.  Only socks.

My second thought was, "Did this guy just escape from the hospital or mental hospital?"

He whizzed by us, and as I'm considering this oddity, I look to see a man, one or two blocks down,  in a dark blue uniform, on his walkie talkie, running.

My third thought was, "This guy definitely just escaped!"

Another uniformed man rounds the corner.  The first one passes me. Then the second.  I stand to watch.  The man in scrub, young-ish, maybe in his 20s or 30s and slightly heavy-set, is walking.  He turns around only to see the two uniformed men running after him.  He runs again.

A nanny sees me standing and watching and says, "Do you know what's going on?"
"I think that guy just escaped from the hospital or something," I reply.
"I thought it was strange that a doctor would be running down the street."  She said.

We watched.  We chuckled in disbelief.  Then we each went our own way.  I continue heading down the road and watch as, one at a time, three more men in uniforms round the corner.  Just as I see the last one go, I look to the right and notice a big sign, "Beth Israel Medical Center."

Yep, we just witnessed an escape!

Only in NYC, #1

'bama Sitings

Crimson Tide

Anusha and I sadly said goodbye to our friends this morning.  They were here for a 4 day visit and after dropping them off at the bus stop, we headed to Borders book store to read.  On our way to Borders, we walked past Madison Square Gardens and I took a wrong turn.  Upon wandering back, started noticing really tall guys walking by.  One, two, three . . . they were all sporting Alabama paraphernalia.  A steady stream of coaches, helpers and unusually tall men filed past us.

"It's the Alabama basketball team, Anusha!"  I proclaimed.  "Go 'bama!  Say it with me!  Go 'bama!"  She didn't.  So we just stood there, smiled and watched them all go in.

 - Side note: I discovered that they were probably practicing for their semi-final game for the NIT championship.

The Real 'bama

After a leisurely time at Borders, we hopped on the subway and headed back towards home.  Somehow,  I couldn't find our connecting bus, so we started walking.  There were some shops I wanted to stop at anyways.  We were getting close to our next bus, and the shops I had scoped out, and were stopped by a police blockade and a small crowd of people.

Behind me, I heard a woman say to a friend, "Yes, we're going to the reception for President Obama tonight."

Huh??  We approach the blockade and I ask someone what's going on.  "President Obama is in the Natural History Museum and he's due to come out any minute."

The conspiracy theorist of the group said he heard that it was a plant, that it was not really President Obama.

After 30 minutes of waiting, one, two, three motorcycles took off.  Then a herd of about 20 motorcycles started up their engines and drove off in sets of two.  Police cars were next.  Finally some black cars pulled out of the museum and I thought for a moment I caught a glimpse of Obama with his window cranked open.  Three black cars with flags went by, followed by some black vans and an armored vehicle.  Anusha and I cheered, we waved, we basked in the fact that, behind one of those darkened windows sat the President of the United States, and we had just seen him.  The procession finished, they finally let us through, and we left, happy with our two surprise 'bama sitings.