Our second weekend in Chicago has come and gone. And we were lucky enough to have more visitors! We had so many mamas and papas that wanted to make sure we were packed up well. And now we’ve got so many mamas and papas – on the receiving end – that want to make sure we’re settled in perfectly.

We did a lot of touristy things this weekend, along with making a few trips to Bed Bath and Beyond and Target.

Masi and Uncle gifted us with an InstaPot and an Air Fryer (in addition to all the other things they got for our apartment this weekend). So we also spent a substantial amount of time in the kitchen. Learning how to use our new toys, mixing up spices to make a marinade for chicken and veggies, and rearranging the toaster and Keurig at least 15 times.

We went on a few walks as well (when it wasn’t raining). It’s crazy that the lake is a 5 minute walk from us in one direction. And the river is a 10 minute walk from us in another direction. In the midst of a city. It’s no wonder all the Chicago people are so pumped to be Chicago people. I get the hype man, I do. (I knew I’d be back here raving about the city, despite the inconveniences we’ve had). 

All the beer gardens and wineries and restaurants and pubs along the riverwalk are so charming and easily draw you in with the live music and fun atmosphere. 

I’m glad we’ve walked around quite a bit since we first got here. So that when Ishu and I are on our own for the next couple of weeks, I will feel a little more comfortable getting around.

We said goodbye to Masi and Uncle this morning and are forever grateful for all the love they showered us with. Ishu loved having his “Muh-Nana” (Choti Nani and Nandi Nanu) here. Every morning, he’d crawl out of bed, open up the door to our bedroom, and run straight into the kitchen to greet them. He had SO much fun with them.

On the drive to the airport this morning, Nandi Uncle was talking to me about the NBA finals. And, out of nowhere, Susie Masi interrupted and said, “Gudiya (Darling), how are you going to make rice in the InstaPot?”

I don’t think she was listening to a lick of the basketball talk. I think she was stuck in her own mind. Wondering if she ran through everything with me. Trying to fit in all the things before she up and left us.

It brings tears to my eyes as I’m typing this out. It’s what mamas do. They run through to-do lists constantly. They can’t concentrate on anything when they’re so focused on making sure their babies are okay.

I smiled and responded, “One cup rice, 1.5 cups water.”

Because she reminded me – twice – that it was different than what the InstaPot manual recommends.

And she said, “Yeah. So you’re going to put some jeera and oil and…”

She carried on with the instructions on how to make chawal. And then it was my turn to get stuck in my head. Not because I didn’t care about what she was saying. Of course not. I just spent the remainder of the drive, wondering how I got so lucky to have so many mamas and papas who have helped us to get where we are today.

Sure, it can get overwhelming. Having so many people weigh in about what furniture to buy for your apartment. About how you shoud prepare your food for your baby. About how you should comb your hair and look presentable before coming downstairs in the morning.

So many opinions all the time. And, when you’re in the thick of it, it feels like you want to throw your hands up in the air and say, “GAHHHHH TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH.”

But if we remove the noise, we remove all of the good things too.

The support system. The fact that we have people who will fly here for the sole purpose of helping us settle in.

It can be hard living in a big, fat, Indian family. But it’s also a privilege. An unbelievable privilege.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much love and support I have felt over the past month of our life.

We reached the airport. I scrambled out of the front seat, eager to get hugs in before saying goodbye. The curbside at the airports is where I’ve done most of my crying. Goodbyes are real hard for me.

Before my Masi turned around and walked into the airport, she gave me a tight squeeze and said, “Gudiya (Darling), you are raising your baby so well.”

I thought I was doing a pretty good job of holding it together up until that point. But that one comment had me crying the entire drive back home.

We are raising our baby “so well” because we’ve seen – firsthand – what unconditional love looks like. Not just from our own parents. But from all the parents that raised us.

Feeling a little emotional and sentimental this morning. I’m already counting down the days until we see family again.

Questions of the Day:

Where do you do most of your crying?

What was a highlight of your weekend?