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The Southington Citizen — Friday, January 11, 2013
Southington couple has first baby born in Meriden in 2013 By Dan Brechlin Special to The Citizen
Few things about the relationship between Anuj “Andy” Bawa and Jyotsna Rani Vundavalli have been traditional or customary, despite their coming from traditional Indian families. Travis Bawa, their newborn son, however, came just as expected on Vundavalli’s New Year’s Day due date. Travis was the first baby to be born in Meriden yesterday, ringing in the New Year at 6:23 a.m. at MidState Medical Center. He is the firstborn child of Andy Bawa and his wife, Vundavalli. “It’s amazing; I just can’t believe it,” Vundavalli said, holding her son as he
yawned. “It can be pretty hard for a new mom, but the doctors and nurses have been great and so helpful.” There was a point when the Southington couple thought Travis might be born just before New Year’s, as they made their way into the hospital late Monday afternoon. But it wasn’t time yet, so the hospital staff sent Vundavalli and her husband back home to rest for a few hours. They made their way back to MidState around 10 p.m. “That’s when they said, ‘OK, you’re staying,’ ” Bawa, a manager at Polumbo Jewelers in Southington, said. Just over eight hours later, Travis was born, weighing in at 7 pounds, 9 ounces and
Photo by Justin Weekes
Anuj “Andy” Bawa and Jyotsna Rani Vondavalli hold their newborn son, Travis, in the MidState Medical Center birthing center Meriden on Jan. 1. measuring 20 inches long. The couple had agreed to make the sex of the baby a surprise, though Bawa admitted he had a suspicion that it might be a girl.
“I was expecting more of a Chloe,” Bawa said. “I bought a pink stroller I guess I now have to return.” Bawa and Vundavalli married in February 2011 after
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having met in 2004. Though from the same country, the couple met over the Internet while Bawa was in the United States and Vundavalli was in India. They maintained the online romance for four years before meeting in person in 2008 in Dubai. “It was a little nerve-racking,” Bawa said, admitting he was more nervous about meeting his future wife’s parents. Their relationship was not seen as a traditional one, as Bawa is from New Delhi, in the Northern part of India, while Vundavalli is from the south. It took some coercing, but both sets of parents finally agreed to allow the couple to get married. For good measure, there were three engagement ceremonies so that different various family members could see the ritual. Vundavalli came to the United States shortly after their first meeting and the
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The Southington Education Foundation will hold its annual Outback Steakhouse winter fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 11 a.m. to noon at Outback Steakhouse, 817 Queen St. There is a cost for tickets which include dinner and admission to any Southington High School winter sporting event. Dinner includes 6-ounce steak, 5ounce chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, bread, and beverage. Proceeds will benefit the SEF. For tickets or information, contact Dawn Miceli at (860) 681-8006. For more information about the SEF, visit www.southingtoneducationfoundation.org, or visit its Facebook page. The SEF has recently awarded more than $12,000 to fund educational programs in the district. The public is invited to learn more about the programs on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 4 p.m. at Derynoski Elementary School, 240 Main St.