And so it has begun...

Last Friday I reached home to a note from her school " Please collect your child's report card on Monday."

WTF!!! A frigging report card??!!! My daughter is getting a Pass or Fail grade in play school? Incredulous, stupefied and stunned. And shouldn't it read as a progress report? I don't like the pass and fail concept and then what would she be graded on? will she pass..heck I knew she would..but yet..damn I hated the waiting.

Finally Monday arrived and I came home to her Report Card. And to say I was floored is an understatement.

It was 2 huge files; one with all the work that she has done in school; all her paintings, her craft work, her scribbles from when she learnt to hold the pencil to sticking activities, to her homework, and all of them with the date. Its a huge thick file. The second one, with laminated sheets held together with a cutesy purple (incidentally her fav color) ribbon. This is like an index or rather a syllabus, with all the activities she has been introduced too, has mastered and is currently working on. Its exhaustive. And yes, it is titled the "Progress Report". And it is complete with pictures. And the last page is the comments by the teacher with a class pic at an outing they had.

I have no complaints. And now I know why my kiddo loves her school so much, she has way too much fun there...the coming 2 months are going to be harrowing for both of us. I just hope we don't tear our hair out in frustration.

It was such a refreshing change to not see the A - F grading system. And so happy that that I was right in choosing this school. The extended family can be such a nuisance at times, wondering why a toddler needs Montessori training and not to mention the fees. Looking at her files, everything was just so worth it. My only grouse is that the Government on India does not recognize the Montessori method, it believes only in the traditional one. Children would be so much happier in this method. The learning system is just amazing here. And of course, they would just love math.

I don't know where she is going to be 3 years from now, I have decided to not get hyper about it. I know most parents, rather the mothers know where their child will be going too, but I'm not getting into it now, gonna save myself the heartache and decide when its time for her.


My only wish, is that she enjoys it as much as she does now.

Full of life and attitude

Bro at B's (Imp's friend) place:

B: Oh! It's you!! ......Why have you come alone? I told you to bring Imp? so why did you not bring her?

Bro, shocked at her tone... manages to mumble... will bring her tomorrow ... ok... promise.

B: Good.

There are few days when I pick up and drop B home from school... yes both of them go to the same school

Me: Enjoyed school today?

B: Yes. Casually asks me... I thought you were supposed to get her home? (this after 3 days of meeting every evening and after school playing)

Its always a tough time for me and their school teachers when I have to pick up the imp, as both want to go home together... doesn't matter whose home, just as long as they are together. Its a different thing that after 2-3 hours pf playing both have drawn their daggers and are fighting for that small chair to sit or the brownie to be finished...no they are not fighting for the last one...just that Imp likes to relish her brownies and B likes to wolf them down. Both are head strong, stubborn and short tempered. And cannot take no for an answer. yet when its time to leave, they want to stay together. You ask one a question and the other one will answer for her. Its really rare when they will answer questions asked to them.

And Thank god they are not in the same class! Don't even want to imagine what would happen then.

**********************************

On a totally unrelated note... how to get away with murder!!! sigh.... what a total waste.

Wear your Attitude

The clothes available for girls is way too cute, just couldn't resist picking tees with these lines on them for Imp

SMALL but Dangerous.

Party Trained!

I can only please one person a day.
Today isn't your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

I don't do DRAMA.

There is one I had,

All men are Animals.
They just make better Pets!

Think I should get that one done for her, of course for when she is a little older?

When Love & Hate Collide...

Is it love or Motherhood??

I remember an aunt once saying, how her relationship with her mother improved when she became a mum.. Didn't make a lot of sense then...Lav tagged me to write 5 things that I love about being a mom. And me being me, cannot stick with just 5...

Becoming a parent is a complete lifestyle change. Its an emotional roller coaster ride. No two days are the same, everyday has its own story.

I have someone to call my own. Just Mine, who also happens to be the best person to cuddle up, a hug from her is the best medicine and play nonsensical games and that she's a chip off the old block...

Rediscovering the little joys... the pitter patter of rain, playing with shadows, chasing butterflies...... looking at the world through her eyes...

She makes me a better person, knowing that I can change for the better.... she balances my life, in a way I never thought was ever possible. Children have a way of taking your attitude and ego and shoving it in your face, and there is nothing you can do about it.

The craziness that comes with living with a toddler. Toys all around, room forever in a mess, shoes never in their place... those visiting might hate it, but heck I love it...

The comfort, the closeness that being with a child brings. Legs on tummy, tiny palms in my face cooing contently... the heartfelt moments..

It is also the official certificate that I have grown up and I have to get out of bed everyday and early!! If it were just me, I'd be in bed the whole day... I'm lazy! There are days when she drags me out of bed...

I am who I am because of her, A mother cause she came into my life. Motherhood is the best thing that ever happened to me.

And how could IHM not add a twist to this tag! To write about the things that I don't like about motherhood.

I miss wearing my heels. Carrying her and heels just don't go together!

I really could do without the allergies...

The tears at a drop of a hat and temper tantrums and the frustration and irritation that comes with it...

Messy hair, refusal to comb her hair

I just don't recognize my body anymore and the hormones, the lesser said about them the better! My closet is full of clothes in every size. Have never exercised in my life and now I will just have too! hmph..

Honestly I really love being a mother, the only thing that I really hate is the fear, the helplessness that comes with being a mother, always wonder what kind of a world have I brought her into? .... too much to handle.

Pass this tag on to Saakshi, Nehal, SGD, Monika and Apar ( do the love bit now). Will come back and update the links, till then if you happen to drop by, please consider yourself tagged! And anybody else who would like to take it ...fell free to do so..

Home remedies and a BIG Thank you!

First off, thank you all everybody for your support. I was really upset initially more so because the big fan I am of home remedies, it meant that I would have to toughen up and get immune to her cries for them to work . And yes I managed to do both... time, patience & a stone of heart. Damn why did parenting have to be so hard! now that will make for a totally different post...

So here is what I did..

For the Cyst in her eye: Rinsing eyes with Meethi Seeds decoction is a good remedy for all eye related problems. rinsing the eyes of a toddler, was tough. After a lot of debate, using it as eye drops was the best. And after a lot of trial and error, its best to use it when the are asleep! Just pull down the lower eye lid, and voila its done. No cries. No pleadings nothing.

For her ears: Turns out that the supposed gold plated earring was made of inferior quality material and hence the infection was going bad to worse. So it was Kari pata (fresh) to the rescue. The stems have medicinal properties. Seeing is believing they say and within 6 hours there was a noticeable difference. And in 24 hours, I could actually see her pierced ear lobes without any pus or blood. The sticks would turn black, it was as though it was pulling/sucking all infection into itself. The sticks have to be replaced everyday, they shrink in size and dry out. Neem sticks cannot be used, since they rot the ears, making it a whole lot worse.

The whole operation, was done when she was sleeping. Removing, cleaning & oiling. Used Entrops on the ear lobe and the sticks too. The cyst took about a week to clear more so because, I could put those drops only during the afternoon and though her ears look ok now, have been advised to keep it going for another month.

The worst, she has sworn off earrings. She does not want to wear them. Period. Even though her ears don't pain now, I'm still not allowed to change the sticks when she is awake. I'm planning to take her to the jeweler, to shop for her new earrings, hopefully then she'd be interested again. And yes she has also become very alert during her sleep. If she feels any pain and is woken up, she looks every few minutes to see if I am in the room or not and so I am not supposed to be sleeping next to her, if I touch her eye or ear.

God and his terrific sense of humor!

Dear God,

Oh I'm pissed! Royally pissed!

She wakes up today morning, with a blood red spot in her eye. Turns out to be a cyst! yea a cyst. How did she get it? We have 2 mango trees in out back yard replete with mango's. She loves to play outside, and personally pick and collect the fallen mango's to give to her nani to pickle them. The fact that she happened to rub her eye after touching the mango and the sap is what has given her the bloody cyst. And rinsing the eye of a 2.6 yrd old with menthi solution is a piece of cake, isn't it?

What am I supposed to do, Tie her up like we tie dogs, so that she can be in one place. This girl loves to play in the grass, in the mud, yes she even likes to eat it. Loves to pluck out the flowers and make a small garden for herself or her mum.

And don't even get me started about her ears, infected! I have to take out her earrings. This girl loves jewelery, even more than her mother. And now I have to bloody well take out her earrings. Just a walk in the park. the very thought of it, has me shaking. She is going to be sooo upset.

But then hey, what has to done has to be done right. First the allergies and now this. Thank you. Please I do not want to know what all different types if reactions can happen with touch, please just stop it here. And forgive me for my explicit language, I'm really upset, I cant really vent this way at home here. What has this girl done to deserve this? To see other kids eat cake, chocolates, ice cream and only want it form a distance, knowing that seh cannot eat any of those, Only those special ones that mum makes or gets for her. Its torture looking into those eyes, and explaining to her, why she cannot have those.

Please just stop it right here, I'm begging you. She does not even understand what I am going to do, she will cry bloody murder begging me to not do this to her. Begging that she will be a good girl and listen to everything I say. If this goes on, I cant deal with this, so please just stop here, let this be the last. Please.

Love,
Upset mum.

Conversations from the Imp household!

Post 6pm, we're both in the garden enjoying the evening breeze after a hot sunny day.

IMP: Mummy see...pointing towards the sky... Mooon!!
Me: Nahi beta woh moon nahi hai. Those are the clouds (She does not understand the silver lining to a grey coud)
IMP: Nahi mamma, Moon hai. Imp jaati hai?
Me: Nahi beta, Wahan Koi nahi jaata, koi nahi rehta.
IMP: mmm...(thinking in progress) bus hai?
Me: nahi
IMP: tractor hai?
Me: nahi
IMP: nayi mamma, tractor hai. Imp ko maalum hai, sab maul hai mamma.

Watching songs on my lap, she suddenly exclaims as I change the channel..
"Oh God! No Mama!"
Stunned and shocked mum: Where did you learn that?
Suddenly shy Imp: Bacche Ma!

Sleepy mum to imp: Sleep baby. Mamma ko nini aiye.
IMP: nahi
Me: fine. then let mumma sleep. you do your puzzles
Imp: No. Uttho Mamma. Ye lo, colouring karo (handing me the crayons and hte coloring book)
Me: No. Imp ne paani nahi pi, mamma imp ki baat nahi sunegi
IMP: hmmm... theek hai...takes a sip from the bottle. Ab bas hai, okie...paani pi..abb uthho aur coloring karo. Imp puzzle karti hai. Theek Hai.
Me: Aur piyo...
IMP: Nahi. Bas Hai
Me: Piyo.
IMP: Imp jaari hai. Imp ko bahar Janna Hai. Tum ninna karo. Ok Mamma. Byeeee

Goes out and wakes up Nana and Nani to open the main door, since mum has refused to!

After breakfast, dad is getting ready to leave for work. Imp scrambles from my lap to wear her sandals.
IMP: Nana... Imp aari hai...I also coming.
Nana: No Beta, you stay here. You have to have your bath.
IMP: Nahi. I also coming. See Imp ready hai. Nai Nai nahi karna.
And is getting ready to go out the door, to wait right next to the car.
Nana: Theek Hai, car me round deke, nai nai karna...ok..phir mamma office leeke aiyagi.
IMP: Nahi. Imp ko office me dosa khana hai. Abhi.
Nana: Lekin aise gandi jaaogi?
IMP: Gandi nahi hai nana! Imp ko jaana hai...please nana..please nana...please... (she does a wonderful lip curl when she is pleading. Will melt the strongest heart!)
As usual Nana melts: Theek Hai. chalo. Paani ki bottle rakho aur bye kardo mummy ko.

And as usual I have no say in this conversation.

The Ear Piercing Saga

Finally! Its done at 2.5 years, the third year of her birth. And for those wondering I should have asked her...she is the one who has behind me to get her ears pierced.

Imp has always loved jewelery, is fascinated by it. And for the longest time she has wanted earrings. She would always look at my ears and want to wear my earrings too. This Tuesday, we suddenly woke up to realise that Navratri was on us and with Imp being in her third year, this was the day to get her ears pierced. The question now was how? the traditional method or the Gun Shot method. My ears were pierced by our family doc's compounder and now he is quite old and not a feasible option. A few phone calls later decided to go to a Jeweler. Getting his number took another day.

I was still in doubt, since I would have to be alone with Imp and she feeds of my anxiety in seconds. Plus stranger anxiety. She has tons of it. So I did some checking on the gun shot method. Spoke to my beautician, turns out she does piercings and has done for kids younger to imp too. Speaking to her helped. And blogs came to my rescue. Read a lot of posts. Esp by Poppins and Priyanka. Both their experiences scared the shit out of me. And then I read this which gave me some hope. Also checked with the pead, and realised that the doc's don't give any anesthetic simply cause they don't see any reason! So beautician it was.The decision was the easiest part of the whole day, I was to realise later.

Before going I decided to mark her ears, and she wouldn't let me. She howled like no mans business. i even let her mark my ears with the marker, but to no avail. I fed her lunch and we left with her fav teddy in tow. And to my luck the AC is switched off, power cut or an energy saving exercise? Getting her to sit on my lap was a BIG task. The earrings she was to wear came to my rescue. She starts crying the sec I hold her head to put the anesthetic cream and then there was no turning back. And of course in between all this the mark conveniently disappears and we have to mark her ears again. I wasn't even sure if her ears were marked properly! SO finally I'm holding her head, one lady with the gun, one lady to pull the ear lobe, one to hold her hands and one to pin her down on my lap. Took us about 10 min to get this combination right. And then the earring kept falling off that gun. Holding her down was bad enough, and I was so wrong in thinking that it would be easy with the gun. She just refused to sit tight, kept fighting to get off and me feeling guilty as hell. Finally we get her right ear done. The left one, the earring refuses to detach itself from the gun. And that woman gets it from me. Should I have kept quiet? I do not know, but my daughter is crying from pain and I could see her ear lobe being pulled/stretched by the gun, not a pleasant sight. Miraculously it is done. Check both the ears and no bleeding, just red. She refuses to have the anesthetic gel applied again and I don't push her.

Then it is my turn. yes I got my ears pierced again. Simply cause my left one was not done correctly, was crooked. And majorly to know what it feels like...esp the after effects. And that woman goofs up on mine big time. My right bleeds a bit, and even after 24 hours they are still paining. Watching me go through the same procedure calmed imp to some extent. And plus she is fascinated & thrilled that we are wearing the same studs. She cant wait to get out of the beauty parlor and I know the staff there is also waiting for us to leave. No body likes to hear the cries of a baby, esp a baby in pain. She smiled only when we pick up dad from his office to go to the Ice cream parlor ( yes they have lactose free ice cream, called Sorbets) as I had promised her. By the time we reach there she is fast asleep. She wakes up as I am applying Entorps to her ears and remembers that she has not had her ice cream. She polishes half the box of Forest Berrie Sorbet.

And there end our ear piercing saga. Thank god it was me they goofed up on. If I had to do it again, I would go for the Gun Shot, Its smoother and quicker. And get it done in the first year, the older they are the tougher it gets.

Heartfelt Moments

Growing up, saw my mum do this puja (mata pujan) every year. We would sit on a mat on the floor and mum would take our aarti. For some reason this really amused me to no end. And this year, I got to perform this ritual for Imp. A ritual performed by the mothers for the protection of their children. Neem leaves in the bath water had her totally confused. We have been having a discussion of giving her a Neem stick to brush her teeth with v/s a toothpaste. And she has heard and understood parts of the conversation. So when she saw the leaves, the immediate reaction was isse muh saaf nahi pleading with a defiant shake of the head. Once that was clear, everything else was a cake walk. She enjoyed the aarti too, couldn't get enough of it. And me? a warm feeling in my heart :)


Few days back, bed time ritual, stories are done and I'm about to switch off the lights. She just turns around, puts an arm around my neck exclaiming "my friend" . Left me speechless, I'd died and gone to heaven!


We'd gone out for dinner last night, but had to get take away's and eat at home. Needless to say, it was a much delayed dinner and Imp was sleepy to no end. Looking into my plate every few minutes. I'm almost done, looks at me and says finith? imp ko ninna aiye hai...room me jaana hai...Sitting next to me, patiently waiting for me to finish.

And last but not the least, nobody in the house to allowed to talk against her mum, me; she gets mighty upset and comes running to me to complain. And I am supposed to retaliate, which when I don't she gets even more upset. Doesn't mater that most of the time she is only being teased! Talking to her about it is just not working...

The First Born Tag!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?

Yes. Nopes..

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?

Yup!

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?

Disbelief! This cannot happen to me! Took the lab technician to turn the monitor and show me the scan...

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?

Yes, till I saw and heard her, when I first found out. That option went flying out the window and I heard myself say no to an abortion in a daze.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
Yea right, like I'm gonna say that here! :P

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
when I was shown the monitor, in the middle of an internal exam to rule out a cyst...."sweet 12 weeks...its a sweet pregnancy" to my shocked surprise..so shocked that I totally forgot about that horrendous thing inside me!

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?

Husband was there. But it was my boss and a colleague who used to mercilessly tease me (well it was just once :P) when I suddenly fell sick!

8. DUE DATE?

Around Diwali!

9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?

Not for the first 3 months. 4th month was terrible. Carrot juice and Baigan were off my list.

10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?

Pani Puri! Had to have it every week. Pizzas, Burgers, Death By chocolate, And Sweets... I'm not a sweet eating person, I hate mitahi, but those 6 months!! God! Everyday I would have halwa.

11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
My Mother In Law! And all the crazy superstitions...and tips to have a gora boy!

12. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
A girl.

13. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?

Nope.Was secretly hoping that all who were predicting it would be a boy, would turn out to be wrong :)

14. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?

12 kgs.

15. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?

No.

16. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?

did'nt have one and didn't miss it.

17. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?

Nope. Fright yes. 8 months and 2 hours after lunch I dont feel her kicks...panic...call the doc...my luck its a sunday. Advised to go into emergency in the hospital and get a Doppler done. I was so glad when I heard the heartbeat! Best sound in the world!

18. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?

The same place where I was born...Mysore

19. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?

Four-Five hours.

20. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL/BIRTH CENTER?

Dad and Mom at 4 am.

21. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?

The gynae and the team labor team..

22. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?

Natural.

23. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?

No. Begged the doc to give me med, got scolded in return... no pain no gain..

24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
2.73 kgs.

25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?

Just few minutes before 12 pm. I was so tired and I vaguely remember her first cries.

26. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN THE DOCTOR ANNOUNCED THE SEX OF THE BABY?
Doc did'nt announce. Only after the doc showed the baby to my family outside did I get to see her...there were 4 nurses, 2 men and 2 women who got her to me...i was so happy i was just passed out for a few min..only to wake up to her crying :)

27. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION ON SEEING THE BABY?
In awe! Overwhelmed, glad it was over..and laughing all the time. Couldn't wipe the smile away from my face...

28. DID YOU CRY?

Nah...Laughed and Smiled a lot.

29. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
My pet and most recently Nautanki!

30. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY

close to 2.5 years...although the ticker is quite accurate :D

I will never forget that day... what drama, excitement, fun and loads and loads of happiness! My bro still claims that was the funniest experiences of his life. Don't believe me? Go and read about it here if you havent already read it.

The one thing that kept me company and kept me from freaking out at the stupid superstitions was "What to expect when you are expecting" and Dr. Jagdish's "Health, Herbs and Harmony". And once she was born I was gifted what to expectthe first year...these were my bibles.

I realise now that it was also the day, when subconsciously I had realized that it would be just me & imp and that I wasn't upset, rather relieved and felt free and happy like never before.

IHM thank you for tagging me. I just loved this. And realsied I have prescious posts in the drafts, waiting to be completed, just wanna edit and post them so that I dont forget later...

I tag, Apar, Mystic Margarita, Swati, Kiran and `nm. Will be logging in later to inform all, if in the mean time you check this post, please consider yourself tagged! Any anybody else who wants to do this tag, please help yourself, just come back and let me know.

Partee Time :D

hey again everybody :) yea I know posting really soon, but I have had so much fun this week, just had to let you all know... 3 b'day parties, x-mas parties and a trip to the Railway Museum...

2 of my friends celebrated their b'day's at school. And the cake that was cut was regular wheat flour cake so I wasn't allowed to eat it. But I did get to eat chips, lots of it. So much that I did not eat my snack. And I managed to eat half a biscuit, much to mum's horror..but she can relax as I did not like it very much. After that everyday she's asking if I have tummy ache and pressing my tummy to check for lumps.. which is such a pain.

B celebrated her 4th b'day at the club which was so much more cooler. huge garden to play + huge rice cake and made so many new friends. The theme was the jungle, the cake and invite had all my fav animals. As soon as the cake was cut, I insisted mum pick out the elephant and i took him home with me. He was really sweet to taste too...but meanie mum did not let me eat it. But I was having way too much fun to complain. I played football for the first time too with B's older brother and his friends and totally loved it. I was stuffed with cake and ate it for 3 whole days :D . B is a very special friend, my first friend...ever since I was a few months old. There was only one balloon at the party as aunty in a hurry had left the bag with the balloons at her home. So there was this huge scramble for it. But I got it and did not let it go...gave it only to B and we shared the balloon amongst us...with mum making sure none of the other girls snatch it away from B's hands. One of the girls wanted to burst the balloon, and was trying very hard to do it. She even got B to light a match stick, but mum caught her in the nick of time.

Went to the first x'mas party (my very first one) at nani's club and came back with a smug look on my face :P. Met so many children there, made new friends, saw the older kids playing musical chairs . I even told mum to leave me here and go home in one of the cars parked there. she just kept coming in my way. not letting me go off to the grounds and play with the older kids...apparently deep in the woods snakes reside and B and I wanted to check out their home and cover the hole of the mould with big stones. Well actually B wanted to ... but I'll go along with anything she wants to do :P . Spoil sport mum! The best part was the gifts that I got from Santa. All of us were asked to stand in a line youngest to the oldest. Me being me refused to get in line, get out of mum's godi :D...but I still got my gift a story book... I just love them :). They played jingle bells, my fav song ever and had yum rice cake! Yes I stiffed my self like crazy... An aunty was distributing home made chocolates to everybody. I got mine too, but mum kept it in my bag even before I could see what it was. It was wrapped on shiny red and sliver paper...looked so tempting that i remembered to take it out as soon as we reached home and held on to it. The result was that it melted, I wiped my hands on my dress, and licked my fingers. Man it tasted sooo good...had to disagree with mum, when she told me I would get a tummy pain as it does not taste good. Mum really does not know anything does she! All she was thinking about was my blue dress which had patches of chocolate on it..well she did say something about allergies..what ever they are.

My school also celebrated x'mas day, before closing( yes I have my x'mas vacation, and mum is going crazy :P), but it was really boring. Also went to B's school's annual day function, and was bored again cause B was busy on stage and I couldn't meet her. Did enjoy the dance that the kids did on Mauja Mauja. One of the boys also played the Jingle Bells on his casio. All in all it was OK, not that great. Since the Hall did not have a loo( at least mum couldn't find one), I had my first experience of our mother earth and boy did I enjoy it! Going to pee became the most exciting event of the evening, until mum decided enough was enough and took me back home. Spoil Sport!

Mum took me to the Railway Museum on Saturday ( yes I do know the week days and that Sat & Sun are holidays :-D ). Initially I refused to get down from mum's godi, but one look at the park there, the slide..I was off in a giffy. And then there was this toy train, which was simply amazing. I got 2 rounds on it, we even went through a tunnel :D. And oh, I even went to feed the fishes at Cauvery River. It was so much fun watching the fishes dance around to grab the food ball, and finish it off really quick.

I'm having an awesome time, mum says we are going back to the Railway Museum with B and this time she will not forget the camera. And nani says that we'll go to feed the fish every week,I also have a new year party to go to, so it looks like I'm going to have a great holiday and

Happy Holidays Everybody and a Happy New Year!

Nana ki chamchi kaun?

Main!

I have to sit on his lap when he has his breakfast. Lunch and dinner he is excused, simply because I fall asleep in mum's godi when they are all eating. I eat from his plate. He drops me to school, and he has to pick me up. Even if mum comes, I always ask for him. Thanks to me he is home on time...no early for lunch. I can never have enough of the car rides.

Mum says I have changed a lot. Grown taller, isn't that supposed to happen? All the new clothes I got for my b'day are very close to becoming small.

I totally love my day care now...can't miss it even for a day. So much so that mum has become to dread the weekends, that she used to enjoy so much. Ha! Like it makes a difference to me :P

Since I can climb up and down the stair by myself without holding on to anything or anybody, I run out the house as soon as I am up and have to be dragged screaming back inside.

I used to hate getting my feet dirty, wouldn't walk barefoot on the grass & the drive way, wouldn't enter the sand pit and insist on my feet being cleaned immediately at school. Now I can go barefoot everywhere. I love the feel of sand, dirt, concrete, tarred road and the mushy wet grass.

I have even begun to let mommy tie my hair up in a pony tail and yes, they are pulled off as soon as nana picks my up after school.

Love ringa-ringa roses, nani teri morni ke and ba ba black sheep... but the movie songs are still my fav. Mama has become very smart these days. He usually used to channel surf, always moving one level up now he just jumps to the channel he wants to watch. Simply because if any music channel comes on, he cannot watch anything else.. see ...I taught him to something which even mum and nani could not get him to do!

Rules of the house are as follows:

1. Anytime nana or mama come home in the car, I have to get a ride from the gate till they park the car.
2. Any time they leave, I still have to say bye and watch the car drive away.
3. No body can leave without kissing me good bye.
4. I will eat what you are eating, so you better watch out, if you do now want me to eat something, cause it ain't gonna happen if I see the forbidden food on your plate!
5. When mum's mobile rings I have to find it and give it to mum, never mind that by the time I get it, it stops ringing.
6. anytime you take a pic of me, you better show me that photo that very instant.
7. When I am around, mum should stay away from the laptop.
8. If mama is working on the comp and I need to watch my rhymes, he has to move the instant he is asked to.
9. I supervise the cleaning at home. Even show the maid how it is to be done. I do the same in nana's office too.
10. I decide the footwear I will wear.
11. Once I have gone to sleep, mum has one hour as her buffer time, she better come to bed then, I don't cry that much.

We went to Bangalore for a week, few days back and attended so many weddings. I met so many of my cousins, uncles and aunts. I was so confused! I just remembered the babies. And the car would play all my fav songs.. I got some wonderful gifts too. Santosh Mama gave me this cool Nursery Rhymes CD set. We also went to the supermarket with Pria didi and Raji mausi. Of course since mum was carrying me all the way there, Raji mausi was carrying her purse and I was making sure that she didn't run away with it. I found this cute baby doll there and sweet Raji mausi bought it for me. That of course made me really happy. I was really grumpy cause nana left me alone with mum and total strangers in a strange place and went away. Mama happened to be nearby, came to cheer me up for a few minutes cause nana told him I was really upset.

The baby doll is my baby. I feed it, apply cream, and even make the baby go su-su.. The 4 CD's are M.I.N.E. It was given to me and are mine alone. No body has the right to touch them. I can play with them as I please. After seeing them like a hundred times, I play catch with them, love to see the light reflect off them and they should always be near me.

I'm a big girl now, and I have to eat by my self. Rice, curds, dosa, idli, fruits.... aappi aappi. I'd love to cook it too only meanie mum does not allow me near the gas. But I stilllike to be carried by mum and nana. I love to see the moon and stars and go looking for them even during the day.

I'm also speaking words and picking them up really fast, but all say that ki main thoda tutlati hun... mum and nana are not worried but mama and nani are and they are planning to take me to dr. jag...lets see how that goes..

And did I tell you...I absolutely love footwear. Not just mine, but everybody's at home. I'm always wearing mum's and nani's sandals (which has a in a real tizzy cause mum wears her's all the time :P ) I don't spare nana and mama's shoes too. I can very easily identify their clothes and footwear, something mum and nani have not been able to do so ever!

Happy Christmas and New Year's in advance everybody. Mum is planning to take me to the club here, hopefully we will have a blast and not trouble her by staying in her godi all the time, like I did at the weddings. But they should have good music playing. Else there will be trouble in paradise !

Muah! Byeeeeeee.....

Too much Love?

Chubby cheeks and rabbit teeth, that is my imp. Just like her mama. And like him, her cheeks too get pulled and kissed by every tom, dick and harry. Till I got rude and pointedly told people - relatives, friends and total stranger to stop. Wasn't easy being rude, but it was getting out of hand with one aunt waiting to bite her cheeks.

Today whenever she wants to show her love and affection towards anybody, she pulls their cheeks and plants a kiss on the cheek, to adults and children alike. She loves kids, all are babies to her, irrespective of their age. She wants to hold them, kiss them, hug them... wants her mum to carry them. That is the one time that does not mind not being in my godi. Unlike other children who get possessive of their mothers when they carry or touch other kids, mine just loves it and wants me to carry them and cries when the kid is returned to the mother.

In her school, there are 3 kids younger to her. A 6 month, a 8 month and a year old kid. All with chubby cheeks. She is nuts about them. Always hugging and kissing them. The 1 year old took the longest time to adjust in the school and he is her fav. She is always running after him to hug and kiss him. Last week he kept running scared form her and she kept trying to pull him. She finally yanked him and planted a kiss on his cheek, only with her teeth, forming an "O" the front 4 teeth. Since the teachers know her affection for the younger ones, it was handled with explanation as to how she had hurt the kid. Since the child stays there till 6 pm, the mark had vanished withhte help of ice and the parents were not worried.

Yesterday, she does the same thing again, only harder, a perfect round. Deep dark red line. Thank fully no blood. And this time the teacher, hit her on her lips lightly, scolding her. All she wanted to do was kiss the child and again she was strong. I was least amused by imp's actions. The teacher was consoling me saying that its a small issue, bigger things happen with kids in a kiddie school. And the fact that they know she is nuts about babies esp. him! And this time his parents were not amused either. I know I would have been very upset too. Tomorrow I apologize to them, even if I have to reach early, cause I missed them today. And gave a bottle of Entrops at school, that will surely help.

My prayer is that she does not become a bully. That little boy is so scared of her or rather her affection. And everyday I'm going to hope I get no complaints about her.

The Burday Cake and its moments

Hey Everybody!

First off, a small confession to make...like my mum I'm getting addicted to this blog. Its simply too much fun!

I had great fun on my burday too. Mum being the meanie she is insisted on dropping me off to school. but she is forgiven cause all my friends sang for me :D I was in seventh heaven. Distributed baby apples and chaklis; instead of sandwiches and choclates, delighting the teachers (my mum is the only one who seems to send healthy snacks). Kept singing Happy Burday for the whole week. Anybody who called on the mobiles or the land line had to first talk to me and wish me, so what if my burday was over!



I got really cool gifts too. Nana and Nani got me loads of dresses and shoes. Mama got me the cute doggie and mum got me touch and feel books. I totally love them. And how can I forget the cake! It was simply delicious. Strawberry Rice cake, was yummmm..the cherries on it were better. We went out for dinner, and I insisted on having more cherries, after I saw them in mum's drink. Then next day I got a bad throat thanks to the chilled cherries. I even got to wear a ring, which was given to my mum by her great grand dad.




Yet to go to the orphanage though. We can go only on a sunday, since all the children will be in school during the week. And ever since my burday, sundays have been packed what with my maushi coming over and attending function. They better take me there soon..

All in all it was an awesome day week. Next year mum has promised me a Chocolate Rice Cake :)

Happy Burday to you... :)

hey everybody

I'm back and its my b'day today, so people wish for me ok...

now lets get down to business...

Did I or didn't I tell u my mum's a meanie. first she weans me off, second she gets a new maid for me and the worst... she has put me in school, though she is calling it day care...

hurmph...

of course I might now react when I see my home or the familiar route home but I do hold on to my mum tightly as soon as I see that lane where that horrendous school is. Doesn't she feel sad in spite of me crying, she doesn't even come back when I cry, just turns the other way around and goes off...even on my b'day!

Meanie nah...

But the good part is that she lets me sit on her lap when she is driving, does it matter that I refuse to sit on anybody else's lap on the way to school..

Mothers I tell you, esp mine is totally techno defunct...she can't even get to play the dvd and the television, the remote always stops working.. I think blaming the remote or the power cut is just an excuse to get me to stop watching songs.

I no longer get conned by her to drink up my milk. Ha! I will drink only if it is cold. yup I love anything that is chilled. My mama got me this amazing teething ring, which had to be chilled and its simply amazing chewing on it. Mum says now I'm too old for it and is refusing to get me another one, so what if it would be the third one!

I have very strong hearing powers, so even if the TV is in a low volume and I hear my songs, from Jab We Met, Welcome, Partner and Sing is king I come running from where ever I am, eve if I am sleeping. No body has the right to close the main door, it is MY job. I get up from my sleep if I hear them closing the door. So now I have everybody trained just right, call me when you have to open or close the doors. Call me when the dogs have to be fed, else there is hell to pay.

Thank god my mum doesn't get excited these days when she hears me say a new word, man she can get soooo embarassing, I tell you!

OK so I will admit the day care is not soo bad, once I stop crying. They have rabbits, birds and dogs. And the aunties are so good. There are even small babies. But there is one boy who loves to play with my bow-bow more than his and he is always gunning for my bow-bow. They even have lots of blocks and puzzles for me to do, nursery rhymes..it is fun, but I still want my mommy there. She was there for the first 2 days, dunno why she cant be there all the time. She should just get a job there!

I mentioned earlier that I love to look at snaps right, and I also luve to get my photo taken, I'm always posing :D but the paranoid mum that I have she just refuses to put them up on her blog. She can talk about me but she cant put up my pics? Double Standards I tell you!!

These days I like to do everything on my own, but my ever controlling mother just does not let me eat and bathe on my own. But she wants me to sleep on my own. Yea right like I am ever going to do that. That is my revenge :D sweet sweet revenge :P

Like mum, I love lights too and I esp loved the Dasara lighting in the whole city. Couldn't get enough of it. I kept directing mama to where I wanted to go and the sweety pie that he is, he relented. Mum is going to put up the pics soon, just as soon as I give her the time to do it, that is :)

And Ooh..Before I forget, mum is taking me to the orphanage, to celebrate my birthday. She says it will keep me grounded (whatever that means!!) and I will also get new friends. And yes I am waiting to cut and bite into my cake tonight, mum says its a special strawberry rice cake. Last year we had a chocolate cake and I wasn't allowed to eat that, but this one mum says I can have as much as I want. Ain't that grand :)

Bye for now, hugs and kisses to all ... muah... :)

p.s in case you are all wondering why the title reads the way it does, simply because that is how I wish everybody including me :D

checko-slow-wakia bolo

So we're watching the ads on television, yes we are not allowed to see anything else, ads with kids totally rock! And a fairly new ad of a Unit Linked Plan, comes up. It has a toddler with excited parents, trying to get the child to say daddy, mummy and Czechoslovakia. the kid manages the firs t2 beautifully but shows his tongue out at Czechoslovakia. The parents go back to reading the newspaper and some other stuff, and the child slowly says checko-slo-vakia..

Now my Imp is watching this ad, transfixed. My bro decides to have some fun.

Mama: Imp, checko-slow-wakia bolo

Imp: Giving a side glance holds out her left palm, like the cops stopping you at the traffic signal, and says Mamaaaa....with a drag..meaning why are you disturbing me? And yes her expression and tone says it all. Few seconds later, as if to explain what she is doing, since mama was reading the paper, says haathi and points towards the television... an ad with an Elephant being given a bath is on...and just like the earlier ad, here the mama goes back to the paper shaking his head and mommy has a nice laugh...

In a lighter vein...

Hi Everybody,

I'm the imp and this is a guest post on my mothers blog. I wanted to know why she spends so much time on the stupid laptop that I'm not allowed to touch, but whose scroll mouse I totally love. My mum is so serious, she needs to take things lightly, I don't know why she keeps getting harassed for no reason. I'm growing up, I'm naturally curios and naturally naughty. So what if I,

1. Love to apply powder to the bed and the floor. Thank god for the poor quality checks at the manufacturing plant, else the powder would not come out with the seal on.
2. Love to apply cream, on everybody's face and hands. And of course the floor and furniture also.
3. I'm very good at sweeping, dusting and swabbing. But my mum and nani don't let me. They always disturb me when I take the broom from the maid and don't let her sweep the floor.
4. I love to rip apart my mum's wallet. It is in tatters, the clip is broken and its absolutely amazing when I hold it upside down and everything falls down.
5. I love to do everything on my own, except sleeping.
6. My nani is very upset that I have spoiled her precious kitchen cabinets. Since I couldn't open them, I would keep playing with teh knobs, and now they are so loose and one has fallen off and cant be opened. The best part I learned to open the cabinets and take out everything :D
7. I can finally open the fridge too, cant wait to empty out everything, but right now its just fun to shut the door real hard. I hope mum does not find that key she was looking for to lock the fridge.
8. Sleep is such a total waste of time. I cant wait to start day care, dunno why mum is taking so long to decide. Total spoiler.
9. Thank God for the mudiya's that nani keeps at home, else how would I climb to get my creams and powders. So now mum keeps them at the very end of the table, but pretty soon I will reach there too..
10. My mum's mobile is my own. Nobody else can receive calls or make them, or sms. Mum is a sweetheart, she downloaded the Pappu dance number so that I can listen to it all the time. Too bad for her its also her ringing tone, I'm sure she is going to change it soon.
11. Shah Rukh Khan is the ultimate.
12. I like to listen and watch only the songs and no boring numbers for me, they have to be the latest numbers. The teddy's on 9xM are too cute.
13. Every paper has to be read by me first. Every book that mum brings from the library has to be shown to me first.
14. Every time my nana or mama come home, I have to have to get a ride in the car, through the drive way, till they park it for the night.
15. I have to wave goodbye to them from the gate. Else I do not eat and get very very upset.
16. No clips, pins or rubber bands for my hair. And my mum is not cutting my hair ever again! She does not pin up her hair so why should I?
17. I love to walk barefoot all around especially outside and land up getting bit by various insects and rashes, yet as my mum wonders when will I ever learn.
18. I hate to stop playing to go for a bath and create a huge ruckus when I have to get out also :P
19. When we go out, I love to try the loos there. Okay, so one time I went 3 times in a span of 15 min, just so I could check out the bathroom. It was a new place. And for no reason mum just lost her temper and refused to take me again. Thank god for nana, he is such a doll, can twist him around my finger..(even though he calls me miss drama)
20. I don't like to eat the same food twice in a week. I want something new, if momma cant give it to me, then I'd rather go hungry than eat the same drabby stuff.
21. I love to look at snaps, esp the old B&W ones, my nani has kept them in such good condition, she is worried that I will spoil them as They are my property now and nobody has the right to touch them or any of the other old snaps.

phew! I'm tired. And I'm going to sleep now. And if there is something I have forgotten I'm sure my mum will let you all know.

Please tell momma to take a chill pill! Please .... Pretty please..

Until next time Bye everybody.

Life's little pleasures

15 days old and lactose intolerant. 3 months and gluten intolerant. Needless to say I was shattered. I love chocolates, cakes, souffles, roti's and parathas. And my daughter being deprived of it, drove me crazy. I stayed away from all milk and wheat products. And my kiddo has not tasted them either. But she would see the Roti's and Parathas being cooked. She just loves to see what is cooking over the gas.

So my kiddo is on a rice and other flour diet. And she does get bored of eating rice only. So I had our cook prepare Rice Flour Phulkas. She was just so thrilled to be eating "paratha" and not roti, the same rolling of the dough, cooking on the pan as the wheat parathas. The excitement, thrill and pure joy on her face just touched my heart. She always loves to eat what is on the table. Does not like to eat different from what we are eating. These days meal times are fun, esp from my plate. Even the cake she eats are rice flour cakes, they taste good, but heck it can not be made at home.

All of us are slaves to our taste. Even when we are eating healthy, less oil food, if it is bland or not as per our taste, we just cant eat it; can we? Its the same with kids too, irrespective of their age.

Everyday I pray and hope that her tolerance level goes down as she grows older, just so she can enjoy the ice creams and chocolates. And I want to bake her a cake so bad.

Resurrection..

Finally! yes I have my laptop back but minus the data. According to the HP center guys the OS crashed thanks to the automatic download of HP Live Update. And those service center guys are there just to fleece the public. The Bangalore guys said that we can fix it but will not take the back up, you need to go to a third party guy..who charges Rs 3000/- just for the back up. And the HP service center will take 1000/- to re-format and to de-fragment the disk you have to buy the software which costs about 4000/-. The Mysore HP service center says we need to buy the external hard drive available just for 3,600/- to copy the data. What kind of service centers are these? they do no have external hard drives to take back ups! Only after this did we start contacting friends who could help out. Turns out, you do not need to defragment the drive anymore. All the sys files are saved in the D drive and the C drive is the place to store all the files. And the HP laptops are configured in such a way that even with the software you cannot defragment the drives! Don't the service center guys know this? Why cant they just be helpful in the real sense.

Lesson Learnt: NEVER ever go to the service centre. Instead turn to your firends, it helps to know some who can work the hardware of a sys. And do not store files on the desktop ever, instead save them on the C drive.

The Flip Side, I had an awsome break. No work, No play time on the comp and all my time with my daughter and me. Fell sick, travelled to B'lore, read a ton of books, watched the pirated version of Janne tu and fell in love it it. Am so watching it again..wait I am going to buy the DVD when it releases.

Also picked out the school for my Angel. This was the first school I saw and fell in love with it. Its a Montesori Play School, in a quaint neighbourhood, great play area and clean classes. The biggest plus point, they are careful of the kids diets and their restrictions. Since my kiddo is Lactose and Wheat Intolerant, I needed a school which would keep a check on it and be careful during snack times, since children are always more curios and want what the other kid has. And this school has experience in dealing with such kids. Now just have to wait for her to turn 2.5 years. They do not take them earlier. Oh and they also have this really cute and well behaved dog who Angel just fell in love with instantly. yes I visited the school with her and she remembers the dog very well. On our second visit, she kept looking all over for him.

Another thing I noticed here, was that the children are very well behaved. They do not push, fight or yell. It was a really calm and quiet play time. there is slight bullying,which is natural but nothing to the extremes where one kid is pushing the other or fighting or hitting the other kid. they also have a really cute tree house. Looking at all this left my bro and me wishing us to be kids again. So now we go to this school once or twice a week, during play time to familiarise her with the school and the children.

Don't!

What is it with people, aunties, uncles, total strangers, all offering advice and asking me inane questions!! 

Beta you should not be breast feeding her still. It is not enough..Children bite and well you should not. Hello!! She has teeth and has not bitten me even once. And yes I know it is not enough, but it is her top comfort food right now and all of us have our comfort foods, so why not my daughter? And I will wean her off naturally, thank you very much.  

Oh my god! She is so fair! Or you are really lucky she is sooo fair..Or Is your husband fair? NO NO Not me nor my husband (ex) are fair, but hell can she not resemble other members of my family? And these are my relatives asking this stupid question. Lucky??!! 

You haven't given her sweets yet!! Not introduced her to sugar?? What about salt? I don't see any reason why I should introduce her to sugar or chocolates. Its too early. And a doc asking me this question is really dumb. Its scientifically proven that if you do not introduce salt and sugar for the first 3 years, the kidneys develop really well and sugar makes the kids hyperactive. They seem to derive some perverse satisfaction that I have introduced salt only because my kiddo happened to sample idli's and loved it. 

OMG you do not give her cows milk? What do you give her then? Again scientifically proven that cows milk should not be introduced for the first 2 years and with all the cows being injected with hormones and my kiddo is lactose intolerant any ways  

What do you feed her to make her cheeks so round? Guess that its genetic didn't occur to any of them! 

Why has she lost so much weight? Aren't you feeding her properly? you have kept her on only rice diet that is why she is not putting on weight. Yea Right! She is growing, has started walking running and grown tall, quite obvious she will loose weight. And I do not want a chubby obese child, rather a healthy one. 

I am going to pinch her cheeks whenever I meet her. Make sure you are around cause I know she is going to cry. Bah!! I'd like to ask you know if you do the same to your 2 month old grand child now.. 

The only consolation that I have is that none of my generation are asking such stupid questions, its only the elders of the previous generations questioning me. And they don't spare my mum either!