Of blue hair and princesses

"Why is your hair grey?, Oli asked her Grandpa today.
"Because I'm old.", he replied.
"But how did your hair turn grey? I don't like grey. I like only black and blue!"

If you were Grandpa, would you have colored your hair blue to please your granddaughter? :D

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In one of the online sessions, Oli's teacher asked her the typical question - what do you want to be when you grow up? Well, I feel it's a silly question. Oli answered, "Princess!". Let me rewind to last year when they had a fancy dress competition in school and the theme was the same as this typical question. We, the typical parents, thought she'd be a good doctor and dressed her up in a doctor's coat. But she hated it, sheesh! She, just like now, wanted to be a princess! So we dressed her up in the funkiest of clothes and let her do a little ramp walk on the "Taki Taki Rumba" song. :D

Did you ever want to be any such character when you were a kid? A princess, a king, a fairy, a witch, a superhero! They can wish to be whatever they want to be, and keep working towards it, isn't it? :D

What is good enough?

The day she watched the movie "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" with us, she was keen on becoming a runner. She even made us buy her running shoes the very next day. Since then, all she wanted to do was run. She ran with Papa dear, with me, with her Grandpa, inside the house, in the balcony, in the park, and just anywhere she could.

Today was the day when she had to run her very first race; little, but very crucial, because it was her first, even if it was a little one organized as a part of the "Ganapati festival" events in our society. She woke up fine, had milk, had toast, and was all ready to race in her favorite running shoes, showing them off and running just everywhere. I kept cheering her and told her the dos and the donts of the race.

"Do not push, do not look at anyone else, run as fast as you can, and don't stop until you reach the finish line."

She started off fine, did not push, did not look at anyone else, ran as fast as she could, and reached the finish line (not first though). The kid behind her bumped into her by mistake, and there she was, face down, on the ground. My mind went blank. All I could see and hear was her tears (and the little bump on her forehead).

More than her, it was I who felt bad. I felt bad about how her first race ended. Nothing big. Kids run. They fall. They get hurt. They cry. Everything is perfectly normal. But I, as a Mommy, felt bad for San. Had she not fallen, I would have been good. It was a perfectly normal Mommy thing.

Holding her bandaged elbow and rubbing the bump on her head, San said, "I don't like running, Mommy."

"But you stood third, San! That is good enough for your first race." I tried to make her feel better.

"But Mommy, explain me how standing third in your first race is good enough? Tell me, Mommy, tell me!" San asked.

I have a big task ahead of me!

I want to be you, Mommy!

How do you feel when your kids tell you that they want to be 'you' or like you when they grow up? Obviously, proud! So, when you're sitting down and wondering what a thankless job being a Mommy is, talk to your kids and they'll produce an instant list of things that you do all day and how happy they are to have you around and as a Mommy! :-)

I dunno whether I've mentioned this incident any of the previous posts, so I'd talk about it. One fine day, I was chopping veggies for dinner when San came to me and asked me if she could help.

"Mommy, can I help you chop the veggies?"
"It's okay, San. You go play."
"No, but I wanna learn how to chop veggies, so that I can grow up and become like you."
"Like me? Wow! Why do you want to be like me, San?"
"So that I can cook food for everyone like you do. I want to be just like you."

Any Mom would love to hear this! :-)

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After wanting to become a chef, a doctor, an astronaut, and a runner, San now wants to become a cop. Why? I have no clue at all! :-)

"Can girls become policemen, Mommy?"
"Yes, San."
"I want to become a policeman when I grow up."
"Okay. But you'll need to study a lot and undergo some tough training to become one."
"So, to become a Mommy after growing up, did you have to study that much?"

Innocent questions and thoughts! What would you reply to this?

A little big FOUR

She's four now. A big girl of four. A big girl who wants to do everything herself expect have food. She tells me that she's not four yet because she didn't cut a mermaid cake, and because we hadn't blown any balloons and put up any decorations. She did choose a little strawberry-vanilla fruit cake for the 12 am cake cutting ritual. We bought her things that she wanted on her birthday- a green t-shirt, a toy guitar, and a doggie soft toy. Went out for a nice, quiet dinner and that was it. This doggie, who she has named Muffin, has taken over Dolly in San's favorites list. Woohoo!

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We're almost settled in Pune now. A week more to go and then we should be good. We've been living out of the suitcase since two months now, and San is eager to empty all of them and put things where they belong, especially her pictures and toys.

On a different note, I'm both excited and anxious about how she'd do in school. We haven't even put her in a school yet, but I'm anxious, very anxious. Last but not the least, San can write her complete name now. :D

A getaway, some tan, and an ambition

The summer heat has made me lazier. How difficult it is to type a few words and write a new post? Very.

We spent the last weekend in and around Las Vegas. San was super-excited, in spite of the dry, hot weather that couldn't take a toll on us. The only things she wanted to avoid was the sun and food. Tough, isn't it? :-)

Yes, LV isn't the place to be with kids. A walk through the casinos can result in you explaining them why the place isn't meant for them and why they can't play the 'video games'. If you are with kids, you need to devote some time to the kid-friendly places. For us, it was the hotels with wonderful fountains, gardens, restaurants, and of course, the kids's favorite, M&M World. San could have spent her life there, among the loads of M&Ms and goodies.

We also spent a day at the Grand Canyon, which she called the Big Mountain. That's because we didn't explain her what a canyon is! Do not miss her green binoculars in the picture below. She picked them up (literally) from a souvenir shop, and almost walked away with it, until we told her that we need to 'buy' them first. Phew!

And the next favorite place she wanted to be, after she was done with her other favorites, was our hotel room. She loved her cozy bed there, and we had a hard time pulling her away from it the morning we had to leave!

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San and sun don't go well together. Her face gets redder and the skin darker. She already got a bad bad tan from our beach trip two weeks back. The LV trip enhanced it further. I showed her her shades in the mirror. She was amused!

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San has started her summer session in school after a week's break. She's moved on to the 4-year old's class and adores her new teacher. Also, she has developed a strange interest in the tools, the ones that Bob the Builder, Handy Manny, and Daddy use. So her favorite place in her class is where the toolbox is.

And what does she want to be when she grows up? A Firefighter, like Fireman Sam, to rescue people, and an Animal Rescuer, just like Diego! And when she is not rescuing people and animals, she'd fix stuff for them!

Another first day at the school, Another favorite

New session began this week at San's preschool. Today is her first day in the new session. After a week's break, she wasn't so keen on going back to school, but we'd convinced her well! She was all happy in the morning until she reached her class. New teacher, new kids, some crying, and some screaming... she couldn't take it and started crying. I kept telling myself and Papa dear and the teacher that she'll be fine. Yes, she definitely was fine later, but for a moment, I was reminded of her very first day in school, and everything felt new and alien! Phew! What a feeling!

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Oh and this is her birthday month, yippee! God knows what has made her Minnie-Mouse-Crazy, suddenly, and we obviously didn't have to go through the trouble of choosing a theme for her b'day party. :) She's even bought herself a new Minnie Mouse night suit!

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Here's some more of 'San says':

San (on the way to home, in the car): Papa, go faster!
Papa: Okay! (pretends to go fast)
San: Wow! Papa, you're fastering!

San (in the restroom): The flush is gonna go by itself, Mommy?
Me: Yes, San. It's automatic.
San (after the flush thing happened): Wow Mommy, it's aumotatic!

San (today morning while brushing her teeth): I'm really tired, Mommy!
Me: Take a shower and you'll be fine.
San: But I'm feeling tired in my bum!

The story-teller, the singer

San's a story-teller now. She makes up a story out of anything, and does it anywhere... while eating, while pooping, while trying to sleep, while riding on her bike... short and sweet stories where the beginning and the ending have nothing to do with each other. :-)

I wonder how long she can go on with her blabbers, stories, imaginations, and pretend play stuff... but there's obviously no limit to anything. They have an endless supply of energy, which keeps them on it forever! New words, new sentences, new phrases, new monkey acts... she never ceases to surprise us.

When we get a boo-boo, San tells us that we're fine and it's okay to have a boo-boo, cuz' she's gonna put a band-aid on it, and all will be fine. When we're angry, she tells us to talk slowly, and tries to entertain us with one of her stories. When we're sad, she consoles us with her kisses and hugs. Beautiful emotions and talks (along with the terrible twos acts)! :-D

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The summer session in her school is on, and I'm glad that she's attending it. The teachers do have a lot of patience to handle the 'terrible twos' bunch! :)

Oh and lemme tell you what she likes to sing these days...

"Brokkin in a baby bumble bee
Wona Mommy
Bisha ba ba bee"

If you're wondering if this is the same old Bumble Bee song, yes, it is. :-D I'd never heard this song, so I'd to look up the lyrics and correct her wordings. :) Cute song, this one is. At times, I even sing San's version. :-D

Here tit is for you all to hear: :D

Her fav pretend play: She pretends she's playing a piano and asks us to sing along. We always end up singing... you know what! ;-)

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Some new developments: She can write the letter 'A' and draw circles, triangles, smileys, and balloons. Yay!

Terrible Twos, what ARE you?

Suddenly, I feel that I'm experiencing the peak of San's Terrible Twos. She's become whiny; if you don't listen to her the first time, or happen to ignore her because you're busy, or because she is in a crazy mood, she acts up with the worst of the whines... sigh! And she's been telling me to do things 'slowly'; things like drying her hair with a towel, making her brush her teeth, combing her hair... I wonder if I've become harsher or she's become more delicate! She always demands the opposite of what I do or offer... quite common in kids, right? Why do they do that? I wanna read her mind!

Kids change avatars like clothes. Just when you're adoring the sweetest smile that she flaunted a while ago, she'll turn it all around with the ugliest scream! But then, even after battling with the different mood swings of your kid throughout the day, you end the day with a smile on your face, as you watch the angel sleep... and you know that all's well cuz' it ended well. (unless she keeps waking you up at odd hours with her sleep-talk and screams! )

I dunno when the Terrible Twos started and I dunno when it'd end. I dunno if it is even there yet! I wonder what it is! :)

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One day, for the sake of fun, I gave her the fake-long-hair-look with her towel. San calls it the Flamingo look, I wonder why!

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San's new-found love: The Jungle Book. She's even memorized the title song! I'm hooked onto it along with San. :)

In Conversation with San

It was one of those days when I was whining about a white strand that I picked up while combing my hair.

Me: Mummy's hair is white! Boohoo!
San: Hair white, Mommy?
Me: Yes!
San: And teeth black, Mommy?
Me: No, San! I brushed my teeth.
San: Hair color, Mommy?
Me: Well...

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When she came back from school yesterday, I asked her the usual questions, like what she did in school, what she ate, etc.

Me: What did you have for lunch today?
San: Chips!
Me: What did Ava have?
San: Strawberries!
Me: What did Miss Vera have?
San: Bread!
Me: What did Ahaana have?
San: Chicken!
Me: Chicken? How do you know it was chicken?
San: *Blank expression*
Me: Did she tell you it was chicken?
San: Yes.

Since we're vegetarians, I had a million thoughts in mind. How did she know it was chicken? Did she ask? How would she ask? Could Ahaana reply? Maybe! Did she taste it? Uh oh! Stupid thoughts. Smart kids.

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San's latest favorite: The tea-set that we bought her this week, hoping that she'd stop using the kitchenware to cook her imaginary meals.

Happy XMAS for San and a Happy Start of the New Year

Now that San had wished for lollipops last Christmas, Santa gave her a bagful of them! ;-) The expression of her face and the happiness in her "Wow" on seeing the lollipops was priceless. :-) She hasn't had any yet, but always counts them, and recounts them, unwraps them, wraps them back again, and then keeps them back in the bag to play with later.

Although, the bad weather and bad health of San and her Papa dear took a toll on their mood and restricted them to home, we managed to enjoy the Christmas lights and give a happy ending to the last year. :-)



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San's back to school and is quite happy. I felt so proud on hearing her teacher say that she's proud of San, cuz' she knows her ABCs so well! What a proud moment for a parent! :) I wanted to brag more about her ABC skills, but I kept my mouth shut and smiled a lot. Haha! All thanks to Papa dear. :)

Knowing 'No' is both good and bad. And kids do a great job at overusing it! San says No even when she's angry. Goes like this... "No Mummy! Chintu's book/ toy/laptop/chair/shirt! Don't touch!" For those who don't know, Chintu is one of her nicks. :-D

Her pretend play has reached new heights. She treats the doll like it's her baby and acts like me while handling her. She now laughs, gets anxious, and says "Oops" at the right moments while watching her cartoons. :-D

They grow up so fast... sigh! When she says a complete sentence, uses the potty seat perfectly, scrolls through apps on her Papa's phone like a pro, cleans up nicely, sings the rhymes and lullabies with perfect pitching, I wonder. I don't know what, but I wonder! :)

Her current favorites: "The wheels on the bus" and "Hush little baby" rhymes.

Happy at school and Happy with George

Finally, I see a smile on her face and no hurry to go home when I pick San up from school... phew! :-) She talks about Sophia (I guess she likes the name), a kid in her class, and has started to tell me more about her day at school... although, she ain't yet eating in school, even if I give her her most favorite stuff. :-s

The bad part is that she imitates her teacher and tell the other kids (and us) to shush! :-p

Yesterday, she was singing Jingle Bells after coming back home. She also talks about Santa Claus now... good that we've put up a Christmas Tree this time. :)

More sentences, more words... and an interest in coloring (all she wants to do is play with the crayons and put a mark or two on the sheet). She's also started praising and complimenting us the way we do. So, the other day, when I put on my new night suit, she said, "Wow Mommy! Good job Mommy! Mommy cuta pie"... I looooooooove  it when she compliments me, cuz' it's the truest and the most honest one. :-) She also tells the butterflies and the fish that they look pretty! I'm sure they must be glad to hear that. :D

She can open the refrigerator now... uh oh!

BTW, San (and her Mom and Dad) are hooked onto Curious George now. He's such an adorable little monkey. It's a treat to watch him. :)

Image credits: pbskids.org

New Favs, New Words, and a Lot of Sense

San asked me to 'Get up'! It sounded more like 'Dappup' and I took a while to figure out what she really meant. Wow, I sure am amazed and can't stop smiling. :) :)

Now she talks and makes sense too. It sounds sensible even if it doesn't make sense. It's up to us to understand. 'No' is her answer to almost everything. Here's a particular type of conversation that we daily have...

Me: You wanna have milk now?
San: No!
Me: What will San have now?
San: Milk!

Oh yes! Finally, someone beat Elmo! Who? It's the Wonder Pets. :-) Ask her what's gonna work, and she'd say Teamwork (a new word that she's learned without knowing its meaning)! :-) She still loves the Elmo song though, and asks me to sing it in the midst of her nighttime conversations with me.

Suddenly, San has started using a lot of words, all in the right context, and I'm amazed at all the learning that's going on. It seems like magic at times! :-)

We finally took San to the Zoo last Sunday, and she got to see Giraffes, Elephants, Owls, Pandas, Crocodiles, and Snakes live. And she learned about a new animal - Cheetah! Although, we missed the Zebra and couldn't find out how it sounds! :-p

BTW, we now know what it is like when kids ROTFS. What's that? Rolling On The Floor Screaming.

About the nighttime Moos and shoes

San's fast approaching two and my mind is already full of questions, worries, anxieties, fears, and a lot of other stuff! How am I gonna potty-train her? How am I gonna wean her from her beloved bottle? Will she be a shy child? How will she adapt to school? How will her friends be like? How will she handle bullies? Sigh! Yup, everything's gonna happen gradually and things will fall in place, and all will be well... but I can't stop thinking about it!

As usual, Elmo's her fav and she loves to sing the Elmo song. Her nighttime routine is set - after she finishes her milk, she asks me to sing the 'Old McDonald' rhyme by saying "Eeeyaa Eeyaa". She also tries to sing the first line - "O McNana....." :) :). Cow is her fav animal in that rhyme and she loves to see me do 'Moo Moo'! Oh btw, she calls me MOOmy at times! Wonder if Old McDonald's cow inspired that! :D And after this rhyme, she asks me to sing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', so that she can stand up and do the 'Up above the world so high' hand motion. Then she says Sorry (I don't know why, but it's cute!), talks about her friends, Papa, and a lot of other people and things. Finally, she gives me a hug, a good-night kiss, says Nay Nay, and tries to sleep... and finally sleeps. :)

What else? Now that she is able to open our shoe closet, she loves to try out our footwear. She even knows what I would wear when I have to go out, and offers to take that pair out for me... aww! :)

More? She wants all of Papa dear's time, love, and attention... and doesn't want him to share any of those with me. :( :)

Anything else? She absolutely loves picking up trash and trashing it... should I blame Elmo's friend Oscar for it? ELMoo!

Elmo tales and more

And now, we have some Elmo tales along with the Dolly tales. :D So Elmo has managed to beat everyone else and is happily sitting at the first place on San's list of favs. It's all about Elmo the whole day. She's even learned to sing half of the Elmo song... it goes like this: "ya ya ya yaaa... Emmo sooooooooooong" (accompanied with a major head shake). All she needs now is a Guitar and it'll fit perfectly in the whole Emmo song scene. :-)

So she loves Elmo, loves the Elmo song, and gets to watch Sesame Street while having her meal... what's the problem here? The director of Sesame Street has assigned a limited space to Elmo in the episodes cuz' he has to fit in Elmo's friends too! So as soon as Elmo disappears from the scene, San stops eating, and starts looking for Elmo. <sigh> And then, I've to make up stories to make her eat. "Take one bite and Elmo will reappear." "Elmo wants you to eat! How does Elmo eat?" "Look look, Elmo's here, and now eat!" "Oh look, Dorothy is here!" (she's Elmo's pet after all... works as good as Elmo!) Oh and Mommy just ran out of stories... and patience too. Phew!

Mealtime is struggle time. If Elmo isn't there, she doesn't wanna eat. If Elmo is there, she forgets to eat. So, we've to find ways to make her open her mouth and put the food in. And that, my friends, is the toughest task of the day!

What's new? If you ask her what her name is, she'd say 'Shaammi" (that's her version of Saanvi). Ask her what is Papa's name, and she'd say Micky. Ask her what is Mommy's name, and she might say Divu or just gibberish. :D

What else? Whenever she senses trouble (like when she's about to get a scolding or Mommy's in a bad mood), she starts off with her sugary Sorrys and ends it with a big hug. She breaks into the Sorry act at the slightest hint of a would-be-trouble. Now that's what being proactive means! :)