Cracks in the sky and more

Monsoon is here. There's a daily pitter-patter and the sunshine is much less now. Reduced Vitamin D intake. Does it matter? We anyway weren't roaming the streets under the shining sun earlier. Been jailed for what feels like forever now. That's the only complaint people have now. We want out! And that is as always since the last year. Things are seeming better again but then we need to remember this - once bitten, twice shy. Are we shy enough yet? Doesn't look like it.

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Our little sunshine, Oli (we don't even call her that anymore, I just realized! 😀), loves rains. But then she immediately starts singing "rain rain go away" and she doesn't even mean to shoo it away! So the other day, rains were accompanied by some thunder and lightning. Thunder always scares her. Lightening was new (also scary). At the first sight of it, she screamed, "Mommy, there's a crack in the sky look!" 😂 Isn't that so cute?

The best thing about her is that she manages to describe everything well enough for us to understand. She refers to standing/sleeping lines shapes, letters, numbers, colors, and what not. Always amazes us! Kids are the best! 😊

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San's new school session has started. Online classes again. Appreciate all the efforts the teachers are putting into conducting online sessions and managing everything online. It still feels like kids are missing out on a lot. San desperately wants to go back to school. I'm sure many other kids do.

Lately, we've been conversing a lot. Little chit-chats over "kadha" in the morning. She keeps talking about the things she liked in the US and how she is always ready to go back to school there. I tell her you can graduate from there. For now, we're here. I feel letting it all out works for her. She emerges as a happier person after the chat. It shouldn't become a habit though, I fear. The complaints.

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Back to taking pictures of the sky. The sunsets are wonderful and they are at their best during the monsoon. The sky never ceases to amaze. Here's one I took from the terrace on a super rainy day:

Cool down, Mommy

I've heard myself say this a lot of times - "I'm gonna run away for a day, away from all of this, and do nothing, just nothing at all!" Yeah, it's only for a day cuz' where else can I be! This is my place. This is who I am. A Mommy, a wife. Did you hear a little 'sigh' there? Oops! :p

Those thoughts apart, I'm having a great time chasing my little hurricane who likes to toss food (and dirty laundry) around, eat off the floor and like a sloth, climb whatever is climbable, give lots of hugs (and calls them hubby), and keep Mommy on her toes all day. And as I write this post, she's trying to climb the chair to climb on me! She's also the savior, though. All the bad, angry, silly thoughts that cloud my mind go away when she climbs on me and gives a big monkey 'hubby'!

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And then there's my good old eight-year old who has taken laziness to a whole new level :D  If she could, she can, any day, do without brushing her teeth, combing her hair, and bathing (and listening to us :p)! Such useless, time-consuming chores, aren't they? ;D

It's important to have a routine for kids and discipline them, but then, it's also important to cut them some slack, let them breathe, and take a candy break! Papa dear has been telling me this since ages now, but I'm being so stubborn and strict. Is it so hard to become a 'cool' Mommy?

Slow and steady what?

Remember the story of a tortoise and a rabbit with the moral "Slow and steady wins the race"? I told San this story a couple of times during her mealtime, and she seemed to understand it well. Yesterday, I showed it to her in one of the Disney episodes. Her expressions changed every time the tortoise led the race, and the rabbit indulged in some time-pass stuff because he thought he'd win anyway. The tortoise won (he had to) and left San disappointed.

"Why did the tortoise win, Mommy?"
"Because he was steady and kept running!"
"What is steady? Tortoise is slow. Rabbit is fast!"
"Steady means that he kept walking and did not stop. The rabbit slept, thinking that he'll win because he's fast."
"But the rabbit was faster!! He should have won. Why did he not win? I don't like the tortoise!" Hmph.

I gave up. I couldn't explain her the meaning of being slow and steady. Maybe, some other time!

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People always told me (and I always told myself) that the Terrible Twos are here to stay, always waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback. And here they are, in the form of my whiny little three and a half year old! She loves to whine, and I'm almost tearing my hair and losing the last few drops of my patience over it.

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And in these whiny times, we do have some light moments with San's wonderful vocabulary. :)

"Mommy, stop feeting my foot!" (while San was enjoying a siesta with me by her side, my feet happened to touch hers and I couldn't help tickling her)

"I'm gonna grow up, become a doctor, and check everyone with my telescope." (you would know what she actually meant!)

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 ant-bit-me tale

San's second summer session at school started this week, it's the third day, and the third I-don't-wanna-go-to-school day too. I wonder why! And to top that, she came home from school with an ant-bitten foot and a runny nose on Wednesday. Runny nose, I can handle, but the ant bites that looked nothing close to an ant bite were scary!

"Mommy, the ant came in my shoe and bit me."
"Noway. Where did you play today?"
"No water play, Mommy."
"Did you play in the sand-pit?"
"No."
"Then?"
"The ant came in my shoe and bit me!"
"Where, San?"
"Ahaana no water play."
"San. did you play in the grass?"
"Yes, grass!"
"Ughhh!"

I was sure that she didn't play in the grass, and that the rashes were some kinda allergy. And I wasn't agreeing to San's ant-bit-me story, until I spoke to her teacher today. The kids did play out that day, San did not go in the water, and some kids (also a teacher) did go back home with ant bites. And then I wondered when to believe these kids and when not to. Yes, they're good at making up stories, but San has proved me wrong twice already, when I thought she made up a story. I feel so bad, sigh! :(

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Coming back to her cute little new words, San told me that she'd been 'clean-upping' the closet. Hoho! She's clever enough to know that the verbs end with an 'ing'. But then, she is yet to know where it goes! She anyway has a long way to go before she understands all that grammar.

And then, even before we start off with the scolding session, she tells (read 'screams') us that 'she understands', with a frown! It's like, "Okay, I've said it cuz' I'm supposed to say it. Don't expect me to mean it too!" 

San says some more

The news is that San can pedal her tricycle now. All thanks to Papa dear! :) Last evening, San was showing off her pedaling skills to me and going very fast. She said, "Look Mommy! I'm fasting!"

We were taking a walk and San spotted a bunch of kids playing basketball. She said, "Mommy see! They're playing soccer."

Yesterday, we were looking at the profiles of the players who are taking part in the Olympics this year. She was watching curiously. Papa dear asked San what she'd like to play - hockey or badminton. She answered, "Hockey in snow".

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Wanna hear something about the Terrible Twos? They're on, and getting worse. A lot of screaming, heaps of stubbornness, loads of furious bubble-blowing, and some biting too. It's just a phase and it shall pass. Phew!

San says

Tired (and tanned) after a hectic, but an interesting trip to the East Coast, I almost ignored this poor blog and kept delaying this update... no excuses! I owe a big sorry to the blog! :)

San was happy with the trip cuz' she got to travel in almost all modes of transportation... plane, bus, train, boat, ship... yup, almost everything she wished to be on! :) She's been watching Caillou since a long time now, and she always use to beam at Caillou's experiences of train and plane journeys. Now she can boast of them herself! But then, she was even happier to come back home. She really missed it!

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San's been talking a lot (as usual) and entertaining us with her very meaningful sentences. Let me share some cute ones with you. :)

San: Help me with the puzzle, Mommy!
Me: I'm ironing Papa's shirts right now. I'll help you later.
San: Papa won't go to office again today. Do it tomorrow, Mommy.

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San: Dolly is my friend. Pinky is not my friend.
Me: Why is Pinky not your friend?
San: Pinky is not happy, Mommy.
Me: Are you happy?
San: I'm not happy, Mommy. I'm Saanvi!

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Of words and scribbles

I'm San's 'best friend' these days, and this tag comes with loads of hugs and kisses. I'm loving it! Papa dear also gets that tag, but only for a limited time (mostly when she gets a scolding from me :D ). Another great compliment that she's liberally uses is "pretty Mommy". You can imagine that I immediately rise to the cloud nine when I hear these words! :-)

She's getting better at forming sentences. The ones that include a 'no' give her some trouble but she always manages to get the message across. Here are a few samples (the ones I love to hear):

- "I no wanna no eat."

- "You my no best friend, Mommy."

- "It's not working." (the only sentence in which she uses 'not')

Lately, I've been trying to explain her that the 'forehead' is not a 'fourhead'. :)

Her scribbles and drawings are also getting better. She can almost draw a fish, at times a whale, and also a chicken! :)

The whale

The chicken

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!

New Class, New Pretend Plays

San has been promoted to the 'Big Girl' class in school. Last week was her trial period in that class, and she loved it. Why? Because they have a lot of pretend play stuff there... Cute little dolls to cuddle, plastic fruits and veggies to feed them, a little high-chair for the dolls (I loved it too!), and a little washing machine and dryer to wash doll's clothes. All that San wants is right there! In spite of that, I am more nervous than her about how she'd adjust in the new class. :-s Although, her favorite Sophia is in that class with her, I wonder how she'd cope with the new teacher, Miss Terry! I miss Miss Vera more than San does... sheesh! :-D

San likes to play 'school' at home. So whenever she's sitting idle (that happens when it's her poop time), she pretends she's the teacher and starts calling out the other kids' names. Randomly, she tells them to eat, take a nap, don't do this and that, and even gives them a timeout! :D Pssst! She even gives timeout to her crayons, wonder why! Maybe, they aren't coloring good enough! :-D

She's learned a new phrase today - 'Excuse me!' So, after every sneeze, burp, or even a hiccup, she's saying that. :-)

Accents, phrases, and runny noses

This week has been quite boring for San and me. We're struggling with runny noses and a stupid cough again. And it happened the same day, same time... and we're almost at the same stage of common cold. Amusing, isn't it? :-) San is missing her friends and play-dates. I too am!

I gave her some lukewarm water today, afraid that she'd find out that something's different. She took a sip and looked at me from the corner of her eye. "Mommy, honey?", she asked. "No, it's just water.", I replied. She took another sip. "Mommy, hot water?", she asked. "No, it's just plain water.", I said. She gave me the I-know-what-you-did look and took some more sips. Phew!

Here's another recent development, courtesy her School. San has started to say a couple of words in a great American accent... mostly, the words that start with 'C' and 'P'. Papa dear keeps pulling her back to a neutral accent, but then it's not gonna work. :-D

I've noticed that all parents, especially the Mommies, like to see their kids talk with an accent. It's almost like a milestone! A Mommy even told me that she wants to put her daughter in school only to see her talk with an accent, so that she can show it off back home. Hoho! Funny thoughts! I don't care till the time she's talking and talking good. :-)

"Stop that." "Don't do that." "No, it's mine." These are San's current favorite phrases. Quite rude, but she can't help it!

Diaper-free... almost!

With the start of the New Year, I kick-started the toughest job (according to me): San's toilet training! Yup, accidents did happen the first two days, but San did a good job thereafter. So, I finally decided to continue the same at school.

Yesterday was her first diaper-free day at school. I'd sent several clothes and training pants along with her, cuz' I was sure that she's gonna wet at least one pair. I was prepared to come back with a pile of soiled clothes, but, to my surprise and her teacher's surprise, she stayed dry all day! Her teacher was so glad that she used the potty seat very well and praised her for that. Another proud moment for a parent! I was all smiles like the earlier moment. :D I again wanted to brag about how well San is doing at home, but I again kept shut. Haha!

Every small step in the biggest of the tasks feels like an achievement. It might be no big deal, but I can't help feeling proud and happy about it. And I also can't help bragging about it to my friends, just like all Mommies do. Ah! What a happy Mommy I am! :-D

So, San is just one step away from the diaper-free days. Her nighttime diaper has to go!
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San has started enjoying school and adores her teacher. Yesterday night, when she was half-asleep, she told me that she wants to go to school, to Miss Vera, her teacher. I now think about her first few days at school, when I used to wonder when she'd start liking the school. It has happened, finally!

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Yesterday, she was dancing around with two candies that she picked up at a friend's place. Another friend's boy was eyeing the candies, and San was kinda teasing her with them. The boy finally walked up to San. San got into a defensive mode and uttered a mean 'MINE'! And sent me in a state of shock. She did give him a candy later, but I'm not so happy with the new word that she has learnt. :-s

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

Of Spanish and School

And one fine day, San, while playing with her bean bag, started 'chanting' Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, Cinco. I thought that I mis-heard her, so I asked her to repeat what she was saying. And she repeated the series. Phew! So, thank you Dora and Diego! :-D

Pssst... Papa dear doesn't kinda like it when San breaks into the little Spanish she knows... especially, when she calls him 'Papi'! :-D

School days are not very smooth though. I was quite confident that she'll adjust fast... I expected a lot from her, I guess. <sigh> I keep telling myself that she'd be fine and the day will soon come when she'd WANT to go to school, eat all the food that I give her, and will come back happy.

We attended the Thanksgiving Day Feast at her school last Friday. San kept running away (literally) from her teachers all along. And when it was time to leave, she happily said Bye to them and hugged them all!

At least, she was happy to show off her 'artwork' (the hand-prints on that picture). :-)

Second day at school and more

San's second day at school was better than we expected. She ate two bites of her lunch (big progress!), napped for 45 minutes (wow!), and let the teacher paint her hands and take the prints. :-)

Me: So, what did you do today?
San: Roi-Roi (Cried).
Me: What else?
San: Soi-Soi (Slept)
Me: What more?
San: Books read.
Me: And?
San: Cycle.
Me: What did the teacher do?
San: Diaper change.
Me: Hmm, what else?
San: Shush!

:-D

I wonder how much time she'd take to get comfortable with the school cuz' she goes only two days a week. She'd at least know that it's a part of the routine. :-)

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School stuff aside, she's getting better at the pretend play. She now feeds me a variety of stuff (all imaginary) and makes sure that I chew it! She loves to take her baby doll for a ride in the stroller, feed her, and change her diaper (complete with a changing pad and wipes).

And she still loves to clean up, trash stuff, and make sure that the trash can is locked at all times. :D

Now that she's started greeting her Papa dear with 'Ola!' instead of 'Hello', he wants her to stop watching Dora and switch back to Elmo and Barney. :-D

Pretend Play and Jumpy Tales

and one fine day
she tells me she wants to play
grabs her spoon and feeds me air
"pretend play, already?", I say

and it's not just that
I'm supposed to do a 'slurp'
like it's the most delicious stuff I've had
guess I might also have to burp

there's more to pretend play
she tells me I have a boo-boo
then grabs her imaginary ointment
rubs it on and kisses the boo-boo too

so another fine day
when Dora asked her to say Map
she sang the Dora song
and finished it off with 'Gab yo bappap'!

almost there with 'Ba Ba black sheep'
and 'Twinkle Twinkle little star'
when I wonder how she does it
she sings them and raises the bar

and after days of effort
at one spot, she's able to jump
at times, it looks perfect
at times, she lands with a thump

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.

Choices!

Me: Do you want cherries or do you want an apple?
San: Apple!
Me: Do you want an apple or do you want cherries?
San: Cherries!
Me: Okay, Mumma is getting an apple for you.
San: Mummy, cherries!
Me: Okay, Mumma is getting cherries.
San: Mummy, apple!
Me: Choose one!
San: Mummy, bananaa!

And that's the first good conversation we had today. :-)

New words? You just heard it... err, read it! Banana! She started with a banananana though. :D The 'nanas' always used to confused her but now she has conquered them! :-) 'Sink' is the other new word in her kitty. She likes to put (toss) the used dishes (and her bottle) in the sink.

She likes going on walks cuz' she gets to look at the birds, the planes, and cats! At times, she stops to observe some busy ants without disturbing them. How thoughtful of her! :-)

Elmo still scores over everyone else, but Dora is catching up fast. How did Dora enter her fav list? Since the time she got a Dora t-shirt and came to know that it's Dora, she started liking the name Dora, and now she loves watching Dora, without forgetting Elmo. :-D I'm now in love with Elmo though!

Aaaaaaand she's gonna turn two after exactly one month... Gosh!

BTW, San's been asking me how a Zebra sounds... do you know? :-)

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!

New words, some drawing, and more dolly tales

New words... hmm... Papa dear has taught her how and when to say Please. So now, she manages to get almost everything with the help of her sugary Please that she backs up with a cute head-tilt! Who would have a heart to refuse after hearing this version of Please! :-) The next word is Shower - courtesy Papa dear. San used to be afraid of getting into the shower earlier, and used to stick to the cozy bath tub with her Pooh bear toys and a green mug. And suddenly, all she wants now is stand in the shower. She enjoys it on her back, then turns around and takes it on her face, then hair... and I've to operate the shower till she's done with it (which never happens cuz' I've to pull her out of it). San's version of Shower - Shovo!

New girly stuff? She wants to choose her footwear now. Gone are the days when I used to choose her shoes. Yesterday, she surprisingly matched her pink dress with pink sandals. I wanted her to wear something else cuz' the pink ones are not her size anymore. But she insisted (fought and screamed) and didn't let the pink ones go. So finally, she walked out with the pink ones on, although, they gave her a hard time at the end of the day. :-)

Dolly tales are on - she now makes me change dolly's diaper, tells me to shower her, and brush her teeth as well! Oh and I forgot to mention the Giraffe baby that sleeps in her crib. He doesn't get much of San's time, but gets loads of kisses and hugs, and a sugar-coated Nay Nay (San's version of Night Night). :-)

Elmo is her new favorite now! Barney has slipped to position 2, Pocoyo keeps slipping in and out of the queue, and Pooh gets lucky at times.

Here's her latest scribble... drawing, I mean! :) she doesn't draw quite often cuz' that's our job. So here it is... a fish, a bird, and a baby... that's what she told me it is!

What else? Just a phew! :-)