Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
The optimist
Venky is discussing the 3 piglets story with his dad.
(For those who do not know the story - 3 piglets make their respective houses out of straw, sticks and bricks. The big bad wolf is able to blow the down the straw and stick houses but not the brick house)
Venky - "Is our house made of sticks?"
Papa - "No, it is made of bricks. It is a strong house."
Venky - "Is our neighbor's house made of sticks or straw?"
Papa - " No. Nobody makes straw or sticks houses. All the houses are made of bricks."
Venky is disappointed!
Venky - "So, who makes straw houses?"
Papa - "Uhmmm... maybe the bird does. Her nest is made of straw."
Venky - "Then if somebody throws a stone, her house will fall?"
Papa - "Yes. Straw houses are not strong."
Venky - "Then what will happen to the bird?"
Papa - "It will also fall down"
Venky - "No Papa, it will fly away!" :-) ===> Happy ending!
(For those who do not know the story - 3 piglets make their respective houses out of straw, sticks and bricks. The big bad wolf is able to blow the down the straw and stick houses but not the brick house)
Venky - "Is our house made of sticks?"
Papa - "No, it is made of bricks. It is a strong house."
Venky - "Is our neighbor's house made of sticks or straw?"
Papa - " No. Nobody makes straw or sticks houses. All the houses are made of bricks."
Venky is disappointed!
Venky - "So, who makes straw houses?"
Papa - "Uhmmm... maybe the bird does. Her nest is made of straw."
Venky - "Then if somebody throws a stone, her house will fall?"
Papa - "Yes. Straw houses are not strong."
Venky - "Then what will happen to the bird?"
Papa - "It will also fall down"
Venky - "No Papa, it will fly away!" :-) ===> Happy ending!
Monday, 24 January 2011
We hear what we want to
especially, from Tunmun. The story teller that she is, Tunmun is always making some sounds comprised randomly of syllables Na, ma. pa, ya ,da etc.
Tunmun says "papapapapapa" and Vibhu declares she is calling him
Tunmun says "mammah" and I declare that she is calling me
Tunmun says "Aaaaayaah" and Venky thinks she is saying "Bhaiya"
This is what takes the cake. Tunmun's part time nanny said that she can call her name - "Waheeda". WHAT? Tunmun can say "Waheeda???"
Turns out Tunmun can say "Aadaaah". There! she is saying "Waheeda" proved her nanny with a smile :-)
Tunmun says "papapapapapa" and Vibhu declares she is calling him
Tunmun says "mammah" and I declare that she is calling me
Tunmun says "Aaaaayaah" and Venky thinks she is saying "Bhaiya"
This is what takes the cake. Tunmun's part time nanny said that she can call her name - "Waheeda". WHAT? Tunmun can say "Waheeda???"
Turns out Tunmun can say "Aadaaah". There! she is saying "Waheeda" proved her nanny with a smile :-)
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Milestone!
Tunmun is crawling (and falling). My little girl became mobile on 18th Jan 2011. Mark the date dear grandmom, it is 5 days short of her 8 month mark. Now my grabber is going to bring the whole house down! :)
P.S - Grandmom is asked to mark the date because she had christined Tunmun as "Lodh baba". Tunmun had not taken her first roll till 6 months of age!
P.S - Grandmom is asked to mark the date because she had christined Tunmun as "Lodh baba". Tunmun had not taken her first roll till 6 months of age!
Monday, 3 January 2011
It's Different!
Venky has been taught is school to spot out the different member from a group. Vibhu keeps asking him to find out " what is different " from a group (of usually 3 things). He is also made to explain why the thing that he picked is different.
It is a very interesting game as Venky often finds those things different that 90% of the adults will not and is also able to give his own logical explanation for it. Here are some examples
"What is different among Mommy, Tunmun and Papa?"
90% adults - Papa, becuase he is a male and the other two are female.
Venky - Tunmun, because she is small and other two are big.
"What is different among sock, baniyan and Tee shirt?"
90% adults - Socks, because it is worn on feet while the other two are worn on the upper half of the body
Venky - Tee shirt, because other two are inner wear and Tee is an outer wear.
"What is different among chicken, fish and cauliflower?"
90% adults - Cauliflower because other two are animals and cauliflower is a vegetable."
Venky - Cauliflower because fish and chicken are yummy and cauliflower is not!
We've also suddenly found out that Venky can do additions and substractions. "I give you 2 chocs and mommy gives you/ takes away another 1, how many do you have now?" kind of questions - Venky gives correct answers. We thought at first that it was his random guess that got right. But he did it again and again and again and again. He hasn't been taught addition/substraction at school yet and we have not taught him too. My rock star learnt it on his own :)
It is a very interesting game as Venky often finds those things different that 90% of the adults will not and is also able to give his own logical explanation for it. Here are some examples
"What is different among Mommy, Tunmun and Papa?"
90% adults - Papa, becuase he is a male and the other two are female.
Venky - Tunmun, because she is small and other two are big.
"What is different among sock, baniyan and Tee shirt?"
90% adults - Socks, because it is worn on feet while the other two are worn on the upper half of the body
Venky - Tee shirt, because other two are inner wear and Tee is an outer wear.
"What is different among chicken, fish and cauliflower?"
90% adults - Cauliflower because other two are animals and cauliflower is a vegetable."
Venky - Cauliflower because fish and chicken are yummy and cauliflower is not!
We've also suddenly found out that Venky can do additions and substractions. "I give you 2 chocs and mommy gives you/ takes away another 1, how many do you have now?" kind of questions - Venky gives correct answers. We thought at first that it was his random guess that got right. But he did it again and again and again and again. He hasn't been taught addition/substraction at school yet and we have not taught him too. My rock star learnt it on his own :)
Monday, 27 December 2010
A house with kids
has Donald Duck and Kangaroo in their beds
has diapers and coloring books in their shelves
has plastic fish, duck and frog in the buckets in their bathroom
has stroller, skateboard, cycles in their car park.
and balls of all shapes and sizes all over.
has diapers and coloring books in their shelves
has plastic fish, duck and frog in the buckets in their bathroom
has stroller, skateboard, cycles in their car park.
and balls of all shapes and sizes all over.
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
D D and D D
Demanding Daughter is the one who wants her dad's specs and cries everytime it is hidden away from her.
Doting Dad is the one who gets the glasses removed from that frame and fitted into a new one but still wears the old frames without glasses so that the daughter can grab it and play safely with it.
Tunmun gets her favourite toy and Vibhu gets a bill of 3500/-
I did not know that such a big man could be wrung around such a tiny finger.
Doting Dad is the one who gets the glasses removed from that frame and fitted into a new one but still wears the old frames without glasses so that the daughter can grab it and play safely with it.
Tunmun gets her favourite toy and Vibhu gets a bill of 3500/-
I did not know that such a big man could be wrung around such a tiny finger.
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Conversation with 3.5 year old
Conversation as it happened between Venky and Vibhu, on the way to Venky's school bus pick up point at 7.30 am
Venky and Vibhu meet our next door neighbor who is walking his dog.
"Papa, I am not afraid of that dog"
"Wow, you are a very brave boy Venky!"
"Papa, do you know why I am not afraid of the dog?"
"Because you just ate your breakfast and you are strong now?"
"No, because uncle is holding the dog's leash. It cannot bite me!"
A few houses down the line
"Papa, I am not afraid of this dog too."
"Why?"
"Because it is behind the gate of that house, it cannot come out and bite me."
Okey.. Vibhu gets the pattern now. Still more houses down the line, they come across a house with a pet parrot. The parrot's cage is hanging in the balcony.
"Papa, I am not afraid of that parrot too!"
"Because it is inside the cage?"
"Noooooo Papa! Because it is HERBIVOROUS !!"
Venky and Vibhu meet our next door neighbor who is walking his dog.
"Papa, I am not afraid of that dog"
"Wow, you are a very brave boy Venky!"
"Papa, do you know why I am not afraid of the dog?"
"Because you just ate your breakfast and you are strong now?"
"No, because uncle is holding the dog's leash. It cannot bite me!"
A few houses down the line
"Papa, I am not afraid of this dog too."
"Why?"
"Because it is behind the gate of that house, it cannot come out and bite me."
Okey.. Vibhu gets the pattern now. Still more houses down the line, they come across a house with a pet parrot. The parrot's cage is hanging in the balcony.
"Papa, I am not afraid of that parrot too!"
"Because it is inside the cage?"
"Noooooo Papa! Because it is HERBIVOROUS !!"
Friday, 3 December 2010
Tunmun has her way
Grab, grab, grab
and Sitting up and grab, grab, grab again.
Highest on the hit list is Vibhu's specs. She gets angry if Vibhu takes it off before picking her up. Today, Vibhu was rocking her to sleep. After she had closed her eyes for a while, Vibhu put his specs back. Tunmun opened her eyes momentarily and in her half slumber state grabbed it!
My girl sure knows what she wants. Signs of tough time in store for us!
and Sitting up and grab, grab, grab again.
Highest on the hit list is Vibhu's specs. She gets angry if Vibhu takes it off before picking her up. Today, Vibhu was rocking her to sleep. After she had closed her eyes for a while, Vibhu put his specs back. Tunmun opened her eyes momentarily and in her half slumber state grabbed it!
My girl sure knows what she wants. Signs of tough time in store for us!
Bedtime Story
There was a poor but honest woodcuter. One day as he was cutting a branch of a tree, his axe slipped from his hand and fell into the river underneath. The woodcutter did not have money to buy another axe, so he started crying. The river god took pity on the woodcutter and appeared with a gold axe.
"Is this your axe?"
"No", said the woodcutter.
The river god came back with a silver axe.
"Is this your axe?"
"No", said the woodcutter.
The river god now came back with the woodcutter's axe
"Yes. this is my axe", said the woodcutter.
The river god was impressed with the woodcutter's honesty and gave him the gold and silver axe too.
Vibhu - "Venky, what is the moral of this story?"
Venky - "That we should be careful when we cut trees"
"Is this your axe?"
"No", said the woodcutter.
The river god came back with a silver axe.
"Is this your axe?"
"No", said the woodcutter.
The river god now came back with the woodcutter's axe
"Yes. this is my axe", said the woodcutter.
The river god was impressed with the woodcutter's honesty and gave him the gold and silver axe too.
Vibhu - "Venky, what is the moral of this story?"
Venky - "That we should be careful when we cut trees"
Rock Star Indeed
A few days ago, we had a childrens' psychologist's lecture in Venky's school (Hi -Fi school, yeah!). Vibhu attended the session as I had to stay with Tunmun. The counsellor talked about 3 main issues with kids of this age (3 - 4 years).
1. Eating problems - Nopes, not my kid. He does fuss a little during dinner time, but that is more because he does not like eating rotis in particular. Venky is able to have a balanced diet over the day with cereals, veggies, apple and egg. Not to forget 3 glasses of milk :)
2. Hyperactivity - This means highly active destructive kids. Venky can probably be classified as super active but not destructive. He loves to run and jump around but is never on a breaking spree. He also cleans up after the play
3. Possesiveness - Big NO for Venky. Venky is always ready to give away even his last piece of chocolate. If anything, I am worried about his excess philanthrophy :)
So Vibhu just sat silent through the whole session while other parents put forth their problems. Later, he narrated the experience to me with a lot of pride. We have a rock star indeed! :-)
1. Eating problems - Nopes, not my kid. He does fuss a little during dinner time, but that is more because he does not like eating rotis in particular. Venky is able to have a balanced diet over the day with cereals, veggies, apple and egg. Not to forget 3 glasses of milk :)
2. Hyperactivity - This means highly active destructive kids. Venky can probably be classified as super active but not destructive. He loves to run and jump around but is never on a breaking spree. He also cleans up after the play
3. Possesiveness - Big NO for Venky. Venky is always ready to give away even his last piece of chocolate. If anything, I am worried about his excess philanthrophy :)
So Vibhu just sat silent through the whole session while other parents put forth their problems. Later, he narrated the experience to me with a lot of pride. We have a rock star indeed! :-)
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Chatterbox
is what Tunmun has become.
"Ba babub" "Dayedaye" "Nananah" "MammmMammm"
Yup. She can make all these sounds. That's a lot of vocabulary for a 6 months minus 10 days old. And mind you, you are supposed to respond back. She loves it especially if you talk back to her in her own language. So, in between those sounds, comes the gurguling laughter. Aaah .. the joys of motherhood.
Tunmun wants conversations. When she's in a playful mood and is blabbering away, I often take the opportunity to do my own stuff. But as soon as I turn away, the blabber turns into crying. "Look at me Momeee. I am talking to you!" The only time I can turn away from her is when she is napping (which lasts full 15 minutes).Aaah .. the joys of motherhood.
So, that's my roly poly gullu pullu cutooo chatterbox. At full 6 months minus 10 days. Who talks and is almost sitting up. But rolling over? Naaah.. too much effort. She'd rather just talk.
"Ba babub" "Dayedaye" "Nananah" "MammmMammm"
Yup. She can make all these sounds. That's a lot of vocabulary for a 6 months minus 10 days old. And mind you, you are supposed to respond back. She loves it especially if you talk back to her in her own language. So, in between those sounds, comes the gurguling laughter. Aaah .. the joys of motherhood.
Tunmun wants conversations. When she's in a playful mood and is blabbering away, I often take the opportunity to do my own stuff. But as soon as I turn away, the blabber turns into crying. "Look at me Momeee. I am talking to you!" The only time I can turn away from her is when she is napping (which lasts full 15 minutes).Aaah .. the joys of motherhood.
So, that's my roly poly gullu pullu cutooo chatterbox. At full 6 months minus 10 days. Who talks and is almost sitting up. But rolling over? Naaah.. too much effort. She'd rather just talk.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Overheard
Vibhu - "Venky, tell me a lie"
Venky (almost immideately) - "Papa, I don't suck thumb"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Venky - "Papa, where are you going?"
Vibhu - "How do you know I am going out?"
Venky - "Papa, you are wearing jeans" (Vibhu is normally in Pajjus at home)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venky - "Mommy, do you know what Tunmun has in her mouth?"
I (panicking) - "What?"
Venky - "Rasgollas" (That's Tunmun's chubby cheeks)
I - "And what do you have?"
Venky - "Butter!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since my Sleepyhead is not so sleepy anymore and is giving me a hard time napping and waking up many times at night. I am going to anti jinx her sleep pattern by changing the blog name. What is it going to be now - well, its there for you
Venky (almost immideately) - "Papa, I don't suck thumb"
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Venky - "Papa, where are you going?"
Vibhu - "How do you know I am going out?"
Venky - "Papa, you are wearing jeans" (Vibhu is normally in Pajjus at home)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venky - "Mommy, do you know what Tunmun has in her mouth?"
I (panicking) - "What?"
Venky - "Rasgollas" (That's Tunmun's chubby cheeks)
I - "And what do you have?"
Venky - "Butter!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since my Sleepyhead is not so sleepy anymore and is giving me a hard time napping and waking up many times at night. I am going to anti jinx her sleep pattern by changing the blog name. What is it going to be now - well, its there for you
Friday, 22 October 2010
Mostly Updates
1. Tunmun's Annaprashan - Madame decided to poop right when the pooja was about to begin. And while she was at it, she emptied her whole stomach. Result? Poop leaked out of diaper and went all the way up till her back soiling her beautiful new clothes. So, right before pooja, we had to clean her meticulously. Give her a bath again. And wash her soiled clothes
2. Tunmun's Rollover - Madame is 5 months now. No signs of rolling over. She would rather just lie still and talk - already saying "da-da" now. And by the way, she gets bored if left alone and gets cranky. You are expected to talk back to her. Madame likes discussions even though she is quite opinionated!
3. Venky's mood - is going great. After a hard monsoon which had left him sick, Venky's temprament had taken a serious hit. He had gotten short tempered and cranky. So much, that we had started worrying if it had become his nature. But now, my rock star is back. That's my loving, caring and responsible boy!
4. My office - I joined back. Half time. So far, its going good. I don't have to be away from Tunmun for too long and it gives me my much desired break :-)
The other day, Venky cuddled up to me in the morning and held my had half asleep. After a while, I felt his hand missing. I my slumber I tried to search for his hand. Venky realized this and held my hand again. Role reversal is happening already :-)
2. Tunmun's Rollover - Madame is 5 months now. No signs of rolling over. She would rather just lie still and talk - already saying "da-da" now. And by the way, she gets bored if left alone and gets cranky. You are expected to talk back to her. Madame likes discussions even though she is quite opinionated!
3. Venky's mood - is going great. After a hard monsoon which had left him sick, Venky's temprament had taken a serious hit. He had gotten short tempered and cranky. So much, that we had started worrying if it had become his nature. But now, my rock star is back. That's my loving, caring and responsible boy!
4. My office - I joined back. Half time. So far, its going good. I don't have to be away from Tunmun for too long and it gives me my much desired break :-)
The other day, Venky cuddled up to me in the morning and held my had half asleep. After a while, I felt his hand missing. I my slumber I tried to search for his hand. Venky realized this and held my hand again. Role reversal is happening already :-)
Monday, 13 September 2010
And now I become a metric
The parting words from my gynac after 6 week checkup were "Now go on, lose that weight". Yeah, I gained and gained during pregnancy and shedding seems no where in sight. The only exercise is taking the baby out on a stroller in the evening (which happened 2 times in the last two weeks thanks to the rainy rainy monsoon).
The whole Hyderabad has ongoing sales and I so want to buy new clothes. But what size should I buy? The one that I currently am or the one I hope to be in the next one year. Time and again I lament my lost shape and Vibhu gives me a patient ear and pep up speech "Its only been 3 months and you are feeding. You'll be back to pre pregnancy weight in an year. If anything you look good."
So, while I keep wondering about my weight .. just how fat am I? Should I trust the scales or the husband? We took Venky to see Ganesha idols across the city. We saw some small ones and some big ones. Finally we landed on an idol which seemed the largest of all but was not clearly visible. Vibhu took Venky for a closer look at the idol while I waited in the car with Tunmun. When Venky came back, he was super excited and said "Mommeee.. the idol was soooo BIG, tumse bhi jayada huge tha".
Well, I HAVE to lose this flab now!
The whole Hyderabad has ongoing sales and I so want to buy new clothes. But what size should I buy? The one that I currently am or the one I hope to be in the next one year. Time and again I lament my lost shape and Vibhu gives me a patient ear and pep up speech "Its only been 3 months and you are feeding. You'll be back to pre pregnancy weight in an year. If anything you look good."
So, while I keep wondering about my weight .. just how fat am I? Should I trust the scales or the husband? We took Venky to see Ganesha idols across the city. We saw some small ones and some big ones. Finally we landed on an idol which seemed the largest of all but was not clearly visible. Vibhu took Venky for a closer look at the idol while I waited in the car with Tunmun. When Venky came back, he was super excited and said "Mommeee.. the idol was soooo BIG, tumse bhi jayada huge tha".
Well, I HAVE to lose this flab now!
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Traffic Rules
Vibhu and Venky were driving to his school. The road was fairly empty. They pass through a traffic signal.
Venky - "Papa, was the light green or red?"
Vibhu (irritated that Venky still does not know his colors) - "Don't you know colors yet? It was red!"
Venky - "Papa, then why did you not stop?"
Next time we were driving through an empty signal and the light was red, Vibhu applied the brakes right on time.
Venky - "Papa, was the light green or red?"
Vibhu (irritated that Venky still does not know his colors) - "Don't you know colors yet? It was red!"
Venky - "Papa, then why did you not stop?"
Next time we were driving through an empty signal and the light was red, Vibhu applied the brakes right on time.
Friday, 27 August 2010
Colors
I was waiting for Venky to learn to color, for that is one activity that can keep kids sitting and busy. That time has come. Venky is now on his 2nd Jumbo coloring book. Like all kids, he loves coloring. Finally he's found one activity that he can enjoy that can keep him in one place. But there is a catch. I should color with him! While he is coloring one page of the book, I should color the other! So much for my wishful thinking for peaceful FREE time!
So, here I am. Coloring pages after pages. Much to my surprise, I enjoy it just as I used to when I was a kid myself. Its true that kids color your life - literally! :)
So, here I am. Coloring pages after pages. Much to my surprise, I enjoy it just as I used to when I was a kid myself. Its true that kids color your life - literally! :)
Monday, 16 August 2010
Baby Breath
After the feeds, I hold you propped up on my shoulders for five minutes, waiting for you to burp. Your face is so close to mine, barely inches away. I keep staring at you for I have never seen something so pretty. I revel in your baby scent for I have never known a smell so sweet. That moment is solely and completely mine. Those five minutes after every feed, they make the nausea, the labor, the sleepless nights, oh, so worth it!
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Fast Forward
Venky - "I am growing so fast, I will become 11 years very soon."
I - "Yes, you will."
Venky starts counting and stops only at 40.
"I will become 40 years very soon."
"When you will be 40 years old, you will also have a baby like Tunmun."
I had promised myself that I will not nag my kids to become parents after being at the receiving end by all the ladies of the previous generation. But I see myself not letting a chance go already!
"Mommy, what will you name her?"
"You will name her Venky." Secretly, I am thrilled at the prospect of him letting me name his babies
"I will name her Aditi"
"That's a nice name."
"And Tunmun"
"Tunmun"?
"Yes, like you call her Tunmun" Venky points to his baby sister.
"You mean, ghar ka naam (pet name)"?
"Yes, ghar ka naam."
"Do you know, what is your ghar ka naam"?
"Yes, house no 47 ....." And Venky recites our full address :). That is where our discussions on his future end.
I - "Yes, you will."
Venky starts counting and stops only at 40.
"I will become 40 years very soon."
"When you will be 40 years old, you will also have a baby like Tunmun."
I had promised myself that I will not nag my kids to become parents after being at the receiving end by all the ladies of the previous generation. But I see myself not letting a chance go already!
"Mommy, what will you name her?"
"You will name her Venky." Secretly, I am thrilled at the prospect of him letting me name his babies
"I will name her Aditi"
"That's a nice name."
"And Tunmun"
"Tunmun"?
"Yes, like you call her Tunmun" Venky points to his baby sister.
"You mean, ghar ka naam (pet name)"?
"Yes, ghar ka naam."
"Do you know, what is your ghar ka naam"?
"Yes, house no 47 ....." And Venky recites our full address :). That is where our discussions on his future end.
Monday, 12 July 2010
The Night Owl
is what Tunmun has become. For the past week she has been sleeping like a log during the day and been up all night. This has resulted into Vibhu and Venky shifting into another room so that Venky can be up in the morning to go to the school and me struggling with her alone till the wee hours of the morning. Sigh .. the joys of parenthood !
And Miss T, I am the one who rocks you throught the night, but you chose to give your first smile to Big B. That is fine. But that you smile ONLY at him is JUST NOT FAIR! I deserve at least that much for .. well, I don't want to cite the old hindi movie dialog "maine nau maheene tumhe apne kokh mein pala hai.", but heck, that's true! I've worked the hardest. Now c'mon, give me that heart melting smile of yours!
And please, please, please start sleeping during the nights again.
And Miss T, I am the one who rocks you throught the night, but you chose to give your first smile to Big B. That is fine. But that you smile ONLY at him is JUST NOT FAIR! I deserve at least that much for .. well, I don't want to cite the old hindi movie dialog "maine nau maheene tumhe apne kokh mein pala hai.", but heck, that's true! I've worked the hardest. Now c'mon, give me that heart melting smile of yours!
And please, please, please start sleeping during the nights again.
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