We went shoe-shopping for Babushka today.When we started looking,I saw some sneakers and went to the next aisle to see if there are anymore options.Now,SD is a quick shopper and has no patience for stragglers like me…who like to walk around various aisles and shops and then finally pick one thing or on some occasions, walk out,without buying anything. So,as I was saying,I spotted the sneakers I was after and then,went to the next aisle to check for other options and heard SD cluck and say..’Now,why can’t you look at what you came to look at!’ By now,I am used to it..and just ignored his frowns and clucks and words..and walked on.We picked the sneakers and Babushka tried them on.And she loved’em. Then we went to look for a second pair..Now,it was SD’s turn to give up..he found himself a stool and settled down. We went and found tiny UGG replicas..after much deliberation on color,we picked black..She tried on the new pair and strutted around.And thats when she spotted a pair of shoes that her current BFF A at school had.. and she had to try those on,and in all the available colors,too.And she was convinced that that was that was the best pair for her. I was really keen on her getting the black UGGs but no she wouldn’t budge.I looked at SD for help and he just shrugged..’Oh come on!! let her pick!!!’
Humpff..Whatever.. the guy,who wants me to finish my monthly grocery in half an hour,he who doesnt understand why I need to try on clothes,sat patiently as his daughter tried shoe after shoe and supported her choice,in a heartbeat!! Ohh Well..I have my heart set on the black uggs and will go back and pick them up.. in a day or two..:P Whattttt??I wanted a girl,so I could dress her to my heart’s content..not soo..she would start vetoing my choices so early on in life!!!
Author: MysTri Mum
Can we do some Padhai?
says Babushka! Don’t believe me??
See this:
She wrote these all by herself,and without any prompting too. A ‘T’, an ‘A’ and an ‘F’,another ‘A’ and random scibbles,that I have now forgotten-So what if the F is the wrong side.. she did it all by herself..And before you say,its because of Kinder..No,sirree..No! Its all her! No Kinder,No Mommy,No daddy..All Babushka! I am so proud of my little girl.I taught her how to write A long back.. but then,decided to teach her to recognise alphabets,first..:)
Slowly and steadily,we worked through the letters of the alphabet-using books,magnets,flashcards and last but not the least,Starfall.com and now she recognises all but 8 random alphabets.The funniest is everytime,we come across a ‘W’,she will turn the magnet or the card/book upside down and say,”this way,it looks like M and this way like W”..
I was teaching her phonics as well..just during random play and Starfall helped to grasp it even better.I also downloaded the App on my iPhone and let her play with it..(what?its better than watching TV,na?) And now,she wants to know,what every word starts with!! It is fun!I tell her the sound and she guesses the starting letter.And the look of pride on her face,when she gets it right is priceless!
I had stopped teaching her to write,as I could see,it was stressing her out..And I am glad,I stopped.. because,now when she wrote,on her own..no pressure..it was amazing..she wants to write on her own all the time now and even makes letters using straws and sticks.
And we are doing some numbers too.. counting by rote upto 10 is something she mastered very early on.. now she is trying to do upto 20 and still fumbles sometimes,which is fine.. we are not in a rush.She loves counting figures and on her fingers..and does simple addition and subtraction,using her fingers.Gosh!!its almost like,I can see her mind working..:)- Eyebrows furrowed,forhead creased,eyes crinkled!!
And its at moments like these,that I feel relieved that I didn’t pressurise her,when I saw other moms around sending their kids for Kumon and Phonics classes..I feel happy that I let her take the time and let her set the pace,while I gently helped her move along:) Its moments like these that remind me,why I always wanted to be a SAHM for my babies,in their initial years..:) And thats when I am glad to be,what I am:)
Choco-chip muffins
I made these gorgeous muffins for Aadya’s school lunch tomorrow 🙂
The recipe is from here and my only changes to it are:
1)Used Whole wheat self raising flour instead of regular one.
2)replaced margarine with canola oil.
My take- The cupcakes are nice and moist.Only,next time I will add a little more than the 3/4 cup sugar recommended..even a cup or little more than that would be fine too. I made mini muffins and baked a 9″ round cake with the remaning batter.. pretty cool,eh? Oh!I would reduce the temperature by about 10 degrees too.. (atleast in my oven)
Hope you like enjoy making these too:)
The Poor Pizza Boy
This one was spotted while we were walking to the shops, in a another neighbourhood.
Seeing a midwife
We were going to see a midwife,yesterday.Naturally Babushka the curious kitten wanted to know all about Midwives.
“Is the midwife a Doctor?” she asked. No the midwife is someone who helps the Doctor.
“Oh!so,is she a nurse?”came the next question.. No she is not a nurse. She will take care of mommy when there is a baby in her tummy.
“Achcha…so,she is a special person who takes care of little girls mommies,when they have babies in their tummies”..
Yes,baby she is.. 🙂 All this while SD,kept shaking his head and mouthing..”wow..did you see that?she is so clever..thats a very valid question”.hehee proud daddy that he is!
Anyway,after this long discussion,we went to see the midwife..and Babushka loved her instantly.. you know why?She asked her to hold the goodies bag,for the baby.Babushka was mighty impressed.. and held it patiently.SD told her,she can see whats inside once we are in the car.To her credit,she waited patiently,while we went around making various appointments!
And while in the midwife’s office,she asked SD and me,in loud whispers,”Is this the midwife??” atleast 10 times… LOL! The look on her face was surreal.. as if she expected the midwife to be an angel or someone with wings and halos.. and was surprised to see just a normal person!!:D
It was a good visit overall..my only disappointment being that we didn’t get to hear the baby’s heartbeat..she didnt even try..saying they try for a heartbeat,with a doppler,only around 20 weeks.Whatever!! Babykins moved just then,as if to tell me-‘Don’t worry Mumma,everythings fine here’ 😀 So,its OK I guess.
18 weeks and counting..
I can’t believe this time,we havent done any belly shots:(
We went to see the midwife yesterday.It was a nice change from seeing the GP,all this while.She discussed the option of VBAC and much as I am scared of it…I would like to know more about it.
As I gave her more of my history,she said,that in all probability I would probably be seeing the OBs and endo through out…which is fine,you know.. Being in an OB’s care is all I have known.. so..lets see.The OB’s appointment is next month-then we’ll know more.
So far,I am feeling good..the nausea seems to have subsided and I am feeling better..but just tired,most of the times.I am measuring 22 weeks.No surprises there.. thats how it was,with Aadya too..I was always measuring 2-4 weeks ahead.
My only disappoint from the appointment was that we didn’t get to hear the baby’s heartbeat…:( She didn’t even try..just said, we mostly do it from around 20 weeks..:( But,I did feel a few flutters..so,I guess thats ok.
Be well,little peanut..:) So many people waiting for you.
What does a Mummy do??
Babushka decorated my new laptop for me! When I asked her why?She said,”Because I love you,Mommy!!” ..Ohh well,the stickers do make the laptop look cute!! Whattt?I don’t have the heart to remove them!
When I went to buy my laptop,the sales guy,tried his best to sell me the MacBook.I kept saying no..then he asked me,why not?I just told him..’Look I share my laptop with my 4 year old..I would have my heart in my mouth,everytime she touched it…’He went on to explain how it was the most kidproof laptop ever..blah blah.. Much as I liked it..I still wouldn’t have the guts to give Babushka free reign over a $1500 laptop.. Nor would I have the heart to say No to her…So,I stuck to the tried and tested Toshiba!
Look what I just did
MayG led the way..how could I not follow!!
Would you???
Lunch Woes..
Well,I have been cribbing about this for sometime to whoever would care to listen.Its Babushka’s school lunch. No matter what I give her comes back,as is..the max she does is nibbles at it.She loves cucumber and carrot sticks,yogurts and puddings,crackers n cheese,mini pizzas. I have tried it all. If I give her two-three options like-crackers,cucumbers and yogurt-she will eat whatever is the smallest portion. If just one option..nothing at all. Last night I made veg cutlets for her.She loved those.She asked for more and even asked me to save some for school I did.
This morning I pan-fried the cutlets,quickly packed the lunch in a hotpack..SD thinks,she may not be eating,because she is used to hot food. And just added a few crackers in a ziplock bag,just in case. When she came back.. all she had eaten was 3 measly crackers! What is a mother to do??
I am really getting desparate as each day goes by..She just about manages to gulp about half a cup of milk,before leaving..and keeps running on that till she gets home.Naturally,by then,she is super-cranky.Today she went to a friend’s place for an after-school playdate.She had lunch there and when she came home,2 hours later..she had two big pieces of banana bread,that I had baked,when she was away. So,I know..she does get hungry..May be she is just too distracted or too busy talking to eat?Her Kinder is water only zone..so no juice or anything.But if this continues,I will check with her teacher n see if I can give her some kind of smoothie or so.. Any suggestions,moms of picky eaters?
Sabudana Khichdi
Does that make you wanna reach out and take a bite?? No!?? then,I really need to take better pictures.Trust me when I say,that this is the most delicious treat ever!
Today is Mahashivratri-one of my favorite festivals.I think this time scales are tipped higher because of the yummy foods associated with this day.This was the day,when everyone in my family fasted-including little kids.Seriously there was so much food it was more of a feast.The normal menu comprised of- Sabudana khichdi,Potato Bhaji,Shikran(banana+ milk fruit salad)buttermilk,Sabudana thalipeeth(sabudana+potato pancakes),candied sweetpotato,rajgira vadi,bhagar,chips and milk/tea. Who would want boring regular food then? I miss some of the foods,and wish I can make them someday-specially the candied sweet potato-but I can’t replicate my grandma’s perfect flavour.Till then,we’ll make do with Sabudana khichdi and potato bhaji 🙂
Sabudana Khichdi :
Ingredients:
2 cups sabudana( tapioca pearls)
3/4 cup peanut powder( dry roast the peanuts,take off the skin and grind the peanuts coarsely)
1 potato(boiled)
3-4 green chilies
2 tsp cummin seeds
1 tsp sugar
salt to taste
1 tbsp oil
fresh corriander leaves for garnishing.
Preparation:
Soak the Sabudana in water.Drain and keep aside for 2-3 hours,till all the pearls are soft and fluffy.
Add peanut powder,salt and sugar to the fluffy sabudana and mix well.
Heat oil in a thick pot or kadai. Add cummin seeds,green chilies,potato pieces.Fry the potatoes for 2 minutes.
Add the Sabudana mix to the pot and mix well. Keep stirring till the sabudana pearls turn translucent and soft.
DO NOT COVER OR ADD WATER-otherwise,you will end up with a sticky,soggy mess. If you need to,add a little oil or ghee.
Garnish with chopped corriander,and serve hot with a lemon wedge and fresh yogurt.
I love it especially when the slight sweetness from the sugar,the tangy lemon flavor and fresh yogurt come together in my mouth…ummm…yummm!
I have shared this recipe with so many friends and they always complain that it doesn’t turn out like mine.. well,I’ll just say,keep mixing and stirring till your arm is about to fall off all the sabudana pearls turn translucent..really thats the trick..That and be generous with the peanut powder.
If the calories bother you,workout more the next day.. but for now-Enjoy!!!
15 Marbles 