Hello Hello Everyone.I am just stopping by to say a quick hello and to tell you that all’s well here.We are almost at home in the new house.Finally got the internet connection today and the phone should start working from tomorrow.Aadya loves running around.The first thing she does when she wakes up is to run to the front door and look out the glass panel.Rest of the day just goes by..running and playing .I am not in a rush to unpack this time..all the bags and boxes have been stacked in one room and we are going one room at a time.
We have already entertained two sets of house guests and had some people come over for lunch.S drives to city everyday and so far he hasn’t complained.And I don’t think he will too,considering moving here was his idea.
We have almost finalised on a day-care cum montessori for Aadya and she will start school in a week or two.
On the weight front there is good news-
I have lost 2.8 kgs so far.i hope to lose another kg till Aadya’s birthday on the 30th.Resh,Sraikh..thanx for checking.
Regular blogging will resume soon.
Category: general
Random Talks
So,I never got around to writing the birthday post.I haven’t even replied to all the friends who sent birthday greetings on Facebook and Orkut.One good thing about these social networking sites is,no-one forgets your birthday and you don’t forget any one’s birthday.But,I am a sucker for birthdays and so more the wishes,the happier I am.
This year,for the first time,since I got married,I celebrated my birthday with friends and not with Sanj.So,as I was saying,this year,there were no celebrations with Sanj.I went out for lunch with two girlfriends ,followed by some retail therapy,roamed around in the city and came back home,tired.When Sanj came home,he was feeling miserable,for having been busy all day.He didn’t even get a chance to get me a cake(I rub it in EVERY SINGLE DAY!) -he did bring home lovely flowers and cards,though.We ordered a take-out dinner and ate it while watching a movie.And the day was over.
Anyway,this week-I have been packing,at least trying to pack.Most of the packing happened yesterday and today.There are boxes all over the house.The house is a mess.I haven’t bothered cleaning,since,in two days,we need to bring on some heavy-duty cleaning.The movers are booked for Friday morning and S has taken a day off that day.Aadya is going crazy with all the suitcases and boxes.If I pack 2 things she takes out 4 and insists on playing only with that.She caught me packing her toys and since then,refuses to leave me alone.What if I put one of her precious toys in one of those boxes?
I can’t believe…our stint in this house is over.But,for the first time,I am not sad,moving.In fact,I am looking forward to it.The only thing I will miss about this house is its location-everything is walking distance from here-the shops,the doctors,the station,the bus stop everything.The only other thing I will miss is -My friend,D.She has been my friend,since the first day,we moved in here.She has been my support system here.I will sorely miss our impromptu chai-sessions,on the spur of the moment trip to the mall.But,we have promised to keep in touch,and meet as often as possible.
I really feel some very positive vibes about this new house(Anti-jinx)..I hope it is all we hope it is.
I almost forgot-I wrote my first article on Helium.com and its ranked 10th of 29!I can’t tell you how kicked I am!!
This may be my last post for the next week or so,till,I don’t get the new Internet connection.See you on the other side 🙂
Take care and be good.
The one where I sat behind the wheel
…And loved it.
We are house-hunting,like crazy.All of Saturday,was spent in house-hunting.We saw 4-5 houses but didn’t find anything that we just loved.We are planning to move to the suburbs,now.After the last week or so was spent agonising over the choice of apartment vs house,city vs suburbs,we finally chose space over hustle-bustle.So,after we had looked at all the houses that we had short-listed and were just driving around to see,if there were any other houses open for inspection.We landed up on an empty street.The Bubba looked here and there furtively,eyebrows furrowed with concentration.I asked him,what was he thinking of doing.He replied,”Something I shouldn’t be doing…”I was still trying to think what that would be,when he stopped the car.Mentally,I braced myself to say to him,if he wanted to make out..after all it was broad daylight,in the middle of the road and Aadya was wide awake!!
But it never came to that.He asked me to get off..alarm bells went off in my mind..”WHY??“ I screamed,”Coz I want you to drive,”he said calmly.No way..I started giggling nervously.He almost pushed me out of the car..and I sat behind the wheel,giggling nervously.Aadya caught on my nervousness and was confused to see Mimi behind the wheel,while Bubba sat in the passenger seat.I heard her..like from a distance..my mind and eyes,on the road.I didnt want to screw this up.She was saying..Mimi..Mimi…Papa Papa Shtaredd shtared(scared)-Now i don’t know if she was telling the bubba that mumma is scared or if she was scared for her life,with Mumma behind the wheel.For the first time,since the Aadya’s arrival,I didn’t care to look at her,cute face..I was just staring straight ahead.
I gingerly drove a little over 100 feet,first with the bubba,helping with the steering wheel,then,he just guided me,and i did it all by myself..And I cannot tell you how liberated I felt.It was a feeling like never before!!And then I had to stop..Bubba took over..but my day was made..I spent the rest of the day,on the 9th cloud.
I am just waiting for the day,when I get the licence officially!!
Round two-chicken Pox
We just managed to kick the “Croup”monster out,last week,from Aadyaland.We still stayed indoors,for the next 3-4 days.We stepped out gingerly for a regular weight check up at the Maternal and child health centre,on Tuesday.The weight was good..and I relaxed.
I let her rest again on wednesday,except for a short walk to the park.Thursday,again,we stayed in most day and went to visit a friend,who was introducing me to a mommy friend of hers. All was well  and the world looked  beautiful.
And Friday morning,just before lunch,she kept taking her shirt off,again and again..It was a hot day,and so,I let her play like that.After a while,I noticed,some red spots on her back..I tried to be calm,but my mind screamed”Chicken Pox”.
So,I just took an appointment,and then called Sanj.That’s a subtle lifestyle change that has taken place in our Household,since moving to Melbourne.When we were in the US,the first call was to the Bubba..after checking his schedule,I would call and take an appointment at the doctor’s..I like this new independence!So,anyway,the doctor confirmed that it is Chicken Pox,indeed.
So,this weekend,we are nursing a chicken-pox ridden child and walking on egg-shells,hoping to not catch it ourselves.I have a high likelyhood of catching it-when I got pregnant,the doctor ran a series of blood-tests and the results,said that I didnt have anti-bodies for chicken pox. So,the probability of my catching it is realy high.Well,anyway,we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
For now,I am worried about my little girl..She seems to be going through some jinxed phase..I think we all are going through a jinxed phase….One thing after the other,keeps following us.Hope this phase ends soon.If you happen to talk to the Big Man,up there,ask him to ease up on us,Please!
Today and update
I have vowed to post every day..This move,and getting ready for it,and eveyrthing else,that happened in the last 2-3 months has turned me into a lazy blogger.So,Here’s Today’s post.
These are some pictures,that I took,as soon as the objects,caught my fancy.
And for some reason,Blogger wont let me post anymore pics.Anyway,this one was taken on a cold evening.I had just finished cooking and stepped into the living room,so see this.I just had to take a snap.
As for the update on Bed-time Battle-
Last two nights,I have been too tired and all of us have been going to bed by 9.30 or so.As.so many of you pointed out,its a new environment,and I think I should give her more time. I am working on setting up a pattern for day-naptime..and lets see how it goes from there.sanj is never home before 7.30-8.00 so,enlisting his help..is no go..I have all but given up on him coming home early.And he asks me why I am so grumpy at night!
Speaking of Sanj,our anniversary is coming up and I am thinking of something nice to give him.Any suggestions?Books and shirts are out..I am thinking may be perfume..but again so boring.bring on the suggestions,people!
Just this and that.
I finally managed to haul my butt to the salon and got my eyebrows shaped.So what? I will tell you what…
For the last two months,I kept thinking,about going to a salon. In the first month we were in USA and with me not driving,I had to depend on Sanj  to take me places. Somehow, with the whole move thing,weekends spent packing and/or partying,there was never time for the visit to a salon.After moving here,we were busy house-hunting,settling down in the new house,new job(Sanj’s) and again the weekends got away from us. And I was paranoid,about going to the salon alone with Ms.Aadya.What if half way through,she threw a tantrum and I had to run out the door? I didn’t want to sport one well shaped and one bushy eye-brow.
But, today,I decided..that no matter what,it had to be given a shot.After all I didn’t want to be nominated for one of those makeover shows.So,right after breakfast,we stepped out. We ran into one of my newly acquired friends down the street. And she decided to join us too. So,we went into the Salon,I took Ms.Aadya along with me.She was sitting in her stroller,while I got my face mowed..er… cleaned.And she was a good girl too.She happily chattered away with the girl doing my eyebrows.,calling out to me once or twice..but generally ignoring me all the time.And thus I came out looking clean. At the end of it all, the petite Asian girl,who did the job,told me..”See, you look nice now..” and then,I knew..I did good in taking the risk. And they did a good job too..I say this,because Sanj, who is always quiet oblivious to such things,noticed and complimented!!!
Speaking of Sanj,he has been working long hours again.So much so,that today,when he met Aadya,it was after a good 36 hours.Last nite,she went to bed, calling out to him,but obviously he couldn’t hear,because he was still at work.And this morning,when he left,she was still sleeping.Her excitement at seeing him,was unbelievable.We went to pick him up at the station and when I saw him,I let her out of the stroller and let her walk next to me. She was happily looking at faavers(flowers) and bhoo bhoos when she saw him..she screamed and ran towards him.She is a typical girl..in turns of screaming and squealing..always,squealing..she tries to put on her shoes and if she cant she squeals.the water in her sippy gets over,she screams.. she wants a spoon,she asks me poonsh…I don’t give it she screams,you get the gist.So,she ran up to him and promptly demanded utho utho(aadya-speak for pick me up)..As soon as he picked her up..she almost smothered him with kisses. He was naturally thrilled..and refused to let her walk.
And Ms.Aadya loves talking.She loves talking .Period. When we are sitting around,watching TV, she is talking.louder than the TV.When we go for a walk,she is talking,about the things that we see,when we are in the car,she talking and humming,with the music that’s playing.This weekend,she was “reading” her book..and we were just lying around next to her.I asked Sanj, almost in a whisper,”so want some later?”…and before Sanj could answer,Ms.Aadya piped,”Yeah”…. We looked at each other trying to stifle our giggles..and she goes one step ahead and says,”Mamma,wann some..” And then we couldn’t stop ourselves!!!!From laughing of course!! What did you think,huh??
Ohh and we just completed one month in Australia..here’s hoping the coming months are nicer and happier.
hardwork paid in kind
This is what I saw this morning when I woke up and it cheered me up. Its the view from my bedroom window. And each morning,when I wake up, the first thing that I do is open the blinds and look out. I have a small patch which I have been working on,since we moved here. The Bubba asked me why are you so excited..its not like you planted it..well ?I didnt but I did work on it.This is what it looked like when we first moved in-
The whole patch was covered with weeds,and all the greenery you saw,was just weeds.The soil was snail infested and the real plants were all dying or infected.I spent several hours over the weekend ,pulling the weeds out and after 3-4 hours out in the sun,this is what it looked like.
And it still looked like the garden had been attacked by gnomes..The water was flowing out…the rose plant was diseased..and all the pots in the back, had nothing but grass.The shrub in the middle needed triming.
And here’s a tired Ms.Aadya sitting and enjoying the new garden,after all the hard work.
I wish to do more to the garden..hopefully the next weekend 🙂
17 months and counting….
Can you believe it?? In another month,my baby girl would be one and a half years old.Aadya turned 17 months young,over the weekend I completely forgot about the 16 month post..and so,this one has to be written.Co-incidentally,Aadya was sick on both her 16 month and 17th month birthday.My poor baby has fever since yesterday and her cold and cough doesn’t seem to be going away.
She has evolved so much in these last two months.She is getting more and more communicative.She knows how to effectively use pointing and words. If she wants something,she drags us by the hand, and points at the thing that she wants. If she wants to watch TV, she points at it.That’s another story,that she turns it off,when we are watching it and not paying attention to her. She knows that her favorite song,Lakdi ki kathi can be watched on the computer,so she points at the computer,when she wants to listen to that. She points at the fridge when she wants milk or fruit. If she wants milk,she brings her sippy cup to us!
And she is trying to say so many words.Whatever you say,she has to repeat it or try to repeat it. She is a big copy-cat. She is seen walking around,with the phone propped between her shoulder and neck.Obviously,why not? That is how mamma holds the phone! The keys on the keyboard have to be typed at furiously..not slowly,not one by one.Her fingers even imitate mine. The food is to be eaten with a spoon or fork. She waits patiently for the spoon if I forget to give it to her.
And the funniest is when she tries to laugh. Its so cute.When we are laughing,she crinkles up her nose and pretends to laugh.And she always has to have the last laugh!!She won’t quit till the last person has stopped laughing!
She likes to choose her own clothes.So,I lay out two outfits for her and let her pick one. She things she has done something great and happily lets me dress her.If she doesn’t like what she is wearing,she just takes it off. No one told me how your work increases ten fold,when your child learns to undress herself.And God!how she hates her diapers. She just doesn’t want to keep it on.The moment she pees,she takes it off and gives it to me. In a way its good.I know she is ready to be Potty trained..but, with this move and everything else that goes with it,I don’t want to start potty training her. Anyway,she now,points at the bathroom and wants me to take off her diaper,when she wants to pee,which is another sign that she is ready!
This last month,has been great for the father-daughter duo. Aadi is getting more and more attached to her dad. Earlier,she would play with him,but when it was time to sleep or if she was hungry,she needed only mumma. But now, sometimes,she goes to her Papa. And falls asleep as soon as he picks her up. And on some days,I spend so much time, putting her down for a nap,all he has to do is pick her up!and she puts her head on his shoulder and dozes off in 5 minutes.Bedtimes are also incomplete without Papa.She keeps looking out for him,till he doesn’t come and join us .
She loves to gently touch our faces with her hands.Its so amazing,feeling that soft little hand on our faces. At other times,the meltdowns continue.We are kind of able to recognise the signs now, and many meltdowns have been successfully averted. Though there are some that still can’t be helped. Like today, she didn’t want to put on her diaper and her Papa just put it on her,forcefully. And she got upset and she cried and cried..flinging her body..not listening..just crying. I think she was tired and not well. He took her out,I walked with her,then showed her the magic of flicking switches and making everything bright.That cheered her up.
In these 17 months, she has grown so much(knock on the wood),changed so much,from the little baby,we brought home.This change is amazing. I don’t know what else to say..But leave you with this
17 day old wonder
Reality shows,really?
So, most evenings after Sanj comes home,dinner etc done with,we cuddle up on the couch..me with a book in my hand,he with the remote in his..and Aadya just playing around..sometimes,pottering in the kitchen,bringing out pots and pans and pretending to cook..Anyway,not to digress..So Sanj channel surfing and almost every other channel has some reality show on.
I remember when so many years ago..I think 11-12 years ago,when Javed Jaffery started “Boogie-Woogie” it was a novel concept and we used to wait to watch it. That and there was “Saanp-Seedi ” with Mohan Kapoor as the host.These were the first of this new genre of TV shows..The ones with real people participating,acting spontaneously in front of the camera.Then,there was Antakshari..which was a popular show..but it deteriorated over the years.These were shows that people used to look forward to,because there was no continuity-you could start watching from any episode and enjoy it.
After Boogie-woogie,the next talent hunt show I remember watching is “Zee Cine stars ki Khoj”.My neighbour’s best friend was a contestant,and she asked us to watch it and root for him..So, we watched a couple episodes and started following it..staying up till late to watch the Grand Finale! Then SaReGaMa followed,Indian Idol,Voice of India..blah blah blah..I am not saying that these people who participate are not talented..Sure they are.. but the publicity stunts and the sob stories in each show.. that is getting too familiar.
These shows were a welcome change from the Saas-Bahu Sagas,which run interminably,but really,how much of drama and emotions can you take. Its so funny..I am sitting and typing this here,when about an hour back, I was sniffing away tears for a contestant on Zara Nachke Dikha, who was abandoned on the penalty bench by his team mates.We regular viewers get so involved in these reality shows,that we don’t know where reality ends and drama begins.No really I am not kidding..after the show ended, we ended up having a long discussion about how it was not right, who could be responsible for this decision..blah blah.. yeah we are that jobless.. And we are just two people..imagine the number of people back home,in India watching this.And surely there are millions of people..because how else can you explain the number of votes,pouring in ALL these reality shows.
Each talent search show, be it SaReGaMa or Voice of India or any others..( there are so many,I don’t remember all the names) claims to have received so many million votes. So, who is doing this? Who are these people who are voting,regular people like you and me,right? But,these people have the interest and dedication to take it one step forward and actually send in that SMS. We all have our favorites after watching a couple episodes,but do you really take the time to send out your vote,by SMS or make that call?
And speaking of talent shows, how can I not speak of the talent search for kids and the amount of pressure on the little participants. The pressure from parents, judges, viewers..the pressure to excel..is it really necessary? I remember watching one of the episodes of the children’s special SaReGaMa,where one girl,refused to perform.Her reasons being,she didn’t want her dad to fall sick,if she got eliminated. Why?Because,another girl got eliminated the previous day and her father suffered a heart attack! Its sad,but is a competition,any competition so important?? On the same show, in one of the other episodes,another participant’s father got up and challenged the verdict. He refused to believe it that his princess had not made it in the next round, based on audience voting..Why? because he claimed to have spent thousands of rupees to have people vote for her!! What kind of morals are such parents giving their kids?Aren’t they teaching them,to just win..even if by cheating?
And what about a code of conduct? Recently watched on Headlines today, how the contestants, of yet another such show,took pot shots at each other, cussed and even got into fights, pushing and shoving each other..on national television. That is surely uncalled for.So where do they draw the line? Where? Sadly, the more controversies a show has, the more popular it is..
What do you think about this new genre of reality shows and game shows thats come in? How real are they?
All my doings and the movie
Weekends are meant to sleep-in and we are strong believers of that. We don’t make any early morning plans,we rarely meet people for lunch on weekends,because by the time we eat breakfast,most people are beginning to think of lunch and by the time,we do lunch,normal people are thinking of tea. This was pretty much what we did until a few months back.
Even when I got pregnant,I would wake up in the mornings ,ravenous..So,I would sneak to the kitchen,grab a cup of milk,drink it in bed,reading a book and then go back to sleep. Then,Ms.Aadya happened and she started waking up early..So,I’d just nurse or give her a bottle and cuddle up with her,and she would go back to sleep too.
But a couple months back,she decided that the weekend should be treated as any other day..and its a great idea to wake up early.So,now,she wakes up early..and starts playing,jumping on the bed,poking me..till I don’t get up. I hate being woken up from my sleep,and god help the one,who tries to wake me up from my slumber..well..except if that someone is Aadya. So,i wake up..and most days,being a meanie that I am..I tell her to ask papa to wake up..Bolo Utho utho baby (say wakey wakey baby) and she would just pat him.Yesterday,they were both up and I was sleeping,this little missy comes up to me and pats me on the cheek and says-“Mamma,utho utho!” Oh well,I taught her to say it!
When Sanj is in the bathroom and we are getting late for going somewhere..or sometimes,just to tease him,I have Aadya knock and tell her to say Kholo papa kholo(open up,papa). She just taps on it one or two times and then comes running to cling to me..a couple days back,I went to the bathroom and closed the door.Aadya and Sanj were in bed,reading a book.She pushed the book away, and banged the door-“dham dhaam” and screamed,”Mumma,Khollo” I mean how is that she never says it when I tell her to say it..but is ready to use it for me!!Grrr..
When Aadya is being naughty,I just wag my finger at her and scold her…or try to..Sometimes,I ask her,Understand? or Got it? Now, whenever,we are talking or arguing and our voices are raised,Aadya,wags her finger at the offending party..and says something,gibberish..we used to just laugh it off..until a few days ago,she turned towards me,when I was laughing and scolded me some more and said,”Understand?” with a dead-pan serious expression!!! I just wanted to go hide somewhere!!Need I say,how much Sanj enjoyed watching my face turn white!
And this one surely takes the cake..Sanj and Aadya were cuddling in bed and Aadya was patting her dolly. so,she was trying to put her to sleep.She was humming..aaaaa aaaa aaaaa…and patting the doll.Suddenly she got up,propped her self on her elbow and scolded the dolly..haaannnnnnnnn..ninni ninni.. Gosh..it was so cute..but so identical to our typical nght-time scene..Me patting Aadya..,humming,aaa aaaa aaa..and propping myself up on the elbow and scolding her,for not sleeping..haaannnn.. ninni karo.. jaldi close your eyes and ninni karo!!
Uh-oh time to change my tactics!!:D
*********************
And now the movie,that I almost watched.So,we went to watch The dark knight with some friends..I had been really down,last couple days and so Sanj planned this evening,the Batman,being my favorite and all.We got to the theatre well in time and got great seats too.There was a lot of room for Aadya to play and we were close to the exit.Besides,it was almost her bed-time. Mostly,we just go for the last show,that way,she sleep through it..Ideally,I would’ve liked to not take her..but,somethings cant be helped. So,not to digress.10 minutes into the movie,Aadya,started getting fidgety,we gave her popcorn,she munched happily.A little extra snack never hurt anyone. Pop-corn finished,she turned back and started pointing to the bag of popcorn that belonged to the people behind us. After the usual No-No’s she started watching the movie..and almost dozed off..but,then the screen lit-up,and she was wide awake.I took her out,let her run around in an attempt to tire her out.She was more than happy to run around. We played catch in the deserted upper floor lobby. Then,she started feeling sleepy.So,I changed her diaper,put her in the stroller,gave her the bottle..And started walking her.normally 10 minutes of this routine and she is fast asleep..But yesterday was something else.She just didn’t want to sleep. I walked around the mall,before it closed one time.Sanj offered to trade places..but I figured at least one of us,could watch the complete movie!
So we walked some more..and after a while,I actually started enjoying the quiet walk.When I got tired,I sat down,drank some water,gave her some water and called my dad.Had a quiet chat with him,while Aadi looked around. As soon as I hung up,she said,”Mumma Ghumi”..yes baby,I said..and off we went for Ghumi again..While everyone else enjoyed the movie..we enjoyed our own movie…Sigh.. the dark knight will have to wait..until this fair princess is awake!
15 Marbles 
