“Because I don’t wanna forget”-The title is borrowed from Cubby’s Ma,Mama-Mia. Aadi has been saying some real sweet things that I don’t want to forget..so here goes:

At the shoe shop,I was picking up a pair of walking shoes and naturally,Ms.Aadya isn’t one to stay back.She wanted to pick a pair too.And every time,she picked up a pair,it was either the wrong size or the wrong price,and we had to tell her No.Finally,she was tired and frustrated,hands on her hip,she said to the DH, “Papa,I am asking you for the last time,which shoes can I take? Dus baar nahi bolne waali hoon!!!”(I am not going to say it ten times)

Another day,Aadya was making a mess,tearing a sheet of paper into tiny tiny bits.I mock threatened her.. “If you don’t stop this..I am going to make you into tiny pieces and eat your up!”  Poor baby,her brow furrowed,she came up to me and said, “Oh no! fir main swing pe kaise jaungi? Aur tumne mujhe kha liya toh tum logo ke paas koi bhi baby nahi rahega.”(Oh no!then,how  will I play  on the swing?and if you eat me,then you will not have any baby!)

We were looking at some pictures and she looked at a picture of me and said, “Wow,mommy you look so young and beautiful here”.

At the restaurant,we ordered some noodles for her and she gobbled some quickly.I asked her how it was .. “yummm” ,she said.I asked her,is it better than mommy’s? and the sweet-pea,answered, “Noooo..I like mommy’s more”..hehehe

DH forgot her water bottle at the movies.And she was worried about it and asked,if we can go back and look for it.I was also upset,anticipating a tear-fest..I said, “yes,and if we can’t find it,we’ll leave Daddy there”  “No!Then who will drive the car!” ,she said..DH gloated the rest of the evening..atleast my daughter thinks I am indispensible!

After I click her pictures, “Mumma,put my pics on the laptop and send it to Nanu,then,Nanu will say,arre mera baby kitna cute hai!”

I was cleaning the bathroom and suddenly the house was quiet..I called out to her, “Aadi,where are you?” and she came to the bathroom,shook her head,like I do and said,in the same tone that I use, “Oh ho,Mumma,kaha jayegi tumhari baby?Main idhar hi toh hoon..tumhe chodd ke kabhi jaati hai kya baby?” (Oh mumma,where will your baby go?I am right here,do I ever leave you ?)

I tell her-Oh baby where will mumma go?I am right here,do I ever leave you? Its amazing how much they pick up,isn’t it?

She didn’t want mommy to comb her hair…

We were getting ready fo the dandiya night and while she got decked up happily,all hell breaks lose,when its time to brush her hair.

Sometimes,I take headless shots..like the one in previous picture..I hate editing pictures..and so while I take normal pics..I also take headless ones or side ways or whatever…but this one is an  original!!DH clicked it and its going to provide ammunition for later,when we are having hair bush-battles.

BTW,what do you think of the dress??Pretty na??The outfit comprised of-

Green and Maroon fish-tail ghaghra with halter choli,matching green and maroon bangles,delicate maroon necklace,nails painted,silver sparkly tinker bell shoes with tiny silver flowers on them…

Aah the joys of having a girl.We tried the clothes on 2 days before the event,and the way,her eyes lit up,when she saw the dress..woww!!She saw the necklace and exclaimed, “Woww,am I going to wear that?” and the bangles..she had them on for 2 days,shook her hands,at every chance and everytime she did that,she said, “wow,mommy…do you like the beautiful music,that I am making?”…This is why I always wanted a little girl,to dress her up and to have my heart turned to mush,at her sweet sweet words.

When we were in Sydney,visiting my friend,we found this beautiful Tiara,that we had to buy for Ms.Aadya and as soon as she put it on,she insisted we call her Princess..not Aadya,just Princess.

We were in the car,on our way back to Melbourne and the ‘Princess’ asked for some candy..I said,I dont have any..she tried again,’Princess wants Candy NOW!’..I said, ‘Well,Princess has to wait..’ and pat came the reply, ‘Princess,DOESN’T wait!!’ …It took me some time to answer that..because I was too busy,picking up my jaw from the floor!

And everything the Princess owns is precious…may be that’s why her new flip flops,were found here-

Today,we attended a Navratri gathering in our neighbourhood..and after so many years,nearly 10 years,I played Dandiya.It was nice..the music was good.DH and I danced together.I danced with friends and Aadi..and then again with the DH.And the second time,Aadya noticed and sulked,as if to say,how could you guys leave me alone! So,we included her and that was perfect.

Feet and back aching now.Tomorrow is another long day- grocery  shopping,birthday party to be attended,and soon the weekend will end..So not fair!

Hii Ma,
Happyyy Birthday..Its been 14 years to the day,since we celebrated your birthday with you..but,we haven’t stopped celebrating..and we haven’t stopped missing you..still miss you like..I dunno like what..
I am writing to you today,because,my little girl,your little grandie,has been asking tonnes of questions about you…She wants to know why you are living in her Jai-Jai Bappa house.She insists,we wave out to you,the brightest star in the sky..She talks to you,calling you Twinkle Star Aani.She insists,we wave out to you..and say Hi mom.She wants to know what her Papa can call you..Today she even gave you a pretend star ring.
She wants to know what her Nanu calls you..she wants to know,if you gave me cuddles like I give her.She knows you are Mumma to her Tuku and me..and that you are aunty to her Sahil Mamu n Sofi Masi..She asked me and now knows,how you are related to auntie and Aaji..and she wonders if Aaji misses her baby,like I miss her when she is in school.She wants to know..if you love her and I tell her ,”yes baby”..she loves you..Your Twinkle Star Aani loves you..
The more we talk about you,more Sanj yearns for some time..anytime with you..so that his memories of you are all his own and not shared..He often wonders what it would be like to be loved so much,unconditionally..what it would be like to taste the yummy food cooked by you,that we all rave about..At times,he wishes he could compare notes with you..about ‘Life with Trish’..umm yeah..that one,I am not too thrilled about..but really,Mom,I wish you had met him.really..I wish he had some memories of his own..
We went to the temple to offer bhog for you,last saturday..and She wanted to know,why..we told her..we have come to give laddus to Twinkle Star Aani..and she wanted to know where Aani was..we said you were sleeping and she wanted to wake you up and play with you..sit in your lap…
I caught ger whispering something the other day..when I asked her what she was saying…She said,she was asking the Fairies to do ‘magic magic and make Twinkle Star Aani people’..Oh Mumma,my heart broke…my heart broke for the little girl,whose missing a grandmother she hasn’t seen…My heart broke for the relationship you both would have shared…My heart broke for all the times,you would have said..”see,this is what I had to go through”.
But,as I write this,I am happy in the knowledge,that she knows you.My biggest fear was that my kid(s) wouldn’t know my mommy and I am glad,its not so..She proudly points at your picture and tells everyone that this is my Nanu and my Twinkle Star Aani…I am happy that she wants to know about you..I am sad that I have to tell her stories about you…I wish it were you,telling her stories of me.
I really wish the fairies could do magic magic and make you people…can they please??
Miss you,Ma..reallyy miss you..will it ever stop hurting??
Love you,
Me

5 weeks of weekly flybacks for the DH…
5 weeks of single parenting for me..
5 weeks of missing Daddy for the Princess…
1 week of working vacation for us as a family..
Long distance calls,too-short weekends together,dinner together over phone or chat…:(
And finallyyyy its over….Phew..Boy..am I glad to have the man back home..all the days of the week..:)
No more weekly flybacks ..yippeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Here’s wishing a Veryyyyyy Veryyy Happy Birthday to Our very own Goofy Mumma..Have a nice day sweetie!

Nothing interesting to tell today..except that I am in too much pain.I woke up feeling funny in the throat on Friday..I couldn’t tell if it was my ear or my tooth by saturday..by sunday I was sure,it was my ear/throat something.I could feel a neck lymph node swollen by then.
I went to the doctor on monday,and she felt,not one,not two..but three swollen lymph nodes..I can’t turn without doubling up in pain..I can’t swallow..without catching my breathe..sometimes,i wish..i could just chew and spit my food..that way I wouldn’t have to swallow it.
The funny thing is there is no redness of the ear or throat-just swollen lymph nodes.
The Dr.started me on antibiotics..and today I feel a node on the other side of the neck also swollen.
I am going back again on thursday night/friday morn to see the doc.
hope your day was better than mine.

Yes,you guessed it..this post is about teaching Ms.Aadya her ABCs.

We have been working on her alphabet for a while now.She recognises most of the alphabets..not all..She lacks focus..I know,I am expecting too much from her..But,I am only trying because,I know she has so much potential.And I am forever plagued by mommy guilt,that I am not giving her enough time..and that I am not helping her advance her intelligence.

No,trust me,I  am not pushing her..she has the brains..She was saying “Johnny Johnny” and “twinkle star” at 9 months.She couldn’t speak all the words..but she knew all the actions,and where to say Papa,No,hahaha,tar(star),ky(sky).In came the TV..and I think all she seems to be interested in is the TV. I want to make learning fun for herAnyway,so,we make a game of it…. we take turns finding the letters of the alphabet..and I write her name and other things on her magnetic writing pad.

I am confused about what approach to take-She is already addicted to the TV-I don’t want to introduce her to the charms of internet. So my medium of choice is books and charts and writing on paper.

We had not worked on the alphabet in a long time..Today she surprised me,by asking me to teach her and surprise,surprise..she wrote the letter A..from her memory,as I had taught her more than 4 months ago.Needless to say,I was on the top of the world. We did some counting today and did the alphabet once.

I know repetition is the best method,but I don’t want it to  be monotonous..I want to make it fun..If anyone has any ideas or suggestions,please do share..

I leave you with a her self portrait and the letter A

below the picture-the two parallels lines- thats her attempt to write A and then,she succeeded.And succeeded again….