..that is the thought top-most on all our minds.

I was talking to few other mommies and almost all of them were concerned about their little ones eating habits..or should I say not eating habits?
DDmom wrote about her 9 month old niece,my friend AP was worried about her toddler, not eating-so was my friend Pooh,about her Lil girl, a cousin I was talking to..and last but not the least, yours truly.I am sure most of you must have gone through this some time or the other. But why am I writing about this now?

Since Aadya’s 6 month visit,I have been worried. She didn’t gain a lot of weight since her last visit with her Aunty D,(Pediatrician at Phoenix)..just a few ounces in about 1 month. Then I we checked her weight before and after her ear-infection and she had lost and gained those same ounces. But I am worried. I know she is getting more active and so she is not going to gain a lot of weight too. But,my problem is I cant get her to eat. I mean,she enjoyed her rice cereal but that gave her constipation, and then one day she stopped eating it. Then I started her on Ragi or Nachni Satva.And with that I introduced vegetables- Green beans,squash, carrots and fruits-Apple(rejected),banana and peaches(rejected). The Ragi is fine but I want her to try more foods.
I remembered this post by Poppin’s mom and and then Ceekay’s post about feeding Ninni Daal ka pani. And I thought why not ask all of you to share your successful recipes of baby and toddler food and collaborate it at one place,for easy reference.

Here’s calling all mommies, to share some interesting food ideas for these little ones.
You can either post the recipe on your blog or mail me at menmysunshine@gmail.com. And then,I was thinking of posting the recipes together as a series or as one post(depending on the response) on my Food blog.
Waiting to hear from you.. and moving a step further in feeding these babies 🙂

..And creating new memories. That’s what we did this Ashtami. I wrote about my memories of this day on my other blog .The last time I did Ashtami Pooja,was a few days before Aadya’s birth.Now Aadya is 6 months old.She is able to sit up properly and is so interested in all the things happening around her. So,I was super thrilled at the idea of celebrating Ashtami with her. I pre-planned everything in mind and proceeded accordingly. I soaked the Chana( chickpeas-black) overnight.I planned to wake up early and make the Prasad–Poori,halwa and Chane.

As always,nothing goes as planned in Aadyaland. We got a visit from the Pest control company.Now,I had been waiting for them to come in for the last so many weeks,but they never showed up and so I didn’t want to let go of this opportunity.And after the pest control treatment was done,we had to be out of the apartment for the next 4-6 hours.So, I nursed Aadya and we all got ready in record time.My dad was still here. So,DH dropped us off at a mall and we spent the day there.After work,DH picked us up and brought us home. I was tired by then.But my dad kept our spirits high,regaling us with ashtami stories from my childhood.So,I took a quick shower and so did my dad. DH took care of Aadya,while dad helped me cook. Yes..have I ever mentioned what a great cook he is- He even helped me knead the dough,while I made the Halwa.He even served me hot Pooris after he finished his dinner. This is sure a slap in the face of all those who were asking me if my dad would be of any help to me at all after delivery!

Anyway,in no time the Prasad was ready. Then,we sat Aadya down,washed her feet with milk and water,wiped them lovingly and put a tika.DH also put some kumkum on her feet. Then we did the Aarti and held the prasad filled plate in front of her.And as expected,she wanted to grab the biggest thing in the plate,the poori. We let her taste a teeny-tiny bit of the halwa.Then Nanu gave her his gift(Dusshera and pre-Diwali gift).

Though things didn’t go as I had planned *whats new*,but we created some new memories. I sent some prasad and $1 for my sister,as dad was leaving next morning and she was thrilled to bits! Hope that dollar brings her all the luck.

As for Aadya,I am sure in a few years she will realise the importance of the day and I hope she enjoys the tradition as much as I did and hopefully someday she can pass it on to her own daughter.:)

So,I have been cribbing to everyone who would care to listen about how I want a new header and a new template for my blog. Every time someone put up a new template,I would turn green with envy,look for new templates,experiment on dummy blogs and fail miserably..yes yes..laugh all you like..but that’s how it happened!

And then,this morning,I was down in the dumps-My dad just left over the weekend,its raining since morning,the sky is so overcast,it already feels like evening.And then,Lovely Tharini came to my rescue with this cute header..She even went to the trouble of finding the perfect template to go with it :)Incidentally,It was Tharini’s blog that I first read and decided to start blogging.

Thanks,Gal!I owe you one!

The other new Header..err..Head is my very own.I got myself a brand new haircut.Last weekend,after much debates and discussions,DH booked me up in this rather cool impressive looking Salon.Debates ad discussions-Dad and DH loved me in my long hair and tried their best to convince me not to cut it.Anyway,we went to the mall.I headed into the salon,while my dad,bro and DH baby-sat Aadya.Once there I got the royal treatment-Shampoo,head-massage, conditioner,cut and styling,the works. Sure is royal treatment,if you are getting it done after 1 and a half years! The stylist made me feel at ease instantly and for a change was willing to listen to what I wanted done to MY hair. Finally I got rid of the layered cut.I was tired of it after sporting it for more than 2 years. I leave you with Before and After pics!

Before

After

My dad left on Saturday. Its gloom galore in Aadyaland.I kept myself busy all morning,making tea and breakfast,checking and rechecking dad’s luggage,feeding Aadya and getting her ready.We set off for the airport at around 9.00 am and I still kept my calm.Dad was sitting with Aadya and they were having their own sweet conversations. I was looking out,trying not to cry. And then DH,took the exit for the airport..and the dam broke. By then,Aadya had dozed off,I was trying to make the damn tears stop,the men were trying hard to keep up their conversation..DH shoved a tissue in my hand and they continued to discuss the ongoing 20-20 India Vs Australia match.Finally,I finished crying,glad at being ignored but a little mad too..I just didn’t want the ride to get over!
At the airport,Aadya was still sleeping,Dad and DH were cracking funnies to make me smile.Finally dad went in for his security check and right then Aadya woke up,just in time to say bye to Nanu.
The ride back as sad 😦 but entering the apartment was harder.Aadya cried all evening too..Missing Nanu or just not happy about the changed equilibrium? Sunday was OK, DH was home,so that was nice.
But waking up this morning was the hardest. It was raining just like last monday,but DH had taken a day off and so it was party time. Sahil fried bhajiyas,DH made tea and it was just fun fun! This morning I was alone. And Aadya who was so used to playing with her Nanu,while I finished my morning routine,was in for a rude shock..when I just left her in her crib and padded off the the bathroom.
I had just closed the bathroom door and loud wailing ensued.I rushed back,held her close,holding back my own tears. Then I wiped clean the empty laundry basket and put her and her toys in it and dragged her to the bathroom with me..Ohh well..we’ll get back to our routine…till then this should do!
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Sahiti’s Mom tagged me to write about our song..Our Song..:)
The first song that I think is our song is-“Words“
DH was away for his first family vacation after we started dating and after everyone went to bed,we were chatting.. and he sang this song for me.. :)So,its really special.
The other song is- “Everything I do,I do it for you“ – by Brian Adams.The first time we had a fight,I sent the lyrics to him by email. So that became our song too!
And the latest is- Hey Shona from Tararampam..because of the word- “Shona”,which is what we call each other.. even when we are fighting!LOL! My brother pointed this out to me,after we had one of our domestic arguments,when DH forgot to do something..and I yelled at him..”Oh Shona,atleast you should have done this..”Anyway,I digress!
Another song,which can be called our song (since we both love it) is- Rooth na ja na -from 1942,a love story!
And I am leaving this tag open for anyone,who would like to pick it up!

Aadya has another visitor these days. Its her Sahil Mama. My baby brother. People have often asked me if he is my real brother.. well, he is actually a cousin, but this is as good as it gets. He is the youngest of the clan and so has been the baby of the family.But as soon as,he saw Aadya,he grew up! He arrived on 29th September and since then has been Aadya’s official babysitter. The first day he was here, every time Aadya saw him,she would start bawling. We tried to introduce her to her Mama, but every time, he came close she would start screaming. Next day morning,the response he got was Luke-warm.That evening,DH left for a business trip. And before bedtime,that night,Aadya had warmed up to him. We gave her a gift that auntie V, sent her and Mama helped her play with it and I think,that’s where he scored brownie points. I was busy doing something important (read blogging) and suddenly I heard Aadya giggling.I turn around and see mama making funny faces and Aadya is giggling uncontrollably! That’s it,that was the beginning of their friendship. Mama was so worried,when Aadya started crying when she first saw him.The sweetheart that he is,even asked me,if it was because he hadn’t had a hair-cut in a long time. But after that day, they have been inseparable. Aadya needs Mamma only when she is hungry, Papa,only when he comes back from work,Nanu occasionally,when she wants to perch on his chest.. and rest of the times,its only Mama. Its Mama who puts her to sleep,its mama who gives her her bottle. Every morning after we wake up, we wait for Mama to wake up and then Aadya is happily plopped in arms..Happy baby, happy mama, happy mamma!
When DH was away, Aadya fell sick and so did I. Both of us had caught some viral infection and had fevers running from 101-102. I was too tired to blog about it. It was Mama and Nanu who took care of us. The first day, Aadya would start screaming when she didn’t see me.. the second day,she was OK playing with them,when I was around.. now.. it doesn’t matter,where I am.. She is happily enjoying their company. And Sahil, while being the perfect mama, didn’t forget to baby his elder sister too. All the time,that I was sick, every morning and afternoon, I was treated to a steaming cup of ginger tea. The guy even did the dishes,to help me out! My brother has really grown up! Can you get a sweeter brother? He even took turns feeding Aadya her solids,pacing with her when she didnt sleep, because of the fever.
When DH was away, it was just like pre-marriage days..when my cousins were visiting for the summers. Aadya was the only new addition and she fit in properly. We watched movies till dawn.Adding to the nostalgia was dad sleeping in the other room and those whispered phone calls with DH. Before we got married, that was the exact scene in our home,during those long summer vacations.These kids (my cousins..I call them kids coz I am the oldest and they are all like babies for me) would visit and it was just party time.. all the time. We would be listening to music or watching movies.. and I would be constantly on the the phone with DH(my then BF).. well not constantly.. just all the time! Only now, the only thing different was my baby girl. And mama is going crazy taking Aadya’s pictures.
And this little monkey..she is so used to being carried all the time now..I am sure she has forgotten what it feels like to sit on her own ass.. leave alone crawling. He is leaving on Tuesday and we are going to miss him like crazy. Mamma is going to miss her lunch n breakfast partner..and Aadya her masti-partner.
I leave you with some pictures…of Mama and Niece.
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I was tagged by Timepass and Anitha to do this tag.

Here are the rules-

The three rules to be followed are:

• a) The rules must be mentioned in the beginning of the tag.
• b) You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
• c) At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

My middle name before marriage was my dad’s name and now its my husband’s name..so instead of playing favorites..I will just use my own name and complete this tag with that.

T- T is for teacher. My mom and both grandmoms were teachers. I followed in their footsteps and had my own teaching stint for about 8-9 months and loved it! T is also for Toronto, where we first moved as Newly-weds.So,that is one special place for me. T is also for Thane( a city near Mumbai),and that’s where my mayka(father’s home) is..so obviously,my eyes start twinkling at the mere mention of the place.

R-R is for reading and I am a total reading buff. At any given time,there is atleast 1 book that I am reading. I feel incomplete with my books. I have to read before bed and in pre-baby days…any free time through out the day was spent reading.Even now,I try.. but most days, either am too tired.. or if aadya is in a playful mood,I just put the book down to play with her. R is also for romantic, and as you can tell from my posts,I am a mush bag.

I -I is for India,where I belong.I am just waiting to end this “abroad” stint and go back to India and settle down.Love all things Indian and am proud to be an Indian. I is also for Ice-cream..yumm yumm..my favorite is chocolate icecream. I is also for Ink..I fondly remember the day I started writing with an ink-pen..It made me feel so grown up.

S- S is the first letter of DH’s name and it is also the first letter of my nickname. S is for Shona- which is what DH& I call each other. S is for Sitaphal(Custard Apple) which is my favorite fruit. My parents first home had so many sitaphal trees.. we used to have a ball eating these yummies.

H- H is for house. And I am driving DH nuts about buying a house..big or small. H is also for husband- And I am nuts about mine. He is the sweetest man ever..sometimes he can be hot-tempered..but most of the times when I lose my head, he is calm..what more could a girl ask for.H is also for Dr.Hlavacek,my OB-GYN…she was just perfect.

N – N is for Nasik. And I was born in a small town,called Devlali, a few miles away from Nasik city.N is also for NAPS. And I love my naps. I can sleep anytime time of the day. I can take a nap, right after breakfast..thats how much I love my naps.

A- A is for Aadya,my firstborn! She is the love of my life…If you have been reading this blog for some time.. you already know that! A is also for Ashwini..If I was not named Trishna,I would have been Ashwini.. Thank God, it reminded my mom of Ashwini Kumar, some actor then.. and I was named Trishna… So, here I stop writing about the tit-bits of my life.

And I tag-

T- Tharini

R-Rbdans and Rayshma

I- Boo for creating Indian Mommies

S-Sue

H-I will copy Parul’s idea here.. and take a step back and tag G- Gauri

N- Nm
A- new mom Asha
Get busy girls.