15 Marbles

Moments.Musings.Memories. ❤️Gathering little marbles from ordinary days and keeping them for our memory jar. ❤️

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  • The 2nd Birthday party.

    I was talking to a friend,who’s daughter is turning two and we were discussing parties.After we hung up,I checked the blog,to read about Aadi’s 2nd birthday party and I didn’t find anything.I realised,I never got around to writing about it.I am always big on party planning..and so,I think its a good idea to write down the details..for that day,when I lack the enthusiasm to plan another do.
    Theme and decoration :
    As with her first b’day party,we decided on a theme,based on her likes.At that time,she was in LOVE with Pooh Bear..Pooh Bear toys,pooh bear bottle,Pooh Bear table cloth,Pooh bear videos! So,we decided to have a Pooh Bear Themed birthday party.We looked for Pooh bear themed decorations and cake,but didn’t have much luck..except a birthday banner and a lone balloon.
    The other thing that she liked then was Balloons.We couldn’t pass a counter selling balloons,without buying one for her.So,we decided to get balloons and loads of helium Balloons with long strings.And decided that was the only decoration that we used.DH wanted enough balloons to fill the room.

    Cake :
    The cake I was not entirely happy about.We chose a chocolate cake,in the shape of 2 and it had a picture of the Balloons.Originally I wanted a custom cake,with a little bit of Pooh,some balloons and something about the number 2.But,I didn’t find anything I liked..and we had just moved here..and my baking had gone haywire.So,we settled for the next best thing.The taste was alright..not,Out of this world like the first birthdays.And that cake came from a grocery store..this was a proper bakery.Anyway..It was a 2 shaped cake,vanilla with chocolate cream filling and vanilla cream on top and chocolate frosting on the side.

    Games– There were 5 kids (age 2 to 4) and 3 babies. So,I didn’t really plan any games.I just pushed the furniture near the walls and spread some toys..which the younger kids and babies enjoyed.The older 2 just formed bunches of the balloons and ran with them.
    Menu : It was a dinner party and the menu was-
    Appetiser-Chips and Salsa; Veg Spring rolls.
    Main Course-Veg Manchurian,Chole,Chicken Curry,Boondi Raita,Veg Pulav,Roti.
    Dessert-Fruit Custard.
    I cooked everything,except the rotis at home and everyone loved it.The first dish to disappear was the Veg Manchurian.I had made so much of that,but in the end,I had to gracefully put the empty bowl away.

    Return Gift– It doesnt matter how tiny your guests are ..their eyes light up,at the sight of the return gift.Since we had a small number of kids,I bought individual gifts for everyone- the girls got a faux fur bags in pink or lavendar-the bags were filled with playdoh for the 4 year old and crayons for the 2 year olds. Boys got cars and crayons and the babies got a soft toy each.Each gift bag also had some candy,blow-outs(?) and a baby shrek,whose head danced..
    And finally a picture of the gift table-

    All in all, a good party.I wasnt too happy about the cake..and so this year,I plan on baking myself..FINGERS crossed!

  • 7..

    ..More things about me..
    Goofy Mumma tagged me on this one-
    Reveal 7 random things about yourself.
    Here are the rules of the tag.
    1) You have to tag 7 people.
    2) You have to link their pages in your tag post
    3) You have to leave a comment in their comments section telling them they’ve been tagged.
    4) You have to say who tagged you.

    Lets see..what can I tell you this time-
    1. I don’t remember books and movies after I finish reading/watching them.I mean when I go back to read or watch again,then I recollect snatches..but,even if someone asks me right after the movie ends,about a scene,I can’t remember.
    2. I enjoy cooking.Its almost therapeutic for me.I love the rythm of chopping,stirring..The more complicated a recipe,the more I enjoy it.
    3.Saying “No” is not one of my strongest point.I just cannot say No.And on the rare occasion that I do,I end up feeling guilty.
    4.I am a pushover.I know when I am being pushed,but I am still trying to learn to be firm and not get pushed.
    5.I have to read every night..Every single night.
    6.I am planner..I like to plan things,way in advance.Some plans fall through,some dont..for those that don’t I find a counter plan…:D
    7.I used to write poems,when until 8-9 years back..then I don’t know how I stopped.

    Phew..this one was hard..I think I have now told you guys,all that is to tell about me.

    I tag..Avanti,comfortablynam,Swati,Abha,Rayshma,Neera and Mystic Margarita

  • You have to be almost 3..

    …to point at a funny black and white sheep on TV and scream excitedly..
    “Look Mom!!!!!! It is me!” and laugh happily..

    (Image courtesy-Google images)
    ..to call your mom TRASH,pretend to open it and dump some imaginary trash on her head and still get away with it.”Mumma,you are a trash(can)..Look I am opening the trash and throwing kachra..all done,Trashy!” Time for mom to start dressing better??

    ….to tell your dad,”this is our bedroom..my and mumma’s..but you can share the bed!!” and to be smothered in hugs.

    …. to tell your mom,”Mumma,you look funny..”when she is dressed in her favorite jeans and top..only to have her check the mirror again and shoot your dad an angry look,for not telling her.And then you get to force them to laugh Funny with you..and get to say,”I love you,Funny Mom!!”

    Aah the joys of being 3..:)

    Have a nice weekend folks..:)

    Edited to add- I just changed the title..She doesn’t turn 3 for 10 more days:D

  • She is but a baby…

    …I need to remind myself.

    Aadi is getting so advanced in most of the day-to-day things,that its easy to forget,that she is just a little girl,about to turn 3. And no I don’t mean it in the bragging way..I say it in the most matter-of-fact way.She understands our coded talks,she associates people and places,even if she has just met them once..
    She started feeding herself,when she turned 10 months old.She was being fussy,when I was feeding her lunch and on her pediatrician’s advice,I started leaving the plate on her high-chair tray and she enjoyed eating on her own.Sometimes,now when she wants us to feed her,we get irritated..but then,realise,she is doing what a normal toddler would..and are grateful for the opportunity to baby her.
    The reason for this post is something that happened today.I am trying to toilet-train her.She has been diaper-free for more than 6 months..both during the day and at night.But she still needs the diaper to go potty.I try to put her on the toilet almost every time,she asks for a diaper to go potty.Sometimes,I just give in,without a fight.The fact that she is going to start school once a week,next month..when she is going to be away from me,makes me want to hurry up with the last step of  toilet training.

    yesterday again I put her on the toilet and she just had to go..but for some reason,she is scared of going potty in the toilet.She started crying..not the whining,not the tantrum..but real crying like her heart was breaking and she couldn’t help it.I relented and put the diaper on and told her that she could have the diaper,but she had to stay in the bathroom.That brought about a fresh round of tears. But,she stayed in the bathroom and she cried some more,and called me after she finished.

    I kept thinking about it..She needs her privacy to do her big  job..she goes to an empty room and stays there till she is done.Or she hides in a corner of the living room,from where she can watch TV.I think it was being confined to a space not of her choice,is what made her upset.May be she likes the fact that she can choose,where to be and whom to keep out..But she likes this bathroom..Its nice and roomy..and when I say Roomy..it is.May be I should post a picture sometime.Anyway,she stayed in the bathroom,yesterday and I think something hit home.

    Today,when she wanted to go potty,she asked me to take her to the toilet..on her own.I was surprised but,played cool.She sat on the toilet and tried to do her business.I mean she really tried..and then,looked at me and said,sadly,”I don’t know how to do it..Mommy,I am scared..” It broke my heart…It made me  feel like a parent who had let down her child,by expecting too much,unreasonably.I picked her up,hugged her and told her,I was proud of her,for trying and we could try again,tomorrow. And she was happy.I put the diaper ON and left her in the bathroom.This time she didn’t cry,just asked me,”Why do I have to be in the bathroom?”,with a childish pout,that we have come to associate with her questions. I told her..”Because you go potty in the bathroom..” and she accepted it..”Ok,Mom..”

    She stayed in the bathroom and called me when she was finished.Alls well in Aadyaland..atleast till the next time we try toilet-training again..but I had to write this post,to remind myself to be patient ,to not push her before she is ready.

    I had to write this post to remind myself that she is just a baby..and thats the way she should be….