Our Happy place,filled with giggles,unicorns and Superheroes!
Folks in Mumbai,go on..visit 🙂 This is your chance to meet popular blogger,Kiran Manral.She blogs here and here and was the mastermind behind India Helps,which was started right after the Taj massacre and they are still helping so many people.
Kiran-Can’t wait to read the book!
So,first R’s Mom and then Comfy asked for weight-loss tips..Well here you go ladies..
This is what I am doing
1) Calorie Tracking-I am sticking to 1700 cals (since I am bf-ing).If you are not,1200 calories is a good aim.I use myfitnesspal.com and if you enter your details,it will give you your calorie goal for each day-pretty simple.MFP also has recipe calculator..So say you made a sandwich with boiled eggs and cheese-just enter all the ingredients and you will have the calorie count of your meal.It looks and sounds tedious..but trust me after a while,you get used to it! So,thats what I started first..I think in September of 2011,when Babychino turned 3 months.
2)Avoiding processed stuff as much as I can.But I love my bread.so,I pick up wholemeal or whole grain bread…
3)Cut down on the rice in a big way and eating cracked wheat instead and now on the days when I eat rice,I feel bloated and too full
4) Walking-My dad always says,walking is the best exercise..but I never believed him.Now I vouch for it.I started walking 4-5 times in a week from the 1st of January and I can feel the difference.I went for a 4K fun run/walk and finished it in 42 minutes..I was walking.
5)DVDs– I have Tae Bo by Billy Blanks- and I do that 1-3 times in a week..depending on how the day is going..Its getting colder here and sometimes,its hard to go out..too cold or raining and if SD isn’t home,then I don’t need to drag the baby out..I can still finish my workout.
Sometimes,I look up Zumba on you-tube.The day I cross the 10kg mark from the 1st of January..(another kg to go..)
What else…
6)Goals and Rewards: In the past,I used to lack motivation..At the beginning I used to be very charged up but after a few days or weeks,I would stop.One bad day of eating and I would be like..whats the point..but not anymore..If I eat out one day..I make sure I eat in the next 5-6! I also signed up for an online weight-loss challenge so that I stay focused..I have come to realise that if I have a goal to work towards,then,I am more focused..When I looked at my big weight loss goal of nearly 30kgs,it was really daunting..and in my mind..I had already given up.This time,the only thing different I did was I set myself small targets..like I want to lose 1/2 kg per week…or 3 kgs in 1 month.And I promised myself rewards..for the first 5 kgs lost,I bought new clothes.
My next goal is 10 kgs and once I get there,I would be at the weight that I was when I got pregnant with Babushka..and when I get there,I am going to book in a massage and buy a Zumba DVD!
I am just making small changes and being as consistent as I can..I hope this helps..if you have any tips,please feel free to add to this list..
Recently a friend shared this link with me..I like what this lady has to say ..go on have a look:)
And with this,I end my lecture..:) Look forward to hearing from you all..:)
I cannot believe it..its been 1 whole month since I blogged.. I have turned into one of those bloggers,that create a blog and forget about it..Life is suddenly so busy..I need more hours in my day!Â
My morning starts between 6:30 and 7:00 am..The first alarm rings at 6:30am..I switch it off and go back to sleep.Then the second one rings at 7 am..thats when I get out of bed and start my morning.
Wake up Babushka at 7:30am and then the running begins..some days I can hear RUNRUNRUNRUNRUN in my head…and by midweek,she is tired and so the yelling begins..
Anyway,we leave home at 8:30am to drop her at school..If I am lucky,Babychino sleeps till 8:15 or so,when I wake her up..But most days,she wakes up by 7:30 and then,I do all the RUNRUNRUNRUN with her on my hip!Â
Come home by 9:00 am,put Babychino down for her nap-finish my workout and shower.By then Babychino wakes up-then we have breakfast and then her massage,playtime,lunch etc.. Before I know it,its 2:30pm ,when we leave for school pick up!
Come back home with a tired and cranky Babushka..snack,homework,shower,playtime,cooking,picking up SD,dinner and its time for the girls bed.
After the girls are in bed,I am so tired..I have no energy or drive to do anything,except mindless surfing or attempting to read.
Next day-rinse and repeat!
I can’t wait for Babushka’s school holidays to begin. Oh and a bit of excitement..my dad will be visiting us for a while..so excited about that.
I posted a notice in my local mum’s group asking for interest in learning crochet and 4-5 people were interested..so,I started a class and today was the first day.I had so much fun,teaching and chatting.I realised thats the right kind of job for me..something where I can interact with people on one-on-one basis and if I get to do something crafty,at the same time..I am set!
As for weight loss- I am happy to tell you that I am now 10 kgs lighter than I was,when I found out I was pregnant with Babychino!R’s Mom you asked for some tips- well all I am doing is..eating clean- basically avoiding processed food as much as I can.. the only thing processed I am eating is probably whole grain bread and cereal.Everything else,cooked from fresh ingredients…baring the spices. And calorie counting.I also try to exercise 4-5 times during the week-either a video or walks..something.The day I cant do any of that..I do a major clean up or do squats while cooking or squats holding BabyC!LOL! and then some days I don’t do anything..because I am so tired.. but I try and eat within my calorie level..everyday!Â
This time I really really will try to be regular and try to post everyday..even if its a short post.And I promise I will get my act together and hop over to your blogs..I have started missing the blogosphere!Â
Hope you all are doing well and had a great Holi!
Cheers,
SM!
Where do I begin..Should I first tell you about Babychino,who has learned to stand up?Yes,as if crawling wasn’t enough,she has learned to stand up. She crawls at full-speed to the nearest Pull-yourself-up station-the couch or the ottoman or Babushka’s study table or even the nearest person and stands up!She doesn’t like sitting down anymore..and she doesn’t get tired!She is standing up in her crib and also moving sideways,holding the crib railing!Don’t believe me?Have a look-
And now Babushka’s big news- Babushka started big school.She is a Preppie now..going to school 5 days a week,6 hours every day.I cannot believe it still. The first day was on Friday- 3rd feb and SD took the day off.After we dropped her off,SD and I didn’t want to stay home.It was so unnatural,having just one kid around us. We stepped out for coffee and found ourselves,sitting at Babushka’s favorite table. The hours were going so slow that day. On the first day,she just told me,to go,once she settled down..Just like that..no tears,nothing..just hugged me and said,’you could go outside with Papa too’..It was harder for me to let go.Here’s my big girl,all ready for school-
When she came home,she told me that she missed me. Today was her 4th day in the new school and she said,she didn’t want me to go away.She wanted mumma and her sister to stay with her. They were going to get treats later,since it was someone’s birthday..hopefully that would cheer her up.
Finally coming to me..I am mission weight-loss again.This time for good. I didn’t mention anything earlier-because everytime I talk about it..I lose interest..but this time,I have kept at it from the 1st of January and as of today,have lost 4 kgs. This is on top of the 10 odd kgs,I lost since BabyChino’s birth!This is an ongoing process,so please bear with me,while I bore you with my weight-loss details,in the future! No,I am not sharing any of my pictures just yet..I will ..all in good time!:D
And now that Babushka is at school..I am hoping to go blog hopping again..first step is to be regular here!!!
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My first born started school this month.I cannot believe it,my first baby is actually a full-time school kid- 5 days a week,6 hours a day! She was so excited about going to school-every morning,when we woke up,the first thing she asked me was-‘Is it New School today?’..and then we would count days to the new school.
On the first day,Papa took the day off,we got ready and reached school in time. Took some pictures before leaving from home and on reaching school.We met the teacher,got introduced,put on Aadya’s name tag and I read her a story.
After the story,she settled down on the play-dough table and I told her,”Papa and Ananya are going outside,do you want to say bye?” She said Bye to them and told me,”You can go too Mumma”..Just like that..my baby was all grown up!I was so proud of her for not crying.
We can’t get over the fact that she suddenly looks like a big kid! Pictures from that day-
Yes,on 2nd February 2012(at 6 months,1week and 3 days),Ms.Ananya pulled herself to a standing position..ALL by herself! And Didi was the first one to see that.
And just last week mumma sent an email to her friends sharing the news about Ananya’s standing up and she joked that Ananya  can do almost everything,except sit up on her own,when she is lying down.Well,Mumma was in for a surprise..two days back(6/2/2012) Ms.Ananya sat up in her crib!
Yayy go Ananya!
Hot Summer days call for something cold and soothing.We had gone for the baby’s 6 month shots and we had to wait a long time for our turn.We came back home-hot,thirsty and hungry. I just made a big bowl of this salad and Ms.Aadya finished her portion happily,telling me,”Mumma this is the best salad ever.You are the best chef!” What can I say happy Mumma,happy baby-girl!
For this salad,I used:
4-5 lettuce leaves-washed and torn
1 tomato-diced
1 cucumber-diced
1 can chick pea- drained and rinsed
1 avocado-pitted and chopped.
juice of half a lime
7-8 mint leaves,chopped
chopped cilantro
salt to taste.
Put everything in a big salad bowl;toss and serve immediately.
Note: if you want to make it earlier,just chop everything n store in individual boxes.
Happy Chomping!
Dear Ananya,
My baby,My sweetie..my pumpkin pie- you are 6 months old in this world now. Its so hard to imagine our life without you..:)
Your didi was so excited about your birthday this time.She now knows her numbers and was looking forward to the 23rd. She kept telling everyone,the previous week that its going to be Ananya’s b’day and everyone has to wish her. She told Mumma-Papa,where we need to get your cake from. And on the 23rd,she made sure,you didn’t let you cry..you just had to whimper and she would rush to your side and try to cheer you up.She even made sure,we didn’t yell at her for ANYTHING,because it was a special day.
Laddu,you are no longer happy just rolling over..you tried and tried till you mastered the art of crawling.Yes.. no fooling around,no backward crawl..you just kept rocking back and forth on all fours, trying to move ahead and then you did it..2 days before turning 6! Yes! We are so so proud of you.. we cheered you on, we clapped for you and cuddled you..and it made you so happy.
You love your didi,don’t you? Your eyes just light up when she enters a room and I can see it..EVERYBODY can see it. Love you for that..:) It isn’t easy to put you to sleep or feed you,when didi is around.And you are so naughty,you call out to her,when you want your cuddles and when you are done,if she even touches you with her little finger,you get mad..and scream!You cheeky cheeky monkey! Another thing you like doing with didi is holding on to her shoulders and standing!And just yesterday,you were trying to raise yourself to a standing position by holding onto didi’s table.
And Didi taught you squealing..and you made me crazy with those squeals,both of you..You love sitting on Papa’s chest and eating his face up.. You start patting us,when you get sleepy.You want to try everything that we are eating.So far you have tasted- rice cereal,sweet potato-pumpkin puree,potato,avocado and cucumber.We are still going slow with the solids because you had a bit of trouble sleeping,the few times we tried solids. So, we’ll take it slow…and before we know it,you’ll be eating all that yummy food.
So,I’ll give you the yummy food..but you have let me sleep..:) Yes Monkey,you still wake me up atleast 3 times in the night..and I am not even counting the number of times,I have to pat you back to sleep,before I go to bed. From the time I started writing this post,I have had to pat you twice and despite being in different rooms,every time you wake up,so does your didi!
Clinging to Mumma continues and so does stranger anxiety and its so funny that you live with some of the loudest people and yet,you get startled when someone talks in a loud voice..Aah..what would I give to know what goes on in that little mind of yours.
Keep growing,my beautiful baby..and keep smiling like you always do..love those gummy smiles just as much as I love those precious tears that you shed…but you know what I love most..the pink that creeps into your cheeks and lips,right after you finish feeding..and that sweet satiated smile..Gosh! thats all it takes to turn my heart into mush..Love you loads,baby girl..
today and forever
Mumma!
After 3 hot days,finally we have a cool day..Can I tell you how refreshing that is?
I am having a rather peaceful moment,right now..and I had to get online and write about that..
Babushka opened one of her many bags and got an alphabet sheet out-she is pretending to write an exam..and is writing her ‘U’s and her numbers.
Babychino is cruising around her,trying to reach for her toys..
It sounds so divine… isn’t it? I leave you with a picture:)
Those boxes and the baskets in the corner..well thats my short-cut to clean-up! Every night,we pic up all the toys and dump it in there!
Have a nice day!
Much Love
Edited to add: Kala Tika after R’s Mom ‘s comment!
She is a chatterbox..Every time,I ask her, ” Can you be quiet for sometime?” she tells me,”No! I can’t…because I am one of those people who talk!” 🙂
She loves singing.We got her a Leap Pad and she keeps making videos of herself singing.
She loves dressing up.Whenever we have to go out,she needs to try on a couple of tops before finalising her final outfit..I don’t call her a diva for nothing!
She is learning new words,every single day.She had a bigger vocabulary than I had at 10! When she hears a new word,she wants to know what it means and uses it in the right context,right away!
She looks so much like I did at 5…I see her talking or smiling..and I am reminded of my childhood pictures:)
She is a brat sometimes..throwing tantrums-everytime we enter a shop..She nags and pesters and nags some more for something silly..something that she won’t even remember the next day.
She loves her sister dearly and though sometimes she is rough with her,she is quick to jump to her defense ,when we pretend to be angry with the baby..or pretend to be too tired and want to give the baby away.
She is getting closer to her dad..more than ever..they team up,make plans in whispers..they are as thick as thieves!
She is starting formal school next week and I have butterflies in my stomach. I know she will have lots of fun and she will rock there..but..I still worry,whether she will eat her lunch,whether she will have friends there…
I leave you with a pic
Told you she is a diva!
15 Marbles 
