Now that the Jan Birthday girls have opened their presents..I can share them here..


I found plain wooden pen holders from Spotlight and then transformed them into these gorgeous things,using decoupage technique,scrapbooking paper,crafting glue,buttons,stickers,ribbons! It was my first time doing decoupage..and I am thinking..why did I wait so long to try it. I am so glad,my friends liked their gifts!

Wow!This week went by so quickly.I can’t believe we are nearly in the last week of this month..1st month of the new year is getting over…Babushka starts school on 3rd February..I can’t decide if I am happy or sad.While I happy that I will get one-on-one time with Babychino,I am also sad about being away from Babs for the whole day.Ah! the Joys of motherhood- the guilt never leaves you!
This year,one of my resolutions is to lose weight..YES again! I have started walking..and I am proud to tell you that I have religiously gone for a walk every single day..if I can’t go for a walk,I make sure..there is some incidental stroll in the mall happening!
We have been going crazy shoe shopping for Babushka’s school.. yes,you read it right.They asked for leather shoes..and the first time,we went-we couldn’t find any girl shoes in heer size.We bought a pair of black runners with laces and came back.The next time we went-we found some girl shoes with buckles(I think they are called Mary Janes!)-Bought two pairs of those..One cheap,one expensive.I found her size and just bought some -just in case I don’t find it anywhere else.
The next day,we headed out again for some more shoe shopping..this time,I found her size in back to school sale..I bought two pairs AGAIN! These were also Mary Janes..So we now had 1 pair of runners and 4 pairs of Mary Janes!
Two days later,I went and returned the expensive Mary Janes…and while window-shopping,I found Mary Janes with Velcro straps- just right for my little girl-who has trouble with laces and buckles!!And there I found runner with Velcro straps too..So,I bought a pair of each!! LOL! So now we have 2 good Mary Janes and 1 good pair of runners.AND Now,I need to go return 3 pairs of shoes!I hope they don’t BAN me from the store!
While the craziness reigns in the Suburban house,one baby has been diligently trying to crawl..YES..thats right..BabyChino is trying to crawl..She has so far taken 2-3 steps(?) …a couple times..While its exciting,I am left wondering-WHY so soon? OK..I will go and catch some sleep now,before the BabyChino wakes up for her night snack..I swear..I am in a permanenet sleep deficit these days..BabyC wakes up atleast 3 times,at night and Babs wakes up sharp at 8.She then,sneaks out and watches TV on a low volume..but mother’s guilt doesn’t let me sleep much longer..Oh well….I better get going! More later..
Much love,
Suburban Mumma!

Hi everyone,
I hope 2012 is treating you well. Yet again,I promise to blog more often and keep this site fresh and active..2012 is making a new woman out of me..and I am hoping,I will keep this up.
So,some of my new year resolutions are..
The first one -eating healthy and home cooked.. avoiding processed food as much as possible.Last year,because of the pregnancy,my being sick and pregnant,new baby..everything just led to more and more eat-out.So,weekly menu plans are back-they have been in place from the very first day of the year..I hope we can stick to it,for the rest of the year!

The second one is-crafting more .. Last year was pretty dull craft-wise as well. This year,I want to craft more.I intend to try out a few new techniques,a few new crafts..pick up some new hobbies.

Logo credits-Josie
The extra crafting will come in handy,considering I signed up for an year-long birthday exchange on Ravelry!Yup,you read it right!
There are 22 of us and we’ll be sending gifts to every person on her birthday.The last time I got so many presents was on my 23rd birthday-when my sister gave me 23 presents 🙂 Anyway,I mailed out the puffies for the January birthday girls and I can’t wait to share here what I made for them..more importantly can’t wait for the Birthday girls to get their presents!
I will share pics here,as soon as they receive the parcels..
Hope you are having a good year!!

Wish you all a very Happy 2012!May this year bring all things nice..lots of love,luck,prosperity your way!!

Here’s the blog review for 2011

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 8,500 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 8,000 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 7 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Hii Ananya,

You are 5 months old  young now..and you are a rock star! You are such a smiley fun baby to be around. Everyone in your sister’s Kinder used to call you smiley! Some of my mum friends said,they have never seen another baby who always smiles.And you did change that impression on the last day.. by screaming when one of them looked at you and said hello..Boy! you cried and cried and cried…I think you were startled and didn’t know what was  happening.

Oh my Laddu..yes,darling.. that name is stuck with you.. you know why?I love your perfectly round face..and those baby kisses that you shower me with give me such a heady sugar rush… So how can I call you anything else,but Laddu!! So,my dear Laddu..you are sitting up.. well you started sitting up sometime in your 4th month and now you can sit up straight without any support.. Its so funny..when you first started sitting up,you didn’t want to lie down..Even when you were half awake and half asleep.. you wanted to sit up and cried till I didn’t prop you up!

You know, you were trying to grab our spoons and food with both your hands..1-2 days before your 5th month birthday.. Yes,you were…you watched hungrily when I was holding you and eating..We went Berry picking and you grabbed my hand that was holding the strawberry,with both your hands and tried to take a bite! The next time,we were at a cafe and you yelled and screamed and grunted.. because you wanted to taste what we were eating!!! You naughty naughty baby..So we decided to start you on solids.Well,I decided and your sister excitedly agreed..and Papa,well he was out-numbered..so he agreed too.

We did a little ceremony and you were fed your first official solid food..Rice cereal to be precise and you loved it..you gobbled it up..we tried it again the next day and you were happy to eat… but then you had too full a tummy and had trouble sleeping.So, we have put the solids away for a while.. We’ll try again in a couple of weeks on a half-filled tummy 🙂

And Missy,yet again,I have to ask you..WHAT IS YOUR HURRY?? You are trying tummy and butt pushups..trying to crawl away,are you?? Well ..well.. there is no escaping this crazy family.. we are stuck with each other for life..So,relax..slow down..and remain my little baby..a little while longer..OTHERWISE I swear,I will wrap you  up in a bubble wrap 😀

Love you loads …Monkey… Lots and lots.. and lots…

Kisses n cuddles

Mumma!

Yesterday SD and I completed 8 years of married bliss..:) YES-8 years!!

The first year was mostly a mixed bag..more bleh..than bliss.. but we made it…:) It is during that year that I understood what my friends and relatives said about-When you get married, it doesn’t matter whether is arranged or love! The first year was difficult..and why not,we were getting used to living with each other-instead of just meeting,sharing a meal and going back to our own homes. Even if we had a fight on a date,we knew,there was just limited time and we would just quickly make up and make the most of the date.. But,when we were living together.. we had all the time..and egos reared up their ugly heads.But we made it…we got through it!!:D We lived in 4 places,across 3 countries during the first year of marriage(SD lived in 5,across 4 countries-because he went away on a business trip-that got extended and extended again!)

The second year was better than the first but not great. There were some bad months of family trouble..which even spilled over into the third year..The family troubles did make it hard for our new marriage..but it also made our bond stronger..we went through phases where we were at loggerheads and then there were phases,where we didn’t care about anyone else,but us..:) We moved again just before our second Anniversary..another time,we moved countries.

The third year had its share of family trouble,that spilled over from the second.. but by then we were a teeny bit smarter and didn’t let all that get in our relationship.We decided to tackle those,when they presented themselves-which was very frequently..but we would put the phone down,and get in the car and go for a long drive..driving silently,till the tempests in hearts and minds settled..and then we would be alright..The third year brought to us,the sweet news of my first pregnancy…and we were on top of the world.That year we moved twice and on our third Anniversary-I was pregnant and starving and he was overworked and we managed to get a take-out just before our favorite restaurant closed their kitchen..Yes! he didn’t get home till 10.00pm that night!

The fourth year saw us as new parents.And you know what?That teeny-tiny bundle of love just made us glued to each other like never before.We made it through the sleepless nights,teething troubles,health problems-both his and mine-smiling:) I swear..I am not kidding. The fourth year also saw us welcoming our families in our homes..for the love of a grandchild,is bait enough for the grandparents to take those long flight. And we moved yet again that year…:) just once!

The fifth year started with a milestone..when we first left India,we got on that plane as a newly married couple..we got on a plane to go to India- only this time,we were new parents and were proudly holding our love and joy,our 9 month old.The fifth year was nice..except our families had to go through terrible times on account of health and work..and both the times,our circumstances left us,feeling terribly helpless and tied down. Things got better as the year ended.We moved countries that year and again on the anniversary day,SD was working late and we managed to get a take-out just before closing time!

The sixth year was pretty tame compared to the rest of the years..Actually it was pretty laid back..We made the most of what we had and enjoyed ourselves and our baby 🙂 AND NO there were no moves that year-we only changed houses!!:) Family visited again that year and I ended up going to India alone with Babushka.That was the first time,since Babushka’s arrival that we lived apart for 2 months! All in all,it was a good year..great even!

The seventh year saw us getting ready to go one step ahead in game of parenthood..:) Yes,just before our 7th anniversary,we found out that I was pregnant with Babychino:)More family visits that year:) And no moves.We went back to India again as a family and SD changed jobs.That year was the first time,he went away on a business trip..He did weekly flybacks and it was weird not having him come home every night and he felt lost not having his favorite girls to cuddle..That was when we realised how you can take your spouse for granted:) I was too sick,on our anniversary that year,so we just stayed in watched movies:)

The eighth year saw us waiting for a new baby..SD went through phases of being extremely stressed out and irritable,like he was last time..and then there were phases of extreme care and concern.There were moments when I came this close to killing him..but then picking up my pregnant bulk,pushing Babushka away from my growing bulk was too much effort..And then how could I deny Babychino the pleasure of being loved by her dad..And ..and.. how could I let SD go without him changing a few poopy diapers..So, he survived..and I survived..and we got our beautiful baby girl..:) The eight year zoomed by and we spent our 8th Anniversary,frantically buying Christmas presents for our precious girls. Yes!we left it to the last minute..but that’s besides the point..I remember,when in the pre-baby days..it was all about eating out, indulging each other..and this year..we didn’t even get cards for each other..In the evening,we went to our favorite restaurant for dinner and it was closed..:( We were starving by the time we got to our next choice..It was on the other side of town..I am hoping this means that another move is on the cards…Thats another story that we ate till we burst-literally..!!I have not pigged out so much in a long long time!!
Lets see what the ninth year has in store for us…
Eight years,8 places,2 babies,1 receding hair-line(his!),one expanded waist-line(mine!),hugs and tears,love and laughter,food(OH!yes..there has to be food!),joys and sorrow… all added and subtracted,its been a good run..Despite our differences(oh!yes we are like chalk and cheese!),the bonds that we formed,the vows that we took all those years back are still going strong…I hope the years to come are kind to us:)
Happy Anniversary,SD !

Thanks for your comments and calls on the last post,everyone!
I still haven’t heard from the doctor..and I am hoping that means good news..I will go and check tomorrow,if the results are in.
Fingers crossed ..:)