tags

Sunny Days

MysTri Mum5 Comments

Here’s the Sunshine of our lives,soaking up some sunshine
Its so bright and sunny outside and it reminded me of this picture that I had taken a few months back.
While I am at it,I might as well do the picture tag,that no-one tagged me to do.It says-“Go into your photo archive,pick the 4th folder in the archive,select the 4th picture in the folder,and write about it.Then tag 4 other people to do the same.”
This is a new laptop,so the pictures in the 4th folder are also new.

This picture was taken 3-4 days before we left for Melbourne.The Pipette had found my bangles in one of the bags that I was packing.And she had try them on.She loved the bangles so much,that she played with them,all day long,letting me pack peacefully.That’s my tomboy turning girlie(momentarily).
P.S. Please excuse the mess,we were packing.
Now,to tag- I tag-
Orchid Her Uj takes brilliant pics.
Aneela-This one’s travelled a lot.
Mystic Margaita– I love her writing and her Popol..so I want to see her pics too.
Kiran-Don’t we all love her?
~Nm – If you have seen her pics once,you will want some more.ALWAYS

And anyone else,who wants to take it up.

Uncategorized

Color Me up

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Its been long since I put up anything on this blog.But that doesn’t mean that I have abandoned this blog.Its just that,I don’t have any more finished projects to display.
Also,we moved houses and we didn’t have phone or internet connection for more than 10 days after we moved in.I cannot tell you,how disoriented and “out-of-touch” with the world I felt.
Anyway,all’s well now.
Now for my current projects-
1) I am making more of those hats- for 2 friends.
2) I started knitting a sweater from my little girl.This will be the first sweater I finish all by myself.My speciality in knitting is blankets and scarves.
This is the yarn that I am using for it.dsc02450

Isn’t it Beautiful?I have had it for 6 months now..Made a hat with it,tried crochet and finally started knitting.

Like what you see?Check back in a few days to see the finished result.

Pipetty-ness · play-time

Fawers of a different kind

MysTri Mum6 Comments

This is what Aadya was busy doing,while I finished cooking yesterday evening.She came and presented me the colorful bouquet of wash-cloths,telling me,”Mumma,Fawers”..and when I asked her to pose with it,she kept it down and ran off to show me her second creation.

“Look Mumma”,she said..and before I could say anything,she went on..”Wowwwwwwww..clap clap,Job!!(Job means Good Job in Aadya-speak!)
These blocks are her new favorite toys.
tags

The First Born Tag

MysTri Mum7 Comments
I begged and bullied Mallika on FB to tag me for this..and now I don’t know how to write it there.

Then,Aneela & Munchkin’s Mom tagged me here again,And I think someone else did too,I just can’t remember or find out who that was.[Please,remind me if it was you].Anyway,here goes-

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?Oh Absolutely.

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?Yes…and for two years and 8 months too

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? I giggled and said to the doctor,”You are kidding..you are!”And walked over clumsily to hug the husband in a hospital gown.

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Na-uh..This was a much wanted,much awaited pregnancy.

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 26

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Through a pregnancy test at the doctor’s office.The nurse asked me,if I thought I was pregnant and I said confidently..No way. She asked me to pee in a cup..and I couldn’t,was made to gulp 2 glasses of water and asked to provide atleast 5 drops..LOL!! finally gave them a sample and got the GOOD NEWS.

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?The Doctor told us together..so,after S and I,the first person to know was my dad.It was 3 AM in India,and he thought that the whole good news conversation was a dream.

8. DUE DATE?April 14-16

9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?Yes and food aversions too-to milk and non-veg and rajma…and all things nice.

10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Cream rolls,from a local bakery in Thane, Imli ki chutney(we visited almost every desi restaurant in Chicago searching for the perfect chutney in 2 months.

11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? “They-who-must-not-be-named”

12. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD’S SEX?A beautiful girl

13. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?I wanted a girl,for as long as I can remember..for a brief period,a week or so,I felt that it may be a boy…but other than that I always knew and wanted a girl.

14. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? around 13-14 pounds

15. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes a traditional one.

16. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew..I helped the Husband plan it :)It was a happy day.

17. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? yes- Low progesterone levels to start with..Gestational Diabetes,Low amniotic fluid,leading to bed-rest.

18. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Phoenix

19. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?Less than an hour.The Baby’s heart-rate dropped during a routine non-stress test.I was admitted and taken to the OT for a C-section.

20. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL/BIRTH CENTER?Husband.

21. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?the husband and the hospital staff

22. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?C Section and I LOVED it.We talked through the whole surgery.It was so casual…I would gladly have another C-sec..if its going to be as happy as the first.

23. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?Epidural,sweet Epidural..But later refused pain-killers,only to wake up with stabbing pains..that’s when,I popped in the offered pills,without a fuss

24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?6 pounds 9 ounces

25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?At 8:33 PM

26. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN THE DOCTOR ANNOUNCED THE SEX OF THE BABY?We came to know the Baby’s sex in my sixth month of pregnancy..just after those 2 weeks of “maybe-its-a boy’..so,I was just quiet.Didn’t say anything for full 2 mins..then,said,a belated,WOWWW..

27. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION ON SEEING THE BABY? I remember saying Awww..when I first heard her cry.And I started crying..when I first saw her,it was through a haze of tears and I remember thinking that she was TINY(this was a baby,who was thought to be around 10 pounds..) she was really tiny.I blinked..and then,all I saw was the husband’s arm.

28. DID YOU CRY? Ohhh Yes!!! I cry very easily..

29. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Aadya

30. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?23 months,2weeks and 2 days young.

And here’s one of my favorite pics of my baby girl-

Weight loss journal

weightloss update

MysTri Mum2 Comments

Its Friday..Time for the weekly weightloss update.
This week-
I had regained 400 gms over the weekend..We had friends over for two of the three days(it was a long weekend) -so there was eating and drinking and no excercise..
From Tuesday I increased the walks….Made the Pipette sit on one side of the see-saw and pushed the other with my hand,taking turns with the right and left hand.
At weigh-in today-I had lost the 400 gms!!!
Total weight-loss so far- 2.8 kgs

Melbourne · monthly update

Almost 2

MysTri Mum5 Comments

February has only 28 days and  Aadya turns 2 on the 30th of March..So,she is almost two..technically 23 months now.:)
We moved to our new house on the 28th and I think Aadya  has got a new leash on life.Really.I heard her squeal happily,when she saw the house.I heard her excited squeals when S played ball with her.My baby is almost a big girl now.In her mind,I think she already is.From pointing at things to saying some words,she has moved on speaking two word sentences..and even attempting to string more words together.Like the other day,she was walking between the husband’s legs and giggling.I asked her”What’s up Aadya?” And she said,”Aadya walking shidePapa Paiir(shide=Aadyaspeak for inside or outside,whatever is applicable; paiir=legs)
Its interesting to see the little helpless baby evolve so much..but it breaks my heart to see that she is all grown up now.
There was a time,when she just wouldn’t let me get out of her sight.But now,its like her little legs have a mind of their own..actually,I think she knows now that she can wander away from me and the sky won’t fall.Now this is both good and bad.At home,I can have my momentary peace,while she does her own thing.But bad,when we are out somewhere,say,in the library.She finds books that she likes and brings them,not to me..to other women(read moms) in the kids section and insists on them reading it,saying Peez to sweeten the deal.And all my attempts at getting her to sit down with me,are a lost cause.She looks at me like I am a strange WOMAN!
The new independent Diva,has a choice in everything..be it her meals-the day I make only roti and no rice,she wants Bhaatu.The day,there is no roti,she wants Roti.And the day that I make both,she wants Patata or Dosha!There is no pleasing this child,I tell you.That’s another story..that she has to eat what is on her plate.I tell her,she’ll get the missing item after she finishes..most days she is a sport and finishes it.By then she is too full to remember.She likes to pick her own clothes too.We are in the Pink phase still..but she has a select clothes that she likes in the non-pink stack too.Even if we ask her,what to wear,she answers Pink..and ensures that the shirt or top is pink!Not only that,she has taken to dressing and undressing herself.So,don’t be surprised if you walk into AadyaLand and are greeted by a naked child running around or one wearing an inside out dress.
She has her favorites in DVDs too.The ones topping the chart are –Ghatotkach,Adventures of Pooh,Hanuman-1 &2,Hum tum,Salaam namaste.
The Salaam Namaste Songs were played so many times,before the DVD stopped working..But,since Ghattu(ghatotkach)arrived on the scene,all other videos have moved down the chart. When she wants to watch it,she says Gattu putit peez? What is it with the kids these days..so polite-whatever happened to demanding from your parents,with reckless abandon.
Every time,we fill her bottle,she wants to hold the cap and she takes it very seriously,this cap holding business.God Forbid,if you dont give it to her to hold,big tears appear miraculously on her cheeks and you hear holdit holdit in halting baby voice,till she doesn’t get to holdit!
Aadya has alway enjoyed being read to.But now,she sits down with her toys and opens a book and reads to them.Ofcourse,she can’t read.But,if you didn’t listen to clearly,you’d think she was actually reading the story.What she is mostly saying is…”one gibberish gibberish mamma bear..fast hot.gibberish gibberish knockknonk..shleeping BEARS!”She is actually reading the Goldilocks and three Bears from her memory.I am amazed at the things she remembers.Its been more than one month,since we visited Aneela and baby Arhaan.But,even if I mention Aneela’s name in passing,she starts her narrative- Auntie..gibberish..Baby,dudu peeta…Aadya turn,Nani,uncle chokie Givmi….So,we cannot take Aneela’s name in vain around here.
I have always said Aadya is a very sensitive child.And as she is growing getting more sensitive.Her eyes tear up,when she sees another child crying..or if one of us is upset.If one of us is angry,she keeps calling out to us sweetly,till we don’t smile.If someone storms out to the other room,she goes after that person..talking sweetly,patting whichever part of the body she has access too..saying “Isshokay,Aadi Hiya(here)”..who can stay mad or upset after that reassurance.
Aadya is so in love with babies.She gently kisses them on their forehead,wants to pick them dodi(AadyaSpeak for=pick me up).She is also in love with her various soft toys too.She calls the smaller teddies Puppy-Don’t ask me why.So, each teddy or Puppy gets its turn to be pampered.They get read to,they get fed,put to sleep.She dances with them,urging them to put their feet on the ground..its fun to watch..She even blows raspberries.But its no fun,blowing raspberries on teddies,so thats when mummy is called in,shirt is promptly raised and raspberries blown on Mumma-tummy.Sometimes I wonder who the child is..It fills my heart with a mish-mash of happy and sad..:)
A couple of weeks and she will be two.Its just not fair,that just like that my baby is a toddler now and even acts all grown up…:(

general · Melbourne

A quick hello

MysTri Mum6 Comments

Hello Hello Everyone.I am just stopping by to say a quick hello and to tell you that all’s well here.We are almost at home in the new house.Finally got the internet connection today and the phone should start working from tomorrow.Aadya loves running around.The first thing she does when she wakes up is to run to the front door and look out the glass panel.Rest of the day just goes by..running and playing .I am not in a rush to unpack this time..all the bags and boxes have been stacked in one room and we are going one room at a time.
We have already entertained two sets of house guests and had some people come over for lunch.S drives to city everyday and so far he hasn’t complained.And I don’t think he will too,considering moving here was his idea.
We have almost finalised on a day-care cum montessori for Aadya and she will start school in a week or two.
On the weight front there is good news-
I have lost 2.8 kgs so far.i hope to lose another kg till Aadya’s birthday on the 30th.Resh,Sraikh..thanx for checking.
Regular blogging will resume soon.

general · Melbourne

Random Talks

MysTri Mum2 Comments

So,I never got around to writing the birthday post.I haven’t even replied to all the friends who sent birthday greetings on Facebook and Orkut.One good thing about these social networking sites is,no-one forgets your birthday and you don’t forget any one’s birthday.But,I am a sucker for birthdays and so more the wishes,the happier I am.
This year,for the first time,since I got married,I celebrated my birthday with friends and not with Sanj.So,as I was saying,this year,there were no celebrations with Sanj.I went out for lunch with two girlfriends ,followed by some retail therapy,roamed around in the city and came back home,tired.When Sanj came home,he was feeling miserable,for having been busy all day.He didn’t even get a chance to get me a cake(I rub it in EVERY SINGLE DAY!) -he did bring home lovely flowers and cards,though.We ordered a take-out dinner and ate it while watching a movie.And the day was over.
Anyway,this week-I have been packing,at least trying to pack.Most of the packing happened yesterday and today.There are boxes all over the house.The house is a mess.I haven’t bothered cleaning,since,in two days,we need to bring on some heavy-duty cleaning.The movers are booked for Friday morning and S has taken a day off that day.Aadya is going crazy with all the suitcases and boxes.If I pack 2 things she takes out 4 and insists on playing only with that.She caught me packing her toys and since then,refuses to leave me alone.What if I put one of her precious toys in one of those boxes?
I can’t believe…our stint in this house is over.But,for the first time,I am not sad,moving.In fact,I am looking forward to it.The only thing I will miss about this house is its location-everything is walking distance from here-the shops,the doctors,the station,the bus stop everything.The only other thing I will miss is -My friend,D.She has been my friend,since the first day,we moved in here.She has been my support system here.I will sorely miss our impromptu chai-sessions,on the spur of the moment trip to the mall.But,we have promised to keep in touch,and meet as often as possible.
I really feel some very positive vibes about this new house(Anti-jinx)..I hope it is all we hope it is.
I almost forgot-I wrote my first article on Helium.com and its ranked 10th of 29!I can’t tell you how kicked I am!!
This may be my last post for the next week or so,till,I don’t get the new Internet connection.See you on the other side 🙂
Take care and be good.

Weight loss journal

WeightLoss Update-2

MysTri Mum7 Comments

This week I have no weightloss to report.It is so frustrating.But its my fault.This week,despite watching my diet,and walks..I failed to eat before 7:30 pm. I was feeling tired all week,had mega headaches for two solid days…the Bubba,suspects I am not eating enough..but really,i am.
I turned 29 yesterday,another post coming up on that..And all the eating out,showed on the scale today.I have GAINED 100 gms!
Ugh!I know its just 100 gms..but for someone like me,who has trouble losing..thats a lot.I hope PMS also had a role to play in this weeks no weightloss.
Next week,we are moving..which means atleast 3 -4 days of eating out.I want to be shameless and beg someone to make me khichdi.OR may be I’ll just order Grilled chicken,everytime we eat out.
How was your week?Do share.

Melbourne · Weekend.. · zoo

Of Fawers,Mukkeys,Giaafs And Aanas

MysTri Mum4 Comments

This Valentine’s Day,we completed 8 years as a couple.After 8 years together,of which 5 years married and a baby ,for the first time,Sanj gave me flowers-Red Roses :)I love flowers and he knows it,but he had never bought flowers for me.Sometimes,if I wanted flowers,I would buy them myself,but he never offered to buy them for me..So,this was a pleasant surprise.His reasons being,’he wanted to keep me happy,so that I keep him happy ,when he is OLD’..well,I said,”Keep the flowers coming,till you get old..and even then 🙂 and I will think about it.” And then,the moment was broken,by an impatient bachcha,demanding Fawers!
We were wondering what to do,for V-Day-last two years,it was just quiet dinners.This year,I wanted to do something fun and special.He offered a fancy shmancy dinner..but,I didn’t want to do that..I would rather indulge once,on my b’day..than twice in a week.So,we decided to do something kid-friendly and decided on the Zoo instead.
We set off Saturday morning,after breakfast to the Melbourne Zoo .It was a 35 minute drive,so we weren’t in a hurry.Sanj was relaxed,we were listening to music,singing along,even Aadya was happy.And we got lost.And we kept getting lost over and over again.We were lost for well over an hour.Thank God for GPS -mobile phones.Anyway,it was a nice day,sunny,but not hot-windy but not too windy.We bought the tickets and got inside.It was nice to see so many other young parents,with their babies and toddlers.We saw some grandparents babysitting toddlers and I imagined their parents,out in the city,spending some couple time.

We decided to see the Gorillas first.Another Good Choice..Aadi was super-excited.All the Gorillas,Apes,chimps,everyone was a Mukkey in Aadya-speak.She decided to walk..And we saw the Zoo,from her prospective.Everything was so exciting.All the monkey-business was interesting enough to spend long spells,watching them.Each monkey had to be waved at.2 little boys and their grandparents were following us.At each enclosure,Aadya and one of those little boys were standing next to each other.She took a fancy to his “Glasshes” and he to her hat.Sometimes,he would leave his group and linger around Aadya and at other times,Aadya would turn her cute little Butt towards us and chase after him.

After the mukkeys,we saw the crocodile,Coco in Aadya-speak.Anything that looks scary,roars(in her world) It was a fake crocodile..Aadya looked at it and roared,trying to warn the other bystanders.That was our next pit stop.Roaring for the crocodile.We spent quite some time there.When we asked the roarer to pose with the Coco,then,of course,she was Shcared!We walked around leisurely,playing catch behind the trees,stopping to pick up a leaf or a stone.Then,we saw the tiger..and some more roaring was done.Then,it was time to run,run.And then,Ms.Aadya  spotted ice cream.So,it was time to get the “ice”.We got her some ice cream and went to see the elephants.

As soon as she spotted the first stone elephant,she screamed,”Aana!”(Elephant is called Aana in Malayalam) She dug in her ice cream cup,as we watched the elephants,play in the water and grab a bite of hay and apples.We then stopped to eat lunch.After a leisurely lunch of chai lattes and Satay wraps,we went to see the Giraffes.Giaffs were Bigg and the little miss wanted to give them huggies.Before the whining turned into a full blown tantrum,we decided to move on.She saw the zebras and got distracted.Next came the Kangaroos.They were kept in open range.Aadya tried to sneak under the railing,so I took her outside,while Sanj walked around a little.The Koalas were there,too..but we didn’t get to see them.
Aadya was getting tired,and so were we.We decided to call it a day.Sometime during the day,Aadya needed a diaper change and asked for it.So,I decided to leave the stroller and backpack with Sanj and just take the diaper and wipes and her blankie.She wanted to help -so I carried her blanket and the wipes ,while she carried the diaper.On the way out,she held the blankie and wipes both,saying she wanted to help Mumma.At that moment,it hit hard,how much my baby girl has grown.My baby is not a baby anymore..I had memory flashes,of a six-month old Aadya ,in Dallas Zoo,when my dad was visiting.Sanj was carrying her diaper bag,I was carrying the baby..my dad was pushing the stroller…And now she wants to help 🙂 Time really flies.As I was typing this..I wiped away the tears..Aadya saw that,she came running,”Mumma crying…Sorrieee” My baby has really grown up.
It was lovely day and we came back with happy memories.