Crush(ing)News :-))

Dear Guddams:
Lots of things happening in your life
New words, new sentences (full ones) ... and new friends ... well not exactly ..
It is a commonly known fact that you have found your crush - your first crush .. Arsh ...
Well, it is like this - when you see him, you run to him and are ready to play with him. You run with him, scream and screech, and have a good time.
The other day, you were sitting in the lobby of the neighbouring building- and refused to budge from your seat even when mamma pappa were pleading with you to play with them. Then came Arsh. He came on his cycle - the moment he saw you, he jumped off his cycle, while it was not yet stationery. And you jumped off from the chair - seeing him, you could not wait a minute. Then he came and took your bat and ball, so you went to his maid and took his bat and ball, and then the two of you took off, running and playing with each other.
You play with no other kiddie than Arsh and he plays with noone but you. And you guys get along really well ..
Mamma pappa are sure this relationship is just going to take off !!!
Love pappa

When Words became sentences ...

Dear Laddu,

You have started making such interesting sentences that well .. it makes us feel so amazed ..
Every parent must be seeing this happen and yet each i am sure finds it so amazing .. the process of the infant who could only cry to communicate to one who could pt and make wild gesterures for to a toddler who could say words to finally a toddler who could speak full blown sentences and recite rhymes !! Truly amazing.. Amazing the way kids of your age pick up language by just hearing stuff in context ..
You now say things like to cite a few examples

a) Duddhu peena hai
b) Thatha Patti dadar gaye
c) Patti kaise sulati hai? ( Question you pose to urself - followed by an answer) Patti Namo Namo gake sulati hai
d) Khujli - Macchar ne Katta

You recite the rhyme
a) Are you sleepy brother john almost fully
b) Nila Nila Va va
c) All the answer pieces of Johnny Johnny ..Yes papa ..
d) Round and Round the garden like a teddy bear !!
e) Chanda Mama Door ke ( This one you almost sing with the tune !!)

Wonderful phase .. its like music to hear you and at the same time spells trouble 'cos you can repeat any sentence we say clearly and sometimes a private conversation that Mamma Papa think they are having may become public ;-))

Luv
Mamma

Tit Bits :-)

Dear Gabdu,

The topmost thing on mammas mind is accomplishing night time weaning and getting down to max of 2 regulated feedings ( by regulated i mean quick and continuous 10-15 minute nursing session as opposed to how it is now with u taking breaks and coming back at ur ease and screaming murder if Mamma asks if u are done and she can shut shop :-)), a day.
As I sit thinking abt it, I am looking back fondly on the nursing sessions we have had in the past. Abt how you literally do a joy of dance if Mamma says Chalo Beta when you say "Diddhu" in ur cute baby voice with a question mark.You hold Mamma and lead her to the bedroom these days and say leti leti and do a "Hu Ha Hu Ha " with a naughty and happy glint in ur eyes if Mamma complies with ur wishes. And everytime Mamma asks u " Duddhu Bas?" you look up while drinking and briefly disengage and demand "Aur Chahiye " with all the "its my birthright" tone .. and then continue without waiting for my response...And if Pappa dares says "Guddu Duddhu Bas - papa Godi?" to start his process of putting you to sleep you kick him so badly - that ouch it hurts badly ( when U laugh;-))). Even his presence anywhere close by spells danger to you and you think his sole purpose is to take you away from ur milk ! You give him glares and often kick him very hard with the slightest hint of him opening his mouth assuming he is gonna try to disengage you. And sometimes , if and only if you decide ( YOU are the supreme authority) you will say "Mamma Bas" and then as if to ask Mamma to hurry up if Mama is continuing to lie down without shutting shop as we call it, you say "Bandh Kar Lo !".And you have learnt to say this side that side and flip your back and wait eagerly on the other side for Mamma !

And I also remember the number of times you have bitten me and when mamma said "No biting" you often did not understand said "No biting " and continued and when Mamma said Ouch you realised the pain and wud start wailing loudly saying "Mammma no biting" !! And when Mamma is in pain for any reason and Mamma asks you to disengage saying "Beta Nikalo" you promptly do that which is sooo sweet and understanding !

Hmm ... so feeding you has given me fond memories for life but at the same time I have many back breaking tales also which I wud reserve for some other letter to you

luv
Mamma

Parenting Choices & Dilemmas

Putting down some dilemmas and confusions and many of the disagreements say between me and my mom ( She feels I pbbly go too much by a rule book !)

Let the child taste variety of stuff - junk/chocolates/tea/sweets and so on
(or)
Ensure child has milk without sugar, don't let them taste tea or chocs 'cos they cud take to it - hoping that this is the mantra to ensure lifelong healthy food habits -

but the question if they can't eat now when can they? .... ? Tough Choices

Let the child co sleep and feed at will until he or she self weans, don't let them cry ever

(or)

Let them cry a little and so get them into the good habit of not feeding in the night which works well for everybody - better sleep for mother and child


Travel if u need to with the child , and let the schedules for sleeping etc go out of the window for a temporary period when you do this and don't worry as its just once in a while ...

(or)

Travel almost negligible as kiddo sleep getting affected and schedule of eating/playing also not kept

Wash every toy tonnes of time everytime it touches the floor

(or)

Wash occasionally when they are dirty and leave the rest to be taken care of by the improved immune system that is happening as they are at it


Boil water and keep separate spoons and utensils for the child that rewash everytime before you use it even if they are already washed

(or)

Let the child start having the aquaguard water all of you have...

Let the child try out shutting the closet and reopening and try to see the electrical switches that have been duly covered by putting on and off

(or)

Don't let ur child anywhere near anything even remotely dangerous and keep an eye all the time- every second .. don't let them play in the sand as they cud get infected ... and so on ...


Diapers

(or)

No diapers

Let them without their underwear for sometime

(or)

Let them be free for sometime at least as the grandparents say


TV - strictly no

(or)

Ok to use while feeding or ok for a short while

I could go on and on with the choices . I am not saying I have chosen one or the other in all these choices but don't you agree it often becomes difficult to make some choices and decide which end and exactly where on the spectrum you want to be given that there are as many opinions as the number of people and the feeling of gingerly holding responsibility of shaping a childs future always at the back of your mind ...

What are the choices you are still unclear on and keep changing .. what are the non-negotiable ones - do let me know in case you drop by

Higher Emotional Sensitivity?

Dear Guddams,

I guess kids of your age have not only a higher attention to detail and more observation but also higher emotional sensitivity. How else would one explain how easily you have grasped please and sorry ? How else would one explain the hugs I get from you and a gentle tap with a worried face asking me "Kya Hua Mamma"?
Nani was mentioning how you came to Nanu Nani and said Sorry Nanu Sorry Nani umpteen number of times and they were like its ok beta but what happened only to discover minutes later that you had dropped their ironed clothes that were to be worn for a reception on the floor !! Amazing grasp of the concept of sorry !
Mamma is trying to cut down on the night time feeds for the better interests of both of us and early last morning when I said no "Duddhu Bas", you said "Please Mamma" and melted my heart and got what you wanted ...
Nanu Nani got you a small pencil box to keep your color pencils that you have started scribbling in and you spent some time figuring out what it was and played and then suddenly said Nanu thank you !!
We saw this puppy at Bhandardhara and you said Mummy and cried and kept crying even as I held you and looked at the puppy and said Mamma Mamma - which I interpret as your realisation that the puppys mamma was nowhere to be seen
Patti was off to board the local train on July 7th - day of the blasts in local trains -when papa messaged mamma abt the incident and so Mamma tried frantically to reach Patti and then put on the television that showed the people crying etc while papa headed to the station to get Patti back - you wailed and wailed as the images on the screen flashed across - guess they were disturbing and you sensed the tension that was going on in mamma and papas minds .
You are the first one to feel Mammas mood changes and look and ask "Kya Hua " and the worried look on your face is amazing ! Of course there are times when we pretend to cry and u seem to understand and insist we do it again and again and laugh!
You sense the tension if papa and mamma have any arguments and well that kind of ensures our arguments are short because we can see you disturbed !
When Mamma walked away from the bedroom the other day to leave you to be put to sleep by papa but instead of wishing both of u good night or silently walking away , said "Good Night honey" ( to papa) and you cried loudly waving and saying good night honey to show your displeasure at being ignored !
Its amazing to see this and see how you grasp all these intangible concepts ..
How I wish all of us retained this till date and were not as insensitive as we are to various things that happen around us
Wishing you retain your senstivity/sixth sense/understanding or for the lack of better words whatever this is forever even as you grow up

What would this make mamma ?

Taking up i2w tag-a very interesting one - I have taken a slightly humorous take on this and i guess speaks volumes abt my current state of mind :)

If I were an animal/ bird: A sparrow- small,active, able to fly and yet commonplace and bird-next-door types :)
If I were a vehicle: Bicycle (Gents ;-)- needing pump to fill air regularly ( or shud I say boost my ego), needing the right balance and effort to manouvere,needing enough effort to mount ( and if wrongly executed injuring the rider badly)
If I were a comic character: Hobbes :) Visible only to some ( Calvin) and so party to all the mischief and yet escaping punishment:-)
If I were a city: Calcutta- sleepy and unshakeable( from its slumber). Take it or leave it attitudeIf I were an art form : Painting - Open to interpretation and often admired without being understood :)
If I were a colour: Red - Bold, Assertive and Calling for attention ;-)
If I were a filmstar: Shahrukh - Popular, Witty and Sarcastic despite being slightly ugly and stammering my way thru interviews - shows the confidence :-)
If I were a vegetable: Karela (BitterGourd) - Selectively liked, Good for health despite the taste - appearances and experience with taste buds all deceptive - does real good to the system :-))
If I were a fabric: Cotton - Needing the ironing out ones in a while ;-)
If I were a gizmo: A waterproof watch - Strapped firmly to the user, and needing to be looked at and checked every now and then ;-))

Edited to Add : oopsie I guess I did not read the purpose of this tag and I copied ArtNavys If I were a.. thinking we were to complete each - nevermind - will put down my true style ( which is often none) soon again

Why Do You Breastfeed?

Why Do I breastfeed?
Time and again, friends and family have said various things abt continuing/discontinuing breastfeeding. Most people think the importance I attach to it is unnecessary and Nani thinks its become a little bit of an inconvinience for her daugther. Well I have been breastfeeding till now - ( Gabdu is almost 18 months old) and now its down to 2 -3 feeds in the day ( one in morn and one in late eve) and multiple comfort feeds in the night. I know I need to get the night weaning going soon - not because I think its wrong/or right but just because I feel both me and Gabdumms as well as papa need better sleep and I think it will help to night wean and only feed her first thing in the morn and last thing in the night. But as I get the process going for weaning in general by the time she is 2 years old, I feel the need to put down reasons why I breastfeed and the reasons that don't really figure in my list of why I do breastfeed
1. The foremost reason I have been breastfeeding is not because of all the gyaan on whether it makes the IQ of the kid better or how harmful formula is but because I believe that if breasts do produce milk they must do so for a good reason and I believe that nature shows us the way. All mammals feed their kids so why not human beings2. Because it gives me alone time with my daughter cuddling and being with her. So I just love doing it.. Being a working mother this is my opportunity for some me time with my daugther. I love the way her face lights up when I am ready to feed her "Leti Leti kar ke". How can I deny her smthng that makes her feel so thrilled !
The reasons that do not really contribute to my strong inclination to breastfeed but nevertheless are good brownie pts for breastfeeding
a) Its easy- less sterilisation and less headaches of packing n bottles on a trip.b) Its quick comfort for my daughter when she is in pain or angry or just plain needing mammac) It has helped me loose my post pregnancy weight pretty quickly
Anyways I do plan to wean by 2 years for primarily my own conveniece and I do not in any way look down upon anyone who does not breastfeed, breastfeeds for longer time or for that matter shorter ... i think each mom does whats best for her kids and family and its best to leave decisions to the mommy 'cos mommy knows best

I can take my shoes out

Well, for the past two days you have mastered the art of removing your shoes on your own..which is oh so cute but also is exasperating because I cannot make you walk no matter what because you simply remove your shoes on the way and just look at me and I have no choice but to carry you as I cannot imagine letting you walk barefeet ! Actually may be I shud let you ! Smartie pants that you are !

The other major milestone I think we are gonna hit very soon is potty training 'cos you promptly remove your undies or at least attempt when you need to go and then go on the floor ( I am talking abt potty here !) and as one lump touches the floor you stand and move to another place and squat while instructing mamma to "Saaf karo" . And did i mention we do have a potty where you could sit comfortably and go abt ur business ! Anyways its good to see you be aware of whats happening but I do dread being on the road - i mean imagine if you insist on taking off ur undies/diapers in public and going !!! :))

More milestones

Quick updates starting what you've learnt starting say Nov beginning(15-16 months)
a) you are easily able to extend your arms out of the arm holes of your clothes making it easier for all of us to dress you
b) You have begun to sometimes kind of sleep on your own ie if we give around an hr to blabber and climb all over us, with dim lights and mamma and papa lying next to you. In any case overall its much easier to put you to sleep as you sleep readily putting your head on shoulders of the person putting you to sleep. The memories of sit ups and much tougher times are fast fading away making a tough day when you refuse to sleep seem tougher.
c) You can technically drink off from a tumbler/glass/katori on your own but of course we don't let you do it too often as you promptly wet yourself
d) I've moved you to the sippy cup for milk too and there was practically no struggle theree) You can lift some food with the spoon but to feed others and not urself :)
f) Scribbling/Writing/Drawing has begun starting Nov. You have your own colour pencils and a book where you scribble and also ask people to draw various objects and subjects for youg)You speak the language quite well now- I mean sentences like Nanu Nani Aa gaye !! , Papa ka Pant ( grammatically incorrect:) , Guddu ka Bottle, Aur Chahiye, Woh Wala, Yeh Wala etc etc . You surprise us because most usages were never taught to you but you've just picked them up hearing others speakh) You hold the bat so well for batting ! its a diff issue that it hardly ever touches the ball
i) Running quite fast
j) Learning to Jump - almost
k) Starting Dec mid - you slide on the slide quite okayly, Finally hold the swing and are climbing the stairs ( crawling up) and have figured to some extent how to get down stairs too
This is like a long list but I think there are other milestones I've missed out, but will update those laterI need to be a little more regular in recording the happenings so that I can fondly look back on them without loss of detail :)
LuvMamma

Happy New Year

Well dear, Wish you a great year ahead and I hope its a great year ahead for us as a family. I think the year that went by was definitely a very happening,significant and happy year for us and most of it was because of you.Of course there were sleepless nights, hospital trips and meltdowns due to your quick temper( and mammas to match yours and make matters worse) and high needs but then there were milestones, growing together and watching you learn to communicate in a language we understood ! Well dear thanks for making our day every day of the last year and hope you do so in the years to come toBecause you happen to be wee bit small to make new year resolutions, here are a few I think you shud have
a) Stop being such a tantrum thrower ( if theres such a usage :))b) Stop being obsessed with Mammas milk and get weaned off completely by the time you are 2c) Stop being so stubborn and do my own thing person. Be stubborn abt doing what mamma tells you to will u?d) Sleep better or shud I say sleep ( and thru the night?). Also sleep on ur own without like a prolonged session that is makes me pull out my hair every single day?e) Continue to amaze us with what you can learn and how you love us unconditionallyWell , I've run out of stuff and so might as well spend some time making and breaking some resolutions for myselfSo heres wishing you a very happy new year yet againluvMumma