Kaakaa Nari Kadhai

Adaptation....

Jillu : Paati, Paati, Nee romba azhagaa irukkiye! Mahabharatham lerundhu oru kadhai sollen !

(Grandma, you are looking so beautiful ! Pls tell me a story from Mahabharatham na )

Jillu Talkies -12

After a long gap, read how and what Jillu talks these days :)

She was unusually quiet for a while in the hall and came running to me in the kitchen suddenly. I got suspicious and asked her

Me: yenna pannittu vandhe? (What did you do ?)
Jillu : Onnum illa. Naan paavamaa summaa ukkandhuttu vandhen. (Nothing. I just simply sat like a paavam girl )

*************

Naan periyava aana udane, coffee pottu tharuven, dosai vaapen, naane mehendi vechupen
(After I become bigger, I shall make coffee, dosa etc. I will even keep Mehendi myself)

****************

She saw one half of the beautiful butterfly cup that she had broken last year. I was using it for some other purpose in the kitchen. She looked at it and asked

Jillu : andha cup naan udacha udane nee yenna panne yenna? (What did you do when I broke that cup?)
Me : naan timeout kuduthen ( I gave you time out)
Jillu : yen ? (Why?)
Me : pinna yenna paanuvaalaam? (Then what else should I have done?)
Jillu : inime panna maataanu chumaa vitturukanum! (You should have let me go free assuming I wont repeat again!)

Of sweet and precious vocab !!!

She drinks "Clompan", not "Complan" :)

When we go to Pizza hut, we eat Chizza !

When we finish a meal or a drink, we say "Chinish pannitten"

The first in the list for bribe is always "Binky Bar" (Milky Bar)

She does everything so geautifully :)

The next in the line is a visit to "Engine" (its the "MGM" in the MGM Dizzie world amusement park)

The "Germs" box (The Gems box) is her current most treasured asset

She always asks me "Have you taken the "kas-vees"?" when we venture out.

Any guesses as to what is Kas-vees?

Jillu Talkies - 7

It was dinner time and as is the norm these days, she had a couple of mouthful herself and started being playful which is a sign for me to pick up where she left and start feeding her!

mmm...Sigh....Romba polambareno? but then where is the girl who ate 75% of the food herself? Choligache.. poyindhe.. gone...gone..gone...

My knight (?) in shining Armour

What was a regular interaction turned into a beautiful moment :)

Hubby was slightly annoyed for a very silly happening and he was chiding me (in a slightly raised voice?)

Before I could respond or react, our girl steps in and says in a tone matching his

"Hey, appidilaam solla koodaadhu. Bad Manners ! " (Hey, you should n't say like that. Bad Manners!"

and both of us burst out laughing !

Surprise, Surprise !

A very light smile playing on the lips,
The tone being contrite,
The look being apologetic,
The gesture being spontaneous,
The word uttered instinctively,
She said softly "Sorry."

Of Mushy Talkies

Jillu is such a joy to be with, always. Sometimes she robs me of my speech with utter delight and makes me float on cloud 9.  These are moments to be cherished always and to be looked upon with fond memories down the years; that makes me appreciate life all the more, motivates me to enjoy to the max (while she is still young) and make each moment matter.

Of Bonding talkies and B meets

I was about to write about this in my other blog but,

 Me proposes,

Jillu disposes

and how did that happen ? When I went shopping today and called my mom to check on something from the shop, this transpired

The next inevitable milestone

has commenced.

Jillu has become a preschooler. We have enrolled in her a Montessori school. We have spent the past 3 to 4 months preparing her (brain washing, drilling, ore ore build up) for the school. The build up could be any of the below or all

- you will have lots of annaas & akkaas (brothers and sisters) to play with

- lots of play time and activities - Jhoola, slide etc

- Daily taaataa

- Make lots of friends and bring them home

- Draw, Color, Paint, et all

- Learn ABCD, etc

Old habits still in the fray

Have you ever seen a 2 yr old who can run at the speed of light, so to speak, crawling ? Yes. Jillu still does that and it is sooooooooo cute. She crawls whenever it takes her fancy and is so fast at it as well :). Just try running behind her then, she beats us easily. My MIL jokes that she will win first in the frog race when she goes to school. 

Sometimes, she comes at you crawling fast saying "Annna varudhu" (Here comes the elephant) and at all these times, I still get to enjoy the "baby" moments :)

A start of another wonderful year !!!

Jillu, you turned 2 yesterday :). Happy Birthday, sweet heart. I know, we have all told you nothing else but "Happy Birthday" for the whole of the long weekend that just passed away. And what a weekend it was!  Especially Sunday and Monday. But more about that later.

The year has gone by so fast. It seems as though it were only a few months before that we celebrated your first birthday, why the day I held you for the first time in my arms seems as though it was only yesterday and now the second year is also gone.  You have been such a wonderful delight to all of us. You have won all of our hearts over and all of our every waking moment is somehow or other filled of your thoughts. Your naughty smile, your mischievous look, your cheeky retorts (yeah, you have started that as well, recently), every single thing that you do amazes us and gives us so much pleasure. Now, I cannot even imagine how life was before you came in to my life. 

You have turned my whole life upside down, made me weep with joy & anxiety. You have made me want to enjoy every moment of life, made me want to record all that you do. You gave life to this blog. You have made me look at myself hard and evaluate myself all over again. Now, everything I do or say, is looked at from your perspective first, for you learn and imitate all, the talking and the action,  from us directly. You have made me take the alternate path in life, taking care of you full time, for which I am looking forward to with much pleasure. 

Though I still wish that time would stand still and we can all enjoy you the way you are now, a cherubic little sweet angel that you are, we still look forward to the future.Your every progress & mile stone is much celebrated and shared with your grand parents on a day to day basis.  No one conversation ends without speaking about you. You have made us all run behind you with a slightest twist of your little finger.

Life has indeed blessed us with you and I am grateful for it.

Happy Birthday da Kannaa (I am allowed to say this again for this is the "BIRTHDAY WEEK").

I Love You and God Bless You !

We all Love You :)

Can this be a toddler speaking? Should n't this be happening much later?

My mom is washing some vessels in the kitchen.

Jillu : Paati, adha vechuru. Pannaadhe. (Grand mom. you keep it aside. don't do it)

My Mom : yenna pannaadhe?  (what should i not do?)

Jillu :paathiram thaekaadhe. vechuru (dont wash the dishes)

My mom : (thinking she is saying all this 'coz of the impending taataa /outing) yen di kannaa? (why?)

Jillu : amma thittuvaa. vechuru (amma will scold - which is very true and i do scold my mom if she does the house chores. I always tell her "you take care of her and i shall manage the rest")

My Mom : aparam yaaru di thaeppaa? (then who else will do?)

Jillu : Amma pannuvaa. nee vechuru. (amma will do na. you don't do)

Roles Reversed II

You might have read this post where the roles were reversed earlier way as back as 5 months or so. This week, again the roles were reversed but in a totally different and in a so beautiful manner.

Normally, when we have some light dinner or breakfast in the form of fruits or vegetables, Jillu will come to us, peek into the bowl and take her pick. This was a good way to get her eating veggies and fruits, i thought, and let her do it. These days, I give her the same in a different bowl and she has it. 

But some days back, she had had her dinner already and I was having a bowl of fruits later. She came, saw what I was having and out of all assortments, was picking out papaya and guava for herself. I let her. 

After some time, she stopped eating and i didn't mind as she was already full. However, to my complete surprise, she started feeding me. 

"Amma, aa pottukko ma" (Amma, have one mothful !)

"Amma, avvu kadikkanum.. muzhungaadhe" (Amma, you must chew. Not swallow)

and one by one, she fed me the remaining bowl of fruits sitting on my lap:). Though I got my own instructions quoted back at me, I simply went with the flow and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

It would always be so lovely if and when our mom feeds us (sigh...i cant even remember this happening but surely must have happened though), but then being fed by your little toddler daughter ? mmmmm... lovely... amazing...a wonderful feeling and as beautiful as it can get.

Tick, Tock :Tick,Tock : Could you please stop ticking ?

Time and Tide waits for none !

If I am asked for one single wish to be granted today, I would wish for time to stand still until further notice :)

Yesterday evening outing with you was such fun and so poignant, Jillu. You looked so grown up and a big girl last evening even though you are only 21 months old!

I had made you wear full pants and full sleeve T-shirt yesterday (to avoid mosquito bites) as it was pretty late when we headed out for the near by park. And my, you looked so tall and to prove that fact, the pants were an inch or so short. You were able to stand in the front of my bike for the ride to the park, a 1/2 Km away. The way you sat in the swing (for whole 10 minutes) alone, holding on to the ropes on both sides while I pushed the swing reinforced that you have indeed grown. I still remember the times when you needed 2 people, one to hold you in the seat and the other to push the swing! And, we (My mom and I ) were so amazed when you climbed the couple of stairs alone without holding on to anything and entered the grocery store. You talk so much these days using words that we never knew you knew! You are so inquisitive and want to know everything!

And yet, at the same time, you are a baby still. You still need to grow up to play on the slides on your own. I helped you on the slides yesterday. You still continue to babble things like "Minima Minima", "Gaaya Baayaa Gukki" for which only you know the meaning. You cannot pronounce "f" still and say chone and choto. You still believe that "Kaakaa" or the crow is capable of taking things away from you. You are such a baby when you climb on top of me before your sleep time. You have got a long way to go, learn a lot and you are only a baby still.

But yesterday, the feeling of the ever passing time was much more significant and I just wanted (and still want) the time to stand still.  I am reminded of all these words like Maasum (Hindi), Sisu, Mazhalai, (Tamil), cherubic, innocence, etc when I think of babies and especially when I look at you. I am not in any hurry to see you growing up fast and losing all that innocence that is unique only to kids and babies.

There's so much more to tell you about how I feel but I can't describe or express everything. I never imagined motherhood would be like this! And whatever happens and how much ever you grow up, I think you will always be my baby and I love you so much!

Tick, Tock :Tick,Tock : Could you please stop ticking ?

Music to my ears

The most sweetest and lovely sound for me, must be the voice
of my daughter when she calls me

"Amma"

She does it so cutely, that it makes me want to record it! My several attempts till now have been futile! I hope to succeed soon though.
That special tone is something that I cherish and relish, each and every time, every day

Sugamaana Sumai

is when

my daughter lies flat, face down,
on top of me, full length,
at noon, night, anytime, before
she drifts away, to her land of beauty sleep




P.S : For those who do not know Tamil, Sugamaana Sumai is a popular phrase and roughly means a lovely weight to carry

A Very Sweet Moment

Wanted to share this very sweet moment that happened just half an hour back.

Jillu was in my lap and she was facing me directly. She lifted both her hands to both my cheeks (her right hand to my left cheek and left hand to my right cheek) and caressed them softly and said "Appu Ponnu...."

"Appu Ponnu" is one of terms we use when we pamper/pet (konji-fy) her.

In effect, she was "Konji" ing (petting/pampering/cajoling) me and it was a very precious moment for me, one to be treasured always.

Huggiee

Huggieeee

Yes, Huggiee is a new word in all our dictionary now. Thanks to my very dear friend Mathangi :)

So, what do you do when she says Hugggiieeeee

You pick her up in your arms
She loops her arms around your neck
She leans her head close to your face
You rub your cheeks against hers
You hold her tight
You rock back and forth and say


Huggggiieeeeeeeeee

Chone Surprise!!!

I am busy @work and suddenly I receive a call from my mom.

I call her back and what a wonderful surprsie! My little girl wants to talk to me and tell me something ! Her very first call to me :).

After prompting from my mom, the sweet மழலை voice said

"Ilanir saaptaachu"
"Mammam saaptaachu"

When i spoke to Mom, I learned the details. She had told my mom when she was eating that she wanted to call me. My mom had told her that we (they ) can call mom (me) after she finishes her meal. And I believe she said "Chone , Chone" (phone btw) promptly after completing her meal and pronto they called :)

For a toddler who does not wish to speak on the chone , this was indeed a big step and I consider it a previlege or a reward :). The only thing left now is for her to dial the number herself :) but I will have to wait for some more time for that to happen.

A guilt salvaged

My guilt soars in the morning time usually if I have to wake up my daughter from sleep. That’s because I have to drop her in my mom's place before leaving for office. And the guilt soars even further when she's deep in sleep and refuses to stir.

So bad mom that I am, I resort to saying all kinds of things to wake her up

- will take her tataaa (trip to mom's place)
- will show her pigeon, crow etc (trip to my balcony)
- Anil koopadradhu paaru...( Squirrel is calling you, again the same trip to my balcony)

and the third worked that day because she loves watching squirrels running up & down

The next day, when she woke up on her own, she immediately said "Anil Koopadradhu" ( Squirrel is calling me)

It felt so heartening and lovely to hear my little darling say that, I cannot properly describe it in words