Aditi goes to School

Dear Aditi,

Today is your first day at the 'Big' school- a Montessori.

Unlike your sister who went to a reception class you went to a playschool.

Going by that experience, you will be happy here too. I hope.

You remained excited about joining your akka's school till a few weeks ago.

Once you realised that you will not be sitting in her class, you have become reluctant.

You keep asking if " Amma will sit with me?" at the very mention of school.

Your potty training is almost done and I think you can manage that bit well.

You have always been self reliant anyway when it comes to eating and wearing shoes etc.

And your communication skills take us all by surprise.

I am sure you will get over the initial fear and will love this place.

But I cannot call you a big girl yet - because you really are not one. ( you are about 3 months short of being 3 yrs old)

I hope you cherish the friends you make and that this school also brings out the best in you, moving at your pace and with your aptitude.

Anushka wants to check on you at break time daily but I am not sure yet if it is a good idea as you may cling on to her if you see her.

Stay well baby and remember home and amma are just a few hours away.

Love,

Amma

Reliving magic

Anush watched Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin's Circus .
The B&W look did not detract from the slapstick.

These are the latest to join the list pioneered by Sound of Music and ET and the songs DD's Ek Chidiya and Que Sera Sera.

The rain a few days back also introduced Singing in the Rain to the girls.

I want you!

Never thought this phrase would bug me!!

Aditi has been very clingy and bawls aloud, any time I am out of her sight.

Everyday, getting into my home office is a tussle.
There is no scope to even think of going to the gym.

Hope the phase passes soon.

Coonoor

We had been to Coonor with Navy's side of the family this weekend.

More on the trip later. For now, feast your eyes.

Here is a pic of yours truly years ago.

Aditi shares the stance and Anush the toothless grin and lollipop.

Aali re Aali

Last night a little Marathi mulgee(girl) came home-

School Run

Both girls are unwell and therefore it remained a quiet weekend.

Aditi had a great review at school at the PTA- left me wondering why she is so difficult at times at home.

Anushka's results at the Maths Olympiad have been declared. She is national 4th and class 1st.

She has quit Abacus midway since she was not enjoying it. Her love for maths remains intact which we felt was more important.

Roti making - a demo

By Aditi

Step one: Behind scenes , beg your grandma/ ma for dough. Threaten to throw a tantrum if they do not give it to you immediately.

Enjoy the stress busting squishiness of the dough

Pat it and treat it with love

Use the rolling pin for what else- rolling

If the roti gets stuck call adult to rescue and dust "powder" on it

Meanwhile

Ask all to see,

pose for photo,

refuse to give pin- stone back

Give roti to be put on tava.

Then gracefully feed all in the family with the roti, but decide you will not risk eating it yourself

Earn a testimonial from paati and have a post done on it for your future reference.

Adittys on a weekend

Aditty  is mighty possessive of our stuff

When my MIL took my bag" That is Amma's bag!!"

When Navy's cousin began to drive our car " NOOOOO!! this is Appa's place" and she began to wail 

When Navy slept on my side of the bed" This is Amma's bed/ bed sheet, etc"
**********

When I was reading Goldilocks she asked what Porridge was- I said "Kanji"
She corrected me wisely " No amma, it is payasam."


***********
We had a lot of fun and food at a family do on Sunday.

And got some good export stuff from the Tiripur kind of shop at Wilson Gardens.

Read the latest Lee Child and was disappointed.


We missed the Tree walk this Sat courtesy Pratham at LalBagh.

We managed a visit to the Spaghetti Kitchen and loved it. Must try the pizza there- a real cracker!
***********

And today I would have had 5lac clicks to this blog. Hm.....In about five years. And 93 followers- many of who do not visit or comment anymore.....Not great but not bad.

Akshar Abhyasam

We celebrated Saraswati puja yesterday and Anushka was proud to make her mother sing at some of the golus we visited.

Today is Vijayadasmi. A few years back on this occasion, we had Anush's Akshar Abhyasam. Given that the child is interested in writing and the written word, we plan to use the same attire on Aditi this time for her Akshar abhyasam ! ( not to mention I forgot to reserve any new outfit for today)

Aditi speaks a lot like most kids her age. She likes to pretend read and enjoys painting/ messing about. S will recall how she kept asking her to" Aditi read" (meaning Aditi wants to be read to)

Never seen her " write" so far though she loves to doodle.

As if she understood the significance of the event, my MIL found her "writing" something with her finger, on a paper, soon after her playing about in the rice grains.

As usual Anushka's typical question" Why can't Amma teach her to write? Why should only Appa do it?"

Here is to Aditi enjoying writing in future.

A Starry Day

Had a people and fun filled weekend. Celebrated Golu and Aditi's star birthday yesterday with family and a few friends.

The cake followed a Dassera plus birthday theme- hence was festive with buntings and Krishna, Bheem and Chutki which Anushka decided was Aditi since Chutki would have been bigger.

Only downside, both kids have again got cold cough. We will need to recheck with the doc. And so our visits to others' Golus remain pending.

The other S and her kid A visited us from the blogsphere and we had a really good time.

Aditi's Second birthday

Here is Aditi's birthday in pictures:
Decor: Scrap cloth Bunting, paper wish bunting, tissue paper flowers, yellow balloons and flowers, yellow dress code


Food: Dhokla, Poha, Corn- pineapple salad, Popcorn, Gold fingers, Custard, 2 cakes( mango and duckie), juice, melon eggs and Tomato peel flowers

Clothes: 3 sunny frocks and one traditional one

Activities: Lemon and spoon, lion plate art, yellow collage with stickers, pin the tail

Gifts: The goody bag itself was a goody courtesy S and the NGO initiative she and her family support. Included wooden tops, smiley ball, Anushka's Puppets of India- a book and a golden yellow pen.

We also had a cake cutting session in school for Aditi, which her big sis attended.

Two cute Aditi!!

This day, two years ago, a small bundle was handed to me- so vulnerable, so innocent. We felt twice blessed.

There have certainly been moments this year when I have wondered what possessed us to have a second one.

But overall, Aditi- our bonda, our spicy, spirited, amusing, bright and sharp thing, you have been an adoring and adorable child, a loving sister, a naughty and mischievous grandkid.

You speak a lot, experiment with food, try to be self reliant, make friends easily, you have even begun going to play school with a smile. You have a sense of humor already and can be pretty playful with your answers.

Love you sweetie pie. You complete the family. God bless you with better health and a bit more patience this year and may you stay as chirpy, cheerful and bright as you are.

Of Vertebrates and Carbohydrates

A mix up of the meanings of the two words in the title led to some fun last night.
And while we were laughing mercilessly, Anush said " Stop freaking me!"
She sheepishly apologised and said that she had heard the word from a classmate at school!!

*******
Post that Anush was quizzing Aditi on what contains vitamins and what is carbohydrates and so on. Aditi was casually answering Yes and No.

Similarly with vertebrates and invertebrates.

By coincidence she got many right.
So Anush was gushing about how Aditi is sooooo clever!!

Oh the innocence of childhood.

School is cool

Aditi's review at school was very cool. She also seems to have been thrilled with the cake she took to school on Teacher's day.

Other updates :

She is now open to changing earrings and asks for it herself

She is also in love with paavadais and enjoys draping a dupatta on any outfit!

She sings a few rhymes and songs though she swallows all prepositions and conjunctions while doing so

Chance Shot

Anush had placed the honey noodles like this. I thought it was nice composition.

And i cant believe we are only one month away from Aditi's second birthday. Here is a pic for that.

She has learnt to say Namaste, counts well till twelve, tries to repeat any word in any language used, has specific tastes in clothes!

Art on Janmashtami

First time that Anush has used Pencil shavings I realised.

The Krishna is inspired by Ghee Happy.

********

Was in Chennai and got to meet Uma of Adya fame and that was indeed refreshing. 

********

In an unpleasant development, we found that some gold had been stolen from us as well by the cook. Most of it has been recovered by a very earnest police officer.

And Aditi got her first peek ( hopefully last) into the police station!! She kept on pointing to thaatha( Gandhi) and wanted to see his large photo from time to time.

All kinds of people

Happy Janmashtami, Krishna Jyaanthi.

Anush was game to dress up as usual and Aditi was not, as expected.

We went to Cmani and returned early and were at Blore for the rest of the festive day.

This time Anush rolled the entire batch of coconut cheedais ( right extreme, below pic)and pretty well too. Amma ( with my able help!) made yummy appams and she made awesome kai murrukus (without my help)!

Here is Anush as Krishna. Though Aditi would make a fab one she just REFUSES to wear a feather or play act. 

Since white footprints were not visible last time, we used blue ": The colour of Krishna" Aditi at first understood Kolam as " Cholam" ( corn) and was disappointed not to find corn!

Anush sang Achutam Kesavam and then I revisited a beautiful film song with the kids- Kanha bole naa....

******

Anushka's old school teacher called to wish her a belated bday as did an ex neighbour who has moved to Hbad. People can be really Nice!

******

Our evening roti bai/ cook ( for over a year now) was caught stealing jewellery at our friend's place. People can also be really shocking!

Bhag Lal

Took Anush and her cousins for the Flower Show.

Felt that the flowers in natural set up ( both in the park and the show) were far prettier than the marriage -arrangement- like Bahai Temple and the very amateur Konark wheel.

********

We were at Chintamani for Independence Day and Anush and Aditi had fun at my MIL's school celebrations. Aditi also enjoyed the play park there. Will update pics from my MIL's cell sometime in the future.

Mera Cythle

Kids do start early nowadays. Aditi is indeed fond of her "cythle"

While on it, I love the baby lisp she has- Anush never had any.

For instance, Aditi always uses tta instead of ka- so Anushka is Anushtta and Akka is Atta!!

They celebrated Raksha Bandhan in her playschool and her high point was the laddoooooooooo she got back home.

Aditi at 22

Just two months shy of two!

Dear Aditi

You are very loving and giving, Anush is very proud of all the things you do.

You are a really tough kid- a complete gem at Tirupathi

You fave song is Wheels on the bus by Singing Hands

You love to copy Anush and say" funny" and laugh with anyone who does

You enjoy school though you hate going to it

You are fighting chocoholism and succeeding

And as you say- 'ove you!!

MY amma ( which is what you call me nowadays)