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

LUV at home

So we own an Ertiga now. It is a mini Innova from the Maruti stable. Practical enough for our needs.

We had the first long drive to Chintamani over the weekend, also had breakfast in Kolar ( Woody's will soon have competition from Adigas).
Seems comfy especially for the kids to stretch out and sleep on the last seat.

First time we have opted for a diesel version. Time will tell.
As for driving comfort- nothing changes for me. ( only because I still do not drive!)

Aditi let me go to the gym today. Do not know if it will translate into freedom from her clinginess and more importantly from the extra kilos.

Anushka's school reopened today and she begins second standard.
Still cant say 'grade' instead of class or standard.
And just in case you want to know-

I would never use luv instead of love though I use u instead of you often.

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.

Friends, food and fun

Celebrated friendships on Saturday with a blogger meet.

Missed the Powwow Chota Bheem session but created magnets and activities at home for Anush to enjoy.

Enjoyed Kitch Mandi at 100 ft, rolls at Chakom Chokam, waffles at Daddy's Deli and Mishti Dahi at Bancharams over the weekend.

And for those of you who did not check out ST, pl do and read up my post on a lovely book on friendship.

*********

Aditi on getting up and spotting her dad after a brief interval : You come back from Chennai!!

Aali re Aali

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

Sound bytes

I asked Aditi "Little Red Riding.......?
She thought with her finger on her chin and proclaimed" cycling"

Hello 2012

Opened the new year in Chintamani. Came to Bangalore, enjoyed a Dhaatu Ramayan carnival though not in enough detail. They had colouring, puppet shows, a walk through cubicles like sets, play acting, quiz, etc. Really a lot to take in, in the 2 hours we spent there.

Some Adittys to begin the year with a smile:
She sees an Oonjal( joolah) photo in a wedding photo album. "Amma where is slide? " she asks.

She wants the straight hair of a cousin and points to her own and says "Amma take off this, give me that!"

Wish you all a great year!

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


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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!
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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.

On a high

We got a Sabuda for a throw away price at the Strand festival. What are you waiting for?!

There is a Dhaatu Ramayan on Jan 1, 2012 for those who are interested.

Happy Karthikai- today or trow whenever decide it is. Have Anush's friend dropping in to celebrate it with her.

Down and Out(ing)

Missed meeting M from Chennai who was visiting Blore since all at home have been rather unwell.

But met two good friends ( both from our alma mater) who dropped by at home. Great to see the kids bond as always.

I went to take a quick peek at the Strand sale and forgot to buy the book I most wanted- one by Sabuda!!

We went to Kala Madhyam at Chitra Kala Parishat . Picked up a variation of Warli called Chittara. Most of the stuff is made up of the regular suspects but some of it was enchanting.

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Me: Aditi! You love Amma ?

Aditi: Yes

Me:How much?

Aditi: Too much!!

Appa scold you!!

Aditi refers to herself as you ( instead of me), leading to some hilarious situations

So she comes running to her thaathu and complains "Appa scold you!! Thaathu, Appa sold you...."

" Aditi feed you", meaning she wants to feed herself. It is difficult when what she is eating is pretty appetising.

and you feed me is " Amma feed you".......

Lovely Weekend!

The Saffron Tree fest- CROCUS 2011 - comes to a close today. Do visit a review and interview I did with a very interesting illustrator from the UK.

Went for the Airforce Warriors' performance and got drenched in the rains and in the patriotic fervour as well. The girls loved it. Will positively go again whenever they play next.

Navy and I saw Velayudhan, a typical Vijay movie, time pass though a bit gory. But it was nice to go to a movie alone, without kids, after almost a year.

Medici, an Italian restaurant in I Nagar, live up to what we had heard.

Will again give the Hindu November Music fest a miss but those who do go- pl update me.

*****

Aditi picks up my office phone and asks into it" Boss uncle, Boss uncle how you?"

Luckily she does not know to dial yet.

******

Aditi finds Navy's tee rough and asks him to shave it!

Aditi at 25

Aditi has taken to singing to herself big time.

She is also an enthusiastic Happy Diwali 'wisher'

She has spontaneous bursts of affection where she half strangles you with her hugs and kisses and declarations

She is really manipulative with her well times sorrys and thanks

And the last two days she has asked to be taken to play school, contrary to the usual hell she raises to go there. ( though she does not even turn back once she is there)

She also has begun dressing up and preens in the mirror at times.

She is 25 months old today.

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Yesterday it showered water related stories and today it is fire that is sparking up tales at Saffron Tree.

Do visit and show us that you love stories and CROCUS.

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.

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

Chalo Dilli

Was in Delhi yesterday on work. And passed by the Consulates, Rail museum, India Gate, Akshar Dhaam, the JN stadium all on the way to and from the airport.

Ate  a Rajasthani meal at a restaurant called Suruchi. Not bad.

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Nowadays Aditi follows when I say I am going to XYZ on tour and says" Aditi XYZ" as though she would like to join me as well.

She had her vaccine today and did not cry at all!

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)

Aditi is 20!

Aditi inadvertantly had a party for her 20th month bday!! In all that excitement I forgot to do the post on it.

Baby you are wild and adorable and love to help around
You have no problem climbing the steps to the mid size slide and zooming down, swinging up high is your cup of tea..
You love to find ways to amuse others
You are naughty and hardly show remorse though you mention the magic words pretty frequently