Monkeying around

At the Aluva Palace

Weekend(5 - 7 Nov. 2010) at Aluva Palace

The Prince!

Ezhunnallath!

The Palace
Olavum theeravum

Aluvapuzha pinneyum ozhuki

More Photos

And miles to go.......before my parents can sleep :-)!!!

Usually I like to sleep through the night....but, once in a while it is fun to get up at two in the morning and cry for a whole hour and not stop whatever achan and amma does (milk, song, pamper, massage) - like I did last night!!!

As the saying goes....

The way to my achan's heart is through............. "aaa aaa aaa", a little shake of my head and some tap tap tap on my thigh - he calls it "pattu"!!!

When Muthachan came visiting!

Grandparents are people who live in the railway station, we pick them up from there when we need them and drop them back when we are done with them ;)

Exercise time

September weather was mixed :)

In a cake shop

Ah- Ha

I am back ...... as you can see I couldn't blog because I was busy growing. My achan who reappeared a week or so back was surprised to see how big I have become and to learn about all the great tricks I know to do now. Not only can I walk but I can also dance. I can say many things (kaka, enna, ella, poove, chedi, kaattu, amma, kaal, kotta, kuda, Happy, tata and povaam, okay, No) and I know about many more stuff but cannot say them yet but am practicing.

My biggest accomplishment is that I can now hold my shoo-shoo in. I can hold on through the many minutes my parents put me on my potty. I can even hold on when my amma tickles cold water down my back or leg. And when I am finally back in my trousers I can let go of my shoo-shoo. My parents don't appear at all pleased by my ability and I just don't understand their behaviour. Isn't this what is called "TOILET TRAINED".

All in all, change is good

Life has changed. For one, I cannot find my achan. He has this habit of disappearing but it has been quite sometime now since I last saw him. But, guess that is okay as my amma does not appear to be too concerned. Though I miss him I am glad that in the meantime my amma gives me my breakfast (but no juice) and water and also brushes my teeth. Second, I have not gone to my daycare for sometime. My amma goes off in the morning but does not take me. I haven't yet made up my mind if this (much desirable) change is because my achan is not here or if it is because my amamma is here. My amamma arrived the day my father disappeared and has been with me since. After my amma leaves we spend the day eating, sleeping and playing. We also cough a lot as both of us have cought a 'upper respiratory tract infection'. Unlike my amma, my amamma comes and sits with me while I play. She also lets me climb the sofa and throw the cushions and spread and then walk and crawl all over them. She doesn't mind if I throw my toys all over the house either. With her encouragement I learned to take my small stool to where I want and then climb on top of it. I have also learned to switch off the TV. My amamma saysthat since I turned one I have grown a lot. I have learnt many new things. In my next post I shall write about them.

PS: I am at present in Trivandrum and having a gala time. News about this visit to come soon.

Yes, my dear Watson

Why crawl when you can walk

World under my feet!

From Thillenkeri with love!

http://picasaweb.google.com/105832160092646216126/BreakfastLunchDinner#

1st Pirannal-14th July 2010

It has been some time since I wrote...I have been busy the last week. The week started as usual doing routine morning stuff and evening stuff with daycare in between. Then one day my parents woke me up earlier than usual and dressed me up in a 'fancy' kurta pyjama and off we went in a car. I have been in cars before but this time we sat in the front and my achan was turning this round thing and pulling at a stick. My offer to help was rudely declined and so I settled down in my amma's lap to sleep. I slept more or less through the drive except for a short break to drink milk. When my amma woke me up we were in this huge house with lots of 'poove'. I made sure that I held onto my achan or amma real tight so that they don't leave me here and go off. There were many smiling people but I refused to go to any of them willingly. Of course I couldn't do much when they ignored my protests and carried me off anyway. My parents were of no help here either as they would smile and hand me over. Then I would take a good look at the things they showed me or quickly eat what ever was offered and then bawl real hard. The bawling ensured that who ever was holding me ran and handed me off to my achan or amma. They were very understanding and knew that I was worried because the place was huge and dark. Later I did enjoy holding my achan or amma's hand and taking them for a walk in and out of the many rooms and up and down the veranda and playing in the mud. But for now I was not so sure though my achan told that they were my achachan and achamma and valliyachans and valliyamas. And ofcourse my chitamma and chitappan. My achachan would smile and talk to me and watch me but never forced me to go to him. My achamma tried to take me many a time but I was worried and cried. However I was more than willing to eat all the many things she would put in my mouth. In fact she always had something for me to chew on. My valliyachans and valliyammas took me for a walk even though I protested but I am glad they did as they showed me kaka and poove and children and fields and many other things I never seen before. I was happy to play with Aravind ettan and Anandu ettan. We also went to Kezhrur where my chitta lives and there I played with Deepechi and Akhilesh ettan.

So, why did we make this trip...turns out I turned one again. Now I am confused!!!

But, I do appreciate two ones...to celebrate this time my achamma and chitta made a nice lunch (rice, moorecurry, chakka erusheri, upperi, papaddam etc) which we ate from a banana leaf. I also had payasam and chocolate which Aravind ettan and Anandu ettan had given me as 'pernal samannam'. I also got a small toy train from Anandu ettan as pirannal sammanam.

We came back home the next day. This time I did not sleep in the car the whole way. I looked out of the window at the rain, played and sang songs.

Back home I am busy practicing to walk. I can take bout 10 steps and then I fall.

I am also working on my bladder control about which I will write another post.

Pirannal at Thillenkeri

Viva Espana

Viva Iniesta! Achan shaved my head when Spain won the world cup.

In Spanish colors!

I dance....or is it Bounce!?!

My amma and achan find it funny when I come running (read crawling) from the kitchen on hearing Shakira sing. Wonder why? The whole world is dancing to the tunes of Shakira .... so am I. But unlike Shakira my hips don't move at all but all other parts go up and down - one toah (read two), one toah. Oh, anyways....WAKA WAKA HEY HEY!!!

I am ONE!!!

One more weekend just went by. This weekend was very special for I turned one on Saturday.

I got up in the morning to see two new faces staring at me through my mosquito net.

Turned out that they are my muthachan and muthachi. Though I was worried initially I later found them to be real nice. They pamper me and make sure my parents behave themselves. They let me pull their nose and put my finger in their mouth and take of their glasses and shiny mala. When I went into the room with the TV I found lots of colourful things floating around. I knew from my book that these are called balloons. I was very excited as I hadn't seen one for real. But they turned out to be real frustrating as I could not catch them. I would just manage to touch them and it would run away. After brushing my teeth (I used to like it before but not anymore but my achan continues to insists that I brush my teeth not once but twice a day) and drinking water (another of my achan's fav) I was waiting for my milk bottle but instead my amma bought this thing which looked good to eat and they all started to sing. I thought they have gone completely bonkers and all of them going "phoo...Ravi...phoo" only made me more worried. But then they all gave me a little of this "cake" and I relaxed. It tasted real nice. Then I got gifts (again I knew that is what it is from my book). I got Digger the Dog (I hope he and Wrinkles can be friends) which occasionally follows me (I am not sure but I think that has got to do with my amma tying the rope around Digger's neck to my feet) and also this real cool looking cycle with a Panda head (that is what my amma calls it). Now I can go riding with Aku, Abhi and Hari chettans. After all the excitement I was happy to sit down and drink my milk. Later my amma made me give away most of the cake to our neighbors. Hmph!!! But amma had saved a bit for me and I had some cake after every meal this weekend. And, she told me this morning that she will give the last piece today when I get back from my daycare. She has also packed me some pulao for lunch and dosa for 11:00 O'Clock snack and banana and milk for 4:00 in the evening. So though it is back to daycare today will still be yummy!!!

PS: By the way anyone seen my muthachan and muthachi? They have disappeared with their nose and mouth and glasses and mala!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/105832160092646216126/1stBirthday#

WAKA WAKA

http://picasaweb.google.com/105832160092646216126/FIFAWorldCup2010#

My first toy!

My very first playmate was my hands. They still are. I have spend many a happy time tying to pull out my thumb. I don't understand why that one is going another direction; but, I no longer try to pull out my thumb. Not since my amma told me about this boy called Little Jack Horner who sat in a corner eating his Christmas pie and got out a plum with his thumb. I can't wait to do that...yum yum!!!

Weekend again!!!

The last two days were fun...it is what everyone calls weekend and I was at home with my parents the whole time. They played with me, took me out and cleaned me many a time (my tummy has gone funny and I did echeche many a time....things are fine now). Everything was nice till towards the end of today. Then my amma started to get cranky....guess I got on her nerve eventually :-D.

Yummy breakfast

I had porridge, egg, orange juice, plum pulp and ghee (Uma chitta send i for me) form my breakfast today. Yummy!

I am ready for Pokri

Mazha mazha mazha mazha

mazha vannu!

I didn't like pappaya.

Pokri has gone soccer crazy!

Something has gone wrong with my Pokri! He has not been playing with me for the last few days which was alright with me as I was not keeping well and not in a mood to play. But, I am alright today and wanted his company. However, he was not to be seen. He is usually fooling around in my bed. I keep throwing him out. Then he will be lying flat on the floor until my amma or achan put him back. Today I did not find him in my bed or out. Guess, where I found him? He is sitting on the top of our TV with a soccer ball! screaming and doing all sorts of crazy things during the Argentina-Nigeria game. He appears to be a Messi fan. I don't want to mess around with him till he is back on earth.

I was also working on my screaming capabilities for a different reason. I have learnt from my daycare (I am not sure whether I worked out it on my own in that learning environment or got trained by a daycaremate!) that screaming gets you attention. In fact, the attention you get is directly proportional to the intensity of your screaming. I did put this knowledge to good use in the daycare. I do want to use it at home also. But, it has not been a big success here yet. My parents seem to have gone stone deaf to my screaming, though they seem to hear each others whisperings perfectly well. When I try it at breakfast time, my parents fill my screaming mouth with porridge and they win there. When I try it at toilet time, I end up completing the act quickly to my parents glee.

I need to work on screaming loud and thwarting my parents intentions ;-). The best place to reflect on these and train is the daycare.

Back to uschool :-(

After a week of cuddling up to my achan and amma through out the day I was sent to my daycare today. I was shocked but it was not bad. My achan told my caretakers that I had not been keeping well and so may need to be watched over. So, at my slightest whimper someone or other would lift me up ;-)....and if they don't I just increase the intensity of my bubbubooing. Tried the same trick at home in the evening but I think my parents have gone deaf!!!

I was at achan's office today

I was not feeling well today also. Came to achan's office today. Not much fun(like last time ) here today as Saarang (he taught me to walk last time)was not there and achan did not let me play in the mud. I also did not feel like eating anything very much though achan tried to give me all sorts things. I heard him telling amma that I am being cranky.I slept for a long time in his office, and when I was not sleeping I did not feel like playing.

I am not feeling very well today.

Weekend

Who's motta is prettier

Day before yesterday I got up as usual and did my usual morning activities and was waiting patiently, trying to get the banana out of what everyone calls a 'book', while my amma packed my bag. My achan got ready but I was surprised to see him go without me. I cried when amma locked the door behind him as I like the auto drive to school. Later amma got ready and we took the auto. Another surprise .... the auto did not go to the daycare but to the bus stand. In the bus I immediately fell asleep. When I woke up I was in another house. Amma introduced me to 'Vinu aunty' while I explored the red floor and the many things lying around. Amma fed me the lunch she had packed - Kichdi and tomato pachadi and plum preserve. But for some reason I was feeling very tired and my amma was also saying I felt hot. I liked Vinu aunty and spend quite sometime on her lap while my amma disappeared. I know I met many people there and we also went to other houses but I was not feeling very nice and was what amma calls 'cranky'. Amma told everyone we met that I may be coming down with fever as an explanation for my crankiness. Immediately everyone would touch my forehead and say 'Oh yes! He is hot'. In the evening it started to rain and since I was hot and my amma tired Bipin uncle (whose head looks just like mine) dropped us home in his car. Vinu aunty also came home with us. She left this morning. I cannot find my achan but I heard his voice yesterday on this small thing with light which my amma does not give me. He told me to remember to keep the milk basket out at night which I did. I am feeling fine today and was happy to crawl around the house. The last two days were nice though I was feeling funny. Amma (or Vinu aunty) would immediately carry me when I cried and I didn't even have to pull at her leg and stamp her.

PS: My valliachan, valliamma and valvaliamma haven't been told about my being 'hot' as they would worry and want to come and take care of me. I wouldn't mind that but amma says there is no need.

Busy mornings

I'll quickly go through my books while my parents get ready to go.

It beats me!

Chores started already

Today I went to the school with my amma and achan in an auto. I like the auto ride, but was sad that I have to be away from both of them for the whole day and I felt like crying as soon as I saw the gate of the school. My achan handed me and my school bag full of goodies(lunch, banana and a cookie )over to the aaya. My amma did not get down from the auto as she feels sad when I cry. She is happier to pick me up in the evening. After coming back home with my mother I had a banana and then we went down to play with my friends in the flat. Though I can't run with them and ride a cycle like them, I can crawl very fast all over and I enjoyed it very much. I and Akku watched Abhi and Hari riding their cycles.

I had Chappathi, Channa masala and fish for dinner and it was yummy. Then I had some milk also.

Every night my achan keeps a small cane basket outside our main door and miraculously the next morning there are two milk packets in it. Tonight I kept the cane basket out....I carried the cane basket in one hand and my amma held my other hand so that I don't fall. You see, I am still a little wobbly much to my achamma's dismay. She feels babies should take 8 steps in the 8th month. I really don't see what the hurry is. I can crawl where ever I want. In fact crawling is better for picking those tiny pieces of all sorts of things which feel great in the mouth. Almost as great as the way my parents face changes and they go 'NO' when they see me doing so. And I can climb up things. What more can a baby want. Anyways back to the cane basket. My parents were so thrilled that I knew where to find the cane basket and how and where to keep it. Back there I joined in their excitement but now I am worried. I think my parents will want me to do it every night!!!

Special care.....extra food

My achan told my teacher to take 'special' care of me as I am the tiniest one in school. I think they have taken heed to his warning....in the evening they told my amma to send something extra with my 4 O clock milk as I love to eat and also because I finish all that my amma sends me for eating and drinking by 3 O clock. Yummy....I forgive them!

Bubbuboo....I am hurt

Today I came back home with a bruised right cheek. My 'teacher' told amma that I hurt myself while playing with a very 'baby unfriendly' rattle. Teacher was very apologetic and amma did not say anything. But wait till my father (who does not believe what the teacher told and thinks that I fell down and hurt myself) sees her tomorrow morning when he goes to leave me there for the day! Hmph!!!

Back to school

How do you eat this?

After a break in Tvm and at home I am back to school today(31.05.2010). Spent the whole day 10 to 5 at the school. Amma dropped and picked me up. I still have a cough which is two weeks old, but is getting better.