Little Grandma

Dear Aditi baby,

This weekend we went to visit both your grandparents. Your big grandma and grandpa briefly and your little grandma overnight. It is heartening to see that you like all of them regardless of your mama's bad behavior. My choice would be that you remember them lovingly.

Oh how you talk and talk my little princess valiant (cut your bangs a couple of days ago and that is who your remind me of :). And you sing, dance, and are flexible and active. You even exhibited some kung fu moves which I have no idea where you picked up.

Waking up next to you in the morning is very lovely and being hugged so tightly by you and even having my ears tugged is really heartwarming.

I fear that you might be getting a little too many compliments though as you are quite surrounded by adults who have limited contact with children so you're the cutest thing around them. But I believe in your good heart my dear, remember that.

Ok, my thoughts are far too scattered to write too much now but I will put in some video of you being very cute.

Much Love to my Little Darling,
Mama

What's That? and the F-Bomb

Hey There Baby Girl,

Wow you're big. And you're definitely the big TWO! You're verbal skills are increasing as are some of your tantrums. We've also not been very careful about our language and you've been doing some cursing. The scary thing is you do it in context. Mommy's trying to teach you to say Siva or Gam in hopes that you'll pick up the idea of these mahadevas being able to clear the obstruction and help you recognize the illusion of frustration :) But it's a big concept and Mommy's not sure you quite get it yet!

We've got you enrolled in a few activities namely swimming, toddler playgroup and you were in tumbling but papa doesn't seem impressed so we'll look for a different tumbling class I think. You seem to enjoy it but you haven't made any friends yet nor do you play with anyone the way you do with Rohan, Kane or Mitra. Can't wait for you to be able to play with the kids next year!

You were Kumari at Navaratri this year and people talk about how long you sat for it and how cute you were. I'll post some pics. Mommy missed it and missed you very much when she went away for 3 days for work. THREE DAYS! Mommy was pretty sad.

Uncle Fred came to visit for your 2nd birthday and you seemed to really enjoy his company. You ask for him now that he's gone home. That's nice, mommy really likes her brother and is glad you like him too.

You're getting pretty independent and have slept in your own little bed for a couple of nights. It's a bittersweet thing for mommy as she misses her little baby but it's nice to be close to papa again too. The nice thing is you end up in the big bed again anyway.

So we really love you baby girl. Will write again eventually (can't promise soon as that doesn't seem to happen!).

Love,
Mummers

Ummm.... Aditi... Right There

Dear Aditi - girl,

You are the cutest, sweetest child ever sort of. You've hit the 2's and they're not so terrible but you do throw down a tantrum every now and then and you're definitely pushing your boundaries. Sometimes it's hard for me to remember to give you the space you need to learn and grow.

The title refers to your newest habit. When asked a question like where's so and so, you reply, "Um.." and whatever qualifier applies, like "right there," or "over here." It's truly cute.

But you are big, big, big, getting bigger. Your legs are a mile long although your waist hasn't really gotten any wider. You still fit into your t-shirts from infancy but a lot of your long pants are totally highwater these days.

Other accomplishments:

• You can open doors now.
• You can pretty much feed yourself although you're still a little too messy for Mommy's taste ;)
• You can drink from an open cup.
• You can count at least from 1 to 3 and you can say 4 to 9 although not in order.
• You love stickers.
• and we watched you recall 2 memories and try to tell us about them.

The latter was quite possibly one of the coolest things I've experienced. More on that when we go over your Thailand trip.

But now its time to sleep but I promise to write more later.

I love you so much!
Mommy

Vira... Up

Hello Lovely Lady,

As is proven by this beautiful picture taken by your Auntie Sruti. Mommy is confident that her decision not to make you America's next top baby model was correct as you were fairly unable to stand still, pose, and smile for the camera. That could have been my fault as we got up late and didn't have breakfast prior to the shoot. But the pictures are still really fun and the whole set can hopefully be seen on Mommy's flickr site.

We say hopefully because we've just received our "End of the World" talk. You may have clued into some of the anxiety around this talk through the medium of your Mum but am trying to tamp it down so that you don't turn into some apocalyptic, survivalist. As Papa Dharmanidhi put it to us, being prepared, responsible human beings means acknowledging the state of the world around us and attempting to be prepared, without hope for result by the way, is part of that responsibility.

And alas baby girl, the state of the world is a bit disheveled to be sure. Mama wishes that she could shield you from it and maybe if we play our cards right, you will be innocent of the worst of it. But if I fail my love, I apologize and pray to MA that you retain your center and your safety.

On a lighter note, we think you have, like, 1 million words! That is a slight exaggeration so lets change that to A LOT of words :). The title of this post refers to your Uncle Vajravira and of course your ultimate favorite Auntie Jnana. Oh how you love them. You look for them after you look for your Papa. It is true, I am a little jealous as I believe that I am actually 4th on your list :) but thank you for the teaching my little upaya guru.

You've been sleeping in a lot in the mornings. I'm not sure what this is from. We've heard that toddlers need between 11 and 13 hours of sleep at night and at least 2 to 3 hours of naptime. Unfortunately you've started napping around 2 or 3pm which means that you are definitely not wanting to sleep anytime before 11pm. Although the one day you were run ragged in a good way - a visit to the park with your Lola and an hour long game of ball with the roommates that night - knocked you out around 9pm.

We're working out the magic formula. It would probably help you if Mommy got her big butt out of bed before 9am too I guess LOL. Speaking of butts, potty training is going well. You have a cute little potty that you have been doing a morning pee and poo in for the past few days. Yesterday you even let Mommy know right beforehand that you had to poo and we made it to the loo (Brit for toilet) in time! Will you remember that we taught you to say a fist-pumping-YES everytime you made pee or poo? Well we did which might explain why in your adult years you might be getting so happy over your bowel movements.

We'll be heading back to Thailand for a month soon and you will get to see your brothers Rohan and Kane. Can't wait to see what that reunion looks like.

Ok, signing off now. Remember how much we love you.

Joop Joop,
Mommy

Back in America

My Darling Terrible Two :)

No, actually you aren't really that bad. You're testing your boundaries, yes you are. Seeing how loud you can scream, how long you can cry, how hard you can hit things, if you can actually throw a tantrum. Most of the time you just laugh yourself out of it. It looks like you know how silly you are being. Sometimes we have to turn our backs and ignore you until you come to yourself again. That is a strong measure and it is sad to do. In general though, you are a cute, sweet, and funny toddler and we love you so very much.

Papa is extremely glad to have you back. It is very wonderful to see you two together and makes living here in this... place... bearable. And boy do you love your papa. You ask for him almost as much as you ask to eat. I would say it's papa 40%, eat 50%, poopoo 5% and mama 5%. Oh wait, out is 5%, poopoo is 3% and mama is 2%. And I'm not exaggerating! LOL.

You also love the roomies, especially Jnana. She's like an older sister to you and you love to play with her and be read to from her, and hang out with her. We think you call her, "Nana," but there was a banana nearby that day so maybe you were talking about that. You haven't repeated it so we're not too sure. The truth is you like to play with all the roommates. They're all just the right age for you I guess and they don't have children of their own to take away attention from you.

Your words have hit the 2 syllable stage. You haven't strung 2 words together yet and your, "What's this?" is still, "Uhng, uhng?" My favorites so far are: finger, towel, and beer (although I'm not sure if you are really meaning beer), oh yeah, and computer. Yes, you say computer which IS a 3 syllable word! How 'bout them apples?

You're also starting to use the potty now. Both the big one and the baby one. I'm afraid we made it a little confusing as we started you on the big one and now all of a sudden there's this little one you're supposed to use. But you used it today 'cos mama was on the big one. Yay!

I think you miss people because you look worried when you say, "Papa," and he's not home. Or when you say, "Roro," which is sadder because you won't see him for another couple of months. But for now you've got the big kid roommates to play with and it seems like it's ok.

With all my heart,
Mama

Living on the Land

Dear Baby Love,

Not THE land though, but land around the corner. We're now living on General Sahas' land in a cute little teak cottage. You have a new nanny, Bhairavi and you like her a lot. Syorn is probably coming to take care of you too but not until after we get back from our new set of travels.

We're going back to be with Daddy and then visit the relatives in the Philippines. Then we might go to Bali but who knows?

The big news for you is we've started weaning. Mama Kirana got a bad urinary tract infection and had to take antibiotics that weren't so hot for Ro to get via the breast milk. So thus started the weaning process. And in order to help support her and help you find your center better, Mommy joined in.

It's been interesting. You can now pretty much get yourself to sleep although the disruption in your schedule via the move to the general's has made you revert a little bit to crying for booby. One thing that seems amazing, although it could just be coincidental, is that the weaning seems to have increased your verbal and developmental skills. It's like we cut off the access to your infant mind and your kid mind is taking it's place.

And you also have the ability to stay with your nanny longer because you're not searching for the boob. I am a little sad about the weaning. It's like my little baby is going away from me. And there is an intimacy that has changed. It isn't gone, it's just different. But you snuggle with me better and fall asleep in my arms and that is just as precious to me.

You are eating like an elephant though, no kidding! You're always hungry and I'm not always sure if I should feed you. You have a little distended belly which I would like to go get checked out when we get back to the US. Guruji and Kirana notice it and laugh and think it's cute but don't seem to be alarmed so I shan't.

There are 2 kids on the land, the gardener's kids, who you're playing with which is nice. I was worried about your ability to hang out with other little ones. But they like you and you like them so no problems.

Ok, that's your update for now. Please know how much I love you even if I am a little demanding or sharp. I will watch it though because I want us to be friendly. Will write again soon.

Love,
Mommy

Feeling Alive Again With an Internet Connection from Home

Dear Mochi Starfish,

Can't seem to pick just one cute nickname for you :) Here you are in Bangkok btw, being really cute...

So your papa has been here for 2 weeks and he is leaving in 1 day and I think you might be sad when he goes :( I've decided we'll go back to the states for a month in a month because otherwise you won't see your papa for 4 months and I think that neither he nor I will be able to handle that long of a separation.

You on the other hand, I can't tell because I believe you have hit the beginning stages of your terrible two's. Kind of. You throw things and you hit me and sometimes Roro and you think it's all very funny until you get punished. How have you been getting punished? Well mama is unfortunately not very consistent. Sometimes you get a slap on the hand and sometimes you get a yelling at. The one that works the best but I use the least because a) it's pretty harsh and b) you really hate it is putting you alone in a room for a count of 10 to 20 depending on how bad you were. Like hitting mommy in the face 2 or 3 times after being warned is a 10, and smashing Rohan on the head with a big metal object is a 20. That sort of thing. And you truly hate it as do I because you cry really hard and loud. But it's only needed to be resorted to about 4 times total.

You're just testing your boundaries I know. We'll learn them together I'm sure but it's hard especially now that we're on our own a lot of the time. It has been really great having your papa here. It's been a little surreal around here lately, so many things going on, so much unsettled. It feels like everyone around is experiencing crazy.

You been sick for a couple of weeks. Nothing serious, just a little thrush in the mouth. Your bro Ro had it bad for a bit with a bloody mouth and all but we caught yours pretty early although even with the anti-fungal medication, the yeast is pretty tenacious. I wonder if it will go away when we go back to the states. You seem pretty healthy otherwise.

Besides the thrush and the boundary finding you're talking a little more as well as exploring your world more. You are eating better on your own and you love drinking from straws. You are growing like a weed. It's fun, one day Rohan is way taller than you and the very next day, you've totally caught up and you two are almost the same height. You've got a cute poufy tummy and totally long legs and arms.

We'll be going to live at the general's land sometime next week for a couple of weeks. I think you will like it. There will be a lot of outdoors to play in and we'll have our own little hut for a little while. It will be nice to have a bit of space to ourselves.

As far as the title of this post, papa got mama a nice wireless air card so we now have internet albeit a bit slow. No problem, we'll have a connection on the land which is fabulous! Am gonna go now as it is late but I love you little girl.

Kisses,
Mum