Oh the Things You can Do with Dough!

Play dough has by far been one of my favorite activities to do with my kids. I guess I had always labelled myself as being "artistically challenged" in arts that did not involve words. But with these colorful mounds of dough, the possibilities were endless. So in the process of encouraging the kids to play with it, I have enjoyed hours of creative time myself. And the irony is that I had been introduced to this first when someone had told me never to get her play dough as my house will be a mess! Nothing that cant be dealt with, as long as you don't get it on the carpet of course!

A played with it well until about 5 years, after which it was hidden in fear of the little Av putting it in her mouth. This was one of the last few times she played with it.

We are so glad it is back in our sight from the past few months. Av loves it and though she is still learning ways to enjoy it, there is so much that can be done with it. Before she was at a safe age to play with it, she always played with homemade Roti Dough during her ones. But now we have started to have some fun times together creating things with Molds and Cutters and sometimes creating a story scene like this one.

Oh the things you can do with Dough! I don't think it is easy to run out of ideas for things to do with this amazing stuff, just like how it was probably really difficult for Dr.Seuss to run out of ideas for writing books!

It is not easy to be the second born

I was born second, so the world I came into is nothing like the world a first born comes into. Everything is different, tried and tested.

In my "BIG" sister's words, I never had parents of my own. I had to share mine with my sister from the moment I was born, whereas she had 5 years of having them all for herself. Okay fine, I do have an extra person in the house to play with, and fight with. But see even here, it is getting all about her. It always does.
Time for me is not taught in terms of hours and minutes, it is measured in terms of what my sister does. So there is this time before she goes to school, and the time she comes back from school. And the time she plays, does her homework, and the time she goes to classes. My day is based around her schedule. And what does she tell my parents at the end of each day, that they love me more than her. Doesn't she see how it is, it is always all about her!

Have you seen our house? There are no pictures of me hung anywhere. There are so many of my sister in different poses, and when I ask them "Where is me there", the family goes in flashback mode with stories behind those pictures. "We will put up yours soon", they say, I have been waiting! My "new" clothes come out of boxes, books have a tear or two, toys have something always broken, it is rare that I get something new. I am always observing and thinking how will I ever tread on that path set by you.

I have heard my parents telling people how I make their heart melt, and my sister boasting to her friends how cute her sister is. But what is the point of all this cuteness I say! If only I could have been the first born and told my sister what to do! I try my best even now, reminding her every time of whatever my mom reminds me. She looks down at me and says "Remember I am seven Av, you are only two". How different is two from seven I say!

It is hard for me to look out at the world right now, for all I can see is my sister and right now she is my world.

-- Perceived thoughts of a 2 year old

Do you want to build a Snowman?

This song  had become the song of our house for the past few weeks. The kids had mastered the lyrics, the emotions and the actions. We recorded and re-recorded the performances. Finally nothing came between them and the snowman today. Even if it was one built in a great hurry because of the freezing temperatures and badly needs to get in shape!

Pink

We recently purchased an all pink play kitchen for the girls, and to accept "pink" as an appropriate color for them, I have come a long way. When A was along the way and we went shopping is when I first realized the existing gender stereotype right from the color of the clothes. Pink has never been a favorite color and having everything related to the baby in pink, the thought just nauseated me. And seeing so much of it made me determined to avoid it. I tried to stay away from it, trying to find clothes in all hues, picking neutral colors in all the baby gears. Dressing her her up in both dresses and pants and t-shirts. Then came the preschool years and she stepped out from our clutches and saw the world. There was always a face made when we went shopping when I pointed at something blue, an argument on days when I had chosen pants and a shirt as her outfit, the want of the most frilly skirts and pretty bows. I resisted, as long as I could, until I realized that is what makes her happy. This is not a gender stereotype thing, it is just what makes her happy.  And when I let her have her way(to a certain extent) she relaxed, wore a dress and cycled (thank god for cycling shorts!) and looked like the happiest kid on Earth. As she is growing up now she is looking at other colors with love and realizing the value of comfort over looking good, though she would pick the latter any day.

Then came Av, by then I was like softened butter ready to melt! And melted did I! One of her first few words were "Titty Titty" (Pretty Pretty) so I hand made all pink and pretty decorations for her first birthday. And Voila! that is when I discovered an all new side to me, my right side of the brain existed (though scientists have now debunked the right/left brain theory)! Must have been the influence of all that pink! :)

So now we are at peace (most of the times), they are too frilly and girly for me, and love the pretty stuff that relatives and friends buy them as gifts. They know that I am the Plain Jane. To the extent that when we went shoe shopping to a store, Av saw a high heeled red shoe and told me, that is not yours that is -- Aunty's, loud and clear for everybody in the store to hear! But we manage to co-exist!

But I am sure a lot of people agree to the gender stereotype that I am talking about, if not they would not have made this ad.

Story times at the Public Library

The story time sessions have become so much a part of our household. They are held at the public libraries almost throughout the country by librarians specializing in children's books. The first time I found out about them was when A was around 2 years. We have not stopped ever since. Though A is now outgrown these story times, she attends other programs for her age like the children's book club.

 I started taking Av to baby sessions ever since she was around 14 months. The classes are really musical sessions starting for infants from birth. It is quite amazing what it did to Av, as she was too young for preschool, but needed an opportunity to interact with kids her age.

Though this is getting really popular and crowded at our library, I occasionally meet somebody who has not heard about it. Just wanted to share what we have really loved and benefitted from. Perhaps another reason why it has really worked for us is the fact that the library is less than a mile away.  Another big incentive is to pick more books after each class.  Overall it has been a wonderful experience for us at our library, cannot tell you if the kids have enjoyed it more or the mom.

Stress Buster

If people knew me to be a patient, strict and organized mom when they saw me with A, all I can say is see me now. I am also Av’s mom and she has broken every rule I have set! And she has got cuddled later for doing so. She is my weakness, can get anything done out of me with that look of hers followed by a powerful smile. With words flowing easily now, I am a total looser to her now.

Here are some of my favorite lines.

We got both the girls winter boots, and one day when we were asking them to wear it she was throwing a fuss. All she would say is “no no” and cry whenever we told her to wear boots. After a little crying she said “No A wear Boots, Av wear DoLa(Dora)”. From that day on we haven’t dared to call her boots anything but Dora while her sister wore the monkey. J

When B and I speak at home, we talk our version of English. You know the kind where you can converse in a language you are used to with each other, but still have a satisfaction of talking in your mother tongue. So the person who is heavily influenced by that right now is Av. So recently when my friend asked her when her birthday is, she thought for a second and said “Gone off”. Or if she sees any of us combing our hair, she will feel her freshly tonsured head and say “My hair gone off”.

She loves playing with dolls these days. Recently she pushed her doll in a stroller and came into the kitchen saying “Mimi look at my daughter”. When B asked her “Where is my daughter”, she ran to her toy chest and pulled out another baby.

She is in that stage where she loves singing songs. One game she plays is to choose a song for each person to sing and when we all start singing our song, waits to see who switched to the other person’s song. The other thing she loves doing is making up songs and her favorite tune is “Are you sleeping Brother John”. Like one day when I was busy doing some work, she was singing, “Where is Mimi, where is Mimi… there she is, there she is. Working, working, working, there she is”.

A stage of a lot of questions too. “Mimi what is that?” Ants Av. “What are they doing?” Crawling Av. “Where are they going?” To find food “What food?” Something sweet. At this point she won’t know what to ask next so she makes this most puzzled face and puts all her emotion into it and asks “Why Mimi?”

She loves to copy her sister, talk like the way she does. And during the day drops those new lines she has picked up on me.

“Mimi what is that?” My dress “Ooh la la fancy fancy Mimi”.

“Mimi look one for you and one for me, its purrrrfect!!”

“Great job Mimi I am so proud of you”

“I am going upstairs ok? Alright! Ok? Ok fine” (even before I respond)

“Look at this monkey, it’s a funny one, right Mimi?”

“Manu see your Gunnu baby is here” (Read as “Madhu see your Gundu baby is here”, she can’t say “Da”)

“Xcoooz me” (if I am in her way)

 

There is not a dull moment with her around, our little stress buster!

Milestone Day

This is going to be a personal milestone day. A is going to be attending her first book club today at the local library. I have been more excited than her and its a big day for me. Yes I am that mushy kind of mom who records every small moment with teary eyes. It will be one of those moments today when I drop her off at the door. But inside I will be doing a happy dance for sure!
And the icing on the cake? A announced that she wants to be a writer when she grows up! I know, I know they change the answer to that at the drop of  a hat, but for now I will take that, and happily too!

I have been asked by a lot of people about how we went about learning to read, and I have composed those emails many a times. I thought it would be good to record it here for my own reference in a few years for little Av. Will soon write about that. And by the way we have a little story teller in her already. Today my nap time story was "One day....Kikka (Krishna) wanted butter. Kikka eat butter and went to sleep. Cried mamma mamma, wa-wa-wa".

My little girl

Dear Av,

When you are ready to read this blog, I know exactly what you will say to me. “So many posts about A and no posts about me till I was 22 months?”  I was beginning to get nightmares about this question that I have to face in my future, so better late than never, here is my first letter to you!

You came into this world when someone else already meant the world to me. A was special, she is still special, she is my first born. I first experienced motherhood with her; we spent 5 years together before you came. But in those 5 years, there were many occasions when we spoke about you, planned how we would do this and that when you would be there. We always knew our family was incomplete without you.

When we first told A about you being inside me, she was thrilled beyond words. My second set of nine months became really special because of this beautiful bond that I saw being born between the two of you. We even had a time allotted every day where we would spend alone time with you. A would draw pictures for you on my belly; she would talk to you and sing to you. And once you were here I only saw this bond between you two getting stronger and stronger amidst all the love and fights.  Because of you I realized the meaning of sibling love, something I have never experienced before.  I loved the moment when I held you the first time, but honestly I loved the moment when I saw your sister hold you for the first time more!

You are the official stress buster of the house. Your smile can turn any dull moment into a fulfilling one.  If I have to describe you in two words I would say “Sweet Naughtiness”. You can get away with any crime with those eyes and smile.  You have brought about a new meaning to fun in our lives.

About why I have not written about you till now, there is only one reason.  I have been so busy with you! Chasing you, stopping you from danger while you were doing somersaults in the yard; standing head down from the sofa; hanging from the table;  swinging from chairs; sliding down the stairs; Running after you to eat your food!  And when I get a few moments away from all this I would be so exhausted and the last thing I wanted to do is write about you! I love you to death, and though you have heard me complain to people how the two girls are so different from each other, I wouldn't have you any other way.  While A did everything the perfect way since she was a baby, you are perfect the way you are!

Love - Mimi

Bliss

It has been so long since I have written anything other than To-do lists that I feel so tongue tied or finger tied should I should say! For some inspiration I have been reading a few of my previous posts and it almost feels like another person, another life. How time flies and situations change.

This one especially caught my attention, as it was written when A was around 9 months. I was amazed how I had made a note of every small thing she did then and how much time I spent observing and exclaiming about it. And here I am 5 years later with my little Av who is a few weeks shy of 9 months, kind of wondering oh really are babies supposed to do all that around this age!

And what with being a full time mom this time around, I had expected to note down every small thing she does. It is funny how being a parent the second time is so different from the first time experience. How some things just seem like second nature, how little effort goes into the day to day things with the baby. And the one on one time you get with the baby is so less. I wonder how such an obvious thing had never occurred to me before, this is why the second borns or last borns have the personalities that they have.

My sweet little Av, yes that is the first adjective I can think of when I refer to her...Sweet. She is a people charmer with her smile and enchanting eyes. She loves being around people, can cruise through the day with hardly any naps and still keep her smiles intact (how can I take a nap and miss to see what A is doing), thinks baby food is the yuckiest thing man ever invented (give me what A is eating), does not care much for baby toys (dont bother to buy me any toys, I will play with what A has in her hands right now), thinks her sister is the world and wants to be like her right away.

And the most amazing thing about being a mom of two, is to watch the bond build between two people you care about the most. I think over the last 15 months or so that is what I have been enjoying and cherishing the most. Ever since we told A about the new baby in mimi's tummy I have watched her excitement and joy grow each day. From praying hard for a baby sister to coming up with a beautiful name for her, to drawing pictures for her on my tummy, to making small gifts for her. And the moment when she finally met her the look in her eyes that said, was all that you have been telling me really true, do I really have a baby sister now.
It is wonderful to see that love growing more each day. To think that I could give my little girl A this thing that I always wished for is such a satisfying feeling. And equally precious is to see a baby feel so much for her big sister in her tiny little heart. Seeing the awe for her hero in her little eyes is heart warming.

As much as I have been enjoying all this the past few months, my inner soul has been craving for some much needed writing. So hopefully I am back to stay this time around. But as of now now my day is made with an early morning hour of writing with the sounds of birds chirping and a mug of strong hot coffee with the kids still in bed. Ahhhh Bliss!

And then there were two!

My big kid A and my new bundle of joy Av.  And that is where I have been.