Push The Red Button

Suhaana has a big toy to keep her busy while she sits in the high chair. It's a big (1 feet tall) tree with a monkey and frog jumping down from its branches. A parrot and parakeet sit on a wheel between the two branches and rotate round and round. A blue and green turtle sits on a yellow Dias that rotates and croaks when you turn the turtle around. On the other side, a blue lizard sits atop a red button. The button makes a different sound everytime you press it.

I pressed the red button once with my right index finger and it made an elephant trumpet sound. Suhaana observed closely. Her right hand inched closer and she pressed the red button herself- hoping for the same sound- but this time it was a monkey shout. She evaluated what went wrong. Then, grabbed my right index finger and took it to the red button to press it!

I have no idea what sound it made 'cause I laughed and laughed!! Suhaana looked at me wondering what happened to mummy.

My Furry Blue Slippers

Yesterday Suhaana saw my blue furry house slippers and instead of trying to put them in her mouth tried to wear them and walk with them! It was so cute seeing her trying to walk with humongous (for her) slippers and also amazing how she observed and decided to try them on herself! Brilliant!

The Tug of Fruit Game

Of all the business opportunities, the toy industry has not capitalized on this game:

Here's how to play it:
Take your favorite blended-fruit pouch- empty pouch works better.
1. Sit in Daddy's lap and offer him the pouch. Push the pouch into Daddy's mouth.
2. Wait for 2 seconds so Daddy holds the pouch in his mouth.
3. Pull the pouch out. Use both hands and all your might if need be.
4. In the end- what is left but a delightful scream, gleeful giggles and belly full of snorts!
5. Now repeat 1 through 5.

PS: Game works on Mommy too, but it really works best on Daddy!
PPS: If cannot get the pouch out even after repeated tries, let out loud annoyed scream. The problem quickly fixes itself.

Enjoy!
From-
Suhaana

Looong Day

Raj and I got stuck at the airport trying to fly back home for more than 4 hours (we'd flown for a day trip for some work and intended to get back within a few hours).

We'd left early at 5, and left Suhaana at home so she's not hassled by the travel. Luckily we had some family who could watch the little girl before the nanny gets in.

We were back at Houston airport by 2:15pm to find that the airport looked like an Indian vegetable market. So many people, just moving from gate to gate, trying to make their connections, enquire about their flights, check if they can be put on standby. The 2 o'clock connection was cancelled and it was made worse by flights coming in late.
Leading to a ripple effect of exasperated passengers waiting to get to their destinations.

Running around from one gate to another in those hours, I was missing Suhaana. We had left early so it had been a long while since I'd seen her. And now it was unclear which flight we would be able to make it in- if at all. After not being able to be accommodated on the next 3 flights, I was getting desperate. At 5, I just wanted to see her!

And in all this, while we moved from one gate to another, dragging our aching feet, all we noticed were the kids at the airport. A family of 5 with 3 kids - all seemed to be similar age groups between 2 and 7. All 3 kids with headphones and gadgets, engrossed in their games. Another family of 4 with 2 kids. Younger one was not happy and let out a scream. 'Suhu does that too sometimes' I thought- gets angry and gets really passionate about something.. A dad with a small baby - probably 6 months old, clutching on to dad, sucking his thumb but otherwise oblivious to the madness around him. 'Suhu sucks her pacifier that cutely too'. A mom with another 8-9 month old baby at the rental car counter- thumping his palms for faster service.

All I could notice was the kids- while I missed my little girl- dying to get back home while all flights to home are cancelled/delayed with too many passengers backed up from previous connections.

Standing at one gate waiting to be put standby for one of the flights I sang her favorite 'Elmo had 4 ducks' song. Raj hummed it too. And then, while we sat down and waited for the next flight, we looked up her photos on my phone. And then we missed her some more! We're such parents!

Finally after waiting for 4 hours, we decided to rent a car and drive down home instead.

At home, this little baby was fast asleep. Although I almost woke her up with all the cuddling and kisses!

Elmo has 4 Ducks

This little girl has a new friend she's very, very fond of.. Elmo!
The moment I sing "Elmo song", delightful, gleeful, giggling begins! Which makes me giggle too. It's so much fun that Elmo songs are now my favorite songs too. And I've made endless renditions of the "Elmo and his ducks" songs to fit just about every situation I'm in.
Right now, Elmo got into his car and is blogging from a parking spot :)

Feel pretty terrible.

I feel pretty terrible.

Suhaana had gone to sleep. I hung around her for awhile. Then switched on the baby monitor and went downstairs. At first only intended to stand outside the door. Then (thanks to such beautiful weather and very pretty resort- like lighting in the part in front of ours') started on impromptu walk just outside the door. Raj's mom was sleeping downstairs. Came back to find poor baby had woken up crying, and didn't find mom or dad coming to get her. Her grandma came to get her. I feel so bad!

She's fast asleep now. Back in her crib (which is in our room). She doesn't know it yet, but she'll be sleeping next to mama tonight, while mama cuddles and smothers her in her sleep (and generally make her uncomfortable ) :-)

Carrying The Pump Can Get Old

I dunno how to put it any better, but I'm sick tired of expressing milk! It's been a looong, arduous, difficult, challenging journey my pump n I have been on last close to 11 months or so. And ironically the difficult and challenging times are actually very much behind me. I conquered the most difficult, night owl months, repetitions of 8 times a day with washing and sterilizing strewn in between. Also worth mentioning - twice when I got very sick, and the constant problems of over production (yes it's a gift and a curse). The recurring blockages and remedial measures. The very real fear of relapse. Being very, very, very vigilant of the elapsed time- is it time for pumping again? Everything else wrapped around it. Life on a repetitive, and very closely monitored watch.

So, yes. All that madness is behind me. And partly I've been lucky and blessed to have much and be able to whether through it. Partly I feel l did DO IT - I give myself some credit for it!

But now, that things have tapered down, and are actually very manageable. Now, I'm just tired of it! I just want to have a drink and sleep when I'm tired in the night without the additional 10-15 minutes' delay of one last pump of the day. I'm tired! There's just no better way to say it.

Bouncer Seat Go Take A Bath

Today while the bouncer seat has gone for a wash (it's a cloth seat so it can be put in the laundry), Suhaana came around looking for her bouncer. There is a small (about 4"wide and 5" long) plastic platform at the bottom of the seat where the batteries go - an alternate place to sit, someone thought.

There are times when she does something so cute or looks so cuddly , I have to stop myself from squeezing her real hard. Ok, so maybe I can't always stop myself, but mostly it's not too tight a cuddle. And most often, she wiggles her way out because she has way too many naughty things to do for herself to get bogged down in mama's arms. We lead a busy life, as you can see!

Just a Regular Afternoon

Where: Starbucks

What: Hot Tea Earl Grey

How: Cool afternoon time for mom n dad, play time for Suhaana.

Activities: Climb tables, bang phones, bang mamma's jewelry on table. Then climb on to stroller. Grab stroller belts. Then back onto the table. Then repeat.

Snacks: Tea for mom n dad. Eat whatever can grab. Snatch a couple of brown sugar packs. Chew on it till it starts tasting more sweet and less papery.

Hindrances: Mainly mom.