Vacuum

There are manufacturers on this planet and in business that make products exclusively catered to toddlers. You need to have a toddler at home to figure that is not necessarily a benign statement: exclusively for toddlers translates into - possibly headache inducing toys for  parents :(

We have one such "toy". 

It's a small seemingly friendly toy- a small handle with two small wheels on a little dial that pops little colorful balls as you walk the toy along the floor. Only, as the balls pop- they make a big noise. It is expertly designed and impeccably crafted plastic of uncanny irritation-inducing capacities. And no matter how much you may try to ignore it, while that toy is being walked with, it's a bane of my existence.

Miss Haana here, insists the toy is a vacuum cleaner. She diligently picks things up to clean underneath. She goes over high traffic areas with her "vacuum" over and over again to make sure the job is done right. She opens closed doors, cleans behind them and closes them back again. It is her vacuum.

And the whole time I can't resist but grin at her diligence. And also can't help shaking my head- I wish her enthusiasm for vacuum cleaners lives long enough for her to actually use one all by herself!! That will be a "vacuum jackpot" for me!! But something tells me I shouldn't hold my breath for that one !

Cowgirl and other Mumma Stories

Some six months ago I bought a 2014 calendar that featured beautiful paintings (some looked like pictures) of horses. 

October featured a beautiful painting of a cowgirl next to her horse (just gotten off or about to ride the horse).

When Miss Haana saw that picture she declared "Mummaa".

I have to admit - I was super pleased.

Just sifting through the calendar today I  was reminded of it. 

On another note, yesterday for dinner we were at the dinner table. The little girl was in her high chair. On the other side of the room we have some open shelves and on the top one I had kept the canvas that was recently painted - fall trees in the sunshine. Miss Haana looked at it in the middle of dinner and said "Oh very nice painting Mumma!" Pleasantly surprised!

Yesterday when I reached the school to pick up my baby, the class room was brimming with noise. All the kids were shouting and running around as the teacher was trying to calm them down. My little girl was sitting in the center and quietly sifting through a book. After we had our warm reunion( deep hugs and loads of kisses - that's the one time when the little girl doesn't resist my flood of kisses; I make the most of my window of opportunity!) she took me to her book. It was Dora and the Crystal Kingdom. I asked her if she had read it. 

Then, I sat down and started reading it to her- Miss Haana on my lap. Soon all the other kids in the class came up to us to hear the story. And in no time it was story time! We were a small tight circle of kids, helping Dora find the missing crystals! And no one was running or shouting anymore. I had fun and so did everyone else. As soon as the story finished some of the kids quickly became cats or puppies (that's their regular game as well, they come over to me to be petted!) The little girl and I headed home.

Toy Thing

I borderline on the inappropriate sometimes. I realize that I enjoy the other side at times. The marginally inappropriate and somewhat seedy. 

Today I was enjoying sitting on the bed with the little girl and hurling some of her friends (all inanimate soft toys only) from the bed into the crib. Then of course the little girl wanted to get in on the fun too. I was clapping and cheering when she made it and booing when she missed. Poor baby bear and Beejay were the repeat victims of too much excitement and landed close to the crib several  times.. 

Finally after all the stuffed toys had reached the crib after multiple attempts- little Miss Haana wanted Mumma to throw her into the crib too! 

Now I've long considered her a toy of mine.. But whoever told her about it??!

Brave Heart

Miss Haana and I went to a mall today to pick up something for me. It was supposed to be a quick, targeted trip. The little girl looked down from the third floor and looked at the ice skating rink on the first floor and had the all too familiar sparkle in her eyes. 

We headed down to check if they have any age limit for the skating rink. They gave me their smallest skate and told me if this fits, the little girl is good to skate. It fit! So we rented some skates and were good to go.

They had a section of the rink with a rail so I could hold Miss Haana's hand and walk along with her- me outside the rink, she inside. It was slippery for her initially. We started off with me holding both her hands. We went back and forth a few times and soon I was holding only 1 hand.

A little girl (much older than Miss Haana) came by several times to tell me and Miss Haana that she was doing really well! She came by to hold her hand and walk/skate with her too. And she told her how to step and how to balance herself and then slide her steps. The little girl and I went back and forth a few more times. 

And soon, she didn't want to hold my hand anymore! I was scared because I wasn't on the ice, and I wondered if she fell down in the ice and I could reach her- then what? But no such thought bothered my brave little girl. She went a little away from my reach and pulled up her hands in a ballet pose! And then she walked slowly to a small pink circle projected by the overhead lights on the ice, and looked and me and told me it looked like an 'O'. I agreed. 

She started to slip a few times, but regained and was fine.

I was so amazed and proud of her! She did awesome, and I can't help but brag about it! 

I should probably confess at this point that my own past endeavors in ice skating are not as inspiring. I had tried ice skating by taking a lesson long time ago. But I had had a couple of bad falls and landed on my elbows. The evening ended in the ER and both elbows being in a cast - one for 1 week and the other for 4-5 weeks. I never stepped on the rink again. Today when I saw other kids possibly first timers get in on the skating rink with trepidation but egged on by their parents who were on the rink, wearing their skates, right behind them; I felt a tad sad.

I had told the little girl before we got into the rink to not be scared and be brave- not give up, even if she falls. And indeed our first skating rink experience ended with her being the brave one, and her Mumma being the scared kitten. I guess I should look into getting some elbow pads for me.

Extra Terrestrials

I wonder.

If an extra terrestrial were to come down or telescope into our lives would they be awe struck at some of our simplest and yet the most amazing things here on earth?

Would they be amazed at the perfect physics of a soap bubble? Would they be amused or marvel at the twinkle in the eye induced by a floating colorful fragile, perfect bubble? 

Would they find our white cotton-puff clouds amazingly dreamy and unhindered?

Would they see our world with the same  wondrous excitement as little kids spotting a bird and an aeroplane in the sky?

Well, I'm not sure if the extra terrestrials would be impressed. There are two girls (Miss Haana and I) who are mighty amazed!

Funny Things that Happen Everyday

Funny things that happen everyday:

Heard today from the back seat of the car while Papa was putting the little girl in the car seat- I'll give you a timeout Papa!

After more than 30 minutes of trying to put the little girl to nap, she gets up, puts both her hands on my cheeks and looks at me with overwhelming concern and anxiety. And say- Mumma, what's your name?!!

This morning the little girl got up and said Mumma I want to go and sleep on my Mini sofa. And then I want to wake up. Is that a plant Mumma? That a plant?

(I figure it is a plan!)

No You're Not Done

Today while having dinner I didn't have much of an appetite. I hadn't finished my plate but I was full and said- I am done.

Miss Haana's response:

No you're not done. Because you have tofinish your food. Because to be big and strong. Because how to be a big girl? Because you're not done yet! Take your fork and eat Mumma!

I had heard this was going to happen (when the little girl teaches me things) I just didn't know it would happen this fast!