Paying Attention

Christmas long weekend just washed past us. We spent some time going around and admiring Christmas lights in and around the city. Every time we'd be driving some place and I'll see some cool lights, I would point it out to Miss Gugu:
"Gugu! Look! Such beautiful lights on the right!!"
"Where?"
(Never mind, moving on..)
After a few minutes:
"Gugu, look on the right, beautiful reindeer!!"
"Where? Where Momma"
"On the right Gugu!"
"Is that the right?" (Pointing to some unknown direction from the back seat in the dark.)
After several such drills I'm exasperated.
I explain again which side is right and which side is left.
And then I remind her to pay attention.


A few days pass, and we're back traveling some place and I spot some cool Christmas lights on the way.
"Gugu! Look on the right, gingerbread man!!"
"Is that the right?"
"Yes" (I think so, anyway).
"Mumma, am I paying attention? Am I paying attention Momma"
I am too tickled by the question to remember the lights anymore!
"Yes, Gugu, you sure are!"
:)

The Ballet Recital

The Sunday last was a big BIG day. It was the day of little Miss Haana's ballet recital. We'd been looking forward to it for more than a month. 

The little girl loves her ballet classes and her teacher Miss Nanda. The ballet classes are at her Montessori school. A couple months back we got a note from the ballet teacher that all the students need to have proper ballet outfits with a tutu, pink ballet shoes and pink stockings. We promptly made a trip to a proper dance outfit store, where both the little girl and I had trouble zeroing on one ballet dress to buy- they all looked so overwhelmingly cute on her. Ultimately we went home with two. 

The class had been practicing since 6 weeks for the recital. They had been measured for special recital dress. We had been instructed on the stockings and shoes to get. The excitement had been building for weeks.

Finally during the previous week we got the ballet dress with a headband. That night we immediately tried the dress on at home and it fit beautifully. The trouble was- getting the little girl to take it off! 

I had invited some of my and Miss Haana's closest friends and family for the big day. That morning I bought a delicate shade of pink Burt Bees' lip balm and shimmer. Gugu and I put finger nail paint (something I do not allow on a usual basis) and as always I applied the same color on my nails. I made Miss Haana's hair into 2 neat pony tails with tons of little pins and some hairspray to hold it all together. Then there were a couple pink flower hair clips on either side and the headband. 

Once at the venue little Miss Haana could barely stay on the ground. She was skipping and jumping and posing and prancing around like a little fairy princess! My friends arrived graciously on time and little Miss Haana's friends (Rushil and Anya) were super excited and thrilled too. After tons of photos all around, the time came to send the little ballerinas to the auditorium stage. The little girl hugged her dad( who may have needed it) and followed the line of little ballerinas gingerly but without looking back.

The show started and as soon as the little girl entered it was heavenly! We were on the front seat (I was at the edge of my seat) and the little baby was so cute and beautiful and unbelievably sweet! She followed all the steps and performed with a sense of importance and perfection. Somewhere in the middle while the music and dance was still on, she saw us and as if she remembered something, she waived at us and blew a kiss. I smiled. More dance followed.

And then again, in the middle of the song and dance she remembered something.. There from the stage she looked at me and said "Mumma! mumma".. I was puzzled. I looked and nodded at her half asking her what she wanted to say, half reminding her to continue with the ballet. She said "Mumma, I want to give you a hug"! The whole auditorium breathed an audible "awww"! That's one sentence I would never forget the rest of my life!! I laughed silently and nodded( me too!) and blew a kiss to her. She blew one back and carried on with her dance. 

She performed beautifully. At the end, all the girls were given certificates and tiaras for their performance. And the event ended. I noticed the entire event neither Anya nor Rushil had made so much as a single sound - they were engrossed too! I was told later by their moms, they both wanted to take up ballet classes now!

Outside as little Miss Haana came out she jumped into her Dad's arms. Then I made my way to her. And she and I hugged and kissed each other deeply! Perfect!

I'm Afraid So

There was a time when the little girl would pick up on new words and I would be thrilled! Now that is passé!

Now, she's up to picking up new phrases too.

Heard this morning while still rolling around in bed- 

Mumma- Gugu, did you have a good neenna? (Baby talk for sleep)?

Miss Haana-Yes!

Mumma- Gugu, did you see any dreams?

Miss Haana-Yes, I'm afraid so!!

Mumma- I'm afraid so?? Come here for a little pitti( spank)!

Elsa

Disney's latest blockbuster Frozen has a major support from our household. Not only have we whole heartedly made our contributions multiple (who's counting!), times, we have also contributed in terms of casting.

Miss Haana is Elsa - on most days. On the other days she's Anna. She sings, walks, talks and thinks Elsa. I get a near continuous playback of "Let it go" soundtrack at home. 

Recently we went shopping for shoes for the little girl. Browsed around for a few minutes until the little girl located Frozen themed shoes with Elsa on them. There was no separating them from that point. I didn't even try. 

My dear dear cousin sister (in law) came over and was readily included in the Elsa fan club. We joked about it and laughed. A couple of days back I opened this carton she sent over. It had a beautiful Elsa dress, fancy sparkling shoes wih lights on them, a tiara and cuddly Olaf all packed in together. We had a hard time just getting her to take off her dress even for turning in for the night!