Rag Doll

For the most part little Bobby boy is treated like a precious porcelain doll, with utmost affection and handled with caution and care. There are a few exceptions. 

The little boy likes to play! No longer satisfied with just feeding and sleeping (and pooping!); when he's awake and fed, he wants to talk and interact. He wants people respond to his gurgling conversation, he wants fun and games, he wants to cycle his legs along while listening to animated stories. And when other people would call out his name or respond to him, he'll break into the sweetest melt-your-heart smile!

Most people would look at that smile and laugh out loud with joy! But not little miss Haana. Unable to quite contain the happiness bursting out of her, she gives her little brother big sloppy kisses smack on his cotton candy cheeks, and locks him in a bear hug! Then she buries her big (in comparison) face into his head and gives him more kisses and hugs. I lean in, jealous. I want to be part of this aggressive kissing circle too! 

Occasionally little miss Haana lets me in, and we both target 1 boy cheek each. But most of the times, I watch; laugh and complain how she treats the boy like a ragdoll, and roughs him up. She laughs and continues. Little Bobby boy doesn't mind at all. In fact, he's out there laughing, enveloped in hugs and cycling the whole time. Not quite a porcelain doll after all!

Snow

Driving to work on Friday morning i heard the weather forecast for the day- chance of snowfall in the afternoon. My eyes lit up for a second: snow! But then, the day continued and i forgot.

Come afternoon, i saw several people leaving for the day. It was 130pm. I didn't think much of it. Then i saw a group of people huddled next to the window. I peered though, it was snowing!!! The parking lot was already transformed into Christmasy white. My reaction was- let's go home, bring little Miss Haana from school and let's play in the snow!!

Unfortunately when i returned to my office, there were a couple things that were already waiting for my attention. I thought,  i can wrap these up in a jiffy, and then leave for that day. I proceeded with my meeting. As soon as i wrapped that up,  there were couple other folks waiting on me. Wrapped that up,  and at 3pm i was headed out the door.

I was barely half a mile out,  that 2 realizations hit me. Both with a sinking heart.

First- almost everybody in the metroplex had decided to be on the road at that exact time.  And they were being over-abundantly cautious ( yes there is such a thing as over-abundant, also called slow-pokes). The traffic was backed up and inching along.

But then,  there was the second thing that really started driving me crazy- the snow flurries had all but stopped. There was still snow on the grass and on the roadsides everywhere,  but it wasn't snowing much anymore. I remembered the weather report said it will snow till 430p. It was 330p now.

I felt like such a fool. Why did i not leave right away. It doesn't snow that often here. It is snowing after 2 years. Today most probably will be the only snowy day this year. Oh,  why did i waste it away. How will little Haana and i catch snowflakes on our tongue now? Oh how!! Why did i waste it away. Why did i not leave when it was snowing.  Could i have not followed up the next day! Oh why did i waste it all away.... It was killing me!! The regret of lost time,  for a parent is unparalleled and the misery, insurmountable. To add to my misery a commute that takes me 15-20 minutes,  was now almost an hour long,  and I was still not quite at the montessori yet.

That 1 hour was amongst the most miserable hours for me ever.
Finally,  i reached the school and saw the little girl,  and told her let's go outside and play in the snow. And suddenly, with the glitter in her eye when she heard snow and play in the same sentence, all my sadness disappeared. We got out of the school and there were just a last few flurries fluttering by. Immediately Miss Haana and i, both,  had our mouths open trying to catch the snowflakes. She even picked up some snow and threw at me. I quickly packed her in the car,  took her home and packed her up with woolens. And then, we headed out to play in snow!

It wasn't enough for building a snowman. It was hardly enough for snowball fights,  but we played snowballs anyway. We made snow angels. We played snow kicks and snow drops (that's when you make a ball of snow and drop it in the lake, preferably on top of an unsuspecting duck). We made a few extra snow balls to take home and save.

Finally, when my fingers had frozen and were about to fall off, we headed back home. I quickly saved our snow ball collection in the freezer. We changed and got all warm. That's when i remembered i hadn't taken any pictures of our escapade.

So, in spite of much bickering,  i bundled up the little girl again,  and out we went,  this time only till the front yard,  took a few token pictures before rushing back inside to cozy up next to the fireplace.

Our snowy day ended up well. Even though it was quite a roller coaster ride.

Go To Bed

I'm not sure what the secret ingredient is, but for sure one exists. There's something that helps Miss Haana grow. Grow naughtier that is!

Getting to sleep is a slow and long process these days. The popular notion is that after all the getting-to-bed activities are done (shower, creme, clothes, milk, brush etc), the real play time begins!

Today when finally the little monkey lay down next to me on the bed with her back to me, I was caressing her hair and patting her. Suddenly a naughty little hand came and flicked my hand away and quickly disappeared, followed by stifled gleeful chuckle. Realizing what had just happened I smacked her back immediately with my flicked hand! Both of us broke into peals of giggles. That was funny, she says! :)

What is not so good? Little thing tested positive for strep this morning!

What Children Want

Last few days have been long days at work. Occasional long hours had never been a big issue earlier. It's the nature of software. But now, post Suhaana, being away at work and not playing games with her, tickling her silly or rolling on the bed with her, not filling her up with kisses and hugs; is a bitter pill to swallow.

Yesterday when I got back from work after a 13 hour work day, I was dying to hold this little girl in my arms. I didn't let go of her all evening. Mom tells me she was visibly missing me towards the evening. It breaks my heart.

I was talking to someone yesterday and heard this phrase that it's a good thing you're working longer hours; cause you're making more money. To me, money is important. But even more so, quality of life has always been more important to me. And life since Suhaana, has changed courses. After a certain point, I'd just rather spend time with this naughty little thing at home than anything else.

It reminds me of something a friend had said to me.. And it somehow stuck: children don't need much. They don't need fancy clothes, new toys, great amenities... All the things money can buy. They just need love and attention. They don't need anything else.

And I feel every single day that's so very true.