Sweet Nothings

“Nandu…Nandu….”, I would have to cry out at the top of my voice. Yeah! I can see her there, the window curtain barely covering her till her neck; NO! I should not acknowledge her. I should act panicky, my each “Nandu” growing into a loud scream. And then, she would run out from her hide with an excited “Amma!” Now, I need to act relieved.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Me: Nandu, patti kutty. (Nandu is a puppy).
She: Amma patti kutty. (Amma is a puppy).
Me: Nee chakkara. (You are like jaggery).
She: Pakshe, amma patti kutty. (But, amma is a puppy)

* * * * * * * * * * *

Me: Nandu! We are going out. Shoo shoo? (Do you want to loo?)
She: No amma! Nandu shoo shoo venda. (Nandu does not want to go to the loo)
We set out; Half-way through:
She: Amma shoo shoo ponam (I want to go)
Me: Nandu, I asked you before, didn’t I?
She: Amma.. please shoo shoo.
Me: We’ll reach in some time.
She: Amma ippo ponam. (I want to go now).
And there; I park the car and she “goes” on the pavement! She has so far officially “gone” on pavements, road-sides, restaurants, trains, airplanes, parks, beach; and the list is un-ending!

Schooling!

Our last week had a loooong weekend as we went off to Ammu’s place (remember Nandy calls my mother Ammu?) on Wednesday, thus skipping school on Thursday and Friday as well. Hmm.. “school” is just a daycare with a study, a classroom, a dining room, bed room, a garden, and a toy room, but to Nandy, it is nothing less than a school!
So on Monday, day 6 of bunking, I knew it was going to be difficult to put her there. Our car had been away for servicing and all three of us went by pappa dear’s boo-ki-ki (that’s the word in her vocabulary for a bike). The heavy traffic, the rains, and thoughts of attending a meeting on a project already on fire, he got quite frustrated by the time he reached the day care.
He dumped Nandy there, and didn’t heed her an ear for re-assurance that we would pick her back. Before she could react and open her mouth to cry, he started the bike and we rushed to office.
When I went to pick her up, she cried of course. Her ma’am told me that this had been the best day so far with her trying to play and interact with other kids there, and not fuss over food. She in fact peeled and had her banana on her own, and when her hands became messy, she went and wiped her hands in her friend’s dress! LOL! But, now I know that Nandy is OK with school and looked forward to the next day…finally!

Growing Up

Nandy has been here for twenty-four months, and soon it will be twenty-five. Time is flying.. I must say. Nandy wants to do everything on her own now! She’s grown… But, aren’t there so many things she would not be able to do on her own? But, we always end up in a mess, deciding who should do what. This begins as her day begins – from brushing her teeth (which I am scared will end up in decay), taking her bath (only a part of herself would get wet), dressing up, and putting her shoes on (always ends up with wrong leg in wrong sandal). And then, she would scream, if we try putting it right. She would be struggling on herself, but no - we should not touch!

These days she says a lot of "sorry” and “please”. And, the rest is on us! We MUST say "its ok" for every sorry and “ok, done!” for every “please”. Else she keeps repeating sorry/please and it will get louder and louder and then her voice breaks and she cries. Sometimes she herself will mutter "its ok" after a sorry and move on. But for all that she does - do not expect a sorry, and how many ever times you say please, she would not be appeased. For instance, she hits me with the chappathi roller and I see stars, she would not mutter a sorry and moves on with another mischief. And she makes use of every occasion to hit, me especially! She enacts all that happens at the daycare, wherein she is the ma’am and we, all her toys and all house-hold articles are the kids at the daycare. So, she goes about rolling her eyes, and I am always the “baaaaaaaaaaaad girl”, wherein all others, even a litter box is a “good girl”. And then she comes to me threatening to hit me, accusing me of having hit Noddy, who’s my classmate! LIAR!

Her language also is evolving. From “kotato” and “kish” to “potato” and “fish” respectively, she has had her words right. As if this "huge" change is not enough to dishearten me, her silly dad is hell bent on teaching her to pronounce F which she says as “Th”. Fan is Than, Phone is Thon, 4 and 5 are Thore and Thy respectively. Another syllable she has not got right is “rr”. Its “polootta” for “paratha”, “load” for “road”. Until yesterday it was “b” for “m” also. Like “bichure” for “mixture”. Yesterday, I felt a little sad, when she came and asked for “mixture”, the right way, the first time! Should I be happy that she got it right? Or, should I miss those cute talks? Sigh! My lil girl is growing up.

Affectionately Yours!

Some more of Nandy!
Nandy somehow seems to know that ammu (that's how she addresses my mother) will call up regularly and talk. So, whenever a new dress or a toy is bought, a friend says a “hi”, she learns a new game, papa or me scold her, or even a pizza is ordered, she makes it a point to call up ammu and let know of the happenings. She even blabbers of all that happens in the daycare everyday. But, no she can't the affection my mother showers on me! She kicks, shouts, wails, if her ammu runs her fingers through my hair, hugs me, or even sits near me.
But.. I should cuddle and publicly love her! It’s evident when I leave for office everyday, after putting her at the daycare. She comes back with me until the main gate, asks for umpteen kisses, and says lots of byes- the onlookers wouldn't have seen more of this in anyone. But, as soon as my face disappears she distracts herself with some toys or a few friends. While I carry back with me to work a heavy heart thinking how reluctant you were to leave me off. Yes Nandy! The reluctance is evident from the way you ask for reassurance as to whether I would come back and pick you up.

Coming to more of the ‘affection’ part! Nandy isn’t ever pleased to see her mom and dad hug. She can't stand it if we are touching each other. Actually, she thinks I am on the wrong always. She pushes only me no matter who's touching whom. She curtly comes and squeezes herself in the middle if we are cuddling in the bed. She pushes my hand away if I put my arm around his shoulder. She screams if we kiss each other. But it’s OK if we just give a short kiss though. A peck in the cheek is all she can take. And to think that I was exactly like her when I was young; maybe that’s what they mean by ‘Karma punishing’ and that also, when my folks were not even that fond of public affection. I never allowed my mom to sit next to my dad. I would always insist on sitting in the middle. As you sow...
The story does not end there. I should not lie on my mother’s lap, because she can’t stand the affection. She turns against anyone who showers a little more affection on me. No wonder she was against my friend Sheba, the first time she met her (Sheba had been talking a lot to me that day), and the last time she met her, she was all over Sheba (Sheba was talking to Nandy only the, not me)!!!

I Hope She Never Inherits This

It was pappa dear's birthday yesterday, and Nandy's star birthday the day before. That day all of us wished her so many times that she claimed it was her birthday yesterday too, and wanted us to wish her and not pappa dear!
Somehow, both pappa and she got their gifts from granny yesterday.
I insisted that we buy her small storybooks, as I wanted her to start liking books. I know its a little too early, but, wanted to instigate the reading habit in her. So, I chose 2 nice hard-binded goodnight storybooks for her. Apart from her rhymes and picture books, I've bought her 2-3 books on Noddy, but she has "read" them so well that they are all in bits and pieces now!
And, thank God! she was taking the new books around to granny, asking her to read them out. Yippee! am so relieved..because I was a little scared whether Nandy would inherit the "reading skills" from pappa!
Me and pappa are always in opposite poles, and the same holds good in reading too. He does not read. No, he isn't illiterate, but he "reads" only The Hindu, and maybe books on C# and DotNet. Nothing more.
When we were newly wed, I remember having tried to make him start reading, and suggested a novel to him. He read half of it, that too because I kept pushing, and then asked me to tell him the story of the rest! Also, reading is a pretty costly affair as far as he is concerned - he has to buy the book if he wants to read any as no library would lend books out for years together! And then, when the book lovers of the world were talking a lot about the Da Vinci Code, he made it a point to buy the book. He started reading it when I was 5 months pregnant, and finished when Nandy was 5 months old!
And when I said he can’t read, include the fact that he can’t read aloud as well. Punctuation marks don’t exist for him and he has no idea why they are used. He pauses only when he’s out of breath. It’s so annoying to listen to him read that I am in denial that he is my husband whenever he reads!
I remember some students in my class at school who weren't good at reading and I used to think so high of myself and used to act like a snob when they were around. They formed a club, chose their president and 10 years later sent his horoscope to my parents. I can hear them laughing even now! Anyway, he does'nt read my blog or any other blog for that matter. I have to ask him everyday, “Did you read my blog today?” He will say no and I will read it to him. I would say, “haven't my blogging skills improved now?”. And there, I might have to sprinkle water on him, and pull him into the bed, so that he can resume the sleep!
If he were'nt good looking, maybe we would not have come together for life!!!

She turns 2!

Nandy is turning 2. It's her star birthday tomorrow! And, know what??? I'm the one who is excited! I can't believe that this little bundle of joy has been with me for 2 years! Baby dear.. you are growing older!
I am thanking God for every moment of these two years that he has given me. And baby, I haven't had any priority in these two years except for you.
Remember girlie??? Your first birthday? We had made it as grand as possible! Oops! Your pappa and me did enjoy, am not too sure if you ever got the essence that celebrations on your first birthday were going on!
Soon after your birthday celebrations came the head-shaving ceremony. I still remember the way you squealed. However you looked a lot more cute with those curly locks; which never grew on one side of your head! Pity you!
You spent 3 months of this year away from your pappa, as he went onsite on an assignment. I knew baby- I knew how intendly you missed him all the while. When he was back, you just hopped over to be with him, and I was wondering since you were 14 months old and it would have been normal if you were shy at first.
This happened when your granny came to be with us also. This happened so many times with her that we stopped questioning it. You started addressing her with a lot of special tags - as "Nandu ammu". She was so happy to hear that!
You have no problems adjusting to new places and you are OK with change. You like your dolls but never miss them. You don't ask for them. You love your grandma to bits but as soon as she says good bye and leave, you give me a sad look and then continue with your life. You don't ask for her again.
Its the same when pappa and me leave for office everyday, you give a sad face and then distract yourself with some toys.
But I know baby...I know I am special to you. if you cant find out which part of the house I am and if I don't answer your calls, you start panicking and about to cry and as soon as you find me, you swallow the tears and pretend to be OK and give me a smile as if you never doubted that I had left you alone and gone somewhere. Who taught you all this?
Years from now when you get married and start panicking when your husband does nt answer his mobile phone, remember to blame it on your mother's genes. It works!

And finally, because of you I have learned persevearence, patience, and most of all I have learned how to stay calm. Thank you for bringing that out in me. Thank you for being here. I am a better person because of you and I hope you say the same thing about me one day. Well, I can hope!

Happy Birthday Dear!

Shopping Hunt

I always complain of the pain when I have to go shopping with Nandy!
Those days when I freely went “window shopping” seem a distant dream now. Take her to a mall, why talk of a mall! Take her to the grocers and that’s it! She would have a rally of questions, all whats and hows and whys, and by the time I am through answering all of them, I am dead tired! I wouldn’t want to shop anymore.
Its the same with eating out too. One fine day I would have this craving to eat out, have “dragon chicken” at Wang’s, “tandoori” at a Punjabi Dhaba and what not! And we set out hoping to have something nice and spicy to heart’s content. But! There goes my wish of having what I like - she would start the show with pulling off the napkins, wanting to practice bands with the cutlery, proceeds to tearing apart the menu, and we look around as if we are aliens with her running about all over the place and finally I we would have to gobble up whatever possible while she spills all thats possible decorating the floors - In short, I would be deprived of having a good meal.
Coming back to shopping with her, we started venturing out on our own when papa dear was away at US. It was not that I never went out. I am a working mother, and do all the shopping for home. But,however, I never used to tag Nandy along. When he was away, I thought she would miss out on the weekend outings we had. I definitely didn’t want to take her out on a dinner, but could take her along whenever I went shopping. We shared the secret joy of an adventurous ride. Adventure - yes because of the way I drove with her! I would always have to watch her from teh corbner of my eye.
We would go buying grocery, or shopping for clothes, or drive to the baker or just for the sake of going out. And then, one day we walked into a shoe store that opened recently ( I have always longingly looked at the patterns on display from outside). I was looking around at the various designs on display, wasn’t quite satisfied with any, as I thought they weren’t worth, and there she was; She had fished out a cute little pair of shoes from one of the shelves and was urging me to buy them. I tried telling her that it wouldn’t be the right size for her, and then tried bribing her with the icecreams at the corner café, but she wouldn’t budge. Instead, her wails became louder, and soon I gave in so as to save myself from the embarrassment. By the way, did I tell you? That silly pair of shoes cost me a little more than the a beautiful pair of sandals that I was eyeing. And she was laming all the way to the café (she insisted that we don’t return without ice-creams) because they were not her size.
Lesson learnt- never to venture out shopping with her….

Nandy's World

Well, it's been 22 months of motherhood and from day 1 I have been wanting to do this - write of Nandy, start a blog and be a regular blogger too. I have been dilly-dallying because I wanted everything to be just perfect but I have come to realise it never will be, so I might rather start off now. She's grown from the little tadpole-like thing that she was, and I don't want to keep postponing the writing part.
These are the few things I noticed in her recently:

--> Its hard to call her a 1-year old any longer; I can see glimpses of a 2-year old in her. You never know when she'll say what! She acts a big granny at times!

--> She said "Please" when she wanted to play in the mud yesterday. During the evening walk we enjoyed together yesterday, I noticed her looking longingly at a pile of sand near a construction site nearby and gauged from her longing eyes of her urge to be in there. Before she asked me whether she can go and be there, I said a stern "No", and she reciprocated with a "Please"! She's grown...

--> She has to have closure for everything. Its bye TV when the TV is switched off, bye Noddy when Noddy is kept away and a book is taken, bye doll when she puts down one doll and picks up another. It has gone to the extend of a "bye God", when we get out of temple after worship.

--> She herself acts like a granny! She talks to her little doll, bathes it, cooks food to feed it, and puts her to bed; all thgis only when we aren't noticing. Else.. she just flings the doll across the floor.

--> She does nt like it if we laugh at her and never repeats the word/action again. So we have to be really careful not to laugh. Such an ego!

--> She is so careful, so careful that its so annoying! She ll crawl under the table and then crawl out back so carefully making sure she does nt stand until shes well clear off the table and will keep at it until her butt hits the wall! She ll hold onto us for dear life while we carry her or make her stand at high places. She ll take one whole minute to climb down one step and if the steps are too deep, I have to hold her hand. On a bike, she'll hold on to me, my clothes, and her father's clothes to see to it that they don't fly or get entangles anywhere, making us fall off the bike. Its a different thing that she ll get hurt in totally unexpected situations.

--> Her favorite TV show is Noddy, closely followed by Oswald and Thomas Engine. Last week, one of Hari's friends called up, and I picked the phone. Extending the reciever to him, I said "It's Thomas". Nandy, who was playing with her doll until then beamed with delight. She sprang up, and danced all over there excited that "Thomas Engine called my papa"!!!