What's In A Song?

The ability to make me get off my lazy ass and dance for one. And also make me start the blog after what looks like a 3 month hiatus. Finally got my mojo back that seems to have been lost some where for past few months :). It hit me recently that I haven't been singing much. It's been more than 6 years since I sang. No I am no professional singer(poor mom, tried so hard to make me a Indian Classical Singer. Sent me to music classes for years..sorry mom). I am like those characters you see in Indian movies. If you have ever seen an Indian movie, you know how you have happy songs, family songs, romantic songs, sad songs and on and on. I break into songs like that depending on how I am feeling that day or that second :). I was in this I-have-too-much-work-to-do-and-nothing-fun-is-happening-in-my-life rut for the past few months and suddenly a song woke me up and then another and few other latest hits followed. And I am feeling good again :)

Any how, let's get to business shall we? Now that the whole world knows let me introduce to my Vodina. Don't go 'googling' to find out Vodina means? It means Sister-in-law in Telugu. Oh yes, I got my own ;). I was in India for a month and I will have to say this. Those few hours of my brother getting married were the most beautiful, happiest hours for me. I heard from my dad's friends that Dad cried during my wedding ( I couldn't see;)) and I thought aww, he's so emotional. What's there to cry? Let me tell you how wrong I was. I found out the true meaning of happy tears. Probably because I saw how much these two love-birds were glowing that day :). Here's a small collage. There are like bazillion pictures. I will try and cut it down to few and post them later.



V was pretty sick that day so he hardly was in any pictures. He was also pretty upset about the fact that we weren't getting him married. "No momma. It's my wedding" he said when I told him Chaitu mama will be getting married :). Don't worry honey, your turn will come ;). He also got to meet his first cousin Pragnya. He still talks about her.



I will be posting more pics form the India trip and some more fun "V-isms" in the coming days. He is getting very chatty and is in the "I have a question about the question" phase. Good night ya'll. Promise to catch up :).

BBB

Finally we have Big Boys Bed :). Someone is fast asleep right this second all on his own :). We picked up a Bunk Bed ('Ladder bed' as V calls it) yesterday. Prabu and our friend Kishore put it together and the excitement on V's face says it all :)



Honestly I was more excited about it than him. I didn't care if he slept on his own in the new bed. The darn thing looked too cute with a dome and "play area" underneath it :)


I will have better pictures tomorrow morning when the little monkey is at school :). Oh he already wants a slumber party with his BFF Rushil :).



More pictures of V helping his Appa with fixing the bed are here

Who's The Chef?

V watched Ratatouille last week for the first time and it's been his post-dinner movie every night since then :). He knew the meaning of "Chef" before watching the movie, so he was just super excited watching the movie and thinks he is the "Little Chef" and I am the "Chef" :). Here is a conversation we both had today while I was in the kitchen making dinner.

V: Momma you are the chef.
Me: I guess. Because I am cooking now?
V: No you are cutting fast like little chef in Ratatouille.
Me: Ok then, I am the chef :)
V: You are the chef for me
Me: Ok. I am your chef. So you better get to the dining table then, dinner is almost done.
V: And Madhavi attha is Rushil's Chef (Rushil is his BFF who lives next door and Madhai his mom:))
Me: Yes, Madhavi attha is his Chef
V: Who is Chaitu Mama's Chef?
Me: Hmmmmm I guess Maathe (my mom) is Chaitu mama's chef.
V: No
Me: No?
V: I don't know. Maathe is not Chaitu mama's Chef

So if you know who's the chef, let me know... will ya! ;)

Here's my "Little Chef" helping me with making dinner few weeks ago :)

What Is It?

Low Levels of vitamin D can cause it
May be Someone in your family has it
Not enough Vitamin B12 could be the reason
Or it may just be the season
You are unable to recognize the face in the mirror at times
But you have a 3 year old who can recite all the rhymes
How dare you talk about it publicly?
Can you make it go away by being silly?
You realize at the end
You are your own friend
You are the reason
You are the season
You are your own reflection
You are strong
You are silly
You are you and it cannot ruin you

Say Thanks!

You don't have to try too hard. Simple words. Thank You. That's all it takes. It seems like the first words we teach our kids are how and when to say thank you and please. But in that process we fail to see that adults need to be reminded of these words too in between. Like every other parent, I taught V about the importance and proper usage of these words. I say proper usage because my sneaky little brat thinks I will let him get away if he says "No brushing tonight momma, Pleeeaassseee". Sorry that doesn't work.

Coming back to the point. When we went to Vegas few months ago, one of the things I wanted to do was visit as many "celebrity" Chefs restaurants as I could that allow 3 year old :). Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill was one of them on the list. I called ahead and they said not a problem to bring in V. They had high chairs for kids and V didn't waste no time in flirting with the hostess. Food was good but the service just sucked. Waiter served us with water and V said "Thank you" without me having to prompt him. His thanks wasn't acknowledged. V turns to me and says " Aa abbayi you are welcome ani cheppaledamma" (That boy did not say 'you are welcome momma). Prabu and I told him, may be he didn't hear V so it's ok. No big deal.

And now yesterday, V and I were walking towards the house from the parking lot and we saw our neighbor was trying to juggle bunch of bags and a tray with food. I offered to help and she handed the tray to me. I took it to her car and she told me where to put it and I did. Then she just walked away to her house. V who was standing next to me watching all this says "Oh aa ammayi thank you cheppadam marchipoyindamma" (That girl forgot to say thank you momma).

So all you boys and girls, don't let my 3 year old teach you good manners. He is not a perfect child (I make sure that he is not ;)) but he does pick on these things. Bad part is not only do I have to do damage control at that second but I also have to make sure he doesn't take advantage of these situations. He tries to pull "I said thanks. You didn't hear me" once in a while and I have to remind him that he needs to say i clearly and not mutter.

Oh and Thank you all for listening/reading ;).

BFF Anyone?

Last week V and I had a conversation in the car while driving (Somehow we both talk all the fun stuff in our drives). Topic was about friends and best friends. He was telling me how he thinks Rushil is his best friend and that he can not wait to show his new toys to him after he goes back to Phoenix. Here is the rest :

V: Do you have friends momma?
Me: Yes I do hon.
V: Who are your friends?
Me: Well you have met them. Jay mama, Dolly masi, Avik mama and...(he cuts me off right there)
V: What about Vikram?
Me(Trying so hard not to laugh): What about Vikram?
V: Vikram is your friend?
Me: Yes, you are my best friend too.
V: ok
Me: Now that we are friends, we need to listen to each other and not throw tantrums.... ok?
V Ok :)

Fast forward to weekend.

Me: Vikram, last chance, get back and put your pants on or you are going on a time out.
V: Hold on amma. 5 more minutes
Me: I gave you 20 minutes and we are running out of time.
V: We are best friends right. You should listen to me momma.

The End :)

Parents And Kids, Kids and Parents

It's a circle.
It's a cycle.
It's all the same.
There is a generation gap.
There is a cultural difference.
Fights happen.
Tantrums are thrown.
Warnings are given.
Punishments handed down.
Rules laid out.
Expectations are set.
Standards are raised.
Roles are reversed.
Do as we say.
It's our turn.
We know better.
I hate you
I love you
I miss you


PS: Love you dad :)