Amuktha and School

When Amu started her preschool, both Pawan and I were very happy. The fact that she never shed a tear or refrained from going there was a big relief. But after six months, I was concerned when her teacher told me that Amu does not talk to her.
She is shy in general but I thought 6 months was a good enough time for her to open up.  We enrolled her in a dance class at school and she does not completely follow the dance teacher's instructions.
I got all concerned and expressed them to Pawan but he pushed them away saying she knows what she was doing.
Finally, I had a one-on-one talk to her. I told her this was not going to work. At that time I was not sure if I did the right thing. But it seems to be working. She seems to be better at school and is opening up a little more.
I am very happy about it.

Gowri the little imp

Gowri recently had a haircut and finaly, we are able to see her eyes as they are without any hair covering them up or the hassles of putting a clip/tying it into a pony.
It took me some time but she actually looks good in it. She looks like the perfect imp that she is.
I must also add that he vocabulary has increased so much that it amazes me. Two months back she was not able to say Gurram (horse), she would say gu and now she says gunnam - that's huge progress on her part.

Also, she repeats everything you say or tries to. But one thing has me thinking, she never repeats her name "Gowri" she conveniently ignores it, wonder why?

Gowri is talking

When I say that, I really mean talking. She tries to repeat everything we say and it comes out very funny sometimes. It is hilarious.
Thatha is her confidante. She tries to tell him everything about everything. She has started with 3 letter words. She says ammamma. Sometimes she says ammammamma and smiles realizing what she said was wrong :) The other surprising thing is she picks up the phone and says pani ( Phani). She is the activity centre of the house.

Her favorite words are

Doggie
Ammamma
Amu
Papa kakaye
Kala ( kavali)
Pani
and everything ending in nnnnnnini

To my utmost surprise she tells all the numbers from 1-10 ( she skips 7 ofcourse) and even says some alphabet. It is amazing how much she learns from and imitates her sister.

Then comes her swiping skills. Whatever is in the hands of Amu she just takes it off in one swipe even before Amu has time to think or react. Very quickly.

But like always, the sad part is they are growing up so fast.

Gowri turns "1"

Is it realy happening? My little Gowi already one?

Gowri on her first birthday party

I can't believe it. It has been an eventful year and a very quick one. Gowri is a big baby. Yes, I don't think I can ever call her a kid, she will always be a baby. It's not because she is my second born, but it's just something about her. She still has baby characteristics like she wants milk and only milk when she is hungry, she just wants to be held and cuddled like a 3 month old and biggest thing is when she wakes up in the middle of sleep, she just does not wait even for a minute for her milk. All these really remind me of a baby. But I don't really remember her baby days at all. I wish I remembered more than pictures.

She is the happiest person in the house and she is so happy to see me when I go home from work. She talks a lot, not that much is comprehensible, but she talks with her tone modulatiions. That is hilarious.

Well, happy birthday chittu!!!

Here's one to you!!!

The "Nanny" experience

When amma & nani (my parents) could not come in as planned, we were lost, not knowing what we would do with the kids with me starting work in 2 weeks. I was very particular that I did not want to send Gowri to day care. I could not go through the everyday turmoil that I went through with Amuktha. I would feel terrible for half an hour after I dropped her. Also, we were not prepared to send Amuktha to a full-day school. She is way too young for that isn't she? I know there are other kids who do that but not mine.

Then, there was only one alternative - Nanny - we placed an ad in one of the websites and were overwhelmed with the responses. We set up interviews and started meeting with prospective nanny's, calling their former employees for feedback. I did not like anyone and the D day to leave kids was getting closer. During my visit to the pediatrician's office - she is a great doc, by the way- she told me I would have a gut feeling. I never had it with any one. There was this one lady , Blossom, whom we really liked  but she did not confirm for a while and so we settled in for Jamie.

Jamie, came in for a couple of days and it was not a smooth experience, Gowri would not go to her quickly and would start crying as soon as she saw her in the morning. I almost thought I should put her in a day care as this was not working out. Then Jamie fell sick. I had to find a substitute, 3 days into the whole thing. I knew this was not going to work out with her but I had to find another one soon. I gave it a shot and called Blossom - whom both Pawan and I really liked-and lo and behold she was available. Not only was she available, she would work for a pay that was comfortable for us. I thanked the stars and Blossom started.
Gowri was reluctant initially but then she gradually liked her and Amuktha had a lot of fun with her.



Amu & Gowri with Blossom



Life was smooth for 3 weeks and then, Blossom gave us a 2 week notice. She found a permanent position and I could say nothing to it. I was angry and frustated. I had to start the whole process again and the kids, they had to get used to a whole new nanny again, was it worth putting them through this? This time I was very selective and we found Andrea. She was an amazing nanny and a very good influence on the children. I think my kids got lucky to have had such good care.



Now, amma and nani are here and the kids are having fun. I'm glad we had such wonderful people taking care of the children. Thank you Blossom & Andrea!!!!!

My 2 pence on sibling rivalry!!

It's a very tricky situation for any parent to be in!!!
When my 3 year little Amu old tries to boss over Gowri, I am fine most of the time, assuming that's a common thing amongst siblings, but when it goes overboard, then I take a firm stance against it and it's almost always Amu who is at the receiving end.

But I have my own concerns over this from time to time. Since I am home currently, I tend to think a little more about it.  My questions range from, am I doing the right thing in giving her a strict warning or giving her a time out? Am I being too harsh on Amu, she is after all not even 3?
Is this a normal  behavior among siblings? Is it a little more in this case as they are both girls?
Am I alienating her against me? Will she have negative thoughts about me because I am punishing her?
Will they ever be those share all kind of sisters that I see my friends to be?
It's an endless list.
Amu seems moodier than usual these days.
I hope everything will settle down soon.
I can just wish for a good relation and try to be a good mom.  God help me and guide me.

Amu in an operetta

Amu's first play. I am thrilled. It has  been a week since Amu joined school and she is in a play, rather an operetta. She is a flower in the play.
I think I was more excited about the costume. She is supposed to wear jeans and a green t-shirt with tennis shoes and has to have a hat with flowers on it.

I searched a lot for the perfect t-shirt and the hat. We got the shirt at carter's and the hat, I stitched artifical flowers on it with Swapna's help.
I did some stage make up for her and she looked great. I feel happy, but am sad that my little baby is growing up so soon.

At the play, she did not utter a single word but stood there for all the one hour. I am surprised she did not come running away from the stage which I think I kind of expected.

Phani mama and Swapna atha made her day special by joining us.

I got all emotional when I first saw her on the stage...

Here is my little flower

Gowri's broken arm....

Gowri fell down on her hand on the 4th of May. I was at work, and it was tea time. Amu & Gowri were playing near the refrigerator when Gowri suddenly fell down on her arm and started crying. Her grand parents thought it was one of those numerous falls which she had to endure to learn  how to stand.

But, when she tried to crawl, she would fall flat on her face. This bothered all of us.  I came home and tried to make her crawl, she would put her hand forward and fell flat again and started crying. We thought she sprained her hand. There was very slight swelling and we never suspected a broekn bone. The next morning we had to drop Rachana at the airport and conveniently took the appointment at 1:30 for her doctor's appointment just to check the hand out. The doctor ordered a X-ray.  The pediatrician did not suspect a major fracture.

We went to the radiology lab and waited for the X-ray only to know that she had broken two of her bones on her right arm. She broke both the radius and the ulna.

She would need a cast. Oh my god, the pain she must have gone through when we tried to make her crawl. I feel sick in my stomach thinking of the pain the little one must have gone through. Surprisingly, there was very little crying. I tried a lot of hospitals and doctors for the earliest possible appointment for a cast. Got one for the next day.

Dr. Gregory Hrasky is an amazing, out of the world pediatric orthopedecian. The experience was too good. I knew she was in good hands as soon as we met him. She did not even wince when they were putting the cast on.

I felt miserable seeing the little one in the cast. The first day was tough, but she started her crawling as usual from the second day :). She is a strong little one. She endures. I totally respect her for that and am proud of her.

Today, we got the cast off. I was a little anxious until they took her X-Rays. Everything looks normal and perfect. I am more relieved about her cast being gone.

I hope there are no more accidents. Am I wishing for too muc. I hope they encounter nothing major again and have a healthy life.

Milestones

Gowri is found everywhere in the house. That little imp is so fast it is hard to get hold of her.She crawls pretty quickly for a baby that small. She wants to jump out of the hand go away.

I have always been meaning to note down their small and big milestones, so here they are before they fade out of my memory

Amuktha

Rolled over - Oct29th '07
Sat down -Feb 17th -08
Crawled - Feb 20th 08
First step - June 12th '08
Day care - April 1st '08
First play bruise - Nov '09
First day of School -April 5th 10
First Play - May 8th 2010


Gowri

Rolled over - Nov 8th 09
Sat down -Feb 19th 10
Crawled - Feb 25th
Stood up - March 7th
Stood by herself - May 1st
First steps - June 19th

First nanny - Aug 2nd 2010.
There are so many more to come...

Letting go of her..

It is already that time when Amu is starting school - well not really school but play school ( a montessori).
It took me a good two months to digest the fact that she is infact ready to go to School. In the mean time the slot we had for 2 half days in the morning was gone. Frankly, deep down I was happy that I did not have to send her there, until my husband came up with the "brilliant" idea of sending her to School in the afternoon.

My mind tells me she will thrive and blossom out there but my heart aches to let go of my baby!!
I try to hide my tears to show a brave front but this really is a baby. She is just two and half. That's still a baby isn't she?

Being pragmatic does not seem to work. I can't let go of her. When she took her teacher's hand and walked off to her classroom, I felt miserable but was happy at the same time. She did look back to make sure I was still around, that made me very happy.

She has her own world and is taking small steps into it... away from me? I will be waiting for the time when she wants me and will  always be there for her...

Amuktha started school

This probably was one of the saddest days of my life. I sent my little one away to school. I never thought we would get to this point so quickly.

The worst part is she never even blinked. She took her teachers hand and happily walked away. That's it? No emotional hug? No looking back to see if amma is still there?

No searching for amma? I cried when letting go of her. I really did.

But maybe it was a relief to see her go away so happily, cos it tells me she really likes it.

Gowri, her dad and I were there to drop her off at school and Gowri and I stayed with her for a while.

She was totally engrossed in all the activities going on.

I hope she likes all her future schools just the same.

God bless you my little one!!!

Amuktha is talking!!

Amu talks a lot. When I say a lot I really mean it!!!
She has a grasp of so many words in telugu and catches a new word so quickly.
Her latest was, " emi alochisthunnavu amma?" ( meaning what are you thinking amma).
I was surprised at her vocabulary. It seems to be increasing at an exponential rate. I wish I remembered all those cute words she says.
Then, there is her very own vocabularay.
Achi - flowing water under a tap
daaychindi - ravadamledu - not coming
Baagi - Bye
Bekoff - breakfast
Abbi - debba - hurt
Nammi - something to eat
Meenapappu - urad dal
Tachi - candy/chocolate
ushta - pee

I wish I did this earlier and wrote all her words and saved them.
She even sings songs. She catches the tunes so quickly and sings
"amma oka bomma"
"meow meow meaow ting ting"
"lali lali"
"na cheli rojave"
"lali lali ani voochera"
and so many more songs..

These things are so enjoyable... but for one fact that she is growing up so quickly. Bless you my darling!!!