Story Telling

It's story telling time these days!!!
I was wondering if this is the righttime to start telling storiesftro her as i was apprehensive about her comprehension abilities.
But she surprised me by understanding and re-telling the story in her own language.
At first, i told nearly three stories and asked her a few questions about the story and she answered them all.
These days, she takes the initiative to either tell stories by herself or she will express her choice for a story.
Of course, i have to modify the characters in the story a bit (as for example: In the story The Fox and the grapes, the fox will become a dog as she doesn't know what's a fox) but who cares.
And at times, two or three stories get mixed up and some real life instances which she remembers creeps into the story.
But even then, whatever she tells is a STORY.

Happy Birthday

Birthday preparations

Anvitha's second birthday celebration preparations have started.
As we could not celebrate her very first birthday last year, this year we thought of making some preparations.
Moreover, through her favourite rhyme video 'Happy Birthday to you' and looking at the only photo of her last year's birthday she wants her 'Happy to you'(her way of saying it) everyday. And we are forced to tell her that it's on the next morning.
For the event, as we went ordering the cake and shopping for a dress, both me and S had a discussion about our birthday celebrations and the age at which we first cut our the sooo called 'birthday cakes'.
That was probably at the age of 25 we saw ourselves blowing the candle and cutting the cake. Even then our elders would scold us for blowing the candles out as they said those lights should burn till the end:)
Even more amusing sight for me during her dress selection was 'me taking her to the trial room to try on different outfits and the way she would come out to show them off to her father!'
These trial rooms too we hadn't seen till we entered these metro cities.
Whatever it is, only thing I wish is that she should learn to know the value of money and the hard work that goes in to earn it.

Our growing friendship

There are lot of things these days which me and my daughter enjoy doing together: dancing to some of our favourite beats, acting crazy at times, our evening walks, daily visits to her favourite temple, our story telling session and more importantly both sharing and enjoying our chocolate bars:)
And thus, there seems to be another relationship forming apart from just mother and daughter: friendship.
Of course, we do have our times of tantrums but both of us have learned to make up after the fight.

Back beat

24x7 chatter box...

...It starts at around 8'0 clock in the morning and closes at around 10 in the night:
talking is what she does the whole day. Observing, repeating, gesturing, imitating, lip-reading and whole lot of other modes of communication comes out to convey her messages. She has even learned to address her grandfather by his name rather than calling him 'ajja'. And her mom has become 'amma shuti'. Talking to her favourite doll, talking over the phone, saying prayers (which is mostly 'Om Anvita':), repeating letters of the alphabet and numbers(her new amusement); everything is a part of her language learning routine now.

Butterfly

How on earth can a butterfly get into her tiny nose!?
Every time there's a tickle in her nose she complains that there's a butterfly gone inside it and the best part is she can't even pronounce the word properly!

Together

Understanding pain

The cry of the infants when they are in pain is completely different from how they would cry when they are hungry or bored.
By the time they turn 2 years, at least they can verbalise as to what pain they are undergoing.
They can even start understanding the pain of others, especially of their parents.
Of course, not the kind of pain that they inflict on us while they are playing pranks on us such as pulling hair or biting or pinching but the real pain which one undergoes when someone is not well.
Anvitha can clearly make out when either me or S is in pain and it hurts her as though she herself is in pain.
When I underwent surgery, she completely understood that her mom was not well and transformed her own self not to trouble others.
And when, I stopped lifting her because of the surgery...she silently obeyed by not asking me to carry her.
Recently, when I tried to carry her (first time after two months) the first words she said was 'Amma abbu' (abbu means pain).
Now, each time I try to lift her (which I seldom do) she repeats the same words.

Morning Sun

Reunion

There are so many emotions and experiences which are best said in silence...
Looking at my daughter after 6 days was one such experience- Indescribable...
Both of us didn't know how to react...
I just cried while she found comfort hiding her face in her papa's arms.

It's amazing how she has stayed away from me for all these days!!!
Five whole days, not seeing her mother.
Her father has become her world now.
A thought of possessiveness and jealousy grapples me at some corner.
Because i know from now on she is 'papa's girl'.

There were times when I wished that I would get some spare time for myself midst cooking and taking care, and playing with my girl.
How I wished to go away for a little while (alone) from the mundane activities of life.
Now, that I am on complete rest- no taking care of anybody, no cooking and the like whatsoever.,I am indeed missing all those.
Especially my daughter!
It's been 5 days since I saw her and may be one more day will go by so...
But all that i can do is watch her videos recorded in cell phone.

'My Bicycle'

Aaha

Aaha.... and a broad smile is what the expression Anvitha gives whenever we understand her language successfully.
Though me and S have learnt a lot of 'her words' and 'her language', sometimes we miss out especailly when she has learnt a new word and we are unaware of it.
We can easily make out through her facial expressions if we are deciphering her correctly or not.
When ultimately we decode her language, her joy is boundless.

Literal Meaning

Sometimes it's funny how Anvitha understands the language- literally.
If I ask her to sit, she will sit promptly but doesn't realise if that is a place to sit; she will sit wherever she is.
If I ask her to close her eyes while going to sleep, she has to put her palms against her eyes to shut them. She doesn't understand that eyes can be closed just like that:)
Funny of course, but so innocent.

"The flute is sweet, and the guitar is dulcet; so say they who have not heard the babbling speech of their little ones".

Whoever has said this I think it's very true.

Back Beat

Another beautiful picture of her 'from back'.

Sorry

My daughter speaks a lot of words on her own now and she repeats lot of other words too which we speak.
But there is one word which doesn't repeat ("like her mother"- adds her daddy. And the word is SORRY!
Both me and S have tried making her say this word but she doesn't.

Back Beat

Building Blocks

Blocks which had served to be me and my sister's play items is entertaining my daughter too, now after 20 years!

Ms. J v/s Mr. J

It's like a war between the father and his daughter to win over the mother.
The daughter cannot tolerate if the father sits next to her mother or if he holds her hand.
And father gets all the jealousy if the daughter gets the pampering from the mother.
Caught between the two mother becomes a sandwich.
Of course, in the end, it's the daughter who wins the battle!

In the Village

Looking at the open sky; walking bare foot on the vast fields; watching the first rain in awe and happiness; streching the arms to hold onto the rain water; sneaking the fingers through the soil and playing with it; soaking the body in easily available water; eating fresh guava coming directly from the trees; taking a stroll midst banana and arecaunut trees; plucking the flowers; listening to the singing birds; running behind the "meow", "bou-bou" and "amba"; at the same time, learning to speak the language of grownups by babbling her own dialect , ...all this and much more. My girl has had a time (away from city) that was never so carefree and gay.

Busy always

My daughter is more busy than usual these days.
Helping her grandparents in packing things, misplacing them, reorganising them and finally unpacking the packed items before it reaches its destination!
I am more happy for her being sooooo busy because the result is "she falls asleep in minutes and wakes up only once in between".
I only hope this continues even after returning home.

First Photo Album

No complaints and no grudges

Few days back Anvitha fell down from the cot (i still do not know if she actually fell down or came down by herself).
I felt miserable and guilty about as i knew it was my fault.
Yet there was no way and means for her to say 'amma you made me fall down'.

There are times when i am tired and frustrated at night when she refuses to sleep: i shout at her and a give beating too now and then.
Even then, the next day when she wakes up she gives me such a true smile and a hug!

She keeps no grudge against me and doesn't complain when i am at wrong but i shout for no fault of hers.

Anklet

Sleep and Noise

Every time i put Anvitha to sleep there starts all kinds of noises from all across this apartment.
My neighbour starts grinding something, the person staying in the next level starts repairing something, the maid in one more apartment starts washing clothes etc etc.,
And this whole process doesn't happen just a day or two but everyday!!!
She being a light sleeper wakes up instantly.

Fourteen months and many things have been learnt...

-To carry her favourite doll and mobile phone for her music to be played when she is sleepy...

-To wear chappals while going out...

-To cry while her dad changes clothes to go out...

-To sing when being asked...

-To hit her face when she is angry...

-To ask 'mum mum' when hungry...

-To look at the sky when asked to show pigeons...

-To show where her ears, eyes, head and stomach is...

-And finally to make us understand that she has grown up and a 'KID' anymore.

Socialisation

Children learn fast when left among their age mates...
No matter how great an effort adult puts in to teach the child, it is best learnt amongst their peers...
'A' copied, or in fact became sure of her 'walking' while she watched her cousin (of her age) who had already mastered that action. She would put more firm steps which otherwise would tremble.
She in turn showed and taught her cousin a few actions of her amusement.
Kids also show more confidence and expressions when they are with many people than just mother and father.
This i learnt when she was taken to her grand parents'.
She became more expressive and she learned things quickly.
I had just heard positive things about socialisation but never really realised the importance of it.
Even when 'S' had told me that he would like to have more people(at least grandparents) around his daughter i hadn't paid much attention but people like me believe only after seeing...
Now i know how much socialisation can contribute to a person's growth and development, especially during early years.

Pride...Joy...Despair...Surprise...Sympathy...Jealousy...Anger...Frustration...Love...almost all the emotions and feelings are xpressed by her at this point of time.
So much has been acquired in just one year!