Sweet Ashwin cares for his 'babies'

Ashwin has entered that adorable phase, where he pretends to bathe and feed his toys! he cooks and cooks and then stuffs the whole plate in our faces!

plus he likes having two of everything

he carries two lions and roars menacingly at us (okay, it's not in the least menacing - its totally cute and adorable)
he is incredibly attached to this pair of sheep, a big one and a little one - and if he only has one and not the other, he bursts into anxious cries - give the missing one back to him and he breaks out in laughs and smiles - so adorable!

he loves music - sits down quietly and listens to practically a whole cd of kids songs - takes my finger to the radio to ask me to replay a particular favourite like London Bridge or Wheels on the Bus

he can communicate his wants and feelings quite clearly now - wa wa for water, emphatic shakes of the head if he doesn't want any milk, saying Enuf, when he's full - booku booku when he wants us to read to him - he's a dream and a joy

part of me feels a little guilty though - our helper, Run is really competent when it comes to looking after him plus she loves him, so I sometimes feel I'm only caring for Akshaya and Ashwin is kind of just growing up on his own! I bathe Akshaya, oversee her meals, put her to bed etc - for Ash, run feeds him, changes him, bathes him, puts him to bed... sigh.

What do I want in a school?

1. No tv
2. Focus on learning through play and tactile objects
3. Field trips
4. Speech and drama
5. Dance
6. Art
7. Encourage creativity
8. No homework
9. No drilling
10. Good student to teacher ratio
11.

My daughter is unhappy in school

Sigh. How serious is this?
Every school comes with a package of good and bad things. So Need to evaluate- how bad how good

1. She wants to talk to her friends in class and while eating but can't

2. She wants to scribble in her exercise book but can't

3. She doesn't like homework

4. She gets scolded in computer class coz she can't control the mouse

5. Other children who don't finish their water don't get to go on nature walks

Hmm true soon she will have to obey these rules...

Ramayanam

Have I told you? Akshaya is hooked on this defining Hindu epic! She gets my dad to read and re read and now us too to read the comic version of the story to her. She remembers fairly hard to remember names and all kinds of minor incidents. She can retell the story fabulously. She engages in dramatizing the story and chooses characters - eg sweet Minnie mouse to play Sita deciding pooh is too sweet to play ravana and so appointing a lion instead to play that role- its given her a whole new way of exploring things- her vocabulary has been enriched like anything too!

Amazing tues with kids

Today was great!
Morning Akshaya wrote and drew in her free expression book learnt new words and phrases in the process

She then built a tent with all her soft toys under them

We set off to a play gym around 2 pm- on the way she wrote two songs ! Filling in a gap she perceived- that there were three rain songs andvtei sun songs but none on clouds! So she came up with her own titled "white cloud white cloud"

Then we had four hours of fun at a play center that values quality toys and imaginative play above all else! It was great!

Ashwins first thoughts in the morning

What does my baby think of first thing in the morning?

Today after he cried coz he found himself alone in bed this morning and after I hugged him and comforted him, he looked at me sleepily and said earnestly: bow wow. Dog dog. Now wow.

Aww! So that's the first image he has early morning!


Another early morning I remember was when he about 7-8 months old and could sit up already. He woke up- I was next to him this time- and he started smiling and clapping his hands! So adorable right! I remember thinking we should all wake up so happy to greet the day!
:)

Ashwin says no

Have you seen my baby say no? He says it with his whole body! Try carrying him away from something he is enjoying doing or from his aaya. Whole body will shake and he will wedge his kutty bums in tight so we can't carry him without a struggle!

A scene I shall hold in my memory forever- yesterday night I was guiding Akshaya with her piano practice after i back from work- quite late about 9.30 and I hadn't wanted to disturb ashwin coz it might disrupt his pattern if he was going to sleep. He happened to come out if the room saw me and the ran towards me thatak thatak full smiles straight into my arms! Such a lovely thing!

Devi

My sis in law is trying for a baby. Tat is one very very hard part of my life I am not likely to forget. One of my two lowest points in my life really. But but god protected us and he has blessed us so abundantly with Akshaya and Ashwin . Who would have thought?

Which is why I truly believe god has chosen babies for Devi and Sath too! Princes or princesses or a fine sweet mixture of both. As he prepared us he is preparing them too. Please god be with them.

Thank you god for their babies!

Ashwins two syllable words!

Baby ashwin is trying to talk and talk!
Guess what his first long word is- tractor! Haha! Such a boy right? He says tac- tor
Also says my name - mina Mina Mina
And today - Lola so adorable to hear him say that!
Not to mention he talks a dime a dozen just we can't understand what he says!

Ashwin ashwin

Baby ashwin or rather toddler ashwin loves throwing things into spaces! Like the key out of the gate his shoes into the birdpark dustbin one after the other and today the house keys into the toilet bowl!

Beautiful weekend

We had such a lovely weekend with the kids this sat and sun. played make believe with Akshaya on sat and just konjied Ashwin like anything. makes me feel all the more that I should spend time with the kids like that and less working like crazy

Catch up after India

Yes we are back! At least a month ago actually.
In this trip I learnt some sobering truths- firstly one can never pack too much milk powder for children! Actually that's the main thing!
This trip was good. Akshaya says so many prayers now she has a genuine interest in it.
We went to pillayar petti and saw pillayar up close!
We went to tanjaoor Periya Kovil and saw shiva lingam up close!
All in all generally a good trip except for the milk powder mistake.

Akshaya growing up

Ah this little pre- schooler! I feel bad coz I think I didn't do right by her at least two times recently. Makes me pause and think carefully about how to be a good parent.

Day 1: Akshaya got dressed by herself I had told her to go choose a pair of pants and a shirt and wear them and she did. Instead of praising her I said good girl darling but the shirt looks k like it might fit ashwin instead, that was bad! I should have made sure all her shirts within her reach were hers and not ashwins! Anyway she tried to change shirts and couldn't get it on so that affected her confidence and sense of 'I can do it' that she must have felt when she put on the first shirt. This translated to bad behavior on her part shouting and crying etc. it took me a minute to realize my mistake I told herbto go choose another shirt she likes and to put it on herself but not to be rude. She cried but later when I saw she had worn the short herself ( another too small shirt!) I just praised her and she was happy. I must respect her sense of self esteem. A small sensitive person is growing in my care and I have to nurture her and grow her self confidence not squash her sense of self like this.

Day 2:
She and ashwin were cuddling together in the cot and she said she wanted to sleep there tonight with ashwin. I should have told her then and there that may sound good but may not work out! Instead I made it sound I thought that was a great idea ( and theoretically it is!) later at bed times
I reverted to usual arrangement and that set off a tantrum. Sigh. My fault right! Not being up front with her straight away and raising her hopes

Ashwin baby says cheese and gives flying kisses

This is adorable! Day before yesterday 17 sep, he learnt to say cheese and it's the cutest thing possible! His cheeks all fill out and you just want to reach down and pinch those cheeks! This morning when I left for work he on his own accord gave me a flying kiss! He is thrilled everytime we praise him and does it again and again to receive those coos and smiles!

Yesterday oh gosh! He insisted on feeding himself with a spoon and bowl! Such a glorious mess but if I try to take away the bowl he cried such anguished angry tears! I gave him back the bowl partly to console him but mostly coz I could see he was enjoying the sense of achievement he felt every time the spoon got few grains of rice in his mouth nevermind the whole chunks that spill down his shirt or fly across the room!

Ashwin walks and walks

Well! Last Tuesday sep 11 ashwin ram confidently walked the length of our house and hasn't looked back since ! He walks and walks and loves it.

catch up on Akshaya

and now for Akshaya - my little precious angel!
she must say bye bye to me every morning with a hug and a kiss - and a wish 'good luck! don't get into any trouble! if you do get into any trouble, come back home straight away!"

If I leave without letting her bid me fond farewell she gets so upset

we went to a musical the other day - The Cat in the Hat - I won the tics in a contest, lost the tics and then appealed for them to give it to me again and we loved the show.

then yesterday, I accompanied her on a field trip to the Children's kampong where we did longkang fishing and fed koi fish with our bare hands - smoochy smoochy! and she held up a mouse in her fingers!

this weekend we are off to bintan!

she loves homework - homework means pleaseure for her - the pure pleasure of learning, unaccompanied by the baggage adults have towards the subject - it's just the right amount I guess to challenge her without overwhelming her

she speaks so well but says that in school, her mouth never opens at all!

my princess!

Catch up on Ashwin! - His first step and first words

Hi, been ages so here're the updates:

Ashwin baby is crawling at super speed - still shuffles on his bottom occasionally doing his 360 degrees turn but very occasionally.

creeping is now a thing of the past:-) used to creep at top speed before he picked up on crawling

then of course, he can hold and walk well

now for the big news - Ashwin's first steps!

They happened!

Just two baby steps he took on his own were at the Sembawang Splash park on 22nd August 2012, aged 13 months and 3 days.

Since then, he occasionally takes 2 steps on his own, or 4 steps but suddenly now prefers to be carried!

he clings on to me like a cute and naughtly koala bear
he hugs me at night now when I ask him for a hug and a kiss
he speaks his own language with such earnest he makes us feel the poorer for not understanding it!

some 'words'

• Jiga - usually said out loud excitedly, often after his milk, even in the middle of the night
• Ba (for ball)
• car car car car car car - always said in multiples!
• akka
• aa aa (for aaya)
• ae ae (for apple)

lots of other words I just can't spell!

he calls out loudly to Run aunty and speaks in earnest with grandpa - Saro's father

with my parents - he does the koala thing!

He has this adorable practice of looking in your face when you look down or look away - it's unbelievably endearing - where's he's saying, I notice you, please notice me too! he does it especially with Kanna Maama

If akshaya is immediately drawn to ladies, this little boy gravitates towards other men - among his favourites are both his grandpas, my brother, sath mama and sendhil chithappa - he goes to these people with arms outstretched - and they love him for this!

he likes to turn things upside down to see how they work

he loves to climb into your lap if he's scared or feeling particularly lovey

he has been trying out the potty for some days now but seriously I think it's just exciting the grandparents - I don't think he knows to control his bladder etc - he just lets loose! but for us it's like jackpot if we 'catch' things in the potty! oh well, as long as it does not distress him!

we went for long evening out with him last weekend and he loved it - He crawled the length and breadth of the sky park!
I loved it too - we went without our helper Run, so I was taking care of him a lot and I loved it

he's growing and growing - twinge of the heart here, you know why!

He gets so jealous of seeing his sister on my lap - he comes, squeezes his way onto my lap, pushes her and then when she goes off, he goes on his way again! what do you say to that?!

and then, he likes to have his favourites seated - namely, me, Run for example. when we are seated, he will explore merrily, but if we get up, he'll come to us and clamour for us to either pick him or sit down again - he understands that if we sit down, we are not going anywhere!

have you seen his tantrums! deny him the slightest things and lips turn down, his eyes become sad, he falls on the ground crying, crawls away backwards - it's heartbreaking!

Jai Ho and Baby Krishna and Gopi

Oh yes I must write about this
at the recent kalai nigalchi on June 30, both children performed!
Akshaya and Ashwin went as baby krishna and gopi- they were so cute!
Then Akshaya Shruthi, Aadhi and Kaarthi danced for Jai Ho - very invigorating dance - totally uncoordinated unfortunately but very cute nevertheless!

Ashwin crawls and climbs and swings

Baby Ashwin is nearly 1! I cannot believe it - he's just grown up so fast
Highlight of the week now is how he crawls at top speed, climbs onto the sofa and tries to climb down, at top speed, from the high end of the sofa, sometimes clinging onto the curtain like a mini tarzan! he's so fast we have to rush to catch up with him - he sees us rushing and he tries to climb down even faster!
It's really fun even though prone to give us a mini heart attack every now and then

This sweet baby , I've only taken him to the pool a few times - each time I take him, he vigorously splashes so that he ends up swallowing half the tub of water and then he falls sick
He loves his music class but I've only taken him once - I hope to take him more regularly after his first birthday

Milestone check:

1. He can crawl at top speed
2. He can walk holding onto the sofa, table etc
3. Yesterday, he started walking holding onto this little cart!
4. He loves reading - current favourites are:

• Counting book (1 colourful caterpillar, 2 happy hippos, 3 friendly frogs, 4 leaping lions roar, roar)
• Wheels on the bus go round and round
• The very hungry caterpillar
• Baby touch book
• Brown Bear Brown Bear (just starting to like this)
• That's not my snowman (just starting too)

5. Words he can say

• wow wow (for a barking dog)
• tata (for bye bye, accompanied by the cutest back hand wave)
• aatha
• akka
• car car

6. He tries to blow at the thristhi suthranning plate
7. he can gesture 'come come' or 'va va'
8. he can lie down to show he's tired
9. he swivels on his kutty bums 360 degrees! this is the cutest!
10. he jumps into my lap when I sit and refuses to go to others
11. his tantrums! he throws himself face down and cries!
12. woe to the person who dares to interrupt his feed! ask his paiya iyya!
13. When his sister tries to take his toy, he first moves it away from her and then plants his body between her and the toy to protect it!
14. If she scratches him, he scratches her back! very good self defence
15. oh one should really try giving him his medicines! it's  pure battle, he trites to kick away, he keeps his lips pursed even as he longs to cry out, he swings his head from side to side - an epic battle to witness truly!
16. favourite toys - cars and balls -the latter is the theme for his birthday!
17. likes lots of different types of food:-) pasta, vegetables, fruits, milk

Bhajans

We had our first session 10 days ago - Kavitha's idea. It was great! the singing was magical, we all got to sing a stanza, the children led us in some songs - I really saw saro's teacher side that day! He's a great teacher! passionate, loud and clear, very motivating - I should tell him huh?

He then led the children in a tamil class - Akshaya amazed me! she knew everything - guess my mum has been teaching her - I'm so lucky to have my mum!

Then, after dinner, Sath mama led them all in a dance - Chammak Challo - so cute! Karthik loves it - Aadhi is too cool for it! the girls - they missed each other so much they just kept running off to play with one another!
very noisy very chaotic but also very very fun!
next session is at the end of this week at Senthil's house.

Sibling relationships

Saro goes on talking about this so I have to pen it down for him!
The other day, in the play room, Ashwin got some ink on his hands because Akshaya had left the marker open for awhile. Saro wanted to point this out to Akshaya, so he held Ashwin's hand and said, 'see Akshaya, Ashwin has ink on his hands.' Ashwin let Saro hold his hand. Then Akshaya tried to grab his hand to look at it too, and Ashwin protested! shaking her off as quickly as he could!
So, he knows whom he can fight with and whom he can go to get cuddled!

Similar thing happened at our inaugral bhajanai session 2 weeks ago. We were all singing and Ashwin was sitting in front of me clapping his hands in time. Akshaya came near me and starting singing and he started flapping his hands in her face! and she flapped back! very amusing:p some of the others couldn't concentrate coz of this little comedy happening here!

Powder Powder

I have to mention this!
After this bath I was putting powder for the little darling. As I used the puff on his stomach, legs and feet, I was saying 'boom boom boom' - he loves it! Then I laid him on his back to put on his pampers. He had in his hand the powder puff now. As I was putting on his pampers, he took up his foot and started dabbing at it with the puff!
SO very very cute!

I was so charmed and he just giggled!
Such moments ya, these!

baby ashwin

Baby Ashwin is steadily growing into Toddler Ashwin!
He's trying to pull himself up on anything he can. He is full of playful energy. I love him so much.
Last night, he was comical. He woke up at night, around 3.40 am, drank his milk very fast (guess it wasn't enough) then sat up, faced the wall, bumped his head and fell back into a peaceful sleep! so cute.
plus now that the little one is quite mobile and knows where to go for what and whom, when he wakes in the middle of the night and if he can't find anyone besides him, he comes crawling out on his belly looking for someone.. crying a little on the way. my heart just leaped out to him the other night when he came out looking for me at 2.30 am! cute little 8-monther!

he's growing very fast. and I haven't done with him half the things I did with Akshaya. He hasn't finished his round of swimming yet, not gone to the baby gym even once so far, and I know he will love the gym cos he is mr super active!

I want him to dabble in some art too, and in music - think he will adore playing the drum and testing testing everything by putting things in his mouth. I shall explore these classes for him now!

Bf pains return

How can this be? 7 months into breastfeeding and I'm getting lumps and engorgement and pain !

First teeth

Ashwin baby has cut his first tooth! So quickly he is growing growing!

Gods sweet blessings and thaipusam

We prayed and god gave us two beautiful blessings ! Every thaipusam we are reminded of this even more than usual!

Bath fun

Ashwin baby had his first sitting in the tub bath yesterday- what absolute fun! Kicking and splashing the water non stop! Plus he looked so clean! I can't wait to do it again tomorrow maybe with bubbles!

Akshaya and Ashwin - Meanings of Names

Akshaya - Everlasting, Indestructible, Always full - of love, life and joy
Ashwin Ram - First star in the evening sky - a symbol of hope, and Ram is a symbol of steadfastness and wisdom, a true leader

So, with Akshaya and Ashwin, our lives are full:-) of love, life, joy and hope!

10 things I love about Ashwin

long ago, I promised to write this down - I want to pen down what I remember now!
1. The way he stretches, with both arms bent at the elbow against his ears as I lift him to burp him after his milk - so cute !
2. The way his face crumples when he angry or about to cry - those pouty lips!

3rd Sep -Ashwin's first smile

Ah - I am sure to forget this later on- so want to pen it down
last year my son gave me my best birthday present - his very first smile - I mean he has smiled before, but his first deliberate smile at me, at recognising me! I was delighted~ now he regularly smiles and gurgles at me and his dad - he postively beams at saro! and at akshaya and his grandmother. very sweet smiley baby he is - my own, God's sweet blessing!

a sensitive little person in my life

Yesterday night, I snapped at my daughter
I was very sleepy. I wanted to feed Ashwin to sleep but he was fussy. And my daughter was at my bed too, asking for more space and generally demanding my attention. Plus I need to be careful about akshaya when she's near Ashwin when she's tired - she tends to hit him sometimes. So I asked her to go to her room and leave me to put Ashwin to bed - she said or did something - can't remember what, and I snapped at her, saying, Akshaya! Adi Vaanga Porae - my poor darling's face crumpled (but thank god, she didn't wail like she does sometimes) and then she said, 'I feel like crying, Aatha' - she said two or three times and then I asked her, 'why' - she says, 'coz you scolded me' - aw man! I hurt her feelings- she's teaching me that she is a real little person with real feelings and that I can't just snap at her or shoo her away like she doesn't matter or that her feelings don't matter! I was properly chastized. my sweetheart. I sent ashwin out with run and hugged akshaya - guess part me was wanting to spend some alone time with Ashwin - I get little of that with akshaya around - but still, I should have been kinder to her - all she wanted was some love and attention from her mum after all. everyday, she teaches me thing.

Akshaya's first Show and Tell

Today Akshaya had her first show and tell - her favourite shoe!
She took a pair of rather grubby well worn pink crocs and talked about them - they are her favourite because they are pink, they have holes and they are 'comfy'!
Cute ya!
she's a real heart stealer though - I have a super duper soft spot for her - for her, I sometimes feel I can do anything for, and don't mind missing out on other 'fun' things just to be with her - hope I don't spoil her or show any favouritism between my children! I love them both

Ashwin has rolled over!

My darling little teddy bear has suddenly learnt to do so many things, after lying rather dormant for a few months ;p
On 2nd Jan, he turned 360 degrees while lying on his stomach
On 3rd Jan, he turned from his stomach to his back
Now he's crawling backwards when he lies on his front or back, and turning round and round and laughing like anything when you speak with him
Hold him on your lap and he tries to leap right off, definitely enjoys the sensation of standing
he's also speaking - he says akka, Aatha and Akshaya - the last one is heard with a slight stretch of the imagination!
he's still got his cutest little pout when he's about to cry that just melts your heart
he talks non-stop and enjoys playing with new sounds
he loves blowing rasberries - and smiles while doing it! I should video it right!
and my gosh - he loves reading even more than his sister!
I tried to feed him as I read to Akshaya her bed time story - but nope! little fellow prefers grabbing the pages and gurgling at the story to drinking milk!
multi-tasking while nursing him is very hard! he gets distracted and tries to grab at whatever I try multi-tasking with - whether it is a glass of hot tea! or a computer, or a phone or a book! A page of 'What to Expect in your Baby's First Year' is torn coz little chubby fingers grabbed at it while I was reading and nursing!
and oh, he still does that adorable stretch when I pick him after feeding from one side - both hands bent at the elbow, raised to his ears with his eyes closed - such a contented stretch! my favourite!
I love him!
and he loved his recent holiday - he had 9 adults and 4 children fawning over him! that's a lot of attention for a baby who loves company!