First birthday party

So the little boy got his first birthday party invitation from his school and we attended it promptly. It seems like the birthday boy and his brother used to mention LHB’s name very often and so we got invited. Adi joined too though she was not so sure about what to do among a bunch of toddlers. She was scared that she may have to sit in circle and sing rhymes. But, it was not that bad. We had food, played car/trucks, some board games and solved jumbo world map puzzle.

It was a police themed party. The parents has done a nice job with the theme. They used not so expensive materials to decorate their home based on the theme. There was police badge for all kids and they played pin the badge game. I didn’t try to socialize. Instead spent the time with Adi and LHB playing different games.

This is the birthday invite. I am giving up trying to tilt the image. If anyone knows the trick please let me know.

 

That is LHB trying to pin the badge. The little fella has taken the first big step and is going to fill my calendar with his own schedules very soon 🙂

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4:30 – Continued

The time was precisely 4:30 and it was a pleasant shock. I tossed on the bed for 10 more minutes and then hit the gym. The excitement continued and I was able to run for 20 minutes non stop which is a record. I could have run for more time easily but stopped due to morning time constraint.

Another reason is Grey’s anatomy. I am hooked on to this show like there is no tomorrow. The episode I watched during this workout was about the neuro surgeon operating on an inoperable tumor. The trust the patient has on the surgeon makes the surgeon operate him twice and get rid of the tumor. I never thought I will be able to watch a medical drama given that it rekindles my memory about our hospital stay last year. But, this one I think I like to watch the moment they save a patient when that heart starts to beat again in OR, I admire their passion towards work and the high they feel when they achieve something, I love the friendship between the interns and how they stand up for each other. So, this plays a major role in continuing my workout regime as that is the time I get to watch something.

I may not wake up again at 4:30, I may not continue this morning routine after few months but I want to remember this day. The day I woke up not at 4:31, not at 4:29 but precisely at 4:30 and also marked my new record with running. It will remain special always.

Today I woke up at 6:45. I have justification to make if you can accept it. LHB is hit by stomach bug and he threw up at 1:30am that disturbed our sleep. I had to change him, clean the bed and went back to bed around 2am. He is still throwing up. Hope he should recover in a day or two.

If not every day I should at least try to wake up early on days when I go to bed early the previous night and have an undisturbed sleep through the night. A realistic target I am setting for myself. Something is better than nothing right? Right!!!

4:30

I was waiting for January to be born to start with my workout regime. There new year was born and I duly signed up with the gym near my home. This sales girl who signed me up was an inspiration. She shared her story of transformation from being a late riser to hitting gym at 5am before heading to work at the city. So I started going to gym just so that I can wave proudly at this high energetic girl. She was excited to see me every time or so she pretended. I should remember the reality that she is a sales person and I am just one of her client.

I was struggling to fit in the gym routine in daily schedule. I went at 9pm on some days, skipped on some days, made it in the evening on some days. basically was dragging myself. That is when M gave me an ultimatum that it is tough for him to manage kids when I am away, that I should go to gym when they are not awake. M is the only man who can push me beyond my ability. Should I thank him or what? I was sleeping on that thought and it actually made sense as I always fantacize this thought of finishing all my work when kids are asleep and being available to them when they are around. It was the same time around BM posted about her decision of waking up at 4:30am starting 1st Feb.

That is it. I made an impulse decision to wake up at 4:30am and go to gym at 5a m starting 1st Feb. It was tough. I am not a morning person at all and have epic failure past records with this waking up early thingie. Again I skipped few days, dismissed the alarm on some days, slept through the weekends but didn’t give up completely. I started attending the group class at 5:30am on alternate days. What surprises me the most is the people who come to gym that early. On any given day I was seeing at least 10 people at that odd hour. May be it was odd hour for me. I have been following it for close to 3 weeks now and it has not become a habit yet but I am not quitting soon either. As I put LHB to sleep these days we go to bed by 9pm, read some books and sleep by 9:30pm. I need my 7 hours of sleep to remain sane.

Why am I typing all this today? Coz today morning I woke up suddenly, thought it was too late and grabbed my mobile to check the time. Have you guessed the time?

To be continued…

My precious evening

Today my precious evening was spent on the stranded train not for few minutes or an hour but for close to 3 hours. As the News says, a trespasser was fatally struck by the train that was ahead of our train and the rest of the train on all the tracks in both directions were stranded until all was cleared.

Our train had to back off couple of stations to switch tracks. I left work at 6pm and reached home at 10:30pm. The lighter side is I read few newspapers back to back after so many years. A co passenger was kind enough to pass it on to others once he was done reading them all. Eventually, we were tired of staring at each other for a prolonged time period. Poor fellows were those who couldn’t secure a seat.

Luckily my neighbor was travelling in the same train and she offered to drop me home. Otherwise I would have spent another 30 minutes on the road hunting for a cab or M had to come to pick me up with sleepy kids..

Ouchhh my back is breaking!!!! I don’t know if it was an accident or intentional. Whatever it is, may his/her soul rest in peace.

I sincerely hope the weather acts as predicted this time so that I can stay at home tomorrow. Hey Snow please don’t fail me.. pretty please… I am becoming worse than a school kid these days looking for holidays and closings!!! I am sleep deprived and it is better to stop here!

ETA: I am not able to sleep thinking about the fatality. What must that person have gone through during his/her last moments. This always crosses my mind whenever I hear about someone losing their life. Would he/she have expected this ending when today dawned? Would that person have a family? Especially small kids whose future is in this person’s hands. What if that person is the only bread winner of his/her family? I pray God that it should not be someone I know of. It will not be as I don’t know anyone from that area.

The memories of this day from last year was bothering me deeply since I woke up and was hoping for today to end as any other normal day. But as I feared something bad has happened though I was not impacted first hand. It’s past 12 and I am not able to sleep yet. I feel so disturbed…

Weekend

After much procrastination, most part of this weekend was spent on the much needed cleaning. The counter top and sink were fixed last week. There are still work to be done but at least my kitchen is functional now so I decided to set it up as much as possible and also clean the living room that was partially kitchen for last two months. After decluttering living room I decided to extend the cleaning to other rooms too. Ah, the bliss of having a clean house can never match anything.

That is Adi’s room before and after.

Today morning the rest of the clan made grocery run when I was indulged in my cleaning. And this is what LHB did after they returned. He made a “chu chu” train with the items they bought.

We baked apple chips in the evening. The recipe is from Sri’s blog. I let the first batch burn but the second batch came out okay. Adi liked it. Thank you Sri for introducing us to a healthy snack.

And now we are all set to watch the super bowl. Adi says she watches it for the commercials. **shaking my head in disbelief**

I am slowly getting the hang of Netflix. I know, I know. Don’t laugh at me. Watched Jobs and few episodes of Grey’s anatomy. Love this show so far.

Thank you for all your wishes to LHB. We went to temple on Thursday evening followed by dinner at Rainforest cafe. LHB turned all red when the waiters grouped to sing birthday song for him. That’s when I saw my shy boy 🙂

On Friday morning, when he woke up and we asked about his birthday, he said birthday is gone!! I was hit by stomach virus on Thursday night and was forced to take sick day off on Friday.

Hope next week is productive and just whiz pasts. I am already looking forward to the long weekend next week.

Happy 3rd

Dear LHB,

Did we already spend 3 years together kutti? Time sure flies but not fast enough for your mother who wants to see you as an independent boy. We have long way to go. First and foremost, you have to be potty trained. Then, feed by yourself. These are my priorities as that will save me a lot of time. But, the day you are ready to do all this, I will terribly miss my cute little boy who talks gibberish aka cute baby talk and kisses/hugs his mom generously. Sighh!! Parenthood can never be satisfied.

You are a happy boy kutti. You don’t cry unless it really bothers you but I see it changing in recent weeks. You pull Adi’s hair and start crying. I mean how is it fair? Though I have now trained myself to act as an unbiased refree, you get your way on certain occasions and the poor girl takes it all. She goes cross with me if I give time out to you for hurting her. Seriously? If there is one thing that I have to request you, that will be to treasure your akka da. Don’t take her for granted and hurt her. She cares for you above and beyond. She calls you “baby” and plans everything for you. She wants to have a small party for your birthday at home inviting two toddlers we know from neighborhood. She was telling me “It is not fair amma. You have to plan a party for the poor boy”. I convinced her that there are days to come when you will demand for it and for this year cake cutting at your school with classmates will just be fine. She carefully picked and packed the goodie bags for your classmates.

You are very good at complaining kutti. You go “Mommy see” when daddy/Adi bothers you and calls out for one of them when the other two bothers you.

You are very good with your sorry and thank you. But, Adi is annoyed with your sorry’s. She asks how does it help Amma? He hurts me and then just says sorry. You may have to learn that when you say sorry you should really mean it and agree not to repeat the same act again. And you should stop pulling her hair and jumping on her. Be nice to her kutti.

You love Caillou and Peppa pig. You learned to say daddy stage by stage from these shows. You started with “dei” followed by “dayeeee” improved to “dadddddeeeeee” and finally to “daddy”. Your appa was very proud with the respect you gave initially. (dei is a not so respectful tamil word)

I have to shamefully admit that I use TV shows as my secret weapon to feed you. I can push anything down your throat if I have you engaged with your favorite TV show. But, there are days you deny outright. Egg dosa with ketchup is my saving grace. You are better with eating spicy food.

You get homework *rolls eyes* from school but we hardly do it. Somehow I feel you are not ready for it yet so didn’t bother much. Adi was freaking out on initial weeks that you are defaulting. She couldn’t take it at all.

I tried to teach you ABC as a family activity. You were always passing your turn and made Appa and Adi say all ABCs. Then, Appa used the idea to make you say “No ABC” and it worked. You can sing the ABC song but can’t recognize the letters yet.

Your favorite rhyme is “daddy finger daddy finger where are you”. You go “daddy finger daddy finger where are you” and then rush as “ououou ouououo howuuuuu”

We have changed your bedtime routine recently and I am loving it. Mommy puts you to sleep these days after we read few books. I am very happy to see you looking forward to the reading sessions. That moment you hug me tight when lights are off. That makes it all worth it.. Amma is now running like a headless chicken to finish all her chores before 8:45pm.

We have just started potty training for you. Long way to go!!

You have come a long way with your speech. You can now say meaningful sentences and express yourself better. Appa was astonished the other day when you sat on the toy car outside a shop and said “daddy put money and pointed at that tiny hole that accepts quarters for the car to work”. We still wonder from where do you learn things.

Amma is working from home today. The plan is to pickup Adi early, go pickup cake and visit your school around 3:30pm for a small party. And then if all goes well, we will go to temple in the evening and have dinner outside.

Amma made payasam today morning and we did a small prayer. You loved the payasam. You can even eat a paper written as sweet. That is your love for sweets. So, I am not surprised.

Amma sometimes just like to sit back and admire you kutti. You melt Amma’s heart at random times and even help her to feel lighter during heavy mood swings. You hug or kiss me whenever I ask you for one unlike your Akka who shrugs her shoulders. I need them now and then to keep myself sane. So, please don’t stop that!!

Ammachi has taken care of you for around 2 years out of the 3 years. She holds unconditional love for her grand kids. So, treat her with respect and be thankful to her always.

Your little mind will learn a lot of things in the coming years. I wish you the best in everything and want you to grow up as a sensible man who will respect self and others. Be nice and have a good heart da. Learn to appreaciate life and relationships around you.

May god bless you with good health and happiness kutti. Always remember that you have a family that will stand by you no matter what!!

Love,
Amma