A slice of childhood

Whenever I think of ammumma(my granny) , the first images that come to my mind are the balmy kerala nights when we used to lie down side by side, and she would tell stories..it would be the same story every night.. but the sound of her voice and the familiar fragrance of  sandal wood talcum powder(with which she doused herself after her bath) and the comfortable warmth seeping in from my toes, tucked safely in the soft folds of her Saree lulled me to sleep. Most nights after the story, she would sing lullabies ..songs she had grown up with... songs scented with fragrant sandalwood sachets of memories.
My favourite one was "omama thingal kidavo.."* The soothing sound of ammumma singing in her slightly out of tune voice, is one of my most cherished childhood memories...On some nights, when I put my son to bed; singing this evergreen lullaby I close my eyes and I can almost feel ammumma's plump fingers softly stroking my hair...
Here is a picture of ammumma with Nachikaet taken some years ago when she visited us. We speak almost daily on the phone!!!!

*Omana Thingal Kidavo is said to be composed by Irayaman Thampi for putting the young Swathi Thirunal to sleep You can hear the lullaby here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPOLSSOfUGY

Hush Little Baby!!!

Keshav's first gift was from his dad; who was in London when he made his grand appearance into our lives. I don't think his proud dad realised, when he bought that teddy bear from the duty free shop in the airport, that he was buying a piece of history!!!(I am a drama queen!!)
"Hush"(that was what the teddy was christened..refer to how Hush got his name at the bottom of the post)
became an inseparable part of Keshav's life. It sometimes became hard to remember that it was "only a toy".
  What does one call something
      -  that gets the most hugs and kisses from the baby of the house
      -  is the only one who can turn torrents of tears into dimpled smiles
      - can coax him to eat his meals
and can make the baby reach out to him in a toy shop full of attractive toys.(.to name a few of Hush's accomplishments)
Well, i can think of only one name ...a perfect friend!!!
Here is wishing my nephew a life filled with lovely companions,who make his life richer and fuller with their friendship and may they be able to live up to to the reputation of his "first friend"

PS: How Hush got his name
"Hush little baby" was Nachikaet's favourite bed time lullaby when he was smaller. When my nephew was born i passed on the book to my sister and it soon made it to the top 5 bed time lullaby's of my nephew ..and the name stuck!!!

Here is a snap of Keshav with Nachikaet holding Keshav's precious "Hush"