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"

scrap-o-mania!!!

I've recently added to my list of addictions..scrapbooking being the latest in the list. I have been scrapbooking for quite sometime now. This is my initial foray into digital scrapbooking. As  they say a picture is worth a thousand words so for once i'll let my picture hog the lime light. Let me know your comments!!! Click on the picture for  clearer view.

A first helping of “reunion” for the soul!!!

  

The family.  We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.  ~Erma Bombeck

Last August, we spent a wonderful weekend at a seaside resort where my father’s side of the family got together for what can be termed as our first official family “reunion” It was a lovely experience for Nachikaet. It was one of those rare occasions when all the people in the resort were related to him!!! The amazing part was that all of us took time out to spend a couple of days with each other (the family has a lot of NRI population). What really surprised me is how i could pick up threads and continue as if i had spent all my days with them.  I guess that’s what family means.  Aunts, uncles who appear in every childhood memory of mine ..nephews and nieces who have grown up so fast it made me wonder whether I’m stepping into “old age”…cousins whom I’ve grown up with; now with delightful kids of their own  ..i couldn’t get enough of them in two days. I want Nachikaet to grow up as I have, knowing what it is to be part of this huge circle of love. Hopefully we can make this an annual ritual where every body goes away with a warm feeling inside.. a true reunion of hearts….Love you Family!!!!

Here is a picture of all of us at the resort.

A mother remembers…

Yesterday Nachikaet  turned 5. When I think of my life, in my mind  its always- life before Nachikaet and life after I had him.  Looking at his old photographs I was reminded of the “golden era’ when Nachikaet used to think I was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to him!!! Those were the days… Here is an ode those precious memories…

Two little hands…..reaching out for a hug,

Two little feet leaving mud on the rug.

Two little eyes..full of wonder at the world around us,

Two little teeth..gnawing at a shiny red bus.

Two little tears …. rolling down when amma is cross,

Two little fists…showing that ‘I’m the boss.”

Two little words.. “amma” “acha” that makes our heart melt,

And one little boy…who makes our world go round!!!

Here is a snap of the two more influential people in my life..my mom and my son!!!!

In the “eye” of the storm

Last week our peaceful abode was attacked by a sinister being. It came up so quietly that all of us were caught unawares. (hey..what’s life without a little drama!!!!)

Last week started off on a happy note with a visit from my parents. Nachikaet was over the moon –telling anyone who would care to listen that his grand parents were coming!

Dad was the first to be caught .His eyes were swollen and a bloody red color. The ophthalmologist confirmed our fears..it was an attack of viral conjunctivitis. Then started the evacuation process as conjunctivitis is highly contagious. Dad was quarantined in our guest bed room with the door opened only to pass in the food plate. Amma beefed up security by making us wash our hands and eyes till we screamed for mercy. The next to be hit was my” lady Friday ‘ Ammini .Here is a picture of her in defense gear.

 Well to cut the story short both the “victims” are in the receding stages of the infection with dad being allowed an occasional jaunt out of his quarantine. Wishing them both a speedy recovery and as for the rest of us we’re still fighting – an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

Memoirs of a brand new( well..almost!!!) Aunt

Last May marked a very important event in my life. I became an aunt.. a real aunt!!! My little sister had a baby boy. I was at this point in the “been there done that’ zone; with Nachikaet having turned four I was sure I would be calm and composed when my nephew made his appearance. I was not prepared for the wave of emotions that hit me when the nurse brought out the little bundle and deposited it into my beaming mother’s arm(I was too scared to hold him ) .I knew from that instant, that this little man had a place in my heart right beside Nachikaet. We are yet to be fully acquainted, yet when he smiles at me from the other side of the world ( he is currently in the US ) I know he will always be part of my world where ever he may be. I sit before ‘skype’ and stare in silent wonder at my “little sister’ turning out a perfect “tiramisu cake” with the baby perched on one hip!!! I send a silent prayer to god to bless both mother and child and as for me I have only one message for my nephew.. at any point in life if your mother is unavailable for assistance….call me!!!!
ps: isn't he just adorable!!!!

The end of an era

Last week marked the end of a “golden era’ in our lives. Nachikaet graduated from lower kindergarten!!! A whole year has gone by and my painfully shy weepy toddler has transformed into the “resident class hero”. His beloved  'Amrita Maam' gave us quite a detailed account of his “heroic escapades”- the latest being unscrewing the faucet in the tiny kiddies basin with his trusted accomplice and flooding the class room!!! She has strictly warned us not to tamper with his “lively imagination” (as she puts it) and even given us some hope that he could be a “Hussain in the making’!!! But in spite of all these “negligibles “ the silver lining is that he has started to enjoy school life ( which just goes to show nothing is impossible!!!) When other parents show me the prizes their wards have won for different competitions and their neatly coloured pictures;

I just hold him close and whisper ‘ you’ve done a great job this year- you’ve enjoyed school, the colouring and the handwriting can wait!!!!”
Ps: This was how nachikaet celebrated the start of the summer holidays