tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113065772024-03-12T23:43:43.637-04:00Like Duck To WaterDeepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.comBlogger385125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-62984389752204118922013-10-15T21:37:00.000-04:002013-10-15T21:40:45.424-04:00I did not know that about a nose line (huh?)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">I have this horizontal line on my nose since I don't even remember when. I have always assumed it to be a feature which is something similar to a forehead line. Its pretty conspicuous on my nose, but I have never wondered about it or compared other noses to find out why. For me, it has always been a part of me :).
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I've been having a sore throat for more than 2 weeks now and today I went to see the doctor about it. Well, it was diagnosed as a sinus infection, but this post is not about that. The doctor tried to confirm whether I had lots of allergies as a child. I did. I think I was allergic to parthenium which grew abundantly on unused site plots of Bangalore. I used to have bronchitis and used to get colds all the time. Then the doctor tells me that he knew that for certain that I had allergies and adds that its because of that line on my nose. According to him, when children have allergies and cold, they rub their noses all the time which supposedly causes a crease on the nose and later morphs into a horizontal line! The information left my mouth hanging open :).
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Well, the nose line is still a part of me, but now I know how it became a part of me :-D .
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</div>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-46472069915471456192013-10-13T19:55:00.001-04:002013-10-13T19:55:47.732-04:00Some people..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">have an inherent talent of pissing others off. Its even more irritating that they aren't even aware of this exceptional talent :-p.
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Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-87576543776576692152013-07-12T23:26:00.001-04:002013-07-18T12:52:42.060-04:00Back to the future?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">While I've been away from the blog, one of the things I've been working on is to be less judgmental of people. I've become an even more firm believer of "live and let live" policy. So I believe any adult has a right to do what whatever she/he wishes. And I have a right to judge only if this particular action is impacting/harming my family in anyway. I'm sort of proud to say that my tolerance levels have increased in everything. I'm much more open to others having different ideas be it in religion, politics and sexuality. The only thing I'm against is fanaticism of any kind in anything. I get outraged when people start becoming fanatic about everything from language to sexuality and actually feel offended at such mentality. Maybe its because I have lived in a country far different from mine in most of the things that matter and I've come to believe that nothing is above humanity. If you are degrading another human for something you are fighting for, then that "something" is not worth it. Its such a global world now that even "patriotism" doesn't have a meaning for me like it did before. I think a person has the right to make choices and even though their choice might not be the same as mine, I'll always support their right to choose.
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Well, generally this "acceptance" of mine is well and good, but I still find myself being very judgmental with people who I consider close to me. And here, I'm not talking about big issues like religion or politics. Its the simplest things. For eg: a person might be too kind that others take advantage of them, while another is always making judgments on others. Yet another person might be blaming everyone other than themselves for their "misfortune" while another person altogether, is always complaining about their situation and never grateful for what they have. There's another person who keeps making statements that "Do unto others 20% better than you would expect them to do unto you, to correct for subjective error" and then doesn't even bother to mail me or keep in touch with me. From my statement, you can see that I'm a little vehement in my feelings for these people. I find it very hard to "forgive and forget" people who I consider close to me or "live and let live" when it comes to them. I'm not really sure why. Maybe because I care too much. But caring too much doesn't mean that you have to change people into your ways of thinking. If everybody is like me then whats the fun? ;-). If the kind person is okay to be taken advantage of, then who I am I to say anything? If a person is happy being judgmental of others, then why should I let it bother me? If a person is not grateful or blaming others for their situations, then I should accept that those are the type of people they are and I should be okay with what they are. Who am I to say "Holier than thou"? Right now, I'm making an effort to apply the generosity that I have for the "general" to the "particular". I've succeeded to some extent, but I find it very difficult sometimes. It's still a work in progress, but succeed, I must.
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You may ask me why I'm so bothered about this and I'll tell you. Its that some part of me is worried about the future. Soon our children will be adults and will start making decisions of their own. You may tell me that its too soon to worry about that and that there is still lots of time. But that's not so. If today I'm not accepting of my outer circle's decisions and choices, how will I ever accept my own children's choices tomorrow? If today we think that we are so-called modern, what will tomorrow bring? So many things have changed in the past generation, but the truth is that we haven't seen everything. What we have come to accept today will be NOTHING compared to the tomorrows headed our way. When our children grow up and start opting for their choices, the options might not always be something I'd chose to do. While I may completely disagree with their decisions and the decisions themselves may be huge mistakes, I want to be able to support them no matter what happens as a consequence. I want to be able to say to them "I think this maybe wrong. But if you are sure, I am with you no matter what. Better or worse, I'll be here for you". And try not to tell them "I told you so" in case things are not positive, as it will not really be useful to them in anyway.
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I hope to God that I'll turn out to be such a mother. I hope to God that Sri and I will turn out to be such parents..
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Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-12872059216451049742013-06-28T12:02:00.001-04:002013-06-28T12:03:39.387-04:00Pyjama mama :).<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">Saw this today and it struck a chord..
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714039806336481506" src="http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/8569_397130187062617_1488739627_n.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />
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I don't know about you, but I'm always in my pajamas at home. I am comfortable in them and I like being comfortable. Have never really cared too much about my appearance (atleast when I'm home). Being in US, that's not really a problem as I've hardly any visitors dropping in without informing first. Well, that's what has spoiled me. Sometimes I wonder if and when we go back to India, how hard would it be to get rid of my so-called bad habits. When going back itself is a big question, I wonder whether "pajamas" are the real concern anyway :-p. Sometimes I can't believe its been more than 8 years since I've been here. Never thought that I'd be here more than 2 years. We're still infected with the one-leg-on-shore while another-on-the-boat syndrome as of now :-\.
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And sometimes I feel we ought to pack up and move to Europe or Australia or some other place than India. Because I have realized that there's nothing like living in a totally different country to give you a whole new perspective on life. And the travel we'd get to do, would be a bonus ofcourse :). But, no plans of introducing yet another boat/shore to the mix right now ;-).
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Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-40076821984080705092013-06-24T12:00:00.001-04:002013-06-24T12:01:10.069-04:00Empathy..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">I was visiting one of my favourite facebook photography page yesterday and I saw a picture of bats (the animals). It reminded me of something that happened years ago.
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I must have been around 10 years old or maybe younger than that when one day my parents found a baby bat lying on the ground at the back of our house. It seemed that the bat had hurt one of its wings. I remember feeling very sad for the bat, I really thought it was going to die. Yet, I slowly picked it up and made a cave-like shelter using our batte-ogeyo kallu (cloths washing structure that's usually found in India) and slowly put it inside. I kept some water for it (I didn't know whether bats drank water - Google tells me they do :-D). I even got a cockroach that was killed in the house and put it inside the "cave". Again, I didn't know whether bats ate cockroaches (Google tells me they do! Yay!), but I was happy that the next the cockroach was gone and there were only a couple of its wings found. For all I knew the cockroach might run for its life :-p. I used to visit it everyday and even slowly stroke its small furry head. Then after about 5 days or so, when I visited one morning, it was gone. The younger positive self that I was, was very happy that it had recovered and had flown of. The older negative me does wonder whether it was eaten by a bird or something :-p.
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This is not one instance such a thing has happened with me. There was a time when I found a dead butterfly in the garden and I was so sad for its death that I made a grave for it by digging a hole in the garden and I think I even made an epitaph like thing for it. I used to visit its grave every day and "pay my respects". Yes, I was weird :-p. And then there was this huge caterpillar living on our jasmine plant who I used to love. I hate worms of all kinds and they give me the heebie-jeebies. But somehow this caterpillar was different - it was a beautiful green in color and had these 5-6 yellow-orange eye-like spots on its body and was so soft to touch. One day it vanished and I didn't see its pupa anywhere. But I was positive that it had turned into this beautiful colorful butterfly and was "happy" somewhere :).
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I don't really know what I want to say in this post, just that I've always felt empathy with the oddest of creatures. To this day, if I see a spider/fly/even ant inside the home, I try to gather it and leave it outside. The only exceptions to this sympathy are mosquitos and cockroaches :-p. Those need something more than sympathy and empathy :-D.
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Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-37922432930479155032013-06-22T21:27:00.000-04:002013-06-24T12:01:42.114-04:00Content..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;">Yesterday Sri and I were lying on our stomachs on the carpet while Snugli and Sunny climbed all over us plying us with hugs and kisses. At that moment, I felt happy. I didn't have a care in the world. I'm sure I sound facetious, but I really don't care that many others have more money than me or that other women have a better career than me. I can afford to be generous because life has been good to me. I am content :).
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Andddddddddddd I'm back baby :).</span>
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Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-13557615226720694412012-02-27T23:30:00.003-05:002012-02-27T23:36:59.247-05:00The years go by..<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />4 years ago I made this collage into a T-shirt for Sri's birthday..<br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyfzPMpHYvU/T0xY7fkguOI/AAAAAAAAGZc/VDsqrVziMKI/s400/T.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714039806336481506" /><br /><br />Now its Sunny's turn..<br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jQppSnp79a4/T0xZLookmOI/AAAAAAAAGZo/HBYRfxGLD7w/s400/Bday_Sunny.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714040083647338722" /><br /><br />How quickly the years are going by. This is the 7th year I'm celebrating Sri's birthday with him and there are times I wonder where the time went. I guess you don't see time when you are having fun ;-).<br /><br />Happy birthday Sri :). Love you lots :)).<br /><br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-28747541959523940652011-12-31T16:57:00.000-05:002011-12-31T16:58:38.268-05:00New year wishes..<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />Things have been crazy since we have been back from India. For one thing, the mom part of me has completely taken over my life. I just don't get any time for myself, so the blog has sadly been neglected. I have all these ideas I want to write about, but I never ever get the time. When I do have a few free moments, I'd rather laze around rather than start typing. Poor Sunny hasn't even had a post of her own yet. And there are so many things happening each day and I am regretting not noting down each and every thing like I did with Snugli. But I am determined to get back to writing soon. Meanwhile, I feel frustrated, angry and stressed out most days. There are bright days now and then, but all the other days are passing in a haze and I don't even know what to about it. I feel like taking a break, but there is no break for a mom from her children and ain't that the truth!<br /><br />Well, its sad that I couldn't even jot down a post on Snugli's birthday. We didn't celebrate it very grandly this time. She did have a party at school and we did take her to an indoor kids play area (where she enjoyed to the maximum) and her favourite restaurant for dinner. But I just didn't have it in me, to plan another party outside and arrange things. I still feel a little guilty over that, but she had fun and thats that. Oh man, she's 4 already and I wish all the time that I had a pause button to life, sigh.<br /><br />On a sad note, <a href="http://susmithaspeaks.blogspot.com/">one of my good friends</a> passed away last week and so the past week has been depressing for me. She was sick with a rare disease and suffered a lot in the past month, but we never expected that it would take her life. I was fortunate enough to spend a weekend with her in September when she came to visit us here. I keep remembering little things about her and it keeps getting to me now and then. We expect death at ages lot older than ours and imagine that we'll have all our friends till the ends of our own lives, so it becomes very difficult to accept it that she died at 32, she had a lot of spirit and lot more in her. I hope she's in a much better place and is happy and at rest finally. You know what I have realized from all this? Her life is no more, but our lives go on, they have to go on..<br /><br />To put a positive end to this post, I did get my macro lens finally - Canon 100mm f2.8 macro and I'm glad that I haven't let go of photography completely, despite all my "troubles". Have some pics uploaded on my facebook photography page in case you are interested. Here's a recent one:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Through-Deepthis-eyes-photography/128136427244883" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 320px;" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/403810_273615662696958_128136427244883_747047_1030333400_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And so, to summarize, 2011 brought me a dear daughter and took away a good friend. It also brought me my first silver hair ;-) (sounds better than gray or white and I'm sticking with it :-p). The year has been a mix of gains and losses, easy and tough times, tears and laughter, basically life going on in all its glory. There's still much more to see, many more things to do and hope 2012 has ample opportunities :-).<br /><br />The end of the world is coming folks ;-) :-D. 2012 is here! Wish you and your loved ones a very happy and prosperous new year :-).<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-18116808176168387972011-11-22T21:06:00.000-05:002011-11-22T21:07:22.487-05:00The facade..<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><strong><em>The facade...</em></strong><br /><br />Days beckon with<br />infinite drive.<br />Nights sink tired;<br />Crash dive.<br /><br />The body dances<br />the daily grind..<br />The mind droops,<br />feeling confined..<br /><br />The inside me wants<br />to cut and run..<br />The outside me has<br />worries none.<br /><br />Uncertainty questions<br />"Am I really needed?"<br />Confidence prevails,<br />all doubts receded.<br /><br />Behind a joyous mask<br />sadness taunts..<br />Behind a brave facade<br />vulnerability haunts..<br /><br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-57990976988592424782011-11-04T21:49:00.005-04:002011-11-04T22:00:43.167-04:00Its all about the money!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />Sorry to have vanished from the face of earth for more than a month, but as you can guess things have been crazy busy for me. What you cannot guess is that we had been to India for a 5 week "vacation" :-D. We obviously celebrated Sunny's Naamakarana and Annapraashana there, so there were the usual functions, get-togethers and travels to and fro amidst ill-healths that spread from one person to another. Right now we are back in US and I am getting adjusted to a routine with 2 kids. Snugli will be off to school from next week, so things should be a lot more easier. I have so much to write but the stories will have to unfold quite slowly. Meanwhile to tide things over, its Snugli story time :).<br /><br />While we were in India, Snugli was introduced to a concept she was quite unaware of here in the US - MONEY, thanks to all the relatives who gave rupee notes to her as gifts (she knew "cents" because thats what makes her favourite machine horse run, but not about notes).<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />It all started when Snugli's great-grand mother (Sri's mother's mother) gave her Rs 500. She immediately grabbed it claiming it to be "my money".<br /><br />Sri somehow convinced her to give it to him, but the next day she went and asked him for "her money". Since he had already spent it on something, he thought he could con her with a Rs.10 note. Her response?<br /><br />"This note says 10. My note said five zero zero. This is not my money. Give me my money!"<br /><br />Baap re!<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />She soon got used to getting these 500s. After a get-together in Bangalore, we were looking at all the gifts when she claimed that one of the money envelopes was hers. She opened it to discover a Rs.100 note. She says - <br /><br />"Ellaru 500 rupees kottaru, ivaru yaake 100 kottiddaare?" ("Everyone gave 500 rupees, why have these people given 100?")<br /><br />God! I'm very thankful that that particular person was nowhere near to hear that statement!<br /><br />********************************************************************* <br /><br />One day we were invited to an arshina-kumkuma, to which I took Sunny and Snugli along. Since they saw Sunny for the first time, as usually is the custom, they gave her a Rs.100 note. Snugli immediately cries -<br /><br />"Where is my money!!!"<br /><br />I could only shut her up by handing over the note that they had given Sunny. I wonder what will happen when Sunny becomes aware of "money" - I can already imagine a tug-of-war over a 100 rupee note :-D.<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />There were many times where she wanted to hold her money while we were in India. While all the above instances were sort of embarrassing for us, what happened today was sweet to the extreme. Since we have been back, Snugli has very obviously been missing her grandparents and Bangalore as such. Today she saw a plane and this conversation happened - <br /><br />Snugli: "Lets catch a flight and go to Bangalore"<br />Me: "Sorry we can't sweetheart. We'll go there next year"<br />Snugli: "Why?"<br />Me: "Because we don't have so much money to spend."<br />Snugli: "Don't worry. I have lots of money. Many 500 rupees to buy tickets."<br /><br />Wish we could honey, wish we could :-\.<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-57792423889560655262011-09-20T10:15:00.002-04:002011-09-20T10:17:59.264-04:00Oh joy!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br /><strong><em>Oh joy!</em></strong><br /><br />In the earth so green,<br />That it hurts the eye.<br />In the deep blue wrap<br />Shrouding the silky sky..<br /><br />In wings that fly outside,<br />Chirping and singing..<br />In children that play inside,<br />Their giggles ringing..<br /><br />In the melliferous voice<br />Riding the radio waves..<br />In gurgling waterfalls,<br />Tall mountains, cold caves..<br /><br />In colours of flowers<br />Be it bluebells or daffodils..<br />In colours of dawn or dusk..<br />In warmths and in chills..<br /><br />In the crimson sun,<br />that bids stars goodbyes..<br />In the velvety night's<br />Soft whispers and sighs<br /><br />Happiness lurks<br />At every corner and nook.<br />All you have to know<br />Is just where to look.<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-74497227505714109322011-09-17T10:31:00.002-04:002011-09-17T10:39:17.157-04:00The peace..<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />Spent early morning sitting on a park bench near a misty pond, surrounded by ducks of all shapes, sizes and colours with fresh dew on the grass under my feet and quacks ringing loudly in my ears. It was peaceful :).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/312118_2409793606482_1300495883_2884345_831395755_n.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 320px;" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/312118_2409793606482_1300495883_2884345_831395755_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-66613353315595186512011-08-21T16:15:00.012-04:002011-08-22T12:12:11.722-04:00The duck that turned 31..<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" >
<br />This duck is 31 years old today. But as the years pass, is there any change in the wisdom at all? The duck has certainly changed from what it was, say 10 years ago. It has obviously grown older physically and there's a lot of change in ideas too. Has all the change been for the good? Or is the word "good" also an illusion?
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<br />In the past year, the duck has had a baby duck added to its family. It also lost a grandma duck to death. It has faced high and low tides. There were some mind numbing lulls where nothing happened and then there were waves of excitement. There were a few storms that felt like hurricanes and tsunamis (they probably weren't THAT bad), but the duck has survived it all. It cannot really claim that it hasn't been chafed some, life, after all, is all about the downs too. The duck still believes its lucky to have what it has.
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<br />Many a times the duck wonders if the other beings in this world even realize what it is all about. Some beings expect too much of it - if it brings and shares a lot of fish, they think that its nothing taxing as the part of the sea the duck lives in has plenty of fish. They actually blame it and criticize it whenever it gets tired of sharing. Then there are others who think this duck is a good duck and don't seem to realize that this "good" duck has its bad moments and bad days too. They complain "you were not like this earlier", but somehow forget that they in the past were not like what they are today either. And maybe the duck actually has evolved into an unknown being. Or maybe what they assumed the duck to be in the past was actually wayyyyyyy different from what the duck actually was. Maybe they never knew the duck. At all.
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<br />One thing the duck has realized in the past year is that man, it has a temper. When it quacks several times and is not heard, the quacks turn into screeches and screams and the duck literally throws a tantrum. Maybe it should learn to gather all the algae/seaweed around it and stuff them into its hugggggge ears, so that it doesn't hear half the things that make it mad. What is a better idea is to stuff the sea weed into its mouth (which is wayyyyyyyyyyyy bigger than its ears), so that no quack comes out ;-).
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<br />The duck sometimes finds itself torn between what should be and what is. It doesn't understand what is expected of it sometimes. Torn between complaints and consolations. Torn between taunts and praise. Torn between blasé and insinuations. Torn between accusations and agreements. The duck is thankful for the steady rock that its partner is and somehow they hope to figure things together. The future will only bring with it more expectations, more challenges and whatever the duck may have faced before, its all nothing compared to whats ahead. The duck will surely face it head on :).
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<br />The duck is in a very poignant mood today and hence will not be putting up the usual Garfield birthday comics. The duck is also sorry to have confused many beings with this post and shamelessly admits to being thoroughly confused too :-p.
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<br />A very happy birthday to the duck and super cheers to all that it actually is :).
<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-89292451141656254412011-07-27T18:32:00.002-04:002011-08-21T16:15:30.092-04:00The truth :-D<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" >
<br />Pardo's First Postulate to Murphy's law: "Anything good in life is either illegal, immoral, or fattening."
<br />Arnold's Addendum: "Anything not fitting into these categories causes cancer in
<br />rats."
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<br />Sad, but true :-p.
<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-57514741775940734782011-07-20T09:07:00.005-04:002011-07-20T16:57:36.838-04:00The punishment :-D<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />Snugli is the featured student for 2 weeks at her school and hence this is my punishment ;-) :-D - a poster featuring her and everything she loves :).<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267741_2251911019516_1300495883_2688644_6745588_n.jpg" target=_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/267741_2251911019516_1300495883_2688644_6745588_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539863062203871842" /></a><br /><br />The things parents need to to when their kids are in school!!! <br /><br />I don't really like this type of manipulating from the schools. How does it make me a good mom/parent if I am concentrating more on the poster than the kids? We were out of town on the weekend and the teacher suddenly dumped this on us on Monday (no warnings at all and it was needed "right now"). Moreover Sri, God bless him, doesn't have a single artistic bone in his body, so I came up with the concept, designed the template, got the photo printouts, cut them all out, glued everything together literally in 24 hours all with a cranky baby and an extremely inquisitive pre-schooler around. All this to please a few teachers because Snugli hardly paid any attention to it and I'm sure her classmates would have been the same :-p. I could have done a shabby job, but the perfectionist in me had to get it right :-p. Basically, I think it becomes a matter of pride for the parents.<br /><br />I'm already ruing the day when Sunny will be all grown up. Proud of myself though :). <br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-17487487514370260882011-07-15T09:51:00.005-04:002011-07-15T10:48:37.815-04:00The concern :)<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />This happened about 3 weeks back, you know why I haven't been able to put it up ;-).<br /><br />One day while I am feeding Sunny, Snugli comes and sits right next to me.<br /><br />Snugli: "Amma, puttu baby amma hotteinda bantha?" ("Mom, did the baby come from mom's stomach?")<br />Me: "Huun." ("Yes.")<br /><br />(Whenever she troubled me too much, I told her that since the baby came from my stomach, I had aches and pains all over and so she asks)<br /><br />Snugli: "Amma, ninge hotte abbi idya?" ("Mom, does your stomach hurt?")<br />Me: "Huun."<br />Snugli: "Amma, ninge bennu abbi idya?" ("Mom, does your back hurt?")<br />Me: "Huun."<br />Snugli: "Amma, ninge kai kaalu abbi idya?" ("Mom, do your arms and legs hurt?")<br />Me: "Huun."<br />Snugli: "Amma, naanu Walgreens hogi medicine tharthene. Ninge abbi ella hothade." ("Mom, I'll go to Walgreens and get some medicine for you. All your pains will be gone."). Walgreens is a pharmacy store here.<br /><br />:).<br /><br />On a side note, typing a post on iPhone, moreover by left hand is HARD :-p.<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-11678568324265570252011-07-13T13:31:00.013-04:002011-07-15T09:06:43.901-04:00The audacity!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />Some people are so full of themselves! (Another huge rant in progress, consider yourself warned :-p)<br /><br />Today morning I get this message from a person saying "don't u answer u'r freinds e mails". Now this person was my best friend in childhood and we have been touch for many years thanks to my efforts and absolutely no thanks to her (my calling her "person" instead of "friend" shows you how angry I am). We lost touch a couple of years back thanks to her constant changing of phone numbers. No, I can't even say we lost touch because I have her email and kept mailing her on her special days - her birthday, anniversary, her kids' birthdays and so on. And she never replied a single thanks. Plus I have told you how fond I am of sending photos to friends and relatives once or several times a month (:-p), she is in my mailing list and again, she never ever, not once, got back on whether she even saw the photos.<br /><br />Out of the blue last week, I get a message from her giving her yet-another-changed-phone-number and asking me for my contact details (this is despite the fact that my phone numbers haven't changed since 6 years, from the time I came to US). Thanks to a 1.5 month old that was born to me and that I'm quite busy caring for (which again I had informed her through a mail), I haven't been able to keep up with all the communication. So I didn't, make that couldn't, reply. And I get this message from her today! I am so outraged, just what do people think of themselves? And how much do they expect of me? The more I do, the more I'm expected to do. <br /><br />There have been many days in the past when I've gotten sick and tired of the whole thing and think I'll just quit putting in the effort. This is one of those days. But then again, I take a deep breath, tell myself that just because some people are atrocious, it doesn't mean that I should give up what I am and then make the effort again to keep in touch. But seriously, this was like I was literally stabbed with a long sharp knife. I wrote a blistering reply to her and being the goody-two-shoes that I am, I should have regretted it by now, but I haven't. One big part of me is very very very angry with her while another small part of me is actually sad - it feels like I have literally lost a friend. Or maybe I lost her years ago, have been deluding myself all these years with my puny efforts and am realizing it only now :(. How dumb I must be!<br /><br /><strong>Update:</strong> She replied saying that she was busy with her household and kids for all this time and that she took liberties with me as she was "eager" to get back in touch with me. Oh well, I didn't know "eagerness" can translate to years and you know me, I am a free spirit without households and kids :-p. Anyways, enough of this subject, lets move on :).<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-73785593364197448152011-07-03T11:06:00.001-04:002011-07-13T14:31:01.031-04:00The unoriginals!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />Whats with Indian music directors these days? I'm so sick and tired of listening to old songs remixed and changed these days. Yeah there were remixes earlier in pop albums, but you didn't really have to listen to them unless you wanted to. These days the songs are in the movies and whenever I watch one, I end up being really mad. Is coming up with an original tune so difficult? <br /><br />I especially become angry when I hear a favourite tune all jumbled up and made weird by these weirdos. The last straw was hearing "Ravivarmana kunchada" (originally sung by the great PB Srinivas) made all so-called modern (meaning destroyed) in the movie Buddhivantha (I know I'm late in pointing this out but bear with me since I caught up with the movie only now). If you can't come up with something nice, atleast please stop spoiling what was good. Is there no thing called copyright for these things?<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-17882628607119575752011-07-01T10:59:00.003-04:002011-07-02T19:12:17.060-04:00The reality..<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />As the title states, this is what happens at our house at nights these days..<br /><br />* Snugli falls asleep<br />* Sri falls sorta asleep..<br />* I feed Sunny and put her to sleep.<br />* Sri and I start to cuddle.<br />* Snugli wants to go potty and Sri takes her..<br />* Sri and I start to cuddle.<br />* Sunny starts crying, I console her and put her back to sleep.<br />* Sri and I start to cuddle.<br />* Sunny cries again, Sri changes her diaper, I swaddle her and put her back to sleep.<br />* Sri and I start to cuddle.<br />* Snugli starts sucking her thumb. One of us gets up, removes the thumb :-p.<br />....<br />..<br />..<br />.<br />So on and so forth until both of us are so exhausted that we fall asleep as soon as we hit the sack - the cuddling all forgotten :-p.<br /><br />Its as if they ... {horror music}... Its as if they KNOW! ;-) :-D<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-61613765292617879822011-06-17T07:24:00.001-04:002011-07-01T10:59:44.961-04:00Burptime story :-D<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />One thing moms with infants know is how difficult it is to burp babies. So whenever I get a successful burp out of Sunny these days, I involuntarily exclaim "Good job!".<br /><br />I don't really have to tell you what happened next right?<br /><br />One day Snugli after finishing her lunch comes to me, burps loudly and says "Look mom, I burped!" :-D.<br /><br />Hehehee :))). <br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-89728748472388715312011-06-15T10:07:00.003-04:002011-07-13T14:40:54.272-04:00The best laid plans :-p<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000000;"><br />Two things before I start off on the birth story this time. One, thanks to all those who left their wishes on Sunny's birth. Things have been so hectic around here that its been difficult to even leave a comment and I'm sorry for that. But right now, we are adjusting to a whole new routine and you know that takes time :). Secondly, as I said this is the birth story, so those who don't want to read the "gory" details, please leave now, or you know you'll regret it later ;-) :-p. Also, all of the definitions in <a href="http://deardeepthi.blogspot.com/2007/12/pain-and-pleasure.html" target="_blank">Snugli's birth story</a> hold good for this post as well. So please feel free to refer to that anytime :-p. <br /><br />They say, the second time things will be much faster. They say that the delivery usually happens a lot earlier than the first time. They say the contractions become frequent, regular and painful sooner. They say you won't have time to get to the hospital, so you better leave early and so on and so forth. But well, "they" were all wrong in my case. 39 weeks and I wasn't even having proper contractions - they were still in the Braxton-Hicks mode. They were in no way painful (and believe me, I'm glad about that :-p), but things weren't progressing as I expected them to. I had felt heavy throughout this pregnancy so was expecting the baby to appear sooner and nothing was happening. I was already out of patience..<br /><br />On May 20th, I had an appointment with my gynec, in which I was told that she was worried about my weight and she was thinking that the baby might be on the heavy side. I was told to get an ultrasound weight measurement and warned of the possibility that the baby may be heavier than 10 pounds. If so, then we'd have to seriously consider a C-section. I wasn't really worried about the so-called surgery (though I did run a scenario in my mind where I'd be wheeled to the operation theatre and holding Sri's hand, would say to him "Agar mujhe kuch hogaya toh khudka aur humaare bachchon ka khayaal rakhna" :-D) but C-section has several consequences - breastfeeding is tougher, recovery takes time and all that, so was a bit worried about that. But obviously we would follow the gynec's advice, 'cause thats what ensured the safety of the little one.<br /><br />Well, the Ultrasound was scheduled on Wednesday, May 25th and the day came. We couldn't really make out anything in the pics as such as the baby was grown, but at the end of it, we were told that the baby was measuring 9 pounds and 7 ounces. There was a 10% margin of error and we were hoping that it'd be on the lower side ;-). My gynec suggested that since there'd be a weekly growth of half a pound for the baby, there was simply no point in waiting (as the 10 pound threshold would be crossed) and the best thing would be induction. The induction had some risks of suddenly becoming a C-section, but since we were looking at the same thing if we waited, it wasn't really a risk as such :-\. So it was decided that I'd get admitted to the hospital the next night and they'd start the induction process. The initial procedure would take the night and in the morning, the process would speeden up and the baby was expected to be born at around May 27th afternoon.<br /><br />The next day, May 26th, everything went according to plan, meaning nothing happened for me to rush to the hospital ;-) :-D, so we went and got admitted in the hospital at around 8 PM in the night. I had told Snugli several times about how I had to go to the hospital and stay for a while there, but wasn't sure how she'd take to both me and Sri being missing for hours together. So I asked him to go back home with her and keep her bedtime schedule as normal as possible (meaning wait till she falls asleep) and then come back to the hospital. I had also asked my parents to sleep in our room, so that they can keep an eye on her. So once everyone left, the nurse asked me a 100 questions about medical history (as usual) and placed the baby heartbeat and the contraction monitoring devices on my abdomen. She also set up an IV in my arm. Since my cervix hadn't dilated to even 1 cm, the first process would be cervical ripening.<br /><br />Cervical ripening refers to the softening of the cervix into a dilated opening. The agent they used in my case is called Cytotec which is inserted vaginally to start the ripening. After 3 hours, I was checked again (this time the cervix was about 1.5 cm) and administered a second dose. I was hardly able to sleep since the baby was moving all the time and the nurses kept coming in to change the position of the baby heartbeat monitor :-p. At about 3:45 AM, the actual contractions started - they were not very painful, but just enough to wake me and keep me awake. At 6 AM in the morning, the next stage of induction started. The nurse added Pitocin to my IV to kick off the contractions in full mode. And mad, did they! In about half an hour, the contractions had speedened up and by 7 AM I was screaming at the top of my lungs for the epidural :-D. I can grin at it now, but the pain was crazy, it felt worse than the time I had Snugli, but seriously I don't even remember enough to compare. <br /><br />The nurse checked my cervix and it had dilated to about 5 cm by then. Epidural, as I have said in the earlier birth story, takes its own sweet time :-p. Since epidural lowers the blood pressure of the mom, the mom is first given fluids through the IV and only then the epidural is administered. So yeah, I was screaming for another hour before I was given the damn thing. The good part is that my water broke somewhere within that hour, so that water-breaking part was avoided. All this time, Sri was holding my hand and trying to encourage me to breathe. Half the time, I was crying because of the pain and he'd ask me to stop crying since it'd make me lose my breathing pattern. I think, at one point I literally shouted at him that I couldn't help but cry and that he could shut it :-D. At the end of the hour, I called the nurseline and shouted for the anesthesiologist. Thankfully he was on his way and what seemed like many contractions later, I was sitting up and the epidural needle was finally piercing my back into my spinal chord. Man, I can still taste that relief. Later I told my mom that she was great for going through 2 deliveries without epidural and "nanna doDDa namaskaara" to all such women ("my big salutation" :-D). I have to marvel at the pain-suffering capability of women and am glad to have born in this world which has epidural :-p.<br /><br />Anyways, after epidural, it was bliss for 2 hours in which time my parents, Darsh and Snugli came to the hospital to see how I was. Dad, Snugli and Darsh soon left to wait at the waiting area which even had a play area for Snugli. Then the nurse came in, checked me and declared that I had dilated to 10 cm. She called my gynec for the labour and got everything else ready. Soon, my gynec was there and I was pushing with all my strength (which I had to gather again and again). After several of these pushes, nothing happened :-\. The baby's heartbeat was falling and I was given an oxygen mask to breathe through and ease that. 2 more pushes later, still the baby wasn't making an appearance, so the doc decided to perform an episiotomy and pull the baby out with the help of a vacuum. And so, Sunny came into this world on May 27th 2011 at 11:22 AM EST. <br /><br />I was crying again, mainly because of relief and the baby was again placed on my belly and Sri was asked to cut the umbilical cord. Sunny was taken to the warmer and checked for the apgar. The baby weighed 10 pounds and 7 ounces! Baap re! I don't even know how they got her out! I was told that they would be checking her sugar levels since bigger babies usually have lower sugar levels. But she was fine :). Her pediatrician later said that she was surprised to have been brought into this world suddenly so there were some problems with her breathing patterns but everything else was fine. She even has a small bump on her head thanks to the vacuum, but the doc says that'll soon be alright. <br /><br />This time, we had the camera with us, so were able to take photos once my family joined us :).<br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4n-66jKS5Pw/TfKqe0k9aRI/AAAAAAAACoA/MdO2ALKDDas/s800/NB19.JPG" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />Here's Sri with the newborn..<br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dYlOJwcbNMQ/TfKqT8XehoI/AAAAAAAACnQ/5QbZLGwugsQ/s800/NB8.JPG" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />Me with my 2 darlings :).<br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kahW5szEF0k/TfKqfTiGHcI/AAAAAAAACoE/mont9Vd5GVA/s800/NB20.JPG" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />Here's Snugli with Sunny :).<br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-In5jHz4DEqA/TfKqatslrfI/AAAAAAAACnk/A4Ibo0-pU7A/s800/NB13.JPG" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-72KFpxEUlLA/TfKqbWYHUiI/AAAAAAAACno/u5u2SFs-UFs/s800/NB14.JPG" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />And here are my parents:<br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qwqIGUaJE_4/TfKqZ7hWFmI/AAAAAAAACng/UPNZ-TH3PMo/s800/NB12.JPG" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />And there's Darsh who was really afraid to hold the minutes-old baby, but soon was behaving like a pro :-D.<br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kFVnzpfGHrc/TfKqd4ezr9I/AAAAAAAACn4/C3tkWAiHiDI/s800/NB17.JPG" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />And here's the 3-day old Sunny :).<br /><br /><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center; width: 480px; height: 320px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GD1R7wBuNWU/TfKqhM9SmDI/AAAAAAAACoQ/ezymxJJxzGE/s800/NB22.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br /><br />So what else has happened in the past 2 weeks?<br /><br />1) I have realized that a few more things you never forget once you learn how to do them (other than swimming) are swaddling and diaper changing :-p. Or Maybe you should ask me when I am a grandmom :-D.<br /><br />2) Unlike Snugli, Sunny didn't have a jaundice problem. She did have high bilirubin levels in the hospital and we were asked to go to the pediatrician for a follow-up, but the levels, thankfully, remained low. But I do have a major rant. Usually babies lose weight for a while after they are born until the mom's milk starts. And the particular pediatrician we saw raised concern about it and insisted that either I have to pump and supplement her or feed her extra formula. I remember the same guy doing the same thing for Snugli too (he must be the organization's formula marketing fellow :-p). Sometimes even though you know its not necessary, you have to follow what the doctor says. So I pumped, 2 times, when I faced the engorgement monster. Man, I was so mad at that stupid doctor. I must have cursed that man a 100 times :-D >:-). I stopped pumping after that and never gave Sunny any formula. Next day when we went for the follow-up checkup, she had actually gained weight (we saw another doc, had we seen the same doc, I'd have given him a piece of my mind grrrrrr). <br /><br />3) Snugli absolutely loves little Sunny. She wants to hold her and carry her and what not. Sadly, during the first week, Snugli had a bout of cough and cold and we had to keep her away. But now that she's alright, whenever she sees Sunny, she shouts "Saani" and cleans her hands with a sanitizer (her dad's insistent rule :-D), then runs to her side to hug and kiss her :). She is curious about everything - the diaper changing where she insists on helping (God save us :-D), the swaddling and even the feeding (much to my discomfort :-D). On the flip side, her behaviour with us has turned to a worse phase. She doesn't listen to anything we say, doesn't obey a bit and usually listens only when we threaten her with spankings. She was pretty okay during the 2 days we were away at the hospital, though she asked for me whenever she got up at nights. But after that, she has been quite unbearable. Some of it might be due to her grandparents' pampering ;-) :-D, and some might be because she didn't go to school for the first week, but the rest of it, the pediatrician says, might be just to get attention (he says "if not good attention, then bad attention" :-D). Hopefully things should be back on track soon.<br /><br />Thats about it for now, I still have loads to write - want to write about Sunny's thottilushaastra, and about the baaNanthana thats going on (have been wanting to write about that since Snugli was born, better late than never :-p) and many more things. But don't really know when I'll get the time to post, sigh :-\. <br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-2739793872624626602011-05-28T11:38:00.002-04:002011-05-28T11:42:08.171-04:00Its a girl!! (.....again :-D)<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000000;"><br />Our new latest diamond is all polished, lustrous and ready to be set. <br /> <br />Please join us in welcoming our second bundle of joy Saanidhya into this world.<br /> <br />Saa.ni.dhya<br /> <br />1. Proximity<br />2. Closeness<br />3. Affectionate<br />4. Togetherness<br /> <br />Delivery: Normal<br />Birth Date: 27-May-2011<br />Time: 11:22 AM EST<br />Weight: 10.7 lbs!!!! (yeah poor mom :-D)<br /> <br />The mom is a bit tired (to say the least) from all the pounds on the baby and the baby still a bit surprised to be dragged out unexpectedly (induced because of the weight anticipated). But both are doing well and will be home in a couple of days. The dad is a professional diaper changer already and the new big sister is all excited about the little one :). Photos will be up shortly :). <br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-31674250390610415362011-05-22T22:12:00.006-04:002011-05-23T12:18:14.993-04:00Snugli the big sis to be :).<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000000;"><br />Today I complete 9 months date wise, the due date is still a week away and I have no end in sight :(. I am running out of patience and though I pull my tired body along, its like c'mon little one, its time :-p. I feel like a dullard half the time (not that I can claim to know "what" a dullard feels :-p), tired and achy all the other times. The only good thing is that I am able to go ahead and cook a few specialties of my own for my dearest family who are all here (before you jump on me for that, let me specify that I'm not straining myself too much). Its wonderful to have dad back here, but whats better than that is having Darsh. Last time he couldn't be here and this time he already has a couple of plans in place to visit his friends. Yet, its very nice to be with him whenever we do get the time. The best part is that he has never seen me pregnant before, so he keeps eyeing my stomach as if it has an alien inside :-D. Even refers to it as a basketball (yeah my stomach texture actually feels like that - all rubbery and strong). Kinda brings back my first pregnancy memories :-D.<br /><br />Anyways that certainly wasn't why I'm writing this post. I have been meaning to write this one and a couple of other ones before delivery, but I'm not sure whether I can deal with the 2 other posts I planned. So glad to be able to put up this one atleast. This pregnancy as I have told you has been full of weird times. Where there were some really tiring times, there have been crazy times like me running around in my 6th month :-D. Don't worry, I was running in the swimming pool for exercize inbetween swimming sessions :-D. There have been astonishing moments other than these, especially thanks to having Snugli around. So lets wrap up the incidents.<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />I think I have mentioned this before, but we decided to inform her the news as soon as the doctor confirmed. I was really insistent on that because I didn't want the news coming to her from others, even grandparents for that matter. 3 year olds aren't really supposed to have lasting memories, but you never know what impacts where :-p. So the first person we informed after the doc's appointment was Snugli :). I don't even think she understood, because there wasn't much of a reaction at all. After I repeated the news a couple of times her response was - <br /><br />"Puttu baby bandre naanu hello heLthini" ("If little one arrives, then I'll say Hello" :-D).<br /><br />Hehehee :).<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />One of the things parents are worried about is the dreaded question - why? It happened once and thankfully I was able to escape without giving away the technical details ;-).<br /><br />Me: "Amma hotteli puttu baby ideyalla" ("There is a little one inside mom's stomach.")<br />Snugli: "Yaake?" ("Why?")<br />Me: "Maththe nin jothe aaDlikke yaaradru bekalla ninge?" ("You need someone to play with you right?")<br />Snugli: "Huun" ("Yes" happily).<br /><br />Phew, beeso doNNe tapthu (I escaped the swinging bat :-D).<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />Once the little one started kicking, I tried to get Snugli to feel the kicks. But thats easier said than done with a hyperactive 3 year old :-p. Whenever I would feel movements, I'd call her and tell her to "Shshsh" with my finger on my mouth sign and try to keep her still. Her response?<br /><br />"Amma enu sound keLtha illa" (Mom, I can't hear any sound")<br /><br />I had to convince her each time that there's no sound with the kicks :-p.<br /><br />Once she has been able to feel a few flutters, other questions (obviously) have risen :-p.<br /><br />Snugli: "Amma, puttu baby yaake kick kick maadtha ide?" ("Mom, why is the small baby kicking?")<br />Me: "Puttu baby ge hotteli jaaga illa alwa, adhikke." ("The small baby doesn't have much space in mom's stomach, thats why."<br /><br />God!<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />I keep reminding Snugli that she needs to share her old rattles/toys with the little one and she has always seemed happy to (don't know what the reality will be :-p). One day, she suddenly comes to me with a big smile and a rattle in hand. She says:<br /><br />"Amma, ee rattle puttu baby ge. Naanu puttu baby ge rattle shake shake maadthini, puttu baby ha ha ha antha nagthade" ("Mom, this rattle is for the small baby. I'll shake the rattle in front of the baby and the baby will laugh ha ha ha")<br /><br />:).<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />Now that she's aware that the little one either sleeps or kicks inside the stomach, this is something that happens regularly at our house :-D. One morning,<br /><br />Snugli: "Amma, puttu baby enu maadhta ide?" ("Mom whats the small baby doing?")<br />Me: "Jojo maadtha ide." ("Its sleeping.")<br />Snugli: "Good morning aaithu, innu yaake jojo maadtha ide?" ("Its good morning, why is it still sleeping?")<br />Me: "Hotteli kitaki illwalla, puttu baby ge good morning antha goththagolla. Addrinda jojo maadtha ide." ("There are no windows in mom's stomach, so small baby doesn't know its good morning, which is why its sleeping").<br /><br />Yeah, it hasn't been easy to have a quick reply ready :-p.<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />One day I was eating some adike (arekanut), when Snugli madam wanted to know what I was eating. Since I wanted to avoid giving her adike, I gave her some jeerige mithai and told her I was eating the same. She immediately retorts - "Open your mouth and show me"!! Madam wants proof, hehehe :)).<br /><br />Yet another day when I took her to the library, I parked the car in a different section than I usually do as the usual one was almost full. Her retort - "Why didn't you park there? There are still 2 spots open!", pointing to the empty spots available.<br /><br />God! Most of the times, it feels like I have a grandma around who is always criticizing everything I do and proof-checking things. I told her that she was "nammane ajji" ("Our home's grandma") and her reaction? <br /><br />"Naanu ajji alla. Naanu akka aagthene puttu baby ge." ("I'm not a grandma, I will be a big sister to the little baby.")<br /><br />There's no outsmarting the little one, not anymore :-p.<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />One evening, I was sitting with Snugli next to me when the baby inside kicked.<br />Me: "Hi baby, how are you?" to the little one inside (in English).<br />Snugli: "Amma, puttu baby 'Fine, thank you' heLlilla" ("Mom, small baby is not saying 'Fine, thank you' back") with a sad puzzled face.<br /><br />I had a tough time convincing her that the baby is not going to be saying anything anytime soon :-D.<br /><br />*********************************************************************<br /><br />Since about more than a month, she has become extremely adamant. Despite threats and bribes and severe consequences, hardly listens to us. Even her teacher was complaining that she doesn't even respond when her name is called. After my mom came along and now that my dad and Darsh are here, things have only gone downhill. Even if we scold her a little, she cries at the top of her voice and makes a big fuss with heavy drops of ears in her eyes. And you can imagine how grandparents are :-D. So yeah, we have tough times ahead ;-).<br /><br />I have started preparing her for my hospital trip - saying that I'll be gone for a couple of days and that she has to be with her grandparents for that time. And though she can come and visit me, she'll not be allowed to stay there and so on. She nods as if she understands, but I know there's going to be a fuss. I hope it'll all be minimal. Plus one of Sri's cousins gave me this idea of the older sibling exchanging a gift with the new arrival - a ritual that kind of makes the older kid comfortable ;-) :-D. I thought that there would be no harm in trying it and so I went with her to shop for a small gift for the little one. We both wrapped it up today and had a good time decorating it :-D. Meanwhile, I have a secret gift ready for her (from the newly arriving baby :-D) which is something she has been asking for and hope she loves it :-D. So the gifts are all set to be passed to and fro :-D. <br /><br />I'd be lying if I say I'm not worried about the whole transition. She still calls out to me for certain things, so I plan to make it a point to be there for those, but I know it can get a lot tighter with the various chores and stuff. I only hope I have the strength (I know I have ample support :-D) to manage it and cross everything in a smooth way. Lets see :).<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-41725863183959028652011-05-17T15:17:00.005-04:002011-05-17T16:08:26.197-04:00The one-sided conversation :-p<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000000;"><br /><em><strong>16th May 2011, Monday night:</strong></em><br /><br />Me: Just wished happy journey to Dad and Darsh who are taking a flight here :). I'm so excited! But man, oh man, I forgot to tell them that there'll be only..<br /><br />The baby kicks.<br /><br />Me: Uh, where was I? Yeah, there'll be only one customs form issued per family. I didn't even ask what they were doing about..<br /><br />The baby kicks.<br /><br />Me: If you keep interrupting my thought flow with your kicks, how am I supposed to think? :-p. Now what was I thinking about? Umm, immigration. I hope they..<br /><br />Another kick.<br /><br />Me: Man, I give up!<br /><br />(I guess this little one is not even as patient as Snugli was when she was in my womb - she'd atleast listen to her mom's weird thoughts before proceeding with her <a href="http://deardeepthi.blogspot.com/2007/09/conversations-with-myself.html" target="_blank">timely kicks</a> ;-) :-D, hehehe).<br /><br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11306577.post-56463220163988490982011-05-05T15:26:00.002-04:002011-05-06T12:28:50.596-04:00The thinking corner: The questions to life..<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><br />I know this might be a wrong time to start a new set of posts as I may not really get the time to follow up on it for quite sometime, but have been meaning to do this for quite a while now. My brain keeps running with some serious thoughts sometimes and I feel like putting them up in a post, but somehow they become too many and then I don't feel like writing anymore. Recently, I joined a group on Facebook and managed to post a set of thoughts there. Thats when I got the idea of doing this on my blog - a themed set of posts where I ponder seriously about something that takes over my brain. Hence, presenting the "Thinking corner". I don't want to push this any more, so lets start off without delay :).<br /><br />There are many times when I wonder why we are here. Why are we born? Why do we live? Why do we die? Are we just specks of dust that are aware that they exist? Or do our lives really make a difference anywhere in this vast universe?<br /><br />We all know that our lives affect atleast a few. Imagine concentric circles with the centre point being you. Your spouse or significant other is the first circle. Your parents, children, in-laws make up the second one. Your best friends form the third, first set of relatives the fourth, so on and so forth until your acquaintances make up the last circle. Most of the time, your life affects only these concentric circles and never ventures beyond the acquaintances circle. Yes, people in public lives like authors, celebrities or politicians go beyond these circles and affect the lives of strangers. But for a normal human being, the acquaintance circle is the end of it. And the nearer the circle to the center, the more the effect of your life, meaning the effect of our lives decrease as the circles become bigger. So who does my life impact most? Me.<br /><br />My life belongs to me the most. Your life belongs to you the most. My life makes a difference, to me. We have all heard of reincarnations (life beyond the current life), souls and ghosts. Its all good to hear, but we don't have solid proof for any of it. Death might be the complete stop for everything we know. So for all we know, this might be the only life we have. We may not get another chance like this. I do not believe in past lives, I may have had them, but I don't remember them anyways. And so it goes for future lives as well. I have been extremely lucky in getting the sort of life I have now and I may not be so lucky even if there are future lives. Hence I believe in taking full advantage of the only life I have, in living as much as I can in the short duration we have in this world. We don't know what tomorrow holds for us. The question you have to ask yourself is this "If tomorrow is the end of your world, would you have regrets?". If so, then you need to make changes so that you don't.<br /><br />We all know that we have to compromise and make adjustments for things in our lives to go smooth. But if the compromises and adjustments you make are causing you unhappiness, then are they really worth it? At the risk of sounding extremely selfish, there is a limit to everything, even personal sacrifice. If you are the only one making compromises and nobody else is even putting in the effort, then its bound to cause regrets at a later point in life when you look back and see what you have been through. There is just no point in bending to everything and everyone and later complain about how you have sacrificed all your life. Sometimes, to live your life, you have to be assertive (not aggressive) and let people know what you expect in a clear manner.<br /><br />Though some of the following might sound like cliché, I have seen people never expressing what they feel to their family members, not showing they love them; People not taking vacations despite being able to do so financially, not spending enough moments with their spouses or have spare time for their children; People whose aim is only to make money and not really spending it for a worthy cause; People who don't help others in need or contrastingly do help, but only to show off; People making promises they never keep; People who are total hypocrites, preaching something while they do something totally opposite. Is this really how we want our one and only life to be? Ultimately, we are the ones living our lives, we are the ones making all the decisions. Live in the moment and try and make a difference.<br /><br />All this being said, I don't have answers for any of the questions I asked in the first paragraph of this post. The fact is we may never have the answers. Everybody doesn't have the privilege of searching for answers, many don't have the financial circumstances for it and many others don't have the interest. Still others go for religious and spiritual guidance to look for answers. Yet others have pondered the questions, have decided that they probably will never know the answers and are satisfied with that. There are all kinds of people in this world. What works for someone need not work for you and what works for you need not be the solution for someone else. Whatever makes you happy is the key to life. Live and let live.<br /><br />"The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is 42"- by Douglas Adams in " The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".<br /><br />"So if your life flashed before you,<br />What would you wish you would've done?<br /><br />Yeah, we gotta start<br />Looking at the hands of the time we've been given<br />If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking<br />If every second counts on a clock that's ticking<br />Gotta live like we're dying<br /><br />We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to<br />Turn it all around or to throw it all away<br />We gotta tell them that we love them<br />While we got the chance to say<br />Gotta live like we're dying"<br />- Kris Allen in the song "Live Like We're Dying".<br /></span>Deepshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773068733721886525noreply@blogger.com0