Can we please get thru the terrible two's soon!

And she's not even 2 yet!

It's been a month or maybe even 2 since Swara stopped being the delighfully obedient child at all times. Now I'm watching her throw the same kind of tantrums that I've herad other mothers talk about when their child went thru this phase. And it's the same kind of things that make them all mad. It's like toddlers are intiated into a secret society where they are taught to throw the same kind of tantrums for the same reasons :)

Now I've done my research, talked to people and what not to find a solution. But of course, not all the kids are the same and what works with one child won't work with another. I know I'm making it sound like I've got a huge problem but it actually isn't so bad now. But I'm afraid it'll get worse if I don't control it and therefore am trying to nip it in the bud.

The most common reason a toddler would throw a tatrum is when they don't get what the want immediately. So I realized there were 3 things I could do. I could either let her cry it out and express all her frustration, I could reason out with her like I would treat another adult or I would distract her! By now, I've tried all these 3 methods. And the winner is ..... None! If I let Swara cry it out, she would only continue to be whiny and fussy the whole while. If I talked to her like an adult, well she's not an adult, so she dosent get it! And by distracting her, I was only putting a temporary fix to the problem. This was when it struck me, I should hear from a professional. So I hit the library! And I picked up 3 different books on the topic - The Happiest Toddler on the Block, What to Expect - The toddler years and Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. What I did learn was the 'cavekid' theory. Children don't understand adult language and so we have to speak to them in their own language. For instance if Swara could not wait her turn to get on the horse in the mall and yelled 'No amma, horsey, horsey , horsey'. I had to mimick her feelings by saying the same things back to her in the SAME tone so I got her attention. And then after I did get her attention, I was supposed to explain to her that she had to wait her turn because the little boy was riding and she shouldn't push him off and that if she waited instead, she'd become a big girl. Or something like that. Now I haven't tried this yet, mainly because I dont know how people would react to a grown woman shouting like a little child. But I'd like to try this at home first and see how she responds. And if it does work, great. But if it dosent, I wont be let down because I'm still the mother of a smart, beautiful, loving child!

Our tiny human being

It's been a while since I blogged again. And it's not that I don't have anything to say. I have tons to write about, especially about my baby and our journey raising her. So when I did come across a random blog written by a mother about her motherhood, it was a wake up call! We all have these wonderful experiences and events in life, be it good or bad, small or large. And we all think, "Boy am I going to remember this day forever". But it so happens that some of our minds (mine for sure) are incapable of remembering every event that takes place. And this is why I decided to write again.

Today's post is a happy one. We all know that as parents, some days we feel like we're doing an awesome job and some days we feel like we've been defeated. But those defeats don't matter when you first see your child ride her bike all by herself, or recite a nursery rhyme by herself, or say "thank you" to her music teacher at the end of the class without being prompted to do so. Today's joy comes from how Swara identified all the alphabets from the book by herself. Yes! All by herself! And the wonderful thing is that for Swara it was so much fun. She loves learning and loves books. The minute she wakes up, she runs to her book collection and brings me her books to read, one by one until I've had enough. Such is her love her books and she sure did not inherit it from Kartik or me. Anyway, that made life easy while trying to teach her the alphabet. [Highly recommend the fun but educational Leapfrog DVDs]

I know one thing for sure, I'm not going to be one of those pushy moms and direct Swara to do things I want her to do. Instead, we're going to expose her to a world of opportunities and let her decide what she wants and likes and support her through it. Cause I want her to be her own tiny human being. So if its books she loves, then it's a library we're getting her!

Seriously, what do you think about Sarah Palin?

John McCain introduced us to concept of the 'celebrity-politician'. But it was much before he chose his VP candidate. Little did he know that not only would she be touted as a celebrity, but worse, there would be articles that highlighted the 'Top 10 stupidest moments of Sarah Palin' http://theliepolitic.com/2008/11/sarah-palins-top-ten-stupidest-moments/

Her first debate was catastrophic. She came across to me as a cross between a beauty pageant contestant and a promise-making-but-breaking politician. What irritated me the most was her feeble attempt at "connecting" with the average American through her folksy phrases. what's with her English!? She was almost too informal in answering some of her questions that even a high school debater would have called her out.

She most definitely is not the brightest on current affairs. We will never know whether she honestly did not know that Africa was a continent (Truth is I doubt many Americans know this). She also claimed to not read any paper apart from the Alaskan Daily (or whatever the Alaskan publish is called). So much for a Vice Presidential candidate that would lead America!

And then there was the "turkey" of an interview she gave! Is she really that self-absorbed? I did think it was over-hyped - Like the American people didn't know how their turkeys got to the dinner table. Well they certainly did not die of old age! (shock!) But of course the point is the sheer silliness of choosing that backdrop.

Makes you wonder if it was her conservative background or her pageant-smile and legs that impressed the wise John McCain. She wears the same shoes as Paris Hilton for God's sake!

Everytime she kicks..

Here's something many of my close friends may not know about me. I have wanted to have a baby for a long time. I don't know why, but I was like a mother without a child. But we wanted to enjoy each other before our life would revolve around another being. And we did. We've travelled and have experienced so much in just 2 years of our marriage.

And finally my dream came true. I have another life growing inside of me. The beginning of my pregnancy was the most strenuous period of maybe, my life. I had morning sickness and I had the worst kind of it - The kind that made me puke first thing I woke up in the morning, and then after I had my mik, then after breakfast and then after my mid-morning snack... you know where this is going. And I'm still not entirely free from it, judging by the fact that my baby kicked the idli that I had for breakfast. (She's more a boiled egg and sandwich kinda gal, you see) Nevertheless, my nausea improved well enough that I could start enjoying my pregnancy.

The first time I felt her kick was while I was sitting at work. And I just knew. I knew that was my little baby's first pronounced movement. And I felt it at 14 weeks! I was so proud! If you want me to describe it I can, but it's not as good as the real thing. It was like she was poking me from inside and saying "Hi mommy". Ever since then the best part of my day has been whenever she kicks. And then for a moment I smile to myself and think "That was my baby" and she's inside of me and moving around and I'm going to do everything I can to give her the best life possible!

Kauai, Hawaii - The Garden Island

Greetings to all the avid readers of my blog (Who am I kidding!?)

I know, I know; it's been a long while. I just think there hasn't been a reason to blog. (Who am I kidding again, u don't need a reason to blog!)

But enough of the rif-raf, I will get on to my post, which is about the Garden Island - Kauai.

Think opening scene of the helicopter entering Jurassic Park, that is the island of Kauai, with the picturesque Na Pali coast. Yes, the Na Pali coast somehow defines Kauai. It is probably the most beautiful coastline of mountains with lush greenery bordering the ocean. I'm gonna try real hard to put this in as few words as possible. So here goes,

Highlights of our trip -

• Best view - Kalalau Lookout: Walking up the stairs to the lookout we didn't know what to expect, but once we reached the top, it was breathtaking. On one side we could see the ocean with a view of the forbidden island of Ni'ihau (privately owned). On the other side was the canyon.


• Best touristy thing we did - Na Pali coast boat tour: This was supposed to be a a 'Romantic sunset-dinner' cruise.We went with Kauai Sea tours. They talked to us about the island, Na Pali coast, the ocean and the creatures of the ocean. On our way we saw whales and dolphins swimming right by our boat. The captain stopped and let us watch and take photos. We couldnt take pictures becauese our camera wasn't waterproof! :( It was a lovely cruise nevertheless.


• Best Lunch - Mermaids Cafe: Handsdown! This is a little hole-in-the-wall. They have a small kitchena nd there's 2 tables outdoor, but the queue to the cashier proved it was a restaurant worth trying out. We ate there on 2 occassions, had the noodles with tofu in spicy sauce one time and the rice with satay the second time.


• Best Dinner - Duke's: We had a a voucher to eat anywhere so we obviously chose the best. They had the best salad bar which had the potato salad, ceasar's salad, pasta salad, and other usuals along with the best bread and muffin! We had crab cakes for appetizers (too oily so I didn't eat more than a bite), for main course I though I'd try somehting different and since it was our last meal and I decided I had to have fish being on kauai. So I asked the waitress for something that didn't smell fishy and I had the roasted firecracker ahi (fish) with blackbean and avovacdo relish - Yummo!. It was spicy and went to well with the relish. o top it off, we had the famous 'Hula Pie' - Apparently this is what the sailors swam to shore for! It's basically a macademia nut ice cream, covered with hot chocolate fudge and topped with whipped cream. Hubby and I shared and we had quite a fight!


• Best drink - Cold Coconut water: in other words... elaneer.. the holy grail of drinks in the scorching heat!


• Best drive - Drive from Kapa'a to the North shore: I have not been on a more beautiful drive, it was like driving thru' the amazon jungle. On one particular stretch, there were humongous trees on either side of the road that were so tall they joined at the center of the road to make a tunnel. Then on another stretch was some waterfalls and they were - just there, by the side of the road.


• Best Pleasant-surprise - The San Marga Iraivan Temple: Yep you read that right.. The temple was built by an 'American' vadyar. When we visited there were about 10 shilpis from Tamil Nadu carving out the sister temple - Kadavul temple. It was the most serene, beautiful and peaceful temple we'd been to, with an elaborate 3 hour Shiva puja. The floors were of marble. The main idol is Nataraja, with Ganesha and Murugan on wither side. All around the walls of the temple were small bronze statues of Nataraja about 1-ft, in different dance poses!


• Best Beach - Anini Beach: Probably cause we were there in the early hours of the day and were almost the only ones. We strolled, played frisbee, wet our feet and just gazed at the horizon.


• Best sunset -Kalapaki Bay: We had dinner at JJ's Broiler which had huge bay windows with a a view of the Kalapaki Bay and the sunset... Gorgeous!


• Best nap-on-the-beach - Salt Pond Beach Park: It was out first day, we were still jet lagged. We took a 1 hour nap under the coconut trees in the hot sun.. Never felt more relaxed...


• Best Stupid-thing-to-do - Napping in Salt Pond beach at 1:00 pm. Turns out 18 months of Indiana weather groomed my skin to bear winter weather. I was burnt rotten! My skin burned for the next week and then peeled off.. You read that right! - peeled off.. I still have the tan to prove it..

And with that I end my list.

Well we got to relax and enjoy some sunshine, which was why we got away in the first place; and boy are we glad!

I think it's about time I write a new post. Or I just may lose my challenge to DH!

Thing is, its year ending and my work does pick up now considering Im helping budget next years financials. Its very interesting, trust me...

Anyways I shall think of something interesting, already have a few ideas! So hold on...

Om Shanthi Om

There are two kinds of movie-goers in India. The first kind, that I feel is more predominant, just want an out-and-out masala movie with all the colors, glamour, big movie stars, and larger-than-life feel to it. Then you have the other kind who want to see something meaningful, something which they can learn from, or something that will give them food for thought.

Om Shanthi Om is a sure shot winner with the former category but a let down with the latter category. Okay there has to be another category, which is where I fall, of viewers who want a little bit of both. Whatever it may be, you can't fail to appreciate the beautiful sets; Manish Malhotra and Karan Johar's costumes.

The story, unfortunately, is distorted to me. Okay I buy the whole reincarnation theme. What I don't understand is why ony Shah Rukh Khan is reincarnated and not Deepika Padukone. While Om is able to remember his past and 'born with a vengeance'. Why is Shanthi's double just that - her double; and not her reincarnation.

The next topic that must be discussed - Shah Rukh Khan's abs! Face it, he is another middle-aged man who instead of buying a sports car or a condo, ends up building abs that don't even suit his personality. Of course, that's cause he already has the sports cars and the condos. But guess what Shah Rukh, your face gives it all away! Now this is where I stop or I know Ill get a howler from my friend G! (one of those die hard SRK fans that still cries when she sees Kuch Kuch Hota Hai)

Newcomer Deepika Padukone impressed me. Her first scene didn't srike a cord with me. But through the movie she improved; and looked great and acted decently. Atleast she had a variety of expressions (Watch out Aishwaya Rai.. or is it Aishwara Bachan?)

The highlight of the movie for me - The Om Shathi Om song.. Oh yeah, I mean the second one 'cause I think there were 3 or 4 of them- The one after SRK wins the film awards. That was 5 minutes that kept me guessing which star would appear next. I think Farah Khan sent out an open invitation for anyone and everyone in the industry to guest-appear and those that accepted were present in the song. Nevertheless, that was the most entertaining bit for me and DH & I had the most fun in the movie only then.

Overall we would have been happy watching the movie on a 2 dollar DVD rather than spending 25 dollars for the tickets and our usual popcorn (with looots of butter!) But why cry over spilt milk!?

Oh and I can't tell you how packed the theatre was. In fact, I've never seen so many Indians in one place in US before. Well, I guess we're all suckers for the glitz & glam of the movies!

Special Thanks to my girl friends who read my blog and pointed out my error! Sorry Ms. Farah Khan!

Reminiscing Diwali

A very Happy Diwali to all!

God how I wish we could celebrate Diwali with family back home. In fact its our Thalai Diwali (First Diwali after marriage), which would mean extra celebration! Instead, we woke up this morning, had our nalla-ennai-thechu Diwali bath, wore new clothes, got into the car and came to work..

While I didnt think it would bother me so much; sitting in my desk (with no work to do) makes me reminisce Diwali back home. The traditional Diwali day would go like this - Wake up at about 5 or sometime earlier to crackers being burst just below our flat. It's the boys that get up earlier than dawn so that they can get the satisfaction of waking people up by bursting crackers, and the louder ones at that, like the atom and hydrogen bomb. But never mind that, its Diwali! So we hurry up and take bath one by one. Amma reminds us that we have to rub nalla ennai (gingelly oil) on our heads and faces (Superstition - Otherwise we'll be born next life as a monkey!) Then I rush to join my friends in my flat so we can show off our new clothes and then of course burst crackers!!! I like the less noisier ones and the more showier ones. like flowerpots, chakras, cable car (yes there's somehting like that!) Then the poojai starts in our tiny vinayakar temple in front of the flat. We like to pray, but its the prasadam that lures us there.. :) Rest of the day is spent visiting relatives and friends and of course the best part - Bakshanam! Yes thats the magic word - Sweets and savouries are distributed left, right and centre which results in a whole collection of bakshanam that is just waiting to be sampled.

Hmmmppphh.. yes that was a long sigh. But you know what, there'll be many more Diwalis. And DH and I vowed yestreday to visit our family for the Diwalis to come.. Well, some of 'em atleast.. And we get to take part in the extravagant Christmas festivities here!

So to all those of you spending Diwali away from home (like us), Happy Diwali! and may your spirits not be dampened because thats what Diwali's about - being happy for all we have (and to pray for more!). And to all you folks celebrating Diwali with your family.. Know that you're lucky and make the most out of it!

Cheers!

Just don't get it!

Saturday morning.. Just another weeknd for hubby & I.. which means we watch one of the blocbuster movies that got shipped in the last week..

This time DH picked out the movie - Turistas.. Oh my, talk about gory!!! For those of you who havent watched this movie. The story goes like this - A group of tourists vacationing in Brazil get stranded when their bus meets with an accident. But lo! they find paradise not too far. Paradise consists of the beach, a bar and pretty girls in bikins.. Of course, all the beer and all the drinking get to them and they get robbed right to their bare essentials.. With no money and no clue, they trust a local who takes them to his 'uncle's' house.. Turns out they were schemed into getting to the house by all the villagers (including the bikini clad chics!). And what do the schemers want? the tourists' vital organs.. I mean kidney, liver, heart etc etc...

Now as is the case with any horror movie.. I just dont understand, why in the name of God, would someone write such a story??? Is it that their minds are so demented and twisted? I know, Story writing is an expression of your imagination and creativity. But to imagine and creat such fiction, I just don't get it!. Maybe someone could help me understand the fun in making horror movies and watching them...

Well I for one, have sleepless nights for until a week of watching them And I'm still suffering from the after effects of watching Turistas.. which is why I had to pent out my emotions here!

Wonder Food!

Ok I'm a health buff! Always trying to eat well and excercise and all that healthy stuff. So I just want to share some of my knowledge on this topic. There are many of us who are always on the go and can't care less about what we eat, as long as we eat! Now thats not a good thing; nevertheless it is predominant among the working group. We probably don't even have time to fix food for ourselves, leave alone make sure we're getting all the essential nutrients. But I have discovered something wonderful that had ridden me of this worry - Fortified Cereals!

Yes, Fortied cereals. We all love cereals, in fact, I know people who could even eat cereal for dinner (Guilty!). Some breakfast cereal manufacturers fortify their cereals with more vitamins and minerals that are probably even available in a prenatal! (I've been doing my research) So when you eat your fortified cereal breakfast along with milk.. you'll be getting everything from calcium, iron, protein.. to vitamin B12, Folic Acid and what not.

It is true, Necessity is the mother of invention. And thats how this product came about - to meet the needs of growing percentage of nutrient-deprived people. So stop skipping breakfast or eating doughnuts and muffins.. And give this wonder food a shot!