Belated wishes for a Happy New Year 2013!!

Shal Amma says: I know I had been slacking over the second half of last year and posted nothing on the blog, sorry folks! We will try and be regular from now. Here is the latest attempt on what started as a project end of last year during Christmas and has taken more than a month to post, but at least we are back! 

The threesome at Premshala have posted highlights of the year 2012 with a hope and promise to make 2013 more beautiful, memorable and fun! 

Happy New Year family and friends! We love you!

Say it my way!

My lovely family and friends, hope you are doing great! Amma finally got around posting this after sleeping over it for almost two months!! I started saying my first words when I was 9 months old (I said only Amma at that time though!!) but now I talk a lot more.... 

Sana got a boo-boo!!

Amma will post my babbling video soon (and this time soon will come soon!) so stay tuned! Here's how I say it!
People:
Amma	Amma
Appa	Appa
Paati	Paaa-thi
Thatha	Thaath-tha
Mama	Mumma
Mami	Maa-Ni
Baby	Beby
Ashish	Achish
Ani	Ani
Yash	Ash
Arun	Ayun
Ashwini	Achi
Tarun	Ta-tun
Tvisha	Tee-sha
Chitthi	Chitti
Chittappa	Chittha
Sana	Nanna
Maasi	Maashi
Naani	Naani
Aunty	Anti
Prem	Pem
Bama	BA-MA (loud and clear!)
Ummachi (baby talk for God)	Ammaashi
Doctor	Doctow
Suresh	Suesh
Vahini	Nanini
Shweta	Cheta
Swamini	Tam-ni-ni
Swarna	Sorna
Jamie	Jamie
Christian	Krishna!
Shalini	Taani
Prakash	Pakaach
Animals:
Monkey	Mahnki
Dog	Daw
Elephant	Ele
Ostrich	Ostich
Billi	Billi
Owl	Owl
Sleepy sheep(my favorite book)	Peep-peesh
Body parts:
Nose	Mosh
Eyes	Eyesh
Mouth	Mow
Hand	And
Toes	Tosh
Cheeks	Cheeksh
Hair	Air
Teeth	Tith
Food:
Juice	Joussss
Apple	App-pul
Cracker	Caa-ker
Doll	Daw
Dosai	Dosse
Spoon	Poo
Bread	Bed
Yogurt	Yoggurt
Cheese	Cheesh
Food	Mum-mum
Plate	Pate
Milk	Dhu-dhu/Paal
Songs/Rhymes:
Gajanana Shri Ganraya	Ga-ga-ga
Up above the world so hi	Up-aba-the-ho-ho-high
Happy birthday to you	Appy ba-aeh too-oo
Ashes ashes we all fall down	Ashes Ashes aw-aw dowwwn
Bolo Mere Sang	Hands up in the air & Jai Hind!!!
Krishna Nee Begane....	(Will complete the song with) Baa-bo
Everyday items and misc:
Book	Boo
Brush	Brush
Paste	Paste
Watch	Autch
Glasses	Glashesh
Ink	Gink
Clip	Pic!
Please	Peesh
Thank-you	Than-thoo
Bye-bye	Ba-bye
Car	Caah
Close	Cosh
Shoes	Shuss
Socks	Thawks

Thoughtful moments!!

Post from Amma:

Here's what my darling daughter made for Mother's Day (with Uncle Khawoosh and Aunty Parvin's help!) at her daycare. On Mother's day, I was showered with kisses all over my face, thanks to darling Appa and his spell on Sana! Could not have asked for more thoughtful gifts!!

Post from Sahana:

Dear friends and family,


I turned 1.5 years old last week and entered the 'little girl' stage of life!! Amma is going to start a new page on something new...stay tuned!


Here are a couple of videos of my birthday celebrations with Paati, Appa and Amma.




AND

My people!!! I am very excited to tell you all stories from our recent trip! Amma, Appa and I went to Costa Rica and I had many a new encounter and little experience that I'd love to share with you all. 

Little birdie:
Every morning, we would go down to the hotel's open garden restaurant for breakfast and I would enjoy looking at fish, touching butterflies, smelling flowers and playing with birds. One day, just as Amma and I were entering the restaurant area, a little birdie that Amma called a 'humming bird' flew straight to a glass window and came crashing to the ground. I was right there walking in when this happened. I could not get my mind away from the little birdie that lay there gasping for breath. While we all thought it will not wake up, someone came and lifted it a bit and it flew right away!! Yayy, I was glad the birdie was not hurt and would come back and play with me again!


Smoothies:
I was excited to be traveling around Costa Rica and did not really care to eat food. But the one thing I decided to indulge in were the tropical smoothies. Like my Mala Paati, I love juices and loved sipping the yummy fluids! Fruit punch (a blend of fresh tropical fruit juices) was my top choice, followed by watermelon and mango smoothies.


Hola!:
Amma had taught me to say 'Hi' to anyone that appeared in front of me, so I would say 'Hi' to everyone and they would say it right back to me. Interestingly some of them would reply and say 'Ola', so I learned that I had to customize the greeting and say Ola to some people. Appa says he will learn Spanish from me some day, yay! 


Monkeys:
I took keen interest in spider monkeys, but more interesting was the fact that they would only play with me and move wherever I went. There were many other people in the jungle tour that tried to take pictures of the monkeys, but they would constantly follow me. I think Appa is right in calling me a 'little monkey' after all ;-)


Soak time:
Would you believe if I said I soaked in hot springs for almost seven hours? Yes, we got in and out of the 14 different hot springs, but all in all I was in the water for over six hours and loved it!


Big brother/Anna:
We met with another Indian family at the resort. Their son, Govind soon became my 'Anna'. Anna was really sweet and played with me one evening and let Amma and Appa peacefully chat up with Nandita Aunty and Harish Uncle. We met again for a nice dinner, and my new Anna let me play games on his iphone!


Girlfriend:
Amma, Appa and I went to this pizza/sub takeout place located close to our resort. There was a girl named Alexis that was about 2 years older than me. I'll call her Lexi. The aunty that made the subs for us took a long time to make it, so in the interim Lexi and I played while Amma chatted up with Lexi's mom. Apparently, Lexi's mom left the United States and came to Costa Rica when Lexi was in her tummy. Amma and Aunty talked for a long time and Amma even bought jewelery that Lexi's mom had made herself.  She used to be a jewelery designer in New York, but left all that to live a life for Lexi and herself and decided Costa Rica was the place. Everyone in the area helps her out with doctors' fees and small loans for the little shop. Amma calls Lexi's mom brave and inspiring.


Flight journey and nice lady:
Who ever likes flight travel!?! I sure did not like it, but did not mind it as much as Appa and Amma. As Amma was trying hard to get me to nap, and I had decided to play rather than nap, this nice lady sitting in front of us turned around and asked Amma if she could talk to me. Pat came a big nod from Amma. She had magic in her voice and touch, for I slept within seconds!! Then Amma, Appa and the lady chatted until we actually landed! Her oldest kids (2 of them) were biological while the youngest was adopted from China. She and her husband are both practising lawyers that travel around the world on long-term assignments. She had a lot of interesting stories that kept both Appa and Amma entertained and less troubled from the long flight journey!


Note from Amma:
We meet so many interesting people, characters and beings and forget them along the way in our busy lives. This was a little attempt to remember those people and moments that helped make this trip so special.

Belated wishes...

for a Happy Valentine's Day and even late Indian Republic Day!!!

Here's what Amma-Appa got for me this Valentine's but we were late in opening the gift so I enjoyed it the day after. At first I didn't quite 'get' it, but later my daddy dearest showed me what to do, and ho ho ho, there was no stopping me after that! I fell in love with the crawl tunnel, and refused to go to bed without playing in it for one-last-time for the day!!! Amma recorded it and posted a video. Here it is:

Here are a couple of pictures from Republic Day - January 26. Thatha got me this Neta (politician) outfit from Rajasthan! On the picture to your right, I was folding my hands to say 'Namaste' but Amma clicked the camera too soon! In any case, 'Jai Hind'!!!

         

Then and now...

Hi there!!

I love walking!! It is soooooo cool!! See how I walked back in November 2011 for the first time and how I do it now and tell me what you think... :D

and now:

Big Sister!!!!

Last month I told you I am no longer a baby, well guess what, I am now a BIG sister as well!!!! My Deepak Chittappu and Gauri Chitti gave me a little brother on December 9 last year, and so I will now get to play with my little cute brother. Of course, I'll teach him how to be a prankster and yet be the apple of everyone's eye!!!!

Also, my Surbhi Maasi and Ashay Uncle gave me little sister "Anika" two days ago, and I could not be a happier Big Sister!!!!! Anika and I will hang out, go shopping and be great girlfriends just like mom and Surbhi Maasi!!!

Stay tuned for more updates. Ammu said she finally got some time to upload various pictures. =)

 My Peops!!

I have a lot of things to share with y'all!!!! First of all, I am no longer a baby - I'm a tot now! I walk, trot, sing, talk and sleep all night!!

Let me backtrack and take you back a couple of months. In October, Paati, Ammu and I went to the country of my origin - India!! On reaching, I fell a little sick but hey who doesn't? It was new land, new air, new weather and what not...but once I got accustomed to all that, I was one happy camper! Everyone showered their affection and spoiled me with their love!! No, but this time I did not get spoiled and actually became a nice girl :D

I was welcomed with decorations, balloons, candies and a lot of love. Here's one of the pictures from the welcome decor by Vauhini mami and Suresh Mama:

On my 11th month birthday on 9th, both Ammu and I were feeling unwell so our spirits were low. But Thatha, Big Paati, Big Athhai, Deepak Chittappa and Gauri Chitti visited us and surprised me with many gifts. We took a picture of the four generations, my great-grand paati, my Thatha, my Chittappa (Appu was in Hong Kong) and me. See it here. Also, here's a picture of my birthday cake (yummy orange cake):

We went to Bengaluru (Ammu says it had a better name previously), Tirupathi (to give my hair to Ummachi (God) Balaji. We then went to sunny Goa to visit Ammu's side of relatives. I had fun with everyone I visited, but most with my great grandmom - Meechi Paati. She is super cute and beautiful!!!!! My other favorite people are my Minu Chitti, Geeta Mami-Paati, and oh-so-handsome Raja Mama-Thatha! It was very hot there, so I decided to be in my 'birthday' clothes!! Hehehe...We even took a picture of the four of us representing four generations:

Once we were back to Mumbai, I had the funnest vacation time ever (remember I had just got better from my illness!) Ammu and Mama took me to malls, restaurants and parks. We celebrated Diwali together and I loved the sound of cracker - it cracks me up hehehe :-) I woke up early in the morning and celebrated with sweets and savories. See how brave I am! 

                                     

We then headed over to my Malathi Paati's home and spent some great moments with her, Chitra Chitti Paati, Vijay Chittappa Thatha, Vivek Chittappa (he's very sweet!!) along with Deepak Chittappa and Gauri Chitti (Yayyy she just made me a BIG sister!!!!! I will take care of you my little tiny Brother!!) 

                             

                                                                                         


Now is when the most fun started!! We had a host of celebrations in honor of my BIG birthday that was coming up. My kutti (younger) Paati and Thatha visited me all the way from Chennai and we spent a ton of fun time together! We went to this restaurant called 'Village' with Ammu and Appu. Check out the pictures and you will know what I mean when I say we had fun!! I cut an Indian version of cake - moong dal halwa with a gulab jamun on top =)

Then came the 'D' day!! My Indian birthday!! There are a lot of pictures to share, but I will try and update as and when I get them. Here's one of my chinna (younger) Paati and Thatha that came all the way from Delhi just to attend my birthday!! See my favorite Suresh Mama carrying me on his shoulder:

There's even a video that Ammu will put later on my website.

A lot more to update you on, but too little time you know!! I will catch up with you all very soon, till then Ciao!!!

Hap Hap Happy Birthday Priyanka Maasi!!!!!!!!

I love you love you love you! You knew it the moment I sat on your lap and played with you when we left from the Airport to your home on October 6th, didn't you?? Gaurav Uncle, please make sure my Maasi has a great time today and buy her lots of choc and cookie okieee?

A year old today...

Ammu says:


You looked like a dew drop, you felt like a bloom
You came into our lives and made it a bliss
I am thankful to you my darling, for making me your mom...
for I know not how life would have been, if not for your tender smile.


Your first word was 'Amma' and still is your favorite word 
My heart melts every time you say it!
You bring sunshine into our lives
every morning with that nice wide grin =)


Today as you enter the second year of your life
It is a very happy birthday to you and to me
for you are a year old girl
and I am a year old mom!


Thank you Kuttiyoosh!



At 7 am:
Yayy I am lucky to have Thatha with me on my 1st calendar birthday!!! Hangin' out with Thatha and my pomegranate friends - Bamu Paati they are looking good and missing you a lot!

Lakdi ki kaathi, kaathi pe ghoda, ghode ki dum pe jo mara hathoda, 
Dauda dauda dauda dauda dum utha ke dauda...(giggles)(giggles)

Birthday celebrations started early morning with early birthday gift and wishes from my Surbhi Maasi, Ashay Uncle and little sister (to-be). I love my pink pony and I love you too!!!