Roar Like A Lion

The Alphabet

A week back Aunty Otta stuck some nursery/kindergarten style learning pictures on the upstairs living room wall. There is the alphabets one and the numbers one. The alphabets show each letter with a picture of an object that starts with the alphabet. The numbers show random objects in the amount of the corresponding number. Two nights ago while we were hanging out upstairs, you brought mummy to the alphabets on the wall. Mummy took it as a sign you wanted to learn. So I started off with the letter closest to me. I said, "B. B is for Bee. Bzzzzzzz. Bee Elil." The letter was actually Q for Queen Bee. You smile as you usually do when mummy teaches you animal sounds. You especially love the buzzz of the bees. You turn back and stare at me as if trying to get my attention back to the alphabets. So I look at the alphabets and then back at you. You are staring intently at a particular alphabet. You struggle to get on your feet and stand up using the wall to support you. Your arms are stretched, you point at the letter L and start growling. "Grrrrrr grrrrr", you said. Wow! I look at you and smile (my head off). I clap and tell you what a good and clever girl you are and hug you ever so tightly. So much excitement but I look around and there is no one to tell how proud I am of my little angel. No one except Shan that is, but I doubt she would find anything special in Elil growling like a lion especially when she was so engrossed in Barney. So mummy kept this joy all to herself. All these special little moments to be cherished forever.

xxx
Mummy

Big Boo Boo

Today you had a big boo boo. And who's irresponsible supervision were you under when this unfortunate incident ocurred? MUMMY'S!!! Oh no!

When Ronan was born, he was given a musical tricycle from a friend of his daddy's. The type where there is a long handle at the back for mummys n daddys to steer/control their babies. It has a little button in front that you can press to play music. The tune is some tacky 80's pop song in which the title escapes me right now. Mummy believes this particular ingenious creation was meant to be some sort of bug, either a bee or grasshopper.

Anyway, since Ronan is a little too young to cycle or to be pushed around in this contraption, you have been happily entertained by it for some months now. You especially love the music. A few days back mummy decided to push you around the neighborhood in it because you are getting heavier and its harder now to carry you around during our strolls and visits to the playground. You seem to find EVERYTHING interesting. And tend to pull your body weight toward every object that fascinates you. Mummy ends up being pulled from one tree to another, from one post box to the next and to every other patch of carpet grass you see. Oh speaking of carpet grass, you long to touch it with your fingers but are 'geli' to stand on it barefoot. So mummy has to dangle you on top of the grass so you get to feel it without having to step on it. Your legs curl up everytime mummy tries to put you down. It's quite funny.

Ok back to your boo boo story. So this morning as I was feeding you your oatmeal breakfast, the little bee (or grasshopper) caught your eye and you went absolutely nuts. Obviously mummy had no choice but to bring you outside and onto your bee (or grasshopper). So we set out into the neighborhood, up and down the lane. You occassionally pressing the magical (music) button and mummy feeding you a spoonful of oatmeal upon your request. You must have been hungry this morning because you kept turning around to ask for more. This nearly never happens. Then on our last stretch, you decide its more fun if you had both legs on one side of the buggy instead of the conventional (and not forgetting more stable and safe) seating position of one leg on each side. Mummy wasn't too worried because I still had control of the steering. Then suddenly something (mummy forgot to check what it was) caught your attention because in an instant you swooped down bringing your full weight on one side. You topple over bringing the whole buggy with you and land face down on the pavement. It takes 1.5 seconds before I hear your wail. I already have you in my arms but you are still entangled in the buggy. Mummy holds you close for a few seconds and tries to console you. Then I take a look at your face and the rest of the body to see if you are injured. Everything is fine except for a scrape on top of your lip. Not too bad. Nothing permanent. Your cries turn into cries of anger somewhat. No longer of pain. Mummy holds you tight and as we walk back to the house, you notice something interesting on the gate. You stop crying and mummy brings you closer to the desired object. You smile. Mummy smiles and is relieved you are truly ok. Your eyes are red and your face wet with tears. There is still dirt from the ground stuck to your face. Mummy brushes it off. Mummy wishes she doesn't have to leave you for work.

xxx

mummy

Look who's talkin 2

You wow mummy once again. Overnight you seemed to have quadrupled your baby vocabulary. Your first word (and only word for the longest time) is 'tata'. You have a lot of things you need to say but when you open your mouth to speak, all that comes out is 'tata'. So for a while, everything was 'tata' to you. Or 'tatata' ot 'tatatata'. Initially we thought you were calling for your tata (Tamil for grandfather) but then EVERYTHING was tata so mummy firgured it was the only word you managed to master. BUT yesterday, you blurted out so many different words. There was 'neneh', mummy thinks this is means you want your nennen. And then I heard 'dada'. Maybe you were calling for your daddy who has been away for a week now and whom you miss tons i'm sure. AND you even said 'mama' a coupla times. Sometimes you go 'papa' or 'papapapa'. It's always amazing when something new comes out of your mouth.

A few weeks back, you started making this new sound. It sounds a little like a lion roaring. Mummy teaches you animal sounds and figured maybe you were imitating a lion's roar. Still I wasn't convinced. THEN a couple of days back, mummy was talking to Shan and all of a sudden she gets real angry and lets out this growl sort-of. She tilts her head down and rolls her eyes up. Crosses her arms over her chest and shows me her angriest face. AND then it hits me. You are a copycat and have taken after Shan's angry/frustrated growl. Oh goodness, mummy couldn't stop laughing. How cute. Another new sound you have been making a lot of lately goes something like this, "bthhhhhhhhhhhh". A bit like a bee buzzing. Mummy teaches you about buzzing bees too. And you like them very much. But let's wait and see what else cuzzin Shan has up her sleeve.

The Mohawk

Mummy gave you a mohawk the other day. The lighting is bad so you can't really see it. But you seem pretty fine with this look. Will try this do again sometime in natural sunlight and when you have more hair. The mohawk works best when you are nice and sweaty. Your hair gels real well.

On The Purple Dinosaur

Who loves Barney?

Mummy's sure of it, you are a couch potato in the making. Shan loves watching all her cartoon channels and you are always there right beside her. A loyal lil' sister indeed. Always wanting to be a part of the action. The bean bag is your usual favorite spot and you can watch cartoons for around 10 minutes before you get bored and start to explore the living room for more interesting objects.

Mummy was surprised 3 days back when you were seated in front of the tele on your knees with your legs bent back as usual and Barney came on. The moment you heard, "Barney is a dinosaur from our imagination...", you went hysterical, almost. You were bouncing up and down, your eyes glued to Barney and full of excitement, palms together clapping away. Mummy's not sure how else to describe your reaction to that purple dinosaur; super thrilled is an understatement! You are not this excited even when you see mummy at the gate after work. Well, it's a different type of excitement anyway.

Mummy can't quite describe the noises you were making but I'm sure if I could understand baby language well, you were probably saying, "Mummy, mummy look, its Barney! I love Barney!" over and over again. Because you kept looking back at me as if to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Like you wanted me to watch this purple dinosaur and his little friends because they were so much fun. You seemed to be making sure mummy didn't miss a thing. It was so amazing. At that moment I realized that my little angel baby is on her way to being a full-fledged toddler and the signs were showing up already! You're growing. My baby is growing! It was bitter sweet and mummy wasn't sure how to react. You just blew me away with that smile and that genuine, innocent joy and pure excitement.

Mummy was struggling very hard to hold back the tears. Boy was I beaming with pride and smiling from ear to ear. My initial reaction was to grab the camera to capture the moment on video so that we could have it with us. But then I realized, I would have spoiled it for myself had I experienced it through the camera's lense. So I just absorbed it and now its etched in my heart and mind forever. The joy you bring me is immeasurable.

xxx

mummy

The songs I sing to you

Mummy loves singing. She doesn't have a great voice but she sings in tune (most of the time) which is fine by you. I sing to you all the time but I 'belt it out' at bed time. You are so calmed and soothed by my singing. Our current favorites are....

1. My Bonnie
My bonnie lies over the ocean

My bonnie lies over the sea

My bonnie lies over the ocean

So bring back my bonnie to me

Bring back, Bring Back

Bring back my bonnie to me, to me

Bring back, Bring Back

Oh bring back my bonnie to me

2. K' Sara

When I was just a little girl

I asked my mother

What will I be?

Will I be pretty?

Will I be rich?

Guess what she said to me?

K' Sara Sara

What ever will be will be
The future's not ours to see

K' Sara Sara

3. Daisy Daisy

Daisy Daisy

Give me an answer do

I'm half crazy

Over the love of you

It won't be a stylish marriage

I can't afford a carriage
But you look sweet

Upon the seat

Of a bicycle made for two

Mummy learned all these beautiful songs from Grandma. And now I'm teaching them to you. They're classics - simple yet have such deep meaning. Keep these close to your heart and teach them to your little ones. Mummy has just started singing this to you as well....

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and White
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me..

Blossoms of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever

Edelweiss Edelweiss
Bless my home land forever

A shot with grandma who loves you so.

Happy Mother's Day

Thank you sweetheart for the wonderful card. Mummy was very much surprised to get 2 cards for Mother's Day. So little and already you have such a great sense of humor. You must get this from mummy. ;)

On the cover....

And inside....

How true baby boo!

mummy

xxx

The many faces of YOU

The Curious Look

The Faraway Look

The Eee-bil Sneeky Look

And finally....The Classic Elil

Finger Food

Meal times are long but fun. Messy but funny. Mummy tries to feed you at the dining table on your high chair most of the time just so you get into the good habit. However, sometimes its more fun to just hang out on the sofa. So here you are, going at your breakfast....

You like a breakfast of bread, cheese and boiled egg.

Mummy still feeds you but also lets you feed yourself when you insist. It's good distraction which works all the time.

Today's breakfast is hard boiled egg and cheese. You never say no to cheese.