Witty Serendipity

So, a few days ago, you and I were sitting together - I read, while you scribbled with assorted crayons and sketch pens on your drawing pad. (Also, I looked up every few minutes to make sure you weren't eating any of the crayons. Of course, I had to fish out a few chewed pieces!) You must've called me to see something, and I casually asked you to draw a circle, as I often do. And you moved your pen in a circular, oval-ish shape, as you often do. Then, I asked you to draw a triangle - not expecting that you actually would - or even could - draw one! A month ago, you wrote '3' when I asked you to. In the photo on this post, the 3 in yellow is yours, and I wrote the one in red after you'd written it first. I knew then that you knew counting till 5, and could also tell me accurately how many things (up to 5) of one kind there were in front of you. But, you really took me by surprise by writing the digit on just my casually asking you to. Day befo

There's something about your baby being unwell that shocks you with how you feel. This morning you vomited thrice, and I know it was just acidity, probably because you've been on antibiotics for a chest infection and fever, and now you're sleeping in, as I sit next to you and type this. After the third time, I had vomit running down the inside of my night-shirt, and woke up your Dad to keep an eye on you as you slept, while I went to wash up and change my clothes - when suddenly, a tiny hand snaked out from under the covers, held mine tightly, and you said, "Mama", and pulled me close. Needless to say, I didn't go wash up until you were safely fast asleep, and would've gladly sat next to you for hours if you wanted me to. I know it's nothing, but seeing you surprise yourself as you get sick, just breaks my heart.

It's almost exactly 8 months today since the day you came home. And we had to wait almost exactly 9 months before we found you. That's two human gestation cycles to get the baby born in our hearts. We're in the city of your birth again, and we signed the court order that's now made you ours forever and ever! Your Naani says, and she's absolutely right (as usual), that we were all already yours, and today you've become ours too. I love that the one sentence you speak clearly is where you very emphatically declare, "It's mine!" Once, you also said - "That's also mine!" And, my favourite, when I ask you whose Mama I am, you say "Maaa-INE!" How do I tell you how much I love you, my baby? Today was such an anticlimactic day once the court order was signed. You've been exhausted and cranky all day, and we've all been the same, really! But, while you and Naani were sleeping, your Dada and I had another drink together, a

Her great loves at 22 months: Dogs -- all dogs, but especially loves Brandy and Muffin, and has separate relationships with each of them, changing her behaviour according to their personalities Cats, cows, birds, all animals, actually -- I can't wait to show her an elephant and make her sit on a horse Books -- loves her picture books, and has already 'read' about 55 books in the last 7 months Playing with water, watering the plants The phone [insert eye roll] and watching nursery rhyme videos on it Meeting new people Going out with us and having new experiences Loves playing with other children, especially Semara Met Mahi last weekend, and asked to let us carry her around like all the adults were; when I made Mahi sit in her lap, touched her so gently and then kissed her without being asked to Loves her Naani the most-est! Instantly cheers up when doing a video call with her, but also talks to everyone in the family on video, and loves it. Words she can say: H

She knows how to count! At nineteen months, she shocked me by pointing to two butterflies I'd drawn on her etch-a-sketch, and lifting up two pudgy fingers. Now, at 21 months, the lifting of the two fingers is accompanied by a loud, " dooo " - a combination of ' two ' and the Hindi word for it, ' do '. Although she knows what fingers one to five represent while counting, her favourite remains two, and as a result, anything she counts adds up to " dooo ". She also knows all the main colours - red ( aed ), blue ( booo ), yellow ( ell ), black ( wack ), white ( aaeet ), green ( geee ), purple, orange (indecipherable sounds, but they always remain the same for purple and for orange). She points to the right colour always, when you ask her a question like, "where's red?" She'll even look around the room and point out the first red thing she sees. But, if you point to a red object, and ask what colour it is, her favourite go-to o

I quit my job. And not only did I quit my job, I also quit working full-time. Nine years at Discovery, and -- excuse the bad pun -- but, what made me truly discover what I want in life is just the last six months. And what I want in life is to spend every minute that I can with our wonderful baby daughter, who at 21 months and 13 days, is the most interesting person I know! Of course, things will be tough, money will be short, and chasing clients while freelancing will be a nightmare! But, one look at that face, and it's ALL worth it for the joy of being with this amazing little person, and helping shape the amazing woman she'll grow up to be!