Nandini

2012-01-06T07:35:00.001-08:00

Today I made a cobbler

2012-01-05T04:34:00.001-08:00

What is smaller than an ant's mouth?Ant's food.Nandini

Nandini and Avni

2009-03-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Growing up together, fighting, playing, loving and hating. Sometimes they cuddle, sometimes they scream. They have a synchronized wailing attack, which sends me dizzy. Avni is speaking sentences - kya kar rahe ho, papa kahan hein. Strange, she hardly speaks many words. Nandini is dancing better, learning new things every day and is a lot of fun. She is looking forward to joining Amity. I hope she settles in well there.

The 10 O’Clock Rule at LifeClever ;-) Tips for Design and Life

2008-02-28T03:03:00.000-08:00

Ruchir sent me the following link

The 10 O’Clock Rule at LifeClever ;-) Tips for Design and Life

I think this makes a lot of sense. For a person like me who gets confused every day about what to wear and how to dress the kids up, if I lay out mine and the kids' clothes the night before, it surely helps. One thing I have also realized helps a ton is to clean up the house before going to sleep, that ensures one wakes up to a clean house and does not get disoriented in the morning, trying to sort things out. As a work from home mom of a toddler and an infant, I probably need all the efficiency(and more!)

Big Sis Act

2008-02-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

Nandini is playing big sister to Avni, orders her not to cry, to open her mouth for applying vaseline on her lips. She also tells me to feed Avni when the little one cries("dudhu pilao, Avni chup ho ja"). Shows her all kinds of stuffed and other toys("dekh Avni dekh"), asks her to hold her crayons("pakad"!)

Bollywood influence

2008-02-02T04:04:00.001-08:00

Nandini is mesmerized by Shahrukh Khan, and the dimpled badshah of bollywood surely makes her jump. She shouts Sharook as soon as she glimpses Shahrukh anywhere.

Welcome movie's song Kiya Kiya also has her dancing. Yesterday, she saw Anil Kapoor's snap in Economic Times and called out Kiya Kiya. It took me a while to figure out the connection, Anil features in the song!

Update on Nandini's activities

2008-02-02T02:45:00.000-08:00

Its been a while since I chronicled Nandini's activities, Nandini has a little sister for company now - Avni and I have been busy meeting the demands of pregnancy, career, family, home..Now that Avni is two months and things are settling into a routine, it is time to clear the backlog :)

Nandini can speak sentences of 3-4 words, and her favourite ones are - Avni crying crying, Avni so gayee, Avni dudhu, Chup ho gayee. Thank you is uttered in a major sing song fashion, and so is welcome. She runs to the door as soon as she hears her dad's remote lock sound, and hugs him. Carries his tiffin back to the kitchen. Loves to watch Teletubbies, and her taiji has got Poh as a gift for her. Poh is covered in a shawl just like Avni is, and the shawl is called thandu. Nandini is always eager to go out, though she is still a bit shy in front of strangers.

She can join blocks, solve 2 piece jigsaws, put A-B-C, 1-2-3 and geometrical shapes back in their moulds. She plays a bit with PlayDoh, and she can match animal fronts with their backs. She can act on "I am a teapot", "Twinkle twinkle" and "Hickory Dickory". Her naniji has taught her the steps for the first two lines of "Mere haathon mein nau nau choodiyan hein"

I want to talk

2008-01-29T04:22:00.000-08:00

Nandini is at her Nana's home these days and when call up Sonal, it is Nandini who takes up the call. Not that she speaks much. She is still in the semi-gibberish state speaking at most 2-3 word sentences. But she wants to hear. Often she freezes on the phone, just listening and not uttering a word. But if I recite one of the few poems that she knows, Sonal tells me that she makes the gestures associated with the poems.

Sharp Memory

2007-07-31T11:33:00.000-07:00

Last week Nandini got down with fever, so we took her to the doctor. She was all fine and quite on our way to the doctor's clinic. But as soon as we entered the clinic (which was empty, even the doctor was not there) she started shouting and crying and trying to make us take away. We had a rough time getting her inspected and diagnosed and Sonal had to take her out of the clinic while I took the prescription. Imagine what happened next. As soon Sonal took her out of the clinic she stopped crying and was back to normal.

We were taken by surprise by this reaction of hers. Soon we remembered a similar thing has happened the last time (a few months back) when we took Nandini to the doctor's place for her vaccination. Then she had started crying as soon as we moved her in position for the doctor to vaccinate her.

With the doctor not there and there didn't seem any reason why Nandini started crying as soon as we entered the clinic. The only reason that I can think of is that she remembered her last visit to the clinic and that something nasty was about to happen to her and that is why she created the ruckus.

From a child of 17 months this was a pleasant surprise.

Obsession with Pink Shoes

2007-07-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

We had bought a pair of cute little pink shoes for Nandini to wear on her first birthday. At that time they were a shade bigger and were the first ever pair of shoes for Nandini, quite obviously she wasn't comfortable in wearing them. So we kept them away for a while and when Nandini grew a litter bigger we got her a pair of sandals, the ones which make a sound when you walk. Initially she was not very comfortable wearing them too, but then she caught fancy of the sandals and loved creating a ruckus with the sound that would come out when she walked.

Soon, Nandini grew out of the sound making sandals and we got the pink shoes back in action. Nandini seemed to have found a long lost toy. She always wanted to wear them. After a while they got worn out (due to repeatedly getting wet) so we thought of phasing them out and got a new pair of shoes for Nandini and removed the pink shoes.
One day she somehow found out the pink shoes from our shoe cupboard and since then she either asks us to make her wear them or she carries them where ever she goes. She even sleeps with them and when we try to hide the shoes away she always manages to find them back. ;-)

Nandini now speaks

2007-07-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Her vocabulary comprises of: tata, mummy, papa, abhi, hato, aao, chu chu (means that she is wet) and chu (means that she wants to wear shoes).

She also knows where her teeth and ears are.

She can also make actions for 3 poems: "I am a teapot", "Twinkle Twinkle", and "Hickory Dickory"

Nandini will do as whatever she wants to

2007-03-08T23:20:00.000-08:00

She opened the dresser and was playing with my eye shadow

and when I closed the room after getting her out, cried for 5 minutes clinging to the door!

Where are my feet?

2007-02-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

We gave Nandini her new slippers and she was excited to wear them. But as soon as she wore them, she thought something is hiding her feet and that something has got stuck to her feet. Now she has been trying to throw it off by kicking her feet in the air. This is strange as she never showed this expression when she wears shoes.

Nandini turns 1

2007-02-25T08:12:00.000-08:00

Nandini turned 1 on 20th Feb and threw a birthday party for her friends and her papa's and mama'a friends. Everybody had a great time and enjoyed the party.
Nandini got her first car and she has taken a liking to it and always enjoys a ride on it.
Check out the new photos at www.flickr.com/ruchir75

She learns to sweep :)

2007-02-01T04:01:00.000-08:00

Her favorite toy these days is the jhadu. I know she will soon graduate to the pocha as well..

The outgoing little baby

2007-01-30T23:23:00.000-08:00

Little Nandini just doesnt like to stay inside the house. If I open the door for the milkman, housekeeper, raddiwallah, whatever, and then close it, there is a big hue and cry. She pushes me and tries to open to door and step outside. Is she missing her Dad who has gone to Japan and who would otherwise take her out? I dont know. but right now, even coming back indoors from the corridor and the lawn is a big problem.

Nandini dances to the music

2007-01-30T23:03:00.000-08:00

Swithc on the music, and little Nandini will start doing her thumkas, swirls, hand raising and matak matak. Its been a while she kept doing this, and it is a pleasure to watch her.

Hello Hello

2006-12-21T07:43:00.001-08:00

Nandini took the phone from me today, and giggled when Ruchir spoke to her.

Other people's remarks on Nandini

2006-12-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

Jinny didi, Ruchir's colleague:
"Just met her and she is the perkiest 10 month old i have seen till
date.. :) She made sure that everyone in the reception area had her full
attention.. Total doll!"

Nishim bhaiya on seeing her video:
"Yeh Nandini itnee badee kaise ho gayee, jab hum bua ke ghar gaye they woh bahut chotee thee"

Arpita Mausi:
"Very cute! ;-) Nandini seems to be really enjoying her feat. And all the stuff she is uttering while walking is shoooo shweet. I feel like just picking her up and cuddling her."

Playful Nandini

2006-12-19T03:29:00.000-08:00

Nandini is playing games with me..When I take the fruits close to her, she runs around me and laughs..as if teasing me and playing catch me if you can!

Blabber

2006-12-16T01:01:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of talk with Nandini these days, though I have to talk in her gibberish and learn to blabber. Watch!

Nandini's video

2006-12-14T03:11:00.000-08:00

Just made a small film capturing Nandini's first few steps.

she climbed all the stairs!!!

2006-12-14T00:20:00.000-08:00

Nandini has been climbing the stairs in the duplex since quite some time. However, I used to hold her back and engage her in other things after 2-3 steps, as I was afraid she may then continue to climb and hurt herself. Today I let her free and followed her. Voila, she reached the last step!!

Feeling lonely

2006-12-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

I disappeared to the inner room and Nandini did not realize where I went. When I came back, I saw her sitting close to the main door, and crying. Which means she knows the main door is the exit! Bright kid. :)

Eeny weeny steps

2006-12-12T08:01:00.000-08:00

Nandini took her eeny weeny tiny steps towards me. Overall 4-5 steps after which she hugged me!!!!

Nandini can stand for a while

2006-11-26T01:11:00.000-08:00

She can stand, if we remove the support. But she doesnt realize that she can stand, so after a while she instinctively grasps for support. Or maybe her legs are a bit weak still.

A small little tooth for my bunny

2006-11-24T23:17:00.000-08:00

A small little tooth is popping out of her gums. Generally most kids get thier lower teeth first, but Nandini has got her upper right tooth first. Its not completey out yet, but I hope all the doses of calcarea phos will ease her out.

Nandini climbed a step!

2006-11-24T23:15:00.000-08:00

Finally, Nandini climbed a step. I was wondering where she was, when I suddenly saw her head pop. She was trying to climb the second step. For a second, I could not belive that she had climbed the first.

Some hope with Tata

2006-11-18T23:15:00.000-08:00

Nandini kind of movees her hand when someone leaves and tells her ta-ta. And she coughs whenever someone coughs...its very funny to make eery sounds and hear her repeat them :)

Teething woos

2006-11-18T23:11:00.000-08:00

Nandini is facing swollen gums and loose motions. Most of the time she wants to chew my face and jaw to soothe her gums. Appetite is on the decline. Hoping calcarea phos will ease her out.

Fever fever go away

2006-11-06T06:36:00.000-08:00

Nandini is down with high fever, its been more than 3 days and I have finally started antibiotics with her. I wish she recovers soon. She is so dull and quiet, in my lap all the time and refusing to eat anything.

Mundan!!

2006-10-30T00:20:00.000-08:00

Nandini got her mundan done yesterday. I was a bit scared, hoping she would be alright and not make a fuss. She was remarkably calm, and brave when there was a slight scratch. And she looks very very cute in her new avatar. Well, blame mamma's adoring eyes :)

Diwali ecard from Nandini

2006-10-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Recipient: Nanaji and Naniji
Message: Happy Diwali

Dear Nanaji and Naniji,

Wish you a very happy Diwali. I am slightly scared when the kids around me explode the crackers. I cry and hug mamma when I hear the bomb sound. But I am going to Dadu's house and I know I will get a lot of gifts and toys and clothes, so I am going to enjoy my first Diwali. Naniji, please get well soon as I want to play with you.

love
Nandini

Nandini's first letter to "Taiji, Tauji and Agnim bhaiya

2006-10-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

POSTED ON 25th JULY, 2006

Dear Taiji, Tauji and Agnim Bhaiya,

Thanks for the beautiful clothes and socks. Now I can flaunt my new American
dresses to everyone, and show off my socks! Mummy is also thanking for her
tshirt, which is very nice.

I have sent rakhi for Agnim bhaiya, please tie it on raksha bandhan. Dont
miss me too much bhaiya, we will meet soon and hopefully I will understand
your English then :)

I am getting naughtier by the day, and troubling mummy all the time. As soon
as she sits in front of the computer, I try to make a lot of noise and ask
her to attend me instead of some stupid client on the net! I am and should
be her sole attention, I make sure she does not forget it. If she does, all
I have to do is cry for a couple of nights and make mummy lose her sleep
completely. Papa can sleep a bit, I grant him that, as he is very busy. So
mummy and I go to another room in the night so that Papa can sleep
peacefully. But sometimes, I get more angry, and then I make Papa also get
up and play with me.

When bua comes, I am at my best behaviour, and I love to play with her. She
falls ill quite often and stays away from me, so now mummy keeps asking her
to take care of herself so that I can play with her more. Bua is going to
Europe and I am sure she will get me some more gifts!!! ;)

I shift around from my bed to nearby areas, and I make all sorts of
sounds..I am learning new things by the day and it is a lot of fun.
Sometimes I fall ill, but I start playing as soon as I get a dose of crocin.

I wish I could see you all, but hopefully that will be soon.

Till then, I will keep posing for my photographs and send them through the
internet to you! :)

bye then,
love
Nandini

First Diwali

2006-10-24T08:01:00.000-07:00

Nandini has got 2 beautiful fairy like dresses from her grandparents. She has also got a tshirt-lowers dress, and a couple of toys, and payals(yes, her fourth pair :)) Diwali was fun, she dressed up and everyone adored her, and she tried to climb over all of us to watch the puja and maybe leave her mark (create some eeny weeny mess :)) We kept the puja room closed at all times to ensure she stay away from all the deeyas and the puja-sthal.

She did not get scared of the crackers, as we dint fire any. And she made a lot of noise while watching Don, so I had to take her out of the hall. But I managed to watch most of the movie, so, thanks Dolly!

Tata Tata

2006-10-18T05:04:00.000-07:00

A friend had dropped in and I learnt that their 9.5 month old daughter is able to do jai-jai, tata and aao. Though Nandini is still far from the age, but I thought I will start a few words with her. So, we are doing tata with her all the time. Rajbala her maid is doing tata umpteen times during the day, and so am I. Ruchir also says tata when he leaves for office, and Nandini seems to be picking the sound. She is now speaking tata instead of dada, which was her earlier favorite. But I dont think she knows what she is saying and when to say it..

Nandini takes her first steps with support

2006-10-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Nandini got herself to a standing position from sitting by holding the sofa seat. Then, as I kept putting the cellphone further away from her, she took her tiny wobbly steps towards it, all the time holding the sofa seat. It is a marvellous experience, and also a bit scary, as I fear she may fall down and hurt her head. Head bumps are getting very common with her....:(

Jhanak Jhanak

2006-10-17T02:37:00.000-07:00

Nandini is wearing her new payals and making cute little khanak jhanak sounds all over the house :)

Nandini likes to stand

2006-10-16T05:19:00.000-07:00

Nandini has started standing by taking support since thelast one week. Most of the times, my legs areher support, but if she does not find me, she grabs the sofa sides, centre table, any chairs on which she can lay her hands and lift herself with support. She can also sit down after standing, though she is not completely comfortable with it. She babbles a lot too. dada is her favorite sound

Cuddling up to me

2006-10-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

Nandini now cuddles upto me. She can recognize me very well and denote by her actions that she wants me. She can also crawl upto my computer chair and pull my trousers until I lift her up. She is demanding more and more attention, it is tough at times but still a lot of fun.

Sitting on her own

2006-09-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

Nandini easily sits herself from a sleeping position, she has been doing so over the last 1 week and it is so wonderful.

Infant Potty Training

2006-09-20T05:07:00.000-07:00

When Nandini was about 15 days old, we tried to notice the little signals she made before nature's calls. She would usually make a small shrill cry, twitch a bit. Very slight signals, but as I lay next to her, I could make out. I put a small mat next to the bed, and as soon as I saw her signals, I started untying her nappy and making a sshh sound while holding her over the mat. She responded well, and there were a lot of days that passed when there was just one or two miss.

Alas, little carelessness and lethargy prevailed. I got slow, forgetting to continue her exercise. In due course of time, Nandini would be all wet, and not blink a single time! :( When she was 3 months, I again got in the groorve, but by then, I had trained her to urinate in her nappy and she was wilfully obliging. I tried various sounds, took her to the wash basin, tried a mat etc, but to no avail. I had failed her once, and she was not relenting.

Then came the cute little wonder - potty seat. I started timing Nandini, usually it was first thing after waking up, after a feed, about 20 minutes after bath etc. Since then, I try to make her sit on the seat on those times. It was hard at fast, she fussed and fussed, cried, howled, made all sorts of movements to get up from the seat. But now, she knows that is she sits on the seat and she has to go she will. There are still some misses, but it is worth it.

Nandini turns 7

2006-09-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

Seven. So, little Nandini is finally 7 month old today. What a whirlwind time we have had! While she takes a quick afternoon nap(yes, she is now settling into a routine, thankfully!), I think it is time I start chronicling her activities and the experiences at her and my end. So, here we go.