Wet days in school!

Mysha's school is into the third week now and after consulting with fellow mummies, I decided that the school should participate in mysha's toilet training! So for two days now she has gone to school without diapers... But clearly something is not working, cause second day in a row she wet herself on class and had to be changed:( I'm going let her take a week to adjust before quitting. Let's hope she adjusts.


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A lesson on "sharing"

Of the many values that parents try to give children sharing happens to be frequent one. Soon you realize how much you have grilled this into her when she starts to give it back at you. Nowadays whenever Mysha wants something that you are holding she will come and try to pull it away from you and if you resist she would say "mama share" .... How is that for a lesson!

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Push-up time

It was just one of those active Sunday mornings on which I decided to do some exercise. Of course Mysha would not be far behind! She imitated me while I was trying some pushups. One, two, three go...

Impromptu visit at Khushboo aunty's house

Saturday I was home early from classes, so decided to take Mysha for her evening time out. Most of the time was spent playing on the swing. Towards the end as we was walking home, we ran into Chintan (colleague from office) and Khushboo. Khushboo as usual was very warm and insisted that we come home. I agreed. She gave Mysha just a few toys (a doll as tall as here :), a small puppy and a car) and that was all that was needed for her to keep occupied. Such a sweet doll my daughter is ... thank you God. I had a warm evening and savored every piece of kanda bhaji and paneer pakoda that Khushboo made for us :) On Mysha's part, she was content with her apple pieces!

School starts

Today it was Mysha's first day at her new school, Casa Dei Bambini Montessori school. The day was supposed to be a light day of just 45 min accompanied by a parent. Firstly before we set out of the house, we told her we are going to aunty's house since the word "school" was not taken too positively by her. Once there she just played around with some of the apparatus and seemed to enjoy herself. Before we knew it was time to go home and as we were headed out, Mysha spotted a cute little tea cup set that was I guess used to teach the children how to pour out liquids. She took the cups and headed out of the classroom fully intending to take it home. It took all the teachers to try to stop her but at last she agreed only when she was given a finger sized doll to take home!

Jacob Ballas - Children's Play Garden

Whilst I'm on my leave before I join college again, I thought I will take Mysha to this garden called Jacob Ballas, which I had heard about a lot. It was a nice little cozy garden I must say. Out of the many things you could do there, Mysha really enjoyed the orange slide that came down from heaven (so big for her age) and a play and learn area to explain photosynthesis with a durain tree. It was so funny to see her pumping here way to see the durain light up! After we moved out of that area (u must have guessed it was difficult) we played in the sand pit. When Mysha and I were busy seiveing the sand, Mysha suddenly had a shower of sand all over her. Another girl playing near was digging up for her palace :) An apology followed...

Though Mysha enjoyed the sand she was frequently attracted to the screams from the near by fountain area where kids were playing with water. I had to really try to distract her away from it after the cold she had caught from the barrage fountain play. More snaps at http://picasaweb.google.com/ssundke/JacobBallas12Dec09#

New pram

After much speculation we finally got Mysha a new pram. Does she adore it or what!! She is so big now that she uses the pram as her toy. Ever since we have bought it she keeps toying it around in the house, with her little Pooh sleeping inside. She can buckle him in, but when it time to unbuckle she screams all over the house for someone to help her. The other day at tired it outside and I must admit it is quite a help .. don't know why we shied away from it for such a long time

Kite flying and water splashing at Marina Barrage

I had heard a lot about the Marina Barrage that creates a reservoir right in the heart of Singapore. And hats off to Singapore that makes it a tourist destination too. Wednesday was Mysha's day out at the barrage. After a quite walk down the barrage we headed straight to the green roof. Mysha had awesome lot of fun running around on the grass and watching people of all ages flying kites. But the most enjoyable part for her was the water play area where the fountains played peek-ka-boo :) She got all drenched up for sure (and a cold followed soon!) Check out more snaps at http://picasaweb.google.com/ssundke/MarinaBarrage30Dec09#

PIANO!!!

Ilyas had been looking out for a piano for a very long time so on last weekend we decided to check out a place where there were some sale offers. We liked a Korean brand called Samick so much that we bought it right away :) Mysha knew about the piano thanks to Ilyas's iPhone, so you can imagine her reaction when she saw a real one. This piano came with a 2 seater player seat, but Mysha insisted that she have it all by herself and would not let anyone near it. Every now and then, when I hear a really low or high note while Ilyas is playing his tune, I know Mysha is at one of the corners trying to drive Papa away!

Play - Farmer, Fox ...

Sunday we planned for a play again. This one was called the "The Farmer, the fox, bird and the cookie". It was all about a lesson on "sharing" where the farmer, fox and bird in the end land up sharing the cookie. Mysha, Arhsiya, Rhea, Aditi all seamed to have a good time following the play. At the end of the play the kiddies caught a picture with the performers. I also bought a book (called "The Leaf calld Nip that flipped") selling at the play. It came with a free bright yellow teeshirt with Tick,Tack,Tock (the unofficial names of the performers in the play) written on it.

In Bintan

On the weekend we planned an overnight trip to an island in Indonesia called Bintan. It was one of the most serene, calm and picturesque beach places I have seen for a long time. Mysha is well versed now of what a beach place means ... sun, sand and water. Seeing Ilyas jump into the water, she wanted to do the same. I hurriedly changed her into her swimming costume so she would not wet her clothes. It was difficult to stop her to pose for this little charmer shot... all she kept saying was "mama come ..."

Barnie Day out

Sunday it was time for a date with Barnie and friends. United Square mall was having a live show for kids. All you need to do was to be there... so we were. Mysha was very excited at the thought but when Barnie came out with his friends, she was her usual self, just staring at the scene in front without too much reaction or excitment.

Play - Green Sheep

On Friday, Nirupama and I planned to take Arshiya and Mysha for a play called "The Green Sheep". The artists came over specially from Australia to bring to life a book with the title "Where is the green sheep". The play introduces different types of sheep ... bathing sheep, sun sheep, rain sheep, near sheep, far sheep, scared sheep, brave sheep, etc.... but every now-and-then tries to find "the green sheep". The climax reveals the green sheep sleeping away peacefully.... At the end of the play, they let kids touch the green sheep and click photos with him. One of the artists also sat on a chair and flipped through the books going through the play sequence again.

Evening out with friends

Friday evening continued with Arshiya, Mysha and Shiv spending the time on Orchard road. Mysha enjoyed the lights, christmas tree, snowman and more. (check the umbrella in her hand that she refused to part away the entire evening)

Green color dressed doll girls at a kiosk by the road took Msyha away to show her some magic and then gave her candy (that messed her face for the rest of the evening) and posed for a photo. The highlight of the evening was this magical Christma tree that you could walk into and inside were arranged hundreds of lights resembling a star studded sky. Mysha just lay on the floor and stared at the magical lights inside. Just as she emerged outside, she spotted a bright colored plaform that looked like dance floor. Up onto the platform she shook a leg or two and refused to get down from it (as expected)

Leisure Park

On the weekend, it was time for fun at the Leisure Park. While dadi was getting her massage done, Mysha tried out the three floor obstacle course. It started with the sea of balls, then into spider cobwebs, brigdes, steps up a ladder and more. Ilyas caught Mysha taking the odds.

Pull Toys

I have always fancied and pictured my daughter pulling a string with a yellow duck behind her. Somehow, its so cute. When her chote papa gave her one, I was so delighted. I spent quite a little time trying to show her how she can pull the duck behind her when she was just over 1 1/2 years but it took her a while. I used to also pull it myself while she used to hold my finger and keep a watch on the duck behind. Now she is old enough to take her duck for a walk all by herself. Infact on this instance, she managed two pull toys with ease... what a cute little sight!

"Blue Egg" please

Mysha has fancy for all things BLUE. It may be normal one may say, but not when she asks for a "BLUE Egg"!! I rolled all over the floor with laughter when I heard this and our maid added ..."sure dear ... just after we catch the BLUE chicken". This photo is just another day when she insisted on all things blue - her teeshirt, her panty. She even asked her dadi to put on blue socks for her!

New swimming costume

Last weekend was a second in a row when Mysha enjoyed playing in the pool in her new swimming costume that Ilyas got for her on his recent trip to India. Its such a cute little beaded one - even some aunties complimented her on it.
Check the happiness written all over her face. Once she is in the pool it so tough to get her out. Ilyas has to fool her out and carry her away while she keeps screaming "some more swimming ... no go home"

Rhea's b'day party

This weekend it was time for yet another b'day party. So what was special? Well check out Mysha listening with rapt attention. Guess who she was listening to... Two uncles from the Music school Rhea attended. They entertained the kids so well I must say - there was music and stories and more... Then it was time for the b'day cake ... umm...was it cake or an icecream; whatever it was it was yummm... and that was not Mysha eating it but me. Mysha as usual enjoyed her potato fries.

Up 800gms

Today, I took Mysha for a due vacination. Yes, now that she is feeling well I can actually cover up lost ground on this. Well the nice part about the visit was that Mysha was weighed and she turned up 800 gms heavier (mashallah). Looks like keeping her out of school is actually working.

Time to meet Dolly and Sushil again

On the weekend it was time to meet Dolly n Sushil's family again. Sushil's parents were going home so we thought it would be nice to have them over for dinner. Mysha just had a few puries before they came so she was full and at her naughy best. Like last time, she sat was most pally with Sushil's dad and sat with him most of the time. Dolly got Mysha and myself some more gifts (with the number of gifts we have from them, I'm sure we can soon start a "dedicated to ..." corner in the house) Dolly played with Mysha all kinds of kiddy stuff. Sometime in the middle, out of nowhere, Mysha appeared wearing a sari (Dolly's dupatta) and strutted all over the house. The evening just pased by eating good food and sharing pleasurable moments.

Salar's b'day party

On Sunday, it was Salar's b'day party. The setup was beautifully done in white. There were while balloons, white teddy bears cutouts hidden in the shrubs and hanging from the trees; even the cake was a white teddy bear. This party has something unusual - each kid invited had a desert cup with his/her name on it - felt quite personal and special. Mysha seemed to have good time and enjoyed her evening.

Walker

Mysha's Dadi had a bad week with pain in the knee and could not go on her regular walk. So on Saturday she decided to take our her walker to give her body some excercise. Obviously that viberating machine had to catch Mysha's attention. She observed Dadi for sometime, then sat on her. Then she decided she wanted to try it out. She told Dadi ... "excuse me" and didnt budge till she was given way. Even we enjoyed her insistence and let her try out the machine. Look at her small legs vibrating away.

Swinging new heights

The other day when I was out with Mysha I saw that she was swinging so slowly like a baby, so I showed here how she can fold her legs, push back and then release her legs so she can catch some momentum. She didn't quite get it ! But I was surprised that she when she went to the swing today, she said "mama, fold legs" and I smiled and said "Yes ... back, back, back... release" and she yelled with joy saying, "mama, BIG ONE"....
On my part, I had some fun practising some panning.

Indomitable spirit

Saturday evening I was just free, so thought I'd catch some reading. Since I had just given Mysha a wholesome meal, I knew she wouldn't be clamouring for attention for some time. I quitely went into my bedroom and caught around an hour of reading Abdul Kalam's "Indomitable Spirit"... Then Mysha came in and climbed on my back and started playing ... I tried to continue reading but as you must have guessed, she didn't quite like that so she grabbed the book from me. I thought she would just throw it, but instead she set up her pillow like me, stretched her legs in front, pulled my quilt over them and started turning the pages of the book, immitating me... it was quite a sight!