Valentines Day 2025

 Megha made chicken curry today. All by herself! No help needed! I am beyond proud of you Megha!

Cast Away

 Megha, Tanush and I watched Cast Away this evening (Dad at work). The first time I’ve seen this was almost 25 years ago in Hyderabad with Vineela! 

I’ve never seen this since and while I’m remembered the premise, I had forgotten how well the story is made and how great an actor Tom Hanks is. Kids absolutely loved it. Tanush cried for Wilson, like I did. Megha I think wanted to cry but put on a brace face :)

Poor Tanush! Now he wants to make a Wilson.

What rough days look like…

 There are so many of them lately. Perhaps the age? The phase perhaps? I do not know. You both are constantly at each other’s throats. I feel so tired, exhausted. 

Megha told Tanush she times him if he wants to talk to her. 

Tanush wouldn’t take No for an answer when she says no for playing. 

I tried my best to explain that timing someone when they try to talk is so very demeaning and should never be done to an animal, let alone to a human being, especially family. 

Then I explain Tanush that when she says no to playing it’s a No. I am so tired. 

Halloween 2023

 Megha and Tanush did a good job on their pumpkins this year. The one with narrow eye is Megha’s. Triangle nose is Tanush.

School Counsel

 Megha applied to be a School Counselor today! How did she grow up this fast? I cannot be more proud of you Megha!

And so it begins?

 Megha, you are growing up so fast. You are a pre-teen now. You have no idea how many buttons you push! We are arguing quite a lot lately. Everything is your way or we argue. I try to pick my battles but you are not making it easy. 

Hopefully this too shall pass.

First trips

 Our library is about 2 blocks away and for the first time ever, megha went to library all on her own! She took her bicycle, her library card, a radio for us to keep in touch (yes, a radio). 

I used to take her in a stroller until she turned 3 on almost every weekend for story time. Again, where did the time go my darling megha?

The evening’s

 This is just so you both know, we run outside at nights/ evenings as soon as we see something beautiful. I hope you continue to enjoy these very beautiful moments, even after growing up. These both were take 1-6 weeks ago.

The First’s of Megha

 Daddy is trying to finish the basement, which meant, there are a lot of storage boxes to go through. This evening, I poured hours over your storage box, Megha. Mommomma (my mom) was here for the delivery and during those days, daddy used to take extra shift to make extra money. This meant, mom and I used to spend a lot of time putting away things which we felt were very important. Let me tell you this, I am glad we did because, 10 full years later, I am looking at these again and it brought back so many memories. 

There is a whole box of stuff of so many other things I saved, but here are some of my favorites: 

Onesie: The onesie you wore at the hospital. This was supposed to be a premie size but I recall it being so big on you then. You almost drowned :) I also saved a hat and tiny socks. Oh these pink socks! You used to figure out a way to kick them off ALL the time and then your feet would be freezing. I gave up and switched to onesies exclusively at nights.

You teeth: the pink “treasure box” contains the teeth you were born with, yes, you were born with teeth (Dr.Vino, your dentist extracted the “milk deposits” when you were 10 days old as they were loose and were a chocking hazard. I bawled my eyes out :)). He is still our pediatric dentist by the way. He still, “remembers the girl who was 10 days old, his youngest ever child who came to his clinic”.

The Treasure box also contains one of you first nails we cut. 

I saved a physical copy of calendar from 2011, just because. 

I saved Babies R Us book registry; we didn’t send the link to very many people. 

Toiletries: we have a clean newborn diaper from the first pack of diapers we bought. I also saved your bathing soap, shampoo, moisturizer. I also saved the used diaper genie dispenser (I cleaned it first, don’t worry), penaten (bum cream to prevent rashes and a burp cloth.

I saved your first colic drops, both kinds. Woodwards was what I was brought up using when I myself was a baby. 

And lastly, we have your hospital tags. 

I don’t understand where the time went. When I touched these again after several years, it felt like it was only yesterday that you were so very small. Where does all the time go? Really. 

Let’s Go Bluejays!

 For several years now, we’ve been going to the Jays game every July 1st. 

Tanush, may you always find joy in simple things in life. The expression you have over a train ride makes my heart smile :)

Megha loves face painting! We did all the game-mandatory-things. Took the train, ate hotdogs, got the balloon animals (after standing in the line for more than an hour), got the face painting and tattoos done and we ate. 

Megha, there was ESPN crew filming for next years Jays commercial. They asked my permission if they could get a clip of you; fingers crossed, you maybe in next years commercial:)

Just so you know, we ate so much! Started off with hotdogs, then chicken nuggets and wedges, popcorn, ice cream, twizzlers, peanuts, gummies and chips. 

When we got home, it was late and we watched fireworks at McDuffe  park. 

Learning languages

 I have always loved learning new languages (well, I try) and I am so proud of you Megha, your French is getting so much better :)

The day megha won Hotwheels

 You both always loved tickets and little games, why not. When we went to one such event and entered for the race, I was hoping one of you would win…and Megha did! And then went to a local restaurant to enjoy the free milkshake, pie and ice cream. What a fun afternoon. 

Moisturizer

 I don’t recall writing this down in the blog but at times, when we have time, I make moisturizer at home using shea butter, jojoba oil, essential oils and beeswax. 

Megha asked if we could make moisturizer at home over the weekend and perhaps glam it up a little bit by adding food coloring (as mine are plain white/ cream colored). 

Cracked me up! Megha darling I should have let you do it…you know for kicks and giggles and see your face after you apply the food-colored-moisturizer :)

You are lucky I love you to the moon and back, I reminded you the tint of food coloring :)

Your choice of words

 Tanush says, “holiday sauce” for, “Hollandaise sauce” :) He loves Eggs Benedict. 

Megha accidentally said, “antibiotics” for “antibodies which gave us all chuckles :)

Midnight

 Yes, that’s the name Megha chose for her very first Betta Fish :); you wanted an aquarium and daddy got you one. Niw, don’t ask all the arguments you both had, him for asking you to do research and you not doing it fully :)

Chocolate drizzle popcorn

 Megha, you talked me into it. First you said, “mom, one of these days can you please make chocolate drizzle popcorn?”

I said, sure. Tomorrow? 

You said…awm (you know the disappointed sigh).

And then I got up and made you some :)

Just now. Love you megha. 

Rabba

 One of our favorite places to go for a walk on a boring old day is to Rabba; a small convenience store chain. Its about 20-25 mins walk away. During summers, we take the long way but during winters, we take straight-forward way. You generally buy ice cream in summers, sit in the park and in winters, we admire the beautifully decorated Christmas House, as its lovingly called by people in Milton, sit by the park bench each donuts/cakes that we buy (at Rabba). 

Snow Storm

 2022 began with teeth shattering cold. However, on Jan 16th and 17th, there was a blizzard and you both had snow days from school for those 2 days. What fun it was! There was playing in the snow, making igloo's and mommy's homemade hot cocoa. There is sooooo much snow. poor daddy did most of the cleaning.

Your covid shots

 Its been about 3 months since the vaccinations got approved for children over 5 years. While there was a mad-rush of a lot of parents trying to get slots, we kind of took a step back, wait for 3 months to see any drastic side effects in children post vaccination. 

On Jan 21st, we got both of you vaccinated. Tanush cried a little.

Below is Megha’s; appears like we didn’t take the picture while the bandaid is still on her but wanted to make sure we capture the day anyway :)

Not everything is as you see

 I think Megha, its imperative you that there are a lot of unsaid things in this journey that I am documenting. There are days where there are a lot of tears, especially when daddy yells (usually about Math, not cleaning you room). You would cry, say things like Tanush gets away easy :)

You have no idea the number of times daddy and I fought because one of us would get you upset and then one of us would get upset with each other :)

Rest assured, we are also learning as we go along, we are also growing up as parents. Unfortunately, you being the first born, you end up getting the short end of it, sometimes. I hope you remember everything else we do to show you how much we love you, though, nothing could possibly be shown in action.