Colors, colors everywhere!

There are very few things which Megha doesn't learn in a short period of time. As a matter of fact, there are only 2 things which she didnt pick up as fast as the other things. One of them is differentiating colors. Here is what I had written before: Teaching Colors to Toddlers

Last Saturday (28th June) for the very first time she pointed 4 colors when asked for colors (like red/blue etc)! She progressed from not pointing out any color to pointing out 4 colors perfectly in one single evening! Wow Megha! You go girl!

Just like with differentiating all 4 colors in the same evening, she pointed out all 4 correctly 6 weeks after she differentiated. Here is the picture from which she pointed out:

Bicycle Ride with Dad

One of the things which Megha and her dad do (which both of them love) is their rides in the bicycle. Whenever Anand is home, he drops her off and picks her up from the daycare in his bicycle (weather permitting of course). Apart from that, in the evenings too they try and go for rides. Its a very special thing for both of them as momma cant ride a bicycle and its exclusive to just both of them!

Here she is, all ready!!

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream for Toddler's

Megha Loves ice cream, just like any other kid. Lately I had been trying to make some of her snacks at home like cookies/cupcakes/juice pops etc and thought its about time I try the ice cream. I ordered the Cuisinart ice cream maker and was awaiting delivery. However, megha wanted ice cream the weekend before. So, I made it from the scratch thinking Ice Cream was around for a far longer period before the machine was invented...and I wasnt wrong. Lol

I followed Ina Garten's recipe: here is the link if anyone wants to make it to the T: Ina Garten's Vanilla Ice Cream
I made a couple of alterations to suit my needs better, basically less fat as I used 1:1 ratio of cream and milk instead or using just cream: yelids 1 quart

Ingredients: 
Heavy Cream: 1.5 cups (original recipe says 3 cups)
Milk: 1.5 cups (original recipe excludes this)
Sugar: 2/3 cups
Vanilla Extract: 2 tsp (Original Recipe uses 1 tsp extract and small scraped Vanilla Bean)

Method:
Heat everything in a bowl until sugar is dissolved. Cover and chill in a fridge. If you are using ice cream maker, spoon the ingredients into the maker after the mixture has well chilled and follow the manufactures instructions.

Last week, my ice cream maker was yet to be delivered. So, I followed the traditional method without a machine. Here is how you make it, if you dont have an ice cream maker; mind you its some work: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/07/making-ice-crea-1/

Megha's verdict: "Emmmmm....soooo Yummmmmy".

There is something about homemade ice cream! Though not as creamier as the store bought ones (due to less cream and no-machine), we still managed to lick the bowl clean in under 4 nights! 

Father's Day 2014

Happy Father's day to the best daddy in the whole wide world! This fathers day is Megha's 3rd Fathers Day. We (Megha and I) did our best to make is special for Anand.

Here is the First Fathers day (2012): Fathers Day 2012
Here is the Second Fathers Day (2013): Fathers Day 2013

A week or o before, we bought greeting cards for Anand and a couple of gift cards. Here is Megha decorating her Dad's card with pretty pink stickers.

The original plan was to make a 2 layered cake with butter-cream frosting and fondant cover. However, the first one was a disaster. It could be because I havent really baked in a 6 '' by 3 '' pan before. Apparently for a deep dish, we need a core temperature devise to distribute the heat evenly and then bake the cake. Mine turned out burnt on the outside and raw in the core as I havent used the devise. I discarded the whole cake and made a simple Vanilla cake in a bread pan. After decorating in with fondant Megha used her hand to 'stamp' the cake :)
Oh, the joys of baking! Working with fondant wasnt exactly as easy as i had thought ! lol Anand loved the cake though.
Here is the picture:

Here is another gift she Megha had made at the daycare with the help of her daycare provider:

I also got a few pictures done at the studio for the fathers day but they were not ready for Father's Day. He got it the next week. Yet to be hanged on the wall. I chose this photo frame as it goes with the rest of the furniture in the living room.

Here is the second one. Anand says she looks like me, really?

Here is her Dad's note in Facebook: Fathers day gift "hand made" by my lovely daughter.... Thank you my dear...

Toddler approved Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

One of Megha’s favorite snacks of late is cupcakes. Almost every day she asks me for them but I try to bake them only on weekends so that she is not loaded with sugar.

Last week I baked chocolate chip cookies for everyone at the daycare; just to surprise Megha J

She loved the cupcakes!

Here is the recipe: Taken from Taste.com.au

·  1 1/2 cups self-raising flour

·  125g butter, softened

·  3/4 cup caster sugar

·  3 eggs

·  1/4 cup milk

·  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·  3/4 cup dark choc-chips

Note: Since mine were mini cupcakes, I took it out of the oven around 18 minutes as they were starting to turn golden color. They turned out perfect.

For Muffins, follow 25 mins baking time.

·  Step 1

Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Line a 12-hole, 1/3 cup-capacity muffin pan with paper cases.

·  Step 2

Sift flour into a bowl. Add butter, sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer, beat mixture on low for 1 minute or until combined. Increase speed to medium. Beat for 2 minutes or until pale and smooth. Fold in choc-chips. Spoon into prepared muffin holes.

·  Step 3

Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted in center of 1 cupcake comes out clean. Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Turn out onto on a wire rack to cool.

Cinderella....

Megha loves books. Recently I bought more books for her and one of them is about Cinderella. She loves the book but she cant pronounce Cinderella. This evening when I was reading her the books before her bed time (as part of our bed time routine), she kept asking for "Umbrella". At first I didnt understand what she was saying; I kept saying, its not raining sweety, we dont need an umbrella. But soon I realized she was asking for Cinderella book! :) :)

So sweetly she said, "Umbrella Momma?"..

First Haircut tips for toddlers

Megha had her very first hair cut on Saturday the 7th, June 2014. Well, if you dont count her Tonsure ceremony in her 9th month. I wanted shoulder length hair but since she has really curly hair, it was hard for me to brush it everyday. It would have been ok if she let me, but she never lets me do her hair without fuss.
So, Anand and I decided we will get her hair a little short.

When we were little, I remember that my mom used to brush my hair really well before going to the hair dresser. She used to say that since the hair is without any knots, it wouldnt hurt when the hair dresser tries to brush the hair. Its the little things that get passed down by generations isnt it?
I brushed Megha's hair too before going to the hair dresser and told her that mom also did the same to me.

I booked an appointment at a kids salon and we set off!

Before leaving, Anand took a few pictures of her full hair! Here it is :)

Here is megha at the salon...she was sitting in a beautiful red car.

Her very first cut!!! She said, "Oh daddy, where are ya"...when she was cutting the hair.

Here she is after! She hasnt cried one bit! My big girl! So proud of you baby! We bought a few really cute hair clips (but ofcourse) and we left the salon. Here she is!

We also got a first hair cut Certificate!

There was a main street festival going. Since it was just megha and I, I couldnt stop for long. Here she is dancing to the live music on the main street festival.

Did I say First Hair cut Tips? Well, its just my moms tips which I did on Megha and I hope that one day, she would do what I did :)

1. Brush the toddlers hair well before taking her to the salon.
2. Wash her hair after returning from the salon.
3. Dont take her for haircut on Tuesday (old myth).

Black Eye!

Today, 10th June, 2014, Megha got her very first black eye! She was lying down playing with the toy elephant at the daycare and it accidentally slipped and fell on her face (just below right eye). She cried for a couple of minutes while the care provider tried to apply some ice. Soon it turned black and blue. My poor baby :(

This picture was taken about 8 hours ago at the daycare (sent by the provider to me). As it stands now the bruise deepened and has turned even darker shades of black/blue. When i was giving her a bath this evening, I was so afraid to touch her face for the fear of causing pain :(

Anand's note on Face Book: 
Mefha's first black eye after a bar fight.... With a toy elephant!!! I don't think the elephant is still around to enjoy rest of his life... Ha ha... Love this pic tho....

Here is the elephant...

Wonderful Sunday!

Last weekend was awesome (31st May and 1st June). Anand was working on 31st and so, Megha and I spent lots of time in the park across the street. She was wearing this pretty red outfit with matching hat and shades.

We also have this little toy coupe and Megha loved going around in that. Her very first car!! Drivers, beware!

Sunday was such a beautiful day. First thing in the morning she had her egg and cheese, which is her standard breakfast item. We played, showered and had a nap. Once Anand woke up, we set out to Livingston Park in downtown, Milton.

We went to this beautiful park. Megha walked for about 5 minutes and wanted us to pick her up. Its OK, Anand loves picking her up. Here they are, they walked this way for a very long time.

Here she is at a spot we had been last year.

Last year: same place...Anand wearing the same T-Shirt? he he he he

We walked around a bit and we also waited by the train track.

After the walk, we stopped by the ice cream place to beat the heat and cool down. She had a kid scoop of chocolate ice cream, her favorite (but of course).

After that, we went to one of the local Italian restaurant. I love the food there. Megha behaved excellent! She had pizza and some spaghetti. What a beautiful day!