Growing up too fast

RK saw me crying and said 'Don't cry amma'; in that tone which only he can use - part concern, part command.
And later RK told me 'Dont be sad amma, RK is with you'.
Later that evening he said 'RK is your friend amma'.

Yest I asked you to call appa to get ready to go for a haircut. You were busy playing. After a couple of mins I got up to go call him and you said 'No no amma'. You proceeded to push me back into the room and made me sit on the couch and then went out and passed on the message accurately. I didn't even have to tell you again. Now I know you are listening even when you are busy playing!

You developed a good command over language early on. I sometimes wonder if that is what mislead us at times into treating you like you were older than you actually were. It is still the case a lot of times. This is such a vulnerable age and I cant help thinking if we are doing things right. It is one of those where we do the best we can at that moment given our limitations and knowledge set and we will not know the impact of that decision till it is too late to change. Maybe I am just melancholy. But there are times when I realize how inconsistent we as parents can be and how confusing that can be to you. I am sorry.

Toddler Talk II

1. I heard some noise that sounded like water dripping and I was asking DT about it. RK chimed in 'Appa, come we will check it out'!
2. We were playing with his animals, RK and I and RK pointed to one animal and said 'this is Horse amma'. By the time I could correct him (it was a goat) he said 'No sorry goat'. I was amazed that he knew what context to use that sorry in.
3. 'Cow gives milk amma'. 'Yes kanna (endearment). That's right'. I respond. 'Cow gives milk to RK; cow gives coffee to amma' he said.
4. Post dinner one night I was cleaning up the kitchen and the lil one was running around my legs eating a strawberry. He wanted me to sit down and play with him. He said 'Sit down amma'. I obliged. After a couple of mins I started to get up again and he said 'Sit quietly amma'. And I sat laughing softly:-)
5. One Saturday morning we were playing and my pal called. She and I were chatting up and RK comes to me and says 'No phone amma'. He wanted me to keep the phone down and play with him. As simple as that.

6. Hasta la vista animals - This started as a way for me to get RK to leave an activity he was busy pursuing to change a diaper or eat dinner or have a bath etc. I didnt want to drag him away and he would always start a protest for every such situation. So I said 'Ok RK we need to say 'hasta la vista' and 'I'll be back' to the animals. And then we can come back and play after...' He caught on to that and for a couple of weeks used it on everything. There was hasta la vista elephant, tiger etc.; hasta la vista train, hasta la vista book and so on. The best part is the way RK said 'Baby'! He said it like 'Bebe-ee'.

Sense of humor

1. A couple of months ago you had just finished dinner and started playing with your animals. And then you said 'Giraffe va grass chaapada vechutaan RK.'. (I kept the giraffe to graze). You then looked up at me and said 'Giraffe kku bib pottu vidu amma'. (Put on a bib for the giraffe amma). I looked at you funny and then you started laughing. It was so funny and you knew it.
2. You and me were going through what sounds all the animals make. Then you said 'Amma, bull says?'. And I asked you back 'What does the bull say RK?'. You responded 'Bull says bull bull' :-)
3. Another time when we were reading a book you have on farm animals, I told you that paapa (young) goose are called 'gosling' and on the next page I mentioned young ducks are called 'ducklings'. We turned the page and there was a chicken with some chicks on it. You said 'Paapa chick kku peru chickling' and you laughed with your pearly whites showing and your eyes all smiling. And once I laughed, you made this joke many times afterward and still do :-)
4. Yesterday we were driving back home after a weekday dinner out. Dinner out is a rarity these days (consciously so) and on a weekday even more so. But DT and I had a stressed out week and so needed a break. Anyways, on the way back you did something really cute and I said 'Amma loves RK'. I then looked over at DT driving looking handsome with a new haircut and clean shaven etc and said 'Amma also loves appa'. You responded 'Nooo..'. I said 'Yes, amma loves RK and also amma loves appa'. You responded this time with 'Amma, don't love appa'. Needless to say DT and I burst out laughing and thankfully you are not old enough to take offense and you laughed too :-)
   

Of shopping tantrums and pink shoes

Over the last couple of weeks we landed up making 3 shopping trips. And each was just that - a trip! Here are the stories.
1. Trip to the mall to buy RK clothes for his b'day - We left early so we could come back in time for dinner. DT was great about getting dinner ready so we could leave as soon as I got home. RK sat in the stroller for exactly 5 mins. The first tantrum was to walk and by himself too without holding hands. So somehow we reached the store we wanted to go to after 15 mins or so with RK walking/running by himself all over and exploring. At the clothes store he was a doll (can I say that about a boy?) and sat and watched a little bit of TV and even stood up so DT and I could measure the pants on him! Bright t-shirts in red, orange and green were bought. One with a mammoth (elephant for RK) with a googly eye even! As we proceeded to leave the store, me with the bags and DT with the folded up stroller, RK wanted to be carried. 'Thooki' he demanded. We smiled and rolled our eyes at each other. 'Thooki' he screamed and we gave in. DT carried him and we came home exhausted but happy with our purchases.
2. Trip to buy RK shoes. We had planned this for the first trip but one tantrum later we left. And this had to be another trip. RK has been wearing the same shoes for almost a year now and we figured it was time to get him a bigger pair. Again it took us a good 20 mins to reach the last store in that line of stores at the mall with RK walking/running by himself half the way. He also wanted to get on and off the escalator all by himself. And then as we were nearing the store he demanded to be carried. My patience at an end, DT carried him the rest of the way. Once in the store, for the first couple of pairs that I selected RK cooperated by trying them on. By that I mean he would obligingly wear a pair and then run away into other aisles to tease me. He then picked up a pink pair of slip-ons with a big glittery flower. This must have been a good 4 sizes bigger than his size. RK then threw a tantrum demanding we buy him that one! He stretched himself out and stomped away! LOL... DT had a great time with that - teasing me and egging him on. Anyways we walked away with a boring grey pair with a yellow streak for color and a standard black pair of open sandals. Joys of having a boy here in the US!
3. Trip to buy b'day gifts for upcoming b'day parties. We had 3 kids to buy gifts for. We went to the local Walmart. There RK saw a puzzle that he has. And next to it a similar one but different from what he has. RK wanted the puzzle so DT got it out and asked him what everything on the puzzle was etc. And then we had to keep it back since we were not planning to buy him a toy. He just had a b'day and has enough of them. Besides this puzzle was similar to one he already has. (Why am I explaining this here?) However RK wanted it. He started to throw a tantrum and was distracted by the chalk that we bought for him. He then threw a tantrum at the billing counter for keeping the chalk on the billing counter. It didnt help that the cashier was most unhappy about me not asking for a gift receipt before him billing the toys! However this did not end there. The next evening we were on our way back home from buying groceries. And RK out of the blue says 'RK kku Walmart lerenthu antha puzzle vaangi kudu amma'. (Buy that puzzle from Walmart for RK). We were stumped. Anyways DT said yes and joined in the chorus with him and my boys gave me a hard time. I am contemplating doing all the shopping by myself from now on. Who needs the boys to go shopping anyways :-)

Toddler Talk

• I'm is wake.
• This is my's.
• Amma no giving bubbles to 'another kid'.
• DT says 'Amma is my girl'. RK responds 'No appa, amma is my girl'. I treasure this moment. Sigh...
• RK innikku amma va miss pannitaan...this is what I was greeted with on coming back from work one evening :-) (RK missed his mommy today he said)
• Amma unnodi malai romba pretty aa irrukku. This is what RK said to me one morning when he woke up. No I didnt prompt or bribe him with candy! The funny thing is it was a blouse with black beads along the neckline and not a necklace/chain. (Mommy, your necklace is pretty he said)
• RK loves playing with his animals these days. Yesterday he lined them all up on the kitchen counter. I was cooking and didn't really say anything. DT came in and asked in a slightly strict voice 'RK, animals kitchen la enna pannarathu'? (What are the animals doing in the kitchen?). Pat came the reply followed by a smile 'Amma va parka varathu'. (They are here to see mommy). This little tyke has the charm of his father. Cause those who know me will attest for my utter lack of charm.