Picture Time

Here are some pictures from our trip to Lake Oroville

The Ride over the Dam

View of the Lake

The Marina

Trip to Lake Orville

Kutie's birthday was a great day. He was at his best behavior (like always) and everyone had fun. The event went by without much hiccups (we could not get the music system to play, and we forgot all about ice cream with cake, though guests got a second round of desert). The day ended with a peaceful yawn from Kutie.

Since all his cousins were here, the house feels full with all the noise - the kids are always on Playstation, we are trying to catch up with all the gossip our sisters and inlaws and Kutie trying to squeeze in more attention with his cute antics! It was a great reunion.

We decided to treat ourselves and we made a trip to Lake Orville. It was a nice 3 hour drive, without any major events. We got to the hotel, checked in and went out for a drive along to see the dam and the part of the lake. Monday we had planned to be in water all day long with our sea-doo and water boats. Since the kids were underage, we took turns in taking them in the water for a full four hours. Blasting off at 6000 miles, riding the waves was truly fun for everyone. We did get a little sun burnt, but all in good fun.

After a picnic lunch and a little swim near the shores we got back to land tired and happy. We got back and after some time off, the elders went to sleep while we took the kids out to the river beach. The kids P and S had some fun time on the beaches. S was driving his new toy - a remote controlled car and even Kutie was awestruck with the toy. The day was finally over!

Next day we drove back home, and some of the guests started to leave and I realized that the party is finally dwindling down. I am not sure how Kutie will be next week, with everyone gone! Wonder if he will become fussy or get back into his old groove!

Either way, it was a great time ... summer with family and loved ones is one of the best gifts everyone should get. I only hope we can do this more often as Kutie grows up so that he will always have wonderful memories when he grows up.

Happy Birthday!

Happy First Birthday, my dear handsome son!

What a bright sunny day it is,
Glorious for you are with us.
We love you, dear son,
We wish you the very best.

Twelve months have flown by
You smiled, you cried
You laughed, you babbled
You crawled and you blew us a kiss,

Your grandparents are proud of you
And happy as can be!
They think you are a miracle,
Waiting to unfold!

Know that we will always be with you
Helping you every step of the way
We wish we can take away all your tears
And grant you all our best wishes.

We wish you all the happiness
We wish you lots of special friends
May you grow up strong,
May you have all that you wish for!

We think you are just perfect
You are our dreams, personified.
Our very own bundle of joy!
Happy First Birthday, my dearest one!

Almost there!

T minus 1

The guests have arrived, and Kutie has already taken a likening to his big cousin. Follows him around like a little puppy! We are almost ready for the big event.

Just hoping, wishing, praying for a nice, blissful event!

Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting!

T-minus 3

My oh my! Oh my! I feel like the rabbit from Alice's world trying to find all the things that needs to get done soon. Cake, decorations, party list, outfits ... oh dear!!

The guests are pouring in - yesterday evening my aunt-in law and her husband came with their grandson. She is a very nice lady, really sweet. I am exited for Kutie to be meeting so many family members - we think it will be great exposure for him.

My work week has been very hectic - had to be on a call till 12 AM last night - hopefully this busy schedule will end soon and tonight I will get done with cake order and decorations and I will feel much better.

The Seven-Year Itch

Does it exist? Or is it like the Friday the 13th scare (of course this Friday is a 13th, so we will see)

Well, we are in our 7th year of marriage, and I think this is all a big hoax!! If it did, my parents missed their quite a few of their chances. Yes I agree marriages do fail, but if your love is strong it can go through anything. Of course its not easy...

Marriage means being a team, being together, being each others cheerleader! It also means being each other's critic, being each other friend (and friends do have arguments) and being each others advocate. There might be days when one is down, or needs that extra hug! While on other days one wants their own space. One thing to remember is that the person you love had a different lifestyle, a different upbringing (you might like bullseye, he might like an egg white omelet) but you love him/her for their differences. There is definitely a learning curve in understanding this complicated being that you love - its not easy, but its possible!

These are a few other wonderful thoughts that I have come to love ~

Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry. ~ Tom Mullen

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. ~ George Sand

It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day to day basis. ~Margaret Bonnano

I don't have any major advice, because I think we still have miles to go - but I do hope that we both live happily ever after and grow old together!

Good luck to all couples!

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Really close!!!

T minus 5

Really really close to the big day and now I am getting paranoid. Have I forgotten to invite someone, that I needed to? Have I done everything right? Still need to run to Diddums party store and get the supplies, Still need to reserve the cake? HELP!!!

Another crab in the family!

T minus 6

YUP! We have another crab in the family !!! Honey is also a cancerian, just like Kutie. (In fact he had hopes that Kutie, might be born on his birthday.)

And today, is my honey's nakshathira birthday. It was not that big an event; but we got him a Sudoko puzzle which he greatly enjoys and made a little feast in his honor. The weekend was quite busy with last minute shopping and some house cleaning before guests arrive.

Looks like the week ahead is going to very busy with guests, party organization, school exams (Yup I back to school on the Project Management courses) and of course work!!! Wish us luck!


HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
To A Wonderful Husband and a Great DAD!

Shopping

T minus 7

Only a week left for Kutie's big day ... so much left to do - goodies bag, candles, decorations needed to be bought for the party. Of course, we are still looking for a house as well. It was a busy day today.

A lot of things got accomplished - I am happy. Hopefully something will happen on the house hunt as well

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7/7/7 -- NICE DATE? Wonder if marriages, births are on an increase?

A Star Birthday

T-minus 8

Like many cultures, we follow the lunar calender for all the big events - birthdays, weddings. For birthdays, we follow nakshathira birthday or the star birthday - the star that you were born under. This generally means that you get two birthdays! One is your 'star' birthday and one the actual birthday (date of birth). The star birthday is a bit complicated because it is based on the lunar cycle and the patterns of solar system. There is no constant date of your star birthday. One year it might be a week before, next year it might days later. Either way, as a kid you get to enjoy two days of fun - and believe me thats all that matters!

Today is Kutie's Star Birthday - and it actually falls on the day he was supposed to arrive - I don't know if I should look for any *hidden* meanings - but its a nice coincidence.

Since its a big day I took PTO from work and decided to have a fun time with the little guy before all the guests start to arrive next week. I wanted to make it special family event. I was hoping to either go to the zoo if the weather was not too hot or go hang out in the pool - apart from the daily birthday oriented festivities of food, going to the temple, new clothes and of course presents!

Going out unfortunately did not materialize, but I still had a great time with Kutie. Kutie got up around 7 & after giving him a quick bath, he said his prayers (Such a cute thing - he will fold his hands and just babble something out) We opened the Lego Dump Truck that we got for him. Of course he still doesn't understand playing with the blocks, but he was quite happy with the dump truck and was pushing it everywhere around the house. I prepared a small sadya(feast), with the usual Malayalam dishes and of course payasam.

Since I had promised myself not to be sitting at the computer today, I played with him all day long. Only break was when he took his afternoon nap and I watched some TV.

It was a great relaxing on a hot summer day.

HAPPY STAR BIRTHDAY, My Dearest Son

Cars or Fireworks

T-minus 9

Do boys learn from the womb their expected gender roles?

I ask this because, we went to see the fireworks for the Fourth of July celebrations yesterday evening and even though Kutie looked at them he seemed to be more interested in the cars that drove by the street next to the big parking lot (where we camped up). Every time we would point to the new, colorful firework that blasted into the sky he would stare it for a second and then almost immediately turn his head to look at the car that zoomed past.

It was a weird scene - everyone looking at the wonderful mirage of colors in the sky and Kutie looking at the Fords, Toyotas, and Hondas!

The Countdown Begins

July 4th, 2007 - Happy Independence Day!!!

Its T-minus 10 & counting to Kutie's birthday!!!

Yes can anyone believe it? Last year on this day I was HUGE!!! Two days away from my due date. Nothing was happening - no contractions, no pain - we were only wondering when the little guy will show up! Daily visits to the Ultrasound became a routine and for me I was just plain hot and tired all the time.

This year, its a completely different story. The little guy is ready to kick butt! He is crawling, babbling and the biggest difference - The little guy is the center of attention!!!! (but eh! he still seem to prefer me over everyone else - so thats good)

Favorite Quotes

Its been ages since I have written an article for Women 2 Women (you can see where I am going with this, excuses and more excuses, so I will skip that!) but I loved this topic this week. Its truly hard to pick one quote, when there are so many wonderful thoughts

A few quotes stay with us forever, while a few skip from memory. Though I had to pick one I have to list a few of my favorite ones here!

Motherhood ~

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty

All mothers are working mothers. ~Author Unknown

At work, you think of the children you have left at home. At home, you think of the work you've left unfinished. Such a struggle is unleashed within yourself. Your heart is rent. ~ Golda Meir

Love ~

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
~ Tennyson

Where there is love there is life. ~ M.K.Gandhi

Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go. ~Mother Teresa

The first duty of love is to listen. ~Paul Tillich

Rest in next!

Four walls and a roof

A lot happens inside the four walls of a house. A family can live and die, a person can love and hate, a child can be born and nourished! A family is built when two people come along and decide to take the biggest leap in faith - Living Together!

In every conceivable manner, the family is the link to our past, the bridge to our future. --Alex Haley

We are in the middle of house hunting and with every house comes the discussion of - Is the right one for us.? Do we go for a 3 bedroom or a 4 bedroom? Do we need a big backyard or a small one? Do we need to be near our work? Do we want a big kitchen or can we manage with this tiny one? And the million dollar question - Can we afford this one?

It's been two months since we started the process and I still do not see the light at the end of the tunnel - but I see the glory in the process. We are still having arguments, but we have learned to listen; we are probably having more anxiety attacks, but we have learned to comfort each other. We have grown closer together as a family.

I am sure we will find our little house to call home some day soon, and until then I am happy with my little family under this roof (rental it might be!) safe and sound.

A masterpiece

We made Kutie draw with Crayon finger-paint today to commemorate father's day with his First official masterpiece. Here's a snapshot -



Ok I might be biased, but I think even Da Vinci would be ready to tutor Kutie, to become a grand-master one day!

Father's Day

Daddy's little boy is turning one in 4 weeks and today is Daddy's first Fathers Day! I hope its a glorious one & one of many more to come. Kutie and I made him a nice set of "12 months of Kutie" photo collage (proud of it!), framed and gift wrapped. I think, dad was happy with the gift, and to top it, here an extra special jingle!

He's a million dreams come true
He's our little prince.
In him I see you,
In you I see the pride.

He has your eyes
He has your smile
He's Daddy's Boy
So easy to see!

He adores you, you 're his hero.
You 're the BEST (always will be)
Happy Fathers Day!

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And to my wonderful daddy, though you are miles away I hope you know -->
I LOVE YOU - plain and simple.

You have been my anchor, You have been my saving grace.
You always put family first and I was always top of that list
I am thankful to you, for everything.
My dear, wonderful dad, I celebrate you today and always
Love, K

Poems for Kutie

No I know I am not a great writer, but I try! :)

My son has a little toy that sings
"One little birdy, singing so sweet, one fluffy cloud and one big tree!
Two little butterflies love to fly, two little butterflies fluttering by.
Three little bumble bees full of fun, three little bumble bees buzz buzz buzz.
Four little flowers pretty as you please, four little flowers flowing in the breeze
Five little lady bugs meet for lunch, five little lady bugs munch and crunch."

Now for my verse
Six little puppies go on a walk, six little puppies love to bark.
Seven little fishes in the pond, seven little fishes go round and round.
Eight little snails try to run, eight little snails have some fun!
Nine little stars in the sky, nine little stars far away.
Ten little fingers on my hand, ten little fingers to play in the sand.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

Well maybe not that old!

I am trying to teach Kutie all the wonderful things there is to learn. He has mastered the art of handshake, kiss, and peek-a-boo (he will close his eyes for a second, and brings one hand up to hide his eyes ... really cute). I thought I was doing great ... and then came the call from my mom.

She told reminded me to teach him how to pray! And thats when it hit me .... why did not I think about it ... such a basic, wonderful thing to learn! To fold your hands, close your eyes, and think about all the blessings that you have ... with a silent thanks! I have been telling Kutie stories of Shree Krishna, Rama and the likes, and often take him to the temple but prayer is such an important aspect - it binds everyone together, it heals.

Well, better late than never. Thanks, mum - there are still so many things I need to learn from you! Love Ya!!

Babies and Television

I just read a news report on American babies watching too much television. The survey conducted does not clearly state that it might be bad for kids but it is still shocking!

During my childhood days, which are not that far back, we always liked to play outside. We had a “school shift” program so 1 to 5 grades had afternoon shift, while higher grades were in the morning. Each day I remember running back from school to rush to the playground. Mornings were devoted to schoolwork.

Perhaps, TV was most watched during summer holidays – but even then we used to play, read and do other things as well. This was our schedule on most summer days: Early morning bike rides, breakfast, back on the playground or if it was too hot we would meet at someone house, lunch and then afternoons at our homes – reading a book, doing some crafts, painting, and by evenings we were back at the playground. Sometimes we would come back out after dinner to play some shuttle (similar to tennis). Television made its appearance, in between this ‘hectic’ schedule :)

But as we grew older, television did start to make an impact. I remember my parents discussing shutting TV during exam weeks and taking other measures to ensure we devoted our time for studies. (We often negotiated watching TV time to maybe dinner or afternoon breaks) I wonder if this is even possible today. With the influx of so many channels, the ever growing gaming industry, and the internet – there is always something. Marketers of kids programming will say that it’s beneficial with kids learning language and numbers, but can they not learn the same things through books … can we not teach them ourselves?

All this said and done, I love television myself. Love Heroes, love my Netflix … what does that say about me! Double standards! It’s been a long day – maybe I will ponder tomorrow. In the meantime, I like my TiVo recording the shows that I like, so that even if I watch them sometimes a week later – I try to ensure Kutie has not seen television, yet!!!

Happy "First" Mothers Day

Yes ... Its my first official mothers day!!! And what a glorious day it is! The sun is bright and birds are chirping ... a perfect summer day.

Happy First Mothers Day to me!!!

To all mothers, grandmothers, aunts, god-mothers - most selfless, humble, guardian angels here on earth ..... A great day to you all!

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Here is my big card, from my little guy! :)

"Only the luckiest of ducklings has a mommy like you!"
Chooooooooo Cheeewwweet!!!