Dear munchkin

Today is the 31st of December 2010.You had a great year starting in India.I dont think you remember your stay there but you had truck loads of fun.You had this wide eyed stare whenever you saw a cow or a buffalo pass by our streets and would ask to be taken to the roadside to look at them marching down.You loved going on shopping trips with thatha and always came home holding a new toy.I had a great time with you in India.Watching through your eyes, I came to realise the joy in simple things around us and how we always overlook them.Once we were back you were stuck like a glue to papa.We celebrated your birthday party with friends and you chose the "Thomas the tank engine" theme once again, 2 years in a row.
You started preschool this year.You write the alphabets and numbers quite well and starting to spell words.We had a visit from perippa and vasu akka(uncle and his daughter) in summer and you had an awesome time visiting the Zoo. You have been learning to swim and starting to learn soccer.Your first two swim classes were torture to me.You cried the whole 45 minutes of the class and used to say "mamma hold me".I was so apprehensive of whether you would ever lose your fear for water but you did a real U-Turn starting from your 3rd class.You took to the water like a fish and you now look forward to you swim classes.
Lots of happenings, halloween, christmas, easter, your graduation, road trips, and so much more.
That was 2010 for you and heres wishing lot more joy, cheer, smiles your way in the newyear.
love you munchkin...mamma

cars, trucks and a big robot

These were munchkins christmas gifts.Ever since december started he has been asking "is it christmas today mama?" and so when we said tomorrow is christmas he was literally jumping up and down.He was so wound up that linux and me had to tell him that unless he slept santa isnt going to stop over at our home.
Today morning munchkin opened his gifts.We had brought him some more of the "Cars" characters, a haul truck and a robot.He has been exploring how the robot works from early morning.He loves his gifts but it didnt take much time for him to ask "so, is santa going to come again today?", "What gifts will i get today?".

Munchkins Christmas party

Munchkin had his christmas party at school today.It was more of a heritage party as their school had asked us to bring a dish that was unique to our heritage.The party was to start at 3:00 with santa coming in and giving out the gifts.Munchkin had made a list for santa and one among them was Cars(not just cars, the film 'Cars' cars).So we had brought a radiator springs geotrack set and given it to his teacher last week.Munchkin was all excited about santa giving him a present and he couldnt wait for his name to get called.He loved his gift, proof the picture where he cant tear the gift wrapper any faster.

Migrating

I have a lot to say, both in person and the virtual world.The idea behind this blog was to have a chronology of munchkin's moments and i want it stay that way.I have started another blog where i ramble.As i said i have a lot to ramble.My other blog is coherentthoughtsofaramblingmind.blogspot.com
I am so happy that i have 4 followers and you are the reason i continue to blog.Do stop in to my new blog.

Curled up with a good book

Thats my idea of bliss!Not kidding...seriously.Atleast one of my ideas of bliss.There is nothing like getting into a brand new world filled with characters that make you laugh, cry, long, despair, cherish, love, hate and all this just by a play of words.That my friend is the essence of a good book where you feel like you are one in their world.I have become more of a fantasy, paranormal reader.They are my favorite genres off late along with romance(ofcourse!).I like science fiction too but once you read Assimov's works the others somehow dont reach you.I have been reading C.L. Wilsons Tairen series for the past three days and i love it.Fantasy and romance , the book is great.So thats where i am - curled up with a good back and i am loving it!

Vegetarianism

"I am a Vegetarian" - That sentence brings in a lot of reactions.Sometimes "Oh really?How does that work for you?" to "Uhh!!" and sometimes to an even bizzare "So do you eat fish?".Wikipedia says "Vegetarianism is the practice of following a plant-based diet including fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, nuts, and seeds, mushrooms, with or without dairy products and eggs."Now there are people who argue as to how eggs fall under a vegetarian diet but lets skip that.
What i wanted to say was why am i a vegetarian.I am SouthIndian and fall into a caste(i hate using that word but as any Indian we are forced to) who are orthodox,strict vegetarians and so on.I was brought up to think eating meat is unholy.My family and my extended family a group of people who cringe at people eating meat even in movies.My paternal grandma even makes this puking sound.Go figure!So thats my background as is my husband's.
At this point of life, i can say that i am a vegetarian not because i am forced to.Not even because my religion demands it.And not because i am against animal cruelty.But in a way i am against animal cruelty.Why the paradox?Let me explain - I am against animal cruelty.I hate that but its not that i dont use leather handbags.Its not like i dont use products tested on animals because i do.Most of the products today are and the few which are not tested on animals are freaking expensive.So there!I am against animal cruelty but somethings fall out of my control.Anyways, I digress.So why am i a vegetarian??
Because it is healthy. And much closer to the truth - Because i am used to it!I dont make the faces my family makes nor do i make puking gestures but the sight of people butchering meat does get to me!I walk the aisles of the supermarket and when i come to the meat section i see live crabs ready in the tank and something tugs heavily.I cant help it.I have nothing against people eating meat but its not my cup of tea(pun intended!).
Linux and me are bring up our son a vegetarian but in future if he chooses to eat meat its his decision.Each to his own.

Note: The above post is just my view and not meant to affect the sentiments of anyone.

Moments like this....

Munchkin wanted to go to the park badly.He had been asking about it the whole day .We told him we could go in the evening but somehow we couldn’t make it(Linux had some deadline he had to meet).
Munchkin was badly upset and started to cry and I was feeling bad too.I tried telling him we could go the next day but he didn’t understand why we couldn’t go right then.He was sitting by the window in a chair, looking pensive with big tears rolling down his cheeks when suddenly he yelled “Mommy, come and look!There are 2 kittens outside trying to go under the fence.One grey and one black.”Munchkin was so excited that he forgot all about his park trip.He.was in the moment.Watching him made me thinking why we adults fail to look at the brighter side of things.We tend to get weighed down when we are faced with hurdles.We are so focused on milestones that we forget the moments, the present.There is no time more important than the present, this moment.
Moments matter, not Milestones.

Listings

Random listings this time.Its so much easier than writing paragraphs.Thats how lazy I am today.I really wanted to blog regularly and everytime I write a post I keep telling that to myself.But somewhere along the day I forget!So well, listings this time..
•We joined a recreational club 2 weeks back.Linux and me are planning on learning to swim and munchkin is signing up for swimming and soccer classes.
•I had a wakeup call from my doctor saying its time I did something about my weight gain.I have been working out for the past 1 month and I like it.
•I love the workout videos for the simple reason that I can do it at the comfort of my home , anytime.
•Munchkin had gone pumpkin picking with his school.He brought home the two cutest pumpkins I have seen my entire life.
•I am missing amma and appa a lot.Though I speak to them atleast twice a day I wish I could see them.
•We watched Endhiran!!( a tamil movie).It was an event by itself,let me tell you why.It was the first movie we went to see as a family after munchkins birth, it was also the first tamil movie I saw with linux in a theatre :-)
•Its difficult to change oneself.I have always had the difficulty of letting go.Its very hard for me to let go but I know I am made of sterner stuff.I really have to learn not to hold on to things too tightly.

Munchkins world

Blogging after a very long time…Munchkn is now 3 yrs and 5 mths.He is going to preschool starting this month.It hits me hard everytime I say his age out loud.My baby is growing up ! I don’t know how to put it in words but there is this elated feeling inside me with a touch of melancholy…I guess its just a mom thing.Somehow my life changed after pregnancy.My life which was so valuable.I know I will give it up in a moment if it means I can save my baby but there is this part that also hopes for a long life – not to see my dreams come true but to watch munchkin realize his dreams.
So what is munchkin doing these days?
Munchkin holds intelligent conversations now..oh yeah,he reasons out everything.He dosent take anything without sound reasoning.I hope he keeps doing it as he grows old because there are times and people who do things because it’s the norm or because tradition demands it.(Now I don’t have anything against traditions and beliefs as long as there is a valuable reason behind it)
He has started writing alphabets and can spell 3 letter words but he gets muddled between the ‘c’ sound and ‘k’ sound..Just the other day we were working on spellings and he spelt the word ‘cat’.When asked to spell ‘key’ he said ‘cey’.I immediately corrected him saying its spelt with a ‘k’ sound .Munchking gives me a mom-you-are-silly stare and says ‘but mama, its Key just like Cat..so why would you tell me to use K instead of C..I tried to think of an explanation without putting it as lame as ‘English is a funny language,that way’ but failed to.I am now seriously looking for an explanation for the time he asks me why we pronounce the words ‘cut’ and ‘put’ in a different way.Sigh!!
Munchkin is still very much into Dinosaurs and trains.A new found love of his is building blocks and colouring books.He loves playing Leggo .He has been learning to swim and I am glad he lost his fear of water.His favorite color as of yesterday is yellow and he loves the swing.Thats where he runs to the minute we hit the park.So much to write about munchkin.His world is becoming bigger with endless possibilities.A lot of discoveries, a lot more of laughter and friends , some accidents made alright with kisses and cookies, an urge to explore, innocence and smiles – that’s munchkins world

Munchkins graduation

Today was munchkins graduation day.He will be going to preschool come september.The color code for his graduation was blue shorts and white T-shirt and he looked so cute.They had been practicing for a long time now and munchkin keeps singing the songs all throughout the day.His class was the first to go and it was so cute watching the boys and girls come and stand in a line.We had a great time watching them not perform.It took 3 songs for them to warm up and even then there were just three kids who sang and danced but it was so cute watching them.Kids never fail to put a smile on our faces.

Zen Meditation

I am attending Zen meditation classes.For a long time now i have been wanting to learn meditation.I had learnt yoga and meditation some 6 years back.Though i still practice yoga i am out of touch with meditation.I tried doing it at home with calm surroundings but i wasnt able to do it for more than 5 minutes.I learnt about Zen meditation and wanted to give it a try and i love it.Zen is a form of buddhist meditation developed in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.The foundation of Zen is meditation.Through meditation, Zen practioners gradually transform their deepest mental habits. Step by step, breath by breath, the mind frees itself from its illusions and passes through its artificial barriers.
I attend a 1.5 hour class where we practice sitting meditation for the first 30 minute period.Then we practice walking meditation for 15 minutes and then go back to another 30 minutes of sitting meditation.The experience is unique.I feel so much happier and lighter after a session.Now i just hope i am able to continue my classes.

Our first trip to Chuck-e-cheese

We had been to Chuck-E-Chesse’s today.This was our first trip there and Munchkin loved it.He loved playing those rides, basketball loops and arcade games.There was this big tunnel slide but Munchkin was scared of going on it.Ever since he had a fall in India (in which he broke his tooth) he is scared of tall slides.I guess its going to take some time to overcome it but no hurry.We are going easy.We earned about 40 credits and Munchkin came out with all smiles holding a plastic snake in ne hand, a tootsie pop in the other and a strip of stickers in his pocket.Simple things like these bring him so much of happiness.Watching him keeps the child in me alive..

vinnaithandi varuvaya....

So I caved in and watched the movie..and surprise of all surprises i liked it!I wasnt really planning on ever watching this movie.Gautham Menon disappointed me in Varanam aayiram and i was skeptical about this movie what with the lead being played by Simbhu..Eeks!that was enough for me to stay away.He is a real pain and i have never been able to tolerate his acting(or the lack of?).So well, Linux and me caught this movie last weekend and surprise(there i go again!but it was a surprise!!) the movie was good.Even more of a shock was simbhu.He can act!Its his film all the way.The guy is really good(watch the climax scene in central park where he talks to Jessie if you dont believe me!and i dont really blame anyone for not believing me) once he lets go of all the hand tricks, heroism, and the punch dialogues.I especially loved the end.I loved the way the female character was etched..a typical 23 year old girl-next-door who is torn between family and love.Some might feel her indecisiveness irritating but i thought it was very realistic and fresh.A very nice movie, one which changed my impression of simbhu and thats saying a lot!!

Dear munchkin,

You are 3 yrs old now and I am still trying to comprehend how these 3 yrs flew by so fast.
I brought you home swaddled in a blanket holding your wobbly head and now my baby is all grown up and can carry on actual conversations with your head held straight.I love watching the world through your eyes.Its full of wonder and cheer.Your favorite toys at present are trains and trains and trains.You love setting up the train tracks and playing with your Thomas trains.You love colouring and asembling puzzles and I should say you are quite good at it too.From the time we came back from India you have taken quite an interest in tamil songs , the favorites being ‘ adiye kolludhey’ and ‘ naan adicha thanga maata’!I love hearing you speak tamil..you make it sound so much sweeter.Appa and me keep trying to hide our iphones but you somehow find it out.You are crazy about iphone games though we try to keep it away from you.I can keep writing about you like there is no end because seriously there is no end! My mornings dont start without a hug from you and my days don’t end without a godnight kiss from you.You are my world and I love you.Happy birthday munchkin!

Munchkins first girlfriend

Munchkin adapted to India amazingly well.His favorite activity was going for a walk with thatha.He loved watching the goats,cows, dogs, hens and surprise of surprise there used to be 2 donkeys too.He used to come back home brimming with smiles and lots of stories.
His othe favorite passtime was my cousin brother B’s daughter Shruthi.They live right next door and she is the same age as munchkin.A typical day starts like this…
munchkin wakes up and says ‘amma, Shruthi pakka polama’
me: ippo venam ..paal saptapparam
After he drinks his milk
Amma ippo polama?
Me:shruthi thongara..apparama polam
Munchkin( after ever 10 minutes) :ippo polama?
This keeps going on and then suddenly he screams ‘ amma, shruthi varudhu’
My parents and me used to wonder how he knows she is coming even before she rings our door bell and then we found out he hears for her golusu sound(anklet) so keenly that he identifies it the minute she comes downstairs.The little rascal!!
This is how they used to see each other whenever we take them to the terrace...

Back in NJ

Munchkin and me are back in NJ.We had a lovely time in India.
I consider it a rejunevating time.I have come back 10 yrs younger.
I was planning on blogging regularly during my stay but my home internet had some problems.I was dejected at first that I didn’t have internet.I have become so used to the internet that I was wondering what will I be doing when I am bored.Its just that I use the internet for right from recipes, news, magazines to shopping,entertainment,weather, directions…dosent that sum up almost everything?But then I consider not having internet a blessing in disguise.It gave me time to enjoy the finer things in life.I had all the time to reconnect with friends, family. By the time the net connection was restored (which was some 2 weeks before my departure) I really had no interest in sitting before my laptop for more than an hour.I have decided that I am not going to spend as much time as before browsing or playing with my laptop.But I will continue to blog from now on.I am thinking I wil blog about my stay in india – incidents which stood out, experiences and the fun we had.For now, munchkin and me are just coming out of our jetlag and enjoying being together with Linux.