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.