Where Oh Where Did My Baby Go

When did this happen? You are not a baby anymore ... Where's my little infant? Who's this little toddler running around and telling me stories? Are you TWO already?

Happy Birthday Rayaan!! Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!!

Just like "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", which happens to be your favorite book, you've metamorphosed too. Just a year ago, everyone would come up to me and tell me how quiet you were. During this last year you've just become your own person. You have your own opinions and your own space. You are no more just a shadow of your mamma. Sometimes I feel I could hold you in my arms forever and never let you grow out of that space. But then, when I watch you explore and perform in your space, I wonder how I could be so selfish to think that. A mom's mind is so paradoxical, or maybe it's just me.

The magic of seeing you grow into your own person, especially in retrospect warms the cockles of my heart. To watch you succeed taking your first steps to running a race with your big brother who almost never lets you win, but sometimes might just accede, is very heartwarming. To hear you talk and talk and talk makes my heart explode with love and emotions and victory. To see you impersonate all your favorite animals and make everyone around you laugh fills me with a pride that doesn't even try to hide. To feel you hug me with your tightest hold with your tiny little hands envelopes my senses with a security that I cannot fathom and To taste your little kisses satisfies all my hunger for any love that I might lack.

Rayaan you are my devotion, I have said this before. You've taught me patience and love.. You've taught me to relax and unwind ... You've taught me to believe again that I can be succesful, and how do I ever thank you for that my little, precious, adorable, darling, baby boy.

You love us all with a love so true .. so pure and so divine. You completed our family in a way that only you could with your magic.

Happy Birthday My Little Star!

Here's Mamma's Second Book .. dedicated to you ... because you love playing in the sand and on the beach ...!!!

Butterfly Effect

Being the first child of a very capable English teacher had its positive effects on me. My dad told me a lot of stories. In-fact, for every situation he had a story to tell. I often would get upset that he is trying to convey something in a roundabout way and this I have inherited too, fortunately or unfortunately?? I am not sure which, only time will tell.

Like all "good" parents, we've been doing our good share of reading to the children. In my case I often make up my own stories too. But most of the time if I spot a good story I use it as a weapon to teach my little boys, something that I have been trying hard to explain to them in plain words. I am not sure if we humans are just wired to read between the lines more than what is expressed clearly. However, when I put something into perspective via a metaphor or a story they get it. Perhaps, that explains why stories are so powerful or why the bible is full of parables.

Recently I have been using a story I read somewhere online about a little butterfly who would drink only one type of flower nectar and thus didn't have colorful wings. His mother explains that he must drink from more flowers to get prettier wings. Then one day he sees the most beautiful butterfly and then realizes why he must try different flowers too.

This is a spot-on story for my situation with an ultra picky eater. I have been using this story successfully to explain why he should try different foods. I also have been reading "the very hungry caterpillar" to his brother (a caterpillar who transforms into a butterfly). So, the current favorites in our household of two boys, are butterfly stories. :)

At dinner time last night, after getting a mouthful of assorted vegetables, Ishaan squirmed. I immediately reminded him why he should eat different types of food. He articulated that he got the point by saying, "oh yes! If I eat different types of food, I will become like a beautiful butterfly".

Then .. a long pause....

"But," he continued,

Another deliberate pause ...

"I cannot become a butterfly mamma, Because I am not a caterpillar!"

Oh, the joys of motherhood, especially when you get a taste of your own medicine back!!!!!

Because You Love Me!!

I just finished decorating the house with blue and orange streamers and balloons. There are a few Disney cars floating around too. Your little brother stayed up late and helped a little too. "Wow" "Wow" "Wow", he was really overwhelmed. You picked out all your decorations. This afternoon, I felt like buying the whole party store for you. You were running helter-skelter, unable to decide, what it was that you wanted your birthday decorations to look like. When did you grow up so much my baby.

You are all of FOUR today!!!

Happy Birthday my dearest dearest ISHAAN!

I cannot tell you how much you have grown in this last one year. It's like you've suddenly become a big boy. Right from wearing your own clothes to helping your baby brother dress up, from learning to eat yourself to almost cooking a meal with little help, from learning to talk more clearly to saying all the right things... You've just pushed your way out of your little cocoon.

Your power to gauge a situation and react appropriately often leaves me astounded. There are still a lot of times you want to be a naughty little boy, that's what boys are supposed to do. You are a goofy little boy but yet sensitive and caring.

You've always worked wonders on me Ishaan.You say the most magical things to me. You make all my blues hide by your tender, sweet, sensitive hugs. You just know what to say to calm me down and what to do to cheer me up. I could never thank you enough for the way you bring love, sunshine and a fresh breath of life into our family.

I quote Celine Dion to express how you make me feel

You are my strength when I am weak
You are my voice when I can't speak
You are my eyes when I can't see
You see the best there is in me
Lift me up when I can't reach
You give me faith 'coz you believe
I'm everything I am
Because you love me

Mamma has worked very hard these last few days to get her first children's book completed in time for your FOURTH Birthday (A lot of people helped too!!). This book is dedicated to you my baby boy. Happy FOURTH Birthday!

For the first time for the world's eyes.

Ishaan and Tricy's Zoo Trip ==> http://bit.ly/cVSVsE