Tuesday, December 30, 2008

November 2008 Update

Budding painter
My cool pose
My creation
The Oranjes!!I get confused sometimes with the ways of the world..
Exhibit 1: Om, when you grow up, you can do it (it, being, anything a whole lot of fun).. You are a baby now..
Exhibit 2: Om you are a big boy now.. you should brush your teeth..
Now am I a big boy or a baby... I asked the same question to Amma..
As you can see from the above.. brushing my teeth is a major everyday drama and i think its part of growing up.. Amma is learning that slowly..

Appa told us that we will be going to Phuket in December and we have been planning it a lot..Appa brought in books of different countries from the library and I enjoy reading them and listening to Appa tell me about countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Nigeria etc.
@ WestMall library

I love doing my jigsaw puzzles. They are now puzzles with greater complexity, with different shapes to put together. Amma spends quite a bit of time trying to teach me phonics and counting. However, I dont think this is the right time for me. I love playing with play-doh and i make noodles, dosai and pasta with them. My little friend, Shreyas, came to visit me and I had great fun playing with him and Nirmala-maami.
With my jigsaw pieces

Praveen chithappa visited us and treated us to dinner at Heritage . I have taken a liking to his Hyundai Avante car. The best part of the dinner was the experience with the finger-bowl.
@ the restaurant

There was also the Diwali party at the community center. I had quite a bit of fun, dancing on the stage. It was great watching one of the sardars, Singh is King!!!
We also went to West Mall and did the horsey-horsey as well as the choo-choo train express. I also have picked up some new dance moves.
@West Mall in Bukit Batok

Appa also took me to his office and i met some of his colleagues. We then went to catch the movie Madagascar-2. I now have a new playmat from ToysRUs. I love it quite a bit but i love Tanay anna's playmat more...
My Appa's cubicle
Watching Madagascar @ Suntec
My totally cool.. completely awesome playmatAmma's dance party surprise was total fun and I had a great time getting pictures with my friends with my "Hey gals.. lets say cheese" routine!!

Hi girls.. with my friend Shreya

@ the party


The visit to Jurong Lake Park was total fun.
Rope bridge & slide @ Jurong lake park

October 2008 update


At home with Amma & Appa

Contentment

Diwali night

Navratri had begun and I enjoyed going to haldi-kumkum functions with Amma everyday to different houses. Rishabh and family had put together a navratri golu. It even had a small play zoo in addition to the dolls of God. I made a photo frame for Vaishnavi akka with Amma's help.
My vidyarambham took place on 9th October at Krishnan kovil in Bugis. During the vidyarmabham ceremony, Appa wanted to give me all the lessons, starting with Om, the numberals 1-10, 0, infinity, A-Z, the Sanskrit alphabet etc. and Amma and the priest had to ask him to take it easy. Then during the Dussehra celebration, the story of the week was that of King Ram and his war with Ravana.

We also went on a trip to KL with Vaishnavi, Mihir, Annu-aunty and Kishore uncle. I then regaled everyone with what Mihir says most of all (viz. no no no) and what Vaishnavi said most of all (viz. Om.. please don't do that...). In KL we went up the hill at Batu caves to see the Murugan temple. It was fun. Appa took me inside the cave where they had iguanas. Appa showed me how to hold an iguana in his hand. I got encouraged and tried my hand at holding an iguana. The attendant took a picture of that but unfortunately that and other pictures got deleted by chance. Amma was really distraught at all those lost pictures.
Appa and I in front of the Twin towers @ KL with a light shower on..
The royal prince of Malaysia
The Malaysian royal family @ Menara KL
Looking at Batu caves thru a telescope in Menara KL
Mihir, Appa and I in our hotel room

Then we had Diwali party with mom's friends and their families. It was great watching "Singh is King" dance at the party. I now believe every sardar with a turban is a "Singh is king". One day when i saw a sardar on a scooter.. i told Amma "King is on the scooter". Amma was surprised and asked in her inimitable way.. "Where kanna??". I pointed to the scooter and Amma burst out laughing. And she shared this with Appa and Appa was amazed at my inductive reasoning capabilities... Singh = King, Singh is on scooter, so King is on scooter..
Amma was so amused at my antic that she started sharing it with everyone who cared to listen..
Looking at Singh is King

On the morning of Deepavali, we all went to the Murugan kovil to offer our prayers. In the evening we had a party at Toh Guan with all the families. The kids performed and danced to Bum bum bole.. and agdam bagadam which was taught by Amma. Even I joined in the fun and Appa and Amma were glad to watch me performing.
Amma and I lighting the Diwali diyasBursting crackers and lighting sparklers
The next day, we did Lakshmi pujan and we had some fun bursting fireworks with Bryan and Marcus.
I can now recognize the sounds of letters and numbers from zero to nine. I was given the 3 piece jigsaw puzzles and I now enjoy solving them. Amma and Appa got me some more and we have a lot of fun solving these puzzles. I love taking bath with whale, sharks, alligators, squids and crocodiles.
The song of the month has been "Singh is king... Singh is king..."

Picasso @ work

Saturday, December 27, 2008

September 08 Update

Cycling we will go...

Bliss on earth!!
A musician is budding!!
After shopping
Amma & I have been feverishly preparing for my 2nd birthday. Starting with creating the return gift tees for each of the 26 special invitees to selecting the cake from the web, to the final preparations for the birthday. For more details of the big party, head over to Amma's blog.
My Birthday cake
Birthday boy
On 5th Bhajin also came over, wished me and gave me 2 transformers.
I love cycling, thanks to Aarav who gave me his cycle as he got a new one..
Back to home-schooling for me. I was given a well-deserved break from school thanks to Appa and Amma. Amma has been finding out new ways to keep me engaged, now that I am not going to MMI. I love painting but I dont care that much for crayoning. My phonics lessons are underway. We have also started an F1 collage that I am yet to complete.
The newest word in my vocabulary is "BECAUSE". Appa & Amma figured that while other children ask "Why" my signature word is "BECAUSE". It goes like this.. Amma or Appa make a statement like - "You have to eat roti (or bread or peanut butter or whatever)" and I will interject "BECAUSE". Then they will start telling me that I would have to eat roti because it would make me big and strong like Hanuman or Ghatothkach or Bhajin etc. Appa was first bewildered with this usage but now he is fully onboard and even takes care to explain to others what "BECAUSE" means.
My latest passion is reading. Appa brought me a few books from the library one day, about Thailand, Cars, Dinosaurs and I have been hooked ever since. I make sure I am read at least one book before I sleep at night and at least 2/3 in the afternoon before I sleep.
We went to the Science Center where there was an kids' exhibition on. Appa & I made an electrical circuit over there. We also went into a stall where it was dark, only lit by laser lights and the friendly staff got some pictures. There was also an F1 car exhibition and it was fun to see the vintage as well as new Ferraris. Did I ever mention that Ferrari is my dream car. Audi is next on the list.
Ferrari @ Science Centre
Appa & I making an electrical circuit

We had gone over and had a gala time at the Jurong swimming complex, which gets my recommendation for a family's day out. Its got 3 slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, couple of kids pools and a normal swimming pool.
Thatha has a trademark way of saying "exactly" and now I say "exactly" exactly like Thatha.
My new favorite song is Pappu cant dance saala and nowadays Beyonce sings us our lullaby To the left.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

August 2008 Update

Saying bye to my teachers from MMI@WestCoast

My favorite car!!!!
My other favorite Ferrari F1 car
To say August is an eventful month is an understatement of the highest order.
August is the month for birthdays at Toh Guan... Every other day, there's a birthday party and the "Happy birthday" song is sung with great gutso. Sapna aunty has come up with an interesting twist to the song that each of us looks forward to while we sing the song. One ritual is for us to see whats the topping on the birthday cake.... car, barbie, barney etc. I have gotten so used to going to these parties that I ask Amma regularly whether there's any birthday to attend every other day. Check out the slideshow for the birthday snaps.
Anuhya's Birthday
Amma & Praga aunty had got the kids trained in dance and on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami we let our moves rip. All the parents had attended the session and were thoroughly entertained. For the record, the girls danced to Maiyya Yashoda and the boys to Hare Ram Hare Ram Hare Krishna Hare Ram.
The folks over at MMI had some interesting events organized as well for August. First, there was the Singapore National Day, where everyone was in red and I even got my own crown. Appa and Amma told me that I was looking like a darling prince in my attire.
Singapore's national day
Second, they organized a visit to the Singapore zoo and Amma also accompanied me that day. It was a lot of fun.
Thirdly, they also had a Family day party at West Coast Park and we had a fun couple of hours playing "Treasure hunt". Appa, Amma & I had some fun and I also gave Amma a flower from one of the trees and Amma was touched by the gesture.
At My Gym, they had organized a Kids Olympics and I had some great fun participating in all of those events and also in getting a certificate.
Why should adults have all the fun? Our very own Olympics
Performing Olympics under Appa's watchful eye
Appa, Amma and I went to the Marina area to see the rehearsal of the National Day Parade'2008 from a distance. Enjoying the fighter plane acrobatics in the sky with an ice-cream is an experience worth repeating.

The Toh Guan gang also visited the Botanic Gardens on 9th August, the National Day here and we had some great fun running and playing in the park.
Botanic Garden Fun
With the Indian Independence Day on 15th, Amma showed me how to draw my own tricolor. I can now recognise the Indian flag. Appa took me to the Indian High Commission at Grange Road with me dressed in my tricolor-kurta and we managed to attend the function. I saw many kids singing and dancing and the tricolor atop the staff. Appa told me that we had attended the last year's celebration with me in a pram.
My very own tricolor
Painting my tricolor
I have watched Amma perform puja (prayer) to the ummachis (Gods) all these months. I have got her routine fully mapped out. First she says a prayer, then lights the lamps, then namaskaram. I have started doing that daily as well - reciting Om Namah Shivaya, Om Namo Narayanaya, Achyutaya, Anandaaya, Govindaaya, Gopaalaya, Shri Krishnaaya, Vishnave Hari. Then I do my namaskaram with Hey Bhagwaan, Shakti do, Buddhi do, Shaanthi do.. Sabko... Jai Hind. Amma also told me the story of Ek Chidiya and not only do I like the story but also Amma's rendition of the same.
In addition we had the Raksha Bandhan as well. I was eagerly waiting for my rakhi sisters -Anuhya, Vaishnavi and Navya and they all came and tied rakhi on my wrist and applied tilak on my forehead.
My very first Rakhee!!I now enjoy sleeping on my fire-truck bed. Poom poom from Partner and Om Shanti Om continued to be favorite songs.
Neeraj mama had visited us and showed us pictures of my honewali-mami. We also went on a pizza lunch with him..
With Neeru from Icon
Soupy Beard
These days we have started a new tradition as well.. whenever we go to IMM for our shopping, I get to play in my favorite Barney car.
My favorite Barney at IMM
I have now patented my own "I'm angry" look. If the Big B could be the Angry Young Man, I can be the angry young boy.
My really cute "I'm angry" pose


We also celebrated my 2nd star birthday by going to Murugan kovil (temple) on 27th August.