G the toddler

What else is new, I missed posting the G's second birthday by months - 5 months to be precise. It is the lone balloon floating in the livingroom and the ribbons and other decorations still hanging on that remind me I better do it before its too late. Of course, G and her milestones don't stop for anyone. This birthday of hers had a festive air since almost a week ago. We had guests at our place and for a change our house was spruced up. The husband's aunt who was visiting us dotes on children and especially G. We had a great time taking them out to see sights at Antwerp and Brugge. G enjoyed her outings, showed us her preference and fascination for churches (cheech - as she calls it) and displayed exemplary behaviour.

Sunday, her birthday, we were recovering from our hosting experience, living a fairly secluded life, and not entertaining much makes us a bit rusty w.r.t. energy levels. Anyways, the day dawned too wet and wintery to go out. Late evening, we started putting up the decorations and balloons. G played her part - looked all dolled up in a white dress and stockings and seemed very excited with all the preparations going on. Her cake with 2 candles was ready and with her ajji on yahoo chat she cut her cake and wanted to eat it on her own.

This was followed by a one month trip to India, where G was totally spoilt. We took her to a trip of Mysore - where visiting temples proved a bigger attraction than the Mysore zoo. She would love to put her hand on the diya for aarti and do namaskar, but would refuse the water for the thirtha. In B'lore everytime, we made a trip to the grocery shop next door, we had to, had to stop and 'pay' to Dhin-dhinna, as she calls Ganesha. She had two haircuts - the 2nd one making her look like a Dora first and later like Mowgli after its grown over.

We started at potty training too, after we got back. But the cold weather prevailed and very often we would miss by a few mins. so success on that front is like a pendulum - back and forth, always at work but between the two points. Big job of course is done in the diaper, whilst squatting Indian style, can't seem to get her to go on the pot. Tried all the tricks on babycenter.com. So, that is that, a bit of power struggle and defiance built in and I keep throwing up my hands for a couple of days and then getting back to it. Hope to get it right by September, before she goes to school.

Of course, the fact that I am in my third semester is not helping either. I seem to have varying energy levels and this can take a toll on even best laid plans. For instance, I joined the BCT wing here in Belgium so that G can attend an informal playgroup for a couple of times a week. But we never seem to make it there thanks to timings, weather and my own reluctance to experiment with public transport in my present state. We spend time at the garden - of course when the weather is good, visit another friend with a daughter close to G in age and visit the library once a week at least where she can pick and choose books she likes. At home, we read a lot, watch a lot of TV, dabble in crafts occassionally.

She can already talk so much. When her dad is ready to leave for office she says - Bye, bye, Tata, come later afternoon. Then after dropping stuff, or pooping in her chaddis she says - Nevermind, its ok, its ok. When I need privacy in the bathroom or loo, and she just saunters in, she will step out reluctantly, close the door and say 2 mins. She can hum and repeat many of her nursery rhymes. Bijibee, her doll, is her current best friend and confidante and is taken everywhere. Love to see how she talks to her and keeps asking her to sit properly, checks if she is comfortable?, want some gems?, etc.

It's difficult to say what G thinks of a 2nd baby. She says she wants a baby sister and has even gone to the extent of naming her Chulbuli, inspired by this ad which she somehow caught on to on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lqMV97ukJ8. 

She puts her hand on my stomach sometimes to feel baby's movements. It will be interesting to see her reaction and interaction though.