of terrible and terrific Twos!

Last month, on 20th July 2009, my darling son, you turned 2! It is quite unbelievable! You know how we always say that time flies, did you feel it too? Did you notice how you changed from a wee l'il cell to a fetus to a wrinkly raisin looking creature who then turned into a kid with charming smile and expressive eyes to this naughty boy who speaks endlessly and keep jumping off walls all the time?


I cannot claim to remember every l'il thing you have said and done, but I can definitely say that having you around has been a life altering experience in every sense of the term. Sometimes I feel it has been too easy and at others it seems like a miracle that we have come this far without disowning each other.

Warning - a looong and nostalgic post ahead!


Year 1

I mean for most mommies going back to work is a huge challenge, but you made it a breeze for me. You almost never cried and your cheerful bye (with see you soon now added) when we leave for work makes it very easy to not worry and feel guilty. These days you might also wanna give an Uggie before you push me saying "Jao! Hemmet Pehno!"


You achieved your physical milestones slightly slower because of hypotonia (loose muscle tone). When the doc said that and i googled it was distraught. But the Doc assured us that all was okie and that for you it was a mild form of it. Do you remember your first fall l'il guy? It happened when Papa wasn't in town and Amma made sure she complained about that to him when he got back. She thought i would not have told him! ;) The first fall was just the beginning and for the longest time your forehead had bumps all the time. We had become masters of not making deal of your falls and you seemed to not react to it most of the times after a point. Cut to present and you come to saying "Chottu laga. Theek kan do" and then go back to whatever you were doing pretty quick. If its a nasty fall then carrying you for a while and distracting you helps.


And remember the first time you stood up? You were l'il more than nine months. I can still remember the look of sheer pride in your eyes because you knew you had achieved something special and then the bawling following it because you couldn't figure out how to sit once you stood up. Now you can stand in the balcony for hours looking at life go by. You have all your meals that way. You can now stand on your toes and see things on the kitchen platform and ask for things! :)


You did your first long train trip to Kolhapur around the same time and by the 10th month you were slowly but steadily developing a personality of your own!


I used the time flies phrase the first time in 11th month. By then you were fairly mobile even walking with the support of a walker and ofcos trying to put everything you see in your mouth. You were so much more responsive and it was just fun to see you in action! This was also the time your Daadu and you started your mutual admiration club! :)


Then just like that one day, rather on 20th July, you turned ONE! I mean we stopped counting your age in months after that. We celebrated your birthday with just your grandparents at Yelagiri and it was a lot of fun. This was also the time we gave you a hair cut and man it was painless and fun! Now we have started taking you to a salon and you scream and cry as if you are going through Chinese torture. But you look darn cute post the haircut! :D


Year Two


13 months was when you took your first steps! :D a HUGE milestone achieved much earlier than 18 months the doc pegged it at. This was the month when you started showing us your stubborn streak and eating troubles had started. You also discovered the joys of your l'il tub and the clingy phase had officially begun! You had started appreciating applause and would expect it for every achievement. That has not changed till date. The only difference being that now you applaud others too. Good thing to do that kid! :) This was the month we went to Lalbagh and Cubbon park and noticed just how much you enjoyed going out and wide open spaces! :)


Month fourteen had you practicing your walking skills and improved mobility was making life a wee bit difficult! You had also discovered your love for socks and yes you finally said Mamma. Cut to today when you can walk long distances quite easily! As for calling me Mamma, it can range from anything from that to Mummy to mamyao! :D


The hemmet obsession started in month 15! You also took your first sips of water from glass during this time. Your vocabulary was increasing and so was your understanding about the stuff and you could now figure out your toys by their names. Your smile also seemed to have gotten cuter this month! :) You also went to Goa in this month and had a rollicking time with Pannu bhaiyya!


16 months was when we started indulging in child labour in all our earnestness! You had started putting bartans in the sink and clothes in the wash basket and your toys in the box. It was in this month that we saw beginnings of tantrums too and new words being said every single day. All very exciting! :)


You had started climbing up steps in month 17 and now can confidently go up and down the three floors to our ghar. This was also the time you kept surprising us with your observation and association of sounds with objects. You developed a stranger anxiety after being a kid who went to everyone with open arms! We also got your mundan done and i still hate it because your lovely curly locks are gone foreva!


Two major happenings in 18th month - restarting of potty traing and your love for dark chocolates! :D Plus the talking had become l'il more constant and your five senses were falling into place. Garam or Teekha was heard often. We also went to Pune and Mumbai and you had so much fun with your grand parents and Mama who had come all the way from US! :)


The month of "what this is?" was the 19th month. The question was asked endlessly. We realized how much you love routines and how much you love playing with bartans rather than toys! :p You were also running all over the place and enjoying Jumping! First trip to zoo happened and man you LOVED it.


20th month meant some more talking and more walking and more of everything including tantrums and feeding troubles! You had also started becoming the walking instruction manual and the BIG thing was you were potty trained for the day! Yayy!!


21st month was the month you tried to be independent - be it trying to take off you clothes and footwear or wanting your own seat in theatres and aeopanes! You love airports and physical masti in all forms. The rougher it is, more fun it is for you. You also became a painfully whiny kid around this time, but mostly you were fun! :D


I did a combined post for 22nd and 23rd month with BIDWF moments thrown in between every now and then. These months you proved yourself to be a a good citizen by insisting on throwing all the kachra in the dustbins wherever we went! :D How can i forget, you started school and seem to be totally loving it! You also zapped is by walking 3kms at mysore zoo without a whimper or demand for Godi! You now love colouring and keep bringing noosepepa and cayons to do your artwork! :D


And now when I look at you, you are all these things and then some more. You are cute and cuddly, stubborn and annoying, charming and fun, whiny and clingy, funny and smart, loving and caring, sweet and spicy. You have quite a temper but then you temper (notice the smart pun please!) with enough love and understanding for us to not notice it too much! You are helpful and sensitive. Your hugs are so warm and genuine that it melts our hearts. Your smile is sometimes fake and some times real and at all times very very adorable! :) You are quiet at school and get bullied easily but there are also times when you show that you already have the thing to be the bigger person, to give even when the other person does not respond. You chatter incessantly and to watch you play by yourself while making up your own stories makes us realize you are not the l'il baby anymore.


May your imagination let you soar to wherever your mind wants to go...
May your smiles and laughter light up our lives every single day...
May your naughty eyes keep shining forever...
May the music of your soul let you dance with or without two left feet...
May each day bring new joys and discoveries...
May each friend make you feel special...
May you become a kind soul who enriches the lives of others...
May you learn to take care of your and other peoples aggression...


And Papa's and your prayer should be your mantra in life. Just in case you forget here's how it goes "Bhagwaanji, mujhe buddhi do, samajh do taaki main accha insaan ban sakoon. Taaki main sab ki madat kar sakoon aur mere saath bhi sab accha ho. I love you bhagwaanji!"


We love you lots sweetheart! You are the sunshine of our lives! Hugs and kisses!


Ps: If there is anyone who has been enjoying Cubby's antics and not said hey, pls to delurk and give your blessings to the l'il guy! :)