Dear Gauri,
Sorry I am so late in posting this entry about your second birthday. As you know you are soon going to be a Big Sister – mumma is kind of tired and a lot more busy lately and therefore so late in posting this entry.
But we, including you had lots of fun on your birthday this year. You were super excited for your birthday a week in advance. You love Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster right now, so your birthday theme this year was of course - 
You had a very special Elmo Cake, Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster cookies and Elmo books for your friends and the entire wall was covered with your favorite 
Mama (uncle) Abhi and Chachu Harry had both come from 
We made Chinese food for your party since that was the cuisine that I ate the night before you came into this world, and of course you still like the Chinese White rice anytime. Your baba made most amazing veggie dumplings that even you enjoyed eating.
In the evening you friends came with their mommy and daddies and you had an absolute blast with them. You were too funny – you liked Shealyn’s shoes so much so that you took off yours and insisted that you exchange yours with hers. Her mom had to bring another pair of similar shoes for her to wear so you could enjoy putting your feet in hers. It was simply wonderful to see how nicely you played with her and how delicately you handled baby Aadi.
Everyone spoiled you completely with wonderful presents and lovely Elmo cards. You also got your first “baby” (kid safe doll) on this birthday (You baba does not like dolls that much so he never let you have a doll until now!!) You were absolutely thrilled to have the baby among other wonderful presents.
On the day of your birthday you got phone calls from Amma dadu, Bu-Phu, Chachu-Chachi-Cheenu, Nanu, Chhote Nanu-Mama, Meme, Poo Mausi and Nani, Your friend Ishaan- Sara Mausi, Gita Nani-Prabhakar mama and although you are always eager to talk on phone always, but that day you finally declined to talk anymore (you never do that, you ALWAYS insist that I put you on phone as soon as you see me talking on phone, but I guess you never expected that you will be talking on phone this much in just one day.) That was not all, my email-box was full with e-cards and other birthday wish emails for you. Boy – did I ever get even half as many cards and birthday emails for my Birthday?? Never!! You are too fortunate to have SO many people love and care for you. I think you are too cute and sweet and have almost captivated everyone around you in your love. Your Baba and I love you very much and thanks God every single day for choosing us as your parents and giving us the opportunity to witness you leelas (activities). Happy Birthday and Happiness Always.
Love
Ma-Baba
Note: I was trying to post this entry while I was in labor with Neel (and of course in denial that I was in Labor)
Thankfully this year Daddy was home to take her out Trick-a-Treating!! Gauri was thrilled to ring everyone’s door bells and receive “treats”, she didn’t care about the treats although! But what she liked most was – having the opportunity to ring every neighbor’s door bells. 
Funny, she thought it was now acceptable to ring their bells every day….hahahaha…our poor neighbors – she continued to ring their bell every-time we returned home from a trip out of the house…..It took me some time to try to explain her why she couldn’t ring their bell anymore. Now she continues to wait for the next Halloween not only to dress up but mostly to have a chance to ring everyone’s door bells freely!!
Now this may look like a really cute funny face, but some serious business was going on when this picture was taken.
With less than 3 weeks to go for the second birthday, I was trying to think of her last Birthday and all the changes she has had since past one year. She is such a “complete” person right now with likes, dislikes and a VERY Good Vocabulary to express her feelings. So I am trying to capture here some of her latest Likes…..
Here are some of Gauri’s current favorites:
Favorite Sport – anything to do with Water…splashing water
Favorite Pass time – Book reading, walking the stuffed animals in her doll stroller
Favorite Book – Read and Grow with Pepper (I have to admit I am completely tired of that book now!!), Elmo flip Book
Fun activity – Making Bubbles, Horse Riding (Baba the horse)
Favorite Character – Big Bird, Elmo, Zoe
Favorite TV show – Curious George, Sid the science Kid
Favorite Poem –Baba Black sheep, 8 Silly Monkeys
Favorite Song – Ring Around the Rosy
Favorite Fruit – Strawberry, Banana
Favorite Food item – Cheese (Amul Slice Only), Sticky Rice
Favorite Drink – Strawberry Milk (In elmo cup Only)
Favorite Animal – Mo-mo (the Cow), Mew Mew (the Cat)
Favorite Insect – Ant (Thanks to the song - Ants go marching…)
Favorite Dress – flower Dress, lengha Chooli (Indian long skirt and top)
Favorite Shoe – White Flower Sandals, and big Boots
Favorite Toy – Red Dog (the Baby), Jojo the monkey
Favorite "pretend play": Fetch Coffee for Mumma and baba, going out shopping for the house.
Favorite Parent: Baba of course (The kind can tell from his footsteps if its him and hugs him for hours when he returns back from work trips)
Least favorite things: Getting hair done, going to the grocery store with Mumma (OK that may be Mumma's least Favorite thing to do. Who wants to go grocery shopping with an always-on-the-go, pick-up-random-stuff-and-put-in-your-shopping-card toddler??).
Oh and she definitely has her favorite person picked up – who other than her Baba…
the kid adores him and is crazy about him. No wonder she stops eating and gets cranky when daddy is away on business trips. I feel sorry for her when she runs upstarirs to look for her daddy and then in the basements and when he is found no-where she’ll bring the phone up to me asking “Mamma,….Baba phone please”…..truly daddy little girl.
Well I could just go on and on writing about her new activities but I’ll resort to posting more pictures with some titles instead. Our little baby is turning into a little girl for sure and she is getting even more adorable and fun and life’s getting full of excitement.
Our Dearest Papa,
You taught us to work hard and enjoy family. You taught us the price of honesty and that it cannot be negotiated. You taught us about life by always setting up a personal example… and we are humbly grateful to you – our life long teacher.
When we were young, I would wake you up in the middle of the night asking for milk- fearing that I would suckle my thumb otherwise and you would get up every single night to fetch me milk. We would wake you up to go to the bathroom with us since we were scared and you would give up you sleep just to comfort us and make us feel secure… for this we are grateful to you - our pillar of strength and support.
When we were growing up, you were stern when you needed to be, but mostly loving because you just couldn’t stand not loving us for a single moment. Never once did we not feel your love, even when you were angry. For this – your immense patience with us and never seizing love we are grateful to you – our guide and mentor.
And now, that we have grown, we remember the mornings we have had together and the many more mornings we will share. Although, the distances have increased physically, but we always remain close in thoughts and heart and the most important thing that has not changed is how we still look up to you - our Hero, our Guide and the Best Friend ever!
We love you, our dearest Papa, exactly like we told you when we were young… “we love you like the sun, big and warm and shiny”
With Love,
Your Children
We had a wonderful father’s day celebration with Gauri this year. She knew it was father’s day because she and I were busy preparing card and planning the activities for that day for quite some time. Gauri gave baba 2 gifts – a Movie Day Pass (a day of his choice where all he does is sit on the couch and watch his fav movies ALL-Day-Long. Godfather, Starwars, whatever he wishes, snacks and drinks placed at arms distance so he doesn't have to even open the refrigerator or get up from the couch, baby sitting and mommy-sitting all included) …. Hummm does that sound like every guy’s dream day or what?? I am sure daddy was thrilled.
We also found a special SPA place and really cool package for daddy called “Real dads do SPA”. After talking to the spa staff, we were sure it would be a fun experience for daddy and a much relaxing one too.
We spent the evening with 3 other dads and their little ones, two of whom we were meeting for the first time and had much fun making new friends with. While the dads were BBQing and chatting and having good laughs, all the mommies were making sure they keep the little one fully entertained so we didn’t have to look up to dads for any help (well, alteast for a few hours). Gauri played nicely with other kids and was very supportive of dad by trying to remain awake till 9 PM or so. After that she was almost ready to crash and fell asleep on our way back. Thanks to our wonderful friends for planning the BBQ party, we all had wonderful time and made new friends.
I have to admit that we the moms, sometimes take dads for granted and think of them as second parents but in fact it’s far easier to be a father than a dad. The level of personal commitment that our kids require is challenging, sometimes even overwhelming. Without the support of these wonderful life partners whom our kids call “dad”, we would not be able to "survive" - at times.
I found this interesting statistic on Career Builders’ annual Father’s Day survey thought it’s worth sharing:
Survey showed that 37% of working dads would leave their jobs if their spouse made enough money to support the family.
Given the choice, another 38% would take a pay-cut to spend more time with their kids.
FathersAtWork.com reported that 70% of working fathers have a difficult time balancing their professional and personal responsibilities.
When we became parents, we made a life decision that carries more responsibility than any other. Without the commitment and support of both parents I cant imagine how we would ever be able to make these tiny people responsible and good human beings. Thanks to all the dads for being the pillars of support for the family.
Last Tuesday (May 20th) while I was on a conf. call we got a call from the daycare, and all I knew was Mani was running around looking for his wallet and car keys. I was half listening to what he was trying to tell me. Then while rushing out of the house, I heard him say, Gauri’s fingers …. and that’s all that I heard. This was enough for me to get me anxious and nervous and I was somehow trying to end the conference cal, but you know how when you want to get out of something, you feel like you just cant!! As soon as I hung up the phone, I tried to call Mani’s cell phone, all I heard was my poor baby screaming in the background and Mani asked me to call up Pediatrician right away as he was driving to their clinic. Dare I ask how was Gauri, from all the screaming I knew she was in too much pain, but in a very timid voice I asked how bad was it - “Not good Pragati….her fingers are bleeding profusely…now call up the Dr.”. As I explained to the lady at the clinic what had happened she seemed so relaxed about this accident, advised me to keep Gauri home, wash the wound and watch if she can move her fingers. Damn, she sounded COLD!! I agree kids do have accidents and Dr.s see it all the time, but not my child – its her very first cut, very first accident, very first bleeding and she is the most important thing in the world (at least to us). So I kept insisting that we need to see a Dr. and she said only after an hour. I wasn’t happy with her answer. I tried to call back Mani and he wouldn’t pick up his phone. I kept dialing like a maniac with all the wrong thoughts running in my head – “what’s going on, why is he not picking, Is Gauri Ok, is her hand OK, are fingers still intact” (my heart pounding like it was going to come out of my body), redialing with one hand, I was trying to see who to call and ask for a ride, my car was with him….. Finally after the longest 1 hour he called back confirming she was Ok, no fractures and the Dr. did see her.
But he also told how embarrassed he felt at the Pediatrician – “embarrassed why?” As he was fighting, arguing and shouting at the reception staff who refused to have a Dr. see Gauri, trying to tell she is too much pain and “look her hand is all bleeding” and blah..blah…blah…blah… Gauri stops screaming and starts insisting on getting down on the floor to - go play with the big toy stove and refrigerator in the play area!! “Hahaha…. Poor dad – he thins his little darling is in too much pain, but guess what daddy is in more pain… sure this is their first kid…hahaha”. I am sure this is what was running in the minds of everyone witnessing this scene.
Gauri came home, she wasn’t crying but her face had turned crimson and eyes puffy from all the crying, I looked at her bandaged fingers and as Mani described to me that her nail-bed might be damaged and that has serious implications, she pulled the bandages off and there I saw - ripped-up fingers, the open wounds and nail under the skin..God, how could someone do this to my little sweet-pea, my jigar-ka-tukda (piece of my heart)…and there you go….I was crying…crying hugging her closer to me and she started crying when she didn’t now what was mumma crying…..
when she speaks either one of the languages, its is so amazing that I cant express in words.
Later Gauri and I watched some videos and read some books and did I ever mention how crazy she is about her “buuks”, she needs them when she wakes up, when she eats, when she comes back from play outside, when she sleeps and now even at bath time.
Hope these babies fill your lives with immense joy and love.
Mommy & Gauri.
Ok, now I shouldn’t but I am writing this little post about me instead of it being about Gauri. But I was so touched by a beautiful card I received from MY daddy that I couldn’t resist sharing it with you all and specially with Gauri, so she knows that no matter how grown up she may get, but she will ALWAYS BE DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL (just like her ma is for her naanu (Grandpa) )
Here’s the card that brought tears to my eyes and took me back to my cherished childhood:
Dear Daughter,
You are our biggest happiness.
When you came into our life,
It felt as if the moonlight just came down to light our home
Your smile has decorated every corner of our house
May your life bloom like a beautiful garden,
Our world has become beautiful just by having you.
Thank you Father,
you are simply THE BEST
and I will always love you.
