That's one of Summy's songs -
How much is that doggie in the window
The one with the waggly tail
How much is that doggie in the window
I do hope that he is for sale
We went to the mall last weekend, and ofcourse we stopped outside the petstore, where four rabbits were eating, drinking, and sleeping in a display window. After observing them for a little while, Summy asked to go in and look at the puppies.
Have you ever seen the happy puppies in one of these pet stores? It is a nightmare. The pet store in our mall is especially notorious for selling pets from puppy mills, and for having sold sick puppies. I don't know about the truth behind any of those stories - but I do know what I see.
I see about fifteen puppies of different breeds, each (sometimes two of them) in a cage that seems about a foot square. Maybe the cages are bigger, but definitely not big enough for them to walk around in.
I see the floors of their cages, not solid floors, but mesh ones that cannot be very comfortable to stand, sit, or lie down on. I believe they do this for easy cleaning of the cages.
I see their puppy dog eyes eagerly waiting for a child to "try" one of them, so they can get out and play for a little while. (I have heard that they get to stay out of their cages and roam the store in the night - maybe, but they still spend the major part of the day in the cage).
I can never come out of this store not feeling depressed, and I don't understand the people who buy their dogs here. It is a prison for the innocent in the center of a mall in "the land of the free".
Summy said, "Mommy, I want to bring this puppy home.", pointing at a little one (her first request of the kind).
I want to bring him home too, Summy, I want to bring all of them home. But if we bring them home, more puppies will fill those cages. (Many people buy a puppy from these stores because they cannot bear to leave the puppy they fell in love behind in the cage).
The way to stop this cycle is to not buy pets from a pet store. If we want to rescue an animal, it will be best to adopt one from a shelter.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Thursday, June 15, 2006
The Lonely Goatherd
Just putting down the lyrics to Summy's new favorite song from Sound of Music so I can learn them.
High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Lusty and clear from the goatherd's throat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[the Children:]
O ho lay dee odl lee o, o ho lay dee odl ay
O ho lay dee odl lee o, lay dee odl lee o lay
[Maria:]
A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
[Kurt:]
Men on a road with a load to tote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[the Children:]
Men in the midst of a table d'hote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
[Maria:]
Men drinking beer with the foam afloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
[Brigitta:]
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria:]
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Maria and the Children:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria and the Children:]
Ummm (ummm) . . .
Odl lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl lay hee hee (odl lay hee hee)
Odl lay ee . . .
. . . yodeling . . .
[Child:]
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
[Maria:]
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hoo hoo
[Child:]
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
[Maria:]
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria:]
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hmm hmm
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria and the Children:]
Happy are they lay dee olay dee lee o . . .
. . . yodeling . . .
Soon the duet will become a trio
[Maria:]
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria and the Children:]
Odl lay ee, old lay ee
Odl lay hee hee, odl lay ee
Odl lay odl lay, odl lay odl lee, odl lay odl lee
Odl lay odl lay odl lay
[the Children:]
HOO!
High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
Folks in a town that was quite remote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
Lusty and clear from the goatherd's throat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[the Children:]
O ho lay dee odl lee o, o ho lay dee odl ay
O ho lay dee odl lee o, lay dee odl lee o lay
[Maria:]
A prince on the bridge of a castle moat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
[Kurt:]
Men on a road with a load to tote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[the Children:]
Men in the midst of a table d'hote heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
[Maria:]
Men drinking beer with the foam afloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
[Brigitta:]
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria:]
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Maria and the Children:
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria and the Children:]
Ummm (ummm) . . .
Odl lay ee (odl lay ee)
Odl lay hee hee (odl lay hee hee)
Odl lay ee . . .
. . . yodeling . . .
[Child:]
One little girl in a pale pink coat heard
[Maria:]
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hoo hoo
[Child:]
She yodeled back to the lonely goatherd
[Maria:]
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria:]
Soon her Mama with a gleaming gloat heard
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hmm hmm
What a duet for a girl and goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria and the Children:]
Happy are they lay dee olay dee lee o . . .
. . . yodeling . . .
Soon the duet will become a trio
[Maria:]
Lay ee odl lay ee odl-oo
[Maria and the Children:]
Odl lay ee, old lay ee
Odl lay hee hee, odl lay ee
Odl lay odl lay, odl lay odl lee, odl lay odl lee
Odl lay odl lay odl lay
[the Children:]
HOO!
Friday, June 02, 2006
Can you say that again?
Yesterday, Summy took her little doll (the mommy from the doll house) to school. When I picked her up, I asked, "Do you want to bring the Mommy doll home?". She ignored me and went out the classroom. In the gym, she stopped to play with some toys, and I said "Is the Mommy in your cubby? Do you want to bring her home?" She giggled and made silly noises with a toy. As we walked out of the daycare center, I said, "Don't you want to get the Mommy?". She stopped to look at an ant on the driveway. She got in the car, buckled up, I got in the car, started it, and she said "Uh oh. I forgot the Mommy in my cubby. We need to go get it"
What would you do? I said No.
Summy said "But I want to get the Mommy."
"We can get her tomorrow. Mommy doll will enjoy some quiet time to herself (just like Mommy did on Mothers Day)."
"But I want the Mommy."
"I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"Mommy, turn around. I want to go pick up the Mommy."
On the way home, she said "I waaant to get the Mommy." thirty two times. I'm not exaggerating, I counted. After the thirty second time, luckily it seemed funny to me (these things seldom seem funny at the time), so I started to laugh. After trying to be extremely offended, Summy started to laugh too. After we both calmed down, she said "Thank you for cheering me up, Mommy."
I said, "Oh, You don't have to thank me for that, honeybunch."
"Thank you for cheering me up, Mommy."
"You're welcome, Summy."
"Thank you for cheering me up, Mommy."
"......."
"Thank you for cheering me up, Mommy."
(Thank you for the entertainment, Summy.)
What would you do? I said No.
Summy said "But I want to get the Mommy."
"We can get her tomorrow. Mommy doll will enjoy some quiet time to herself (just like Mommy did on Mothers Day)."
"But I want the Mommy."
"I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"Mommy, turn around. I want to go pick up the Mommy."
On the way home, she said "I waaant to get the Mommy." thirty two times. I'm not exaggerating, I counted. After the thirty second time, luckily it seemed funny to me (these things seldom seem funny at the time), so I started to laugh. After trying to be extremely offended, Summy started to laugh too. After we both calmed down, she said "Thank you for cheering me up, Mommy."
I said, "Oh, You don't have to thank me for that, honeybunch."
"Thank you for cheering me up, Mommy."
"You're welcome, Summy."
"Thank you for cheering me up, Mommy."
"......."
"Thank you for cheering me up, Mommy."
(Thank you for the entertainment, Summy.)
Is she a terror or am I?
When I told Summy to brush her teeth and I heard her running the water in the sink, I knew nothing good was going on in there. But I was washing dishes and I left her be. Five minutes later, I went into the bathroom to check and was relieved to see no flooding, and no entire toilet paper rolls being unwound (ala Winkie) to try to sop up the flood.
Instead, she was washing her toothpaste tube under the running water. When she saw me, she panicked (poor little thing - am I such a monster?) and started to babble.
"Mommy, I'm not being naughty. The toothpaste was dirty so I was just washing it. I doing such a good job. I am grown up, I'm not naughty like babies anymore. I was just..." and so on.
Little sweetie pie.
Instead, she was washing her toothpaste tube under the running water. When she saw me, she panicked (poor little thing - am I such a monster?) and started to babble.
"Mommy, I'm not being naughty. The toothpaste was dirty so I was just washing it. I doing such a good job. I am grown up, I'm not naughty like babies anymore. I was just..." and so on.
Little sweetie pie.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
"Watch your step as you climb out of your teacup"
"Please remain seated until the barn stops spinning and comes to a complete halt..."
"Keep your hands, feet and head inside your fish at all times."
All phrases you're unlikely to ever hear, except possibly when drunk, or...
when at Story Land!
That was where we went for our long weekend. Story Land is an amusement park especially geared toward the two-to-ten crowd. At Story Land, nobody bats an eyelid when ride operators say things like the above - the title was from a ride called "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party", the second from "The Crazy Barn", and the last from "The Flying Fish".
We spent a lot of time on the rides, sometimes almost a tenth as much time as we spent waiting in line to get on those rides! This was our third year at Storyland, and we decided that next year, we'd do something that involves less waiting and more doing.
But Summy had fun most of the time. She loved the crazy barn best (this barn shoots upward on a pole, then spins while going up and down like crazy). It seems she especially enjoys those rides that involve more people, when she can smile at and laugh and yell with them.
She is more adventurous than we are - she wanted to go in a really nauseating spinning turtle ride. Last year Kiran went with her, but this time he knew better. Last year, I was standing by as the kids came out of the ride crying, saying "That was awful", and gagging. So I wouldn't go in that ride either. She said, "Then I can do it all by myself." because she saw some of the big kids do it. I'm sure she can, but she'll have to wait.
She was sized up at all the rides - really. Many rides required kids to be atleast 36" tall, and she is about 36.5". She was not at all offended when people stopped her to measure her.
It is always nice to be in a place where everything is kid-friendly. For example, the bathroom policy - questions like "Is that lady going to potty for peepee or poopoo?" are ignored. The noise policy - yelling, screaming mandatory. And so on.
The food was "kid-friendly" too, meaning there there is a strictly enforced ban on vegetables (If you are caught smuggling veggies in in a picnic basket, you have to go on the spinning turtle ride. This explains why there is a line for this ride even though nobody seems to actually enjoy it). Once we saw a farmstand style snack kiosk with pictures of corn, carrots, and apples on the outside - but all the fruit in the menu was available only inside a pie or a pastry (absolutely no veggies, ofcourse!). We lived on ice cream, fried dough, and french fries the whole day. Summy was craving rice and vegetables by the time we were back home.
To really really make it kid-friendly, the gift store door has a sign that says, "Please finish eating your food or smoking your cigarettes before entering the store." That's right, you little rascally toddlers and preschoolers, put out your Marlboros before coming in. There was even a toddler sized ash tray to make it more convenient for the shorter smoker. Ha ha, no, I am 'kid'ding about the ash tray. But the sign on the door is real. It seemed incongruous in Story Land. If a grown-up even thought of going into the kiddie gift store with a lit up cigarette, should s/he be in Story Land in the first place?
We stayed until Summy was so tired that she was just going through the motions of getting on the rides. She even tried to lie down on the carousel horse. When we decided to leave, and she just went through the motion of saying "I want to stay. I don't want to go.", then cooperatively climbed into the car seat and was asleep half a second later.
The night before, we had stayed at an inn right by the Saco river. We went to look at the river which had crystal clear water, allowing us to see every grain of sand and every little pebble on the riverbed. In Dora speak, it was the "icy cold river". Summy had fun exclaiming "How can we get to the other side?", then pointing to the boat, just like Dora. (there was a stack of canoes, oars, and lifejackets right beside the river, that delighted her).
A nice holiday - now we are looking forward to the next one.
"Please remain seated until the barn stops spinning and comes to a complete halt..."
"Keep your hands, feet and head inside your fish at all times."
All phrases you're unlikely to ever hear, except possibly when drunk, or...
when at Story Land!
That was where we went for our long weekend. Story Land is an amusement park especially geared toward the two-to-ten crowd. At Story Land, nobody bats an eyelid when ride operators say things like the above - the title was from a ride called "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party", the second from "The Crazy Barn", and the last from "The Flying Fish".
We spent a lot of time on the rides, sometimes almost a tenth as much time as we spent waiting in line to get on those rides! This was our third year at Storyland, and we decided that next year, we'd do something that involves less waiting and more doing.
But Summy had fun most of the time. She loved the crazy barn best (this barn shoots upward on a pole, then spins while going up and down like crazy). It seems she especially enjoys those rides that involve more people, when she can smile at and laugh and yell with them.
She is more adventurous than we are - she wanted to go in a really nauseating spinning turtle ride. Last year Kiran went with her, but this time he knew better. Last year, I was standing by as the kids came out of the ride crying, saying "That was awful", and gagging. So I wouldn't go in that ride either. She said, "Then I can do it all by myself." because she saw some of the big kids do it. I'm sure she can, but she'll have to wait.
She was sized up at all the rides - really. Many rides required kids to be atleast 36" tall, and she is about 36.5". She was not at all offended when people stopped her to measure her.
It is always nice to be in a place where everything is kid-friendly. For example, the bathroom policy - questions like "Is that lady going to potty for peepee or poopoo?" are ignored. The noise policy - yelling, screaming mandatory. And so on.
The food was "kid-friendly" too, meaning there there is a strictly enforced ban on vegetables (If you are caught smuggling veggies in in a picnic basket, you have to go on the spinning turtle ride. This explains why there is a line for this ride even though nobody seems to actually enjoy it). Once we saw a farmstand style snack kiosk with pictures of corn, carrots, and apples on the outside - but all the fruit in the menu was available only inside a pie or a pastry (absolutely no veggies, ofcourse!). We lived on ice cream, fried dough, and french fries the whole day. Summy was craving rice and vegetables by the time we were back home.
To really really make it kid-friendly, the gift store door has a sign that says, "Please finish eating your food or smoking your cigarettes before entering the store." That's right, you little rascally toddlers and preschoolers, put out your Marlboros before coming in. There was even a toddler sized ash tray to make it more convenient for the shorter smoker. Ha ha, no, I am 'kid'ding about the ash tray. But the sign on the door is real. It seemed incongruous in Story Land. If a grown-up even thought of going into the kiddie gift store with a lit up cigarette, should s/he be in Story Land in the first place?
We stayed until Summy was so tired that she was just going through the motions of getting on the rides. She even tried to lie down on the carousel horse. When we decided to leave, and she just went through the motion of saying "I want to stay. I don't want to go.", then cooperatively climbed into the car seat and was asleep half a second later.
The night before, we had stayed at an inn right by the Saco river. We went to look at the river which had crystal clear water, allowing us to see every grain of sand and every little pebble on the riverbed. In Dora speak, it was the "icy cold river". Summy had fun exclaiming "How can we get to the other side?", then pointing to the boat, just like Dora. (there was a stack of canoes, oars, and lifejackets right beside the river, that delighted her).
A nice holiday - now we are looking forward to the next one.
Everyday is a surprise
There are some things that we do daily, but it seems "we" are still not aware of that.
For instance, this morning.
Me: Summy, time to brush our teeth.
Summy: I brush my teeth already.
Me: That was yesterday.
Summy: (silence)
Me: Let's go brush our teeth.
Summy: (surprised) Again?
For instance, this morning.
Me: Summy, time to brush our teeth.
Summy: I brush my teeth already.
Me: That was yesterday.
Summy: (silence)
Me: Let's go brush our teeth.
Summy: (surprised) Again?
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Seeds of Doubt
Summy got a little tiny pot to plant flower seeds in last week. She had lovingly put some soil in the plant (the rest went on her shirt), watered it everyday, and three tiny shoots had come up.
She also showed great interest in getting a bird-feeder after Kiran told her about it. So we went to the store to buy a bird-feeder. She pointed at the bags of seed in that section and asked me what it was.
I said, "Bird seed."
"It grows birds?"
"Yes, honey, it helps birds grow big and strong".
Kiran and I went on looking at the garden stuff for a minute.
"It grows birds?"
"Uh huh."
"And we give them water?"
Then I saw her looking at the bird seed in awe and saw that she had the wrong idea entirely. :) She was picturing planting bird seeds in the soil, watering them, and watching them grow into little birds.
Ha ha ha! Sure, if flower seeds grow flowers, why wouldn't bird seed grow birds?
Such a pity I had to tell her the truth.
She also showed great interest in getting a bird-feeder after Kiran told her about it. So we went to the store to buy a bird-feeder. She pointed at the bags of seed in that section and asked me what it was.
I said, "Bird seed."
"It grows birds?"
"Yes, honey, it helps birds grow big and strong".
Kiran and I went on looking at the garden stuff for a minute.
"It grows birds?"
"Uh huh."
"And we give them water?"
Then I saw her looking at the bird seed in awe and saw that she had the wrong idea entirely. :) She was picturing planting bird seeds in the soil, watering them, and watching them grow into little birds.
Ha ha ha! Sure, if flower seeds grow flowers, why wouldn't bird seed grow birds?
Such a pity I had to tell her the truth.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Mothers Day
First, I acknowledge the bestest mom in the world - you know who, Amma.
For Mothers Day, I asked for a day off from being a mother :) So on the Saturday before Mothers Day, I was left free to do what I wanted. I didn't hear a "Mommy" or an "Appi" the whole day. After a leisurely start, I went to Borders and spent a couple of hours browsing through books. I bought myself a book, then went to Subway for lunch. Over a sandwich, I read my book for an hour or so. Momminess being in my blood, I went grocery shopping after that. But alone.
When I go for groceries with Summy, you know what it's like. First we have to pick a cart, then we have to buckle in, and about 30 seconds later, we have to unbuckle and get off again to take a closer look at the balloons in the store. Then we have to stop at each section while Summy holds the bag open for me while I put the veggies and fruits in. Once we get to the berries, it's a little easier, because we are a berry monster. We want to sit in the cart again and eat our berries right out of the box (now you'd know why all our shirts are blue, purple and pink). After we load up our cart and check out, it's finally time for - going potty ofcourse! (all those berries) Then we have to beg somebody to keep an eye on our cart while we go upstairs and find the bathroom.
So it was different even to do grocery shopping by myself. Then I ran out of things to do, because it was pouring outside. I went home, but there was nobody at home! So I sat around for another hour, eating almonds and reading my book, then to the mall. At the mall, at about 8 PM, I went to a movie ("Thank You For Smoking"). Then I drove back home, thoroughly sick of being by myself, and found Summy was already asleep.
When Mothers Day came on Sunday, Summy gave me a card she had picked out, a pretty little necklace that she and her Daddy got for me, and said "Happys (sic) Mothers Day!". I was happy to spend the rest of the day at home, and Summy and I played a lot.
I forgot, on Friday I got a card from Summy that she made in preschool, a piece of paper with her picture on it and her quote on the bottom "I love my mommy because she plays with me everyday!".
For Mothers Day, I asked for a day off from being a mother :) So on the Saturday before Mothers Day, I was left free to do what I wanted. I didn't hear a "Mommy" or an "Appi" the whole day. After a leisurely start, I went to Borders and spent a couple of hours browsing through books. I bought myself a book, then went to Subway for lunch. Over a sandwich, I read my book for an hour or so. Momminess being in my blood, I went grocery shopping after that. But alone.
When I go for groceries with Summy, you know what it's like. First we have to pick a cart, then we have to buckle in, and about 30 seconds later, we have to unbuckle and get off again to take a closer look at the balloons in the store. Then we have to stop at each section while Summy holds the bag open for me while I put the veggies and fruits in. Once we get to the berries, it's a little easier, because we are a berry monster. We want to sit in the cart again and eat our berries right out of the box (now you'd know why all our shirts are blue, purple and pink). After we load up our cart and check out, it's finally time for - going potty ofcourse! (all those berries) Then we have to beg somebody to keep an eye on our cart while we go upstairs and find the bathroom.
So it was different even to do grocery shopping by myself. Then I ran out of things to do, because it was pouring outside. I went home, but there was nobody at home! So I sat around for another hour, eating almonds and reading my book, then to the mall. At the mall, at about 8 PM, I went to a movie ("Thank You For Smoking"). Then I drove back home, thoroughly sick of being by myself, and found Summy was already asleep.
When Mothers Day came on Sunday, Summy gave me a card she had picked out, a pretty little necklace that she and her Daddy got for me, and said "Happys (sic) Mothers Day!". I was happy to spend the rest of the day at home, and Summy and I played a lot.
I forgot, on Friday I got a card from Summy that she made in preschool, a piece of paper with her picture on it and her quote on the bottom "I love my mommy because she plays with me everyday!".
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Too many detours
It has been brought to my attention by an alert reader (Thank you!) that my last few posts have had nothing to do with bringing up baby. It started when I used Summy's name once or twice to sneak in an entry about a completely different topic. Then I gave up all pretense, and have been ranting about things unrelated to Summy.
This is natural. Summy's growing up, so I've come out of my motherhood cocoon to think non-Summy thoughts and even post about them sometimes. But this is supposed to be Summy's baby journal.
So from now on, all posts that don't belong here will go to my other blog.
Yes, that alert reader was me. Who else?
Edited to add: I've deleted the last few entries and pasted them here.
This is natural. Summy's growing up, so I've come out of my motherhood cocoon to think non-Summy thoughts and even post about them sometimes. But this is supposed to be Summy's baby journal.
So from now on, all posts that don't belong here will go to my other blog.
Yes, that alert reader was me. Who else?
Edited to add: I've deleted the last few entries and pasted them here.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Darnedest Thing #2
Yesterday, we attended the last of Summy's classmates' birthdays for this year.
In the car, Summy said
"I'm three years old."
Me: "Do you know how old Mommy is?"
"Hmmmm.... Three years old?"
The strange thing is - she was right, as long as you don't count the zeroes :) Three, thirty, what does it matter?
In the car, Summy said
"I'm three years old."
Me: "Do you know how old Mommy is?"
"Hmmmm.... Three years old?"
The strange thing is - she was right, as long as you don't count the zeroes :) Three, thirty, what does it matter?
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Darnedest Thing #1
Kids say the darnedest things, and I'll put down Summy's questions now and then so I don't forget them. Here's #1:
"Mommy, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Edited to add: On thinking, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" isn't so ridiculous after all. We keep growing up all the time. This is not the end of the road.
It is a cheerful question that makes you think of all the possibilities, no matter what you already did, no matter how old you are. So what do you want to be when you grow up?
"Mommy, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Edited to add: On thinking, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" isn't so ridiculous after all. We keep growing up all the time. This is not the end of the road.
It is a cheerful question that makes you think of all the possibilities, no matter what you already did, no matter how old you are. So what do you want to be when you grow up?
Sing it the right way!
I dug up the complete lyrics for Twinkle, Twinkle, didn't I?
Then I sang it to Summy the last three nights - and she told me "Mommy, No! Sing it the right way!"
But yesterday she said "Mommy, can you please sing it not the right way?" :)
Then I sang it to Summy the last three nights - and she told me "Mommy, No! Sing it the right way!"
But yesterday she said "Mommy, can you please sing it not the right way?" :)
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Because Summy loves this for a lullaby, I searched for and found the complete lyrics.
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
When the blazing sun has gone
When he nothing shines upon
Then you show your little light
Twinkle twinkle all the night
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
Then the trav'ler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark
How could he see where to go
If you did not twinkle so
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
In the dark blue sky you keep
Through my curtains often peep
For you never shut your eyes
Till the morning sun does rise
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the trav'ler in the dark
Though I know not what you are
Twinkle on please little star
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
When the blazing sun has gone
When he nothing shines upon
Then you show your little light
Twinkle twinkle all the night
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
Then the trav'ler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark
How could he see where to go
If you did not twinkle so
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
In the dark blue sky you keep
Through my curtains often peep
For you never shut your eyes
Till the morning sun does rise
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the trav'ler in the dark
Though I know not what you are
Twinkle on please little star
|| Twinkle twinkle ||
Monday, April 17, 2006
Calligraphy
I picked up all her train tracks and pieces and put them in a red basket. This was the cue for Summy to come running and dump out all the pieces on the floor. The other day she had learnt to make a figure 8 track, so the train could go over the bridge and all around on it.
But yesterday, she put the tracks in a little circle instead. She said "Look! I made an 'O'!" I was very impressed. After a while she said "Look! I made a 'Q'!" The circle now had the train bridge pieces going over the rim, and it was a big Q! I was just remarking to my SIL about how much more kids know now than we did at their age, and I heard "Look! I made a 'G'!" She had added more pieces to the Q, but it didn't look like a G. Then I saw it was not a G, it was a 'g'. She curved the Q's tail around to form a g. You know, g, as "in genius" :)
Disclaimer: I'm a mom, so everything my baby does is ingenious to me.
But yesterday, she put the tracks in a little circle instead. She said "Look! I made an 'O'!" I was very impressed. After a while she said "Look! I made a 'Q'!" The circle now had the train bridge pieces going over the rim, and it was a big Q! I was just remarking to my SIL about how much more kids know now than we did at their age, and I heard "Look! I made a 'G'!" She had added more pieces to the Q, but it didn't look like a G. Then I saw it was not a G, it was a 'g'. She curved the Q's tail around to form a g. You know, g, as "in genius" :)
Disclaimer: I'm a mom, so everything my baby does is ingenious to me.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Thursday, April 06, 2006
The Silver Lining
"If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes." A quote attributed to Mark Twain and stolen by regions all over, apparently including Cincinnati and Texas. But New England owns the copyright.
Well, we waited a few hours, and today the temperature is up to a sultry 43 degrees, up from 33 (Fahrenheit, that is). Yesterday was cloudy and gray, with the snow showers interrupted occasionally by freezing rain. Today, it's sunny and bright, and what clouds are there are fluffy white. The grass is green, with a light sprinkling of snow on top (Looks a little bit like Summy's birthday cake, with sugar on it). The duckies are out swimming on the shimmery lake. I didn't want to get poetic, now, but it's that kind of day.
On a not unrelated note, when you are tired of hearing about the terrorism, the poverty, the misery, and the pollution, visit goodnewsindia for a silver lining.
Well, we waited a few hours, and today the temperature is up to a sultry 43 degrees, up from 33 (Fahrenheit, that is). Yesterday was cloudy and gray, with the snow showers interrupted occasionally by freezing rain. Today, it's sunny and bright, and what clouds are there are fluffy white. The grass is green, with a light sprinkling of snow on top (Looks a little bit like Summy's birthday cake, with sugar on it). The duckies are out swimming on the shimmery lake. I didn't want to get poetic, now, but it's that kind of day.
On a not unrelated note, when you are tired of hearing about the terrorism, the poverty, the misery, and the pollution, visit goodnewsindia for a silver lining.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Spring has sprung!
New England's winter last three months officially, but we have been in winter coats for six months now. Everybody was anxious for Spring by the end of March.
Sure enough, the weather got warmer. Last weekend we saw the first robins of Spring. April showers started right on the mark. Logically, the next thing to follow would be the first daffodils blooming. Then why were we still surprised this morning when we looked through the window, and saw - the most natural thing in these parts - the first snow of April?
Nature has played this April fool's prank played on us so many times, that we should have been used to it by now.
One little person is always happy to see snow, and she was happy this morning too ("It's not spring outside anymore, mommy - it's winter!" Cowabunga.). Kids are so easy to please - if you give them sun, they are happy because they get to play outside. If you give them rain, they are happy because they get to use their umbrellas. If you give them snow, they are happy because they get to catch it on their tongues.
I'm glad somebody is happy about the snow.
Sure enough, the weather got warmer. Last weekend we saw the first robins of Spring. April showers started right on the mark. Logically, the next thing to follow would be the first daffodils blooming. Then why were we still surprised this morning when we looked through the window, and saw - the most natural thing in these parts - the first snow of April?
Nature has played this April fool's prank played on us so many times, that we should have been used to it by now.
One little person is always happy to see snow, and she was happy this morning too ("It's not spring outside anymore, mommy - it's winter!" Cowabunga.). Kids are so easy to please - if you give them sun, they are happy because they get to play outside. If you give them rain, they are happy because they get to use their umbrellas. If you give them snow, they are happy because they get to catch it on their tongues.
I'm glad somebody is happy about the snow.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Birthday Party
Summy had a party last Sunday, though I couldn't write up an entry about it last week. It was a lot of fun for everybody who was under 4 feet high.
The guests all arrived on time, at 11 am. They wished Sameera a Happy Birthday and then got into play mode right away. Everybody cooked and fed their parents in the play dining room, rode the big train engine in the train room, shopped in the play grocery store, and tumbled about in the little gym.
After about an hour of this, we herded them into the party room, and the kids got sticky and messy doing a paper bag puppet craft. After which, they impatiently dug into their pizza. (Little kids aren't subtle when they realize it's lunch time - "Is that pizza?" "I want some pizza!" "I'm hungry!" "Can we eat now?" Even one parent asked "Is that pizza for the big boys too?" - everybody ate, it was good pizza!) A huge Dora cake followed, and Summy blew the number 3 candle out to cheers and clapping. The lady of the play place played on the piano and sang Happy Birthday. Then we sliced and served cake (with more subtle hints in the background "I want cake!" "I want cake!"). This went well, mostly, except for when one of her friends said "It's my birthday!", which made Summy very indignant (a shouting match of "No, it's MY birthday!" followed).
After licking the frosting off the cake and leaving the rest alone (next year I have an idea for a cake that's made entirely of frosting), the kids were manoeuvered again into a different play zone. They drove fire engines, little cars, played doctor, made music, colored, and best of all, played with water. At about 1, the parents tried to convince their children to leave. This was made easier with the bringing out of the goody bags.
This part is the icing on my cake. I was handing out goody bags, and Summy seemed to consider this the lowest insult. She said "I want to do it." So I let her. She gave a goody bag, a hug, and a kiss to each friend, and said "Thanks for coming to my party.".
It's true I had told her the night before that as a host, it would be her duty to do this. It would make her friends happy if she did. But I didn't dream that she would actually remember and do it! Shows that I should trust her with more responsibility than I do.
This birthday party was not about Summy being queen for a day - though ofcourse it was her special day. At three, she was ready to be the host at her party for the first time. She was to know that it's good to have friends around to celebrate, and to receive them well and show them she was happy to have them come. She did this much better than I've ever done (except for the one small shouting incident :)).
In her excitement, Summy had a single bite of pizza and one sip of juice in the party. After we went back home and settled down, her tummy reminded her about that - she asked for pizza, and then some more, and then some more. Kiran, Summy and I sat down at the French window and ate pizza. That was our little family party, I suppose.
Summy was as eager to send thank you notes to her friends as she was to open presents. She decorated them, and though she could not write, she asked me to read what I'd written. I mailed them out, but forgot to tell her about it. Two days later, she says "Uh oh! We forgot to mail the thank you cards." :) Three-year-olds are miracles.
The guests all arrived on time, at 11 am. They wished Sameera a Happy Birthday and then got into play mode right away. Everybody cooked and fed their parents in the play dining room, rode the big train engine in the train room, shopped in the play grocery store, and tumbled about in the little gym.
After about an hour of this, we herded them into the party room, and the kids got sticky and messy doing a paper bag puppet craft. After which, they impatiently dug into their pizza. (Little kids aren't subtle when they realize it's lunch time - "Is that pizza?" "I want some pizza!" "I'm hungry!" "Can we eat now?" Even one parent asked "Is that pizza for the big boys too?" - everybody ate, it was good pizza!) A huge Dora cake followed, and Summy blew the number 3 candle out to cheers and clapping. The lady of the play place played on the piano and sang Happy Birthday. Then we sliced and served cake (with more subtle hints in the background "I want cake!" "I want cake!"). This went well, mostly, except for when one of her friends said "It's my birthday!", which made Summy very indignant (a shouting match of "No, it's MY birthday!" followed).
After licking the frosting off the cake and leaving the rest alone (next year I have an idea for a cake that's made entirely of frosting), the kids were manoeuvered again into a different play zone. They drove fire engines, little cars, played doctor, made music, colored, and best of all, played with water. At about 1, the parents tried to convince their children to leave. This was made easier with the bringing out of the goody bags.
This part is the icing on my cake. I was handing out goody bags, and Summy seemed to consider this the lowest insult. She said "I want to do it." So I let her. She gave a goody bag, a hug, and a kiss to each friend, and said "Thanks for coming to my party.".
It's true I had told her the night before that as a host, it would be her duty to do this. It would make her friends happy if she did. But I didn't dream that she would actually remember and do it! Shows that I should trust her with more responsibility than I do.
This birthday party was not about Summy being queen for a day - though ofcourse it was her special day. At three, she was ready to be the host at her party for the first time. She was to know that it's good to have friends around to celebrate, and to receive them well and show them she was happy to have them come. She did this much better than I've ever done (except for the one small shouting incident :)).
In her excitement, Summy had a single bite of pizza and one sip of juice in the party. After we went back home and settled down, her tummy reminded her about that - she asked for pizza, and then some more, and then some more. Kiran, Summy and I sat down at the French window and ate pizza. That was our little family party, I suppose.
Summy was as eager to send thank you notes to her friends as she was to open presents. She decorated them, and though she could not write, she asked me to read what I'd written. I mailed them out, but forgot to tell her about it. Two days later, she says "Uh oh! We forgot to mail the thank you cards." :) Three-year-olds are miracles.
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