It is hard to keep up with this blogging thing. When I am in the mood, I don't have time. When I have time, like I do right now, my mind is a blank slate. So I have to warn you at the outset that this post is going to be a big rambly no point nothingness. I am not even going to pretend there is a point.
First off, I can't believe how fast Neil is growing. I mean he is 14 months old now. He hasn't started walking regularly yet. He did take independent steps 4 days before his first birthday, and he has taken lots of steps since then, but he still moves around by crawling most of the time. He is venturing more and more by taking steps, but he still hasn't developed complete confidence. My mother and mother-in-law keeps asking every phone call, is he walking, is he walking? Since he is active and healthy I guess they need to worry about something. He has the most fun personality and I love being with him. Except that he wears me out by evening. Morning when he wakes up he grabs my face and showers me with kisses. It is pretty much the best part of my day. R is so busy, it is unbelievable. He works from home, but I haven't really seen him in 2 days. I am only slightly kidding. That is how busy he is. I hope it slows down a little soon.
There are some things on my mind which bothers me at times and one of it is the house situation. I like our house, it is a great neighborhood, and the house is actually cosy, but I have been struggling with the space issue. R works from home for his regular job, plus he has a home business. So, one room is pretty much full of things relating to that. One room is Neil's which was also the guest bedroom, and we really want to move him there. Currently, our bedroom is so crowded with the rocking chair, crib, dresser and our bed. Literally we bump into stuff moving around. After both our parents left after their visit, we moved the guest bed into the office and made it into guest bed/office/library. Now it is really congested and it is a really tiny room to begin with. R gets a backache working there and so he moves all his stuff into the living room and works from there. So it gets cluttered very fast and that bugs me. Plus, when he is working there, Neil and I can't be down as R needs to be on calls pretty much the entire time. All of Neil's toys are in a corner of the living room and that is his play area. The high chair is in the dining room. It is difficult to keep him entertained upstairs as his favorite thing about going upstairs is that he can slide down the stairs.
We are not at a point where we can move as there is no way we can sell this house in this market. Another aspect about the house is the school district. We were young(er), stupid, childless and clueless when we bought the house. So we had no idea how bad the schools were. Now that we know, (and I was told by a lady who is a teacher in the elementary school!) and Neil is growing up, it is getting to be more of an issue. We never thought much about school when we bought the house mainly as we were planning to send our children to private school. But we never thought if there were any good private schools in the area. Now we know. Also, there is the aspect of expense of private schools for multiple children. One is okay. But it will get unaffordable if we have more than two. So, all these things sometimes unsettle me. I know I am borrowing trouble and I really don't have much to complain about, but I am just being honset here on this blog. This is something I think about a lot, so it just came out.
I started writing a while back, watched a movie in between and now it is the next say. So I am turning in. I have to get up early tomorrow as my baby does not know the concept of Saturday being sleeping-in day. :)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
7 Quick Takes
I am participating in 7 quick takes over at Conversion Diary. I just seem to blog better in numbered or bullet points. What can I say?
1. We decided today that we are not going anywhere for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I am really relieved. I love traveling, don't get me wrong, but traveling with a small child, it is more work and less vacation. I am happy and looking forward to spending both holidays at home.
2. R has been working crazy hours and has been traveling a lot. The first week he was gone, Neil got sick and was very clingy so I had to carry him around a lot. He would be up from 2 to 5 - IN THE AM, PEOPLE. Anyway, that really exacerbated by separated stomach muscle pain and by Sunday, I was in bad shape. My sister had invited me a while back when I told her that R was going to be gone for 2 weeks in a row. By monday morning, the pain had gotten so bad that I could barely walk. I looked up tickets online and it was the same price it was 2 weeks ago. This was for a flight leaving in 2 hours and I jumped on it and started packing. That was one of the best decisions I made. I got a week of solid rest the likes of which I never had since the delivery. It was a lovely, peaceful time and honestly, the best gift I have ever received. I didn't even have to change one diaper or give him a bath. My sister and family fed, changed, and entertained him and all I did was eat and sleep and rest. I truly needed it the first two days. Once the muscle relaxants kicked in and the worst was over, I just got lazy. I am so blessed to have such loving family here and may the Lord account this to them for righteousness :)
3. You know what I love about Indian clothes? That they are mostly pretty. Love the colours, patterns, styles, there is plenty to love.
You know what I don't love? The fact that it bleeds. Yuck!
This, my friends, is the fourth wash water.
And because of that, it always needs to be handwashed. No, not a big fan. Guess I know what I am NOT wearing in the next two years.
4. We had our laundry room all redone and it looks great. It totally deserves a post of its own with before and after pictures. Except I don't think I have before pictures, but I will certainly take some after shots. After it is done that is.
5. I am so glad to finally have my own laptop again after giving my old one to mom. I was tired of having to beg, borrow and steal from R all the time.
6. I am loving the fall climate. Low 80s, high 70s, beautiful for morning and evening walks. I feel I am really missing out, the days I don't go for a walk.
7. Neil is going to be a tiger this Halloween. Neil is Indian American, tigers are native to India and Halloween is celebrated here in America. That is the complex thought process
by which we (by we I mean I, because R couldn't care less if he tried) decided he is going to be a tiger. I actually made this all up. Well, actually he is going to be a tiger, but that is because that was the only outfit below $10. But talking about tigers and India sounds a lot better than saying I am a cheapstake. Doesn't it?
1. We decided today that we are not going anywhere for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I am really relieved. I love traveling, don't get me wrong, but traveling with a small child, it is more work and less vacation. I am happy and looking forward to spending both holidays at home.
2. R has been working crazy hours and has been traveling a lot. The first week he was gone, Neil got sick and was very clingy so I had to carry him around a lot. He would be up from 2 to 5 - IN THE AM, PEOPLE. Anyway, that really exacerbated by separated stomach muscle pain and by Sunday, I was in bad shape. My sister had invited me a while back when I told her that R was going to be gone for 2 weeks in a row. By monday morning, the pain had gotten so bad that I could barely walk. I looked up tickets online and it was the same price it was 2 weeks ago. This was for a flight leaving in 2 hours and I jumped on it and started packing. That was one of the best decisions I made. I got a week of solid rest the likes of which I never had since the delivery. It was a lovely, peaceful time and honestly, the best gift I have ever received. I didn't even have to change one diaper or give him a bath. My sister and family fed, changed, and entertained him and all I did was eat and sleep and rest. I truly needed it the first two days. Once the muscle relaxants kicked in and the worst was over, I just got lazy. I am so blessed to have such loving family here and may the Lord account this to them for righteousness :)
3. You know what I love about Indian clothes? That they are mostly pretty. Love the colours, patterns, styles, there is plenty to love.
You know what I don't love? The fact that it bleeds. Yuck!
This, my friends, is the fourth wash water.
And because of that, it always needs to be handwashed. No, not a big fan. Guess I know what I am NOT wearing in the next two years.
4. We had our laundry room all redone and it looks great. It totally deserves a post of its own with before and after pictures. Except I don't think I have before pictures, but I will certainly take some after shots. After it is done that is.
5. I am so glad to finally have my own laptop again after giving my old one to mom. I was tired of having to beg, borrow and steal from R all the time.
6. I am loving the fall climate. Low 80s, high 70s, beautiful for morning and evening walks. I feel I am really missing out, the days I don't go for a walk.
7. Neil is going to be a tiger this Halloween. Neil is Indian American, tigers are native to India and Halloween is celebrated here in America. That is the complex thought process
by which we (by we I mean I, because R couldn't care less if he tried) decided he is going to be a tiger. I actually made this all up. Well, actually he is going to be a tiger, but that is because that was the only outfit below $10. But talking about tigers and India sounds a lot better than saying I am a cheapstake. Doesn't it?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Neils Birthday Party - The details
If you are coming over from Kelly's Korner, a warm welcome to you.
Neil had a party here in US for friends. A party in India (actually 2) and then one here for his first birthday. Someone asked me if he will have 6 parties for his 2nd birthday. :) Okay, so he is really spoilt. Anyway here is a detailed account of his party here so that I can remember it for later.
And yes, this post is really late, but better late than never. I started it a long time back. I have a host of perfectly excusable excuses, but the post is too long already, so you are spared.
WARNING: PICTURE OVERLOAD
The is is the invitation that we made for the party.
Outside:
Inside:
R and I wrote the poem together and since the theme of the party was the book "Happy Birthday To You" by Dr Seuss, I had the book cover outside the invitation and the details inside. The colors I chose were yellow and red like the Birthday Bird in the book. Once I chose the colors, I went wild. ha ha.
The party was held at the chapel we attend, as there were too many people to accomodate in our home. The party was in 2 rooms. One was the foyer where people came in. At the entrance, I made some pom poms that we hung there.
We had the candy and smash cake table in the center of the foyer. I also made a fruit platter with his name spelled out. Three kids from church along with R, cut all the fruits and I thought it looked really nice. They did a great job.
At the back towards the wall was the monthly photos displayed. I did the craft for that and because I am an amateur when it comes to crafts, it took me a really long time to do it. But I loved doing it and I had such fun thinking it all out. I used his old food jars (when he used to eat jar food) and some tulle that my friend gave me. In yellow and red craft paper, I wrote out the best lines in the HBTY book for each month. Luckily for me, there were 12 lines and it all fit perfectly. The whole project cost less than $5 :) I obviously didn't buy the food for the jars. The jars were just lying around.
To the right of the entryway was a table with the guestbook, (a copy of Happy Birthday To You by Dr Seuss) some balloons, a red and yellow pom pom. The table had a white tablecloth with a red square cloth overlaid on it.
To the left of the entryway was the favors table for the kids. The favors were Dr Seuss pencils, pens, notepad, markers etc in red and yellow goody bags. I also had some small pouches available for the adults to take home the candy. For candy I had cherry slices, lemon drops and jordan almonds, all in red and yellow.
At the entrance of the hall where the main food and tables were, I hung the birthday banner I made for him. R helped with the hanging.
A closeup of the banner. It was easy peasy to make even for a super amateur like me.
The main hall of the church, which is actually a gymnasium is where we had the main food and the tables. I don't have a picture of the food, but we had Indian food (super mild) and lasagna for those who could not handle even that. Then there was chips and dip and chicken nugget for the kids and vegetable tray etc. Drinks were red fruit punch and lemonade consistent with the theme :)
The tables all had white tablecloths and I had vases filled with yellow and red Jordan almonds as centerpieces. Since the room was big and the tables were spread out, it was hard to get the yellow and red color scheme into that room. So, for that I had red and yellow helium balloons all touching the cieling. It really added some color to the room, but unforunately, there are no pictures.
I had made a video of his first year and had it running in the background. Some friends who made it for the party. You can see the video in the background and see the balloon strings from the ceiling :)
Here is a picture of the birthday boy digging into his cake. He hates the hat and is trying to get it out.
Life was a lot better once the hat was off.
Family shot.
The smash cake was from Publix (love the store btw) and there was another sheeetcake from Costco. He just smeared himself with the cake and I had to change him afterwards. I bought his monogrammed cupcake yellow outfit from etsy. I am a borderline addict of etsy now. :)
It was a really nice day and things went off well, especially with help from some people in the chapel. I am glad I was able to do this for Neil. I know he is not going to remember it and no, he is not going to have a huge party every year. It was fun to find the creative bone in my body and put together this for him.
Neil had a party here in US for friends. A party in India (actually 2) and then one here for his first birthday. Someone asked me if he will have 6 parties for his 2nd birthday. :) Okay, so he is really spoilt. Anyway here is a detailed account of his party here so that I can remember it for later.
And yes, this post is really late, but better late than never. I started it a long time back. I have a host of perfectly excusable excuses, but the post is too long already, so you are spared.
WARNING: PICTURE OVERLOAD
The is is the invitation that we made for the party.
Outside:
Inside:
R and I wrote the poem together and since the theme of the party was the book "Happy Birthday To You" by Dr Seuss, I had the book cover outside the invitation and the details inside. The colors I chose were yellow and red like the Birthday Bird in the book. Once I chose the colors, I went wild. ha ha.
The party was held at the chapel we attend, as there were too many people to accomodate in our home. The party was in 2 rooms. One was the foyer where people came in. At the entrance, I made some pom poms that we hung there.
We had the candy and smash cake table in the center of the foyer. I also made a fruit platter with his name spelled out. Three kids from church along with R, cut all the fruits and I thought it looked really nice. They did a great job.
At the back towards the wall was the monthly photos displayed. I did the craft for that and because I am an amateur when it comes to crafts, it took me a really long time to do it. But I loved doing it and I had such fun thinking it all out. I used his old food jars (when he used to eat jar food) and some tulle that my friend gave me. In yellow and red craft paper, I wrote out the best lines in the HBTY book for each month. Luckily for me, there were 12 lines and it all fit perfectly. The whole project cost less than $5 :) I obviously didn't buy the food for the jars. The jars were just lying around.
To the right of the entryway was a table with the guestbook, (a copy of Happy Birthday To You by Dr Seuss) some balloons, a red and yellow pom pom. The table had a white tablecloth with a red square cloth overlaid on it.
To the left of the entryway was the favors table for the kids. The favors were Dr Seuss pencils, pens, notepad, markers etc in red and yellow goody bags. I also had some small pouches available for the adults to take home the candy. For candy I had cherry slices, lemon drops and jordan almonds, all in red and yellow.
At the entrance of the hall where the main food and tables were, I hung the birthday banner I made for him. R helped with the hanging.
A closeup of the banner. It was easy peasy to make even for a super amateur like me.
The main hall of the church, which is actually a gymnasium is where we had the main food and the tables. I don't have a picture of the food, but we had Indian food (super mild) and lasagna for those who could not handle even that. Then there was chips and dip and chicken nugget for the kids and vegetable tray etc. Drinks were red fruit punch and lemonade consistent with the theme :)
The tables all had white tablecloths and I had vases filled with yellow and red Jordan almonds as centerpieces. Since the room was big and the tables were spread out, it was hard to get the yellow and red color scheme into that room. So, for that I had red and yellow helium balloons all touching the cieling. It really added some color to the room, but unforunately, there are no pictures.
I had made a video of his first year and had it running in the background. Some friends who made it for the party. You can see the video in the background and see the balloon strings from the ceiling :)
Here is a picture of the birthday boy digging into his cake. He hates the hat and is trying to get it out.
Life was a lot better once the hat was off.
Family shot.
The smash cake was from Publix (love the store btw) and there was another sheeetcake from Costco. He just smeared himself with the cake and I had to change him afterwards. I bought his monogrammed cupcake yellow outfit from etsy. I am a borderline addict of etsy now. :)
It was a really nice day and things went off well, especially with help from some people in the chapel. I am glad I was able to do this for Neil. I know he is not going to remember it and no, he is not going to have a huge party every year. It was fun to find the creative bone in my body and put together this for him.
Friday, October 01, 2010
This and that
I think I have two readers now and I don't blame people for not wanting to read my once in a month posting blog. Why the silence? I am not sure. I always think to myself, I really want to blog, but recently in my thoughts, I have learned to drop the really. Because if I really wanted to do it, I would find the time. Blogging for me is like exercising, I mean I like the end result, but actually finding the time to do it, I guess it keeps falling on the list of things to do at the end of the day. I want all the stars to be aligned to blog. Neil should be sleeping, the house should be tidy and quiet which means R should be sleeping as well, the laptop should be free etc. I should be in the mood and let us say, all these things happens once in a rare while like today. I often wonder how these moms of little ones blog on a regular basis. I am assuming that for those of them especially the ones who depend on the blog for revenue possibly see it as a job. I know for sure that it is one thing that I don't want. I have too many jobs as it is. :)
I was in India for 2 months and Neil turned one while we were there. My in-laws hosted a party while we were there and here is some cuteness.
He is not dancing, he was just reaching out for something. I love his outfit, but he hated when we tried to put it on him. After coming back, I had a party for him with all our friends here. I will post pictures of that separately. R was supposed to take those pictures, but he got busy talking to people and we ended up not having many of the pictures of the decorations and that makes me really sad. The theme was Dr Seuss book Happy Birthday To You. The book celebrates the uniqueness of a person and the tagline is "there is no one alive that is you-er than you." More on the party later.
Swimming lessons are not going swimmingly well (excuse the pun). He just screams for the whole duration of the class. He is just really mad that I leave him with the instructor. We are looking at a 2 day MDO program for Neil so he will have other kids to play with and I can get some things done here at home as well. I am just worried about all the screaming.
We are just getting back into the swing of things and there is always such a lot of things to do everyday. Recently, I read this post which really encouraged me. I read other blogs on my phone when I get some time here and there and it was really what I needed to read. R is very busy these days working from 8 to 9 with a lot of travel upcoming and it has been rough bearing the burden alone with a very clingy one year old who does not leave his clutch on my pants for most of the day. Physically it has been a strain too, carrying him as my weak stomach muscles are not helping. It is a good reminder to live in dependence on Christ remembering that I am never truly alone.
I was in India for 2 months and Neil turned one while we were there. My in-laws hosted a party while we were there and here is some cuteness.
He is not dancing, he was just reaching out for something. I love his outfit, but he hated when we tried to put it on him. After coming back, I had a party for him with all our friends here. I will post pictures of that separately. R was supposed to take those pictures, but he got busy talking to people and we ended up not having many of the pictures of the decorations and that makes me really sad. The theme was Dr Seuss book Happy Birthday To You. The book celebrates the uniqueness of a person and the tagline is "there is no one alive that is you-er than you." More on the party later.
Swimming lessons are not going swimmingly well (excuse the pun). He just screams for the whole duration of the class. He is just really mad that I leave him with the instructor. We are looking at a 2 day MDO program for Neil so he will have other kids to play with and I can get some things done here at home as well. I am just worried about all the screaming.
We are just getting back into the swing of things and there is always such a lot of things to do everyday. Recently, I read this post which really encouraged me. I read other blogs on my phone when I get some time here and there and it was really what I needed to read. R is very busy these days working from 8 to 9 with a lot of travel upcoming and it has been rough bearing the burden alone with a very clingy one year old who does not leave his clutch on my pants for most of the day. Physically it has been a strain too, carrying him as my weak stomach muscles are not helping. It is a good reminder to live in dependence on Christ remembering that I am never truly alone.
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