Day 2

It is with a heavy heart I am writing today's post. A friend of ours who used to worship with us passed away this afternoon. She had a long battle with cancer and for her sake, I am glad she is no longer in pain. She is with her Savior whole and happy. I have only seen her once since she moved. She was a bubbly personality and loved to talk enthusiastically about everything. We moved to the other side of town 9 months ago, and actually she just lived 20 minutes from us. On Sunday, when a mutual friend was telling me she was nearing the end and had only like a month left, I thought of going with the whole family and seeing her. She loves kids and I figured she would be happy to see us (she was ok with visitors). I didn't end up going as the kids were cranky and screaming. It seems like a feeble excuse now. I regret not doing that. I regret being all wrapped up in my little stuff that I couldn't take out time for visiting. I am trying not to dwell on that, but instead pray for peace for the bereft family.

My friend was saying she had gone downhill a lot and was in really bad shape when she saw her yesterday. In a way, I can always remember her the way I do now. Healthy, bubbly, full of life. Her excited scream when I announced I was pregnant with Neil, at the baby shower for Neil, patting my tummy and being all excited telling me how fast nails grow during pregnancy, at my house for Ladies Tea.

STUPID CANCER.

She is healed and happy and resting with the Lord she loved.

I hardly feel like writing about procrastination, but I have committed to it, so here is what I did today.

I cleaned out the car. It was full of junk and the floor was not to be seen. But now there is a floor and we can put our feet there.

Task: Clean out car
Delayed by: 2 months
Took me: 12 minutes.

It is good to remind ourselves to do the important things in life as sometimes it gets just darn too late.

31 days of fighting procrastination

I have trouble with procrastination. I feel silly when I actually do the things I have procrastinated for YEARS. It usually takes me anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 day. The chinese couple who had been gracing the engraved anniversary photo frame that my husband gave me for our fifth anniversary? I finally did that yesterday. (We have been married 7 years now!) Took me 20 minutes to find a good picture, put it in the usb, and get it printed at Walmart while I was shopping there.

Then there was the garage to clean. That took me a day. But what a relief and joy to be finally able to park the cars there as the good Lord intended it. I did all this because we had a housewarming party on Saturday and I was inspired to do these things. But I want to intentionally spend the next 31 days focusing on things I have been putting off for years or months and just GET IT DONE.

I do suffer a lot and struggle with self inflicted stress because I keep putting off things I find disagreeable. I help my husband with our business. At the end of the month, there is a day of reckoning. Now, this day can be a lot smoother if I do a bit every week. I just keep postponing it until the end of the month when I get into this mode of snapping at everyone, oh-for-the-love-of-God-why-is-it-taking-so-long wailing. I am a perfectly lovely person to be with at that time as you can imagine.

I will try and write a post everyday with things I have accomplished, if not I will at least update with one line.

I am linking with Nester on this.

Niya 4 months

Dear Niya,

You are 4 months old now. I am actually struggling to come to terms with the fact that you are already 4 months old! You are 13 lb 11 oz at your well visit yesterday and 24 inches tall. You are right in the 50th percentile. For my tiny, SFGA baby, you are doing great! You also got your first cold. Thankfully, it has not become an ear infection yet.

It was a fun last two months for you! I never did write your 3 month letter, but we were out of town and I didn't have my laptop with me. But you had your first beach trip to Miami, went to the pool and had a blast. You are always smiling and laughing. I am thinking you are going to be a social butterfly. You love everyone, but you think your brother is the BEST. You reserve your best smiles and laughs for him. When he comes to you in the morning, your face lights up like nothing else. Neil loves to sit next to you and "read" you his favorite books.

This month Appacha came to visit and he calls you the princess of FL. Neil calls you Plinty Plincess. I call you a string of gibberish as the Spirit moves me. Appacha and Ammachy loves to carry you around all the time. If you show as much as the smallest pout, you are immediately picked up. You are well loved (and well spoilt). When someone plays with you, you show a shy face and roll your entire fist inside your mouth. You already show separation anxiety. People who see you say I will never be able to do anything as you wont let me be away from you. It is amazing to everyone (including your pediatrician) how fast you have recognized me. You already cry when I take you to the doctor. I have no idea how you know. Are you supposed to know already?

I love how intently you look at the books Neil reads to you. I hope you would love to read. You love the swing, the gym mat, and the mei tai. If someone can carry you close to them all day long, you are supremely happy.

Dada is not supposed to say you are cute because if he did, I get to ask for another baby. This is just a game we play. But he says that all the time unawares, because you are just that cute. I know, I set him up for something I know he will fail miserably. You are a bit of a drama queen some times. You cry like you are getting murdered, and I come flying from the ends of the earth, and all you wanted was to be held. And once you are held, it is like a switch turned off. Neil gets very upset if he hears you cry. He empathizes a little too well.

You bring so much sunshine and joy into our lives. I just wish the days went a little slower.

Love,
Mama

Letter to Neil 3 year old

Dear Neil,

It says 10:53 on the laptop now. It has been EXACTLY 3 years since you were born. I didn't plan to start a letter at 10:53. I wish I were able to plan things that well, it just happened.

I look at you today and I am not sure what happened. I got you home from the hospital, blinked and now here you are 3 years old. I remember crying when I held you for the first time. And then you looked at me. I might forget many daily things like where my keys are and call your sister by your name or fail to wish people Happy Birthday, but I can never forget that. I was thinking so much of you today all day.

You got many gifts today, a trike, flash cards, clothes, tag reader books, play food. But I think the thing that made you the happiest was some undivided attention from me. You had a bubble bath which you loved, lots of reading, ipad time, great food, payasam, and fun at your little party. It was just your Dad, me Ammachy, and Niya, but it was nice.

You are such a loving little boy. You are completely missing that thing called jealousy. Even with a lot of my time going towards your little sister, you have not shown a spark of resentment. You love her to bits (literally) and get up every morning and ask for her the first thing. Cuddles are so few these days, but bedtime is the best. I put you in the crib and you make your lovie into a pillow and say "Mama go to sleep" (which means mama, sleep with me) and when I get up and go after some time, you say "Stay" That is when I get to shower you with kisses.

You love reading, playing in the water, piano, music and your current love, the ipad. You love doing laundry, and thanks to you, I am on top of laundry now. You are very persistent and I love that. On the same note, you are quite stubborn. We are trying to help you best to do things without crushing your feisty personality. You have a fantastic memory and a sense of humor which is coming out now. It is hilarious to hear you come up with things. You are 100% boy, you love "toot" jokes. I think at this point you love your Ammachy best. Maybe it is because you get your own way with her the most. You love being with her and I think you are going to miss her once she goes back to India in 2 months. You love your preschool and is now happy to go there. We took some cupcakes there to share with your friends.

You bring so much joy into our lives. Although it has only been 3 years, it is hard to imagine a time when you were not there. (What did I do all day?) I am realizing that the time before I got pregnant with you is starting to become hazy. Sometimes when I look at you, my heart gets so full that my eyes fill up. And your heavenly Father loves you even more than that. Imagine! Neil, I hope you always remember that you can do nothing to make us love you any more or any less. We know you are struggling with some things. We are trying to help you the best we can. Sometimes, it just hurts to watch you struggle and I want to come in and take it all away. But I know I can't. I can hold your hand so far and then let go and let you work it out and have my prayers follow you. Just as it will the rest of my life.

Love,
Mama

Niya 2 months

Sweet Niya,

You are 2 months old. Well, you turned two months old yesterday, but I just got around to writing today. Mommy was sick for a week and now Daddy is sick, so things have been busy. I just hope you stay healthy. You have your 2 month appointment tomorrow and we will find out your stats. I don't need to know any stats though to know that you are growing fast. Today you sat alert at church and was just playing by yourself. You have blossomed out so much and have outgrown all your newborn clothes. I feel a little sad you are growing so fast. I have the most fun putting you in all your adorable clothes and getting you ready.

You are the most content baby ever. I was looking at the milestone chart the other day and you have achieved all the advanced milestones for your age. Smiling, laughing, putting weight on feet, doing push ups for tummy time, cooing and gurgling, you are just at it. Yesterday you even slept for 8 hours through the night! You still sleep with us and although your room has been ready before you were born, I don't think you are going to be there any time soon. Sometimes I feel a little bad I don't get to spend as much time with you as I'd like, but you get a lot of love and attention all the same from all of us. Our time is when you wake up in the morning and I feed you and then while I am pumping milk for you, you lay awake and we talk and laugh. By the time I am done pumping, you are asleep and you don't know it, but that is when I kiss your chubby little hands and feet. I can't get over how sweet you are!

Neil is completely in love with you, getting you diapers, clothes, lying down next to you. I think he would be happiest if I leave you with him all day. You love being snuggled and carried and I love carrying you in the mei tai.

I am glad God saw it fit to send you to us. You are such a blessing and joy to all of us.

Love,
Mama

Niya 1 Month

Dear Niya,

You are one month old today!

How fast the time went! You were born so fast and the whole process was so great that I smile every time I think of it. It has been a great time after that too, you are such an easy baby. But I will tell you one thing. When you were born and even for like a week after, I was terrified of you. You were such a tiny thing I was afraid to handle you at all. And for two weeks you remained like that. Then you started putting on weight and  now you have blossomed.

Today you gave us all big smiles with mouth wide open, looking right at our faces. These interactions are the best. When you wake up in the morning and after you have had your milk, that is when you are the happiest. You sleep with us (of course!) and you love to cuddle close to mama every night. Even if you have the pacifier and is wrapped, you will still complain until you are close and cuddled to one of us.

You have a closet full of clothes and one of my favorite things to do is dress you up. You don't really fit into anything other than newborn clothes. You have outgrown your preemie clothes and the 3 month clothes are too big, so my choices are a bit limited.

Neilu loves you a lot and wants to be with you all the time. At preschool he tells everyone proudly he is a big brother. You are very blessed to have him as a big brother.

You love car rides, made up songs and you tolerate the swing.

You are quite a happy, fun baby and thoroughly spoiled by your Ammachy who holds you all the time.

I love you precious baby, and can't get enough of kissing, and cuddling you every day.

SUYL: Kitchen

If you are coming from Kellys Korner, a hearty welcome to you. If you are a regular reader, then thanks for stopping by again. Today is my favorite SUYL topic. Kitchens. Kitchen is my favorite place in the house. It is a  love born out of familiarity. I spend the majority of my day there. As does my kids. It is the hub of our home. As I have mentioned probably 15 times here in this blog, Indian cooking is very time consuming. Not that I am complaining about the results, but it takes a lot of effort nonetheless. We recently moved to a new home. The kitchen was a source of despair in the older house. My main criteria in the new house was that the kitchen should be spacious.

Before I show pictures, here is my disclaimer: Don't hate me because of my mad photography skills.

This is the view from the family room.

This is the view from the entrance through the family room. This is our breakfast area and the pantry is behind it.

I think it is funny that although it is a "breakfast area', breakfast is the only meal we don't have here. My breakfast is usually a piece of bread and butter which I try to eat between feeding my son and daughter at the same time. But we love sitting here just for the view. In a rare while (more often before Niya was born), I sit there in the mornings with my Bible and read and pray. Sometimes, I just sit and watch the sunshine slowly chasing the mist away. Kind of like how quiet moments with God can chase the fears away. 

These are some lovely canisters I got at a garage sale for a princely sum of $2. These are my second favorite thing in the kitchen. My favorite thing would be the blue and yellow cookie jar bought at the same garage sale for $1. It is there in the first picture. In my stellar photo shoot, I forgot to get a close up of that.

This is the view towards the dining room. And I love, love the backs plash. I think it made a huge difference in how the kitchen looks.

Some oranges in the jar. We prefer real fruits and fake flowers over here :)

This is the view from the dining room. I realized later that I should have put on the light, that would have made for some better pictures.

Now the walls are kind of bare. I had taken off all the stuff for painting and never got around to putting anything back. It is one of my goals this summer.

I am giving myself a free pass as it has not even been 4 weeks since baby #2.

Hope you enjoyed the tour.