Pneumonia

I recently resurrected our old fish tank and got a Betta fish for Diya and Aadi. Diya has named the fish Splash.

It's working out well so far.

Diya helps me with feeding the fish, and keeping the tank clean (and gets some free Chemistry lessons as a part of the deal). And Aadi is satisfied with banging the fish tank a few times every day, scaring the hell out of the Splash, and then consoles it with some "gentle touch".

Unlike the previous times, a Betta forces us to keep only one fish in a relatively big tank. So, the water remains clean for a longer time.

Anyway, here's the story ....

Diya got up this morning, and as soon as she came downstairs, she exclaimed, "Baba, let's do the 'pneumonia test' ".

It was totally out of context, and I had no clue what she was talking about. Well, she has been coughing for a few days, so I thought maybe she was thinking of a previous clinic visit. But, it still didn't quite fit.

When I asked her what she meant, she explained, "Well, yesterday we were testing the aquarium water. The pH was too high and so we put some chemicals. So, today we should test again."

Suvo: Ok, so what does that got to with pneumonia?

Diya: Actually, we don't have to do that as it was fine. Also, the nitrite was fine ... so we only need to do the pH test.

I got it finally ... it all makes sense if you replace the word 'pneumonia' with 'ammonia'!

I am yet to decided whether I should correct her, or get another kick out of that (ok, I know that's a mean thing to do) ... that is ... if she makes the same mistake again. She has already started avoiding the 'pneumonia' word, when I bring up the context of testing the aquarium water!

Little Chefs

It was a hot and humid Sunday evening. We were all laying around, feeling fatigued from the heat. The evening was dragging.

Suddenly, Ankur came up with an irresistible proposition - why not have a cold glass of sangria?! 

The mood changed instantly.

An equally intoxicating follow-up idea of hers was to make bruschetta to go along with the sangria. Now she could do real justice to her home grown tomato and basil!

Our little chefs joined Ankur in the kitchen. They soon started brushing olive oil on the baguette as if they do it everyday. 

A perfect occasion for taking zillions of pictures!

Pretty in Pink

"I look Pretty in Pink,

But I still love my Red Car!"

That's Aadi in Diya's dress on the day Nana-Nani arrived. It still surprises me that Diya smilingly gave Aadi all of her gifts to play with. (I am not so sure if I could have done so if I was in her place).

Why Diya Can't Finish Her Breakfast?

(Alternate title: "Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyo Aata Hain ")

It's about 8:20am on a Monday morning.

Ankur had to leave early for work.

I was rushing to get change Aadi's diapers, feed him a bottle of milk and get him ready for dropping him at the daycare.

Diya was supposed to finish her milk and cereal by that time - so that when I was done with Aadi, we could run out of the house ... by 8:35am, get Diya to the bus stand ... by 8:38 am (that's the precise moment when her school bus arrives), drive like a maniac ... for the next 20 min to drop Aadi at his daycare,  and still make it to my morning meeting ... at 9:00.

Which means that Diya had 15 (luxuriously long morning) minutes so finish her cereal.

Instead when I came back to the kitchen I found that Diya's bowl of cereal was untouched. She was busy making a car out of cereal on her spoon for Aadi!

The situation does not really change much even if her breakfast already comes decorated!

Wheels On The Car Go ...

Aadi never gets bored with cars. Or choo-choo trains. Never ever.

He can play with a car for hours and hours. He carries one to his bath, needs one to sleep, plays with one during lunch or dinner, and holds one in his hands all the while during his play hours.

In fact, he seems to be always mesmerized to see the wheels of a car go round and round. I think that he cannot get over the fact that round things can roll.

Aadi had just started speaking out a few single words. His most favorite ones are "Caa..." and "Wow". And he always uses those two together in the only two word sentence that he knows!

Can't wait to take him to Cars 2!

Momentary Lapse of Attention

This happened one afternoon when we were trying to make the kids sleep in their new bunk bed. 

Ankur was busy with folding the laundry. I was in the basement trying to justify the $$ we spent on my Korg KARMA keyboard. Ankur heard Aadi waking up after his noon-time nap and was waiting for him to come running and say "Mamma!!". 

Instead, there was complete silence. 

Ankur suddenly had a bad feeling about it and ran to find out where he was. She found him in the study. 

Aadi was grinning from ear to ear with immense satisfaction. He just finished trying out what his Didi taught him a few days back. He could now do face painting all by himself. What an accomplishment!

We didn't have the heart to take photos of our newly replaced carpet.

Money

It has been quite a while since my last post. It's not that nothing funny or interesting happened in the interim period. In fact, every day Diya or Aadi does something which absolutely deserves a blog entry.  It's just that I have been plain lazy. (It's so easy to think that I'll write tomorrow ... and then keep repeating the same thought every day ... until all the beautiful memories fade away, and there's nothing more to write.)

Anyway, this incident took place yesterday ... and I had to get back to blogging :)

I picked up Diya from her Adventure Club after work around 5:30pm and was driving home. Diya finished updating me with all the cool things she learnt that day. Then she asked, "Baba, I hope you are not very tired today, and can play with me".

I was mildly surprised by her tender thinking. I asked her, "Why do you think I will be tired?"

She replied, "Well, you must have worked pretty hard today. I know, Mamma and you work very hard every day so that you get the money". I realized that she's uttering back the same answer I give her when she asks me why do I have to go to work.

Then, after a pause, she asked in a concerned tone, "So, did you get some money today?"

It was not a paycheck day, so I truthfully answered, "Not today, darling."

"Buy why?!"

"Well, we are paid every other week."

She seemed to be satisfied for a while. Then she asked, "Baba, can you tell me something?"

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me where do the people get the money who give you the money?!"

I kept quite for the next minute (the first 30 sec to suppress my laughter, and the next 30 sec to think about what's the simplest reply to her question). We were almost home, and I was not able to think a 1-2 line answer. So, I decided to play a joke on her and end the topic. I replied, "Well, you know every (other) Friday those people give us some money. And after the weekend, on Monday, we give them back their money."

She thought for a moment. Then she said, "You know Baba, I don't really understand how will that work out. Well ... whatever ... Mamma is already back!" And she ran out of the car as soon as parked the car.

I think I have to pay for that over smart reply someday. Eagerly waiting for that "delicious" moment :).