First quarter of 3rd year of my life

Greetings everyone !

I am back with the quarterly updates for the first quarter of 3rd year of my life.

Here are the top 12 memorable events and achievements this quarter :

12. Talking in English : I used to speak in gujarati only, but I am starting to learn some English now. One of the sentences that I have recently picked up in English is "I don't know". As you might have guessed, my parents are not very thrilled about it :-)

11. Routine tasks : I can take-off my shoes, socks as well as clothes on my own. While this is a very big achievement, my parents are not very excited about it since I take off the clothes whenever I feel like it and then I make them run after me to put them back on :-)

10. Favorite Vegetable : I have identified my favorite vegetable. Its Okra. If you give me okra sabji with roti, I will eat without any fuss. My mom is happy about it, but she is upset at the same time because I want that everyday for dinner now :-)

9. Gymboree : I started going for Gymobree classes every saturday morning. I love it and eagerly wait for Saturdays.

8. NY trip : When my mommy went to NY for her work in January, I tagged along to meet my grandparents. It was cold in NY, but I enjoyed it.

7. Lake Tahoe : We spent one full week in Lake Tahoe around Christmas. It was lot of fun wearing all the winter gears and playing in the snow. Check out the pictures to see my snowman !

6. Little helper around the house : I have started helping my parents with little things like putting the lights on or off and putting some things where they tell me to. I can also get some things within my reach (like a dish or spoon) for them - ofcourse, when I am in good mood :).

5. Coloring : I have started using coloring book and crayons. At first, I would just randomly color here and there, but gradually, I am getting the hang of it. Now if you tell me to color a circle, I will just put some lines in the circle. I cannot color it fully yet, but I don't color outside the circle at the same time.

4. Playing pretend : I have started playing pretend (not sure if this is because I watch lot of Barney :) ). I pretend being a mommy or daddy to my dolls and softtoys and feed them and take them for a stroll in their little stroller. I also pretend to be a cat or tiger or dog or rabbit or fox or even strawberry :)

3. Story Time : I love to hear different stories. So, my parents make up lots of stories involving different animals and day-to-day activities like brushing, taking a bath, eating, playing, etc. I can also tell you most of those stories (word for word - no kidding :) ) when I am in good mood.

2. Identifying the alphabets : I can identify lot of alphabets along with what they stand for. For example, A for Ami, B for Barney, D for Desai, K for Kavya, G for Gaurav, and so on...

1. Potty-training : I am "almost" potty-trained. Yeaaahhhh !! This one makes my parents very happy. I say "almost" because although I go to potty, I don't always say "I want to go pee" - instead one might see me do the "pee-pee" dance. Also, I don't always wake my mommy up at night :-)

Enjoy my pictures:


Love,
Kavya

I am a little helper around the house

I have started getting interested in small chores around the house. My mommy and daddy keep me by their side when they are doing some of their tasks. For example, mommy will make me sit on the kitchen platform while she cuts some vegetables or cooks something and daddy will take me for a walk with him when he goes to check the mails. While I am still little for most of the tasks that they do, I try to help however I can, of course, only when I am in good mood. Some of the things I help with are :

- If my parents give me something and ask me to go and put it in the stairs (so that we can take it upstairs whenever we go), I will go and place that thing very nicely in the stairs.

- I also help out taking a dish or glass to the sink. Since I cannot reach the bottom of the sink yet, I will put it on the kitchen platform.

- I can also turn any lights on or off as requested.

- I also help with clean-up after making a mess with all my toys - although, this is only sometimes :)

- In the mornings when we are all upstairs and we need a dish to put some "prasad" (goodies) for God, I can go down all by myself, open up the drawer and get a dish and return upstairs - Isn't this something ?

My little mischief

This evening when my parents were busy with something, I quietly turned on the stair lights and went upstairs. Then I turned on the lights of mommy-daddy's bedroom and went to the small "mandir" (temple) that they have in their room. I knew they had some "prasad" in a box near the mandir and I love that prasad very much. So, I tried to open that box, but the lid was too tight to open it fully. I managed to open it a little just from one side - enough to put one of my hands inside. I pulled out couple of pieces of the prasad and put them in my mouth very quickly. Soon there after, my mom came running looking for me and caught me red-handed with the prasad still in my mouth and also all over my hands and mouth (Ooops!) I could see that she had very confused looks on her face. She wanted to laugh but at the same time she wanted to scold me - so she didn't quite know how to react. She called my dad and told him about my mischief and we all burst out laughing :)

Potty training

My mommy-daddy started potty training me for the first time in November 2007 when I was about 22-23 months old. But I wasn't quite ready at that time. I got scared when I had to pee while sitting on the toilet because peeing in the diaper was so much easy and fun and no one would even know when I would pee. As a result, I started holding my pee and would cry when I cannot hold it anymore. So, my parents got the hint and gave up few days later.

They let couple of months go by and then again started the training in early February 2008. I was very much ready now and got the message in no time. Initially, I thought potty training was for pee-pee and not for poop.. But then with little more explanation and training and patience, I learnt that part too. I was potty-trained in 2-3 weeks. I am almost potty trained now. I say almost because sometimes instead of saying that I want to go pee, I would do the pee-pee dance :). Also, at night, I don't wake up my mom always. However, the fact that I am almost potty trained does make my parents very happy. It also makes me happy because I am a big girl now ! :)

My new found interest in stories

I have started getting very interested in stories. My parents tell me lots of different stories involving different animals and day-to-day activities. I love to hear them all. I make them tell me the same story so many times a day (especially at meal and bed time) that sometimes they loose their patience :) I can also repeat lot of those stories and that makes everyone very happy. Here are some of the stories that I have heard :

1. The crow and the fox
2. The lion and the mouse
3. The cap seller and the monkeys
4. Cinderella
5. Snow White and the 7 dwarfs
6. The zebra (Whitey) and his potty training
7. The giraffe (Patchy) and the lesson to not throw toys
8. The ball that kept jumping and making noise
9. Two cats and the monkey
10. The dog Tommy who played "Ring around the Roses" with his friends
11. Short stories involving Kavya, Khushi, Tanay, Daddy and Mommy
12. The fish Nemo who used to play hide & seek with its mommy
13. Five twinkle twinkle stars

Final quarter of 2nd year of my life

Hello,

Here I come with the updates of final quarter of 2nd year of my life. I am now 2 years old. Can you believe it ? My parents surely think that time flew faster over the last 2 years !

This quarter has been very festive. I celebrated 3 major festivals : Navratri, Halloween and Diwali.
I went for garba and dandia for the first time in my life. It was little overwhelming to see so many people and hear so loud music, but nonetheless, I enjoyed it. I stayed up later than usual that night to ensure I do not miss out on any fun :-)
Halloween was a blast - I wish I could go door to door and ask for candies more often than once a year :-) I dressed up as Dora and collected lot of candies. I don't know what happened to those candies though since I have had only a couple of lollipops so far ?!?
This year's Diwali was much more enjoyable for me as well as my mommy since I now love to dress up and put on make-up. My mom dressed me up in traditional clothes along with the traditional accessories during the Diwali week.

I am now looking forward to Christmas - mostly waiting for Santa Claus to get me some nice and cool gifts :-)

My vocabulary has increased a lot and you can now have a meaningful conversation with me. I also remember all the people I meet and talk to. I keep my parents busy by making them play with me and thus forcing them to be creative to keep me busy.

I am totally weaned off the bottle now and potty training has started - though not much progress has been made yet.

I now have lots of teeth (around 16, I think). I am still very fussy eater and hence don't put on much weight. I am getting taller though. I am more than half of mommy's height already :-)

I celebrated my 2nd birthday with lots of friends. I got to cut 3 cake times - As you will see in the pictures, the best part was putting cake on the face :)

Here are some of my latest pictures : http://picasaweb.google.com/amishaparikh/Kavya4thAndFinalQuarterOf2ndYearOfMyLife?authkey=XnQgQGN0nJo



I now have a blog where you can find all of my previous emails as well as some memorable events and milestones. Check it out at http://kavyadesai.blogspot.com

Love,
Kavya

Happiest Meal Time

Today (Monday, 26th November 2007) dinner time was one of the happiest meal project for my parents. My mom prepared daal, rice, cauliflower sabji and roti with great enthusiasm. She prepared my dinner plate with all these goodies. And, for the first time in my life, I ate a full meal - all 4 things + cheese ; and that too without making much fuss. You should have seen the look on my parents' face - they were so happy and satisfied. They even treated me with ice cream for being such a good girl.

Now, I am sure you are wondering why can't I be such a good girl all the time - well, there has to be some fun in life and also parents' need to be reminded of their childhood too :-)

Poems and Songs that I can "almost" sing

Here are some of the poems and songs that I try to sing. You may not understand them fully when I sing because some of the words are garbled :) But if you spend more time with me, you can understand them all.

English :

• Twinkle Twinkle little star
• Baa baa black sheep
• Jack and Jill went up the hil
• a b c d e f g ..
• One two buckle my shoes, three four shut the door
• I love you, you love me, we are a happy family
• Itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout

Gujarati :

• Pandit chalya jay che
• Cycle mari sararara jay
• Nani sarkhi khiskoli bai jatra karva jay
• Khati nathi, piti nathi, dhingali mari bolti nathi
• Hathi bhai to jada, lage mota pada
• Ek biladi jadi, ene pehri saadi

Hindi :

• Ek do teen; chaar panch che; so gaye duniya ke saab bacche

Realization about some of my pictures in diaper

Every day when my mommy or daddy are getting me ready for a bath or dressing me up after the bath or just changing my clothes, I run away with only my diaper on. I have lot of fun in playing the "catch-me-if-you-can" game. Every time I do that, they explain me that I cannot run around in my diaper and that if I do everyone will say "Shame shame, Kavya" and then they come and catch me.

This morning, while laying in my daddy's arms, I looked at some of my pictures hanging on the family room wall and noticed that all i was wearing in those pictures is my diaper. So, I innocently pointed at the pictures and asked "Kavya e wawa kem nathi pehri ?" (Why is Kavya not wearing any clothes?). You should have seen the looks on my mommy-daddy's face - they were surprised big time :)

3rd Quarter of 2nd year of my life

Hello !

I completed the 3rd quarter of 2nd year of my life on 16th Sept. I am now 21 months old.

I have 12 teeth with 2 more on the way. I can bite very well now - try me out the next time you meet me :-)

My vocabulary is increasing - I can say 1 to 10 and A to P (with little help, I can complete the alphabet) - but only when I am in good mood. I don't perform on demand :-) I can also sing some small poems. I like to watch Barney and other cartoons. I have started getting hooked onto TV.

I am still very picky about what I eat. I am completely weaned off the bottle now - but I don't like the sippy cup as much as the bottle - So, I only drink little out of it. Potty training will be starting anytime now..

Memorable short trips this quarter are NY, VRAJ temple in PA, Atlantic City and Angel Island.

Here are some of my pictures : http://picasaweb.google.com/amishaparikh/Kavya3rdQuarterOf2ndYear?authkey=hPnGpWdrLOw



Love,
Kavya

2nd Quarter of 2nd year of my life

Hello !

I completed the 2nd quarter of 2nd year of my life about a month back but I have been busy going places and meeting lots of friends and relatives in the last one month and hence the delay in sending the quarterly report. I am now 19 months old.

I have 9 teeth with 10th on the way (8 front and 2 back). But I still don't like to chew. So, I only eat food that is easy to swallow :)

I have become very talkative. I can speak lots of different sentences describing what I am doing, what I want, what you are doing and especially the Why/What/Where questions. I speak mainly in Gujarati and may be few words in English. I like to repeat what everyone says and hence I have earned the nickname of "Copy Cat" and also "Parrot" (popat in gujarati). If you come and spend few hours with me, then you will also starting talking the way I do :)

I had my first swim lessons this quarter and I loved it. Whenever I see some water, I shout "Swimming, swimming". I also practice swimming everyday at bath time in bathtub/ water bucket.

I love going to the park to enjoy the slide, swing, sand and those fluffy dogs :)

I am still very picky about what I eat. My mommy-daddy say that every meal time is a big (and messy :) ) project. They are trying to wean me from the bottle, but I am giving them a hard time. Diaper-training is next on their list :)

Here are some of my pictures : http://picasaweb.google.com/amishaparikh/Kavya15To19Months?authkey=41gSh9M0r0c



Love,
Kavya

1st Quarter of 2nd year of my life

Hello !
I completed the 1st quarter of 2nd year of my life today - Yes, believe it or not, I am now 15 months old. My parents say that I am growing really fast.

This last quarter has been very eventful and full of achievements.

I think my biggest achievement this quarter is that I started walking about 5 weeks back. I walk with my hands up in the air to maintain balance :) Although my parents would argue that my biggest achievement is that I started sleeping through the nite about 10 days back :)

I now have 4 teeth (2 top and 2 bottom) and 2 more top ones on the way. So, I have started brushing teeth and gums with my little brushie and mommy's finger :)

I have grown naughtier : My latest mischiefs include pulling every one's hair and glasses/goggles and climbing on my mommy and daddy's tummy and riding it like a horse - Its so much fun :)

I have also become very playful - I like to play with stacking blocks, shape sorters, dolls, computer, soft toys, tunnel and ball. I also like to play hide and seek and catch me if you can :)

They say I am becoming smarter day by day :) - I can show you different parts of my body (nosie, ears, eyes, head, hair, hands, tummy, legs, cheeks and fingers) and tell you my mommy and daddy's name (although I mix them up sometimes :) )

I am still very picky about what I eat. I like flavored yogurts, cheese, butter and juices a lot. I don't like foods that I have to chew. My parents have to bribe me with cheese at meal time :) I have also started drinking Vitamin D whole milk.

The most memorable event this quarter was a month long trip to India with my parents. I got to meet a lot of loving family members and friends. Although I was sick for most part of the trip, I was happy and playful whenever I felt better.

Here are some of my pictures : http://picasaweb.google.com/amishaparikh/Kavya9To15Months?authkey=_hAKWoQkVGI



Love,
Kavya

My first birthday

Hello,

We celebrated my first "happy birthday" on 16th December at Putting Edge - glow in the dark mini-golf in Great Mall, Milpitas (Bay Area). I got my sleep right before the party - So, I was all ready to meet and greet everyone.

Since I cannot walk on my own yet, they did not let me play golf (may be next year) - but I heard others enjoyed the game.
We had a nice Winnie-the-Pooh cake along with Bhel and Pav-bhaji.
My mom and dad also prepared a cool Treasure Hunt game in which teams of 4 people each raced in the Great Mall to solve the clues of 10 different stores and get a souvenir from each.

I really enjoyed my first happy birthday party. I hope you enjoy seeing the pictures :
http://picasaweb.google.com/amishaparikh/KavyaSFirstBirthday?authkey=ujAUItQYXSE



Love,
Kavya.

9 month old e-mail

Hello !

I am writing to you after a long time, but as you will see, I have been busy growing up. I am 9 and a half months old now. I can crawl, stand up by holding on to things and have also started to walk a little by holding. I don't have any teeth yet (and so I still look as cute as before ;-), but I have started eating vegetables, fruits, daal and rice (I don't like daal and rice, though).

I can shake hands, give hi-fi, bid good-bye, clap and even say "mum mum", "ka" for kavya, "pa pa pa", "da da ..." and make many more silly sounds. But shhhh... whenever my mom and dad ask me to do or say any of these in front of their friends, I pretend not to know any of these :) They say I have become very naughty, but I say I am just doing what kids are supposed to do at my age ;-)

Here are some of my pictures from 6 to 9 months. Take a look at how much I have grown. Make sure to read my comments for some of the pics. I think that I look like my daddy (I am daddy's little girl) - what do you think ?
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=7ibzkvb.bekk6sg3&x=0&y=-2hcivy

Love,
Kavya

More pictures

January 11, 2006 To January 23, 2006
http://www.flickr.com/gp/21587062@N00/JN638K

January 26, 2006
http://www.flickr.com/gp/21587062@N00/T08x24

January 29 and 30, 2006
http://www.flickr.com/gp/21587062@N00/4pr17v

My 2nd e-mail : Look ! Look !

Hello again !

I am almost 3 weeks old now. My mommy-daddy have uploaded more pictures of me at http://www.flickr.com/gp/21587062@N00/63809P

Take a look and see how I have changed.

Love,
Kavya.

My 1st email to friends and family

Hello !

Recognize me ? I am Gaurav daddy and Amisha mommy's little princess ;)I just wanted to drop a note to say hello and thank you for all your lovely wishes.I am little over a week old now - getting used to the world outside of my mommy. I spend most of my time sleeping, eating, pooping and playing.

I would love to meet and play with you - so come on over !!

Here are pictures from my first week : http://www.flickr.com/gp/21587062@N00/1U1cdT

Love,
Kavya

Announcing my name

Dear all,
Thanks a lot for all the wishes and kind words!! Finally we have decided baby's name: "Kavya" (Poetry). There was a typo in the first email (fat-finger-syndrome) :) Baby is 19" tall, not 10".

I have uploaded more pictures at:
http://www.flickr.com/gp/21587062@N00/C53V0h

thanks,
Amisha-Gaurav

My Birth Announcement

Dear family, friends and colleagues,

Amisha and I were blessed with our first child on 12/16. She was born on 12/16 at 12:47 PM (7.11 Pounds and 10 inches long). Both, mom and the little one are doing fine. We expect to go home in 3-4 days. We are yet to decide her name :)
Here is what the little girl looks like on her first day:

Thanks,
Amisha-Gaurav