I can

I right now think I can do many things myself. My constant plead "nAn panren" (I will do) does not have any impact on my parents. They just think it is soo cute :( So I decided to demonstrate my capability.

 After so many trips to the restroom following pAdukA, I know what it is like to use the restroom. I ask my ammA to take me to the restroom to sit on the nice Dora potty seat, wait for five minutes, get down and pull a few sheets of tissue paper and throw it in the potty and flush. Isn't this a fine example of how I can do things by myself. Still not convinced?

ammA was lying down and was not sleeping, so I decided to help her sleep just like my parents do to me. I patted her a few times. It did not make any difference. I covered her with a blanket but she was still awake. Since these did not work, I used my own technique to fall asleep. I forced my thumb into her mouth to help her sleep. It works for me but ammA laughed and washed my hands! I had the right idea but my subject was not compliant. Oh well.... do you know about my diagnostic capability?

Once I got hurt banging my head against the wall while running. I started crying and everyone gathered to console me. I had to think of what I needed even when I was in pain. Crying I called for "iishh, iiish" (ice...ice..). Then it dawned on everyone to get me some ice. I know from observing appA and thAthA that ice and "pacchai marundhu" (green medicine) cures almost everything. So, I prescribe either of these when someone is no feeling well.

And so I think Machuya (Madhura) can !

(Pictures) Jan-April-2013

for more sweetness

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Reading a book for dummies

I have seen Paaduka read book aloud and I figured that I could also do the same. Here is the dummies guide to reading a book. It works well if you are under 2 years of age though.

1. Find a good place to keep your book
2. Make sure everyone is watching you
3. Open the book and scan for pictures.
4. Make sure you know to say or (almost say) one or two things shown in the picture in the book
5. Flip the page one by one and say one word clearly and the rest is just some noise you can make

The most important thing to do is to look sincere while reading and enjoy it as much as you can. You can
go over the same book twice or thrice at increasing speed to show how much you like reading.

Here is a video guide -
(notes - I am using only two words all through the video -  appu (means apple) and bae (means bear))

Four legged people

I touch my appA's injured leg gently and say "thaal" (meaning kaal- leg). It's a magic touch that makes my appA smile immediately everytime.  Right now appA has four legs.  Two of which pAdukA and I borrow  to play "pAtti pAtti" (grandma-grandma) when appA rests. Just when appA was hopping down the stairs to go to work with 3 legs and one injured leg, I blurted out " paatu po"  (go carefully) joining ammA's daily routine. I surprised both ammA and appA. While I see cats and dogs comfortably jumping, running and walking with four legs, appA seems to be so careful and cautious with four legs! Just when I adjusted to appA being four legged, ammA decided to add more to the confusion. She also has four legs now and is struggling to handle them!

I think when we become big boys/girls we add two more legs. Right now pAdukA and I are small and we have only 2 legs. I totally love my little fast legs which can give my parents a tough time :)

As far as walking is concerned pAdukA and I are far ahead in the development curve and ready to teach appA and ammA how to walk with just two legs again!

Brushing conundrum

My parents were worried that I did not have teeth till I was about 13-14 months old. Now that I have a bunch of them and they are worried. Again! Now it is because I have teeth and I am not allowing them to brush it well.

I love to get up in the morning to be smothered with hugs and kisses. Everything is fine for a while before a trip to the bathroom and I know what that means:( My parents put this prickly thing with a sweet paste on it and "ammikki, picchi" (press and hit) my teeth. Everyday I say to myself that I should not open my mouth for the sweet paste but I keep doing that mistake every morning :(

Do you know what it is like to have a big sister who likes to brush and floss? Yes that's right. She likes to BRUSH AND FLOSS. She likes it to be done 2 times a day! What is wrong with her? I watch when she brushes. Shaking your head, opening mouth wide while appA/ammA puts the prickly thing in your mouth does not look fun to me. Fun for me ends after I swallow the sweet paste. My sis has really pampered my parents by being compliant. I now have the reputation of being the trouble maker. Thanks pAdukA :( I have new teeth growing and I dread what it is going to mean.

(Pictures) Dec-2012

more sweetness here

Teaching a language

Teaching a language is not easy. Really :) I have been wanting to talk to my family for sometime now but all I see is just some sympathetic nods and "appadiyaa.." (is that so?) always. I understand what they speak but somehow they do not get it when I talk and interestingly their attempt to talk my language is a babble :)

This is my assessment of the students of madhura-bhAshA :) (madhura's language)

appA - say "thee thoo vaai" at least 10 times a day. This is my favorite phrase which I say with quite a style that everyone at home wants to imitate and perfect.  has being trying hard.

ammA - "appA nAni ye" is a song that I have composed. Please sing the song with the right wordings. Please please do not change it to "ammA nAni ye" I will come up with some song for you.

"ammiyaa" is what you say when something is delicious. You cannot say that about everything you want me to eat and you cook ;)

pAdukA - "amiki, pichi, acchi" are my complaints to ammA and appA so I do not want you to use them to report our fights. Not fair...Find your own words.

Every one comes and asks if I started talking. How can I ?My family is trying to learn and perfect my baby language instead of teaching me to speak their language !

hmmm... I like it this way as I am the boss of our home :)