Happy 19 months!

Dear Vir,

You have turned 19 months today. I am sorry, I couldn't do a post for your half birthday last month but I promise I have a lot more to share this time around.

You have grown in a wink of an eye! You are equal parts cuteness and equal parts naughtiness, making it hard for us to discipline you as most of the times when one of us wants to say "No Vir", the other one cracks up and there goes discipline!

You are full of energy, when I say full I mean you are unstoppable. Cars and trucks brighten your eyes. I don't think you notice the trees, flowers and people around you. I have to ask you to look at nature too but I am starting to accept that some things are just how they are. Boys and their love for machines!

There are so many words you say now, like open, eat, aqua (Mariela taught you this and it has stuck with, milk and water are both aqua for you, or at-least they were, now, you do say milk or at-least understand it :) ), up, down, car, truck, more (this you say with a beautiful smile, whenever you like something you are eating and want more of it. We all love it.), book, bye, hi, duck, fish etc. but what started recently was Kabir playing "cops and bad guys"  and reciting the word bad guy and you repeated it right there "bad guy", I hear you say it every now and then now and I smile. :)

You have been enjoying reading books. Bubbles owns up is your favorite amongst some of the Disney Car books, Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see? and Little Blue Truck series.

You enjoy playing with cars, trucks, working on puzzles and building legos.

You have been climbing up and down the steps with ease, running super fast, going in circles, climbing tables and chairs....

You know some of your colors and some animal sounds.

You are very independent. You want to feed yourself, push things yourself, put on your shoes yourself. You don't like any interference!

Your toilet training started at 13 months and sometimes you are able to tell when you need to go. It's very impressive. I hope you are trained by the time you turn 2. Here's wishing! :)

Daddy is your most favorite person. You are always very excited to see him and he loves you a lot too.

Recently you traveled to Portland to visit Sumit Mamu, Aman Mami and Chubz. Long flights and super active you, not  a minute of rest but not a whole lot of crying either, lots of running in the aisle and jumping on me and the seat. We survived somehow, both the times! :)

Great trip to Portland, visiting family. The weather was too hot the whole time we were there, so while we couldn't do a lot outside, we would still go out to the nearby coffee shops, water front, any shaded grounds we could find for you and Kabir to run around. When we were home, we were happy enjoying each others company, gorging on some delicious cart food and having a good time.

One day, we visited OMSI and you and K had a blast.

Sumit Mamu also took us to the Nike employee store and shoes were bought for all! It was like you were in a candy store, you have a deep love for shoes and you wanted to try them all!

At home, you know everybody's shoes and you bring the right pair out for the right person and then ask him or her to take you out and you call shoes "ooze". Being outside is your favorite thing. You enjoy playing with the ball, sitting in the car, riding your bike or K's bike or just walking and running. Being outside just makes you happy and when you are in the playground, you want to be all over the place, running, sliding, climbing...doing all kinds of things!


One afternoon, Sumit Mamu, Daddy, Kabir and I also went to the Nike Campus, which I really wanted to see. You were home taking a nap but I took some pictures to share. It's a beautiful campus and I think you will enjoy going there in an year or two.

You and Kabir have enjoyed Nani's company to the fullest, now she is in Portland and you have been asking for her since we got back. She misses you both and sends you and K her love.

Happy Growing up, Vir. To more exciting milestones, lots of learning and having fun.

Like Kabir says I love you double one hundred or some other large number, meaning I love you a lot!

Vir, you are OUR HAPPY and you are LOVED! God Bless you, Sweetie!

Mama

F for FOUR

Kabir, earlier this week you turned 4! There was so much excitement around our house for your birthday. For the first time, you yourself were looking forward to it.

Since your birthday was on Monday, we made a weekend out of it!

Saturday, April 4th you got a new bike with a new helmet. You were very excited. You were very involved in choosing it, you rode it in the store to test it and even confirmed the color.

Sunday, April 5th, we took you to the National Geographic Museum, where they had the Monster Fish and Spinosaurus exhibits. You even watched a 3D movie about dinosaurs and sea life. It was a beautiful day weather wise, so after we finished at the museum, we went to the Georgetown Water Park, where you and Vir were thrilled to just run around and play.

Then came the big day! Monday, April 6th. Usually you wake me up, but that day, I was up before you, in your room, waiting for you to wake up. And when you did, I wished you and gave your your birthday cards. You were very excited and wanted to show them to Daddy and Nani right away.

It was your school day, so you got ready and I dropped you off at school. Ms. Lisa Peter picked you up from carpool and this is what you said to her "I turned 4 today. See how big I am!" I was smiling wide at your excitement and exclamation. Ms. Peter and you walked to your classroom talking.

In another hour, Nani and I went to your school to celebrate your birthday with your classmates and teachers. We took with us your favorite snacks; Cake Pops and Veggie Sticks, for all our friends. Ms. Haq conducted the walk around the sun  for you and the birthday song.

Afterwards, it was time for snack. You set napkins for all your classmates, while other kids picked other jobs to help.

Nani and I were very impressed!

You take the first bite, while other kids wait.

After the snack, I read a book; The Giving Tree, to your class. You were very excited and were even telling the story yourself with me.

You stayed in school till it was over, while Nani and I went to pick a cake and balloons for the evening. Daddy joined us when it was time to pick you up from school and we went for lunch at Sicilliano, our local Italian eatery.

 After lunch, we made our way to DC to check out Exposed at the US Botanical Gardens. It was a very fascinating exhibit about the plant roots.

Outdoors they had root sculptures.

One of them was even climbable. You had the most fun there.

Since the day was so gorgeous, we spent some time by the water right outside and then made our way back home where Vir was waiting for us.

Of course, after getting home, you wanted to ride your bike, so we went outside for the bike ride and brought home with us your friend Sofia for cake.

With three FaceTime connections with Ammi/Uncle, Sumit Mamu, Aman Mami and Nani, Daddy, Vir, Sofia, you and I at home, you cut the cake! :)

I was so glad we were all together despite the distance.

You have yet another celebration with your friends on Saturday, April 18th, where you'll be experimenting with Slime. Should be fun!

Kabir, you have grown all of a sudden, and I mean really grown. There is a huge difference from 3 to 4. Creativity when it comes to coming up with stories, has gone way up. You are using big words and phrases like "demolished", "exactly", "just in time", "beginning", "Can you believe that?!" and so many more. You were telling me that you can "apply brakes on your bike just in time"! Haha, I crack up on your narrations.

Listen to this, it's is from today, your 4 year check up with Dr. Yoo.

Dr. Yoo: Do you like watching TV
You: Yes
Dr. Yoo: What do you watch?
You: Kids TV
Dr. Yoo: What program do you like to watch on Kids TV?
You: The long one! The one that is very long, fifteen minutes long! :)

You get screen time once a week, so all you want is to watch a long episode of whatever you choose. I don't blame you but it was hilarious! :)

You have been writing numbers and letters and also practicing writing your name. You can find magnet letters and make your's and Vir's name.

You sometimes also read to Vir! :)

 

Legos continue to be your your favorite. You are working with both Duplos and Juniors. You really are building some very impressive pieces, from castles to trucks to towers to bunk beds...It's pretty cool!

These days, it is all about "cops" and "bad guys" and "enemies". Tons of stories around catching the bad guys.

You also love books. I have been creating your day plan and incorporating new titles for reading each day. I enjoy planning your reading and activities.

It is fun to see you grow and interact. You are very assertive and sometimes, it feels like, you are running our household! If not now, you soon will! :)

You love to swim and have been taking lessons which are going very well. You will also be starting soccer later this month.

Great year, Kabir. I wish your curiosity stays with you and you learn a lot. I wish you can choose right vs. wrong. I wish you are respectful to others. I wish you are always surrounded by loved one and I wish you are happy and healthy always. I wish you the very best, sweetheart!

I love you so very much!
Mama

It's been a week!

Vir, can you believe, today, it's been a week since you were born?!? How time flies! :)

Nani made halwa to celebrate this special day! Can you tell how happy we are to have you in our lives?!? :)

This is how your week looked like. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. :)

At the hospital the day after you were born.

Ready to go home! Yes, you passed the car seat challenge and all other tests and we got the discharge papers! Yay!! :)

 Welcome home! :)

My two favorite boys! LOVE the love between you two! :)

Kabir trying to amuse you with some dinosaur sounds! We are all dinosaurs in this house and he decides who is which one, it changes everyday. Some days I am the T-REX and some days Pteranodon  :) You are the small dinosaur for now. :)

Visit to your pediatrician the next day.

The day after; just chilling! My friend Upaasna came to see you!

 Today, was nice and sunny. How could I have passed on the opportunity to take some shots in the beautiful sunlight? :)

While we were at the hospital, the balloons and the flowers came as a sweet surprise from my awesome team at Concur! :)

In the evening, with the family! 

My favorite trio!

And the trio is back! :) If you look carefully, K is playing with your head! :) He wants to play with you all the time! :)

Check this out! It was a pure co-incidence and I realized it much later after I dressed you up this morning, that Kabir wore the same outfit when he was 1 week old! That's him with Ammi and you with Nani on your respective1 week birthdays! :) How cool is that and what a great co-incidence! :)

Happy 1 week birthday, Sweetie! I love you so much!

A big god bless!

Mama