Happy birthday to me

This week, I celebrated my birthday . The theme for this year starting from my birthday is  " Take time for yourself and do things your hearts desires for".

My long time friend and her family from seattle planned to visit us on their trip to Portland . Going by the theme along with my friends visit, I decided to make two tiered cake for my birthday.  I came up with a simple plan in my head about what I wanted to do. I have wanted to make a cake with white fondant and royal icing flowers.  But went with buttercream icing instead of fondant.

I made homemade royal icing . It took me around 3 - 3.5 hrs to make the royal icing petunias and lilies .  Made them five days in advance so they can dry well.

For lower tier, I made a 10*4 lemon cake(again) with apricot apple filling. For top-tier, I made 6*4 german chocolate cake with pecan coconut filling(I had left overs from NR's birthday cake). It took me another 4 hrs to bake , prepare butter cream icing and frost the cake.

I had a couple of 18 hour days this week. I managed to do everything after NR went to bed.

The cake turned out pretty well (looks like grand wedding cake) and tasted too good. Two of my friends family came home and we had simple celebration. NR had good time with my friend's family especially with their 14 yr old son. I might be having a house guest this summer (my friend's son for a week) and I am sure NR is going to enjoy his company immensely.

This year birthday turned out well thanks to friends taking time to visit me on my birthday unlike most birthday where only two of us celebrated it alone. While growing up in India, I used to have a grand summer birthday celebration every year with tonnes of family and friends .  The downside of life here is you are "all alone" without any family  for every damn celebration. We always invite friends for every festivals just to have the feel of  family around you. Friends are family in expats life .

NR and hubby gave lovely cards . I loved CB's card .

For the women of my Dreams

" The first time I saw you , I somehow knew you'd be important in my life. In my eyes,you were beautiful in so many ways. There was no doubt, that I wanted to spend forever with you  and when we joined our lives, things were every bit as good as I hoped. I didn't want anything to change. But... life is full of changes and not every day can be paradise. Together we've faced reality, the day-to-day "bumps in the road" that test every couple's patience . I've seen you in many challenging situations and the miracle is you're even more beautiful than I thought possible. You are sweet, thoughtful , strong, supportive and a partner everyone would want on their side.  Not only are you the woman of my dreams but you're also my best friend and as time passes, I fall more deeply in love with you "

Thanks CB for such lovely card(s) for my birthdays for last 19 years .

Friends Forever

It's been seven months since my friends V and her son died. Not a single day went by without thinking about her. I am no longer crying but still having  a choked-up feeling when I think of her and her son R.

I cannot bring myself to go to salon to get my facials ever since she died . I just booked one last month but cancelled the apt the day before sighting some silly reason that I don't even remember. Memories of her is making it harder. Especially after NR's birth , I went regularly every month to get a facial followed by an amazing  massage for my back pain. No, she is not a professional masseuse but did that special thing for me . She took care of me like a good sister.

My birthday is coming up soon and I miss going to her house to get all glammed up. I am shedding tears, as I type this post.  I have accepted that she is no longer with us, but silly me wanted to give her a hug like we usually do. I miss talking to you V and hearing your sweet voice saying "haooooooo" in a typical Gujarati accent. You are our  guardian angel now.  Love you always.

It's hard to get a best friends as we grow older. I was fortunate to get a good friend in my adult life though it lasted just for a decade. Hope you are happy and safe and having the best time with R betah.

All time Fav Tamil Movie songs – List 2

1. Yamunai Yatriley

    

2. Enthil Nenjil Neengatha (Film : Kalaiijan)

    

3. Ennavale Ennavale (Film: Kadhalan)

    

4. Malargaley Malargaley (Film: Love Birds)

   

5.  Netru Illatha Matram (Film: Pudhiya Mugam)

      

6. Varam thantha samikku (Sippikul muthu)

   

7. Malaare Mounama (Film: Karna)

   

8. Valayosai (Film: Sathya)

    

9. Ilaiya Neela (Film: ) Lovely lyrics

   

10. Anthi Mazhai (Film : Raja Parvai)

      

All time Fav Tamil Movie songs - List 1

List of my fav tamil movie songs in no particular order except for the first two.

1. En Iniya Pon Nilavey (Film: Moodupani)



2. Ninaivoo oru paravai (Seegappu Rojakkal)



3. Katrin Enthan Geetham (Film: Johnny)

   

4.  Kanne kalaimaane (Film:Moondraam pirai - Kanne kalaimaane)

     

5. Deiveegaragam (Film:Ullasa Paravaigal)

   

6. Mounamana Neram - Salangai Oli

  

7. Parathavizhi(Film: guna)

    

8. Kathalin Deepam Onru (Film:)

    

9. Nilaave Vaa (Film:Mouna Ragam) This is CB's fav song too

     

10. Thalaalaattuthe Vaanam (Film: Kadal Meengal)

       

Mothers Day 2010

Mothers Day went like usual Sundays. I get to sleep like a baby every weekend thanks to dear CB. We have started ordering take out lunches on Saturdays and on some Sundays for past couple of months. Its working really well for me ; ). I enjoy a lazy weekend mornings.  

We visited zoo on mother’s day. NR had his first official meltdown in the zoo because he panicked when I changed his diapers in the restroom.  Since it was his nap time he went into his trademark "non stop crying mode" and got the attention of thousands of visitors in the Zoo. We decided to get back home and the moment we reached the gates, he stopped crying and was back to happy self watching cars go by.  He slept during the drive. Thank god Zoo is just close to our home and we make regular jaunt to the zoo and Rose garden during summers.

And what's up with all SAHM VS Working mom debates in the blogs. Will it ever end? Deciding to be SAHM or a working mother is every couple's personal decision.  End of discussion . 

For all the moms out there, what ever status you chose to be SAHM or working mom just do it with whole heart. You took a decision for a reason, so stick with that reasoning. Don't ever go thru the guilt path. If guilt takes over your sleep, you have the power to change it. Changing status is at your disposal. It is easy just like that so don’t sweat over your decision.One of the commenter blamed her working friend for her friend's kid’s speech delay. Who are these girls/women.?. Do they really read any book on child development? Kids having delay reaching milestones had nothing to do with SAHM or working mom status people. It just happens no matter if you around or not around your kids. 

I also read the comment by a girl pointing out that lot of friends from her community send their kids to India to be raised by their parents.  Most of my mother’s generation working moms did exactly this, since there was no day care available. It was win-win situation for all party involved and it prevented lot of child abuse (both physical, emotional and sexual) by servants or non family members. Kids turned out well being raised by grandparents me including. I had best baby/toddlerhood times, thanks to my ammuma, appupa, chitha and maternal uncles. To this day, I cherish those memories.As long as the grand parents are willing to take this huge responsibility with open hearts  and  parents involved can take this decision guilt free, I personally don't see any issues here.  If given that option, I personally wouldn't want my parents to slog at their old age while I worked for the doe and took an easy route. Again this is purely my personal decision/opinion.

 BTW, I got couple of gifts for mother’s day and as usual I have decided to keep just one.

 

Return of Seamstress - Part 2

I started sewing home essentials like curtains , table runner , holiday decoration etc. I 'd sewn beautiful dresses for girls as gifts. Then last few years when CB was working for MS in Seattle while I worked for Intel in portland my sewing hobby came to complete halt due to other priorities in life.  I used my machine for mending or to do some patch up work .

My sewing got a kick start thanks to NR. This little kuttan doesn't like wearning the hat  (like the ones from the hospital). Though he was just two weeks old he always removed his cap from his head. I used to wonder how ? Then I caught the culprit in action. He will turn his head left to right and after twenty plus turns the cap will come out of his head : ).  Then and there we knew that we have naughty and mischievous guy in our hands. My sister who came to US when NR was six weeks old could not believe this. My sister and niece used to wait to watch this and enjoy the sweet trick by this little fellow.

NR suffered from congestion and needed a hat to keep him warm as new born  and during summer when we had our A/C on at nights. Since it was summer I was not able to buy the winter hats like this so ended up sewing one for NR. 

Last christmas , I wanted to start the tradition of giving some hand made gifts to NR friend Sherry (My best friend's son who is 8 months older than NR).  I managed to sew 3 ponchos during the second week of Dec 2008 .  The sewing part took 45  minutes to an hour and cutting may be 15 -20 minutes. I purchased dresses for two sets of girls and boys during Nov but everything had to wait because of this project. Though I finished the project on time, due to snow storms, I was not able to send them on time for christmas.

I packed everything and our good friend took time to send them to my friends on my behalf.  Hope they enjoyed this personal gift.

PS : This draft was written in Jan 2009 : )

Happy 2nd Birthday NR

NR turned 2 last month. The first call I received was from my periyappa informing me that temple is distributing food to everybody and the kurukkal (priest) came home to give the first prasad . I was pleasantly surprised and  felt very happy . My sweet and thoughtful younger sister had arranged for “Anna dhanam” for NR’s birthday in my favorite temple in Chennai. Only sisters can read our heart and thoughts right?. Here in US, we did the usual routine of visiting temple and church. Unfortunately church didn’t have the scheduled evening mass that day. 

My younger brother had a sudden business trip planned to US and arrived in New York around first week of April. He planned to visit us, a week after NR’s birthday from New York. Since Mamu was the chief guest we decided to have NR’s birthday party a week after his real birth date on the day mamu came home.

We had his birthday party at home this time .We had NR’s favorite “Go Diego Go” birthday party theme.  We arranged the table with Diego themed decorations, wall hangings complete with cups and plates. We invited few of NR friends (well our friends with kids of his age). 

I made “Go Diego Go” themed - 10 inch double layer round lemon cake with coconut pecan filling. I made kids friendly white and chocolate butter cream frosting. When I checked the web for Diego themed cake, almost all the cake had green frosting. I decided to go light on using food colors and decided a butter cream yellow as a background. I baked and frosted the cake two days before the party.  Just an hour before the party, I completed the final decorations on the cake. 

I cooked the dinner at home. I served Indian style Vegetable puff pastry as an appetizer. Main course included Indian style Vegetable fried rice served with Thai Red curry gravy with hard-boiled eggs and potatoes, Idlis with Tomato and Kothamalli chutney, home-made Puris with  Peas Paneer masala. Since there were dozen adults and few kids we ordered chicken pizza for kids along with other party favorites for kids. 

The kids took home goody bags filled with Diego themed party favors. NR received suitcase full of gifts mostly dress and loads of books from his dearest chitha (my younger sister).

My baby boy is Two

I couldn't imagine how fast the time flies. It's feels like yesterday celebrating his first birthday.  As parents we went thru some testing times but faith carried us thru and gave us lot of strength. We also realised the power of hope and positive thoughts.

Baby , I am not at good at putting words to my feeling  neither is your dad. But I am sure you can feel our love with all the thousand kisses, hugs, I love U whispers I give you everyday.  Your dad thinks his only purpose is in life is to serve you , love you and entertain you. I can see the deepest bond you both share. His eyes beaming with  pride when he admires every small gestures you give.  In the last two years since you are born, I have seen him  pushing away all the best opportunities he got with career and sacrificing every single opportunity of attending the top class technical conference to be with us shows/tell  me that "you matter the most" and nothing else.

Our careers, goals, dreams and personal desires have taken a back seat because you are most important to us. Hope you cherish this feeling in your heart forever when you grow up. We may not be having a jet setting high flying  job even in future, but seeing you feeling warm, happy and secure tells us we are doing right thing for you baby. Everything else can wait.

I love the way you listen to  music especially the traditional carnatic music.  I can see your good taste  . That special smile you give me every time when your hear me sing  the last line of your fav lullaby "Ennunnikrishnan Janicho, Parilingane Vesham Dharicho" fills my heart with such joy I cannot express in words. I  (and our family) see "my appupa" in you. Amma is hoping and praying that her secret wish of you becoming a best musician will come true because amma feels music reaches every soul in this world. I want you to pursue things in  life which fills your soul and heart.

The blessings from our family  specially your grandparents would guide you in your life. Amma and Appa is wishing you a very happy, peaceful, long  and healthy life . 

BTW, Amma and Appa are equipping themselves with loads of patience to face your terrible two tantrums and melt downs. So go ahead and be a typical two year old boy NR : ).

Happy Birthday to my dear Kochu monu, unni kuttan NR.