Conversations and Tidbits

Conversation with Grandma 

Once Appu had an episode of indigestion, got sick and threw up. He was quizzing grandma about what had just transpired with him, when she decided to pull his leg and tease him a little.

Grandma: Puke comes out through the nose, Appu.

Appu: No Ammu, it comes out through the mouth!

Appu (adding an afterthought): ....because food goes into our mouths, Ammu. 

Grandma: But Appu, when we eat, the food goes in through our nose!

Appu: Noooo Ammuuu, we can’t eat with nose because nose does not have tongue!

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One day, when Appu was being unbearably wild, I snapped.

Mama: I guess you'd like a new, different Mama then?

Appu (screams): Noooooooooooooooooooo! 

Mama: Why not?

Appu: Because that’s bad manners!

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We were reading Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree, where the generous tree becomes an enabler by giving a selfish little boy all that it could practically give of itself... apples, branches, logs ,and so on. We were peering at the illustrations and I was asking random questions..

Mama: Appu, does the tree have money to give the boy?

Appu (emphatically): No mama.

Mama: Why so?

Appu: Because the tree does not have pockets.

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Books we read today:

1. Little Blue Truck by Alice Shertle
2. The Berenstain Bears New Baby by Stan and Jan Berenstain
3. The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter by Stan and Jan Berenstain
4. The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor by Stan and Jan Berenstain
5. The Berenstain Bears Clean House by Stan and Jan Berenstain
6. Look Out Kindergarten, Here We Come by Nancy Carlson

Flurried, Hurried, Harried, But Am Lovin' It!

On some days, we find ourselves in a reading frenzy; the mommy reading books out aloud, one after the other, to the two kiddos: the hyper inquisitive toddler, also the intense listener, who is with it even as he twists and squirms and stands on his head, managing all along in getting mommy to repeat lines/ pages/ books over 'n over again until he is darn pleased; and the trusting infant with the sweetest smile ever, who stuffs all ten fingers inside one tiny mouth, locking his eyes on mommy and looking on wide-eyed and incredulous; listening even as mommy dear plods on, reading endless books with bleary eyes and raspy voice, though she herself doesn't quite comprehend why or what the mad scramble is for. 

At the fag end of it, the toddler starts clamoring for cartoons and the infant keeps grunting drowsily before promptly falling asleep. Even so, the intimacy of this fervid bookish exchange, while it is still barely a monologue with the wee little ones, proves to be so deeply satisfying, so oddly addictive, all at once.

And that is how, right now, past midnight, in this confounded state where she doesn't know what she is getting herself into, mommy has resolved that she's going to write down exactly what she's reading to the kiddos, every single day, for the rest of the year. {Gulp}

Today, we read:

1. Corduroy: Lost and Found by Don Freeman
2. Thank You Bear by Greg Foley
3. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
4. llama llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
5. Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells
6. Max's Dragon Shirt by Rosemary Wells
7. Max Cleans Up by Rosemary Wells
8. Let's Look: Trucks and Diggers (DK Publishing)
9. A Mule Named Sugar Cube (Scholastic)
10. The Thing That Went Thump (Scholastic)
11. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
12. Diya Gets Angry and The Race by Aparna Nambiar
13. Things That Go (DK Publishing)
14. Happy Hippo, Angry Duck by Sandra Boynton

Am I Big, Mommy?

Finally, I have an answer to the question that bothers you every waking hour:
"Am I BIG now, Mama?? When will I become big? Have my toes grown big today?"

Yes, yes, you are three today!!! And that makes you a BIG boy! Okay, only somewhat. Not anywhere as big as you would like to be, considering that you not only refuse to believe you are (only) three, you also insist on telling people you are "eleven"!! You little imp, being three is not bad at all. It'll be fun, I swear. Truckloads of fun. Especially when you have your favorite "toy" around for company - a baby brother!

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, my adorable one!

As a fun birthday present, here's a compilation of your reactions to our oft-read picture books, which includes, apart from the countless "WHY's," your various casual observations - whether inane, funny, or profound. I hope you have fun reading this after many more birthdays, when your toe becomes BIG and your perspective gets "BIG"ger too.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess
***The adorable but stealthy Cat in the Hat meets stiff opposition from the fish in the pot. The fish, wary of the cat's plans of playing indoors says "No, no! You should not play in the house!" ***

This line caught your attention as early as 14 months, and if we quiz you with: "And the fish said...?"

And you'd respond: "No No!"
And this was probably the first line in a book that you learnt to complete. You loved imitating the fish in the pot saying "No, No!" to the Cat in the Hat so much that you christened the fish itself as Nono! Somewhere along, after countless reads, the lines blurred and the Cat in the Hat himself became your Nono!

Stories by Eloise Wilkins
***A set of nine classic stories ***

Of which your fave is a boy named Timmy who eats, drinks, dresses up, takes bath.. all by himself.
The illustrations in the book seems so real and inviting, I once caught you trying to scrape off the delicious-looking deep red pomegranate seeds off the page! :)







If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff/ Felicia Bond
***What happens if you give a mouse a cookie? He'll ask for some milk to go with it!***
Appu (after the mouse flaunts his milk mustache): "What is a milk mustache?" "Milk mustache nu paranjal enda?"
When I point out your own milk mustache after you drink milk, you run to the mirror to take a closer look and then can't stop smiling silly :))

While eating golibaje, a very happy Appu yells: "If.You.Give.A.Mouse.A. Golibaje!"




Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
***An interactive picture book where a bus driver, who while stepping out for a break, requests the reader to not let the wily, persistent pigeon drive the bus.***
Appu: Where did bus driver go?
Mama: Duh!
Appu: Why can't we let the pigeon drive the bus?????
Mama: Err..
Appu: Is it because the pigeon will poop inside the bus??
Mama: Aha!

How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

***A picture book about dinosaurs tidying up their rooms while their very human Mamas n Papas proudly stand by the door and applaud.***

Appu (Pointing to the door that looks puny in comparison to the enormous dinosaur): "How does the dinosaur get into his room? Through that door??" (Dinosaur engane ee room-il vannu?)


Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
***A classic bedtime read with rich illustrations of the great green bedroom.***

Mama (pointing to the picture of the cow jumping over the moon): Why is this cow jumping over the moon?
Appu: Because he loves to jump, Mama!
(Cowinu jump cheyyan ishtaanu Mama!)
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Pointing to each of the three little bears sitting in the chairs, you insist on naming them as: "Papa Bear, Mama Bear and  Baby Bear" in the order of their sizes.
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Appu (After staring at the tiny toyhouse in the great green room with a longing):
"Can Appu enter the toyhouse if he becomes a toy, Mama?"
("Appu toy aayal toyhouse-il kayaran pattu vo Mama?")

That's Appu's Story

To save my bulging tummy from thumps and punches aka Appu's forever-kicking feet, I remove him from the family bed to the toddler bed for naps/bedtime. The fellow doesn't like it, but is somehow very understanding. His only demand though, as he lays alone on the toddler bed, turns out to be super sweet: "Appunde kunji kai pidikk Mama" or "Appunde kunji kaal pidikk Mama" ("Hold my baby hands, Mama" or "Hold my baby feet, Mama"). I enfold his tiny hands and feet in my hands and  slowly massage them. Beauty sleep empowers his eyes and he drifts to some other pleasant sanctuary. The tranquility on his little face - I can stare at it forever - brings an amazing sense of peacefulness into mine. The sight puts a twinkle in my eyes, and a smile on my lips; how beautiful the heavenly halo that encircles a mother and her child!

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Sob Stories

Appu narrates plenty of sob stories about his 'unfair' parents and their parenting. He puts on a funny downcast expression throughout and always finishes his doleful narration with the same fine dialogue. Which never fails to tug at our heartstrings:

 "Adanu Appunte story Veenu" / And that's Appu's story, Veenu!

For instance, we forbade him to grab juice boxes from the fridge, so he'd spin a yarn thus:

Appu fridgeinnu juice eduthappo, Achan Appunte kainnu juice valichittu "No more juice" ennu paranju.... Adaanu Appunte story, Veenu!  

When Appu took some juice from the fridge, Achan snatched it away from Appu, and said "No more juice!" That's Appu's story, Veenu!

He loves tub time, he could spend an eternity this way. Sometimes he likes to guzzle tap water, and he's so sneaky about this, we've to step in and threaten to call the doctor when he drinks the dirty water. So he built a yarn around that situation:

Appu tub innu puratho erangiappo Achan vannittu tap off cheydu. Enittu Appu tap vellum kudichappol, Mama doctore vilichu  appointment edukkumnnu paranju. Adu Appunu isthalla. Adaanu Appunte story, Veenu.

When Appu steps out of the tub, Achan comes in and turns off the tap. And when Appu drinks tap water, Mama says she'll call the doctor and fix an appointment for Appu. That Appu does not like. That's Appu's story, Veenu!

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Waiting for Jr.

Appu is awaiting the arrival of his new baby bro in July. I'm prepping him well ahead of time by regaling him with facts as well as made-up tales about his tiny companion-to-be. As a result, Appu's very very excited. He can't wait to meet little bro. So much that he constantly complains: "Mama, Junly venda, ippo venam.." July is too late, why can't baby come now? 

I had it rough in the first trimester, what with having to rush to the bathroom and barf after every meal. My previous pregnancy had a pretty similar pattern. So I had been expecting the whole nine yards to be less than pleasant this time, what with a two-year-old around. But guess who turned out to be mommy's biggest helper! 

If I even as much as start coughing, Appu would make sure he reaches the bathroom well ahead of me. The first time he did that, I wondered aloud why he'd just ran past me to the bathroom like a super fast bullet. Well, it turns out he was just rushing to bring out his little pink step-stool for me to sit comfortably. :) And when I am really sick and about to barf, it becomes a herculean task to make the pint-sized fella leave the bathroom. If I dare close the door on him, he'd of course stage a tantrum I'd remember for life. Of course he cannot reckon why I would want to shut the door - after all, all he just wants to make me feel good by patting (read hammering) my back with those tiny hands as I sit on his lil pink step-stool.

And if, overwhelmed by such luv, I start tearing up (damn hormones make me so emotional)  he'd bring in his face very very close to mine as if to thoroughly examine my expressions and coo: "Hmmmmm Mammmaa, endaa sad aaye?" (Mammmaa why are you sad?). When I begin smiling, he'd erupt into peals of laughter and then rush out to play...  

A toddler can be a bundle of contrasts; the little monster who was vexing me incessantly just moments ago can suddenly metamorphose into an angelic stress buster. There could hardly be a few things in life that are as gratifying and comforting as these ephemeral moments of absolute love from your tot. Now I couldn't be more delighted about having one more like him. :)

The Child is Father of the Man

We're nearing 2.5 years, and Appu's talk is slowly becoming more adult-like. He tries to reason like a grown-up, but his big boy talk is still peppered lavishly with babyish innocence, a combination so funny that these days I often catch myself laughing out heartily. Well, but not always. Of late, some other gems falling out of his little mouth are quick in shaming me to shreds...
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I keep bugging Appu with this question: "Appunu Achane aano Ammane aano kooduthal ishtam?" Who do you love more, Achan or Amma? 
And every single time, he responds thus:
"Achaneyum istham Ammaneyum ishtam" I love Achan and I love Amma.
And I would wonder how he's learnt to say that. Whenever I coax him to name just one of us, he dodges the question entirely. How on earth does he know that this is a question to be dealt with great tact, and that the nice thing to say here is that he loves both Achan and Amma just the same? I never knew diplomacy to be the forte of two-year-olds. 
So the other day, just for fun, I tried to coach him an answer. 
Appu, if someone asks you that question you must say: "Appunu Ammane aanu istham" Appu loves Amma more.
He looked away just for a moment and then said: "Achaneyum venam, Veenuuu..." 
We must include Achan too, Veenuuu...
Needless to say, I was pretty ashamed of myself!!
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Another morning, I was being rather slothful and reached out for a fragile porcelain cup instead of the usual unbreakable steel/ plastic ones to give Appu some milk. Now, Appu knew that the fragile ware was out-of-bounds for him. And clearly, that restriction had increased the allure of the cups in his little mind. Whenever we grown-ups drank from those forbidden cups, I always spied a longing in his eyes. So on that lazy day, as I poured milk into a porcelain cup, I thought, what's the harm in indulging my little boy just this once...
When I handed the cup of milk to him, he eagerly reached out for it, his eyes literally dancing with happiness. But just as quickly, he handed the cup back to me. 
Huh! I was quite surprised. What was going on? 
Appu soon made it all clear when he said: "Eee cup venda Veenuuu, potti povum." Not in this cup Veenuuu, it'll break...:)

"By Dr Suess, Random House, New York." Part 1

"By Dr Suess, Random House New York..." This is how Appu "reads" out the title page every time I open a book - any book, no matter which one, and never mind who the author is. That's how familiar he is with Dr Suess; things have gotten to the stage where he believes in the omnipresence of Dr. Suess as the rightful author of all the books in our house. And every time Appu says that, it gives me unfailing goosebumps, for I realize my little one is inheriting my adulation for Dr. Suess and his idiosyncratic verses; and as with all bibliophiles, I think that a love for books is the finest thing that your child could ever inherit. 


Dr Suess is such an adept juggler of words - whatever oddball characters he created and new wordage he coined, they never seem out of place, they always find resonance with his very young readers. So are his sketches, how brilliantly he gives expression to his verses with only squiggles and no-straight-lines! So today, while sifting through the mountain of Suess books that we read to pieces in the last two years, I was motivated to compile a list of Appu's favorite Dr. Suess titles. The below four are the very first ones that I read to him.

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? 
Dr. Suess's Book of Wonderful Noise
Series: Bright and Early Board Books
Publisher: Random House, New York
An endearing book about the peculiar Mr. Brown who can imitate any kind of sound that prevails in this world: that of a bee, an owl, a clock, thunderclaps, and even lightening! It's a great read-along, which Appu enjoyed making all the right noises to.

The Foot Book
Dr. Suess's Wacky Book of Opposites

Series: Bright and Early Board Books
Publisher: Random House, New York

A silly book about all kinds of feet that you would meet in this world, whether big feet or small feet or his feet or her feet, or pretty fur feet, you pretty much have all kinds of feet covered in here. The book talks in contrasts -big/small, high/low, up/down, so it's essentially a book of opposites, delivered with a spirited dose of Suessian wackiness. Silly or not, one thing is for sure, Appu learnt to tell his right foot from left after reading this book.

Dr. Suess's ABC
An Amazing Alphabet Book

Series: Bright and Early Board Books
Publisher: Random House, New York

As expected, Dr. Suess's ABC's are a little different. Move away, old-fashioned Ant and Apple, for here comes Aunt Ada's Alligator. C introduces you to the Camel on the Ceiling, M to the Mice in the Moonlight, Z the zany Zizzer-zazzer-zuzz. Appu enjoys this book with gusto and is most amused by the Lion who lolls around with a Lollipop! It is delightful how Dr Suess chucks away the conventional avatar of the ABCs and, with great artistry, works his distinctive magic with the alphabets. 

There's a Wocket in My Pocket 

Dr Suess's Book of Ridiculous Rhymes

Series: Bright and Early Board Books
Publisher: Random House, New York

The cover describes this as "Dr Suess's Book of Ridiculous Rhymes" and the book is nothing but. Whimsical at its best, it has a little boy introducing us to the fantastical characters that live alongside him, very obliviously, in the nook and crannies of his house.


Did you ever have a feeling that there's a ZAMP in the LAMP?
---------------- And lo, even before I can finish this line, Appu sprints towards the lamp and yanks at it, yelling LAMP, LAMP, LAMP --------------------


And a NINK in the SINK?
---------------- Appu makes a beeline towards the sink at this point -------------------- 

Sometimes, I'm quite certain there's a JERTAIN in the CURTAIN.
---------------- Whoosh! In the matter of a split second, Appu gets behind the curtains to pose as a certain JERTAIN! --------------------


Though the book may seem weird to those uninitiated to Suessian idiosyncrasies, it is one complete entertainer at my place. Initially, it was a little concerning if toddlers of Appu's age would get spooked by the wacky creatures that kept materializing from the cupboards, from under the chair, and in the shower. But I didn't have to fret, because as it turns out, for Appu, this book is like an extravaganza that takes him on an jolly adventure right within the confines of his house.