Dear Dot

On our drive back the other day we heard you sing "let it go, let it go" at the top of your lungs in the back seat. Of course our hearts Froze (get it?) imagining the downhill slope you were now on given the first song you sang outside of your usual rhymes and Christmas carols was a song out of a silly animated movie! (We love animated movies, and this one just isn't that nice) 

You will realise our shock to full extent when you grow up and learn of our music tastes.

So we immediately came home and played the song from Frozen to see if you identified it and then we would interrogate you to figure out where you learnt it. But when we played it you said you didn't know the song. 

So we let it slip as you singing some other made up song like you always do. 

But the incident stayed with me and I decided to tech you a non rhyme song last night. So as we lay in bed I sang...

Me: you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are grey. You never know this, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away.

Dot: (in tune) and never go back to him!

Me: (gulp?!?! Seriously hoping you aren't Sharukh Khan from Darr)

Dear Dot

Dot: Mummy, you Silly. I Billy.

Dear Dot

Today you held a tub of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream in your tiny palms, your long fingers wrapped around the freezing tub, shaking in excitement, your stare steady. You murmured, "Hello there, nice to see you!"

Dear Dot - My wish for you this Christmas

You weren't supposed to go to Daycare this morning and spend time with dadi at home instead. But I got a call this morning saying Gosia will be coming over for an hour this morning, so you were dressed immediately and driven to daycare bearing gifts for everyone.

When you opened the door and saw Gosia standing there, I felt your body stiffen in my arms with surprise and what I can only imagine were a hundred overwhelming emotions and questions for your little mind to absorb. There must have been surprise, love, excitement, disbelief and heaven alone knows what else bubbling over in that little mind. The only glimpse of this to the world outside was the sparkle in your eyes and your flushed face. I am sure there were butterflies in your tummy but you are too young to fully understand that.

It took you a minute or five to compose yourself and then the floodgates of love and excitement opened. You cuddled and kissed her, held her hand and took her away to show her all the things you had made since she left.

I could barely hold back my tears because this morning I saw how much you can love and how much relationships and people you love mean to you. You showed to me another new facet of you.

I'll always look forward to moments like these when I learn a little bit more about you.

And my wish for you this Christmas is that you keep your heart filled with this love and your mind full with fond memories and experiences shared with people you love as you grow. It will not be easy to experience such unadulterated, unconditional emotions when you are older maybe, but my wish for you is that you try and succeed. 

Meaningful conversations

Dot: My did it!

Rahul: No, it's I did it.

Dot: My did it!

Rahul: Yes you did. But you say I did it.

Dot: I did it?

Rahul: Yes! I did it.

Dot: NO! MY DID IT! 

Stop taking credit for what Dot did, Rahul. 

Dear Dot

A lot has happened since my last post. 

We went to India for three weeks where you were spoilt rotten by your dida, dadu, dadi and dadaji. 

Here is a list of things you probably won't remember happened on this trip. 

1. Big dadi knitted you 10 more colourful sweaters. Everyone at daycare is jealous of your winter collection.

2. Dad and I went to goa for a week for Priyo's wedding and had the most fantabulous time. You stayed back with dadu dida in Vashi.

3. Dadu dida took you to the mall almost every evening where you drove cars and rode on the toy train. The train driver knows you now because you went so often. You also know the songs that were played on the train and you sing it all the time. A LOT!

4. They also took you to ride horses. You particularly liked a big black horse. I thought you would be apprehensive about sitting on a horse but you thoroughly enjoyed it. 

5. You stood in front of the toaster to catch the bread when it jumped out. You can proudly claim you caught your own breakfast. 

6. You went to delhi for diwali where you had a lot of fun with dadi, dadaji, big dadi and dad. You were particularly feisty while lighting fuljhadis. 

7. You wore kurta pajamas for diwali and bhai dhuj and looked adorable. 

8. You went swimming in the club house pool and had a lovely time with the tortoise float we bought you in Goa (because we felt guilty for all of two minutes for leaving you behind).

9. Dadi and dadaji bought you a new tricycle which will be coming to London soon with dadi.

10. You weren't the most pleasant co-passenger on the flight to and back from India. But we understand you are only two and a half years old and a 9 hour flight is fairly long. So we still love you. However this behaviour won't fly next year. 

11. You didn't get through one of the schools you interviewed for. We don't know why yet. This made dad and me very sad and hurt and angry because it was our first rejection as parents. But we will learn from this and get better because we know you are a great kid and you will be successful and happy wherever you go. 

We are back in London now. You are talking a lot more. Your favourite word is why. And all we have to say about that is why? 

You also sing a lot. Which is great. 

You have a very active imagination and are always coming up with games to amuse yourself (and sometimes try our patience) but when it comes to "what did you have for dinner?" Your answer is always "chocolate cake". 

So all in all, you are turning into a great little guy I like to hang out with. Good job. 

Alo-chhaya

Lucky Dot, you have a beautiful room overlooking our garden. 

This morning we played with shadows instead of building blocks.