Dude, you just turned 6!

Dear Lil Dumpling,

Before I start this letter, I need to grab the tissues, lots of them!

For the past one month all you have been talking about was about your birthday and as exciting as it is for you to finally approach another birthday, I can’t help but wish time moved little slower. Although there were times where I felt the clock was ticking very slowly, but I can’t deny the fact that these were the shortest 6 years of my life…

As they say, the days are longer but the years are shorter and it is more evident to me as a mother of little boy who just turned 6 today. I feel that the years are flying as I desperately try to bottle up your little quirks that I love so much. I don’t ever want to forget how you pause in between the things you are doing to tell me how much you love me. I wish I could bottle your smile, your innocence and have your small hands wrapped around my neck forever. I’m not ready for this. I guess I will never be ready for this…

1, 2, 3, 4, 5... High FIVE!

Dear Lil Dumpling,

You will be 5 in few days. One, two, three, four, five! 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5! All those five fingers of your not so little hands. Whichever way I count or how many times I count, it’s the same. 5 years old! Why are you in such a hurry to grow up so fast? Can we slow down a little bit? A wee bit? Pretty please!

I know I say the same thing every year, but its true isn’t it? You rather seem to be in a hurry to grow up and I just want to pause the ticking of clock. At this time of the year your Appa and I can’t help but talk about the time you were born. We recall the day when I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance all alone while your dad followed like a mad man behind the wheels. My well researched and hand typed birth plan which took most part of 7 months was torn to pieces as your dad signed the form for emergency C-section. I was scared at the last minute changes to my perfect pregnancy period as it abruptly came to an end. The fear so powerful that it made me breathless took over as I prayed for the safe delivery of a bub whom I loved more than myself. The doctors and the nurses assured me and told me not to worry, but it was the worry lurking in your dad’s eyes that made me take a deep breath and smile reassuringly at him. But the anticipation of meeting you, the one who moved, rolled, kicked and somersaulted in my belly for all of 9 months and one day was something I have never experienced before.

And you turned 4!

Just like that…
I blinked my eyes and you turned 4.
I ruffled your silky long hair and you turned 4.
I kissed the boo-boo on your knees and you turned 4.
I gently touched your scraped knees and you turned 4.
I wiped the tears rolling down your cheeks and you turned 4.
I pressed my nose to your button nose and you turned 4.
I tickled your tummy and you turned 4.
I smiled at your silly antics and you turned 4.
I laughed to your sillier jokes and you turned 4.
I saw you become daddy’s boy and you turned 4.
I picked up pieces of my broken heart and you turned 4.
I blinked back the tears and you turned 4.
I heard you calling me from far and you turned 4.
I saw you running towards me with open arms and you turned 4.
I picked you up in the air and you turned 4.
I swirled around holding you close to my heart and you turned 4.
I danced with you to our special music and you turned 4.
I saw you smile down at me with delight and you turned 4.
I felt you planting a deep kiss on my lips and you turned 4.
I felt the joy of being a mother to such kindred spirit and you turned 4.
Puff… no it’s not a dream… I am not dreaming… You really turned 4!
… Just like that, you turned 4!!!

Dearest Little Dumpling, 

FOUR! My little baby, you are now 4 years old! Wasn’t it just yesterday when you were the gurgling and giggling baby giving me the most beautiful gummy smile? When did that baby turn into this bundle of energy that I am finding difficult to match with?!

Summer Days...With Lil Dumpling!

Because it’s summer and the memories are just waiting to happen.
~ Unknown

So it's 10th day of my year long sabbatical and to tell you frankly, I have never been busier than this before! Few told me that they will expect me to post more recipes as I will have more time on hand to cook, photograph and blog the recipes! I just smiled and looked at my lil one who was sleeping in my arms, the only quiet in our home :) Once he is up, there is no way I get to do things I please ;)

Now after all these days, there is not a moment I can call my own. But I am not complaining! I feel blessed to wake up every morning and not worry about meeting project deadlines at work and other hundred things that revolves around work. I wake up with a smile on my face and look forward to spending many happy hours with Lil Dumpling. We colour, draw, learn our numbers and letters, talk non-stop about bugs, dinosaurs, go for long walks, play hide and seek, laugh more, sing songs, read stories, make our own stories, dance silly, cook together, talk a lot, make bubbles, splash water and create many happy memories! I am eternally thankful to get this chance to relive my childhood through Lil Dumpling.

Goodbye Terrible Twos and Welcome Troublesome Threes! Happy 3rd Birthday to My Darling Lil Dumpling....

My dearest, darling, little menace Lil Dumpling,

You are going to be THREE this Sunday! Let’s get over with the cliché first, “How time flies!” Holy macaroni, when did you turn 3?! Seriously!!! ~sigh~

As you leave behind the year of Terrible Twos and enter the year of Troublesome Threes, your parents can’t help but feel proud for the little feisty fighter they are blessed with! As we see you, our little brave boy, hopping around the room dancing to the music playing in his mind, we feel the love for this little brat gushing from our hearts and threatening to flood our eyes! A wise person once told me that when your heart filled to the brim with love for someone, it is quite natural for it to overflow in the form of pearly tears! That wise person is now in different time zone, thousands of miles away eagerly waiting to cuddle you, her very first grandchild. You, our Lil dumpling, have shown us the true meaning of our hearts beating outside our bodies!

Sprouted Peas Dal Recipe | Kid Friendly Dal Recipes

Learn how to make Sprouted Peas Dal ~ Sprouted green and yellow peas cooked in sweet and sour split pigeon peas lentil gravy

It was a dull day yesterday. What looked a promising week full of sunshine and high temperature; it was dull, grey, cheerless and just blah! I didn’t sleep on previous night and the light headache that I woke up to gave me company through out the day and became a really-big-headache kind of headache by the time we reached home! And the fact that I missed 2 successive days of my exercise regime to get in shape and beat hubby at bike race just added more guilt and bruises to my pride.

One Sunny Weekend...

Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.

~ Henry James

And Lil Dumpling Turns TWO!!!

Dearest Lil Dumpling, 

Second birthday already? I can't believe how fast you are growing up. You will be TWO tomorrow! Yes, T-W-O!!! I have pinched my hands some zillion times to see if I am dreaming but the red spots and pain tells different story… You are TWO!!! OK, I need to stop repeating it… But you are TWOOOOO!!!! You will be a superstar in no time!