The artist

Anushka is beginning to learn the art of flattery, isn't that amazing, a 16 month old knowing how to be diplomatic and get her way, babies are so clever.
This is what happened today - I was lying on the sofa and started reading a book which apparently had a very attractive cover page and that caught her attention immediately. Usually she rushes to me and starts saying "Mine Mine" and I bluntly refuse saying "No Mine, Its Mine" and turn down her request and after a few attempts she leaves me alone and goes back to what she was doing. Today however she chose to approach this differently. Having learnt from her past experience she decided that some flattery would probably get her what she wanted. So she slowly crawled up to me and then stood by my side. She had the most disarming smile on her face, then she titled her head slightly and said "Dada" maintaining that smile, looking straight at me and not letting me know that it was really the book she was after. I said "Hi Shona" and she repeated "Dada.." As I continued to read the book she respectfully stood by and peeked over my shoulder trying to read it. She slowly started touching it saying "Wow".. and then wanted to flip some pages and finally she could not take it anymore and started with the "Mine ?".. Mine, Mine..
Of course I let her have the book this time, how could I not after all the efforts she had put into this !

Not the bug again!

Another post from a distraught mama....

Few weeks ago, I wrote about how well you were adjusting to this new environment, maybe; just maybe, I said it a little too early. You were down with the bug; cold and cough and a HORRIBLE stomach upset. You were going to potty Four times in a day and your stools did not look good. Your cold and cough too was really bad and you sounded all stuffed up. We took you to this doc (I like this doc the best, as he never rushed to prescribe you anti-biotic) who knew that we are not from here and then went on saying that you are just adjusting to this new environment and the bacteria! He did not show any concern regarding your diarrhea; he said that it happens, nothing to be alarmed about. How can I not be? Four or five times in the potty. Anyways he gave you some natural medications and sent us home.

Somehow the doctors here aren’t as gentle as the doctors back in US. In the US, your doctor Sarah took her time to examine you and would woo you if you showed a sign of discomfort. Over here, nothing of that! They are in a hurry to examine you; their touch is just too rough on a gentle baby’s skin. Being a pediatrician, how can they be so rough? Your dada says that they have to be efficient over here, there are just too many patients out there waiting, hence this type of handling. If only I could explain that to you. The looks you give me when someone is touching you like that; is as if you are telling me, “Mama, I don’t like this, why aren’t you stopping it? I wish I could tell you something; but what? That what he is doing is for your own good? How can it be good if you are crying? Oh baby, mama wished too that the doctors here be just a little gentler; but all I can do is to be there for you when you cry, to hold and comfort you and to tell you that it will be over soon.