Manyu on Carpet Video

While mommy cooks I crawl around on the carpet playing with my various toys and tasting all kinds of stuff on the way:

Beware - I can crawl!

May 23, Ottawa - Mommy made a remarkable discovery today. Everyone knows I have been making little froggy hops with my legs. I stand on all fours and kick with my legs, lifting my hind quarters clean off the floor. But the my two hands have remained rooted to the ground. This has caused me to pitch forward face first onto the floor on some occasions.

But today I discovered what my two little hands are really meant for - to move forward. I now crawl forward to chase balls, rolling tapes, and to generally head towards people when I want to be lifted up. Mostly I head into the kitchen because I know mommy is there....

WHELIOR - Rice Cereal

As part of Anna Muhurtham I was given rice cereal. Everyone took turns feeding me.

I have some principles in life with the most important being the Food Transportation Principle. I am intolerant of even a split second delay in food transportation.

I made several attempts to grab the spoon myself and eat it.

WHELIOR - Banana

When we visited the ice-cream shop Le Cigale at Chelsea on our way to Lake Meech I naturally expected to be given all the ice-cream everyone was having, including all the ice-creams on display in the shop. After staring non-stop at people eating, and making moaning noises to remonstrate this unfair treatment I had to settle for a banana. This banana was part of a banana split that mommy devoured, leaving only a small percentage for me and daddy.

So will I like the banana?

Anna Muhurtham 2

Some more Anna Muhurtham photos:

Mommy and Oni dressed in traditional clothes while I recline in my kurtha and kacchey-panchey

Howcome daddy doesnt have to wear traditional clothes?

I am a little priest-in-training

Lalitha gave me this little mickey mouse bracelet for this happy occasion

Anna Muhurtham 1

May 14 - For the first time I was given rice. It was rice cereal mixed with breast milk. Mommy made me wait 6 months before giving me food, despite the fact that for the past month or so I had longingly looked at people when they used to eat infront of me. I was given a bath, made to wear nice clothes given to me by Kamala ajji (my great grandmother) and brought to me by Lalitha. Everyone sat down and did a prayer to god before I was given my food. I immediately gulped it down even as different people held the spoon to my mouth and took video.

Gimme, gimme, gimme...

It is soo funny... my outfit matches the sofa cover...

Enough smiling at the camera... may I have some service please?

A little rice cereal beard

Back from Montreal

May 13, Montreal - By the time we were finished at the Montreal Botanical Gardens it was time for us to drive back to Ottawa. We all had a long day. It was 7 pm. We had a 3 hour drive back to Ottawa.

And Manyu was fast asleep. This was a good thing because it was assumed that I would sleep throughout the journey. So before I tell you what happened on the way back first take a look at these happy faces BEFORE the drive.

Smiling Lalitha before the drive.

Mommy has no idea what will happen about 4 hours in the future

A contented Oni beams at the camera before we set out to Ottawa. Here is how we got back
Barely 5 min out of the botanical gardens - I started to cry. It is his wet pants says mommy. So we turn into a mall parking lot to get me diappers. (mommy had forgotten to pack extra)
7:30 pm - After 30 min. at the mall parking lot I refused to get into car seat. Finally I am cajoled into it and we depart.
8:00 - We cannot find 20 West thanks to excellent road signs and we end up on a bridge over the water. At this crucial moment I start to cry.
8:30 - We are stopped at a deserted parking lot on the bridge soothing me. It is a burp says mommy.
9:00 - Return on the bridge and trying to find the elusive 20 West when I cry again, and we turn onto a deserted road to sooth me. Oni marvels that even though I am so little the rest have to dance to my tune.
9:45 - We finally find 20 West but I immediately cry and we are parked for 40 min. on an even more deserted road. Lalitha declares that this is colic.
10:30 pm - I finally stop crying so we get back on 20 West, when I immediately cry even louder. We take the 3rd exit to find a hotel to spend the night.
11:15 - We stop at a deserted mall where I am given milk and cajoled. A taxi driver says to go straight down to the Holiday Inn nearby. He is very tired and should sleep now says mommy.
11:30 - I am tricked into the car seat and we drive to the Holiday Inn, even as I sleep yet again. Just as we see it to the left mommy and daddy argue whether we should keep on driving or spend the night.
2 am - We drive back home. Daddy and mommy are exhausted. Oni stays up with daddy singing old hindi songs to keep awake. Lalitha is half asleep. I have a very good sleep and dreams full of colorful flowers and a pleasant horse ride.

Montreal 2

Next stop was the botanical gardens. They had a quick lunch of home made Bisibelebath (BBB) since Lalitha eats only 1 type of food (Mysore food) just like me (milk). Then we walked through the gardens covering the tundra, chinese, and japanese gardens. A variety of flowers were in bloom - tulips, magnolia, crab apple, and cherry blossoms.

In the tundra garden I felt cold, so I was with mommy

In the Chinese garden I was with daddy and Oni

It was a warm evening

And I was in good spirits.

Montreal 1

May 13, Montreal - My first long drive to another city. I did not complain much during the long drive. When we reached old Montreal though, I wet my diaper and therefore requested a thorough cleaning of my bottom. The trunk was used as a changing pad for me and hand swipes were used to clean me up.

We set out exploring old Montreal, and I was given my plastic chewey toy

Standing infront of the court house I smiled to myself thinking - "Wild horses cannot separate from this toy now"

Before I knew it I was put in a horse carriage that took us for a short ride to see the main sights in Old Montreal. Yes my toy had disappeared.

And even Lalitha and Oni couldnt help me find it.

Museum of Civilization

Oni and Lalitha went to the museum of Civilization today morning. Mommy and I got up late and took a bus and met them there. While there I did some experiments on who carried me best.

Lalitha provided good side support, but I almost tumbled forward.

Mommy held me well, but the watch and wrist dug into my rib cage

I got held by Oni and Lalitha together, but was a bit cramped.

Finally Oni won the prize... Why? Good swivel movement, and control - all I have to do is push at her throat and swing myself in the direction I want to go.

Trilliums and Pink Lake

Some more photos of Pink Lake

Mommy knows the names of almost all non-white flowers. Very few white flowers.. but Trilliums come in other colors too.

Mommy and Lalitha at Meech lake. It is evening time, Lalitha is tired and I am taking a quick nap.

Summer is here.

A closeup of my neck

Happy Mothers Day

May 10 - Happy Mothers Day! Since I got born recently and have seen first hand, both inside and out, how well mommy has looked after me, I have nothing but love and respect for mothers. Here are the mothers I spent my day with...

Lalitha, chikka-ajji, you came to visit me all the way from Bengaluru. After all the webcam chats, and the anticipation, I finally saw for myself how sweet and loving you are. I became friends with you right away, and collected all the hugs and kisses I could get from you. I will come for more, when I visit you in India...

Oni, when I grow up to have healthy body and strong bones, I will think of the days when you gave me my Vitamin D. Also I will try and become a sweet, supportive, and giving person as you. You have been reading Eckart Toly all these days, but Manyu knows that you have achieved more than the book says, already.

Mommy, daily you spend 90% of your time with me, out of which 80% is spent doing something for me. You never complain even on the few occassions when I bother you. You take me with you wherever you go, and always put my interests first before yours. I think I am beginning to realize now that I am the luckiest baby of all.

Happy mothers day!

Pink Lake

May 10, Chelsea - We drove out in the morning to visit Pink Lake located in Gatineau hills. Lalitha wanted to see snow, but the best we could manage was cold water. Trillians were in bloom, it was warm and sunny, and owing to their daily walks, both Oni and Lalitha were in good enough shape that they walked a quarter of the way around Pink lake. This was quite an achievement given that both have asthma.

I sit happily on a rock with Pink lake below

I get plopped into a blue sling, and the beautiful lake view is replaced by closeup of daddy's armpit

Soon I explained to them via crying that this was unfair, especially since daddy was also sweaty

So he turned me around so that I faced forward, and I was my sunny self again

Tulip Festival - 3

Ottawa, May 9 - Today was a nice and sunny day and I accompanied the women folk to the tulip festival celebrations at Major Hills park next to the Parliament buildings. As usual I got up at noon, got dressed, and got dropped off at Byward market. From here we walked up the steps to the park and had fun.

Here I am depicted as a yellow dancer... HEY! who painted those ears!

While others squint, Manyu smiles from under his mult-colored hat

Ooooo... I see dead people!

Mommy's photographical skills. Is there anything she cant do?