Local Sites - Temple and Pond

July, Ottawa - It is summer time, and I have resolved to keep myself busy. My first order of business is of course to take grandparents out to show them the local sites, and also meet up with Grandma Roma. I mostly take grandparents in the bus mainly for their own safety. If I am not allowed to drive the car, I am not comfortable riding in it, and I make my displeasure known within the first few seconds of being put in the car seat. But still they managed to drive me to the temple for a puja...

I rang the temple bell for the very first time...

Good old friend Arjun was at hand, and we updated each other with important information. I mostly told him that this bottle is mine, and therefore it shall remain with me.

I was re-introduced to the green seat that Grandma Roma gave me now that I have mastered the art of sitting down.

Here I am with Grandma Roma who we met at the pond, and who took us for a fine fish lunch along with friends.

I did it! I can sit!

July 1, 2008 (ottawa) - Finally after a lot of cajoling from mommy and Oni I decided to give it a try and after some practice... I did it!
Are you eager to see me sit down?

First you have to open your mouth really wide...

And then launch yourself onto your back side...

Are you impressed?

Canada Day

July 1, Ottawa - I was taken to Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill... my first party after becoming a Canadian citizen. Mommy and thatha took me by bus early in the morning. We were engulfed in crowds of people where mommy couldnt see anything, let alone little Manyu in his tiger pram. Nevertheless there was lot of singing, and dancing, warm sunlight and horses.

I slept for the most part...

Big Party - 2

June 21, Ottawa - Everybody had very colorful food to eat...

"Then howcome Manyu has to eat bland colored food with no texture and monotonically unvarying taste?!!" - I remonstrated to Oni.

As my first witness I presented my little friend Franchesca who was contentedly munching on a tasty morsel in plain view...

When I suddenly turned my head, and saw a bomb - a marzipan bomb. Will they give it to me?

Yes, yes! They will! But no they didnt. That piece was for mommy, and poor little Manyu had to settle for carrot paste...

HideNSeek With Oni

June, Ottawa - My daily routine has changed since I am discovering new things on my own, thanks to my new found ability to crawl. Also I have begun to supplement my staple milk diet with 3 or 4 tablespoons of colorful vegetable paste. With this expanded diet and a broader range of physical activities comes added responsibility. Therefore I get placed in the hands of patient and ever watchful Oni from 10 am until noon. And then again in the afternoon for some play.

I do lose my patience very quickly, so nothing but the most exciting games can keep me occupied....

A game of hide N seek with Oni gets me pumped up as I scurry from Oni's bedroom to Thatha's bedroom. But I will admit, I do get distracted and meander off in a tangential direction...






In the late afternoon after my post-afternoon-snooze snack I am partial to a game of Peek-a-boo.

But by evening time I am usually sleepy and mommy is the only one who is allowed to spend any length of time with me, and that too only with the clear and present task of putting me to bed.

Big Birthday Party for Mommy!

June 21, 2008 (Ottawa) - Lot of colorful aunties came for birthday party. It was a warm day and my sartorial sensibilities were spurned as I was made to wear a full arm kurtha and pajama instead of allowed to crawl around naked. Still I survived the Satyanarayana Puja before I got partially unwrapped.

Many aunties and two future friends...

Of course mommy was wearing pink that day...

Of course there was a lot of delicious Lebanese food...

And I was glad to be perched between my own two caterers - Oni for solid food, and mommy for liquid food...