25 Things

I am the last person on Earth to do this. Tagged by Hitha and I think someone else...AARGH who was it? Let me know and I'll edit this post to mention you! I am such a ditz. (Mom Brain)

1. The only way to prevent biting my nails is to get my nails professionally done every month! As long as there is money in the bank.
2. Alchohol dehydrogenase is malfunctioning in my body. A few drops of ethanol transforms me into a drooling, slurring zombie.
3. I would get a massage daily if I could afford it.
4. I LOVE reading. Libraries are like candy shops to me.
5. As an elementary school kid, I beat up several boys in our neighborhood. I am not proud of this. Mom would get complaints. Personality changed drastically when puberty hit.
6. I loved playing in the high school orchestra. But I hated practicing the violin at home.
7. Can't whistle.
8. After 4 years of Latin in high school, all I remember is watching I,Claudius and making a toga.
9. As a teenager I made tea for my Dad all the time and hated doing it. Now I make tea for my husband all the time and hate doing it. (Recipe: Chai)
10. Never knew how to hold a baby, change a diaper, or feed a baby, until I had my own baby!
11. In my teens I used to paint beautiful pictures, embroider intricate designs on pillows, and crochet.
12. I've always loved going to work, whatever the job. (Me = Nerd)
13. Total dog lover. I love their noses the most, want to squeak them!
14. Took a year off between undergrad and law school to reevaluate my goals (i.e., slack off for a year) and worked as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens drugstore in the meantime. For some reason, I found that work to be highly satisfying and fun, despite low pay and highly demanding environment. I also met one of my best friends at that job.
15. Nothing disgusts me more than a raw onion. That being said, I briefly held a job at Grandma's Saloon & Grill making onion rings!
16. I was born in India, then when I was 2 years old moved to Minnesota, at 10 years moved to Oklahoma, at age 18 back to Minnesota, and now after getting married live in Washington State.
17. I was the kid who always won the coloring contests at the grocery stores, schools etc. Yeah I'm bragging about this LOL.
18. Was very religious in my youth...Now I am labeled agnostic, and have little patience for the various rituals and ceremonies in religions.
19. One of my dreams is to adopt a child from an orphanage, preferably from India.
20. I broke a foot bone while running, slightly intoxicated, in sub zero Duluth, Minnesota weather,in high heels, at 3am, on slippery ice.
21. I am one of the most sensitive people ever.
22. Love cheap gas station coffee. Like seriously, I want one now.
23.Went through a phase in my teens where I was fascinated by Greek/Roman/Egyptian/Indian mythology, astrology, palmistry, numerology, tarot cards...now forgot everything, and no real interest to go back and learn all that crap. :-)
24. The 9 months of pregnancy was physically the worst time of my life.
25. The song "all of my love" by Led Zepplin makes me think of my husband everytime I hear it because it used to be his ringtone on my cell while we were dating. I don't know what I would do without him, & thank my lucky stars that I met him.

India Packing Checklist

Suitcase #1 : All of Om's outgrown clothes (months 0 - 7), receiving blankets, boppy pillow, and baby gym. (These are items we are giving to my sister in law who is expecting).

Suitcase #2 : G's clothes, my clothes to wear during one month stay. Also personal care items etc. I will have less clothes because I CANNOT BEAR HEAT in jeans and western wear so am having some cotton salwar kameez's stitched for me there. G is lucky, he can just wear his shorts. Do men realize how easy they have it in this world?

Suitcase #3 : 5 boxes of formula, 3 packs of diapers, some baby food, medicines, baby sunblock.

Suitcase #4 : Whatever doesn't fit in suitcase #3, plus a few gifts. and Om's summer wardrobe. (18 assorted cotton onesies, 3 pairs of shorts, sleep sack, warm romper in case it gets chilly in the evening in Shimla, hats, and socks)

Suitcase #5 : Since Om is coming with us and we are traveling business class, we get one extra suitcase for baby items. This suitcase will contain extra items that don't fit in suitcases 1 - 4, baby wipes, plus a safety booster seat that Om no longer uses because we got this instead. (We'll use the safety seat in India and then leave it there).

Also add a stroller, carseat, and two carry-ons.

Shoot me now.

Infant Crawling

Should have added this to the previous post on revelations.

Apparently there are different forms of crawling. There is the classic bear crawl which means baby is on his hands and knees. I thought this was what crawling meant. But no, there are several different types, and we've realized that Om has been doing various forms of these since age 6 months! I'm such a ditzy Mom...Om get ready for many mistakes to come from parents who are learning on the fly! I just thought that there was only one official way of crawling!

Om does the commando style belly crawl. He lies on his stomach and inches forward with is elbows (slowly) until he reaches his destination.

He also rolls. This is the fastest way of getting around the room for him. I wish I could get a video of him rolling, but whenever I whip out the camera Om because camera shy and doesn't move (which is great for still photos) but bad for making movies. He also gets shy when there are strangers around and refuses to do all the cool things he can do at home. LOL.

Here is a link that explains the various forms of crawling: http://www.parents.com/baby/development/physical/6-cute-types-of-baby-crawls/

According to my parents, when I was an infant I was a very fast bear crawler and also used a walker to zoom around the house. However I didn't learn to walk until a year and a half! And it was only when we moved to the States from India at age 2 that I was forced to really learn how to walk because I didn't have the myriads of relatives to pick me up every 10 minutes!

So we'll see how Om does...G learned how to walk at a good age, and my brother learned to walk at 8 months (probably to follow his big sis around, ha!). I wonder if crawling/walking (physical abilities in general) are hereditary in nature?

Also, are walkers available in the US? My Mom called me yesterday and asked me to get him a walker so that he could burn all the extra energy and not get so frustrated. However I don't think I've seen a walker lately in stores, nor at people's homes. I'm assuming it's because they are too dangerous for homes with 2 levels. Any thoughts?

Revelations

• Increasing baby's solid food input from 1 jar to 2.5 jars also increases baby's output to 2.5x a day. And wowsie, it STINKS.


• If using a bottle, there are different NIPPLE SIZES for each age range. So, for newborns, there is size 0 or 1. For 6 months and up, there is size 3 or 4. DID NOT KNOW THAT. Continued feeding baby with size 1 nipple at age 6 months and wondered why he got so tired and took so long consuming milk. Changed nipple size and lo and behold. Choked the first time but got used to it...now consuming milk in half the time. Saves me more time to spend on not so fun stuff.


• Spending all day with baby, cleaning and cooking in between, with evenings full of studies or relaxing at the tube = No time for blogging. No time for commenting on wonderful blogs.


• No rice and no white bread, cleaning house, cooking, and getting up repeatedly to take wire/poison out of baby's mouth result in slow but steady weight loss.


• When baby screams at top of its lungs in a fit of happiness, do not scream at the top of your lungs back in a gesture of shared happiness. This results in baby frowning in shock and ultimately bursting into heart-breaking tears.


• Spending all day with baby results in only being able to discuss baby. When friends or relatives call, discuss baby's latest universally amazing accomplishment in great detail. Gloss over the discussion of studies or career by redirecting to topic of cooking or how to remove stains from laundry.


• Forget toys, give baby the daily junk mail of coupons/newsletters/empty envelopes to tear up and lick. Keeps the kid interested for 30 minutes, until you hear a scream that says he has thrown all the paper out of reach and is in an odd half split leg position that he cannot get out of.


• Do NOT leave baby on a counter top alone after they reach 6 months. Even if they are in a safety seat with buckles, or especially in a bumbo chair, and you are leaving for just a minute. LOVED the bumbo chair until now, when little Houdini can escape and topple off said counter tops. Also can climb out of swings and jump out of crib if the wall is down. Yes we are bad parents....But that is another story. My only excuse is that we are dumb.


• If baby is screaming while you are putting away laundry that has been sitting there for too long, insert baby in laundry basket and pretend that it is a little car as we drive to all the closets and dressers to put the clothes away.


• Have different toys for different areas of the house. For example, while changing have only a couple of teething rings, and in the bathtub only rubber duckies. Keep variety so that baby is newly fascinated and keeps himself occupied while you do XYZ.


• Naps are God's gift to parents.


• After 6 months, it may be time to get re-sized for undergarments and jeans. Wearing maternity pants and other stretchy items is no longer excusable.


• Concealer is a new Mom's best friend. Before leaving home for random errand, insert baby in bumbo chair (on the floor) hand baby random item to play with, shower while singing funny songs and playing peek-a-boo with shower curtain. Get dressed. Deoderant application. Apply face cream, apply concealer to zombie under eye patches. Blend, add chapstick to lips. Done. (Optional: If husband is at home or baby is in a coma type sleep, apply powder to t-zone, bronzer, mascara, comb out hair and blow dry).


• Pregnancy, weight gain, and whatever other causes of nature often result in loss of balance. Case in point: While attending Bikram Yoga class, look utterly ridiculous while attempting tree asaan (pose), locust asaan, and any pose that requires standing on one foot.


• Am extremely jealous of people with maids. Discussing with someone in India - So how was your day? She says she cooked today. Nothing else. Floors mopped by maid, dough kneeded by maid, laundry/house cleaned via maid help. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

Definition of revelation: disclosure: the speech act of making something evident
an enlightening or astonishing disclosure
communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency

Tired of

• Tired Of Studying. With constant interruptions. (can't help that & don't blame anyone...I have a 5 month old)

Oh and I still haven't gotten the letter saying that I am eligible to even sit for the exam. I have a sinking feeling this is going to take a while. In my mind I had a vision of taking the exam before our India trip in May. That's A LONG time away from now and thinking about it is just painful.

I asked a friend how she manages 2 babies while doing graduate school. Her reply? (paraphrased) "My babies just sit there. Alex was such a gentle baby that would watch me for hours while I studied."

My baby? 10 minutes per baby gym, jumperoo, swing, couch, bed. Feels lonely constantly. Sleeps for maybe 45 minutes in a stretch during the day.

• Tired of my brother causing drama and interfering where he shouldn't.

Long story. Enough said.

• Tired from waking every 2 hours last night to rock Om to sleep. Teething sucks.

Movie List

Movies G and I have seen since becoming new parents. There may be a few missing. In lieu of my usual reading list...I don't read novels anymore! :( I enjoy watching DVDs in wide screen HDTV. Now when I watch regular television in the gym or otherwise, it just doesn't hit the spot. And I don't really miss going to the theater since lying on the couch cuddled up with Om sleeping on a Saturday night is a nice break.

I'm not going to rate these because, well...that's too much work. :-)

Suraj Ka Satwan Ghoda
Corporate
Amelie
Traffic Signal
The Wire: Season 1
300
Khosla Ka Ghosla
WALL-E
Bad Santa
Mystic River
Napoleon Dynamite
Happy Feet
Aaja Nachle
Lage Raho Munna Bhai
Tropic Thunder
Namastey London
Affliction
Persepolis
Kung Fu Panda
Syriana
Enchanted
Love on a Diet
Jaan-E-Mann
Spellbound
The Lives of Others
Driving Miss Daisy
Salaam-E-Ishq
Pan's Labyrinth
Ab Tak Chhappan
3:10 to Yuma
Amores Perros
Earth
Hanuman
Unforgiven
Over the Hedge
The Pursuit of Happyness
Johnny Gaddaar
Parineeta
Guru
There Will Be Blood
Salaam Bombay!
City of God
The Office: Season 4
The Office: Season 3
The Office: Season 2
The Office: Season 1
Super High Me
Sex and Lucia
Dan in Real Life
Outsourced
Ali G Indahouse
The Professional

Review of Resolutions from 2007

In January of 2007, I posted the following resolution list in my previous blog which is no longer updated. In bold I'm commenting on whether any of those resolutions were kept.

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I don't believe in resolutions, because they usually just fail anyhow.But here are some "goals" to aim for in 2007:

1. Pass the Washington winter bar exam. (DONE!!!)

2. Lose at least 15 lbs before my wedding in November. (I know I should be more specific with this goal, but whatever) (I lost about 10 lbs, and was firmer and more fit, and was very happy with how I looked on my wedding day and honeymoon)

3. Get married (I added this because the wedding date keeps getting postponed...) (DONE LOL)

4. Love EVERYONE more. Forgive more. Forget more. (I'm not sure, but I hope so)

5. To not be such a freaking elephant in terms of memory & sensitivity. I can't seem to remember law terminology, but I sure can remember mean words and neglect from my loved ones. (Totally failed in this resolution. After pregnancy and a new baby, I've gone through major mood overhauls and minor depression).

6. SHOW more love, whether in words or affection. (I think I do this more)

7. Get a physical, including cholesteral and thyroid checks. (Done. Actually, it took me getting pregnant for the smartest OBGYN (he's really experienced) to discover that I had a "hidden" thyroid issue that didn't show up on the first glance of my hormone levels. It required more probing into my antibody levels. I instinctively always knew I had a thyroid issue, this just confirmed it)

8. Pay off my car. (DONE Yaaaay)

9. Remind mom about her health and excercise more often. (Total failure)

10. Stop clicking my nails. I get 'em long, and then I do this clicking thing that I'm sure annoys everyone around me (especially G, hehe). (Oh boy, anyone can attest that I still do this)

11. Get a family potrait (everyone in my fam, including G the next time he visits and Jackie, our dog) done. (Done, but with G, Om and MIL, not my parents. That will have to be done some other time when we are all in Minnesota again).

To Do List

Because I plan on writing about things and then they leave my mind...

• Om Updates, in particular 4.5 month post
• Weight loss update (haha whatever)
• Holidays etc.
• Studying updates (just for my peace of mind...too boring)
• TV shows I have discovered I enjoy watching
• Movie list (in lieu of the reading list)
• Review of resolutions from the past year and new resolutions for 2009.