Happy birthday Sachi--you got a cousin!

Meera Esha Barot was born in Mumbai on December 12th, just a few days before Sachi's birthday. While she will not meet Meera for a few months, soon she will see that Meera was the best birthday present she could ask for. Her mommy and daddy say she is lots of fun, and definitely a night owl--just like Sachi. We have to watch out when those two become teenagers, and they are sneaking out late at night behind our backs.

So everyone is wondering--do Sachi and Meera look alike? Here is a picture of both of them a few days after they were born. You be the judge!

The left image is Sachi, and the right image is her brand new cousin Meera.

My little girl

There is that time in a parent's life when they realize their little one is no longer a baby. I am both happy and sad to say that time has come for me. There is something about the way that Sachi looks and interacts now that identifies her as a "little girl". She is her own person now with a very distinctive personality, and her own set of desires. She walks with intention, and is always trying to strike up conversation.

I guess this had to happen...my little baby is growing up. Coincidentally, this is the age (22 months) when parents usually transition their child from a crib to a bed. We transitioned Sachi months ago from our bed to her own bed--but she still finds her way to our bed each night.

Barcelona

It has just over two weeks since Anil and I got back from our fabulous vacation in Barcelona. For one week, we were in one of the most alive cities in the world, without Sachi. We got to stay up late, sleep in, have relaxing multi-course meals, and walk all over the city. It was like we were dating again.

Of course we missed Sachi and even watched her videos every day. Meanwhile, she was at home with her grandparents, "Aji and Opa". She did really well while we were gone, and strangely held a grudge against Aji for a whole week when we came back--as if Aji had something to do with our disappearance. She has since warmed upto Aji again, and even misses her now.

The Sachi Lexicon

As Sachi is on the road to discovering new words, she has come up with a special lexicon--that only those with the trained ear can decipher. Here are a few words and their definitions...so you too can speak Sachi's language.

Ta-pope: Cantaloupe
Ta-toon: Popcorn
Tu-pid: Toothpaste
O-gurk: Yogurt
Da-ya: Daddy
Wah: Water
Ah-jeem: Icecream

I am going to be sad when she learns how to say all these words correctly. Her language is so much fun!

Play "Pretend"

Sachi likes to play a lot of "pretend" lately. Unfortunately this also includes trips to the potty. Just like her daddy, she sits there for a long time and thumbs a magazine. Man, I don't know who invented this whole reading on the pot thing, but I say just get in there, do your business, and get out!

She has yet to leave anything worth mentioning in her potty.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Lately Sachi has been quite the performer.
You gotta turn your head sideways to watch this cuteness!

First trip to Disneyland

They say Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, but I didn't get it until I went there with Sachi on my birthday. From the first ride (the merry go round), Sachi was in heaven. When the ride ended and I had to dismount her from the horse, she was screaming. I said to her, "Don't worry Sachi, we are going on so many more rides". After the first ride, we hit rides like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Pinnochio, Alice's Teacups, It's a smallworld, and the ride through Storybookland. We mostly only stayed in Fantasyland, but man...it was fun. I want to go there for Anil's bday now.