Like an Elephant for a Penny

"Sure you can buy an elephant for a penny, but then you have to [spend lots more money to] feed it, clean it, keep it healthy."

This is a direct quote from Daadi, when discussing why we didn't actually want to bid on a home in the East Bay that we liked a lot. She's right...

(above photo of Daadi and Deven's little buddy Noah)

Bye-bye, Daadi...maybe

What a difference a few hours makes.


We got a call on Saturday morning, that Yogesh's dad had suffered a heart attack, and was in intensive care in a hospital in India. He's just received Angioplasty, and is OK (as ok as you can be after a "minor" heart attack and Angioplasty!) - and Yogesh's brother is there with him now.

When Daadi heard this, she (understandably) wanted to go home to tend to Daada. Well, *he* heard this and said NO - he didn't want her help (proud, stubborn - doesn't want the help...hmm, who's that sound like? But I digress)

So, MAYBE, Yogesh and Daadi will be leaving us on the Monday 6:00am flight to Delhi. Or maybe not. Most of us think it's a good idea for her to go be with him; but he's insistent that she be here with Deven (which we, and Deven, naturally want!) She's bound by duty to go back, but by desire to stay with Deven, to stay here. What a choice! And she's no spring chicken either - travel is hard for her, too.

The next flight out that she can get without a $3,000 change-fee is next week. So, the drama continues. Will Daadi be here? Will she go back? Who knows?

Bright Mornings

Don't we look like to prototypical over-bearing parents here? We're SOOO excited for Deven, he couldn't be bothered with the cake. Aah, well - a good time was had by all.

Lots more photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/krsherwood/April20081YearOld
When Deven is sleeping and we're not yet at the Farmers Market and Daadi's in the bathroom and Yogesh is out for a jog, are a rare and pleasant time for me. Deven is walking (running) with abandon nowadays- amazing that only a month ago he was barely taking a few steps.


Deven's Words

Cat = "BAAAAOO"
Daadi = "Daadi"
Dad = "Daady"
Mom = "Daddy"
Peekaboo = [incessant giggles]
Hungry = [incessant whining and fake-coughing]
Tired = [pointing to ear, plus incessant whining]
Doesn't like yogurt = spitting it out (making sure to dribble it across any surface possible)
And of course...he's now climbing...

Enjoy the birthday video:

Deven's 1! Wow!

A good mom would have a well-thought-out prose for this all-important Child's First Birthday. A good mom would have made her child's cake. Or at least tried. She would've remembered the balloons (thanks Dad) the icing (thanks Mom), or any of the tons of food (thanks Yogesh & Mama).

I, however, am not a good mom. I haven't even uploaded photos lately. I do have old photos from Easter (below, still cute enough to make the blog, despite the low-res).
I am sitting in a hotel room in Duluth, GA - I'm exhausted after a redeye to NY, 3 back-to-back meetings, and a 1-stop flight here, with a big 9am meeting tomorrow. Sigh. I'm only glad I left consulting - I'm away for 2 nights here, and I think I'm gonna die b/c I miss Deven and Yogesh and Daaadi so much.

Other random thoughts:
- THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO GAVE DEVEN GIFTS! Except Amy & Paul. Paybacks are hell, and Deven enjoying that noisy gift is our payback, I suppose. :) And to Christie for giving ME a gift (flowers)! We love them, he loves them (his gifts, not the flowers). Some tags fell off, so we don't know who gave him a few books - and likely we won't have a chance to write proper thank-yous anytime soon. But thanks for thinking of him.


- I missed a big lacrosse tournament (which I love) for Deven's birthday because my parents were in town. Does this make me un-dedicated?

- Deven is teething and giggling and toddling like crazy. He's quite fun. Except when he's screaming.

Parental Defenses

A lacrosse friend, Linda, recently equated child-rearing with team sports:

- A single child is easy, because as parents, it's 2-on-1.
- 2 kids are manageable, because parents can go to a man-to-man defense...but
- 3 kids are REALLY tough, though, because then the parents have to go to a zone defense...and everyone KNOWS that's your weakest defense.

I tried this argument on Yogesh, and he immediately said "but we've got Daadi, so we're already 3-on-1" - so I shot back that HE can have the 3rd. Yogesh quickly hushed up and just smiled.

Walking, Shopping, Biting, Laughing

Deven's done all of them with us, this weekend.

We also visited our friends Chris & Frankie (newlyweds - congrats!) and have a photo to post of that visit soon, too. The cool thing about their house? That's where Deven took his first step! That's right - Deven took 1 step by himself (twice, in fact) - Yogesh and I were, naturally, thrilled - and Chris and Frankie looked on in quiet wonder. But with a little one on the way for them, they'll learn soon.


Deven can now sit in the grocery cart by himself - though thank goodness they have the waist-straps now...I can see the checkout lines becoming a nightmare in the future, with the candy, gum, and magazines all at toddler-grabbing levels...

Ouch!

Small boy, 3 teeth, yesterday evening.

Mom's leg looks like a snack. Or maybe a teething ring.

Small boy's teeth cut through mom's leg-skin. Mom shrieks. OUCH!

(I sure hope he gets thru teething soon...)

Nope, haven't given it up. Yes, I love it.

I hear that most moms have a continual battle, how to prioritize our time so our kids get top-billing, our partners somewhere-near-the-top, our extended family, pets, friends, work, bills, and other things don't get too mad at us, starve, or foreclose on our homes.

My "extra-curricular" that I still love and continue to do, is lacrosse umpiring. I hope Deven grows up seeing me do this, running around the sidelines and playing with 'mini-sticks' as I'm on the field with a whistle. Or, I hope this video lasts online for some time - I worked a great game with fellow umpires Linda & John on Sunday - a gorgeous day on a gorgeous field. Yogesh, Deven, and Daadi came along as well - enjoying the sunshine, the game, and even the Stanford Band (who came to cheer-on their team). Oh, yeah: and Stanford beat (ranked) Notre Dame.

Little Tikkies

Daadi has been bugging us for some time now, to get Deven a car (no, not the kind he'll want @ 16) - a small toy-wheeled thing. She has said repeatedly that Yogesh LOVED his little toy car as a toddler - so Deven must have one too.

Yogesh went on Amazon (his favorite website EVER) and found this "Little Tikkies" - Little Tikes, really - and it's been the HIT of the HOUSE ever since. Deven can walk behind it, pushing and gurgling happily - or he can ride on it.

Though, watch the video - I think Deven likes Mommy pushing it more than he likes Daddy behind! :)


Photos below are from Daada-Satya's visit a few weeks back (he's Yogesh's uncle; the new granddad of the baby in the prior post).

Life, and Death

February 24 and 25 were big days in our family, though Deven wouldn't have even noticed.
2/24, his Naana (my dad) turned 63. Happy birthday, Dad!
- The same day, Deven gained a 2nd cousin (as-yet-unnamed, in the photo), in Toronto. 6 lbs, 10 oz, born @ home. Congrats to proud Papa Rahul/Shyamal, and new Mom Sara.


2/25, his Naana-Jock (my uncle) turned 68. Happy birthday Uncle Jock!
- The same day, an influential woman in my life passed away. Pat Stabler was the mother of 2 childhood friends, Stacy - 1 year my senior, and Tricia, 1 year my junior. They were a farm family, a major part of the Montgomery County, MD agricultural and 4-H community - and Mrs. Stabler (as I knew her) was the über-mom who did most things right. My sister and I raised beef steers on their farm; learning responsibility and hard work (and I, how to cajole Heather). Mrs. Stabler and my mom taught me how to sew, at spring-break 4-H club sewing schools.
I remember random things about Mrs. Stabler - like how she'd decorate the piano in their formal living room for Christmas - with white angel-hair, little figurines, and twinkle-lights; how their house almost caught on fire once from the basement; how she helped Stacy (or was it Tricia?) pen a speech called "Bats in the Belfry" about their home; her slightly-twangy accent; or how she looked at her 50th birthday, when I bought her the "Dictionary of Cultural Literacy" and learned that she was called "Patsy" as a girl; the big circle-wood swing that would take us miles above the earth (so it seemed); the recipie she gave me for yummy-but-unhealthy mashed potatoes (with loads of butter & sour cream); and how contented she looked at Tricia's wedding.
I haven't spoken to Tricia or Stacy in years, though my parents have - and I know Tricia has a daughter about Deven's age now. I knew Mrs. Stabler was ailing - and can only imagine the grief that Stacy & Tricia (& their dad) must feel.

Mrs. Stabler, Rest in peace.