Technology for the septuagenarian set...and milestones

Daddy likes technology. Gadgets. Small, expensive, plastic-and-metal things that make clicks and noises and have small parts that break easily in toddlers' hands, and make us have to say "DEVEN - NO!" at least once a day as he stretches his chubby, clumsy fingers towards them while standing on tippy-toes, because they're left in sight but tantalizingly out of reach for the sub-two-crew.


The latest of these expensive little toys was an iPod Touch - billed as "the funnest [stet] iPod ever." by its maker, Apple. He ostensibly bought this for Daadi to use the Internet; but for at least 2 months it languished in Yogesh's drawer, occasionally used for web surfing or for Yogesh to download some useless new application. The one time Deven got his grubby little fingers on it, he figured out how to unlock it within seconds (pretty impressive...and worrisome). Yogesh kept talking about how Daadi would use it...yea, right.


Photo of Daadi & Deven at the San Jose Discovery Museum, at a friend's birthday party recently. But I digress...

Then Yogesh downloaded an application - a free Hindi news reader for the little toy - and magic! Daadi could read the news - timely, updated, from India in a font she could read (with glasses of course) - and she loved it! Within minutes she wouldn't even let Deven touch the iPod, and after a few minutes in the kitchen, she quietly took the toy with her back to her room. And with that - waa-laa! We now have a septuagenarian Internet lover in our home. :)




ROLLIN' ROLLIN' ROLLIN'... ROHAN'S STARTED ROLLIN'!

Rohan started rolling consistently last weekend (when I had placed him at the top of the steps to put my shoes on...oops, won't do that again!). He hasn't rolled all the way over yet, but enjoys rolling from his back to one side or the other - more the left side (does this mean I'll finally have another lefty to keep me company in this house? I hope so!).

This photo shows Rohan in his glorious fussy-state...



Rohan is finally smiling consistently and giggling a lot these days. He's generally a very hot-or-cold child - happy and giggling one second; fired-up and screaming the next. We're hoping that he continues developing more of the former and grows out of the latter - and soon! He's found his hands, and loves to chew on them, and has started batting at toys - quite fun to watch.

...and this photo shows the charmer Rohan can be...when he wants to be. Be sure to check out the video below, of Rohan talking to Daddy!



Deven, for his part, is still a good big brother. He's not only teething with his 2-year molars, but our Nanny noticed the other day that he has started using different languages to speak to different people. She only speaks to him in Hindi - so as I was coming home, I heard him say "Doodh peehlo" - roughly "Milk drink" - meaning he was thirsty and wanted milk. He saw me, and instead said "More Milk" - meaning the same thing. It was a subtle distinction (I understand enough Hindi that I could've helped quench his thirst, and his Nanny speaks English too) - but made us all smile to realize that he's becoming bilingual just by being exposed to Hindi and English. :)



Photo of Deven & Aunt Danielle @ the park recently - he was able to climb up on the see-saw all by himself last time!

In general, the boys are never-ending bundles of energy - Deven's never-know-what-to-expect toddlerish and Rohan's infant-sweet-then-fussyish. Hard to believe we're already planning Deven's 2nd birthday party - but that's coming up on April 5!