Peaks and Valleys

Once again, I am seeing changes as a result of preschool--some negative and some positive. The other day, Niva didn't get her way at the library and she treated me to quite a spectacle! She threw herself on the floor (in the middle of the quiet library) and started screaming and thrashing. I was speechless for 2 seconds before I scooped her up and headed for the hills in embarrassment. I've seen tantrums but that was the mother of all tantrums. But then on the flip side, I catch Niva singing new songs all day like she has utter joy in her heart! Check out one of these lovely songs below:

Slightly Obsessed

Ahhhh, I'm finally able to post again! Sorry, the server was down but let me fill you in on the Niva lowdown now. For about 5 days, we were up to our eyeballs with George Harrison. Niva requested him about 100 times a day! It was definitely worse than Sesame Street and Thomas. Sometimes, she would just say his name just for the heck of it. "Niva, what are you coloring?"...George Harrison. "Niva, who did you play with at school today?"... George Harrison. "Niva, who do you like more-- Momo or George Harrison?"...George Harrison. "Look at this ooey gooey cheese, Niva!"....oooey goooey George Harrison!! You get the point. So, yesterday we took a field trip to Hipster Haven aka Waterloo Records and got her this poster. I catch her staring at it from her crib but I haven't heard a peep about George Harrison all day today. What a weird kid.

We all live in a turquoise submarine!

Bonus video of the day:

It looks like someone is beating me to the Parent/Child Talent Competition!

Niva, we need to get on that "Souljah Boy" ASAP!

Changes

It was a few days ago but I have to document Niva's 2nd day of preschool. First of all, when I dropped Niva off, we observed another kid screaming bloody murder. Of course, Niva looked at me in utter horror thinking I was sending her somewhere terrible...then she started crying. After school, Niva transformed into a person I have never seen before. She was screaming, crying, and throwing tantrums for no apparent reason at all! Usually, when she does this, I can sing or distract her attention so that the tears don't last more than a minute. However, she was screeching for several minutes at a time with nothing to comfort her! It was like she was trying to see how much her lungs would expand (not exaggerating). What in the world!!?? I felt like my child was somewhere between a colicky baby and a distraught teenager! An example of her strange behavior: she asked me for water...so, my first reaction was to get her cup of water. However, she FLIPPED out and started shrieking, "Water water water water!!!!" After several minutes of guessing, I realized she wanted a cup that I gave her 10 minutes ago to pour water into the rice cooker. Okaaaaaaaay. It was so frustrating! This screaming/screeching/shrieking behavior lasted exactly 2 days and now, I am happy to report that she is back to normal. I think.  What the heck was that all about anyway?!?!!?!?!

Can't blame me, Ma! I'm going through some changes...

Just deal with it!

Weekend Fun

First Longhorn tailgate party on Saturday and pool party at Sebastian's house on Sunday...wonderful weekend!

There's no hiding the tray of cookies from NJ at a party!

Check out the progression of these cuties...first, Seb tries to snuggle up to Neevz.

Second, he goes in for the smooch!

Third, Niva gets giddy.

Finally, Seb busts his moves like Jagger!

Little Beatle

Niva's latest craze is the music of George Harrison! We have played it the past couple of Friday evenings (our party music welcoming the weekend) and now Niva can't get enough. Today, Niva and I were having some private time in her room-- she was merrily playing with her toys as I was reading a book, George was in the background. All of a sudden, she looks up at me with her eyebrows popping off her head and exclaims, "Daddy like this song!" I knew exactly what song she was talking about but it wasn't playing right at that second so I was confused. But just as she predicted, it started to play. The song is "Here Comes the Sun" and I didn't even know that it was next song on the playlist. Tears welled up in my eyes right then at the wonderment of it all. My sweet child had the sentience to know her Dad's favorite song on the album and exactly when it was going to play. She never ceases to amaze me!

Sing it, George!

Yes, I am an old soul.

Bonus pictures of the day:

Niva and I got to have a date at Central Market this evening.  Dinner, gelato, and some great live music-- what a lovely companion she is!

Go Preschool!

The day finally came--Niva graced the halls of preschool today! Before her grand entry, we started the day with practicing some pleasantries:

                                           That last sentence is, "Wanna play with toys?"

Then, after Mom running around trying to remember to get everything (supplies, change of clothes/diapers, lunch, snack, camera, squirmy kid), we were off!

I'm going to dominate this Monkeys class!

The smile slowly fades when we get to the place.

As Niva poses by her cubby, this doe-eyed child slowly realizes that our party of 2 is about to be over.

I didn't stick around very long. Wise Dr. Mouser told me that I just need to tell Niva two things when I drop her off, "I love you" and "I'll be back soon." So, that I did say and skedaddled (before my own waterworks would begin). Niva did not like this as she attempted to chase me down the hall crying. Fast forward to pick-up and Niva was all smiles! I got there a bit early and spied on her through the window...all was well! Ms. Maria told me she did fine and only cried for 5 minutes. Alright Neevy! One thing Niva is going to have to get better at though: giving me a report of the day!

For posterity...

I'm going to add a picture of the lunch I packed for Niva:

I was proud of it because I actually got 7 elements included (the director had suggested 5) and it looked like a lunch that I would love to eat: pasta with parmesan, grape tomatoes, carrots with hummus, chicken deli meat, Jarlsberg cheese, green beans, and pineapple for dessert. When I opened it up back at home, it pretty much looked the same except for the cheese and pineapple had disappeared. And Niva kept asking, "Eat lunch? Eat lunch?" Wonk wonk.

A Lesson in Bedtime

This past Labor Day weekend, we made a trip to Gammy and Poppa's house because we had a big party to attend in Houston. Our friend Vishal is getting married in a couple of weeks so the pre-ceremony shindig, called the Sangeet, was celebrated Sunday evening. The only thing was that the time of the party was creeping up on Baby Bedtime. After lots of convincing from Gammy, we decided we would take our chances with extending bedtime...check out Niva's party style:

On her way in escorted by Fu and Gam.

Niva was captivated by the singing and dancing acts that preceded her.

Just like her old lady, Niva loves throwing 'bows on the dance floor!

Stand clear before I bust these moves!

Dad, you're gonna regret keeping me up past my bedtime!

As you can see, Niva had a blast and I'm so glad we decided to take her. That night, we got her to sleep by 10pm (approximately 1.5-2 hrs past regular bedtime). And by the way, Niva's toddler bed is in Fufu's room so they were roomies. WELL! At about 1:30, Fufu knocks on our door with a screaming Niva in her arms. T-Fu had heard a loud thump prior to the screams so we assume that she fell out of bed. Was she loopy from too much partying? This led to her first night ever of sleeping in bed with us. What a bed bully this child is! I had to sleep on my side with my arms up to give Niva room for rolling on top of my hair, punching me in the chest, ramming her head into me, and of course the kicking! Same story on Daddy's side. Hopefully, it is the last night we ever share a bed with her!

But Ma, it was so sad. Don't blame me!