Writing on the Rice

NOTE by Amma: In Hindu culture- writing on rice grains is symbolic when a child wants to start his or her formal education. It's done on the 10th day of the Navarathiri Festival, the Vijayatasami day. This ritual is believed to bring success to the venture into education.

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This Vijayatasami - I wrote on the rice grains- Amma said I was too small - but since Amirthinee and Valermaty were writing - I joined the brood. Just for fun.

Amma held my finger while we traced the character "Pillayar Sulli", then the character "OM", then the words "Saraswathy Thunai", then my name "Sakkti Velan".

Actually- all the while, I was too preoccipued with staring at the rice - Amma did all the writing.

Sakkti Velan discovers his shadow.

I discovered a friend today. He follows me no matter what I do, and I spin and spin around trying to look at him……

And Cinnama Loshini, just to let you know that I can now imitate the sound of an elephant trumpeting…..

The World ROCKS for the 'King' of the Brood

Lately I’ve discovered that if I walk without direction and shake my head from the left to the right continously while I do this- the world around me rocks!

Yeah!!

I love this game! * shake….shake….*

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Just in case everyone hasn’t figured it out by now- I’m the only boy baby on my father’s side - I’ve got four other cousins – who coincidently adore me –

But I think Mina Pathi is the one having the biggest cultural shock- me being her first grandson and all - I’m climbing the stairs and the gates like none other- and when I speak- I shout – and I think it’s a pretty manly shout if I may say so myself –

Arrgghhhhh….argghhhhhhh……argghhhh……..

Of murukkus, lollypops, cats, chicken and bears

At 13 months, I’m 80 cm and 9.5 kg. I love to play catch, and go everywhere in the house- walking and running.

I love the taste of murukku- and I know exactly how to show it’s location to anyone who is kind enough to get it from me. No Amma, not achimurukku or Farley Rusk * yuck*….I WANT MURUKKU!!! Yes…thank you …… (at this point, I faithfully remove the pacifier from my mouth with my left hand, grab the murukku with my right hand and run really far away…….in case someone tries to take the murukku back!)

I also enjoy eating lollypops. I grabbed my first lollypop from Valermadi, and ever since then, everyone- that is Tata, Ammama and Nithi Mama especially – always seem to have a lollypop handy whenever I go to visit them.

I love the cats and chickens at the back of my house- and I find endless entertainment in watching them whenever I have my breakfast, LUNCH AND DINEER. In fact, Amma says that right now, I don’t even want to watch television while eating- I only need my friends the chicken and the cats.

And Bear- well Bear is my friend- whom I try to feed whenever Amma gives me a bowl and spoon to play with. And also the one whom I try to share my pacifier with….hehehe….

One morning in Sakkti Velan's porch

See what Sakkti Velan does when he's let free in his house porch for 15 minutes.........

Sakkti Velan's 1st birthday bash

Today was my very first birthday bash!

My birthday invite will tell you that Bob the Builder RULED in my party- yeah!!

SO everything- from the balloon to the backdrop to my birthday costume, was Bob the Builder. Amma even insisted that the guest come dressed in red, yello and orange, to match Bob’s shirt.

It was a nice party- there was Mr. Stanley the clown- and everyone had a chance to dance and take part in the games- but I was quite sleepy altrough the party.

Oh, did I mention that my cake had Bob the Builder sitting on it?

“Bob the Builder….can we fix it?”.....

*clap clap** clap clap….zzzzz…………..ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I was fast asleep before my party was over....hehehehe.....

Dear Bumi Matha,

I’m ONE today!

Amma and Appa celebrated my birthday at the Ballemy Murugan temple- by giving food – and I cut my very first cake!

Amma said I had a very confused face- and I bent over almost double trying to touch the cake- before Appa help me cut my cake.

The priest put me at the foot of Lord Muruga for blessing- although I cried through the entire little ceremony thinking the priest was going to kidnap me….

Amma's back

Ammama was feeding me my milk when I saw my Amma standing at the gate. I knocked away the milk bottle and screamed in joy. "Amma......where did you go?!!""

Amma carried me and kissed me and told me that she missed me. Yes, Amma, I missed you too....

I told Amma how well Appa took care of me when she went away.....Appa taught me how to play catch with the ball......and now I've become Appa's pet......

Amma, watch, I can walk even faster now. I can turn while standing and not land on my bumsy.

I love you Amma. *** SMILE****SMILE**** SMILE***

The Avasaram Baby

I can walk......maybe I can't balance as well.....but I DEFINITELY can walk.

I walk quickly and fast...too fast because I'm excited.

I walk too fast and then I trip and fall. But after my fall, I SMILE at everyone and stand again. And before long, I'm walking again.

~Who the smart baby??~

On Fevers and Rashes

Amma told me today that I was not well the past whole week. She said I had the fever. I think I undertsand what she's saying because I wasn't feeling too good the whole of the past week. I did not want to eat, and my body ached continously. All I wanted to do was sleep. Amma kept wiping me with cold water and I cried and cried because it was cold.

The only good thing about having the fever is I got to sleep on the big, big bed with my Amma and my Appa for the whole week.

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My fever's all gone now, Amma said, but I've got the rashes. What's rashes Amma? As if she understood my question, Amma showed me my leg and I smiled at her. Amma's playing with my leg, I think to myself. Amma ruffles my hair. Amma's baby, she tells me. I smile at her again. I babble back to her.

I go about my play as usual, completely unaffected by the 'rashes'.