Our first dance recital

An evening to myself finally so I am trying to utilize the art of blogging to capture such a momentous day. Annika had her first stage performance today and she was a bumblebee in her pre ballet class. I was tear-filled twice as I got her ready and combed her hair into a slicked back bun. However once she took the stage I was just in awe of her. Beautiful, confident, beaming, moving with elegance. This little girl was mine? Somehow I thought my daughter would be the one who refused to go on stage. Or worse the one people told horror stories about how she peed on stage from just fear. How did I get so lucky? I would be happy if she was just following along most of the time never expecting my kid to have a shot as a heroine. It's crazy to me that she is so talented. Perhaps this is really a reflection of me thinking I am not that talented so can she be bursting with skill? She can sing and even writes her own melodic songs with rhyming words that make sense. I am not saying she is avril igneous or anything but I have no idea how to keep her head focused on learning life skills like math, science, and reading but also encouraging the arts. I had very little arts exposure so how do you prioritize it? Can it simply be a family hobby? My own interest in anything artistic was squelched away and not part of myself that was shared, even with family or friends. The only full-on dancing I have ever done is my room by myself when my parents, roommate, husband, etc. are not around. My passion for design and fashion has always literally been hidden In my closet with taped up magazine photo shoots or the layering of images. I still don't have any version of an iPod with a music playlist of songs. I know what I love but never hold my own preferences high enough to justify the effort. The concept of having both creative, artistic expression and also being a gifted and driven student are strewn throughout tv and successful stories however in my family it has always been an either or situation. I hope Annika's life can be more like Gilmore girls and less like grays anatomy.


I told her she was a rock star this morning and she said "no I am not - I don't like to live on a stage". So wise already. I just pray that she keeps this level head 12 years from now.

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From 4 to 14 - this picture makes it hard to guess Annika's age and that terrifies me. She is not even in kindergarden yet but she is giving me advice about how to have more fun, how to accessorize, and reminds me to keep my voice calm when I am upset. Today was Easter and she was horribly upset about forgetting her new white bunny at her uncle's house. She came to me and said "I know people matter not things but I am just so sad about missing my new bunny.".


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Location:Cooper Rd,Cincinnati,United States

What happened to 2010?

Its been about 18 months since we attempted to chronicle any aspect of our family life/careers/etc. We have been very busy but more than that, just have not taken the time to slow down like we needed. This post, this year, and this person is committed to slowing down. Pictures and posts to come.

Photos from winter 2008 and spring 2009

2008

New pictures - finally!

Random Hugs

Something adorable that we have been able to enjoy is that Anni and Mara are starting to hug each other randomly for a few seconds. It doesn't last to long and afterwards they are apart again playing seperately but it is amazing to watch the love grow between them. They have a new game where Amara pushes Annika around on the riding bus. I know it should be the other way around but even at 12 months Amara is the stronger and more coordinated one.

Also, if one is awake while the other is asleep they are always watching the door of the sleeping sibling waiting for them to awake. Yesterday, Amara said "Didi!" clear as day (this means big sister in Gujurati) when she heard Annika waking up on the monitor.

Amara's speech is starting to blossom. We have "Gun" for all done. "Didi" for Annika. "dada" for Dad. "Mama" for mommy. "Maaaaa" for mine and I want it. "Daaaa" for dog. A few days ago she signed "all gone" when she wanted Leo to stop licking her. She was pretty mad when he did not understand her sign for wanting to be left alone. : )

Free Makeovers

Why didn't I learn the first time. In a desperate attempt to distract Amara while I loaded laundry, I gave her my purse to go through. I thought to myself, "Ami - that is dangerous, what if there is something she gets into that can create a mess?" but since I could not think of anything dangerous in my purse at that very moment I gave it to her. She had been pulling out of the washer anything I was trying to put in and I just needed 30 seconds. I finished the laundry and the forboding feeling of maternal instinct told me disaster was in the air. Luckily no one was hurt except the carpet. Amara found a blush container in my purse that I forgot about and was amazingly able to unscrew the cap and smear it all over her and all over the staircase carpet. Those thirty seconds will now cost me $116.49 according to Widmers Carpet Cleaning.

The worst part of this story is that the same thing happened with Annika when she was around a year old. Except her story was red lipstick all over a white couch. However, widmers did their magic then as well so this time I wasn't scared of the consequences just mad at myself for not learning the lesson the first time. Lesson - There is never a situation dire enough that kids should play in your purse!