A to Z Challenge: T is for Troublemaker

So Beckett met her cousin Anaaya for the first time last Saturday. And she was excited. But her excitement did not bode well for Anaaya. 

I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

The Bearhug !

The Bite Marks !

The Uneasy Peace Treaty

The Enfant Terrible and The Pensive Precious

That said, Anaaya has her ways of getting back at Beckett from what Missus tells me. But as the protective Fua, I worry about her and 3 month old Aaria. Beckett can inflict some serious damage while having her fun. 

And what was Pappa doing all this time?

Checking out graduate schools for Beckett, Anaaya, & Aaria with Niki Kaaka

P.S: Beckett gets the biting from both her parents. But I tend to believe that I am the more proficient one. 

A to Z Challenge: S is for Skill

Long distance Pappa gets his Beckett updates these days through whatsapp videos and google duo phone calls.

In the past two and half weeks since I've been away, Beckett has now started acquiring greater skill in whatever she's been doing. 

The steps are no longer wobbly. There is poise and elan in them, in circles she moves in, and even in her falls. She falls knowing fully well that she is going to fall and starts taking evasive action while falling so that the impact is as gentle as possible.

The babble vocabulary has just exploded. Mai Matala (Mari Masala (spices)) to Taavi (Chaavi (keys)) to Pappa nu (Pappa's) to Saaf karyu (Cleaned it). The list is unending.

Lastly there is much greater control in how she manipulates physical objects. Be it throwing a ball or kicking it or just pouring water from one container to another.

A to Z Challenge: R is for Rend

I find it very difficult coming to and writing this blog. While in the previous post i mentioned that it was difficult for Missus and my mother, I think it is really tough on yours truly as well. 

Living alone and having to take care of your own, especially when you've never done it before, adjusting to a new work environment, and being separated from Missus and Beckett and my mother is gut wrenching if you can see and feel things from my point of view.

I want the lump in my throat to go away, I want my eyes not to well up every time I see Beckett on the screen of my phone, I want someone to constantly keep telling me that this too shall pass, and that too very soon.

:'(

Long distance Pappa

Beckett, Missus, Baa, Naana, Atman, and Pappa had a wonderful Diwali together. And although the 4 day holiday was dotted with unwanted shopping trips and meetings with folks, I was just glad to have this time together with loved ones.

Then Pappa moved to San Francisco. For work. 

It gave me an idea of what it will feel like when Beckett gets married or... when I die. Only that Beckett is not getting married and I am not dying. But the pain of separation is tremendous, especially for Missus and for my mother. 

So the last 10 odd days, I've been a long distance Pappa who talks to Beckett over video calls (Thank God for Google Duo)

It is a tough many months ahead for Pappa and everyone back in Mumbai. But I think this is for everybody's best, looking at the future.

Beckett now speaks in sentences, says 'Haa' (Yes) in addition to the customary 'Na', and continues to scare us by injuring herself every now and then.