My first.....

Hi folks!!! It’s Junior Solitary Reaper here again. It has been a long time since I shared all the giant thoughts in my tiny brain. I have been very busy over the last few months. Appa and amma took me on my first ever road trip to York. We were accompanied by Tata, Pati and uncle Pat. It was uncle Pat’s first visit to the UK and I got a feeling that he had a good time indeed. I was a bit shy the first few days and I did not let him carry me. But after being constantly driven in a car for three days with him, I got very comfy with my dear uncle Pat. He is very good at baby talk and kept calling me “Paapa”! On the road trip I got to experience sun, rain, sand, waves and a lot of greenery. I was lucky to be nestled between Pati and Tata in the car as they kept me very busy and did not let me get bored. Nevertheless I did cry sometimes as the journey was getting very quiet with everybody around me dozing every now and then. So, amma kept singing nursery rhymes to calm me down. I used to stop crying instantly and amma felt the rhymes were to soothe me but in reality my agenda to get amma singing was very different. You see I have heard appa telling amma that it is very dangerous for him to drive if everybody around him is sleeping as it makes him sleepy too. So, I ensured amma kept singing and jarring everybody out of their slumber so that appa could drive safely. Am I not a genious? Anyway, by day three of the road trip amma’s voice had become so hoarse that people would not sleep even after she stopped singing as the froggy voice kept ringing in their ears… ha ha ha…..

Just after an eventful trip it was soon to be my first birthday. Appa and amma were diligently preparing for my birthday celebration. My birthday coincided with the pyjama day to raise money for children’s charity. I went to nursery in my pyjamas and had a very good time. In the evening I wore my new Chacha Nehru dress which was metallic blue in colour.All of us went to the temple in the evening. That night for some reason I just could not fall asleep at my usual time. I knew something was up. So I kept myself awake until 11PM. Lo behold… my gut feeling was right. There arrived the first set of guests for the party next day. Thus began my 24 hours marathon of meeting new people. I don’t know why but everybody was cooing, cuddling and gushing all over me. Hmm I still cannot figure out why? Anyway the next day arrived thick and fast. I knew something was amiss when Tata kept trying to make me sleep at odd hours. I decided to find out why and kept myself awake. I did not let sleep hinder my investigation and skipped my afternoon nap. Everything was normal until 3 PM when even more new faces arrived at home. It was then a blitz with amma trying to force me into a purple suit and herself trying to get dressed. After a quick drive on dark village roads we reached my birthday party venue. Appa and his friends had done a great job in decorating the party hall. People came in thick and fast and it was time to cut my Mickey Mouse cake. I had to pose with everybody for photographs. Then suddenly everything became blurred as I felt my eyelids getting very heavy. I must have fallen asleep as when I opened my eyes again the hall was being cleaned and many people had left the hall. Whew.... that was a busy day indeed. Amma soon drove me back home. Unfortunately she was under the impression that I was tired and would fall asleep soon. Little did she know that I was really refreshed after the nap and was wide awake!

I received so many new toys that day that amma had stashed away a few unopened. Now do you ask me how I know this? You see I have just started walking on my own now. The other day amma took me down to the garden room to do some chores. I took the opportunity to explore the garden room from a different vantage point i.e., on my own two feet. I found a big lot of toys still intact in their packaging hidden in one corner. That's when I got to know the secret. I love exploring places now. The other day I went to doctor aunty's house and explored every nook and cranny of her kitchen.

What???? Amma is already talking about going to bed. Does amma think I am still a baby? I am a big boy now and must not be asked to sleep until late in the night. Every time I yawn I vigorously shake my head to keep myself awake. Amma always gives me a puzzled look when I do that. Little does she know that it is my little trick. Anyway, let me have carrots and my dinner and pretend to fall asleep to avoid amma's onslaught of songs.....yaaawwwnnn....