Adira Ticks One

Like I promised on my instagram handle that I will post about my daughter's birthday so here I am putting my thoughts down. It is going to be one long post. Caution: you might fall asleep. 

I have always been an excited person where birthdays concern. I am more excited about my husband’s birthday than he himself is so how could it be any different around my daughter. My daughter is a May girl and the moment may started this year I started reminiscing the same time last year (2016) when I was heavily pregnant and had just been wanting to deliver. 

Last year, the night of 23rd may my husband and I had tried making pakoras and oh boy the pakoras did the trick. I got into labour around 3:30 am that morning, 5:30 we reached the hospital and were informed that the pain is real and our baby is on its way!!! 

After almost 12 hours of labour we were blessed with our angel of a girl. Adira came into our lives on the hot afternoon of 24th may 2016. I still remember how I had to wait for nearly 6 hours to finally hold her just because I didn't pee after the delivery! Phewwww!

Time flew; months hopped and we jumped onto the biggest milestone; a year!! Together we entered the numbers. My daughter is one… the parents in us are one!! Such an achievement! 

I had been preparing for our daughter’s big day for a while. My daughter and I had got matching outfits. We had organised a little celebration with family and friends. I had already taken care of it . 

 

Since she is too small to go pamper herself at a salon like I generally do on special occasions, I gave her a nice scrub of wholewheat, turmeric and milk at home a day before her birthday. In the evening the family got together to decorate the house with pink and white balloons. I also made paper flowers to decorate the car she was going to get the next day. 

 

 

The moment the clock struck 12 I just kissed my daughter and whispered “happy birthday squirrel” in her ear since she was fast asleep. Softly we called in her birthday. 

The morning started with presents from dadu dadi. She took a drive in her new electric car. Our help also got her presents which touched me deeply. It was so thoughtful of them. We had inflated a pool for adira, had filled it with water, flower petals and her water toys. Adira and I took a dip in the water and she was beyond elated. The pool time was followed by a bath and a little nap. 

When you are happy about everything going well like it should be something has to happen. And so it did. 

In the afternoon while I was getting ready for the celebration, I heard adira crying. 

Now I always used to wonder how mothers could distinguish one type of crying from the other but now I realise it comes naturally. So when I heard my daughter crying I knew she had got hurt but I didn't want to presume so I sent my help downstairs to check. And yes she had fallen and had hurt her lip from the edge of the bed!!! That moment I left everything and rushed downstairs. Her dress had blood on it, I wanted to cry but I tried my best to keep my cool.

The thing with babies is that they somehow manage to fall and get hurt even under supervision. My father in law was sitting on the bed and he himself could not fathom how it happened. Anyway after applying an ice pack on her lip over and over again and after 15 minutes of watching telly tubbies she pacified. Her lip had swollen and I could not feel worse. 

The entire incident gave me a headache. I was upset that adira had got hurt. It is bizarre how mothers are connected to their babies. I was not bruised yet I felt so much pain.

Anyway I had a feeling that she would be cranky during the celebration. However I did not want to let that vibe spoil the remaining evening. So I smiled, gave some more love to adira and headed to the event.

Adira observed all the decorations and cooperated by meeting everyone quietly. However, she refused to part from me. I had worn heels hoping she would stay with dadu and nanu. But those hopes went into a pit. 

She enjoys walking a lot these days and dances but I think seeing so many people made her a little clingy. I could not blame her. It was a tough afternoon for my little birthday girl.

Finally the time to cut the cake came and only after tasting her birthday cake did adira feel a little better. I thought she would sleep but my girl wanted to enjoy the celebration till the very last.

 

She became herself when the last of the guests were left. It was a relief to see that smile on her face. Anyway all is well that ends well. 

We feel grateful to be surrounded by so much love. A big thank you to everyone who remembered adira on her special day and showered her with their blessings. 

Adira is growing naughtier with every passing day and keeps me on my toes. I think it just makes us appreciate our parents a little more. 

Thank you squirrel for filling our lives with so much love, joy and laughter. May you always be blessed.

My Mother's Day Gift

Sunday, May 14^th 2017 à My first Mother’s day.

Last year around this time I was hoping that I deliver the sweet little bun baking inside my big oven. It was my own special way of feeling gifted by the almighty. But my daughter had plans of her own. She decided to take her own time and arrived 16 days after.

Easy Mango Lollies

I picked out the softest mango from the refrigerator this afternoon to make a thick smoothie for my 11 months old. However, when I tasted  that soft mushy mango, it was just a little too tangy for my girl. I kept the half cut mango aside undecided what I will do with it later and went on to pick another one. I then prepared a quick smoothie from a relatively sweeter mango and transferred it into a bowl to be devoured by my daughter afterwards. I moved on to  the half cut mango.


I could have made “aamras” for everyone which is just another synonym for a mango smoothie. But I decided to choose the no-milky way. I don't know how at that moment I was struck by my childhood memories; my childhood memories with my nani dearest. May god bless her soul. She used to make us absolutely yummy ‘nimbu pani’, ‘rasna’ and “mango” lollies to beat the summer heat. So reminiscing my memories with her I decided to make everyone mango lollies for dessert.

Now these lollies are unabashedly easy, fresh and simply delicious. It has a two-ingredients recipe and no you are not getting any prizes for guessing them. Mango and sugar!! That is it! I made these the traditional way like my nani used to; in ice cube molds. However, you can purchase the cute looking, colourful Icecream molds available in the market these days if you please.

So all you lazy people or even the not so lazy ones why don't you try these and make your near and dear ones super happy. After all who doesn't like some fruity coolers in the summers.

This is how the lollies looked! Small, cute and very inviting 

Ingredients ( prepared 6 cubed mango lollies)

1 mango
2.5 tbsp sugar

Recipe

Dice the mangoes and put them in a bowl.

Add sugar to it.

Blend them in a mixer or use a hand blender.

Transfer the thick mixture into the ice cube molds.

Put a toothpick or a disposable fruit fork into each mold.

Put the ice cube  tray into the freezer.

Check it in a few hours. When done just use a knife to take the lollies out of their molds.


Lick. Slurp. Enjoy.