The View from my Window

Being Grandparents - 4

July 27, 2008 on 10:40 am | In Miscellaneous Musings!, Family/Self | Comments Off

This post is a continuation of the earlier posts (Being Grandparents ,Being Grandparents - 2 & Being Grandparents - 3)  as the previous posts were becoming a tad bit busy.

 __________________________________________

Text : (Friday 20 June 2008)

After our return from Toronto on Wednesday 18 June, we were a bit lonely without Sitara . She & her parents have gone to England. She, of course,  was fortunate to celebrate her 1st father’s day (on Sunday June 15th ) with her dad at Rugby at her Grandma’s (paternal) house where her dad was born & grew up.  Refer to Father’s Day write-up on the blog for further details.

We were thrilled to have a voice message (on Sunday June 15th) from my daughter (Nina)  who called from England to wish me a Happy Father’s Day. We also had a call from Sunir (on Sunday June 15th) from B.C. (where he is gone for vacation and join Shannon to attend a wedding of one of their friends). I was thrilled to talk to Sunir for his greetings on the Father’s Day.

So we called Nina  on Thursday June 19th to thank her for her Father’s Day message . This did touch my heart.

She gave the best news (at this time) about Sitara. Sitara has started taking steps on her own - that is she has started walking - albeit with a few steps at the moment but it is the start. She is only about 10 months old.  Also she advanced to this walking at her faiba’s house in Derby (Bhadrikaben is her faiba - the auntie - who is Sunjay’s sister). I am told that Yashmin, her teenage cousin (Bhadrikaben’s daughter), was really thrilled to watch Sitara to start walking.

————————————————————–

Wednesday 25 JUne 2007

Our Sitara ( the most enchanting granddaughter - that is for us) arrived back safely from her trip to U.K.  She came back with her parents. The parents spent time in Ottawa (for shopping and to relax a bit after a long air travel) and thus came to Deep River at about 11.00 p.m - thus we grandparents had only a chance to glimpse at Sitara (thru the car window) who was nicely secured & tucked in her car seat. She was fast asleep so  we did not disturb her at all. After a few minutes stopover at our house, Sitara along with her parents drove away to their residence in Mackay .

“Thapli” - that is what I call Sitara - her loving name given by me- is really like a nice flower and brings joy to us.  She is also called “Bhajyu” by her parents - a loving name given to her since  before she was born.

————————————————————

Thursday  26th June 2008

We went in the afternoon to Nina’s place to spend some time with them ( they arrived back from U.K. yesterday) and to play with and coddle Sitara - our most precious granddaughter.

When we arrived at Nina’s place,  Sitara was asleep. She woke up after about an hour.  After she was up and running and had her milk (formula), she was just a bundle of smiles and with welcoming gestures. Sitara amazed us. She seems to be glad to see her grandparents ( that meams that she had not forgotten them even spending three weeks away in U.K.) and would smile and laugh loud. She took to her nani (grandma)  and went to her for pick up and hugging. She made plays to be then with her nana (grandpa) and would come (crawl) to be coddled by him.

She just lapped up all the love (reserved from last three weeks of absence). She fondly remembered all her toys one by one and played with them together with either grandma or grandpa.

She came to grandpa and wanted him to hold her by fingers (as she stood up) and went walking all over the house. She also climbed stairs (on her own - crawling up) - a  new trait she developed while in U.K.

We just had a ball of a time . Welcome back Sitara - my “thapli”.

Tomorrow we will stop over at her house (on our way to Toronto) to coddle her for a few minutes.

———————————————————-

Monday 30 June 2008

What a time we had on Friday 27 June 2008 when we stopped at Mackay to play with Sitara. She embraced  us so lovingly and wanted just to play with us. She held my hands and want to walk around the house. She sat & played in her pink foam rubber settee (chair) and offered such beautiful laughs . She went with her grandma -made  her to lift her and coddle her. She wants to go with grandma to look at all the artifacts and stuffs hanging from the wall or put on the shelves. While with her grandma , she climbed the stairway (14 steps) to her parents room upstairs. 

Sitara is the angel and “love of our heart”. She brings joy and happiness from her playfulness and also to make us understand what she wants to communicate to us (at her age of 10 1/2 months -she does communicates well).

Well today (Monday 30 June 2008)on our return from Toronto ,we stopped  at Mackay to play with her but to our chagrin we found that she had gone to  Muskoka (cottage country ) with her parents. This girl is a traveller and does not remain at home for long.   Good for her as she is exposed to many sounds and views of nature and other human beings.

 ——————————————————

Tuesday   01 July 2008 ( Canada Day)

Today is Canada’s 141st birthday- Sitara’s first one to celebrate. Her parents were thinking of taking her out to watch fireworks at Petawawa but on reflection it was found to be too late. (the fireworks were to begin at 10.00 pm - way past Sitara’s bed time). So it was decided to spend time with grandparents at home in Mackay. What a lovely time we had all together. Sitara had a visit to the neighbours in the early afternoon and after the grandparents arrived (at 3.00 pm) - we all went to the pool.  Sitara was in  her float for a while. We took video and photos . After that she was splashing water in her mom’s and then dad’s hands. She was just enjoying being in the water. After the swim in the pool, all went to the Hot Tub - of course the temperature was kept tepid so that Sitara feel comfortable. The girl just enjoyed the hot tub -she did considerable ulululu  ( the noise from the lips - a sort of musical but not needing any words). She just was having fun and thus made us all happy and enjoying the hot tub.

After the water fun, she had a bath, a bottle of milk (formula) and then  she was just having fun playing with her grandma and then with her toys.  She was all naturally happy and did walk few steps (at least four times) between her grandpa and mom.

After her dinner at 6.00 pm  ( we all had our supper about the same time) she played for a while and then went to bed on time ( at 7.30 pm).

The grandparents and parents then played cards. The grandparents return to Deep River at mid-night.

___________________________________________

Friday  04 July 2008 (America’s Independence day)

Today Sitara has gone to Toronto with her parents - once again on the move. They have gone to Toronto to attend a wedding.

Yesterday, grandparents visited her at Mackay. She was busy with guests - who had arrived a day before to visit her parents. Moreen & Mike are Nina’s great friends and they have three kids. Two girls (Natalie & Lauren) are about  2 1/2 year and 4 years old but ther son (Ryan) is 3 months old. Ryan is so handsome and always smiles at you. Natalie liked to play with Sitara. At one time yesterday (Thursday 03 July 2008) when Sitara was crawling all over the place, Natalie joined her. Both of then were like having a race. Oh! what a scene with a lot of noise and adults watching the race with amusement.  This excitement led Sitara to explore places which were (kind of) no no to her before and thus go beyond the boundaries which were earlier established . This led the parents (mom & Grandma) to move things on the floor away to higher places for Sitara’s safety. 

Now we wait for her to return to Mackay before we can play with her.

______________________________________________

Wednesday 16 July 2008

Today Sitara came to Grandparents home (with her parents). She was as charming as ever. After her lunch, Sitara had a visitor (Jordan - the next door granddaughter - Chelsea’s daughter) . Both played well together.

Sitara is now toddling along well. Yes, she walks on her own willpower and climbs the stairs. She has been todddling around on her own for last three days.

Grandparents took her for a stroll on the streets of Deep River. Grandpa was pushing the stroller - a fun of immense proportion - as this was his first. They went along Rutherford Av to Ridge & going thru the Frontenac and back to the house walking thru Avon St.

Sitara is so polite and watches carefully to see that all is acceptable to grandpa or grandma.

She is just a doll - “love of our hearts”.

_____________________________________________

Thursday  17 July 2008

It is out. Sitara is coming of age - a full one year old.

I think the parents are preparing to celebrate her 1st birthday.

How do I know? Well we received the foillowing electronic mail yesterday.

Sitara’s First Birthday

Hi everyone! 
 
It’s amazing to think that Sitara will be one year old.  Time flies so fast!
 
Please join us for tea and CAKE on Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 to Celebrate our little girl’s first brithday!
 
Come over from 2pm to 4pm.  We will cut the cake at 3pm.  This will give people time to get back to Deep River for the Summerfest festivities.
 
We will be in Deep River in the evening enjoying the beer tents while the grand parents have some quality time with Sitara  
We hope to see you either at our place or the beer tents in town. 
 
Please RSVP by July 28th, 2008.
 
See you soon!
 
Sunjay, Nina and Sitara
______________________________________________

Friday 18 July 2008

Sitara came to her grandparents home at noon (as her parents were going to Pembroke for some errands) and stayed with them till sundown.  She played and played with grandpa and grandma separately and together. 

Today not only she crawled up the stairs but also started to climb down on her own.  Mind you ever so careful, she only did that once for top two steps (turning on her belly and putting so carefully one foot on the lower step and followed by the second one).  After that first try, she stopped trying  as she is still figuring out in her mind what manouvers are required for safe climbing down stairs.

Now she walks very confidently all over and also while standing up she can bend and pick up things from the floor. She just enjoy walking around and exploring the surroundings.

Tomorrow she is coming to Deep River to attend  a barbeque party with her prospective baby sitter (Pyoli) in the days to come.

____________________________________________

Sunday 20 July 2008

There she goes again - on the travel route. Sitara joined her parents to go to Quebec City to celebrate its 400 anniversary. 

Sure of its charms and just a touch haughty, Québec City’s gracious yet simple style continues to delight its visitors, year after year. The city has everything it takes to please: an enchanting setting on the St. Lawrence, a priceless architectural heritage, a rich and colourful past and, above all, a warm heart bubbling over with the special joie de vivre that has characterized it for four centuries.
Her parents stopped over at the house in Deep River (for about 15 minutes) to drop some of the parishable vegetables, eggs and a pouch of milk .

Grandparents just coddled Sitara while she remained enconsced in the car seat. Grandpa gave her a couple of kidddie books - to help her relax while on the move in the car.

Of course she cannot read but she likes to play with the pages of the book and thus progressively get familiarised with holding books.

 _____________________________________________

Sunday 27 July 2008

Sitara had a successful week away from home to Quebec City with her parents. Yes, they came back yesterday ( Saturday 26 July, 2008) and went directly to their home (in Mackay) without stopping at the grandparents - that was a bit considerate - of course they did not want to disturb the grandparents late in the day. Good sentiments - though we were gone out for dinner at our friend’s (Malay’s) home in Deep River .

Welcome back Sitara - I am sure we will meet one of these coming days.

Well, we were fortunate to have her on Tuesday 29 July, when her parents came to Deep River for few errands.

She just goes and goes -walking all over - never tiring - climbing stairs many times and just exploring and being playful.

Pravin Shah