We are planning to use this photo for our 2004 holiday card.

Here is Ashwini's monthly progress report...
  • Ashwini is getting very good at running around everywhere. I used to able to catch up to her by walking, but, I have to run to catch her these days.
  • Her stubbornness is increasing exponentially. She has trained her crying voice very well by practising it a lot. She knows how to use it effectively and get things done her way.
  • Ashwini is developing quite a personality now. She is not a baby anymore.
  • Brushing her teeth and putting lotion on her are the hardest activities. Sometimes making her eat food is quite challenging.
  • She is learning new words by the minute. Also picking up phrases from her parents and daycare teachers. Keeps using 'Oh, man' (me), 'I know' (mom) and 'Oh gosh' (teacher). She knows when to use them too.
  • Ashwini's talking has reached the next stage. She can say small sentences now like 'Ashwini bumped her head', 'I want apple juice', 'wind blowing my kesh', etc. I don't think we have much time before the 'WHY' questions start.
  • She used to complete lines from her rhymes by saying the last word with us, but now she can sing whole lines. She knows the whole alphabet song and can sing it with little help from us.
  • Ashwini makes us read her books over and over and over. That helps her to remember the story, I guess. She tells whole stories while going to bed. Not in whole sentences, but with enough words and correct sequence of events.
  • Her problem with opposites is getting better. She still gets confused with what is cold and what is hot.
  • She hasn't made any fuss about getting left at the daycare in a long time. I think she likes being there with other kids and is happy to see us leave.
  • Ashwini has been sleeping well for the last few weeks. About 3-4 weeks ago, we let her cry for about 40 minutes when she woke up in the middle of the night and she has been very good since then. Even if she wakes up, she goes back to sleep in a minute or two. I am surprised that it took her only one instance to realise that her parents aren't going to show up if she cried.
  • These days Ashwini can hold a book in her hand while in the car and can entertain herself.
  • We are looking forward to our India trip next week. Her potty-training is being postponed till after we come back.


This photo just illustrates how Ashwini makes us let her do anything she wants. Her tantrums are very successful. A small piece of bread wasn’t enough for her. She wanted to hold the whole thing and put it in her mouth.