Splish, splash, splosh

Namaste!
These are some photos from our family trip to a nearby water park last weekend. There was a perfect baby pool for me with lots of slides and waterfalls - I even went down to the big slide with Mama and Papa - lots of splashes! We are all well and happy. My latest toy is discovering how to turn the tv on and off and the fact that it swivels on its stand - amazing. I am not interested in watching the tv at all, just turning it on and off, endlessly. Well at least it is better than exploring the balconies! We have now booked our flights to come back to England so we will arrive on the 4th May. I am so excited about the flight as I will have 10 hours to explore every inch of the plane, there is absolutely no way I will sleep, I don't want to miss a thing. Just think, maybe Papa will take me to visit the pilot.....It is so hot these days, I am sleeping in only my nappy, one night I also slept in Mama and Papa's room with the ac on - lovely. Got to sign off now as we are going to Mama's yoga class - Friday is 60 sun salutations in a row, she always looks a peculiar colour when she comes out! I love you lots and lots xxxxxxxx

Baby Buddha

Mama and I took an outing to a Tibetan monastery today just two hours away from Mysore. Mama has been there a couple of years ago but she never imagined she would be returning again with me! Bylakuppe is the name of the Tibetan settlement where the monastery is housed. The monastery is home to 4000 monks and 700 nuns and it has 5 stunning temples which contain 68ft high gold statues of Buddha and his reincarnations. A lovely friendly monk, Tayshi (which means "good luck" in Tibetan) gave us a tour of the temples and explained the tenets of Buddhism to us and even showed us a holy stupa which usually non-Buddhists cannot visit. Being a baby has lots of perks! Apparently my name should be Buddha as he was the first son, not so far fetched as you might imagine given my slightly Tibetan looks. Even Tayshi suggested I might be a reincarnation..... Before we left this morning I also helped Sujatha make chappattis as you can see in the photo - flour everywhere!
Daddy has a day off tomorrow with us - yippee! xxxx

Joseph Schumacher!

Dora the Explorer

I hope you emjoy these videos that Mama took of me today. As you can see, I have an inquisitive intellect and am currently attracted to cleaning items! Mama continues to do her yoga every morning and I go along too and have a power nap and then a walk in the leafy avenue with Sujatha until she comes out, looking a bit hot, but full of renewed energy! I went to Papa's office this morning, I really do love it there. I sit happily in my cot in the main office watching all the activity. We go next door to Mangalama's house for lunch. Today I chomped through a sweet chappatti and some rice whilst at the same time trying to get into the kitchen to help to roll the chappatti dough. I just can't understand why I wasn't allowed, it looked so much fun, and so messy! Every afternoon Mama takes me out in the sling, forward facing now (da dah!) and I absolutely love it! Of course we attract lots of attention but everyone smiles at me which makes me and Mama smile too. I particularly like going to the local fruit and vegetable market nearby, the fruit sellers always give me a free banana and Mama a flower for her hair. Happy days.

Curioser and curioser

Catch me if you can!

My first fancy dress party

Hello, happy Sunday

Yesterday Mama and I went to my first fancy dress party! I was outnumbered though by lots of girls. I was a little shy at first and sat on Mama's knee taking it all in, but then I got into my stride and chased balloons around and ate chocolate cake. I had lots of fun. In the photos I am wearing a traditional Indian kurta and dhoti with my silver jingly ankle bracelets on. Mama said I looked like a prince from 'The King & I'. I think I may wear this for my christening too...if it still fits. xxxxxx

Multitasking - talking AND crawling!

Life in the fast lane

Buenos dias.
We have just returned from a romantic Valentine's break to the fabulous Leela Palace in Bangalore, another taste of 5 star luxury for me! I just keep lapping it up! Within moments of arriving all the staff knew my name, from the Gurkha doormen to the Duty Manager, one bat of my big eyes and everyone came running! Papa had some meetings there, in the meantime, Mama and I did some shopping, had a dip in the pool and I did a lot of crawling and exploring around the lobby, hauling myself up, effortlessly, on the silk divans and generally loving my new surroundings. Mama and Papa had planned a romantic evening meal and I was fast asleep but as we left the hotel room I opened my eye and I twigged what was happening and decided to stay awake all throughout dinner. I like to keep them on their toes! So we celebrated Valentine's evening en famille - he he he. Crawling is passe now and I much prefer to be standing at every opportunity, as you can see from the photos. Mama can't baby proof the flat fast enough!

I also want to wish Nanny Happy 60th Birthday!!!!! We love you and miss you very much, you're the best. xxxxxxxx

Happy viewing!

Here are a couple of videos that Mama has taken of me this week. During the "Dinnertime" video Mama mistakenly held her hand over the speaker in the last bit of it so don't think there is something wrong with your computer when everything goes quiet! I am very well,really loving standing up against anything going and I love following Mama from room to room. My latest discovery is that the toilet seat makes a great noise when I bang it! The other video is of me playing with my favourite "toy" which is the telephone, no matter where I am I make a beeline for it. Itkeeps me entertained for ages, especially when it starts to play a song. We love you all and miss you every day. Ciao xxxxxx

Sleeping and standing - my two favourite pastimes!

My favourite toy!

Photo gallery

Hello

Here are a few photos from the last few days. I now love standing up using anything within reach, usually Mama's legs. Daddy and I went with Mama for her tennis lesson on Sunday as the court is in the middle of farmland. Whilst Mama was playing Daddy took me for a walk on his shoulders, I held onto his hair for support! I loved being outside "mooing" at the cows and "baaing" at the sheep. Our cleaner, Sujatha, now makes me chapattis every morning which I have with my lunch, they are so tasty. Today I had a banana flavoured one which was just yummie. I love all my food really, especially the fresh strawberries which are now in season and the extra juicy pineapples. Mama has also made me some delicious chicken recipes, my favourite is chicken and apricot with lentils. Yum yum.

Love you all, remember you can skype us! xxxx

Crawling video!

One step, two step....

Independence at last - I'm crawling! Yippee, it is so much fun. I started off quite tentatively but in the last few days I have gathered pace. I even crawled into Papa's shower this morning, fully clothed, when his back was turned! I was lying in the water trying to work out why I was getting so wet. It really made Mama and Papa laugh. I have baskets of toys but my favourite items to aim towards are Mama's flip flops and her phone, both are so great for my teeth. I have a new toy hanging in my room which has me mesmerised; it is a handpainted Gujarati wooden mobile of Hindu gods and goddesses which Mama and I bought when we went to Gujarat a few months ago. I love it, Mama tells me that the gods look after me when I am asleep. It must be true because I am sleeping like a trooper every night. I still love my food and haven't rejected anything so far. I have a penchant for freshly cooked chapattis which I nibble on when we go to Papa's office, the kind lady Mangalama who lives next to Fieldbase, makes them for us. I eat fresh fruit and vegetables every day and like nothing more than delving my hand into my bowl and helping myself! Mama's is relaxed about it as it makes her giggle, but it is a big clean up operation afterwards. I have been swimming again with Mama and her French friend Fabienne. I was beside myself with excitement, although, my swimming trunks are a bit tight now, too many chapattis maybe? We are missing you all very much, but don't worry about us as we are well and happy and enjoying the sunshine. xxxxxxxxx

Breakfast time

Mama and me

Back in the land of sunshine and saris

Hello everyone

Here I am, I made it. We arrived back in Mysore a week ago. I loved the flight it was great fun. I had a big nap soon after take off which meant that Mama and Papa could watch some films! During the rest of the 10 hour flight I smiled away and charmed everyone, I was even given a Paddington Bear colouring book by the BA stewardess - which I tried to eat of course! It has taken us a few days to get over the jetlag but I think I am over it now. I am now a big boy and sleep in my own bedroom, I love the independence. Mama had decorated it with elephant photographs and wall hangings (thank you Grandpa Ashby for your assistance!) so my room is very colourful and bright. My sleep pattern is still a little erratic but Mama is praying to the sleep god that it settles down soon. Today my little friend, Lara, came over. She is a year old but we were really fascinated with each other, she kept hugging me but I pulled her hair and made her cry so I got my own back. I love sitting up on my own now but still resort to combat rolling to get where I need to. I have also just started shuffling backwards and forwards, well more backwards really, on all fours so I think I may have a go at crawling soon - watch out world. My appetite is still robust, 3 full meals a day plus snacking. Mama has been making me lots of vegetable meals, my favourite snack is the mini bananas they sell here as they are so sweet. Meat is a big no-no for me over here so I think Mama is threatning me with lentils and paneer (kind of like tofu) to keep my strength up. I do like the sunshine here, my skin is nice and soft again, but of course we miss everyone, I especially miss my cousin Ava Josephine. Aunty Faye please send her a big kiss from me. Sending everyone lots of kisses from me and Mama. Keep in touch xxxxxx