Food

Dear Sonia,

Our family has an interesting relationship with food. Hopefully you'll get your mom and dad's genes and not have to battle your way through a weight-loss life, but even if you do, you've got plenty of company (me included!).

Here's some foods you should never stop liking:

- bananas
- yogurt
- avocados (Although I'm not sure you like them now. Get on that.)
- brown bread (Forget the squishy white kind. Ick.)
- tofu (You dig it. Your Nana doesn't get it. Don't listen to her.)
- grapes (It's your candy. Keep it that way!)

Foods there's no need to ever eat (even though you probably will):

- Velveeta cheese
- french fries in mass quantities (remember I told you this in college)
- fried dough (one of your mom's favorites!)
- doughnuts (really. There's just no need.)

The less you cook something, the better it is! I mean this for veggies (steam 'em!) and red meat (your parents are well-done fans, so you and I will have to make a date with some medium rare meat so you get a real taste of beef!). Course, chicken and pork needs to be cooked enough (that pink middle doesn't work for them). Veggies and fruits are spectacular and nothing tastes better than a yogurt/milk/banana/frozen fruit of your choice smoothie made in the blender at home. YUM.

Most of all, food should be enjoyed and savored. A meal out should be special, but so should a meal cooked in. What spices you use matter (and you get to have more spice education than others because of your Indian half - pay attention!). Making a lovely meal for yourself at home at night is a great event. Not just because you have to eat, but because of how delicious it can be - and you made it!

Your mom is a baker. She loves it in a way I don't. Baking for me is a chore. But cooking, ah, there's nothing better.

We'll cook some great meals together. I'll teach you how to not measure. How to make a great meal out of whatever's in the fridge even if it doesn't look like it goes together. How to make an instant light sauce from a tiny bit of butter, some milk and a shake of flour. How to freeze just about anything to use later (I have two bags of bread remnants and a bag of bread crumbs in the freezer right now just begging to be turned into stuffing!).

Here's to food, 'arita! I can't wait to cook with you.

Love,
Auntie K

Super Cute Song for a Super Cute Girl

Listen to this song.

Love,

Auntie K

Skypin'

Hey Sonster,

You Skyped the other night while you were having dinner. You had two pigtails and you looked super cute. You flirted with the computer screen (me!) and you played peek with me. It was pretty cool.

Your nanny likes to make you pretty and dress you all up, so you also had on the cutest little outfit. And you were spitting food all over it. :) Hee hee.

In other news, you have two teeth. Or, at least that's the story your mom is telling. I couldn't see them on the screen. But I believe her. I do! By the time I see you either this summer or in September, I'm sure there'll be more. Chewing must be easier now, huh? All that gumming bananas was getting old.

'kay, chica. I'm out. It's 10 in the morning and I'm meant to be working!

Love,

Auntie K

A Holy Apology

Dear Sonia,

I owe you an apology. While visiting you this past weekend, we did all kinds of cool stuff together. I slept in your room and was your pacifier concierge, giving you back your lost "pacey" when you woke up whining in the night and then telling you to go back to sleep (you obey so surprisingly well for a 12 month old, especially in this instance, considering you are almost completely asleep). We had a lot of meals together. We played peek-a-boo in the car. We danced. We had your birthday party.

Then we went to temple to get you blessed on your first birthday. My intention started innocently enough. I remembered after the first of three "stations" we were going to go through for the full blessing that I had my bag with me, which meant I had my little Ganesha with me. (He's the Hindu diety of overcoming obstacles and while I've had a little medallion with him on it since I visited Nepal nine years ago and a drawing of him hanging in my bathroom, I also purchased a small free-standing one in January while my life was seemingly falling apart to help me through.) I asked your dad if it would be okay to ask the priest to bless it while we were there. He did, involving your Nama in the ask so it would be completely understood.

Your Nama was very excited that I had a Hindu god in my purse. It was given to the priest for him to bless. And he did, giving it back to me, along with the flowers and other things that were used to bless him, and directions to put him in an auspicious place and begin to ask him for what I need the following Monday.

During this, your Nana was a little surprised that I had a Hindu god in my bag. I explained it to her. Then, I heard your Nama ask the priest to put into his prayer asks: a husband for me! So suddenly now, your Mom and Dad and I are giggling up a storm in the middle of a very serious blessing because your Nama has now asked the priest to help Auntie K get a husband!

So hence the apology, since I'm not entirely clear if any prayers even got said for you, little baby, your Nama was so pleased that your Auntie K was involved! Hee hee. Only kidding. I'm sure it was just in passing that the husband prayer was said. I mean, isn't health and prosperity on a first birthday just much more important than finding a husband? One would hope, right?

On the way home, I assured your Nana that I also carry a St. Christopher medal when I travel (he's the Catholic Patron Saint of Travellers). She asked why I didn't have a Saint Anthony instead of Ganesh. I asked what he was the Saint of, and she said "Lost Causes". That caused quite the laughing uproar in the car! But then she clarified a little, saying it was of lost things. Okay, well, I'd rather overcome an obstacle than be a lost cause. (For the record, I just looked up St. Anthony, and he's the Patron Saint of Lost Things and Missing Persons, so perhaps he's not such a bad idea after all, since clearly, my husband is a missing person!)

Anyway, chickadee, we had a fantab visit. You are walking! Which deserves its own post, and I promise I will, soon. I'm hoping I might get to see you this summer, but with you having a new house and a lot to do, I might not see you till I come to Houston again at Labor Day. Which isn't so bad. Perhaps you'll have some teeth by then!

Love you,

Auntie K

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday Sonia!

I can't believe it was one year ago today that you were born.

Glad you're here. We love you!

Love,

Auntie K

Home

Dear Sonia,

If I could have thought as hard as possible, for as long as I could about the cutest first word for a baby to have, I never would have come up with "home". And yet, here you are, again being the sweetest little child to ever grace the world. What a lovely first word, my niece.

I can't wait to get to your home in only 2 more weeks to finally see you (it's been a long 3 months) and to celebrate your first birthday! You are already 1! How did that happen? My goodness, time flies when you're a little baby learning so much.

I had to post this photo here, it was in the pile mom sent out from this past winter. You go, you little Sasha Fierce. Beyonce's got nothin' on you.

Love,

Auntie K

Teeth!

Dear Sonia,

You don't have any teeth yet. This is still within the realm of normal. We're not worried.

But the nosy woman at the grocery store yesterday was. She told your mom that it wasn't normal and that something might be wrong with you and that you should go to the dentist. Your mom made sure this nosy woman understood that you have a nurse and a doctor for parents, and you are all safe and medically taken care of. This woman didn't really care about that. She continued to tell your mom why you should be exposed to radiation at only 11 months to figure out where your teeth are hiding. Some people just don't know when to quit. (Or that they shouldn't even start to begin with!)

We're sure your teeth will all pop out at once, and the sweet, wonderful girl we know will be a monster when they do. We're not really looking forward to that, but we sort of are. Your Great Uncle J, who is a dentist, says not to worry. They are in there somewhere and will come out in good time.

So that lady at the grocery store? She should take care of herself better, instead of worrying about other people's children, because your mom said she looked like a hillbilly! :)

See you soon,

Auntie K