Monday, May 13th:
So today Dr Sultanov, the Director at the baby house, asked Deepak (in Russian) if we were exhausted yet and how we were dealing with everything and I saw quite a few pleasantly surprised eyebrows raised when Dee proceeded to tell him what all we do everyday including our daily use of the local bus, discovering local restaurants and of course the amazing time we are having here in Aktobe. AV's posture is getting better and better-poor guy has to go through a full parade and food and exercises and new toys and lessons every day. Its not a surprise he dozed off again in my arms after all that, while we sat in the sun. Now at home, where moong dal (found it in the hidden Uzbek Bazaar from a chinese food kiosk!) and capsicum aalu sabzi await with pulav that I cooked as soon as we got home. ALSO! Tickets to ALmaty booked along with a full service apartment ($50/night-even the translator is shocked how we found that!) near the city centre, I believe, (Airbnb rocks as always). Tien Shan mountains and Almaty to be planned out now-4 days there. Sara and all the Almaty moms, bring on the tips and suggestions.
Tuesday, May 14th:
Great performance of the lessons from the past 2 weeks, AV! Good Job! The representative from the Ministry was there today to note the progress of the 2 babies (Koko/John and ours) and she was very very pleased with what she saw, grinning from ear to ear she commended us all on the quiet, weak, blank boys we met on 29th April in that room who were now stronger, doing things that she wouldn't have believed unless she saw them herself and making loud sounds trying to express themselves (loved how AV talks to his 'twin' in the mirror). Now if she only knew all the secret food being given to him while Dee guards the door as I give him egg, dal soup, mashed meals etc. But hey! Its working, right! Plus he is now holding the sides of the slide and pushing himself off to giggles-this boy is going to give me many-a-heart attacks! Redder cheeks too. Ah! Im happy.
Wednesday, May 15th:
Praying for my paternal grandmother, Barhe mummy, today, as she is being wheeled in as of this moment to the operation theater for an amputation. God, pls have mercy on her. Praying for her suffering to end, hope the Doctor's can stop it from getting worse, with this operation. And praying for my dad to have the strength to go through this difficult time. I cannot imagine seeing a parent go through such suffering. Physically in Kaz right now but mentally in India at this moment. Pls say a prayer in your mind today for her.
What a day! Glad that my Grand-mom's operation was successful and she even has a lot of her memory back miraculously. The little warrior was in a full 'Daddy's boy' kinda mood today. Now drinks his compote, juice and water all by himself from his new sippy cup, enjoyed yummy sweet french toast that mommy made for him and sneaked in the afternoon, was entranced watching life by the window sill watching his first major thunderstorm, lightening and rainfall (not a shudder! this one is def a Brave lil guy just like his name suggests), showed that his sun sign really is Scorpio-first signs of anger-fists closed, teeth gritted et all! All because I took away the thing he was chewing on - Beks's toy. He will soon realize who he is dealing with, if he hasn't already. Woh ser to main sava ser. Its getting too hot for him, so we had him without tights under his pants for the first time today and saw his snow white legs and feet! "Apne paer zameen pe mat utariyega, maele ho jayenge".
Thursday, May 16th:
3 ft by 3 ft 1 person kitchen. Cooking for 9 people for tomorrow night's Dinner party. No exhaust, hot day. 2 hrs 4 dishes and appetizer mise-en-place done. Whew! Somebody give me a Daiquiri or Mojito, pls! A girl's allowed to dream, right?
Update 2 for Thursday - Another fun day. Got AV his first 'car'. A push-to-move toy car that he needs to sit on and push with his feet to propel himself forward. Took to it like a star, once he was shown how! Also enjoyed a few spoons of Moong Dal we had for lunch. Ginger, garlic tarka and all! Such a foodie, I tell ya! Now we need to prepare for the big dinner tomorrow and we are having our Kazakh Rep and her non-English speaking family over for an Indian dinner-on our regular 2 visit days so will surely be exhausting, but I need her mom to teach me some Kazakh dishes, so Indian din invitation is a must to break the ice.
Friday, May 17th:
What were we thinking when we agreed to hosting a full scale dinner on a weekday right after our very busy day of 2 visits in over 30deg C heat. I am going to be crankier than the baby tonight. Plan on doing vodka shots finally. Tomorrow has to be a day of rest otherwise Im going to be one heck of a cranky Indo-Canadian mom to a Kazakh baby in Aktobe.
Saturday, May 18th Afternoon:
It finally happened. The staff were treated to a very quizzical and petrified look from me when they handed us a baby 'sit-down-and-u-know-what' seat saying his Pampers are over. I was in panic mode suddenly never having had to deal with a baby boy in my life. Deepak had a nice chuckle at my expense watching me trying to figure out what on earth I was supposed to do. Alls well that ends well. It was pointless cause after the first 'session' (he was so good, went immediately as soon as I put him on it!), after an hr, he proceeded to 'bless' me drenching my only pair of jeans. Ah well, I'm just going to have to start understanding the signs and 'rules'.
Evening update: WOW! What an absolutely amazing day it turned out to be! After the morning 'baby-ventures', I was exhausted and wishing we hadnt planned anything for the day with every muscle in my body aching and begging for rest. Nyet. Off to the 'Local style' shopping we went with Saltanat's mom, Nurjamaal, her nephew who begged his mom to let him spend the day with us and Saltanat. And are we glad we did! Think Sarojini Ngr Mkt combined with Janpath with INA Mkt/Lajpat Ngr Mkt. That was the local farmer's market in the Old Aktobe area. Mommy Nur kept us all in line, made sure nobody took us for a ride, and matched my every offer for the vendors that we agreed to negotiate with for everything! The meat market was an adventure in itself since we had to buy all the Shaslik meat and veggies for tomorrow's big out-of-Aktobe country-side picnic that we convinced Salta to take us for. (Woohoo!!!) Since we refuse to shop at touristy places/tourist centred malls if possible, they took us to this awesome bazaar where we bought loads of Kazakh stuff for the house, mom, Hanu and of course Kazakh jackets for moi. Feet are killing me again (when are they not!) but we have an hour's break to rest before we get together again with Koko & John to marinate all the meat for the Shaslik and then head for dinner at the German Pub we've been told about. Ah. Just another Saturday here in Aktobe, Kazakhstan. Over and out.
So today Dr Sultanov, the Director at the baby house, asked Deepak (in Russian) if we were exhausted yet and how we were dealing with everything and I saw quite a few pleasantly surprised eyebrows raised when Dee proceeded to tell him what all we do everyday including our daily use of the local bus, discovering local restaurants and of course the amazing time we are having here in Aktobe. AV's posture is getting better and better-poor guy has to go through a full parade and food and exercises and new toys and lessons every day. Its not a surprise he dozed off again in my arms after all that, while we sat in the sun. Now at home, where moong dal (found it in the hidden Uzbek Bazaar from a chinese food kiosk!) and capsicum aalu sabzi await with pulav that I cooked as soon as we got home. ALSO! Tickets to ALmaty booked along with a full service apartment ($50/night-even the translator is shocked how we found that!) near the city centre, I believe, (Airbnb rocks as always). Tien Shan mountains and Almaty to be planned out now-4 days there. Sara and all the Almaty moms, bring on the tips and suggestions.
Tuesday, May 14th:
Great performance of the lessons from the past 2 weeks, AV! Good Job! The representative from the Ministry was there today to note the progress of the 2 babies (Koko/John and ours) and she was very very pleased with what she saw, grinning from ear to ear she commended us all on the quiet, weak, blank boys we met on 29th April in that room who were now stronger, doing things that she wouldn't have believed unless she saw them herself and making loud sounds trying to express themselves (loved how AV talks to his 'twin' in the mirror). Now if she only knew all the secret food being given to him while Dee guards the door as I give him egg, dal soup, mashed meals etc. But hey! Its working, right! Plus he is now holding the sides of the slide and pushing himself off to giggles-this boy is going to give me many-a-heart attacks! Redder cheeks too. Ah! Im happy.
Wednesday, May 15th:
Praying for my paternal grandmother, Barhe mummy, today, as she is being wheeled in as of this moment to the operation theater for an amputation. God, pls have mercy on her. Praying for her suffering to end, hope the Doctor's can stop it from getting worse, with this operation. And praying for my dad to have the strength to go through this difficult time. I cannot imagine seeing a parent go through such suffering. Physically in Kaz right now but mentally in India at this moment. Pls say a prayer in your mind today for her.
What a day! Glad that my Grand-mom's operation was successful and she even has a lot of her memory back miraculously. The little warrior was in a full 'Daddy's boy' kinda mood today. Now drinks his compote, juice and water all by himself from his new sippy cup, enjoyed yummy sweet french toast that mommy made for him and sneaked in the afternoon, was entranced watching life by the window sill watching his first major thunderstorm, lightening and rainfall (not a shudder! this one is def a Brave lil guy just like his name suggests), showed that his sun sign really is Scorpio-first signs of anger-fists closed, teeth gritted et all! All because I took away the thing he was chewing on - Beks's toy. He will soon realize who he is dealing with, if he hasn't already. Woh ser to main sava ser. Its getting too hot for him, so we had him without tights under his pants for the first time today and saw his snow white legs and feet! "Apne paer zameen pe mat utariyega, maele ho jayenge".
Thursday, May 16th:
3 ft by 3 ft 1 person kitchen. Cooking for 9 people for tomorrow night's Dinner party. No exhaust, hot day. 2 hrs 4 dishes and appetizer mise-en-place done. Whew! Somebody give me a Daiquiri or Mojito, pls! A girl's allowed to dream, right?
Update 2 for Thursday - Another fun day. Got AV his first 'car'. A push-to-move toy car that he needs to sit on and push with his feet to propel himself forward. Took to it like a star, once he was shown how! Also enjoyed a few spoons of Moong Dal we had for lunch. Ginger, garlic tarka and all! Such a foodie, I tell ya! Now we need to prepare for the big dinner tomorrow and we are having our Kazakh Rep and her non-English speaking family over for an Indian dinner-on our regular 2 visit days so will surely be exhausting, but I need her mom to teach me some Kazakh dishes, so Indian din invitation is a must to break the ice.
Friday, May 17th:
What were we thinking when we agreed to hosting a full scale dinner on a weekday right after our very busy day of 2 visits in over 30deg C heat. I am going to be crankier than the baby tonight. Plan on doing vodka shots finally. Tomorrow has to be a day of rest otherwise Im going to be one heck of a cranky Indo-Canadian mom to a Kazakh baby in Aktobe.
Saturday, May 18th Afternoon:
It finally happened. The staff were treated to a very quizzical and petrified look from me when they handed us a baby 'sit-down-and-u-know-what' seat saying his Pampers are over. I was in panic mode suddenly never having had to deal with a baby boy in my life. Deepak had a nice chuckle at my expense watching me trying to figure out what on earth I was supposed to do. Alls well that ends well. It was pointless cause after the first 'session' (he was so good, went immediately as soon as I put him on it!), after an hr, he proceeded to 'bless' me drenching my only pair of jeans. Ah well, I'm just going to have to start understanding the signs and 'rules'.
Evening update: WOW! What an absolutely amazing day it turned out to be! After the morning 'baby-ventures', I was exhausted and wishing we hadnt planned anything for the day with every muscle in my body aching and begging for rest. Nyet. Off to the 'Local style' shopping we went with Saltanat's mom, Nurjamaal, her nephew who begged his mom to let him spend the day with us and Saltanat. And are we glad we did! Think Sarojini Ngr Mkt combined with Janpath with INA Mkt/Lajpat Ngr Mkt. That was the local farmer's market in the Old Aktobe area. Mommy Nur kept us all in line, made sure nobody took us for a ride, and matched my every offer for the vendors that we agreed to negotiate with for everything! The meat market was an adventure in itself since we had to buy all the Shaslik meat and veggies for tomorrow's big out-of-Aktobe country-side picnic that we convinced Salta to take us for. (Woohoo!!!) Since we refuse to shop at touristy places/tourist centred malls if possible, they took us to this awesome bazaar where we bought loads of Kazakh stuff for the house, mom, Hanu and of course Kazakh jackets for moi. Feet are killing me again (when are they not!) but we have an hour's break to rest before we get together again with Koko & John to marinate all the meat for the Shaslik and then head for dinner at the German Pub we've been told about. Ah. Just another Saturday here in Aktobe, Kazakhstan. Over and out.
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