Where the Lil One makes his way to the two's

Yesterday, it was the Lil One's star birthday, where he turned two according to the Malayalam calendar. If one goes by the global calendar, then his birthday is still three weeks away.
But I tend to like the confusion and chaos that multiple birthdays bring and most importantly, if I grew up thus and the Lil One is my progeny, then obviously, the beacon has to be passed. That is only but fair.

So, lo I wake up in the morning, after fighting the inner demon who always nudge me ever so gently to snooze the alarm and get few more minutes of shut eye. And usually I don't scum. But not today, when the motherly hormones are in full swing and I emerge as Mother India. Well, Mother Kerala. Will save the Mother India part on his actual birthdate.

And what do you know. Mr. Upsi and the Lil One wakes up to the smell of payasam and poori, and brewed coffee. And no celebrations are ever complete without those customary calls, first from the Lil One's Mush in India. She has already been to three temples, did archana and naivediyam and was waiting for dawn to break in the US of A, so I would call and she could her the Lil One's voice. By the time his Bappa and Bappu called (maternal grandparents), he had already downed one poori and was licking paysam off the spoon.

The temple visit was scheduled for the evening. The Lil One was picked up from his school and duly brought home.I offered him some paysam as a snack, since dinner was only an hour or so away and we had to be in the Temple on time. He didnt want any and I didn't push. Gave him a quick shower and while he was mocking around, I pulled out one Kancheepuram, two bangles, one and only one mangalasutra, finishing off with sindoor. Red sindoor, if you ask.
The Lil One ofcourse had to have the kurtha, which was sent all the way from India, just for his second birthday, to be worn to the temple. He kicked and screamed and had a huge meltdown.
"Amma, paaaak...". Ofcourse, he wanted to go the park and not the temple. And ofcourse, he didn't want anything to do with the kurtha. He was never picky on his clothes, didn't care and didn't mind what was put on him. So obviously I was shocked. The Kancheepuram was a crumbled mess by the time I managed to put the shirt on him. You know, a little three feeter wrestling with me and I could not win. There was a dirty jeans lying on the floor and he wanted to wear nothing but that jeans. The matching pants for his kurtha lay tossed on the floor. Patience was never my trait and I was this close to smacking him. Mother Kerala! Phew. Bah.

So off we went, in creased Kancheepuram and jeans-kurtha combo, buckled ourselves in the car, whistling our ride to the Temple. Red Chillies live two homes away and I had packed some payasam for her and her family. Suddenly, from the back seat, the little terror shrieked and pointed to the tumbler, saying, yelling, he wanted it. He had no clue what was inside and was done solely to irritate me.
Then I realized that probably he is hungry. So offered a banana, which he happily devoured and within minutes, he was back to a happy camper, singing songs and pointing to trucks to me each time one passes by.

On the way back from the temple, we had dinner of course. Idli, masala dosa with sambhar and chutney, accompanied by filter coffee. At the cashier, we also got some meeta paan.

The Lil One slept on the way home.

This morning, he woke up happy. But two minutes into the day, he was acting cranky. Wanted to have my toothbrush to brush his teeth. Only Amma's toothbrush. I ignored him, which led to a meltdown, I continued ignoring and finally, he came around, asking for his.
Breakfast was waffles. I asked him if I shall cut it into bite sizes. He nodded. And watched me cut the waffles. I was almost done, when he got most upset and told me, "No amma, no, no", complete with hand movements, pouting lips and fat tears. He wanted an uncut waffle. Duh.

The two's are here, I guess. Say hello.