happy_tenth_birthday_agrata

My dear Agrata,

Soon you will be entering in double digit age . I am too excited that my little girl will be 10 years old. Due to corona I will not be able to celebrate the way it should be but still will try to make it best for you. You asked me that this is your 10th bday and want 10 gifts ,which I started collecting it for you as per your choice, isn't it? I hope you are liking it 🙂. 

This is very expensive bday for me, you 👀 🙈.  But in the end its all about your happiness. Still three gifts are pending which are surprise gift , cake and bday dress 👗 😍.  Just think when you will turn 16 you will ask for 16 gifts then it will be crazy hunting 😜 then your choices will change not all this unicorn and frozen things. 

You see I am writing this blog like after years of break just for you to create a memory for me and you. Do you remember your last 9 birthdays? I remember each and every year and you know how much I love baking and organising party at home from scratch. Hardly I remember thrice we celebrated it outside once I was very sick to do anything and twice i wanted it to be families get-together. Its because of you I invaded baking hobby in me. I loved making birthday cake for you and last year doll cake was not a bad attempt. What do you say ?

As every mother I wish to give you all what you desire and deserve. Sometimes I neglect your demands because we should learn to stay happy even if we don't get what we want. You know in this 10 years I found that you love travelling like your dad. I am totally opposite of it I never liked travelling but thanks to you and your daddy that I visited beautiful places. Do you remember how many places you have visited so far ? Kenya is the place you are born excluding places you visit here then and now list is big for little age like yours. Let's jolt it down here begins with Estonia which you visited twice, latvia, Finland,  Sweden, Vienna, bratislava, Prague, Budapest and Dubai. O God! Agrata you are creating wonderful memories for yourself.  I wish you get to see whole world 🌎. 

You remember you started your schooling when you were just 2.5 years old. You never cried first day of school, I still remember you were so happy school going kid. You are bright student too, best memory was when you topped in your class 1 in whole section. Your name on school board made me so proud of you.  I just know if you work hard you can excel in your studies. Don't mind you are not now serious which you should be , education is only that treasure which will last. You have that potential my girl! Please think about it. I know you are giving your best but still you can do better. You are good in dancing 💃 always ready to perform or compete. You have a sweet voice which you always demonstrate me by singing. You are an extraordinary girl , I love you head over heel.

You have received many trophies and medals 🏅 and I am very proud of it. You remember when you got blue tie for becoming class monitor??? You were so happy that day I felt you want to shine.

There are many things to count and share. You were so small and delicate 10 years back and see now you are grown beautiful and confident girl.

Don't mind sometimes you irritate me alot too. You know one is your screen time habits, I really hate this pandemic which forced me to give you tablet cause mobile screen size could effect your eyes. But here you see you are taking it granted. Another One is too much emotional you are for your friends. I admit having good friends is boon but friends who makes you upset and cry,  try to keep distance. Play, laugh, fight, do everything but not keep anything in your heart. One lesson which every parents want to pass that parents are one and only friend whom you can trust and rely till end. I know I am not a great mother will say I am a typical Indian mother with so much drama. But you are an apple of my eye and trust I want to be your BFF. 

 Looking at above picture I realise your last year must have been best year cause you got your dog.As we promised you that whenever we will own a place without restrictions on pets will buy you one puppy and see with you your dog has too turned an year old. He shares your birthday month which makes you so happy. Yesss one more happy thing happened i.e your own room with pink theme, must say 2020 was a good year.

I know you think daddy is cool as he never shouts or ask you to study. But here I want to correct you that he works 6 days in a week online n offline just to give us better life. So whatever time he is at home he just wants to spend good time with you. But in heart he also wants you to be focused towards studies with another activities. He wants you to adapt good healthy habits and stay fit by eating less junks. 

Here I go boring you like every night I do before putting you to sleep 💤.  My darling beti read it carefully 😘 

1 - Please memorize by heart hanuman chalisa,  it will help you throughout to stay strong and fearless.  

2 - Water intake minium to 6 glass,  which you don't listen atall.                                                     

3 -This year too we will follow Thursday n Saturday as a junk food one time meal. So don't ever think anything will change 🙂. I just want you to take charge of your own health and well being. Expect you to start eating tomatoes 😋 . 

3. This thing i have started noticing now that you have started comparing by saying my friend has this , her parents bought her this. Which really upsets me and want to insist that happiness comes from appreciating the things you own not comparing others. Always thank god for better life and see people who don't even have what you have.                                             4 - very important ! be careful ! when you choose friends. You will meet different shades of people. Some will be nasty, cruel but some will be loyal and true. Its just you have to be patient to see their true side. Then only start trusting and pouring your feelings towards them. If they don't treat you well still no need to be revengeful just leave them and keep a distance.   Friendship sustains when both party give their best to each other.                                                               

5 - Teachers, friends, relatives, not everyone is going to like you , its impossible to please everyone. But its your priority to love yourself, make those decisions which are right for you. 

6 - I know you too juggle with your problems which some you share and some you hide. I am there for you whether its good or bad. We as a parent will always help you overcome your problems. But if you are wrong we will be your best critic and advisor, which I know you don't like most of the time. But one day you will understand like we do now. Parents are important part of life. 

7. You know i really appreciate the way you help me in house chores. Please be like this ever don't show tantrums in future 😔.  Please continue keeping your room and cupboards neat and tidy. Every weekend you help daddy as his assistant in kitchen duties, best thing to watch you both cooking, cleaning together.  I see even you enjoy that, am I right?         

8.  Keep your opinion , its your right to open your mouth if you see unfair moments. Even in my case you want to tell I am wrong, which you are scared to say on my face sometimes but ...but ...but ...you are free to correct me but only when others are not around us. We both will correct each other in private 😝.

9. No expectations, no disappointment ...loud and clear ,please don't keep with anyone. As a parent we are there for you but we too cannot full fill all your expectations. 

10. Everyone has different weaknesses and strengths . So do you, so relax and keep doing your best.

11. I overwhelm seeing your saving habit. You are better than me on this. I believe that you know importance of money and how it builds security and independence. It is one of many great habit of yours, keep doing it. Spend wisely and save more.                                           

I know sometimes I am too strict and loud which really upsets you. I am sorry 😞  mera gudda but i loose my patience which i promise will work on it. You will see my better version too as I am growing too as a mother. There will be times when you will hate me but remember I am still there for you.  You are very precious 💖 to me.

      I tried to compiling your tiktok videos so that you see how talented and jolly you are, as you have quit doing tiktok but still you can look into other apps to explore 😉.  One of them is start blogging, write and display interesting stuff. Check YouTube link for tiktok compiled videos. 

 I have collected video birthday wishes from kanpuria families too for your special day. Hope you will like to see their love and awesome birthday's wishes.

Happy 10th birthday meri beti 😘  👈 click here

                                                  

Here's pictures of the your special day with fans and fun you had together. 

I hope you liked my idea of twinning dress 👗 on this day. I really made much better chocolate cake 🎂 too this time. I am improvising , rite? And you got your 10th gift too of your choice that is unicorn pink school bag 🎒.  So it was well spent birthday my darling toto .

Fa Kids Shower Gel & Shampoo - Extra Mild Formula

I was using J&J no more tears shampoo for my child since her birth. When I came across this Fa shower gel and shampoo for children I could not stop myself buying it. I really like Fa body sprays and products. I gave a thought to try once for my kid. It is mild with no tears and tangles features.  After washing leaves hair soft and skin not so dry. Even my daughter loves it!! what else I want.

I will buy it again. But as I like trying other products too if I found better than this will pick that once it is finished.

Ingredients:-

Aqua (water), Sodium laureth Sulphate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Niacinamide, Panthenol Polyquaternium-10, Parfum (Fragrance), PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Citric Acid, Denatonium Benzoate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 42090 (Blue 1), CI 16035 (Red 40)

Rate :
3/5

AquaFresh Toothpaste - Milk teeth (0-3 years) fluoride protection 500 ppm

This time I bought this tooth paste for my little one.  I must admit that it is much difficult chore for me brushing her teeth. As she is two years now wants to brush her own. Sometimes, she will say big NO to brush even. But somehow her dad manages to brush her with fun.

I read somewhere to choose fluoride free toothpaste for children less than two. I use safe, natural and low fluoride toothpaste. This toothpaste has low fluoride protection for teeth and gum. My daughter is not liking Aquafresh  taste because earlier Colgate brand baby toothpaste use to brush daily and happily.

I will not buy this brand again once it is finished. I am looking for natural toothpaste because of her teeth problem. But as I am in Kenya I don't found so far.

Rate:-
2/5

Vaseline BLUESEAL - Pure Petroleum Jelly

Hello there,

If you have read my earlier post about my daughter's dry skin problem, you will be happy to know this jelly worked so well. I am so happy to use it on my baby's skin. After using so many baby creams and oil this is the one I will rate 5/5. Before this I have applied J&J petroleum jelly but results were not satisfactory.

But for this petroleum jelly I will say "THIS IS IT".

Now I can feel the same softness the day she born while holding her.

Ingredient :-
Petrolatum

Directions:-
For healthy and smooth skin apply daily.

Rate:-
5/5

Aqueous Cream - Johnson's Baby

My daughter's skin is a core dry, I am using this word core because whatever cream or oil I use to massage within a minute is absorbed and leaves behind dryness. I am still struggling to find a better option which suits my baby's super dry skin. So far I have not found that best cream or oil. Even her head scalp is very dry, 24 hours and 7 days I keep massaging oil on her head to protect from dryness and itching.

This Johnson's aqueous cream is fine but not satisfactory for me. It comes in blue and pink packaging with good fragrance. As it is labelled that gently moisturises and nourishes keeping baby skin soft all day, I don't agree at all. For whole day softness I have to apply it for 3 times a day. May it work for other skin type but not for my daughter. It is labelled to use at bath time as cleanser but it gets difficult to handle then, skin becomes super slippery, cannot manage.

Johnson's products are ever trust able from years, even my mother used it for me.  Even its range of soap, powder, oil and cream I have used for my little one.  But this brand is not helpful for my kid.

Ingredients:
Aqua, Petroleum, Paraffinum liquidum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceteareth 20, P- Anisic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Parfum, Cl 17200

Method to use:
Use at bath time as a cleanser and afterwards as a gentle moisturiser.

Price :

Zinc & Castor Oil Cream - BELL'S

My Feedback:
This is protective cream against nappies rashes and irritation.  I am using it since the birth of my daughter now almost 2 years. I completely rely and trust on this cream without any side effect so far. I seriously recommend this cream to mother's looking for solution to rashes. Must TRY!!!

Directions For Use :
Wash and dry the area and apply evenly and lightly at each nappy change.

Active Ingredients :
Zinc Oxide B.P. , Castor Oil B.P. , White Petroleum Jelly, White Beeswax.

Available:
As I stay in nairobi, Kenya and was prescribed by a renowned doctor bought this from pharmacy.

Price : I bought it 2 years back so not remembering for how much I bought it.

Activities for kids less than one year

Being a first time mother, I was complete naive about kid handling. In initial month new born just likes to sleep.  When the baby is awake and calm,you can plan some activities which can engage baby. It is natural that most of the time baby try to assimilate things like seeing and recognising, hearing voice and reacting to it, smelling, tasting and smiling.

                                      After delivery days and night are very tiring and exhausting. Be prepared for sleepless nights. Still, for proper baby development need to take out time for your kid. Enjoy every second of this golden time which will never come back.

Here are few activities which I followed with my little precious doll, she is now 2 years :) they grow so fast (touch wood).

Take baby out for a walk :

These day prams or stroller are so much in use,have been recast as status symbol. In some survey this has seen a 13% rise in spending between 2008 and 2010 and now accounts for 30% of all spend on baby and nursery goods. But must say super comfort and relaxing option are prams, baby pusher for parents and babies both. 

- Oil Massage

Massage is very good for health not only for adults but babies too. It feels really great..isn't it? Massage is known as one of the best healing tool gives the feel of compassion, support and most important relieves from pain and stress. Giving massage to baby should be routine because it stimulates proper baby development mentally and physically. After a gentle massage baby feels energised and active throughout the day. The best oils like olive, mustard, coconut  and many more are available in local stores. In normal temperature room massage baby body with gentle hands stroking upwards movements. Massaging is known as a best healing tool relieves from stress and pain. Encouraging daily massage routine gives good bonding between baby and mother and opportunity to spend time with each other and have fun. Try to avoid scented baby oil and mineral oil. If you are buying oil first time, buy small bottle because sometimes some oils don't suits little one. Once you are sure about particular oil can buy big bottles else it will be waste of money and oil :D .

- Toys

Toys are very important for child development. It is very important to select toys according to child age, else it is waste of money. Children's less then 1 are very young to play any kind of game perhaps very difficult job. You will find play mats, dolls, shapes toys, musical toys, soft toys and many more. These days toys are mapped under child-experts to ensure that each toy will help your child learn and grow. The first year is perhaps the busiest and most important for child physical  and mental development. It is during this year when babies develop muscle strength and control to help hold their body up and move against gravity. They learn to move, crawl, sit on their own and complete simple tasks.

- Verbal Communication

As babies are not able to speak but they talk to you through verbal and non verbal communication. In early days baby cry's makes mother understand their feeding need, gas problem, nappy wet etc. But as they grow they communicate through body language. Baby loves when someone talk to them with funny expression on face. If you will sing for them believe me they will love it and sometimes sleeps nicely. funny noises, sounds, laughing all this are favorite activities for babies to keep engaged them whole day.