Just an update!

I've been wanting to do an update with no pictures so I can record things that are going on in the Savage Indian household. I have already forgotten some of the cutest things that they have said or done.

The latest news: as of August 1, Vineetha is potty trained. We started her in the first week of June (right after Daddy's b'day) and she took exactly 2 months. It all started with Daddy sharing his Skittles pack (part of his b'day present) with her if she went potty. Now the word "Skittles" is a permanent part of the kids' vocabulary! After few ups and downs, we are all done including nights. She has been keeping it dry for the last two weeks so we now have two children who are potty trained. What a cute little girl she is! She loves to give hugs and kisses. She knows all her alphabet (has known them for a long time now) and is always ready and willing to read a book with Mommy. Today she was singing away with her own version of "Amazing Grace" in the car and it was quite entertaining. Then she switched to "This Is My Father's World". She often sings around the house, especially when she is not talking. She is usually the first to wake up and join Momma in her bed until we both hear Tirzah saying 'Mommy' over and over. Then she goes potty and we go to get Tirzah. So that is how my morning starts these days.

Tirzah gets a diaper change and then they both get changed into day clothes before we go to the kitchen for a banana breakfast. All three kids eat a banana each. While the girls are eating, Vijay wakes up and comes over and usually wants to be held. When we are all done with breakfast, we do a little reading, mostly focusing on Vijay to help him identify letters, numbers, colors, etc.. He is doing very good and improving steadily. I had gotten away for awhile but I have slowly begun working with him again as of a couple of weeks ago. He is also answering the first four catechism questions from the Truth and Grace Memory Book and doing much better with talking. He does get lazy to speak clearly but he is getting better all the time and we are very thankful for each small step in that direction. He rides his big bike very well but rarely rides it b'cos he loves to ride his sister's tricycle because he can put a little truck or a brick or rock in the storage compartment in the back. They all love the swing so they take turns to be in it. Vijay did figure out how to swing side to side on his own but he often likes when Mommy or Daddy gives him a good push or make it spin. He loves the color orange and even asks to wear his orange shirt on a regular basis. So anyway, after a little bit of reading, we all go outside to the backyard. I'm always curious to look for new sprouts or fruit or vegetable and while I distract myself with the garden or weeding, my kids usually get busy rolling in the dirt. Soon it is time for cleaning hands and a snack. Before we know it, it is lunch time. We got a kiddie pool recently (thanks to Anita for the idea of washing them off first in it) so they play in it until I take them inside to rinse them off and change them before lunch. We usually do peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and add a few pieces of carrots or fruit. After that, I keep them inside and they play with whatever they can find until nap time around 1:30 or 2ish. The girls usually request to sing "Holy Holy Holy" and a Telugu song called "Araadhana" so I lay down next to one of them and sing it. If I have the energy, I sing few more Telugu songs once in a while. Vijay lays down on his bed but is not really taking naps anymore. I usually get him out around 3:30 or 4 depending on how much break I need. The girls sleep until 4. When they wake up, I let them watch a show, usually on Netflix. These days their favorite is Word World. I get dinner started around this time. When Daddy gets home around 5:30, we eat dinner and we all hang out in the backyard or go to the store or to the park. When we get home or come inside, it is usually time for family prayer which includes a hymn (same one for the whole week), Scripture reading and prayer time. Tonight we sang the following hymn:

"Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth.
Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.

Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.

Fasting alone in the desert,
Tell of the days that are past.
How for our sins He was tempted,
Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
Tell of the sorrow He bore.
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.

Refrain

Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain.
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see.
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
Love paid the ransom for me.

I often hear them singing the songs we sing in family prayer. We also sing the Doxology "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" at the end with hands lifted. Sometimes we sing "Glory Be to the Father" between Scripture reading and prayer. We ask them catechism questions during this time and try to teach them a new question & answer. They also say their Bible verses (Gen. 1:1, Ephe. 6:1, Matt. 22:37 & 39).

It is so cute to hear Tirzah say her verses. She usually skips most of it and says three or four words. For example, for Eph. 6:1, we usually only hear the words 'obey' 'Lord' and 'right'. She is 20 months old and she is already putting words together and making sentences. Tonight she said, "Daddy, I love you" and the other day, she said 'Mommy, come on' as she takes my hand to go somewhere. She loves to give her open mouth kisses. As I write these things, I'm thinking I probably should video those moments but the moment is usually gone by the time I get the camera. She loves the swing but usually tries to stand up in it because she is quite adventurous. She does get into trouble quite a bit so gets disciplined many times. She loves to go into the bathroom and play in the toilet :( She still eats dirt whenever she gets a chance. She has 9 teeth and one molar coming just now. She is still wearing 9-12 months clothes and is so much fun to watch. She is growing up so fast and we are enjoying each moment with her. She loves playing with both her siblings and calls them both by name. Our kids bring a smile on our faces often and what a blessing they are (contrary to the popular belief that they are a burden).

Our vegetable garden is producing fruit and I'm thankful that God has blessed the work of our hands. There are tomatoes, egg plant, serrano chillies, yellow squash, green peppers and beans. There are just two potato plants. :( It is a very small garden but it is a joy to see the fruit. It surely is a team work. I started with weeding, Cameron tilled the soil, we planted together and we usually take turns to water the garden (no sprinkler system for that area). God gives the increase! Lord willing, we look forward to more gardening next year. We also have herbs in pots (Thanks to Sarah for a great housewarming gift. Those gloves were perfect as I did so much weeding in the last few months).

It is late and my computer is running low on battery so later...