Bhalu is here to stay

Dear Bhalu,
Yes that’s right. I’m slowly resigning myself to the fact that you will always be Bhalu to people who love you. When I first called you Bhalu in a fit of affection I never thought I’d be saddling you with this veterinary epithet. Sorry …bhalu… I mean Hrit.
Don’t think I didn’t try to rectify my blooper. In fact I still haven’t given up totally. I go around rectifying everyone from your papa to Nanu and Nani ma and Suchi Tai and even Naishu and you yourself but it isn’t really working. First Nanu rebelled outright. “Jab hum Lucknow chale jayein tab tum theek kar lena. Hum toh bhai bhalu hi bolenge,” said he. Rinku masi insists, "Cute toh lagta hai. What's your problem?" Papa does try half heartedly but only when he says ‘bhalu’ and gets a nasty stare from me. You and Naishu switch to ‘Hrit bhai’ each time I correct you without any intention of sticking to it.
Anyway now I will only be glad if everyone forgets Suchi Tai's moniker "Bhalu don'. As for Bhalu well... come to think of it there's no more fitting name for you when you're at your exuberant best and break out into your bhalu dance. And then I can't decide whether to just watch you or to pick you up and give you a big hug. But hey, I've digressed. All I'll say is - Hrit bhai remain the sweet cuddly smiley bear always.
PS
Shakespear was right.. a bhalu is just as cuddly no matter what he's called - Hrit bhai, Hrit Pratap Singh or ... well... bhalu!

A few firsts

Here are a few firsts from us
First potty in the pot
First time I agreed to wear clips in my hair. Hrit bhai bawled because he wanted clips too so mama put one on the pocket of his trousers which made me want to put mine on my pockets too... what's the point of putting clips when you can't see them at all! Anyway finally we went to school with mine in my hair and Hrit bhai's on his pockets.
And now for the biggest first of all - Hrit bhai can count up to ten. Every night papa counts with him and one day he just went on without papa's help!
Talking of firsts --- here are some more... we're eating dal roti regularly these days so mama's most potent fear that we'll be the first twenty year olds of the world who will survive on mashed food have finally been put to rest. We've also started eating egg which makes mama feels soooo good.
Rinku masi get very irritated because mama's happiness so depends on how much food we've eaten. I guess even she didn't know it mattered so much to her but apparently it does.