Chantel Arrival

We were quite excited on c's arrival day. I left office at 2. But around 3 we got the news that Athai and C's flight got canceled and they might be delayed. Later we heard that the airlines (American airlines - try not to fly this one!) put them on the 10 pm flight. That meant they have to be at the chicago airport for around 11 hours, after their 36 hour journey from madras.
After landing in STL, C was a bit shy and wanted to hide from us. Athai told her it was ok. But when C saw D, she came running towards her and hugged her. C could not say much, her face looked like C was about to cry, but didnt. I forgot to take the camera. Tried to take some pics with the cell phone.... :(

a new girl and walmart

C looks very different. Her mannerisms, her language, her expression have all changed. So, she looks like another girl. She understands more things now and so, we can have a conversation with her now. She is quieter.
The other day in walmart, she wanted to buy a princess dvd. When I said no, she agreed. Then she wanted to buy "cheetos". When i said no, she agreed again and told me that "see, I am a good girl. I am not crying like a baby - heee...heee - and I am ok if you say no" etc.
But when we went past the set of straws, C could not take it anymore. C said that she wanted it. She wanted a small box also. And started crying to get it. But later when she met D, C let go off the straws but wanted the box to keep her jewelry.

Security officer and pink bag

On her way back to STL, one of the security officer's at the airport checkpoint took C's pink dora backpack from her and told her that he would not give it back to her.
C said it was her bag and so the officer had to give it back.
The officer said it was his.
Then C said: this is a pink bag. Boys dont have pink. And so, it is MY bag.

Returning from India

C is quite excited about her trip to USA. She is finding anything and everything (coins, etc.) and tries to pack it in the US suitcase, saying that ‘she is taking those things for amma and appa.’ When Athai tried to explain her that the Indian currency will not be usable in the US, C started crying inconsolably!

C is also thinking that she has grown quite a big and told us that when we see her at the airport, we could exclaim that, “Chantel big girla ayittaa!”