My Lovely Ava

My Ava, you are something to behold; a little girl that takes time to smell the flowers and pick them too. You dance like nobody's watching, laughing as you throw your head back to perform your ballerina twirls.  You make up your own songs and sing at the top of your lungs.

Your style is something to behold, hair gloriously awry, with corkscrew curls that escape from your catawampus ponytail. You insist on wearing your frilly, flowery dress, but the outfit is not complete without the aqua blue goggles sitting on top of your head. Of course there are the butterfly wings, strapped over your blanket cape, with a pretty bag for your pixie dust hanging from your neck.  A light up watch. A flower pinned in your hair. A little girl’s cockeyed couture, you own the look. 

You love bubbles, books, kitty cats and you are fascinated by the stars and the moon. You are a true water baby, at home with your spade and bucket on the beach. You love packing your bag, with the anticipation of the adventures to come.  You love to be outside, sliding, swinging and bouncing where you can. A big plate of sushi will bring a smile to your face, as will an icing topped piece of birthday cake.

Your sun kissed, olive skin is silk to the touch and you smell like sunshine, cinnamon cupcakes and fresh honeydew. 

My lovely Ava, these are just a few of the reasons that I love you.

Juvy

We haven't written about Juvy yet. Juvy is Ava's nanny and we consider her part of our family. We met Juvy in spring of 2010 when Lisa brought Ava back home to Saigon and we didn't know it at the time, but we've been so fortunate to have such a great nanny for her.

Having a nanny was inevitable with two working spouses and we had reservations about leaving her with a complete stranger. However, we softened over time and realize now when Juvy comes through the gate at 6:45 am Ava runs to the door to say hi to her "tita" (Phillippino for Auntie) she is really saying "I love you tita!"

Juvy is on the right and to the left is another friend of hers with "baby kanu" a younger boy that Ava used to play with before he went back to New Zealand. She is beyond responsible, is so loving and caring, and I'm so appreciative of her efforts. I think it's about time that we give another raise!

Movie Night

On Friday night Ava went to her first movie.  I wasn’t sure if Ava was ready for the theater experience, thinking that she wouldn’t be able to sit through a whole movie, let alone sit quietly.  Our school had reserved an entire theater for a special SSIS movie night, so I figured that it was a good opportunity to take Ava, knowing that the theater would be filled with excited kids.  The featured movie was The Lorax, showing as a special closing in celebration of Earth Week at SSIS.  In preparation for the big night, Gary read Ava The Lorax before bedtime and she was instantly captivated by the story (Dr. Seuss is magic at all ages).  I also began talking to her about going to the movies so that by the time Friday came, Ava was so excited to go.

We of course began the big night out with a giant box of popcorn that also came with a pencil Trufala Tree.  We then climbed the steep stadium steps and headed for our seats. As soon as the lights dimmed and the screen came to life, Ava was at the edge of her seat.  During the movie, Ava asked a few clarifying questions, but for the most part she just smiled, laughed and was carried away with the bright colors of the scene unfolding before her.  Every once in a while I glanced over at her dimly lit face and saw that she was mesmerized by the figures on the screen.  I just imagined what she was thinking when the fabled Truffula Trees appeared on the screen looking so real that you could almost feel the touch of their tufts that were softer than silk and thinking if she breathed in that she could almost smell their butterfly milk.  

Back in reality under the bright lights, someone asked her “Ava, what did you think of the movie?” and in return she said “The Lorax was sad because the Once-ler cut down all of the trees.” That night we went home and she requested that I read “The Lorax” for her night time story. Sitting on her chair, we snuggled up and the story began, “At the far end of town where the Grickle-grass grows…..” and before I got to the very sad scene where the Bar-ba-loots got crummies in their tummies, Ava had drifted off to sleep.  Before tucking her into bed, I kissed her honey-sweet skin and tried to remove the Truffula tree that she held fast in her hand.  Then in a sleep-filled, buttery voice she told me without opening her eyes “No, I can’t let my Truffula tree fall to the ground.”  So, I let her snuggle up with her blanket and her tree and imagined her dreaming about running through the tall green grass blowing in the fresh morning breeze claiming “I am Ava and I speak for the trees.”

Scents of Saigon

This weekend, Ava and I had a mommy daughter weekend while Gary was away SCUBA diving with our school’s SCUBA club.  After cuddle time on the couch, our day found us venturing to the city for some shopping and cupcakes.  Lately, Ava has been fascinated with pixie dust, fairies and butterflies with the ultimate goal of flying. So yesterday, Ava wanted to wear her butterfly wings into town. 

Walking around town was like walking with a celebrity as Ava and her wings caused quite a stir.  Everywhere we went, people wanted to take her picture and Ava didn’t mind the attention, flashing a cheeky smile when the cameras popped out.

Recently, Ava has become more aware of smells and scents and yesterday’s walk through town was a feast for her cute little nose.  On our way to the market, a scent would waft through the air and as it reached Ava’s nose she would stop and sniff at the air and ask “What’s that smell mommy?”  and I would explain the smell to her in turn asking if she liked it or not.  On our walk to the market, Ava stopped every few feet (luckily we didn’t have to be anywhere fast!) and she would put her nose up into the air and breathe in all of the scents.  Along the way, she enjoyed the sweet smells emanating from the hot griddle of the lady that sells crisp waffles on the side of the road.  The spiced, sweet aroma of pho also seemed to please her senses.  Walking through the market itself, her little nose curled up with the salty scent of the live fish that filled the tubs around us.  She also questioned the malodorous scent of the Durian fruit, first asking my opinion of the stinking fragrance that filled her nose, before claiming that she liked it. 

This went on ‘til we reached our final destination. I was amused by the exercise but upon reflecting on our experience today I imagine Ava, years from now, walking down a street when suddenly she perceives a smell that brings back a flood of memories.  Memories of the day we strolled near the Saigon River popping into the shops along the way.  Memories of toothless smiles from the street vendors, waving to her as we passed. Memories of sweet, strawberry velvet cupcakes that left bits of pink icing on her nose. Memories of pixie dust and butterfly wings that carried her through her Saigon.

Spring Fun

This free scrapbooking design created with Smilebox

Easter Sunday

I love holidays. Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving have always been big events. However, we didn't really celebrate Easter much from the time that we left home till since Ava was born. We're not super religious and I hope that not recognizing it in the past doesn't offend anyone out there. As Ava is in her second year of life and we wrestle with the challenge of bringing up a third culture kid between two continents, we have come to realize the importance of bringing her up with traditions.




So this morning we got the party started at 6:30 AM in casa de "J" wherein we had an Easter basket (supplied by Grandma) on the coffee table when she came downstairs. There was your usual gauntlet of chocolate eggs, M & M's, and some gifts like the books "Thumper Finds and Egg" and "Mickey Mouse in Wonderland". Of course, there was that all too familiar candy, "peeps"


Peeps are made of pure sugar and dusted with a little colored candy coating. Ava doesn't normally have candy, but we decided to make an exception as it was Easter this morning. She also had never eaten "peeps" and I was curious to see what her reaction would be after trying them for the first time:



After that, we went to Ava's teacher's house that also happens to be a good friend of ours too. We had a potluck lunch, the kids went Easter egg hunting, the guys watched "The Masters" and the girls caught up on their gossip. Well, the guys did too. The guys didn't look so tough below. However, sometimes being a dad means donning a pink cape.


This is the start of our tradition of Easter. Not that much different that it is in your neck of the woods. Or is it?

Bed Time

What's bed time like for a two year old overseas? Not that different than you might expect in the states. We start the process of getting ready for bed about 6:45 when we ask her to start putting away her toys in order to take a bath. Tonight, Ava was stalling in the "toy putting away process" so by the time she was finished, it was 7:30. No tubbie time tonight.

At 7:30 either Lisa or I takes her upstairs and starts the process. The process is starting with some flashcards on numbers, letter or phonics, (I'm a dragon dad) followed by tooth brushing and then 3-4 books. Ava has been quite adamant about choosing her own books or she will not have them read to them. She is becoming an emerging reader and can recite passages from most of her books from memory. She is starting to sound out letters too, so I feel her reading abilities are just developing out of nothing. Or maybe something.

When I put Ava to bed, I put on a CD of soft music. She wants to put a few toys in bed with her and carry her own water bottle into bed with her. She won't have me pass her water bottle to her. I say "goodnight Ava" to which she replies:
"Goodnight Uncle."
"No! I'm not Uncle! I'm daddy!"
"Goodnight Mommy."
"Nooo! I'm daddy! Not Mommy. Goodnight Ava."
"Goodnight Auntie!"
I walk out smiling at her budding sense of humor and hear as I shut the door behind me:
"Goodnight daddy."

Raising a traveller

We just got back from our spring break trip to Indonesia and Singapore. I thought about it when we touched down and realized that our two year old daughter has been to 12 countries.


To have Ava visit 12 countries hasn't been a goal by any means, but I am taken aback by how much her upbringing will be different than both Lisa and mine. It hasn't been easy either. Taking diapers, formula, a portable crib, her things and ours to Europe last summer was a challenge. Visiting places in the tropics here that are known for their tropical diseases is a little awkward too, but then, kids grow up there all the time. Don't they?

I've been told by some parents that they "would never do a trip like that". They are accustomed to the routines of their toddlers day like snacks, nap time, and don't deviate from it until they are 6 or 7. Although I do understand that prerogative, I think it's great to offer as many different experiences to a child when they're young. Get them rolling around in dirt, saying "hello" in as many languages as possible, and let them get sand between their toes and washing it out by a toss in the surf.
Above is Ava's friend "Mika" who is the daughter of the owner of the resort we stayed at last week. She was a little older than ours but she got along great. While we were out diving, we left Ava with a local lady who has done some baby sitting for guests in the past. While in the airport in Singapore, I bumped into an acquaintance of mine who was also a scuba diver. He inquired what we did with the munchkin while we were out diving and after I told him, he said "my wife would never leave our daughter with a complete stranger."

Are these fears overblown or are we too negligent in our daughter's safety? Coming from a country that has disclaimers for everything and lawsuits that are as frequent as speeding tickets, I'm inclined to think the later. However, after living in Asia for ten years now, we're having a change of heart. We've officially committed to take a year sabbatical when Ava is in the fourth grade and are saving up for it. I wonder what that experience will be like for her?

I guess the only thing we can do it prepare her for it now. One trip at a time.