When love is perfect...

It was a night of particular nature. Natalia had to go to school to chaperone a middle school party/dance on Friday, leaving Laurence at home to make sure that little Irini was fed, bathed and put to bed. Was it a general concern that Laurence didn't know how to handle it? Was it the fact that Laurence always seems to forget what to do? Was it worry that she wouldn't be there to make the requisite managerial decisions? Regardless, Natalia gave some advice before she embarked on her evening, and Laurence smiled, "yes, my love", "I know, don't worry", "have a good party". The door finally closed with a squeak and Laurence sat in the living room with little Irini. Laurence wondered, as Natalia's footsteps disappeared behind the door, if he was up to it. He had done it before, but Irini is older now, with more volume in her developing lungs and with a better sense of what she wants. Generally this isn't a problem except when Laurence doesn't know what it is, exactly, that she wants. The evening would unfold regardless, so Laurence decided to just play it by ear.

The two of them looked at each other, shared a smile, and went straight to playing. First it was the playing on the sofa that Irini loves so much. Climbing up the back of the sofa and falling backwards on her bum with a happy giggle . Then it was roaming on the floor taking things out of their storage spaces. Some books pulled off the book cases. Some toys out of the basket. Irini played and vocalized her eagerness to continue, until it was time for dinner. Laurence picked her up, placed her on the high chair and fed her pasta with tuna and carrot. Slowly she ate, and played with her food. She was happy.

Following dinner Laurence was determined to get the timing right. Too early and Irini would certainly make it obvious that she would not accept being put into bed. Too late and she would be informing the world of the obvious neglect by a clueless father. No, the approach had to be natural, yet functional. Bath time came and went rather uneventfully - apart, of course, from the fun of the bath itself and the always fun experience of drying and putting diapers and clothing on an increasingly fidgety baby. No worries. Laurence took his time, at first only drying Irini, then allowing her some time to roam before adding the diapers and, every few seconds, the arms and legs of her pajamas as she crawled all over the floor. Laurence thought about how smooth (yet so unprofessional) that process was, but still braced for the crescendo of sleep time.

Irini wanted to walk, and so Laurence obliged. After all, walking is the essence of independence and it's important to develop physical skills. Together they roamed the house, Irini holding on to Laurence's fingers, one finger in each clenched fist, and they went from room to room and back again. Each time they moved by the kitchen Laurence eyed the formula, ready on reserve for when the moment was right.

Irini continued happily until, at one point, she was moving from the living room toward the kitchen. She stopped, still holding on to Laurence's fingers. She let go with one hand and re-positioned herself to face the bedroom and stood there with her hands still upward and looking in Laurence's eyes. Laurence continued to work with what Irini gave him, and handed her his free finger once again. Irini took hold of it and began to push forward toward a rather dark bedroom. Once there she moved slowly inward, passing the bathroom door. She stopped again, and peered into the darkness. Nothing moved. She twisted her little body to get a glimpse of the chair in the bedroom where Natalia usually feeds her before sleep. No movement there either. She looked back up at Laurence, saying nothing.

Laurence, trying to pick up on any non-verbal communication, looked around with her, following her gaze and trying to figure out what she might be thinking. Then, in a flash, it dawned on him that perhaps she was looking for her mother. She didn't complain, but just looked inquisitively around the room. Laurence picked his daughter up, gave her a big kiss, hugged her and walked her into the kitchen to pick up that formula, singing all the while as he is wont to do in such father-daughter moments. Irini's face flashed a big smile.

Together they sat at the chair where Natalia usually does the feeding and Irini happily sucked on her milk bottle. Laurence sat quietly, marveling at just how far little Irini has come. She can now hold the bottle herself. While doing so, she would occassionally let go of her bottle with one hand and put it up toward Laurence's lips, pulling at the bottom one to se e the movement on his face. He smiled with one pulled lip and the other intact. Irini just looked and continued to drink. As is normally the case, her gaze tired as she drank, and her eyes began to dance with slumber, her hand giving way, letting the bottle slide away. Laurence helped out with the process a little bit making sure that she drank what she could. He smiled and caressed her full head of hair as sleep took over. She slept on her stomach, her head facing her left, her cheek on Laurence's chest. He marvelled. She lay there sleeping on him for a good 20 minutes or so before he had the courage to pick her up and put her in her cot. She momentarily opened her eyes, but settled right back into sleep as she felt the mattress cushion her body. She was happy. He was happier. A smile as broad as one can remember snuck onto his lips, and remains with him even now. It is a pleasure to find the perfect loving moments, to enjoy them, and to appreciate them when they are there, in the moment and for the moment.

Natalia arrived a short while later. The party was a huge success. Putting Irini to bed was a night to remember.

Ready to go...gone!

About a month ago Natalia, Irini and Laurence were perusing the Early Learning Center to find a movable toy that might befit Irini's recent developments. Natalia found a wonderful little cart named a Toddle Truck. Laurence thought Irini was not quite ready and might fall over and hurt herself. Can you say paranoid father? A few short days later they found the very same 'truck' in the home of our friends John and Melissa (and little Isabelle). Irini took to it so well that John and Melissa have now lent it to us. Laurence has been seen lately walking with his tail between his legs and his foot in his mouth. Natalia smiles a victorious smile. She was right all along.

Irini moves on...

Transportation leads to independent thinking

Irini works her way over to the table. She pulls herself up using the table legs for support. She looks around, finding nothing. She lowers herself back to the floor again and crawls her way to the sofa. Picks herself up, moves to the other side, grabs the TV control and plays for a short while before losing interest. Another short crawl later she finds her toy stash in the living room. She pulls at the basket and the toys come tumbling out of the basket as it crashes to the floor. Happily she basks in her new found independence of movement and the discovery that this has brought. Along with the movement, it has allowed her to understand her world better, to recognize new things and relationships. She is excellent at ripping things, tearing things down, breaking things apart, dropping things to the floor. She grows by the day, and we can't help but be so extremely happy to watch her and share our lives with her.

In the video below she's not quite roaming the apartment as described above, but mobile none-the-less and inquisitive, as babies should be. She discovers new things every day. Yesterday she learned how to turn off the faucet. Today, who knows?

Playing and Growing

Irini continues to impress. At ten months she can single-handedly remove every book from a book case in a matter of seconds. She can leaf through a single book over and over again for several minutes and then move on the next one. It seems speed reading comes naturally to her. She leafed through my copy of The Lexus and The Olive Tree in just about 12 seconds flat. Not too shabby! She can rearrange an entire room's contents with less trouble than it takes us all to reset it again.

Her favorite pass time, however, is to walk. Oh sure, she isn't quite independent on that front yet, but boy is she happy to hold one's fingers (anyone who offers) and just push on forward through the living room, the bedroom, the hallways, the bathroom, any space that lends itself. Every once in a while she'll sit down, take a short break, put her hands up, grab the said volunteer's fingers and push onward once again.

She likes to pull herself up to the window now too... and to look outside to the pool below, the lake just beyond and the distant mountains, clouds and sky. Or so we like to think. Perhaps she's just checking to see if the pool is available for her afternoon swim.

Laurence and Irini went downstairs yesterday to allow Natalia some time to work on grading and comments and such (the trimester ended Friday). Irini splashed her hands happily in the water over and over again. Her face, caked with a glistening layer of water, smiled broadly as she continued for over 15 minutes. By the end it was Laurence who tired first and, with a quick whisk pulled her out of the water, onto the towel sitting by the pool, and upstairs! Irini was in seventh heaven. We all are with that smile of hers!

Time flies. Time stands still.

Wow! It's hard to believe that a month has already flown away since little Irini was down with Roseolla. As many have visited the blog and worried about her, she has recuperated marvelously and has continued to impress us all with her daily discoveries.

Irini is now well on her way to independence, roaming around the apartment effortlessly and pulling herself to a standing position. Yesterday she even worked (with Daddy's help) on getting down off the bed to the floor feet first. The other day (Halloween night) she decided it was time to celebrate and she clapped her little hands together in a silent round of applause. She asks to be lifted regularly now and is often found sitting on the floor with her hands up in the air. We move along to her and put our our two hands, not to pick her up but to offer the support of our two index fingers. She happily grabs each one of them, pulls herself up from the floor, takes a brief moment to balance just so, and then starts a sometimes short (couple steps) and sometimes longer (across the living room) journey into walking. On occassion she will live a little dangerously and let go with one hand and take that one extra step, gingerly mind you, just to test out her skills. Then she carefully balances as low as she can before her little butt plummets the last few inches to the floor.

She continues to amaze us daily. She is as beautiful now, with six teeth (four top and two bottom) as she was with none. She is as smiley now as she always has been and her communication has become a repertoire of different sounds for different occassions. Mom and Dad are trying to figure out her language as best they can.

She is also now able to put herself to sleep. After just two days of the "new" approach to putting her to bed, she is comfortable being put to bed before she falls asleep, only to lie down and work on it independently. This allows us to bathe her, clothe her, feed her, sometimes read to her, brush her six teeth, and then put her to bed. Gone are the days when she would be placed into her bed while sleeping from her feeding. She's a big girl now.

It's amazing really to think that, in some ways, the mind plays games with you. In some cases you look at her and say "has it already been 10 months?" as she grows and develops by the minute. But then, looking into her beautiful eyes, watching her smile at you, it's as if time stands still, along with your heart. The beauty of parenting. :-)

In sickness and in health

The morning after the theme party little Irini didn't wake up as easily as she normally does. When she was up we realized she had a high fever...and this was just the beginning of a series of days which took us to the hospital twice... and on the second visit admited the poor little thing into her first hospital stay.

They shoved needles into her little arms and hands, doctor and nurses holding poor little Irini down two and three at a time as she screamed and cried in pain. We watched, tears rolling down our cheeks. When the needles were in place and blood was taken, and when Irini was able to rest a while, we were finally able to put two and two together. It was a Sunday and the next few days would find us taking turns by her side during the day (as we were supposed to work) and at night (where we both stayed, Natalia sharing her bed and Laurence on the sofa).

Her fever had gone up to 40.4 centigrade, but despite her not being able to crawl or even sit up sometimes, her smile continued to steal the hearts of those around her. She went in and out of consciousness and was able, at times, to pull herself up or crawl a few steps. But mostly she slept, leaving us with our concerns, and fears and paranoia.

There were times, when Irini could only pick her upper body up, that she would play with us... lying by Natalia's side she would allow her upper body to fall onto the pillow, plowing her face into the pillow and exposing the back of her neck. Laurence would bend down and give her five or six kisses and she would then pick up her head with a huge smile, lift her torso up, and then let it drop again, only to receive another barrage of kisses. The smiles continued, as did the kisses, until she tired of the game, or her condition, and fell asleep.

Two days after entering the hospital her temperature had stabilized and we were given the all clear to return home. She continued to be bed-ridden for another day and then, slowly, she creeped up on our bodies as we lied next to her, picking herself up off the bed. She crawled over us and pulled herself toward the bedside table in an attempt to grab anything that might be sitting there. Her energy had picked up and we knew she was on her way back!

Within another day she had developed a rash: Roseola. "Ah, Roseola", Our friends who are parents would say "that's no problem". It apprears that parents have a whole vocabulary that sits dormant, sometimes for years, until, one day, it just comes rolling off their lips. Parents... they know much more than most give them credit for. :-)

Irini is now back, smiling and beautiful!

Irini's first foray into Greek culture

It was a surprise party for our friend Shawna. More than 80 people gathered in her house, in groups of 10 or so. Each table had a theme and, as luck would have it, there was a Greek theme to ours (go figure)! :-)

Of course some of our closest friends shared the table duties and, as we decided to go with an ancient Greek-meets-My Big Fat Greek Wedding concept. Each took a role, with Natalia becoming Aphrodite and Laurence becoming Hermes. Little Irini got the most apropos role of all... little Eros (the Greek mythological version of Cupid) and, with the help of Leanne and her never-ending costume options, and Jay and Jim coming into town just to be roped into getting things set up (including the purchase of toga linen in Chinatown) Irini was perfect for the role, sporting not only a little baby toga, but also carrying a little pair of wings and her very own bow.

The night was wonderful. The Greeks mingled with the Italian mafia, with the rugby boys, with the hippie types and the prince charmings. We laughed with the Hawaian bunch and nibbled food off the table of Mexican gang. It was a great evening and, even as Irini was tired and a little on the grumpy side, we marveled at how well her first "theme" party had gone. Shawna was equally as impressed and so very happy with her husband Mike for putting this together.

Friends and Family come to town!

(Ciona and Jim, I stole this from your pics... sorry!)

Every once in a while, friends from the past come clamering back into your life; friends you haven't seen in a pretty good long time, and just make your friendship all that much more meaningful.

Well, it happened on a couple occassions in the past month or two. First Ciona and Jim, of College of Wooster days, who we hadn't seen in over 7 years, came rolling into town. The type of friendship that just allows you to walk into an room (or an airport arrivals hall), give each other a big big hug and just settle right down into talks that seem so effortless and natural regardless of how long it's really been. Amazing.

They came, the moseyed along downtown KL, took taxis and buses (did you know that a full day pass costs just 2 ringitt?) and walked their way around meandering from our house to KLCC to Chinatown. They saw more than they probably wanted to of KL, but also had a chance to visit Cameron Highlands, Singapore, and Borneo.

But apart from what they saw and what they didn't, truth be told it was great to see them again. The last time we saw each other had been back in the western hemisphere so long ago that memory needed a little jarring just to get us to figure it out. But while they were here, we enjoyed the company, celebrated birthdays (both Ciona's and Natalia's), talked about life's destinations, figurative and literal.

Just at the end of that time, Adriana rolled into town as well. With that smile of hers and her manner of enjoying each and every minute Adri became one of the gang, even if only for a short time. Natalia was happy as can be with her cousin in town for the first time. Then, as quickly as she had come, she was on her way back to Milan. We miss you Adri!!

Then, a wee bit later, Michelle comes into town posing as a Boston University admissions representative. She is so good at it, and comes by every once in a bit, that you might think she really is one. But we know better. She came all the way to KL just to get to know her "new friend" Irini. Michelle and Irini became instant buddies and if Irini could speak and make her own decisions we are sure she'd be on the plane out with Michelle. Luckily we were able to hold her back. The afternoon with Michelle, spent by the pool at the Mandarin and at Natalia's favorite vietnamese restaurant was short, but perfect.

As for Jim and Ciona, let's hope we don't take that long to see each other again, okay?

And she's off to the races...

It's been a while now. It started by rolling around from side to side and from her stomach to her back. Then sitting up. Soon enough she was rocking forward and returning to the comfort of her sitting position. Then she started trying to pull herself up things, from daddy to the sofa. Then slowly extending her body and pushing with her legs. And finally, on Thursday, September 4th (just two days before she turned 8 months old) she did it... and she's off...

Flashback, Part 4: Greece

... and then there was Greece. Our return from Colombia found us all tired and jet-lagged. It took a few days to get over the physical toll of flying half way around the world and back, but luckily the days were good to us in Greece. Laurence, who had picked up an illness of some sort in the Andes, found himself feeling better again in the dry, warm Mediterranean weather.

Aleko and the Scan Clan arrived, in bits and pieces and on different itineraries. They came and went (to Milos and back) and came and went again (to Sweden) and, in there somewhere, we saw them, spent time with them and enjoyed the family days our summers have come to signify. The only one missing was Erika (Sammy's girlfriend) who was unable to pop down to Greece this time around. We spent a good deal of time with our friends Stelio and Maria (who now have a baby daughter of their own - Mikaela was born in March), Ralph and Anne (and Maria, of course) and some time also with Peter and Vasil and Sophia as well. Of course, there was always time in there to find some visiting opportunities with Stefan and Vicky too.

We managed just one day at the beach, where Irini was introduced to the Agean Sea at the foot of the temple of Posseidon in Sounio. The day was perfect, as they so often are in Greek summers, the sun was out in full force, with a shy cool breeze from the south. The seaside taverna was the perfect spot to eat some tzatziki and kalamari and enjoy the sea's deep blue and the sun's soft glare on the marble columns in the distance.

The end of (our) summer came as fast as the beginning had. On a day much like any other, the time arrived for us to depart, and off we went. Slowly accending above the Greek isles, across southern Turkey, over Syria and beyond, the darkness slowly found us and the towns below turned into small congregations of glittering dots. The desert turned black and the stars found their way to my window seat as we flew through the night. We found the sun on the other side of the world again as we flew over that (dreaded for Laurence) Bay of Bengal, along with all its bumps and turbulence, though Irini slept soundly as she had on all the flights before.

The 28th of July (after flying close to 35,000 kilometers) found us in KL again... and on to year number seven for Laurence and Natalia. Time does fly.

Flashback, Part 3: Prague

Has there ever been a city with a larger "old town" than Prague? We do not know, but neither does it matter. From our apartment just on the edge of said old town we walked for hours each day, up to the Castle and across the main square, over to the Powder Tower and along the small windy streets, across the Charles Bridge and beyond. For four days we walked and walked and walked in what, as it turned out, was probably the most relaxing part of our summer vacation. With barely anything programmed and with our mindsets of "let's walk around and see what happens" little Irini and her grandfather (Walter), Laurence and Natalia did just that.

Prague happens to have a very large old town, and the cobble stone streets are perfect for a stroller and leisurely walk as it turns out. The gulash was exquisite, the beer (for those that drink it) refreshing and very flavorful, the local taverns numerous and that provided ample opportunity to stop and relax when Irini needed a feeding. The form of travel was very much the same, but the 'laid back' factor needed to be a high priority.

Four days later we boarded the Czech Airlines Airbus to return home with nothing but memories of color and stories, of food and building facades, of artwork (Natalia fell in love with Mucha) and architecture and our little evening hangout, a bookstore/cafe named The Globe.

Walter was in love (again and again and again), Irini was happy as can be (as always) and Natalia and Laurence delighted that the trip - a present to Walt - was such a big success in every way.

Flashback, Part 2: The baptism

Was there something special about this summer? A special event? In all the running around across three continents it is almost a blur but yes, there was... Irini was baptised! Natalia and Laurence had spent a long time preparing her for the "dunk". We had taken her down to the pool, tossed water in her face, even dunked her under water just to make sure she was ready. By the time she got to the church on the morning of June 21st, she was happily looking at the place, splashing her feet in the water and not quite minding the fact that her entire body was slopped in olive oil (Ralph - the proud godfather - did a great job!) and the priest was dunking her in three times in true Orthodox custom. With each dunk the small crowd of onlookers (mostly friends and family) took a breath in anticipation of the crying that would be done. All little babies cry when they are being baptised, it seems. Well, not this one. This one just smiled and looked around happily! The 25 minute ceremony was short, beautiful, and filled with very many happy faces. When it was all over Irini was changed and given her new white outfit with which she can now march on in life, white with innocence and free of worries.

The baptism included a number of local friends (Peter and Vika, Stelio & Maria, Vasil and Sophia to name a few) and, of course, the godparents (Ralph and Anne, along with their own daughter Maria who was baptised there years earlier), but also involved Natalia's two aunts - Patricia and Marta - who now live in Madrid. Their whirlwind visit (from Friday evening to Sunday morning) was as action-packed as it could, including, in addition to the baptism and post-ceremony lunch, a visit downtown to see the Acropolis and take a stroll around the Plaka area, and a Greek dinner or two.

Flashback, Part 1: Colombia

It now seems like too long ago, but y it's only been a month and a half since we were in Colombia. So much has passed since then, and so many people seen, miles flown and things done, routines begun. The passage of time waits for no one, and so we felt it important that, today, our first weekday without school (in celebration of Malaysian Independence day), we make the time to go back and reminisce, re-create, re-examine, re-enjoy it all.

Colombia was a bit of a mad dash. Between the extended family and the friends of old there were, literally, hundreds of people who had to meet little Irini. Add to that the arrival of Kate (our great friend from our days of teaching in Colombia) for a week and it was a true adventure in human contact. The only 'down time' so to speak was our three days in beautiful Villa de Leyva with Kate and Natalia's immediate family. The village, as always, was friendly and welcoming. The only thing that seemed to 'stand out' from earlier visits was the cobble stones. Our stoller was left behind after one foray into the small streets and Irini was happy to be carried anywhere and everywhere.

In there somewhere, in a small tienda on the side of the road where we stopped for a drink just about in the middle of nowhere, it was announced to the world that Ingrid Betancourt and another 14 hostages were freed after years in captivity. It was a moment of national pride when a nation's people could give out a collective (though temporary) sigh of relief. Pride was evident everywhere, from the livingroom discussion as we watched the developments, to the statements made by those who were freed, to the flag waving cars honking their horns in the plaza of the otherwise sleepy village.

As the collective euphoria gradually turned into daily get-togethers with friends and relatives, so too our time in Bogota become a little more goal oriented. Our days turned into rituals of preparing food for hosting get-togethers or of buying little gifts for visiting ones. In there, of course, were the requisite warmth of friendship and laughter, sweet communication between Irini and her extended family. Perhaps the most rewarding experience was the visit with Irini's great-grandmother who immediately turned a wine red in her glow of love. We had never seen her like this, but her giddiness and childish appreciation for Irini's demeanor ("un angel") and personality was obvious from the first moment to the last. Over our three weeks there, Irini sat in countless laps, was passed on from one friend to another cousin and back again with nothing but a smile. She was content and so was everyone else. In there somewhere, she began to eat fruit, beginning with papaya and moving on to mango and 'granadilla'. The feeding ritual, normally conducted by Natalia's sister, was observed by the whole family - from little cousins TTmouz and Avihurik to grandmother Emilia - and generally included the necessary "ahh" and "ohh" as well as a variety of styles of smile and giggles.

We counted 19 social events in the last week alone and, between us, Irini fared the best. Laurence got sick somewhere in the middle of the visit. By the time we got on the plane to Greece (Kate had left a few days earlier) we were ready for a slower pace of life.

The flights were generally uneventful. Irini slept through the entire first flight from Bogota to Madrid (waking up only for a quick meal somewhere over the Atlantic). She also slept through the first portion of the second flight but, at about half way, she woke up and worked hard on getting blood pumping through her muscles. She tried to climb onto the seat in front of her dad, or wanted to reach the things in the magazine rack, she reached down to the floor while daddy held the rest of her body up. Laurence decided to walk her down the aisles and was very glad to see so many other passengers enjoying a few seconds with Irini. They smiled, talked to her, touched her little feet, and generally admired her sweetness.

Of Danny and Irini...

We had intended to add this summer's stories on this blog entry. We would have spoken of Prague and Colombia, of Athens and of flights to and fro. But as life played its game on us, we allowed ourselves to be "caught up" in the runnings of returning to work, and the summer stories will have to wait. Danny (Dad's cat) had other plans for us, unfortunately.

Yesterday the world turned upside down. Dad was hit the hardest as Danny's little body finally stopped working. He had been refusing food for days, and apparently had decided that his time had come. But as with any such decision, it is perhaps harder for those around you. Dad worried, intervened, took Danny to the doctor, but finally agreed that Danny was to decide his own course in death as he had in life. Danny passed away at 23:13 on Sunday, August 17th.

After much thought, support, phone calls, thoughtful contemplation and tears over the past week the Malaysian Myers-Giraldo gang found nothing but silence this morning. We hugged and cried and found solace in the fact that Danny did not go in pain. He continues to be loved, and we are happy that, even for a short while, Irini was able to meet Danny and to share part of her summer with him.

Still vivid in our minds was the meeting of the two. Nestled in dad's bed, Danny was wakened by the low murmur of footsteps of jet-lagged relatives, as Natalia, Irini and Laurence descended onto the family bed. Years earlier Aleko and Laurence used to do this with their parents. This time it was a slightly different make up. Dad was awakened by giggles and movement on the matress, and we plopped down beside him. It was early and we had just arrived the day before. We were so looking forward to the meeting between Irini and Danny, but we were also concerned. How would they respond to each other? Would there be scratching, grabbing, pulling?

Danny saw us and got himself up from his spot. He moved over toward us slowly and with purpose, and was met with a pat or two from Natalia and Laurence. As Irini focused on him approaching, Laurence took a breath and waited to see how things transpired... Irini raised her hand as Danny's head came nearer and, as she touched the top of his head - parents on hand 'just in case' - Danny turned his head and pushed it toward her hand, allowing her to pet him. Instant success! Irini and Danny would continue to get along and be happy spending time in the same apartment.

Of course, we don't think that Irini will remember, but it was a moment held in our memory as testament to the essence of both Danny and Irini: Gentle, loving, open and trusting.

They say that love knows no boundaries. There is plenty of it to go around this family, that is certain. Danny, we will miss you.

Greece finally...

As summer arrived we prepared for Irini's first flight. The plane departed at 3:30 am, which meant a good deal of concern on our part for waking her up, lugging her into taxis, across airports, onto planes and accross the world. She did perfectly! She slept for a long time in the under-sized bassinett with her leg sticking out the side and her head nudged between a strap aimed at keeping the bassinett from moving. Luckily for us, Irini didn't mind the slight discomforts and took both her first and second flight very well. Arriving in Athens was, as usual, a sight, and we happily re-united with Walter (dad, grandpa, papou, abuelito, etc.).

The weekend of youth

This was the weekend for the youth of the world at ISKL and in our apartment. The stars converged to bring the young to the forefront. First there was graduation of the Class of 2008. In among the speeches and the awards and the accolades, and just after the tossing of the hats in unison, I found myself in a familiar place... realizing that my job is done and this celebration belongs to those students whose stories are just beginning in so many ways. Their exhuberance, their tears, their last few moments with friends and, in some cases, family. It was their night, and I just allowed myself to dissolve into the doorway and move on out of their lives. I can only wish them well. My job is done.

Today was a day for youth as well - youth of the baby kind - as we moseyed on to breakfast with Nancy, Pedro and Jamie. Along the way Irini and Jamie shared some friendly moments on the sofa where their infant manners were as lovely as ever. They started with simple sitting next to each other, and slowly they lost their balance, reached for each others arm, head, face, you name it. By the end of the photo opportunity (as it turned out) they were a ball of arms and legs on a sofa. Absolutely cute!

The day continued, however. Only this time it was Irini's opportunity to hang out with the teenagers. I joked about having Irini doing wonders for the social life, and they all laughed, but in some ways it was very true. Here were three graduates (from last year) asking to have lunch with us (and Scott and Rebecca too) only to meet Irini. Ahhs and ohhs were the norm, and Irini proved that she can hang with the best of them. Instant success.

So, as graduates return for a visit in KL, and as students become alumni and move on, and as Irini grows by the day, it is apparent that the youth of the world is slowly becoming part of our fabric of society and lifestyle. We are, after all, teachers for that very reason. We love it!

Winding down...Speeding up.

It's the end of May already. How fast did this month go? Just yesterday it seems like we were on Spring Break and now, with the coming of June, the classes are nearly over, a few grades are missing but mostly completed, and the final touches on student comments are being made. Exams begin tomorrow. Classes end tomorrow. The 2007-08 school year is officially winding down. Being the first place where we have spent a "6th" year in, it's quite impressive how easily it went by. Now all that's left is the little stuff - fixing up the office space, grades and final reports, signing out, and getting ready to head home. Natalia is more thrilled than I am to get to Greece and sink our teeth into a nice juicy souvlaki. I will need to move from the academic mind-frame to the summer mind-frame, but I am sure it won't take long.

As the academic year winds down, the summer is steamrolling toward us, larger than life. Suddenly we are talking about what to pack, how to travel with an infant. What, really, do we need to take with us? Will we be prepared? Will we forget anything? How does one feed an infant and hang on to an arm rest for dear life at the same time as a plane goes through turbulent weather? Luckily, this only applies to the father. The mother is perfectly content going through whatever weather the world has to offer, but now instead of picking her head up from her nap and offering it to her husband, she will check the baby to make sure she's okay.

In less than two weeks we will be in Athens! We can't wait to land in Athens and show little Irini the olive trees, the blue blue Aegean and the countryside that have been so powerful in the formation of who I am. We can't wait for her to take a walk in the park outside the apartment in Marousi, and put our hands on my mother's, Anna, favorite cypress tree. In many ways, this is Irini's introduction to her past and her future. When Malaysia is a chapter we've moved on from, Greece and Colombia will still be there. The pillars of cultural identity and inheritance. Who she will become we cannot say, but we certainly hope that, as she grows up, she will embrace both Greece and Colombia and allow them to be a wonderful and integral part of her being. She is destined to be a citizen of the world, to be sure, but there is nothing wrong with having a place to call home, or, in this case, a couple places. :-)

Our plans in Greece and Colombia include a lot of staying "at home", getting used to being in different living environments with a baby on board. We expect that the onslaught of visitors will be somewhat overwhelming at times, but given the nature of our lives it is something that we are counting on. Fortunately, Irini is a social little thing, happily being passed from one lap to another. With each hand off she welcomes the new lap owner with a smile to brighten anyone's day.

But they also include a fair bit of taking Irini to see stuff, to be there, to feel, smell, taste, and see the things that make the world so diverse. A Greek Orthodox baptism for Irini. A drive to the Peloponnese. A walk around Athens' old-town with a frape under the Acropolis. A swim below the ruins of Sounion. Meeting her 90 year old maternal great-grandmother in Bogotá, Abuelita Celita. Trying the tropical fruits Natalia grew up with and misses so much. Enjoying her cousins and rest of family who are so excited to finally meet her. A weekend road-trip to Villa de Leyva. A walk at the ciclovia on a Sunday morning in Bogotá. A visit to Creppes & Waffles. We can't wait. Seven weeks of 'doing' to do and "familying" to be. It should be fun. :-)

In the meantime, it's not all work and no play. Just last week we took Irini downstairs (yes, we do this often, don't worry) and, dressed in a little water-proof bathing suit (though topless in true European fashion), plunged her into the pool. Her head stayed largely above water, but we wanted her to enjoy being in water. As would be expected, she went from apprehensive (particularly as the water was somewhat cold) to happy as can be! We are so glad she enjoys the water. Perhaps we can put her in a novice scuba-diving course over the summer. Do they offer infanct classes in underwater breathing apparati? :-)