The World Through Irini's Eyes

A while back Irini delicately (by her standards) picked up the digital camera, pushed the button to turn it on, directed it to her mother and took a picture. Her hand safely held on to the camera, ensuring that it would not fall. Her mother and father looked on with a mixed emotion of absolute delight that their daughter was working things out and complete terror that the said camera would come tumbling to the ground. In the end the picture was taken with only a few minor adjustments. Irini already knew to look on the other side and see what she took and, when the image came up, Irini and parents sat there with a smile on their face... A beautiful view of the sides of Natalia's face and a big finger running right through the middle of the picture, turned a bright orange-red from the flash at such close proximity.

Needless to say there were more pictures taken, of the ceiling fan and the refrigerator, or the family members from various (some not so flattering) angles, and of the various toys and pieces of furniture, all from Irini's perspective. Some, admirably, came out very nicely! This, of course, prompted Laurence to put them all together and decide that it was time to share with the world the first set of such pictures - only the finest, of course - for Irini's very own first photo collection and exhibit. We have attached them above for your enjoyment!

Water Sliiiiiiide

Since we're at it, we wanted to share a fun moment between Irini and her Tia. Beto and Emilia Particia had arrived just the day before, and we were invited by our friends Dave and Jody (who have since welcomed their third baby (but first girl), Alexandra Rose into the world!) to a hotel in Port Dickson, about an hour and a half south of KL. We were happy to oblige and give our new guests a chance to relax and cool down after a long flight. As you can see from the video, getting Irini out of the water was a little tricky.

Kuantan

Kuantan is a sleepy small city lying on the East Coast of Malaysia. A three hour (or so) drive across the peninsula of West Malaysia it is a rather simple affair to get to... so with the little ones and visiting ones in tow, we headed out for what will be our only out-of-town official vacation of the summer. We stayed at the Swiss Garden Resort, as we have in the past. In fact, this was the location of Irini's first entry into the water a couple years ago when we went with Sammy and Erika (we miss you!). This time it was Amalia's turn, in almost the same exact spot! It was a three night vacation filled with family time on the beach, at the pool, in the restaurants and sharing king-sized beds (always a favorite with Irini!). Add a little bit of massage time at the spa for the out-of-country guests and some batik time for Irini and you have an instant success! Irini began the time not particularly impressed with the sand (too sticky on the toes) but ended up very happy in some one's arms as they bobbed up and down as the waves came up to the shore. There was also discovery time looking at the thousands of little crabs sitting in the tidal pools in low tide. How exciting - just a little bit scary but mostly interesting - to see so many little critters roaming around, pushing minuscule balls of sand around as they push themselves onto the beach. We all watched and explained things to young minds eager to learn. Amalia smiled on, working in determined fashion on her raspberry bubbles...

On the way back we stopped at the Hyatt Hotel for lunch and a coffee. This has become our customary stop before the drive back. This time around everyone fell in love with Irini (could it be any other way?). Within a minute or two of ordering the waiter came over with an assortment of food items from the buffet lunch menu. We happily accepted and ate them immediately. This was followed up shortly by an assortment of appetizers from the buffet as well. Finding that our daughters reminded him of his own, he later brought us a third platter, this time of an assortment of deserts. Irini later walked over and received the gift of a box of chocolates. Just a few minutes after that we walked into their short, where she was given a gift of a small toy. Five gifts in just over an hour! We can only hope that our daughters don't end up being spoiled rotten. The food was great though! :-)

We returned a few hours later, rejuvenated by the salt in the air, the coolness of the water, the physical recuperation that takes place with being pampered for a while, and tired from doing nothing for all that time. Life is good.

Taita & Tia

With the departure of Abuela, followed by the departure of Pappou, we had three days of quiet solitude, reflection and stillness in the house... not! Irini still ran around and Amalia worked on perfecting her smile. She had shown signs of it in the last week Pappou was here and now she is able to impress even the most difficult critic. Kisses continued in a frenetic pace but for those few days we had a rather basic nuclear family in the place. Not much to our liking we were happy as can be with the arrival of Beto (Taita) and Emilia Patricia (Tia), both off a trans-pacific flight from Colombia to Florida to Chicago to Hong Kong to Singapore and finally to Kuala Lumpur. We were - and still are - happy as can be to be with them. Irini and Amalia took the change of extended family members roaming the apartment's floor in stide and happily continue growing, laughing, tantruming (is that a word?) day in and day out.

The style, of course, is different with this new shipment of guests, as their personalities and approach to things is a personal matter, meshed to perfection with our own. Irini doesn't seem to mind and Amalia, as long as she's in someone's arms, is happy as can be. In the meantime we roam the city (and country) showing Tia the ropes and the happenin' places, (she's the only one who hasn't been here before) from the playground in Great Eastern Mall to the open pool by the Petronas Towers to the Immigration office in Putrajaya. :-) In a week or so they were up-to-par with all the great spots for toddlers and infants. By now, they are experts. :-)