I love you because...

Aeowyn, my little girl, I thought I'd take a moment to write you a note.  I received 4 really awesome gifts in my life -- they started with my wife, then Rohin, then Talin and ended with you.  Of all the things I have done and will do in my life, being your daddy (and to the other little ones), is my greatest accomplishment.  I'm so incredibly proud of the little girl that you have become and will become.  It reminds me of how short our life really is here -- as I bound over 40 and see how you all are now 4, 5 and 6.  The older you get, the faster time seems to go by.  My inclination, as I suspect yours will be one day, is to try to grab on and hold on.  But that doesn't seem to work too well -- so the better strategy is to take hold and enjoy the ride.  I love watching you all grow -- and every year is better than the next.  I try to not worry about the day you all will leave our nest here at Providence meadow, but know that day will come one day.  We'll cross that bridge when it comes.

So I thought I'd write a list of things I love about you:

• I love your heart and soul -- you're so caring and giving and caring.  You sometimes put your hand on my face and it has a way of melting away any worries I might have had that day
• I love hearing you sing the little songs that you do.  You're such an awesome singer
• I love your smiles -- you have this big toothy grin that is so cute
• I love your Pooh Pooh and Pee Pee -- you have the panache to say these two things at the worst possible time -- like at restaurants - and really loud.  But it's so cute
• I love playing ponies with you in your bed -- we both make horse voices and play games like having the unicorns make rainbows with a (bling noises)
• I love your sense of style -- you totally get that from your mommy. You love your dresses and love painting your nails
• I love how giving you are -- you're always so willing things to others and to share.  
• I love the way you say "sure" -- it comes out like "shuar" and it sounds so cute
• I love watching your love of life and happiness -- you're always so happy and it's so heart warming to see and makes me feel good as your daddy
• Simply put, I love everything about you Aeowyen -- my little Chana

Happy 4th Birthday & Spring!

Aeowyn my little princess, happy 4^th birthday to you.  I cannot believe that you are already 4 years old.  A couple of thoughts and then onto the birthday story for the year. 

First, you’re such a wonderful little girl – your mommy and daddy love you so much. One cute thing that you say often is “I love you mommy” or “I love you daddy”.  You’re so adorable!  You love to paint and could spend hours doing that or painting your nails with mommy.  You’re actually pretty good at it for your age and can get them pretty well painted.  You have a thing right now for unicorns and own three of them – one of them is purple and is your favorite. When I asked what you named her, you said Sandhya.  You love playing pretend unicorns at night with daddy.  You LOVE your mommy so much and told her that she is your sister recently.  You still love couscous as your favorite food along with pasta (with nothing on it) but you’re so tall – you’d think you ate all the time.  One of your favorite things are dresses – you not have a collection of little princess dresses in your costume and you love getting up and picking out which dress you are going to wear for the day – it’s so cute.

This summer is shaping up to be sooooo fun!  It’s such a delight to spend time with you.  So recently, we had you big 4^th birthday party at the house.  Mommy did an incredible job of planning and really lived vicariously through your eyes honey.  You won’t know what that word means until much later –but I could see in her eyes, the excitement of a 4 year old as she planned out every detail of your party and the excitement you both shared in talking about the party.  Ok – so the party was a pink and purple themed tea party. We set it up on the back top deck overlooking the meadow and had pink table clothes, with pink plates, little tea sip cups, cookies in little containers, flowers, balloons, and all!  (insert picture).  We also catered mac and chees, chicken Florentine and Italian chicken for the adults.  Mommy had a big princess bouncy in the backyard that you love so much, you tore your princess dress you were wearing in the first hour and we had to change you into your pixie costume.  We drove the little gators, and the other kids played on the zip line and slack line. But you know, the funny thing was that what you loved the most – was to be pushed on the swings.  It was so cute.  You’ll find in life that you wish you could hold onto perfect moments and time – and watching you that day was one of them.  If I could somehow keep you as my little 4 year old daughter for eternity – I think I would be awfully tempted.  You’re such a wonderfully warm, loving little girl – just like your mommy.  We had so much fun at your party honey and you LOVED opening up the presents. Especially, you love some new dresses that your best friend Anaika gave you and you love a porcelain tea set from mommy and daddy and your paints.  I almost forgot –at your party, you had Anaika, Tamie and Sophia, Rohin, Talin, Bella, Reina, and Anaika – among others who I think I forgot.

We did so many other things this year too.  We went on a a trip with grandma and grandpa to Warrenton.  We started in Middleburg and ate a little inn for lunch and met uncle Dow and your cousin Violet.  We then drove out to two wineries where you all played until the rain came in.  We then went down to the house located on a incredible farm  -- it was part of an old estate.  Our house was built in 1875 as the tennant house (and it was big) and the original houses, which we didn’t stay in, was built in 1728.  It was such an unusual house on a working farm – but was so beautiaful.  You all loved to explore the house and all the little nooks.  The view was incredible.  We especially loved sitting in the “zebra” room, an inside patio with 180 degree views of pasture and forest.  Mommy and daddy would sit there with grandma and grandpa and you all in the evenings while you all would play.  On this patio, it was said tha the Dutchess of York and JFK even sat for tea.  The house had incredible designs of wagon wheels and grist mills, a design of the late Ms. Windmill who lived there (who loved horses).  We explored the farm – you all loved the chicken.  You actually even found a snake Aeowyn!  The second day we went to Ticonderoga farms where you all played your hearts out on the slide and the bamboo maze and then came home, had a great dinner and off to sleep and left the next morning.

Now we’re into your 4^th year and many big changes ahead.  First, we’re going to have an awesome summer together and have some neat trips planned to the Eastern Shore of MD.  Then in the fall, you will switch classes to pre-school over at St. Lukes in Mclean.

I’m so excited for your Aeowyn my love and it is one of the greatest pleasures in my life to be your daddy and watch you grow up into such an incredibly special little lady.   You're so sweet and kind.  One of your favorite things to do is to play ponies where we pretend the ponies are talking with each other or playing with each other.  Daddy has so much fun with that!  You love to dress up in princess dresses and are always so appreciative when you are given something.  One of your favorite things to do in the whole wide world is to be pushed on the swings!  It's going to be a sad day when you tell us you no longer need to be pushed!  You also still love to be fed -- and I have to admit that mommy and daddy secretly love that because you're our little baby!

Food wise -- you love Cous Cous, pasta (without anything on it), vegetables and not much of a meat eater -- you like fish and chicken though.

Height wise -- you're really tall for your age.  You recently also got your hair cut short, as your request.  You're independent and confident as a little girl and it's amazing to watch you Aeowyn.  As your parents, we watch you with incredible pride.  You're just simply an incredible little girl.  We love you and I'll update soon!

Welcome to 2014

Chuna my little cutie pie -- you are turning out to be such a wonderful little girl.  I'm so sorry that I have not captured as many stories as I should have over these past 6 months.  You have really grown so fast my little baby.  You're very tall for you age and are quite the conversationalist and mini fashionista at a very young age. 

So onto the blog catch-up. I'll start with our india trip.  We left in June to go for three weeks to india and the Maldives.  We got to meet your family from mom's side of the family -- which was lovely.  We stayed in Kochin first and had fun visiting Ammuma's sisiters and aunties.  It was so fun getting to know them.  We also took time and went to do some adventurous things like going to a river and helping to wash elephants -- which was so fun.  But you didn't want to pet the elephant, as they were big and wet.  You kept talking about how the elephants were smelly. 

We also went to a resort where they took us on a boat to view the backwaters of India and viewing how people live in rural areas.  You all got to look at fish and see how they live -- and even saw what old Kerala homes look like.  You even got to the drive the boat after seeing your brothers drive.  The funny part was when the captain tried to steer -- you would try to slap away his hands.  The next part of the trip, we went to the Maldives and landed on a little strip of land in the middle of the Indian Ocean.  We hoped a boat and you all loved being on the boat as it took us to our resort.  The resort was lovely and served western food -- so you all refueled up again.  You had a blast playing on the beach, in the ocean and the pool.  Our little house was only 20 ft. from the water's edge -- it was stunning.  After 4 days of sun and fun, we tralved to Trivandrum and stayed at Thatha's house.  We visited some more friends and family and then went down to Kovalam for 2 days.  Our hotel was unremarkable and it was cold and wet the first day, but the second day we went to visit a Taj resort and the pool was awesome -- you and Rohin and Talin spent the day climbing the little island in the pool and jumping in.  We would have your life jacket on and you would just float around the pool.  It was so fun.

When we got back, we ended up coming back to a messy house as it was under construction. We finally finished the work in December. 

Xmas was also fun, we had all our family with us.  For Xmas, you had lots of great presents from Santa Clause, including your own bright red little motorized truck, a set of dolls that represent all disney princesses an a dress up trunk.  You asked your brother to write your xmas list for you.  Xmas day brought lots and lots of presents, which you loved.  I think you changed your dress about 10 times that day.  Speaking of, you really love your dresses and make-up.  You love going to mommy's closet and digging through her make-up bag.  You are very notrious for leaving lipstick kisses on walls, doors, hands.  But I have to say, you are such a loveable girl.  You love to give mommy an daddy hugs and kisses and love your mommy tucking you into bed at night.  

Daddy and mommy are so proud of you Aeowyn.  You are such a good girl, so sweet and a very hard worker.  Even your teachers talk about what a pleasure it is having you in their class.  It's a pleasure being your daddy Aeowyn and mommy and daddy love you so much!