I wanted some quality time with you so chose October 16 to 27th, after your busy 2nd birthday and Thanksgiving were over. You certainly made every day of my visit interesting.
Our first full day together, October 17th both you and I started the day, feeling out of sorts ... you had had a late night and I was on new meds. However, after a nap things were better for both of us. You noticed my hair tied in two tails. I told you they were pig tails. Mommy offered to put your hair in pigtails too. You agreed and were delighted when Mommy did it. Your curls didn't mirror my straight hair exactly and you were much cuter but we matched. I wanted to celebrate your birthday with you and brought a candle holder in the shape of a pair of shiny yellow Wellingtons with colored dots on them. You recognized them as 'boots' immediately. We sat at the table, lit the candles, sang "Happy Birthday". After you had blown out the candles and you asked to light them 'again' .. we did and this could probably have gone on for a couple hours but we moved your attention to your present, a train made up of different shaped brightly colored wooden blocks which you then played with.
Every meal began with grace ... Your Mom and Dad, Asia and any guests held hands, closed their eyes, while Mommy or Daddy said the grace. You always ended it with a resounding 'Amen!"
Meals were very interesting as you had wide variety of tastes. Our first dinner was cheesy ravioli’s with sliced mushrooms … you enjoyed both. The next night was a communal effort ... Daddy contributed very tender spare ribs, Mommy made Brussel's sprouts, and I made Dutch Hutspot ... That is potatoes mashed with carrots and onions. (Poppa had given a big basket of potatoes, carrots and 2 onions from his garden to Mommy and Daddy and I made use of them. Thank you Poppa.) Much to your parents’ surprise, you ate a big serving of hutspot. They told me you don’t usually like potatoes or carrots. I would never have known. You also sampled the sprouts and the spare ribs.
Night three, you had curried chana, (chick peas), pita bread with brown rice for your dinner and ate it with gusto.
For our last dinner together, we had Trinidad bulljoll and Mommy’s fresh baked whole wheat and flax seed bread. You sampled the salt fish and onions. You also dipped your Mommy’s bread in the olive oil and lime juice bulljoll sauce ... but did not want the avocado or tomato. :) “I don’t like it.”
You were very verbal about what you liked and wanted. You loved your books and often wanted one ‘again’. You had a good sense of direction when we went for a walk … (you sure don’t take after your Omie, or Uncle Nigel in that!) By week’s end you had a 6 word reading vocabulary.
On our way to dropping you to school on my last day, I told you I was leaving and I said good bye to the mountains out the car window … big good bye, (whole hand) and little good bye (forefinger only). I wasn’t sure if you knew what a mountain was till you said, “more mountains coming up,” and sure enough as we turned the corner more came into view and you pointed them out. I miss you already Asia. Love, Omie
