it's my girls' world

I've been a bit of a bad blogger. I blame it on all the activities we have going on. As we are entering the final few weeks of our time here in Asia, we are trying to cram as much in as possible. We've done tthe bird park, a trip to Malacca, jaunts around town and shopping. I also have to post about Anjali's birthday lunch. We have a visitor as well- my  sweet aunt Sabi is visiting us from NY as well so we are busy showing her around. I'm going back to Singapore tomorrow with her for a quick trip. And then we have our dear friend, Joann coming to visit as well on Friday.... I don't know when next I'll be blogging, but I'll have lots to post when I do.

D does not look pleased.

We've been gone for the last few days to the Malay islands of Langkawi- I think there are about 99 of them.  Langkawi incidentally is one of 64 recognised UNESCO world geoparks. We stayed at the Andaman Resort and it was a-ma-z-i-n-g!!!! From the long and winding road through the lush Malaysian rainforest to the refreshing and delicious ginger, lemon grass and pandan welcome drink to our spectacular room backing onto the forest, it was simply lovely. We spent the last few hours of Anjali's birthday there with a delicious birthday dinner. We didn't get out of the resort much as they had a fantastic pool, with areas so shallow that Anjali was able to crawl through. There was also a waterslide that Cassia went down at least twenty times. We spent hours and hours by the pool just lazing around--- even though there was a beach-- Cassia isn't a big fan, she likens it to a dirty pool.

I'm so pleased to say that I was so right! I wept tears of joy when I found out it was another girl.   We love this child so much. One daughter was such a blessing but with two, we have an abundance of riches. Darin always calls us his two million dollar family.

I adore this little girl. She makes us laugh and smile, relaxed and contented and we just enjoy life that much more with her around. She brings joy to me hourly. So many people  who spend time with her say how good natured, jolly, playful  and peaceful she is. As a friend of mine said last week, this baby was God-sent.

July 22nd, 2013. My Anjali is one today. I love her smile, her dance moves, her two front teeth, her hearty appetite, her long baby toes and her sleep schedule but most of all I love her sweet,  spirit. Happy, happy birthday, my beautiful daughter!

Here is a look at her last (well only) twelve months.

Welcome to the world, sweet girl!

Once again, settling into nice sleeping patterns in August

Check those chubby legs in September

Here you are in as a lady bug for Halloween. One of many hand me down outfits you own

You took your first airplane trip to Trinidad in November. Here you are bathing in a basin

Here you are with Cassia in December in your Christmas pjs

You started solids in January at 6 months

In February, we had a wonderful family vacation in beautiful Turks and Caicos

Here you are 'springing into spring' in March

We had our family puja in April

Here you are on your first roadtrip to NYC in May. You've just begun to crawl around

Chilling in KL in June

And here we are in July in Singapore!

The four days we spend down in Orchard Road were filled with different activities. We visited the Botanical Gardens, strolled along Orchard Road, viewed the city from atop the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, went on a cruise on the Singapore River, sampled chili crab (a specialty of Singapore), visited the Singapore Zoo and went on a bus tour (we've decided we were right all along- we're really not bus people, Malaysia was an anomaly). A whirlwind visit but we really got a nice flavour for the city. My friend Saba calls it "Asia Light" and I can see why. It is very much a mix of East and West. It's a very clean, orderly society (due largely to the government and the strict legislation) but the Asian influence in terms of architecture, eats and all round culture is definitely there... It's so expensive though, it's a good thing we are in KL for two months, we definitely couldn't afford Singapore for that time! We had a wonderful time though!

Atop the MArina Bay Sands Hotel

Cassia refused to come in the pic with us

Little India

Chilling in the bus between stops

The three buildings with the ship on top is the Marina Bay Sands Hotel- cool, right?

This might be my favourite pic of the whole trip

Two sweeties

I really don't know what we're trying to do in this pic- but Cassia is standing behind me and not under my skirt!

A beautiful Hindu Temple, in Chinatown nonetheless

Chinatown

A Chinese Temple this time

A view of the Singapore skyline from the river cruise we went on

Love Clarks Quay

Yummy dinner

Ridiculously good chili crabs!!