Our Adventures in Asia: Sydney

Sydney is doing great. She rules the house and her ayi. She's really bonding with the ayi well. She doesn't cry when I leave anymore. She's still stuck to me like glue when I'm here but I put my watch on her wrist yesterday and she immediately went to find her ayi to show her. I don't know for sure but I think the ayi is putting Sydney in her crib to sleep because she said that Sydney will roll around in the crib and play with her doll and chit chat with herself. That's consistent with what she does during her "quiet time" (aka, Mommy needs a "break time"). She doesn't always sleep though. After an hour, if Sydney doesn't sleep, the ayi takes Sydney out of the crib and they play. I'm just glad that Sydney is getting a little down time so that she will be rested and bouncing off the wall when I get home:))

She's about to give me a kiss

She continues to be a very active, alert and curious kid. It is challenging keeping her occupied all day, but I wouldn't have her any other way. I know, it's easy for me to say when babysitters are only $2 an hour here. But she's so much fun and interesting at this stage. And she can communicate and understand so much. It seems like overnight she started to understand things that I'm saying and figuring things out on her own. Her ayi keeps telling me how clever Sydney is and how she outsmarts the other kids on the playground.

Since we've been here Sydney has learned the following: 1. she can say banana but it comes out "ball nya nya" or "nya nya". The only other word she knows how to say is ball. There's a handful of words that she knows but can't say. 2. when asked, she can point to her nose and belly. 3. when asked, she can wipe her mouth with a tissue or napkin (although she doesn't always do a good job cleaning off her food but it is so cute to see). 4. without being asked, she will pull up her shirt to wipe off her drool. Even if it means stopping to put down her toys to wipe her mouth. It is the CUTEST thing. I don't know how to post the video from my camera or I'd show it to you. 5. when asked, she will pick up her toys and put it in a box. However, she is usually bored after the 3rd or 4th toy and stops. It's a start.

Looking for something to destroy

One of the things that I'm so grateful about with Sydney is that she has a very flexible palate. She eats everything. Her appetite has waned a bit. It's more about variety now than quantity. Since we've been here, she's had Indian food (tandoori chicken, cheese and garlic naan, butter chicken masala, mint chutney), Thai (tofu cooked with minced pork with ginger and garlic, stir fry pork with red bell peppers and basil), Italian and of course, Chinese food. She loves them all. I know that I'm bragging a bit here, but traveling and eating are my 2 favorite things to do, and it is so nice to have a daughter that shares those interests.

Having sticker fun (thanks to Aunt Tyra)

Unfortunately, it is such a hassle to get around in this town that I can't take Sydney out with me everywhere I go, like I did in Dallas. We definitely can't go out to dinner during the week. It takes so long to get anywhere that we are usually out during her snack time or nap time, which isn't always a pleasant experience. Now that she is unrestrained by a car seat, she is very squirmy in the taxi. As a result, we go out to do certain things on Saturday and I have a babysitter come for a couple of hours on Sunday so that I can run errands or explore the city.

this is what I come home to

Sydney's routine is that the ayi takes her out to the outdoor playground in the morning before it gets too hot. Then Sydney has her snack and then naps for 2 hours. Then she has lunch and then plays in the indoor playground. Then they come home to play and if it's not too hot, they go outside to play again. Then she has another snack and then Mommy's home. Not a bad life, huh?