Dear Ava,
Baba and I met you a year ago, today. We don't remember life without you. It seems like you were with us long before we ever knew about you.
You have changed our lives in so many ways. For one, I've learned to enjoy the little moments and let the laundry and dishes wait (and wait, and wait sometimes). Jackson, always the patient and caring one, has become more so. Molly, the not-so-patient and sometimes caring one, has grown up so much in a year. She pretended to be sick when you first came home. I took her to the doctor over and over again before I finally realized she just needed some attention (and lice removal, but that's a story for another day). She expected you to come home and start playing with dolls and dress up clothes right away. You didn't. You wanted mama and you were afraid of dolls. Molly learned to be patient and, in time, became the sweetest big sister a girl could have. As for the dolls and dress up clothes, you love them now - you play with them everyday and you often insist that we call you "mommy".
Dad, well, he's far more adventurous these days. We even got him to Chinatown twice in the same week. Once, for the Chinese New Year parade (and lunch - which he ate) a few weeks ago, and again for another New Year event for a friend's school. That time, we went to a restaurant we'd never visited. They brought us chicken. The WHOLE chicken, with its head intact. And your baba didn't run home. He didn't eat the chicken, but he didn't complain either. And, for him, that's a lot.
You still love Chinese food. You squeal when you see those little white boxes filled with rice. But, nowadays, you're also a fan of chips and salsa, vegetable soup and chicken pot pie. You will try anything!
You amaze me every day. So happy, so silly, so crazy. You are so smart. Sometimes, I think you'll grow up to be something very scholarly. Other times, I think the circus may be more fitting. Because you, little girl, have no fear. You use the back of the sofa as a tight rope when you think I'm not looking. You climb the refrigerator, the kitchen cabinets and even my legs. You often use my face as a trampoline. All with that big bright smile on your face.
You have become quite the clothes horse. You LOVE getting dressed and insist on doing so the minute you wake up. You are usually dressed and ready to go before you leave your room in the morning. You love to pick out your clothes and will always go for dresses, especially red ones. You have a red Christmas nightgown that you insist on wearing every night. Sometimes it gets washed, but probably not nearly enough.
Tonight, when you open your presents, you have 3 new red dresses for spring. I'm pretty sure you'll insist on wearing them with your snow boots, because you love them too.
Speaking of snow, it's only fitting that we're in the middle of a storm on your Gotcha Day. I like to think someone in Heaven noticed how much you love the snow - and sent you a giant pile of it for you to play in. So, for now, time to stop writing. It's time to put on your favorite boots.
