Finally, I am back from Turkey after a two month escapade. One more time I wished that my family lived on the Mediterrenean coast, I could enjoy a vacation, anyway, Istanbul was delightful in its own way. I met old friends, one of whom has become a successful businesswoman and a Turkish Daily News columnist. Lara is a big girl now, she is taking her first steps and beginning to understand the meaning of "I want...". Now that she has officially become an aquatot, the name given to the little ones enrolled to a swimming class for 6-12 month olds, I hope she enjoys being one...

Here is 'future biker' Lala, as her daddy likes to call her:

And her daddy:




I have to run but here are two quotes I loved (by the way I just realized that Lara is pronounced as Laha - with that deep husky R in French!).

"If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle." Vincent van Gogh

"Take a sprinkling of fairy dust, An angel's single feather, Also a dash of love and care, Then mix them both together. Add a sentiment or two,A thoughtful wish or line, A touch of stardust, a sunshine ray... Its a recipe, for a Baby Girl truly fine." \