15 Months

Amalia,
We find ourselves once again at the 25th of the month, adding one more month to your tally.  I have to tell you, I'm not sure how or when it happened, but there is hardly any baby left in you.  You are all toddler.  A funny, sassy, sweet, pícara, happy, studious, observant, goofy, loving, incredible fifteen-month-old.

The way you talk and use your words is astounding.  I've lost count of your words, and you add new ones daily.  One of your favorite things to do is read books with animals in them, and make the animals' sounds.  You can do frogs, hens, roosters, chicks, donkeys, dogs, cats, mice, birds, owls, sheep, cows, horses, turkeys, pigs, ducks and probably more that I've forgotten.  You have distinct words for all the members of your family, and often the first word you say in the morning is "Sisi".  You ask for milk and water, say please and thank you, can say popcorn, cheese, apple, bread, bean, and I swear you asked for broccoli the other day.  You are constantly asking for a book, and can request Maisy by name, as well as Babies on the Move (you say Mooove).  I love your darling little voice.  Today you requested to brush your teeth quite insistently.  You can identify your eyes, nose, knee, ears, mouth, teeth, hair, belly, hands, feet and toes (with words for most of them).  You can say shoe and baby, kitty and nurse, all your most favorite things.

You dressed as an elephant for Halloween, and were a little unsure about the hood on your head.  You enjoyed walking with your sister, though, and would say "trick or treat" at each house and hold your bucket for candy, with help of course.

You learned how to stack a tower of three blocks this month, and I was so proud.  You would clap your hands after creating your tower and were so proud of yourself.

 You explored at the Children's Museum this month, especially enjoying the water and ball rooms.

 You love doing anything that makes your feel big.  You sit with your sister, you want to do everything yourself and the way that the grown-ups do it.  You are smiley and so independent.

 You absolutely love to read, by yourself or with anyone with a lap to spare.  You will ask for "Melmo" on tv and in books.

 You got to see snow again, this time walking by yourself and exploring the world around you.  It was hard for you to stand back up after tipping over because of your boots and mittens, and weren't crazy about that cold, wet stuff on your fingers.

 You are snuggly and lovely and happy and so much fun to be around.  You've also been biting, which is less fun, though you always laugh, thinking it is really funny.  You grab things from Sofia, pull her hair and pinch her face.  You also hug and kiss her more than anybody, and love to wrestle with her on the floor and play any game that she or you imagines.

You are wonderful, my peanut butter.  Happy 15 months.  I feel so fortunate.

Love,
Momma

14 Months

Eeek!  It is nearly Halloween, which means it is nearly the 31st, which means I missed the 14 month mark by nearly a week!  Sorry, Mali!  :)

You, my dear child, are no longer a baby.  You are all toddler, and you want to be all grown-up.  A few weeks ago, you started throwing a fit when we tried to put you in your booster seat at dinner time.  Eventually, I gave in to your crying and let you eat on my lap, and then I let you walk around and eat from your tray without actually sitting.  After a few days of this not-so-great arrangement, I finally figured out that perhaps you just wanted to sit at the table with the rest of us.  Lightbulb!  We found a booster chair that sits you right at the table.  And you love it.  You make a mess, you dump your plate of food onto the table, you toss your spoon and fork on the floor, you grab the food off of our plates and try to touch the hot pots on the table.  And you are so proud.  It is working wonderfully.  What a big girl.
You also make many animal noises. You can neigh, moo, meow, woof, baa, cluck, and quack.  Your vocabulary is always expanding, including milk, backpack, Sofia (which is now definitely a Seesee), apple, banana, sit, please, baby, uh-uh (complete with with head shake) and so much more.
You love to read stories, and are quite picky about which book you want to read.  If it isn't right, you will throw the book and go pick another one.  Your favorites have flaps to lift, babies to look at, or animals to imitate.  "Book!"  is a common cry around this house, and you'll often push your sister off a lap to get your very own story time.  You will also pull her hair, pinch her face or hit her.  To be fair, she takes your books or takes your spot on Mama's lap, too.  Other times, though, you two are the sweetest to each other.  You give each other kisses and hugs, wrestle together on the floor, play babies, puzzles, books, animals and dollhouse together.  You have tea parties with your dolls and roll the ball to each other on the floor.  You love your sister above all else.
You are also adjusting to having Mama be at work.  I started a long-term subbing position this month, and while you are enjoying your extra time with Daddy, you miss Mama terribly.  You are waking up a lot at night, perhaps to have extra rocking and nursing time with me.  It could also be related to the molar that just popped through the upper right side, or the cold you have been fighting.  Either way, I'm still tired.
You are a very funny fourteen month old darling.  We love you so much, sweet girl.
Love,
Mama

Goodbye, Jim.

I nursed Amalia to sleep for her nap this morning.  I've been trying not to do that, and instead we rock and she cries.  Today, she's sleeping on my lap, and that darling little snore on the milk-drunk face while her long legs are falling off my lap and my feet are falling asleep are completely mesmerizing.

The world lost a great man today.  A man who lived every second of his life.  A man who was successful in every possible way.  He owned a successful business, was great at and loved his job.  He was an incredible father to three wonderful boys.  A dedicated, loving and thoughtful husband.  He loved photography and frisbee golf.  He loved nature.  He loved babies.  He was a music aficionado and always found the best concerts.  He could make any experience more exciting in its retelling.

It was so sudden.  My heart is breaking, especially for his sons, almost-daughter-in-law and wife.  His father, sister, and brother-in-law.  His nephews and niece.  They are an incredible family, one I was blessed to experience as babysitter many times in my youth.  I still can't believe he's gone.

I'm not the best at keeping in touch.  I have good intentions, but all too often, days, weeks, months, even years will pass where I haven't talked to so many of the people I love.  I hadn't even seen Jim since June.  His death is my kick-in-the-pants to call my friends, to make plans, to hold my kids tighter and always tell the people I love that I love them.  Today may really be the last time we get the chance.

Michelle Obama!

Not only did we get tickets to the event to see Mrs. Obama on Friday, we got VIP seats!

I got a message on Thursday telling me that the doors would open at 1 pm, and to wear Packer green and gold for the event.  Dad was the lucky ticket-holder number two, so we left home just before noon in our Packer t-shirts, planning to get there by 1.  When we arrived at Alexander Gym, there were lines everywhere.  So many people!  We finally found the end of the line we thought we had to stand in, when a volunteer approached us and asked if we were together as a party of two, and if she could talk to us for a moment.  Turns out, they were looking for Packer-decked people to be on the stage behind Michelle herself!  We were escorted to a much shorter line, where secret servicemen gave us directions.  After getting through security, we were put up on wooden bleachers directly behind where Michelle would be speaking.  Woo Hoo!  We weren't allowed to take pictures during the speeches, but we got to hear Russ Feingold and Michelle Obama, from up close!  It was so exciting!
I'm fired up and ready to go!  Ready to reelect President Obama on November 6th!

FLOTUS!

I've got tickets to see Michelle Obama on Friday afternoon!

The girls and I went to get tickets at 4 o'clock in Appleton.  Naively, I thought I'd be out of there, get groceries and be home in time for dinner.  Ha HA!  The line was much longer than I anticipated, and we waited for two hours before finally making it close enough to see the building front when we were told the tickets were all out.  They took our names and said they'd call if tickets became available.  Because it was already past six by this point, I took the girls to dinner and started heading home.  We were going to make it at just about bedtime.  I got a call while in Greenville saying we had tickets and asking if we could pick them up tonight.  I turned around, trekked both kids back into headquarters, and have my tickets in hand!  My girls are such troopers.  We got home about 9:00, but both of them had been sleeping since we left Appleton (the second time) at 8.  They both popped into bed without a problem.  And now I get to see the first lady!  I have two tickets, and there is a discussion about who my number two is going to be.  Who will win, Mom, Dad, or Sarah?

First Month, Second Year

Amalia is 13 months today!  and all of a sudden she isn't much of a baby anymore - she's a toddler!  Sniff...sniff...

Dearest Mali,

Happy thirteen months, baby girl!  You have always wanted to be big, and little by little you are getting there.  We are so proud.

You are walking.  You started taking your first steps just after your birthday, but just this week, you've been using your feet to get you places.  You have been practicing and practicing, and now prefer walking to crawling.  You can crouch down to pick something up and stand back up by yourself.  If you lose your balance a little bit you can regain your footing without falling.  You always look so proud of yourself whenever you are on your feet.

You are also starting to climb.  You can get into your new wagon, the baby cradle, the chair by the fireplace, your little rocking chair, and the kiddie chairs, and can even get back down all by yourself.  You are attempting higher climbs and are so persistent.

You've been eating lunch at the kids' table; you look so grown-up.  The first time I let you eat there, you had such a surprised and happy look on your face.  You always want your own utensil when we eat and practice using it, though mostly it just bangs against the table.

You are a talker.  Your list of words keeps growing, and I'm not sure I can list them all anymore.  You know what a sheep says, and how to cluck like a chicken.  You search the house calling for grandpa and get so excited whenever he gets home and holds you in his arms.  You always want a bit of whatever anyone is eating, and will ask for it by saying, "Me?"  Sometimes you'll follow that with "Peese?"  or "Dat?"  I think you are trying to say Sofia, though I can't recreate the sound you make.  Sort of sounds like 'sisi', but not quite.

Right now, you are a teething monster.  You wake up many, many times a night.  You are drooly.  Your nose has a constant curtain of boogers.  I can see the swollen gums where your one-year-molars will be, and am begging those little guys to pop out soon.  I need my baby back!

You have a temper!  Still.  and More.  When you don't get your way, you tend to scream.  Then hit.  Then throw your head into the carpet and wail.  It is quite the performance.

My little boogie-baby, I love you so much.  Your giggle is infectious, and the games you play hilarious.  You bring so much joy and love to this family.

Loveyouforeverandalways,





Mama

Big Girls!

Big week for the Parra girls!  Sofia is continuing to improve her reading skills, and Amalia is continuing to improve her walking skills!  Mama is so proud.

Here is big girl Sofia reading a story the other night before bed.  She has never seen this book before, and really enjoyed its story.

Here is fully-fledged toddler Amalia walking!  She's still a bit tipsy, but is starting to prefer it as a method to get around, and is so obviously proud of herself.  

As my sister just posted (Johanna), the days are long but the years are short.  How very true.  I'm really not sure how I have one daughter who can read, and a second one who can walk.  

First steps!

Just a quick post to remind myself that Amalia started walking this week!  September 12, Julio, Sofia, Sarah and Grandma were in the living room, and Sofia and I were cuddling in the chair by the window while Amalia stood by the coffee table.  She let go of the table and turned toward us, and instead of dropping to crawl as she normally does, she took two steps to reach us!  We all cheered and clapped and she took steps between Julio and me, and Mom and Julio several times before tiring and refusing to do it.  The last two days, she has tried a few times, but mostly decides it is too hard and gives up and crawls.  True walking is coming soon, I know it!  She is so funny - her little top half goes so much faster than her feet and she really has to concentrate to balance.  Usually, she doesn't concentrate and tips right over because she is in such a hurry to get to where she's going.

The Big K

Today my biggest baby started kindergarten.  I'm not sure why it is such a bigger deal than 4K, since last year was technically the start of her school career, but it just feels bigger.  I think it feels bigger to Sofia, too.  She is in the big elementary school which houses all the kids through fourth grade.  She eats in a big cafeteria.  The playground isn't fenced in.  There are six kindergarten rooms.  She has to find her bus out of a big line of yellow school busses (eventually - we brought her and picked her up today, and will probably do so tomorrow as well).

Sofia woke up very excited.  I had to wake her up to get ready in time, but she was cheerful and cooperative and got her clothes on without trouble.  She actually ate breakfast and was ready to take First Day of School pictures with time to spare.

Sofia bounded outside talking about playing with Sofia D on the playground at recess and telling me that she didn't want to sleep at rest time.  I assured her that was okay.

The whole family piled into the car; an extra-special thing because Daddy actually had today off.  We made it to the school in plenty of time, waved at the crossing guard who wished Sofia a happy first day of school, and headed to the classroom.  Sofia started to get a bit quieter at this point.  She took off her backpack, removed her rest towel (a Hello Kitty find that she is extremely excited about) and attempted to hang it in her cubby.

Couldn't reach.  Daddy tried to help her, but she wanted to do it herself.  She found a way.

 Then, it was time to head to the classroom.

Somebody's a bit nervous.

Yet still excited!  Because Kindergarten!  Yippee!  We discovered that even at 7:45 kids are supposed to wait in the gym until they are dismissed to their classrooms.  There were tons of kids, all lined up in rows by grade.  The kids in the first line looked a tad concerned.  By the time we got to her classroom, Sofia decided that she would rather just go home.  When Mrs. Yaeger asked the kids to find a seat, she grabbed my leg and burst into tears.  "I want to go home with Mommy and Daddy!"

I wanted to scoop her up in my arms, tell her it was okay and that I'd take her home and she'd never have to do anything scary ever again.  But I didn't.  I gave her a hug and a kiss and walked as fast as I could out of the door.
I worried about her all day.  The phone rang at about 10 am, and I was sure it was the school calling to say that she hadn't stopped crying and they needed me.  It wasn't.
I knew she would be fine.  I knew as soon as we left that she would go with the flow and be just fine.  It didn't help my heart.  3 o'clock couldn't come fast enough.
We went to pick her up, my little nugget.  She burst through the door, smile on her face.  She said she had a good day.  We went to Dairy Queen to celebrate.  I had to pry a bit, but got her to tell me a little bit about her day.
She went to sleep singing a little ditty about school.  I think it will all be alright.

ps.  She fell asleep at rest time.

The First

Amalia's first birthday.  After a year of so many firsts, this amazing child is one year old.

Dear Amalia,

One year ago (and a few days now), we finally evicted you from your snug womb and welcomed you into our arms.  My feelings at your birth were pure amazement and love - one of the best times of my life.  Similar feelings, in fact, to how I felt on your birthday, amazed by this little girl who has so blessed our lives.  I love you so much, sweet darling.  Happy First Birthday.

You have the silliest personality.  You love to laugh and make us laugh.  You wrinkle up your nose and laugh out loud.  You love to pull up shirts and tickle belly buttons.  You flirt with everyone you meet, giving kisses and high fives and giant happy grins.  You also love potty humor and get the silliest laugh when you are dirty.

You are learning so much.  You try to climb into everything, and are very persistent.  We watched you try to mount one of the child chairs, failing, failing, and trying again.  You figured out what didn't work, and kept trying until you found a way that finally got you on top.  You then tried to sit on your bottom, and while trying to turn, you tipped the chair over.  Though you bopped your head, you did not fuss, only got up and tried again.  You love to talk and are so very vocal.  You copy everything you hear, and have many actual words.  You say hi, bye, Mama, Daddy, Papa, Grandpa, guau-guau (Spanish for a dog barking), cluck like a chicken, baa like a sheep, uh-oh, poo-poo (for when you have dirty pants), muchacha, respeta (complete with finger point).  You also have many words that we don't understand, but it is obvious that you are saying something important.  You love to explore, to try things out.  You brush your hair with a brush or comb, put phones to you ear and say Hi, and even blew out your candle on your first birthday cake.  Then you ate the wax.  It was apparently delicious.  

You adore your sister.  She is starting to get more jealous of you now that you can crawl and always want the toy she is playing with and often pat her vigorously or pull her hair or knock her towers over.  Sometimes I allow her to go to her room and shut the door to play without having her set-ups destroyed.  You will still follow, then sit outside her room trying to call her.  You just love to play with her.

You have many favorite foods.  Just about any food, actually.  You can't have eggs, though, making baked goods difficult.  We concocted your birthday cake with banana instead of eggs, and it was delicious.   I think you approved, too.  Bananas are still your special favorite, but you also drop just about anything for a big carrot or a cherry tomato.  You love pasta and cucumbers, black beans, rice, chicken, and pumpkin soup.  I don't think we've found anything you've refused.  Nursing is still one of your favorite things to do, and you get so happy and excited every time.  I love nursing you, too, and I think we'll continue for awhile.

Your teeth are growing, changing your gummy grin to a toothy one.  You have this adorable space between your front teeth (which appeared in July - the left one before the right one).  Around your birthday, the teeth next the top teeth broke through (the left before the right), making your tooth count six.  With those six chompers you can eat just about anything.

Amalia, this year has been incredible.  I'm love every day with you, my love.  You are the happiest, silliest, lovingest, smartest, greatest baby.  I am so very blessed to be your mommy.  I love you so.  

Love you to the moon and back,

Mama

A Whole Handful

My little baby turned five this week.  She gets to hold up a whole hand when asked how old she is.  She starts kindergarten in two weeks.  She's five.  I remember so clearly the instant she was born, and how she grabbed my hands and looked in my eyes, how perfectly she fit into my arms.  My beautiful baby, a five-year -old, a school-aged kid.  Oh, how I love her so.

Dearest Sofia,
Happy Birthday, sweetheart!  You love your birthday more than any other day in the year, and were planning this one back in February.  I love how excited you get - it is infectious.  You get that excited about lots of things, most of them much more mundane than birthdays.  You jump up and down and get your true smile stretching clear across your face and radiating through your body.  You get that excited about things like picking fresh garden tomatoes or that Amalia is playing with you, or that you get to take a bath.

You are so loving, my dear.  You always want to be on my lap, holding my hand, being as close to me as you can.  You give great hugs and kisses to Mommy and Daddy and Amalia.  You can be quite picky about who you give your love to and when, however.  Sometimes, you just don't want to say hello and be polite.  New situations and people you don't know very well always take you a bit of time to adjust, time when you like to be quiet and hiding, studying and gaining confidence.  Usually, if given enough time to warm up, you love people, especially in small groups or one-on-one.  You love to play and invent games and squeal and giggle.  You tend to get close to a particular person and want to spend all your time with them.  In Venezuela, you absolutely adored Julio's cousin's 12-year-old daughter Natascha, always playing happily with her.  You love to spend time with people you know well.  You are not as fond of visitors you don't know, even if they know you.

You are so smart, sweetie.  You are reading books now.  You ask such insightful questions, that I don't usually know the answer.  You want to look it up, to know, to understand.  You are so very curious, so anxious to find out how the world works.  You want to know why, always why.  How?  Your knowledge of the natural world, and of words and sounds are far beyond most kids your age.  I love how you always want to know, and always have a question.  More than one question, actually, and most of them are fantastic.  I can't wait to see how you do in school.  You loved 4K, getting to know other kids your age, playing on playgrounds and with friends and reinforcing knowledge that you already had.  According to your teacher, you did wonderfully in the classroom, but are a little bit slow.  Pokey Parra, in fact.  Not a surprise, as you do the same at home.  You always find something new to interest you, and can be easily distracted.  We registered for kindergarten on your birthday, and get to meet your teacher and see your classroom next Thursday, in preparation for your first day of school.

This year, you learned how to be a big sister.  Just nine days after your fourth birthday, you became a big sister with the birth of Amalia.  From day one, you have adored that role.  You always want to hold her, to hug her, to play with her.  You are enjoying now that she can respond and play with you, though that also makes it harder.  You are having some issues with jealousy now that she can share your toys and is starting to walk and talk.  Sometimes, you wish you were still a baby, though I remind you (and you remind me) that you are still and will always be Momma's baby.  I really love how much you love your sister, how you want to be helpful, and how much the two of you love each other.

You are my star, my first-born, my joy, my frustration, my pride, my darling.  I am so blessed to know you, to love you, to call you my daughter.  Happy fifth birthday,  honey.

Love,
Momma

Placeholder

It is now August I don't even know except that it is past the 16th and before the 25th, and I have not written Sofia's fifth birthday letter.  I will do it, and before Amalia's birthday, but I am much too tired right now.  We arrived home on Wednesday the 15th at 1 pm after leaving Venezuela at 6 am on Tuesday.  Thursday the 16th arrived very early.  She was spoiled with balloons and cake and presents and a birthday breakfast of strawberry pancakes and whipped cream (to which she brought a basket of cherry tomatoes, leaving her pancakes untouched).
Until tomorrow (hopefully tomorrow), when Sofia will still be five.

Earthquake

and now, it seems that there has been an earthquake and heavy rains, closing both ways into Merida.  As in, no traffic in or out.  Ay, Dios.  They are hoping to open at least one lane today, so hopefully by tomorrow, when we need to get through, roads will be open.  All I know is that we HAVE to be there by Monday night, and we HAVE to leave Tuesday morning.  For reals.  No more rain.  Not more earthquakes.  Open roads.  Please, please, please.

Travel Week

Things in Venezuela didn´t exactly work out as planned, as often happens.  To make a long story short, we decided to come home in August so that Sofia could start school at home and for Julio and I to get back to work.  That day in August is coming fast.  Tomorrow, in fact, we begin the journey home.  It will be several long days of travel, with each leg needing to go just right, until we arrive at home on Wednesday, August 15.

Tomorrow, August 10, the four of us will leave Maturin at 5 pm on a bus headed for Barinas.  If all goes well, we should arrive there at about 9 in the morning.  This may seem long, but to us it seems short.  When we came, we took a bus that left at 10 am, arriving in Maturin at noon the next day.  With two kids.  In Barinas, we will take a smaller bus that will bring us to Merida in a trip that should take four hours.  Fingers crossed.  We should have Saturday night, Sunday, and Monday to rest, pack, and prepare for the rest of the trip.  We´re giving ourselves an extra day just in case.  Bright and early Tuesday morning, a man Julio´s sister knows will drive us to Cucuta, Colombia, stopping on both sides of the border to stamp our passports.  If all goes well, we should be at the airport by late afternoon.  There we will wait until the plane leaves at 8 pm (fingers crossed again).  We should land in Bogota, at before 10 pm.  Our plane will then leave from Bogota  at midnight, landing in Miami at 5 am.  We then fly to Charlotte, NC, and with any luck at all, finally land in Chicago at 1 pm.  With two kids under five years old.  We must be crazy.  Hopefully, my parents will be there to pick us up and take us home, another four hour ride, three of which I plan to be asleep.  Then, when we wake up, Sofia will be FIVE YEARS OLD.   If things don´t go as planned, we´ll be travelling on her birthday.  Gosh, I hope not.

It has been wonderful to be able to spend so much time with los abuelos, being part of the household for so long.  We are so lucky to have such loving families in both of our countries.  It was a trip we had to make, and I´m glad that we did it.  I am so ready to be home, though.  Ready for our routines, our comfy bed, our lives.

Ready, set, here we go!

Eleven Months

11 Months

Gordita,

You are now eleven months old.  One month left before you have been with us for one year. 

On one hand, it seems too soon.  How can you possibly be eleven months old, standing up, beginning to talk, crawling, communicating, a whole human being with a spit-fire personality.  Weren’t you just born?  Shouldn’t I still be cuddling a newborn?  It doesn’t seem possible that you have been here that long, that we have held you and cuddled you a loved you for eleven months?  On the other hand, life seems incomplete without you.  I can’t believe that we lived for so long without knowing you.  Your soul fits so perfectly into our family; it feels as if you have always been here.  Was it really less than one year ago when I first saw your face?   Have you only been making us laugh for eleven months?  Time has a funny way of passing us by, each moment frozen into eternity, yet passing by in an instant.  Moment passes after moment, and months, then years, fly past.  What I know is that I have an incredible child in my arms.  You no longer fit neatly in my lap when we nurse, but stretch out your long legs and chubby arms, reaching, pinching, kicking, grabbing and moving.  You like to lift up my shirt and stick your finger into my belly button, tickling me.  You repeat words and sounds that you hear.  Abuelita swears that you say Gato, Beba, Muchacha, and Gracias.  I’m not so sure, but you do imitate our inflections and sounds.  You want so desperately to be big.  You imitate every little thing that Sofia does, or that Mama or Papa does.  You want to play with the same toys that Sofia has.  You grab brooms, shoes, clothes, telephones, computers, spoons, forks, knives when you can get at them, and anything else you can find and try to use it the way the big people do.  You try to put on your shoes and make Sofia’s My Little Ponies trot across the floor.  You will stand up onto anything and everything, wanting so much to let go and walk.  When you see other babies walking (Lucia and Valeska) you watch them intently, willing them to give you the secret.  You chase after the big kids with your speed crawl, never fearing getting your hands stepped on by bigger feet.  You blow kisses and raspberries, love ‘pat a cake’ and ‘pon nina pon’.  You would eat bananas all day long if we let you.  You have always liked bananas, but the cambures in Venezuela  are so delicious, I’m not sure you are going to like that ones we can get in Wisconsin.  You love to eat, but love to do it yourself.  It is hard here, because we don’t have a booster seat to let you eat by yourself.  You are nursing more than ever, and I love it because it gives Mama and baby a chance to reconnect in something familiar and loving in a time and place of change and differences.  You love meeting all the new tios and tias and especially primos, and give everyone smiles and love. 

You are wonderful Amalia.  Every single inch of you.  Happy eleven months, peanut butter.

Love,

Mama

Double Digits

 *I wrote this the day after she was ten months, and am finally publishing it now.  At least it is before she's 11 months!

Little Miss Amalia has now reached ten months old!  How can it feel like she was just born, yet feel like she’s been here forever at the same time?  I can hardly imagine my family without her.  This darling soul has been so much fun to get to know, and we’re still discovering things every day. 

Dear Amalia,

This month, you discovered movement.  At the beginning of the month, you had only just figured out how to move forward using your hands and knees, but didn’t go very far, and it wasn’t very deliberate.  At first, you only crawled to reach beer bottles or coffee mugs.  We could just see your head working so hard to figure out which limbs to move in order to crawl.  It didn’t take very long for you to discover that this crawling thing could be very beneficial to you.  You could get places previously forbidden to you!  You could go where you wanted to without scooting or rolling.  You could follow your sister!  You started to practice to see how fast you could go.  You didn’t have to think quite so hard to get forward, and began to race yourself.  It was quite funny to watch you trip over yourself as you tried to go faster and faster.  You have become an expert crawler.  A few weeks later, you started to pull yourself up.  At first, only on shorter things, like Mama’s hips when lying down, or on a stair.  You started to get on your feet when on the floor, sticking your butt up in the air and crawling on all fours.  You mastered the downward-facing-dog.  Now, at ten months old, you are pulling up to a full stand, and starting to try to cruise along furniture.  You figured out how to climb onto low surfaces, like the mattresses on the floor.  Now, if only you would figure out how to get down without falling.  You are starting to stand holding only one hand, and just the other day, I let go and you stood by yourself for a few seconds.  You were so proud.

This month, you also discovered Venezuela.  You were an incredible traveler, not crying even once on our 36-hour journey to Venezuela.  You love to meet new people, and are so sweet with everyone.  Abuelita, Tia Juli and Tia Jeli love you so much.  You will let most people hold you, and smile and play.  Since we’ve been here, though, you are nursing more and more.  Perhaps you just need the reconnection with Mama.  I’m glad to oblige.

You love to play pretend.  You take a phone and pretend that are actually talking and put it up to your ears and say, “Hiiiii.”  You love to imagine things – you’ll climb on the bed and lay your head on the pillow to pretend you are sleeping.  You’ll pretend to brush your hair with the comb.  You love to hug and rock and kiss your baby dolls.  You especially like Sofia’s Bitty Baby.  She says she is going to use all her money to buy you one for your birthday.  So sweet.   You still absolutely love to play with other kids.  You get so excited when you see other kids, and screech with your whole body.  You love to be where everyone else is, and want to do exactly what everyone else is doing.

I can’t believe how big you are getting, and how much fun you are.  What a personality you are.  I love you so much, little lady. 

Loveyoualwaysandforever,

Mama

One Week from today

One week.  That's all that's left.  Yikes!  Next Tuesday, all the preparations that are going to get done will be done, and we'll be on our way to O'Hare airport, taking a red-eye flight with two kids to Cucuta, Colombia.

I'm getting so anxious!  Actually, lie.  I've been anxious for a long while.  When the calendar turned to June, I almost had a heart attack (exaggeration, you say?  perhaps.  a bit.)  I am in the middle of two classes, both of which have deadlines right after we get there, which means that I need to have that done before we leave.  We have to pack.  For four people, two of them growing little weeds, for six months.  There is so much to think about!  Thank goodness we live in such a digital age - I will still have access to my bank account to pay anything I forgot about.  I will be able to contact my doctor, Skype with family and friends (get me your user name!), we'll be okay.  It's not like we're headed to Siberia.  If I forget someone's socks we will be able to get more.

I'm also getting excited!  We are going to do such fun things, see so many people we love and miss.  Julio can't wait.  Sofia vacillates between being so excited she just might burst, to extremely anxious and scared.  I tell her that's how I feel, too.  Some things are scary, and we just have to do them to find out it isn't so scary after all.  That's what bravery is.

In addition to getting ready for our big trip, we are also trying to squeeze in as much summer fun as possible, which might be why there's still so much left to do.  We've been tubing down the river, grilled out as much as possible, had a campfire and s'mores, went to Bay Beach, had friends visit, gone to birthday parties, weddings, and graduations, picked strawberries and peas right from the garden, swam in the lake, and so much more.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have homework to finish, and a trip to prepare for!

The next 9 months

After nine months of being in my heart, Amalia has now also been in my arms for a full nine months.

Dear Amalia,

Happy 9 months, sweetie pea!  

You got two teeth this month, the most recent one only poked its tiny little top through a few days ago.  Your very first chompers.  Not that you really needed them for much, as you can chew through anything and refuse any food that isn't exactly what we are eating.  I swear, you can tell when we have something on the table that isn't also on your tray and let us know you notice its absence.

You are so close to crawling, baby.  You can get wherever you want to by flopping yourself around, and just need to figure out how to move the knees as well as the hands.  You started to pull yourself up on furniture, but can only get as far as your knees by yourself.  You love it when somebody helps you to stand up, and will hold on and play for as long as your legs will hold you.

*update* as of yesterday (three days past nine months), you are officially crawling!  Not fast, yet, and I'm not sure you realize how beneficial the new move will be to you, allowing you access to all the non-baby-safe areas of the house, but that day is coming.  Soon.  

For some unknown reason, you love to hold your foot.  When we are nursing, even at night, you grab that little foot and bring it up to your face.  You are quite limber.

You adore your sister, and as it turns out, little kids in general.  Whenever Sofia comes home from school, or even if you just see her again after she's been playing somewhere else, you get the biggest grin and shriek-y laugh.  She adores you right back.  You love to play together, and you are so tolerant, as Sofia's favorite toy always happens to be the one you are playing with.  Though, to be fair, your favorite toy is either what she is playing with or her hair, which you love to grab.   And pull.  Pigtails, ponytails, braids, or just left down, you pull it all.  Perhaps it is hair envy.  Don't worry, girl.  Yours is growing in.

You bring so much joy to our lives.  You are so good-natured and silly and fun to be around.  You like to sing, and say 'ba ba ba' to get us all busting out "Barbara Ann."  Then, you giggle and try to keep the rhythm with your own words.  Sofia and you performed quite the loud rendition during a family outing for Friday Night Fish Fry.  Every time we get to the "please hold my hand" part, you throw your hands in the air.  

You are also quite dramatic.  You have an idea about how things should go, and get quite upset when things don't go how you have them in your head.  Then, you throw fits.  I'm already nervous for your teenage years.  

You can say Mama and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa (though the last three sound suspiciously similar).  You love to imitate and be imitated, peek-a-boo and any book that includes flaps, and playing with toys that look like they might be dangerous.  Cords and beer bottles are your personal favorites.

You are squishy and soft and sweet and wonderful and funny and beautiful and loving and a million other adjectives.  I love you, little monkey.

Loveforeverandalways,
Mama

Teeth!

AMALIA HAS HER FIRST TOOTH!!!   Bottom left front tooth broke through!  Yippee!  Gotta stop letting her bite on my chin...

8 Months

Amalia,
Welcome to being eight months old!  So far, you are digging it.

You've always had quite the personality, but lately, it has really been shining.  Most of the time you are the easiest-going baby around, happily playing wherever you are with whatever person is closest to you, but there are times (and those times are increasing) that what I want you to do and what you want to do are two completely different things.  At these times, you complain, loudly.  Not cry.  Not fuss.  You yell.  Screech.  Usually, if we copy your screech or yell, we can illicit a smile and a screech conversation.  You aren't necessarily patient, though, and if there is something you want, you won't be distracted.

You started to wave this month, and even say "Hiiiii..." while waving at us.  Melt my little heart right there.  It is precious.  You also say Mama and Papa.  You give kisses.  You clap.  You are working so hard at crawling, but haven't quite figured it out yet.   You can scoot around, though, and even if it takes you some time, you can get to whatever dangerous object Mommy has tried to move out of reach.

You don't have any teeth yet, but I swear, they are coming.  I've been expecting teeth any minute now since Christmas, though, so I really don't know.  They seem to be bothering you, though, and you often have your tongue rubbing on your bottom front gums.

You are a snuggler.  While we kicked your sister out of our bed at 5 months old because she was just so kicky that nobody got any sleep, you, on the other hand, are the opposite.  You snuggle.  You like to fall asleep and keep asleep with someone's face or hand or body right next to your face, and you snuggle in and hug back.  It is impossible to not give in and enjoy the snuggles.  You still wake up a lot at night to nurse, but since we are so close, I normally don't even wake up.  Sometimes, I'll have you in your crib next to our bed, and wake up with you next to me with no memory of moving you there.  I try to encourage you to fall asleep on your own a bit and learn to soothe yourself, but I'm not trying too hard.

You love to laugh and play and make silly faces and be entertained.  You are loved so much, and love so much in return.  Happy eight months, precious.  Sleep well tonight, okay?

Loveyoualwaysandforever,
Mama

Quick! The burp rag!

My daughter likes to play in her spit-up.

No picture this time.  I figure the mental image should be enough.

Big Decisions

Not too long ago we made a big decision.  We're in total transition mode, and it scares the daylights out of me.  At the same time, I'm really excited for the first step, if completely nervous and overwhelmed with planning.

We are going to Venezuela for the last half of this year.

We plan to leave the middle of June and to come back the beginning of January 2013, when I will start my semester student teaching.  We're going to live in Mérida, the beautiful city where we met, staying with Julio's sister.  I'm so excited for all the fun things we are going to get to do, the people we get to spend quality time with, and that the girls (and me, too!) will get full Spanish immersion.  If there is a good time to do this, it is now.

It is scary, however.  Especially since we don't know what is happening come January.  I'm going to try not to focus too much on that fear, however.  I won't worry about tomorrow, today has enough worries of its own.  I have lots to plan and figure out for this six-month stay.

When we told Sofia, she burst into tears, saying she didn't want to start kindergarten in a Spanish place.  Then, we talked about her birthday, and she got so excited that she would get to have her birthday there, and that she was going to tell Abuelita that she wants a butterfly princess strawberry cake.  Good luck with that, Abuela.  She seems excited now, and can't wait to go, though this is the child who gets homesick when we go to Appleton for the day.  I know she is going to have hard days.  I know I am, too.  I hope I am able to let go of my own hard days long enough to help her through hers.  This will be good for us.  Sofia and Amalia need to know their other half.

Version: 7 months

My dearest Amalia, you are seven months old (this week.  ish.  okay, five whole days ago.  bah.) and Baby, you are on the move!  You rolled over belly to back for the first time on March 12, like you'd been doing it for years.  Then, you started getting your left leg behind you in your quest to reach any forbidden item placed tantalizingly beyond your reach.  Incidentally, your new favorite toy is whatever not-a-toy that is juuuust beyond your reach.  You seem to love the challenge of getting to it and shoving it in your mouth before Mama or somebody else can wrestle it from you.  Next, we started noticing how far you actually were from where we originally set you down.  You can scoot, but don't don't know how you are doing it (though you are rapidly figuring it out).  You also, in your quest for some far-off piece of fuzz from the floor, or whatever dangerous object has somehow escaped the notice of the rest of us, or paper (because you absolutely love to chew up paper of any kind), can get your legs into a complete side-splits

At first, you would utter a little squeak when you realized you were stuck, asking for our help.  Now, though, you can get your legs behind you and end up on your belly.  You've also figured out how to get from sitting position to either belly or back gently.  You so desperately want to run with your sister.

You are still rather a chunker.  At your six month appointment, you weighed 22 and a half pounds.  Two and a half weeks later, you weigh twenty-three and change.   18 month sized clothes are getting too small.  Your cheeks, though still impressive, are less round than they were, though, and you definitely have a neck now.  

You love to eat.  Not baby food.  You put up with the pureed baby stuff when you have to, but love eating whatever we are eating at the table with us.  I am far less careful with what I feed you than I was with your sister, and you pretty much get anything except sushi.  Not really.  You adore chicken, and love chewing on a chicken drumstick after the meat has been taken off.  You've also gotten tastes of ice cream (not my idea!  I did  protest!  I swear!) and LOVE it.  I mean, why shouldn't you?  Ice cream is delicious. 

This month you got to both go sledding in the snow and go barefoot in the grass, that's how fast our seasons changed this year.  

You also love animals.  Well, the dogs and cat, at least.  You absolutely love watching Roscoe fetch his ball, and what is funny, is he actually rolls the ball for you.  You love to pet Polar, who also loves you because there is usually some tasty tidbit close by.  Most amazingly, is the cat.  You are entranced by her, and you actually pet her so gently.  Mostly. At least you try.  And she seems to actually like you, as well.  She isn't the most loving of cats, but she seeks you out, rubbing against you, allowing you to touch her.  

You got your first ear infection this month, and showed us all how you hate being sick.  Poor babe had a high fever (running 104 for awhile), stuffy nose and congested chest, and was throwing up.  I could hardly get her to eat anything, and whatever she nursed was thrown back up.  So very miserable.  We got amoxicilin for the ear infection, but the next morning, she had a rash all over her torso as well as continued fever.  Doctor thought it was a reaction to the antibiotic, so we got a different one.  Luckily, because the amoxicilin is dosed twice a day for ten days, while the new med was once a day for five days.  Amalia hates taking medicine.  She learned quite quickly that we would stick the medicine in her mouth when she was crying, so started crying with her mouth closed tightly.  Little monkey. She fought it every step of the way.  Amalia, you are dramatic.  We were all miserable, and quite glad to see the end of that sickness.

Amalia, I love you so very much.  It is so much fun getting to know your personality and seeing how you interact with the world now that you have more control in it.  You are my world, a little piece of my heart.

Loveyoualwaysandforever, 

Mama