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

Spring ahead

When date night coincides with Daylight Savings Time, it just isn't fair.  Don't these kids know that 6:30 is just way too early?

Julio and I got a much-needed date night last night, and had an absolutely wonderful time enjoying each other with incredible food and delish drinks.  We even went to a bar after dinner!  We stayed out until 12:30 which was actually 1:30 (thanks DST)!  My wonderful mother watched the girlies, and looked pretty sleepy herself this morning.  However, the worst part about going out, is knowing that the children didn't go out.  They aren't more than a bit tired.  They wake up, bright-eyed, same time as always.  I managed to squeeze an extra half hour in bed out of Amalia, in which I didn't so much sleep as get my hair pulled, my face scratched, and listen to the darling babbles of a six month old, but at least I got to do those things still in bed.  I think a family nap is in order later this afternoon.

The one thing daylight savings time does do, however, is harken the beginning of spring!  And what a beginning of spring it is.  We have weather in the 50's (already, and it is only 9:00), and I heard geese and sandhill cranes this morning.  Even though we never really got a winter this year (not that I'm complaining), it is still such a relief to see all the signs of spring returning.

6 months

If the next six months go by as quickly as the first six, my baby will be turning one tomorrow.

Continuing to say how fast time is flying is entirely cliche, but oh so true.  My little bitty baby just keeps growing.  Slow down!  Just slow down, sweetheart.  Let us enjoy this babyhood just a bit longer. 

I know we can't slow down time, so we'll enjoy every second.  

Dear Amalia,

This month, you discovered opinions.  What you discovered is that you have them.  Strong ones.  You know what you want and you go for it.  When you can't get it, or aren't allowed, you express your displeasure.  You are grabby.  You love to pull my hair, and grab my face, especially when I'm sleeping and you want to get up.

You love your sister.  I know I tell you that every month, but it is still true.  She loves to make you laugh, and you love to laugh at her.  You also love to poke fun at your sister a little bit.  Whenever she is being whiny or crying about something, you start to laugh.  Every time.  

Not only do you love your sister, but you love to be entertained.  You are still pretty wonderful at entertaining yourself and playing on the floor or in your exersaucer, but you definitely get lonely if no one is there, and use your voice to get Mama to come hold you.  Papá dice sue tu eres un bochinchera - someone who loves to have fun.  You are always looking for a laugh, love being swung around and tossed in the air and tickled and played with.   

Mostly, you love to be entertained, but with new situations or new people, you are still slow to smile.  You need to assess the situation first, and are quite the little studier, intently staring into the face and eyes of a new person, once you've gotten to look at them without them looking at you first. 

You've also gotten to where you really don't want to miss a second of the action.  It needs to be dark and quiet to be able to put you down for a nap or to bed. You are really starting to enjoy eating solid foods.  You even started, yesterday, to be able to handle a bit of texture in your food, rather than gagging on anything that isn't absolutely pureed.  You ate boiled potatoes, rutabaga and carrots from our stew yesterday and loved it.  We put it on your tray, and though you had a great time playing in it, you still needed our help actually getting the food in your mouth to eat it.

I think you are working on teeth.  The past few days you've been quite crabby, drooly, and seemingly in pain.  I don't feel anything poking through yet, but they do seem to be bothering you.  It doesn't help that you are still fighting a stuffed up nose and congested chest, as well.  It's been a rough couple of nights, and I am exhausted.  Sleep better tonight, okay?

You are getting closer and closer to mobility.  Slow down!  This afternoon, I put you on the floor in the kitchen while I worked on dinner, and you somehow managed to travel all the way across the kitchen, and can even get your leg out behind you as if trying to crawl.  I'm not ready for you to be able to move around yet, but am so proud at your progress.

Amalia, you are a darling baby.  You are loved so very much, and love us so very much in return.  The first half of your first year has been incredible.  

Loveyouforeverandalways,

Mama

Little Miss Stubborn

Guess you can't guess which daughter I am referring to in the title!  Actually, either guess would technically be correct, but this time, I am talking about Miss Amalia.  I am seriously dreading the tantrums that are sure to arise as she gets older.  And I'm not even going to think about 13!

This child is so stubborn, so opinionated, and so very loud.  When I went to class weekly and she was a wee little thing, she took a bottle just fine.  That all changed the day I started back substitute teaching a few times a week.  I got home to an exhausted daddy and a screaming baby.  Apparently, she refused a bottle, refused the milk in a cup, refused any type of milk at all, refused any other sort of food, and went on a hunger strike which she then complained about all day long.  She nursed six times between 4 and 7 o'clock that night.  Every day that I've been gone since then she's basically refused any breast milk.  Julio could get her to take a tiny bit if in a sippy cup with no valve, but not much.  When we had a couple hours for date night, Grandma and Grandpa were reticent to ever say yes to watching her again.  She cried, nay, screamed, nonstop.  So, heading to work today, I was less than optimistic.  I came home and listened.  No crying.   In fact, she and Sofia and Grandma were reading stories and playing on the floor.  She took a bottle!   She ate mashed potatoes and applesauce!  She napped for THREE hours!   See, baby?  Your day goes a lot better when you eat.

Slug, slug, slug!

Sofia chose a book from the library called, "Ant, Ant, Ant, an Insect Chant!"  It is verse composed entirely of insect names, and the first page ends with "...slug, slug, slug."  As we finished the very last page, Sofia looks at me with confusion and says, "but Mama, slugs aren't insects."  Huh.  You're right.  It had completely escaped my notice, but apparently bothered her the entire book long.  At the end, the author tells a little about each insect mentioned, and apparently there is a group of caterpillars called Slug Caterpillars.
She's been so good lately.  Much more patient, with less outbursts and fits.  She's a good helper, loves to play with her sister, follows directions, and has been losing the attitude.  Even through the Sofia, Sofia, Miss Contrary (not the same ring as Mary, but it still fit), life has been great with her.  It's been so nice.  Right now, however, she sitting on the stairs trying to scream me into doing it her way.  It isn't going to work, sweetie.

Sisterly Love

My girls adore each other.  It warms my heart every time I see them together.  It started with Sofia's adoration for her baby sister while I was still pregnant, and continued every minute since Amalia's been born.  Sure, Sofia is jealous, but I bear the brunt of that, while Amalia gets bombarded with hugs and kisses and peekaboos.

Last night, after their bath, both girls were sitting with their daddy on the couch.  Amalia just started busting a gut at her sister, which caused Sofia to start giggling, which kept Amalia giggling...

When Sofia gets off the bus after school, she's tired.  She's grouchy, hungry, and just wants to be hugged by Mama for awhile.  Today, Amalia was with my mom while Sofia and I cuddled.  After about 10 minutes, Amalia started to cry.  Sofia went over to give her a hug, and Amalia stopped crying, smiled, cooed, and reached out to hug her sister.  She started giggling and talking.  She wanted Sofia to come give her attention!  So darn precious.

I just want to remember these moments and that the girls do actually love each other as they grow.  I am such a blessed Mama.

One month away from half a year, omg

Somehow, though I am not entirely certain how, it is no longer August, and we have, in fact, been parents to Amalia for five whole months.  I know, crazy, right?!

Don't let the picture fool you into thinking she still has a full head of hair.  It is a farce, I tell you, a farce!  From straight on, she appears to have thick hair.  In fact, what appears to be beautiful locks are three tufts of birth hair, steadfastly holding on where all other have let go.  She's rocking a five-month-old combover, and from the side, appears to be wearing a wig.  It is quite hysterical.  Her new hair is coming in nicely, so she'll probably never have a bald look, as this hold-out hair seems to be holding steady until the new hair (just as dark) fills out a bit more.  

Dear Amalia,

You are now five months old.  You continue to amaze and delight us, and make us want to hold onto these sweet moments of darling babyhood before you get a sassy four-year-old attitude like a certain someone else we know (kidding!  sofia is a dream most of the time, emphasis on the most).  Also, excepting the hours between midnight and six am.  That's the only hours I'd like to see less of you, actually. Again, I jest!  But only a little.  

Amalia, you are funny.  You love to goof around and giggle and do silly things.  You also like it when others do silly things with you.  You think your sister is just about the funniest comedian on the earth.  Whenever she makes you laugh, which is often, she runs to me to tell me that "Amalia is laughing at me!"  I can't imagine the days of sibling rivalry that I'm sure are ahead of me, so I just won't.  Right now, you two are the best of friends.

You love to grab hair.  Really.  If I'm holding you, chances are there are chunks of my hair in your fists.  It isn't exactly pleasant.  Daddy's hair, Sofia's hair, Grandma's hair, Grandpa's beard, you love it all.  The only time you don't love to grab hair is when it is your own.  

You also love to grab books.  You get SO! EXCITED! when your sister and you are read a story together and reach as hard as you can to get to the book.  Grabbing at things is your new pastime, and you are getting really good at it.  

You had your first tastes of non-breastmilk food this month.  I wanted to wait until you were six months old to introduce anything, but did some reading, and learned to watch my baby, not the calendar.  Since you had been nursing every hour and a half for a week, I decided you were ready.  You're sort of luke warm to the idea, sometimes wanting to try the new tastes, but other times resolutely sticking your lips together, blocking access to the spoon.  Your tongue is always working, though, licking at the food on your cheeks.  I gave you an apple the other day, and you spent half an hour licking the thing, getting all the juice you could.  I didn't taste too great after that.

You also achieved rolling-over status!  You've been working on getting to your belly for awhile now, and on January 19, we had full back to belly business!  You lay on your back, putting your face into the floor on your left side for several minutes, only to be rolled back on your back by the significant heft in your middle.  After a while, you decided to go for the right.  Lift-off!  You did it!  Daddy and I were right there watching you, and it was amazing.  You were so proud of yourself!  

You've also mastered sitting.  You had a handle on it at four months,  but about two or more weeks ago, you really got it down.  You can reach for toys, lay back on your boppy and get get yourself back upright, go right, go left, and get back up.  You even reached being on your belly from sitting up this morning, which was quite an accomplishment.  

Amalia, you love your mama.  Good thing, because I love you, too.  So much.  You are a dream baby most of the time, not crying much.  Whenever anyone else has you and I'm gone for whatever reason, however, your very loud, very persistent cry takes over.  As soon as I get back and pick you up, all crying stops.  We're buddies, and we love to play, and sing, and read, and snuggle, and nurse, and talk, and so much more. 

You love your daddy, too.  He gets the biggest smiles, and you have the most to say for him.  You love to dance with him, and giggle when he tickles you, or swings you around.  

You are observant.  When a situation is new, you need to study your surroundings before bestowing judgement.  A person doesn't just get a smile for being there and smiling at you, you need to check them out, first.  You are quite studious.  Once the person or situation is deemed acceptable, however, you are full of smiles and giggles.

You love to blow raspberries and make all sorts of noises.  Sofia calls it 'talking spit.'  It is quite funny, and also quite loud.  When you have something to say, no one can hear anybody else.  That's alright, we're all usually too busy talking right back at you to care that our conversation has effectively ended.  

Baby, you are the greatest.  We love you so much, and are so blessed that you are in our family.  Happy five months, my dear.

Love, 

Mama

Christmas part II

I forgot!  December 23 was Venezuelan Christmas!  Since Julio had to work the whole weekend, I thought we could serve traditional Venezuelan Christmas Eve fare, play a few games, maybe open presents from family...
But then.  Julio was sick.  Still sick.  Too sick to do much more than nap and attempt to clean his sinuses (sini?) with the Neti pot.  So, my big plans for a Venezuelan Christmas with Daddy turned into just a delicious dinner.  Which was still fun, though less celebratory than we would have liked.

Sofia was so excited for Christmas this year.  She woke up ecstatic to see the stockings had migrated to the table and were filled with goodies.  Santa had eaten her cookies (they were delicious) and even wrote her a note telling her so.  We had a wonderful morning all together opening presents and eating cinnamon rolls and egg bake.  We missed Johanna and family and Julio's family, but enjoyed Aunt Sarah and Grandma and Grandpa.

Merry Christmas to all!  May you be filled with peace, love, joy and hope this holiday season and all year long.

Christmas Time!

Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice, Happy Chanukah, and an early Happy New Year!  We are having a great holiday season, though Julio has spent most of it being sick.  He's been able to enjoy December despite the illness, however, and the girls have brought the magic of the season to all of us.

We started our celebrating in Minneapolis, visiting Padrino Gerardo and Alissa, where we made hallacas and visited Santa.

Christmas Eve was spent preparing for Christmas.  We made cranberry salad, a holiday cake, rolls, cinnamon buns, and a refrigerated egg bake for the next morning.  Grandma made traditional oyster stew, and Grandma, Sarah, the girls, and I went to church.

We all sat in front to sing in the choir, which Grandma now directs and which was greatly depleted due to Christmas travel.  Sofia and Amalia did wonderfully.  Sofia enjoyed the children's sermon and put a baby Jesus in the manger in the nativity scene with the rest of the kids. Amalia seemed to enjoy the singing, and after nursing, fell asleep for most of the service, waking up at the very end when we all had candles.  Sofia even got her own this year!  Singing Silent Night in a dark church holding a candle is simply my favorite time.
We let the girls open one present before bed (bribery), and Sofia chose their presents from Sarah, which had been sitting under the tree all week torturing her.  ("Mom, we can call Aunt Sarah and say thank you and then open the presents!")  Sarah made them both beautiful knitted dolls!  Sofia wants to name them both Strawberry Shortcake.

After presents, we all got ready for bed, though Mom didn't get to go to sleep.  Someone has to prepare for Christmas!  Sofia set out cookies for Santa and wrote him a note.  Amalia was fussing, and I laid her on Sofia's bed while we got Sofie's jambes on.  Sofia went to snuggle her for a minute, and pretty soon, both girls were giggling.  Amalia sure loves her big sister, and Sofia sure loves her little sister.

It's getting late, and I'm getting tired.  Christmas stories to come tomorrow!

The one where my giant, gorgeous baby turns four months old

So, Miss Amalia is now four months old.  Christmas Day, to be exact.  It's amazing how much a small person can change in just one month.

The child laughs, all the time now.  She prefers to laugh at Sofia, who can get a giggle for just standing there looking cute.  Mama and Papa have to tickle or be silly or smother her in kisses or at least do something to get the laughs.  She has also, all of a sudden, shown an interest in toys and having something in her hands to chew.  If there is nothing in her hands, she'll chew her fingers instead.  Since she still keeps her fists closed most of the time, that leads to wet palms constantly.  She's started lunging at anything she finds interesting and tries so hard to grab it by herself.  She's still rather uncoordinated, but is improving every day.

Amalia is growing.  We had her four month appointment today, and she weighs 19 lbs 12 oz, and is 27 inches long.  That is 99.99 percentile for both.  Pretty much the biggest baby ever.  She's got luscious cheeks that literally stop traffic (foot traffic, anyway).  We (just Amalia and me) went to Las Vegas on a whirlwind trip to visit Aunt Johanna and meet the cousins.  People everywhere stopped to admire at this baby's cheeks.  It was so wonderful to see Anika again and meet little Reni.  He's actually not all that little, though Amalia technically is bigger than he is. She's firmly in 12 month clothes, and 18 month clothes in some brands.  Seriously.  

This past week and a half Amalia has started sitting.  Not fully, but she can keep herself upright for awhile, and is working on balance and not bending all the way forward.  It's great fun to watch.  She got an exersaucer for Christmas, and she is so proud standing in it.

Amalia is such a chill little baby.  She doesn't fuss much, mostly looks around and smiles and loves.  When she does get upset, it starts as complaining. If we don't get with the program and give her what she wants, she gets so angry!  The daily 7:30 melt-down has basically ended, which is a relief.  Amalia is pure love, joy, and wonder.  I love you, sweet darling.  I can't wait to see what next month will bring.

December 19

So apparently, I am only going to use this blog to write Amalia's month letters now...I'm a terrible blogger. BUT!  I'm procrastinating laundry, so here goes.

December 19.  Somehow, I let December 11 pass by without a second thought, never thinking of the importance of that day.  I couldn't do that with December 19, for a very good reason.

My niece turns two today.  A bright star, with a contagious laugh and the sweetest cuddles and love for her brother, a whole person that I wish I could see every single day.  I love you, Anika.
Two years ago today, your mommy and daddy braved snowmaggedon in DC, endured an incredibly long and difficult labor, and were blessed with this whole new life, a beautiful baby who would grow to be an incredible little girl. Two years ago today, we were anxiously awaiting the news of Anika's birth, wishing we could be with Johanna, ready to welcome the newest member of our family.  But instead, two years ago today, we were celebrating the life of an incredible woman.  Two years ago today, we officially said goodbye to my Aunt Suey.  Standing room only at the church, and some people didn't even get let in.  I couldn't keep my tears from flowing.  My heart was breaking.  At the party afterward, it was hardly even standing room only.  The entire party barn was packed, all three floors, with all the people Suey loved.  It was incredible outpouring of love, but all I could think was how much Suey would have liked to be there.  I miss Aunt Suey every day.  Since I was 14 and stayed at her house while my parents were in the Bahamas, she was my person.  She treated me like a friend, not like a child, and was so easy for me to talk to.  There is so much I wish I could share with her now.  Instead, I remember and try to celebrate her life by living the way she did.  And on December 19, I remember how one incredibly bright star left this world, while another entered.
Aunt Suey would have loved you, Anika.

3 months

Dear Amalia,
You are three months old, yesterday. (see?  I'm getting better at this!)  Yes, really. Though it feels like just last week that we first saw your precious face, it has, in fact, been three months.  In those three months, you have become a part of us, and completely altered our family forever.  And we are so grateful.

You are funny.  You smile and giggle and talk and talk and talk, almost like you are trying to get us to smile just as much as we are trying to get you to smile.  You get fantastic dimples on your cheeks when you smile, and your whole face scrunches us in complete joy.  Your chunky legs kick and your arms wiggle.  Your entire body is involved in your ever-joyful smile.  Your giggle is deep and from your belly.  You are ticklish under your chin  (when we can get under there!), on your chest, and on your feet.  You laugh also when your daddy laughs with you.  It is too adorable.

You are tolerant.  There are times, as the second child, where your face gets bopped by the stray sleeve of your sister's shirt, or Mommy has to lean over you to get to something else, or an entire host of other ways you are inconvenienced.  You don't seem to mind.  You watch us closely, and sit contentedly until the situation rights itself.  Then you coo at us some more.  It is awesome.

You are discovering your hands.  They can manipulate things.  They can manipulate themselves.  You can use them to put things into your mouth.  Or you can put them into your mouth!  Woot!  It is quite fun to extract your had from your mouth in order to feed you.

You are sleeping longer (thank goodness).  Just this week, you started sleeping 6 hour stretches.  It is fantastic.  Please to continue.

You have incredible lung power.  Your cry is not quiet, nor is your complaining.  When you are tired and ready for bed, or hungry and Mama is not feeding you instantly, you can get quite upset.  Though most of the time you are a very calm, quiet, relaxed little chica, there are times (most notably 7:30 pm, almost like clockwork) when you are not happy at all.  At those times, nobody can hear anything other than your cries.  They are quite loud.  You don't calm particularly easy when you get upset that way, and it is always a challenge to discover what will be the trick this day.  Daddy discovered you like to be held belly-down (sometimes).  Mommy figured out that bouncing on the trampoline will often calm you down.  Grandma found out that it sometimes works to hold you tight in our bed with a nuk and just wait.  Grandpa discovered that you prefer reggae-type songs sung right into your ear.

You love your sister.  Sofia loves to talk to you and cover you up and play with you like a little doll.  You eat up every minute.  You talk to her, you seek her out.  You smile at her.  It is precious.  She loves you, too, though she gets quite jealous when you get the attention.

You love your daddy.  You and your daddy have incredible conversations.  He holds you out in front of him, and the two of you chat and chat and chat.  You have quite the stories to tell.  You make all sorts of sounds and use inflection and everything.  It is pretty wonderful.

You love your mommy.  Nursing is still your favorite activity, and you definitely calm best with me.  We love to snuggle together and coo and talk and kiss and hug.  You are so sweet.  I love every minute.

Happy three months, Amalia Susan.  We all love you so very much, and really couldn't imagine our lives without you.  Was there ever a time when you weren't here?  I can hardly remember.

Loveyouforeverandalways,
Mama

Giving Thanks

It's Thanksgiving Eve, and I have successfully made a pumpkin cheesecake, and my grandma's cranberry salad.  Two girls are bathed and in bed.

Julio and my dad prepared the turkeys this morning - I've never had one quite so fresh.

It is nearly 10 pm,  and I still have to concoct a harvest stuffing, pack for an overnight stay for myself and two children.  I should really finish folding laundry.

Yet, I have to take a minute to give thanks for all the blessings in my life.  Sure, life isn't exactly as I had planned it, and we aren't exactly in an ideal situation.  But there are blessings.  So many blessings.

Blessing number 1 - my sweet Sofia.  You are my star, my goofy girl.  I love your spirit, your sass, your heart.  You bring me such joy.  I love watching you be a big sister, getting your baby sister to laugh, hugging her, showing pure love.  I love your hugs and kisses, your jokes, your dances, your smiles, your silly stories, your tea parties.  You made me a mommy.

Blessing number two - my darling Amalia.  You are pure love.  I am so grateful to watch you grow, and be a part of you.  I love the way you talk, constantly.   Happy conversations, complaining sounds, talking always.  I love your big and plentiful smile, the way your cheeks dimple in lots of places and your whole face smiles.  I love your little laugh, and how silly we all are in trying to hear it.  You blessed us this year with your life, and I am so happy and grateful that you are healthy and here with us.  

I am grateful for Julio.  A daddy with more love for his daughters than I could have imagined.  A man who works hard for his family always, whose struggles might make things more difficult, but who has remained strong.  A man I love more and more each day.  Life's experiences have given us our share of challenges, bringing us closer than before.  

I am grateful.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Bumbo!

Amalia has a new view of the world.

She's still a touch wobbly, so can only stay in it for a few minutes at a time, but she seems to like it!  She's been trying to sit up while in her swing chair or being held, so I knew she was ready.  Can't believe this child is growing so quickly.  She'll be three months old on Friday.

I got the pink!

Way back when, when Sofia was a little thing, about two and a half, I think, she got a stomach virus.  I tried to get her to throw up into the bucket.  A few days later, she got pink eye.  She came to me, miserable and mucusy and said, "Want to put my eye in the bucket."  When she talked to her Aunt Sarah, in a somber voice told her, "I got the pink."

I was reminded of that time (which always makes me laugh) today when Sofia got off the bus from school. She's got the pink.  Definitely got the pink.

Quick trip to fast care and a bribery toy later, we've got two doses of medicated eye drops in her, and a bonus diagnosis of an ear infection.

She's most upset that I have asked her not to touch Amalia's face.

ARGH!

I am at my wit's end.  I've been doing so well lately.  I've been patient.  I've been empathetic.  I've tried to let the consequences do the teaching.  It has been working.  Until tonight.

Anybody want a slightly-used, quite cute but rather whiny and oft sassy four-year-old?

Actually, anybody want a tired, slightly tubby, impatient, overwhelmed at times thirty-year-old?

I blew a fuse at Sofia.  Her very best friends in the world are visiting (hi jay and ella!) and naturally, all the contents of her room is residing on the floor.  Getting close to bedtime, I advise Sofia that if she wants her friends to sleep on the floor with her, there needs to be space for them, so they should pick up the toys.  Now, I know it can be overwhelming to pick up a crazy-mess of toys.  (apparently, it isn't so overwhelming to put them there in the first place)  Fine.  I know it is easier with a grown-up helping direct traffic.  But Amalia needed nursing, and I expected her to at least try.  No.  She ran around screeching.  She played piano.  She had a tea party.  She didn't put one thing away.  Not one thing.  I came in the room, set Amalia on the bed, and tried to help direct her.  Nothing.  No response.  She cuddled Amalia on the bed instead.  I said, that's fine.  I'll pick them up.  But when Mama picks them up she takes them away.  I started to pick them up, putting them in the laundry room.  Still nothing.  Not picking up.  And not only not picking up, pointedly smothering her sister, to where I now have to remove the baby.  Am livid.  I ask her, one more time, to help pick up.  "No, I'm not going to."

AHHHHHHHHHRHGGHGHAGGHHH!!!

Mr. Young informs me that she does, indeed, possess the skills to pick up her toys.  She does it every day without complaint at school.  Not only did I yell, quite loudly and definitely out of control (which I hate doing), I now have a laundry room full of toys.  I can't quite make myself donate the toys to GoodWill.  They are expensive, dammit!  I need to do laundry tomorrow.  Now what?
I'm still so pissed. Breathe.
I wish I hadn't yelled at her.  That isn't productive and overshadows her own behavior.  The real answer is to actually get rid of the toys.  I can't, though.  It's too harsh.  Gah.

Seriously, Mr. Hyde?  I want Dr. Jekyll back.

Sniffle Snuffle

So, two girls and one daddy are suffering the cough, mucus, sneezy, basically miserable cold.  Miraculously, I feel healthy as can be, but everyone else in my family is hacking up a lung.  The baby included.  Her first cold.  Not exactly one of the things I wanted to mark off so soon. Poor angel doesn't know what is happening to her, and every time she coughs, she cries from confusion.  Sofia and Amalia, however, are getting off easy.  They are coughing and sneezing, but otherwise seem basically unscathed.  Julio, on the other hand, is just miserable.  Somehow, he always seems to get the worst of every germ that comes through this place.

Laugh on!

Okay, I know I've been all Amalia all the time, but - we have our first laughs over here!  I so wish I had a video, but at least Sofia and Julio and I were all able to witness it together.  I was holding her, Julio tickled under her chin, and she laughed!  Ahahahaha!  I can't resist trying to sneak those giggles out of her all the time, now.
And speaking of laughing...know who laughs all the time?  You guessed it...Sofia!  She keeps us laughing, as well.  When she isn't busy making us want to pull our hair out and cry, that is.