Luis sat up in the fort while Diego worked
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Swing Set!
Luis sat up in the fort while Diego worked
Posted by Mary at 11:45 PM 1 comments
A Gift From my Mom & Dad
When Mom was here 2 weeks ago, we did some shopping to help us settle in to the house. Mom found the perfect rug to go under our dining room table. The colors in it are beautiful AND they perfectly match our dining room wall. They also pull out the colors in Diego's painting that we have hanging there. Then last week Thomas gave it to us as a gift. A big thanks to them both for getting this rug under my table.
Posted by Mary at 11:40 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Breakfast - And Other Adventures in Cooking
Luis is taking an interest in what happens in the kitchen - often asking to bring the step stool over to see what I'm doing. "Bring stool. Look too?" I think part of it is that the counters are so high in this house (42" high) that he can't see what's going on from the ground. I tend to encourage his interest because I've read that kids tend to be better eaters (i.e. eating a wider range of foods) when they help in the kitchen. I also like the idea of raising a boy who can cook.
This morning, we were making Freedom Toast - one of our favorites. Here is Luis stirring the vanilla and the cinnamon into the huevos (eggs). Last night, Luis helped me make the chicken enchilada casserole we had for dinner.
Posted by Mary at 3:32 PM 1 comments
Winter Weather
Posted by Mary at 3:24 PM 0 comments
A Plug for A Freind
Cara Terreri, author of in the moment, has started a new blog, repurposeful. In her own words, she describes it this way:
I've finally done it. I started a new blog. This one, however, will not be filled with limitless pics of Evan & Grant. The new blog is my attempt at becoming a professional blogger; or, at least an amateur blogger who makes some $$ on the side.
The new blog, called repurposeful, is what they call a "niche" blog, and it takes issue with the larger subject of green living, and specifically, provides ideas for repurposing everyday items into something else just as useful. I plan to post regular (ie, every other day or so) articles on a variety of "repurposes," and if.... nay, when, the blog acquires readership, I hope to attract advertising.
Check it out! Leave a comment! E-mail me with suggestions!
I encourage you to check it out and spread the word.
Posted by Mary at 2:32 PM 1 comments
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Gravity: It's Not Just A Good Idea, It's the Law
The other day, Luis was standing on a small, sloped concrete wall. He leaned forward to pick something up off the ground. He toppled, forehead and nose first into said wall. Ouch.
Posted by Mary at 8:58 PM 0 comments
Some of Luis's Favorite Things
Posted by Mary at 8:45 PM 1 comments
A Few of My Favorite Things (in the new house)
The hardwood floor on the first level
Posted by Mary at 5:03 PM 1 comments
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Big Update on Luis
It's a big day for us today. Last night, Luis slept in the "big bed" and today he is off at school!
When we settled in here after Christmas, Diego and I decided not to set the crib up. Luis has been sleeping in a pack-n-play at the foot of the big built in bed in his room. We snuggle in the big bed, read books in the big bed, play in the big bed, but until a week ago, there was no sleeping in the big bed. Over the weekend, Luis started napping in the bed, but opted for the p-n-p for night time. Until last night. He slept in the bed all night and even managed to get down from the big bed (using not one, but two stools) by himself this morning. I realize that this is not necessarily the end of the p-n-p, but at least it's the beginning of the bed.
Also today, Luis went to a local Parents Day Out program run by the church about a 1/2 a block away. It came highly recommended by lots of moms in our neighborhood, so I was thrilled that they had a space available on Wednesdays. The program goes from 9-3 and has four class rooms with no more than 7 kids each. The classes are sorted by age and Luis's class is 5 boys and 1 girl all born between June and Dec 2006. Each class has a teacher and there are two "floater" teachers that go where needed. When we went last week to check it out, Luis seemed to really like it (or at least the fact that they had LOTS of cars & trucks to play with). Luis did great this morning when I dropped him off - gave me a hug and a kiss and said "bye bye Mommy". I hope that he makes it the entire day, even though I realize that means that he probably won't nap. Oh well. All things in good time.
In other news, Luis is doing great! He is really talking up a storm, and often talking in sentences. "Mommy come play playdoh too!" is said at least once a day. But he can also say things like "Mommy use big rake, Luis use little rake, sweep leaves." On our walk yesterday, he said, "Luis cold. Go back Luis's house. Cold. Go home." Diego continues to work with him in Spanish. Consistently, Luis can answer "Cuanto anos tienes?" (dos) And, "Come te llamas?" (Luis)
Luis is learning his colors. In the last couple of days he can (usually) properly identify Red, Blue, Green, Pink and Brown. I'm sure it helps that these are the playdoh colors we have. When reading his Richard Scary book about Things that Go, he'll point out the yellow bobcat or the green dump truck. He likes to find Goldbug hiding in the pages (a little like Where's Wald0) - sometimes calling out "Goldbuggggggg Where are you??" (And when he sees the green bugs in the book, he calls them Green Goldbug.)
Luis is very agile - climbing in and out of the pack-n-play, using a combination of stools to get up in the bed, climbing in and out of his booster chair and car seat "by self". At the playground, he likes to climb up the ladders, the slide, the rock walls, whatever.
Settling in to Dallas has gone very well. I realized last week that since we got here, Luis has not been carrying around his blanket or baca (pacifier) while in the house; it's only used for sleeping. He is also eating a better balance of food and is willing to try more things. One thing that's been hard for me is trying to explain to Luis why we can't see all of our VA/MD/DC friends. He asks about people every day. "Luis go Uncle Dodie's house?" "Go Other Park; see Sarah, William, Manya (Matthew)?" "Play playdoh Manya & Prima?" "See Lopa, see Jack?" Sometimes, it's just an inquiry about what people are doing now. So we talk about Grandaddy being at work or Maggie Lou at school or Sarah making dinner or William taking a bath or Bibi doing her exercises. These conversations always end with, "Yes Luis, I miss them too - and I hope they'll come visit us soon!"
Luis loves to play in the dirt (with his shovel), play playdoh, play trucks, play trains, read books, play water games and play outside (all his terms). He's also very helpful - raking leaves, sweeping the floor, picking up toys. This morning, he helped me make smoothies for breakfast. (I'm hoping to find the patience to invite Luis into the kitchen on a regular basis.)
Luis is a happy kid who is generally very easy going. Despite being 2, I haven't seen much of the tell-tale Terrible Two's (though maybe he's just a late bloomer?). He is very observant with and interested in other people. In the last week, he's learned a new word: Friends. We met some new friends when we visited the school last week. And we met new friends who live across the street (the neighbors have a 5 year, 3 year, and 17 month old with one more on the way). We met new friends at the park. I have a big emotional reaction when Luis asks me "Go outside? See friends?" It makes me incredibly happy.
Mostly, he's still a good sleeper. At night, he sleeps 7p until about 5.45a. Most morning, he climbs up into our bed (using yet another stool) and snuggles with me for about 15 minutes before we go downstairs. Some morning when Luis is more restless or more noisy, we go snuggle in his bed. In general, the rule is "lights off, sleepy time" until 6a. And he generally takes a 2-hour nap in the middle of the day (thank goodness!).
Oh, and the numbers - at his 2 year check up, he was 28lbs, and 34". After being 75% height, 40% weight and 25% head circumference for his whole life, he is now 50%, 50%, 50%.
Posted by Mary at 10:57 AM 2 comments
Friday, January 09, 2009
Luis's New Neighbors
Posted by Mary at 1:18 PM 2 comments
All's Well that Ends Well
On Monday, I picked up my package from the post office with the wallet I'd left at the rest stop. I was still a bit surprised that the wallet had been found by good Samaritans who turned it in to another good Samaritan who mailed it to me. I was in the middle of telling the story to the post office lady when she handed me my envelope.
My thoughts were interrupted and all I could imagine was that very nice lady, standing at the postal counter, applying all of those stamps, one at a time. Thank goodness it didn't cost any more than it did; I'm afraid she would have run out of space!
Posted by Mary at 12:55 PM 0 comments
The Digger Park
Today, Luis, Ashley and I walked over to a park near our house. It has a great combo of climbing stuff, sliding stuff and swings. But all of that paled when Luis saw this:
Posted by Mary at 12:47 PM 0 comments
Monday, January 05, 2009
Dallas Weather - A Little Confusing
On Saturday, it was 83 degrees in the middle of the afternoon. We all enjoyed playing out in the yard and going for a walk. Yesterday, it was 37 degrees in the middle of the afternoon. Today, it's just as cold but also raining.
Posted by Mary at 3:38 PM 0 comments
Playing Outside
Luis still likes to be helpful - pitching in with the raking.
Posted by Mary at 3:30 PM 0 comments