Christmas '11

This year, I thought you might really get into the whole tearing of wrapping paper and mimic the frenzy that your siblings were sure to infect you with as they opened their presents.  Instead, you were pretty ho-hum about the whole thing.  Didn't care too much for the approved destruction of paper like most toddlers do. Didn't buy much into the hype of it all.  Sorry we failed to impress you this year with our Christmas gift display. But I know one thing was a winner, the bag of popcorn Santa left in your stocking to fill up that long darn un-fillable thing!

Ok, sooooo what am I supposed to be like all excited about here? 

Yes, I think this will do.  It seems to fit.  I would put it on for real, but I still haven't figured out this whole what arm goes in what hole thing. It's kind of complicated. Whatever. 

 

Yes, Ok. Very good.  It's a book.

Yeah, yeah. I like it.  Not bad.

Just a minute.  Let me reach over here and get some popcorn. Excuse me.

That's interesting, yeah.  But god this popcorn is good.

Ice skating

Yes, that's right.  Ice skating.

No, this was NOT my idea.

I could also entitle this --Righting all the wrongs of my parents when they didn't let me ski on a family skiing trip even though I was eight!  ... whether you like it or not.

But this wasn't my idea.

Not sure how Ray thought this would work out.  (He probably wasn't really thinking how it would work out). Even Sofia thinks there's something odd about this situation. But basically, you did NOT enjoy watching everyone else skate.  And, you did NOT enjoy being put into skates either.  It's a miracle Ray came out of this with his manhood still intact.  But don't you look so adorable in those little skates!

Camera shy

Not only do I neglect to take pictures of you, but when I do, you certainly do not cooperate. You don't look at the camera. You walk away. You stay but look down at the ground. You whine. Really anything to get out of having your picture taken as if you even know what that is.

Today, there was a brief five minute reprieve from the constant overcast and gray skies, so we ran out to see if we could just snap a few cuties in the still-freezing cold weather. You barely obliged, but only if you could mess with Daddy's face.

Washing up

I like to wash the dishes one at a time in the sink instead of dunking all of them in the dirty water together.  The same goes for the kids.  But when you're in a REALLY big hurry and the kids REALLY can't go to bed without a bath, you just do what you have to.  And then, of course, they end up having way too much fun.

Table manners

You don't get out much. Not like the other ones did. So we generally don't get too excited about going out to a restaurant with you on the seldom occasion this might happen. Today, after numerous fun-filled activities for the kids in Salt Lake, we just needed to splurge at Rodizio Grill even if we had the whole caravan with us.

This is how much you enjoyed it.

And done.

I never talk about you ...

... and this is probably why.

I'll make it quick. So, you're 18 months old now.  You used to be tall, now you're short.  I don't really know what happened there.  You do all you're supposed to do (as far as your developmental milestones) except for attempting to speak.  All you do in that department is squawk.  I'm not going to lie.  It's pretty much the most annoying thing on the planet.  Luckily, the incessant crying/whining has subsided now for the past few months.  I take that as a sign that there is no more movement with the teeth for now.

Dr. Arnold seems to think you don't speak because you're independent.  I don't know if that's the true reason but it's true in some ways.  You don't like being fed.  You insist on feeding yourself, very poorly, I might add, even if it's your favorite food in the world.  I'm not sure what your favorite food is.  I think you like stuff that's spicy. You don't like noodles, scrambled eggs, or cheese.  Frankly, I'm not even sure you're my child.  You do like pizza with pretty much everything on it, Dr. Pepper spicy pork with jalapenos, and tortilla soup.  Maybe you have a bit of an under-sensitivity to taste.

You're a good walker and even runner now.  You can go up and down the stairs without too much fear of falling.  You're starting to want to go down like an adult but I prefer you stick with the tummy method for a while.  Your legs are currently covered in bruises from playing outside.  Not a very quick learner, just like Marcelo.  It must be a boy thing.  You love swinging, playing in the sandbox and pushing yourself around on the little toy cars outside.  Yesterday, you drove yourself straight into a large rock and bonked your head.

A new development is a bit of separation anxiety every time Dad goes out the door and occasionally at bed time.  You're still a mamma's boy, running back to me for a soothing every time you get hurt but at least you don't cry hysterically anymore every time it happens.  You're good at following instructions and trying to be helpful around the house.  You love your sister Sofia, giving her hugs when she's been away, going to her for small comforts, and comforting her when she's upset.  You love your brother, Marcelo too, but he's a bit harder to get along with.  You try to play with him, but he's a little rougher around the edges.  I wonder what your relationship will be like when you get older.

Also, I wish you would stop getting into the pencils, pens, crayons, and markers.  No, I can't put them away.  You are driving me absolutely crazy with this.  You are the worst offender by far and it needs to stop.  It does.  You just need to stop. I can't take it anymore.

Easter 2011

Your first Easter egg hunt. Although your poopy expression didn't waver (due to those constantly gnawing teething issues) you clamped on to that basket real tight and presumed to walk about as if you knew what this was all about.

Thank you one-out-of-three for looking and smiling at the camera.

"Excuse me!"

"Oh.  What is this?"

"Something tells me I should put these things in the basket."

OK, so we re-gifted you a toy that had to be put away before as it was being used like a wrecking ball.  We're on a budget here.