i Viva El Paso !

El Paso was a blast! Mostly because I was able to hang out with my hubby and son for four straight days in a row. It started off like any trip. Granddad drove us to the airport.. in the wrong direction. Luckily we made our flight. And didn't have to worry too much about getting in with Luke's milk, medicine, food, etc. Luke slept for a good part of the ride and woke up at the end. As long as he had a bottle in hand, we were ok. We were laid over in Chicago forrevverr. But running around the airport wore Luke out, so he slept for the entire second flight.

We stayed with Aldo's mother's side the first night. Very laid back and don't speak much English. They took us to the market (very cool!), where we drank aguas and ate some real chalupas and Mexican dulces. We stayed up all night - because that's what Mexicans do - playing Just Dance on the wii and singing karaoke. The next day it was pretty much the wedding and meeting Aldo's dad's family. A whole nother story that lot. It's where Aldo's crazy side comes from. Even though the wedding was in Spanish, it was beautiful and I cried. The reception was so much fun. Every time you got on the dance floor they handed out another prize: glow sticks, balloons, cowboy hats, masks, etc.

Pina, Melon, Manzana, etc.

 in a sombrero

On the way home Luke slept the entire first airplane ride. The second was the most eventful. He was awake the entire time. In the very beginning, the older man in front of us sat his seat back. I'm thinking - that's just dumb... I knew Luke was going to go straight for the tray on the back seat once he caught sight of it. So he started slamming it open and shut while the man slept in our lap. And when I told him "no", he pointed out the old man's bald spot. Grabbed his hand before he touched it. I'm sure the guy wouldn't have appreciated it. So I handed him over to Aldo, and in the meantime he found the light switch overhead, and turned it on and off. Then played peek-a-boo with the two businessmen behind us. Near the end of the flight, he started crying. We finally figured out that he wanted ice chips (for what we later found to be his molars coming in). Thankfully the ride ended and mom picked us up and took us home.

Texas is wonderful. A whole bunch of brown, but a lot of flavor. Still there's no place like home.

Word Association

The life of a full-time, working mother. We blog at midnight because there's no better time to do it.
Anyway, I had to post this before Luke learns something new. Earlier this month we have been babysitting a friend's dog named ChaCha. Luke calls her "caca", as well as any other dog, or animal for that matter. And sometimes he just randomly says "caca". It's kind of funny since Aldo's family speaks Spanish, but I don't want him going to school and get in trouble for calling homework "caca". Well, we bought my mother-in-law a puppy for her birthday. Luke was calling him said name, which wouldn't work because he's a boy... so I've since then been trying to teach him the word "puppy".
Last week, Aldo and I were just talking like usual on the couch, about our day at work, etc. and one of us said the word "puppy". Without a second to pause Luke said, "caca". I know that's not what I was trying to teach him... but I was so excited because it's like word association! Or idea association! I don't know... But it lets me know that what I'm teaching, he's understanding. And keeping in his mind until later it comes up again, and he recognizes it! Ah, sweet success.
That's my story for the night. I will probably have more as this weekend is my birthday and also a holiday, so three day weekend. And also next week we are preparing for Aldo and Luke's first ever airplane ride to Texas!
Until then, good night.

P.S. He has eight teeth and counting. There are four coming in on bottom right now... and the last two were full of endless drool baths. Two of them are molars!

Time At The Pool

After my first week of working full time, I had the entire weekend off. It was full of course.
We went to Schlitterbahn with our youth group (a water park much like Oceans of Fun), and took Luke too.
It was such a blast! He was actually able to ride every ride. We pretty much stuck to the wave pool though. And in between we would travel over to the baby pool, where he would go down the pirate slide. It was long and fast, and at the end Luke would smile and growl, and clench his fists. It didn't matter if he got splashed in the face or not. I think it's a sign that he liked it.
The craziest moment was when we were letting him walk around in the kiddie pool. We left his life jacket on because he kept trying to run into the deeper end and he would lose his balance and fall forward. Anyway, after squatting down several times to splash in the water, he decided to lay back and raise up his feet. Our 14 month old was floating on his back in the water. All on his own. It was unbelievable to me. He must be a natural water baby because I have never heard of any kid doing that.

Dancing Like A Jumping Bean

I know you are patiently waiting for me to post pictures of Luke's first birthday party. I've been trying to get the pictures processed, and just finished putting together his First Birthday Photo Album. SO CUTE. So I'll put the pictures on here as soon as I can.

My blogging has really gotten away from me. So here's the latest.

I recently took on full time at work. I am a working mama! At first I wasn't too sure about it; the schedule clashed with my play time with Luke. But we have it all worked out. On Monday through Wednesday he'll be with me until noon and then go across the street to my Aunt's house. A few hours later Aldo will pick him up and have the afternoon with him. On Thursday and Friday I'll go into work early and Luke will be with his Abuelita. I'll get home at 5:30ish and see BOTH Aldo and Luke! I'm so excited! Today is my first day going home early!
Of course, getting up wasn't easy at all. My husband has turned me into a night owl, and the one day I wanted to go to sleep early my mom asked me to help her with a project that kept us up past midnight.


Aldo started back at work this week also. He had one week off between his internship at the medical center and work to spend solely hanging out with Luke. They are so crazy when you get them together. It's cute how each of us have our own "things" with Luke. I have the "tickly fingers" and hide-and-seek, Aldo has the "wrestling" and signature "stomp", my sister plays follow the leader with him... and I guess my Mom lets him eat things he shouldn't... but it's so sweet how we bond. More than bond. These are off of my new phone.

 Cutest Cheese Ever!

Reading On His Own

Giving Daddy Kisses

Luke has learned so much and gotten so big. He's different day to day. When he was a baby it felt like months before he did something new, whereas now I just can't keep up with him. He points to things that he wants. The other day I didn't know what his grunting was, until he went over, picked up his bottle, placed it in my hand and grunted again. He reads on his own, climbs into things, drives, talks on the phone, watches some of the movies, SAYS PLEASE in sign language (a really big feat for us, we've been working on it since he joined the nursery at church), and so much more. Someone has taught him how to jump. I'm sure it was from watching all of our youth dramas. But now every time music comes on he really gets to bouncing.

The other day I took my sister to enroll at school and after meeting with the principal, the principal said, "bye". Without any hesitation, Luke said, "bye". Is this his first real word? (besides the regular sounds of mmm, mama, baba, dada, etc.)

Oh my little jumping bean.

More to come!

The Big Show

I wasn’t sure if Luke was going to get scared from the fireworks. A couple of days before the 4^th, there were some people setting off the big stuff nearby, the ones that sound like bombs. At the time, Aldo was taking care of the chickens and ducks. He told me later that when the first one went off, Luke ran to him right through the mud and chicken poop.

So we were waiting for an interesting day.

We watched the firework show at the mall. Five minutes in, Luke was ready to explore the sidewalk and steal Twizzlers from the neighbors. I guess this isn’t one of his favorite celebrations… not until he can actually pop something anyway.

At the Start

Watching the Show

   

Grand Finale

Why I Wasn't at Work Today...

Haven’t been to Worlds of Fun in a while. Let me tell you… the Prowler is awesome!

We were invited to go with the church youth and the date just happened to work out. It was also a nice break from work and home. It’s funny though, only after a couple of hours, we were missing Luke. How am I going to do it for four days?

Baby Fever

I took Luke to the doctor for his one year check-up this week. The doc said that his weight is in the 75th percentile and his height at 97th percentile. Only three out of every one hundred kids is taller than Luke! Needless to say, he's going to be a Big Boy. It felt like we were waiting in the room forever just to start with. Luke played with his toy car, pointed at every sticker and picture on the wall, skimmed every drawer, basically broke my phone, and ate some fruity snacks while we were waiting. By the time the doctor came in he was already cranky. So he started throwing tiny fits when his ears and diaper were checked. I don't blame him. I wouldn't want anyone tugging around on me either. And then the nurse gave him four shots and made me hold his hands. Way to be cruel. I never thought this way before, but I'm starting to see how doctors are mean. Anyway...

I think I'm getting baby fever. Part of me wants another one, part of me is saying that I'm absolutely crazy. So far the rational one is winning.