Happy Halloween!!

Just look at my little pumpkin! Despite my misgivings about getting a one year old a costume since there is no way he can trick or treat, or eat any of the candy he would get, I borrowed one of the twins' costumes from last year, and guess what? It fit! Domingo is enormous. Not only is he a super cute jackolantern, but he stayed nice and toasty!

Ana said she took him out to different places in the neighborhood and he actually got some candy. I guess Chris and I get lots of sweets!

Here is Domi eating the only sweets he's gonna get uvas y pan!





Even Mommy got in on the fun!

Thwarted by the superbug!

I'm quite sad to report that I did not get to attend my birthday dinner at Mirai with my sisters-in-law and thier spouses. (If you recall this is the place I waxed rhapsodic over a few posts ago.) After about 60 emails discussing, different times, dates, alignment of the stars, we had our plan and it was all systems go. Until at the 11th hour, our friends who were going to babysit called and our one friend, let's call him E., said he was sick, and he stayed home from work that day, but was feeling better, and his wife, was feeling fine. So I said, what the hay, let's go anyway. A few hours passed and I get another phone call, this time he had gone to the doctor and his doc. said, "hmm that's a funny abrasion on your chest. It looks like a staph infection. You better have some tests."
I'm all about building immunities, and I really, really, really wanted to go to fancy sushi dinner, but I had to draw the line at exposing my only son to the MRSA superbug. Not that it was a certainty that E. had it, but it really wasn't worth the risk.
It was probably ok that we didn't go, Domingo was exhausted when I got home, and for some reason Ana didn't give him an afternoon nap even though he was begging for one. I had asked her to have him ready for me to pick him up at 5:30, meaning not to be out at the park, she took that to mean keep this already sleep challenged baby up to the point he's jabbing his fingers in his eyes and crying at every possible turn. This is a baby who, when he bonks his head he just looks at you rubs his head and keeps on playing.
I hope the other two birthday girls had a wonderful, delicious meal, and delightful stimulating conversation. I hope they had the transcendent kani nigiri, the divine tuna tuna salmon, the unreal special suke, and the other worldly tuna combination. That's what I would've had. No matter what they ate, I'm sure it was wonderful, and better than my sad dinner of cold pizza and nachos. Ahhh. Oh well. Maybe next year!

Pictures!

I love being able to rest on my laurels and just upload pix! It's what you guys are here for anyway right? Enjoy!

Chris blew Domingo's mind when he put him inside the laundry hamper and carried him around. Who knew laundry could be fun?



Here we are at Starved Rock, Eagle Ridge to be precise. There are actually Bald Eagles that come to nest here in the winter months.



Check out Sofia's face in this one. It was sunny, yes, but she looks like she's melting!



We didn't get any really good pictures of the landscape, which is really very beautiful. The story of Starved Rock is a very sad one, and there are legends that go with most of the formations and overlooks. The park gets it's name from one of the larger rock hills where a group of Native Americans, the Illinois, were trapped at the top of the hill by two other groups, the Fox and Potawatami. These two groups attacked the Illinois in revenge for some other downstate Illinois who murdered their chieftan, (isn't it always the downstate guys?) and when the Illinois went to the top of this hill in hopes that the attackers would pass them by, they were stranded there and all starved to death. Pretty grim.
Another legend that surrounds another rock is Lovers Leap. This one is a classic Romeo and Juliet-type story. Two young people from warring tribes met and fell in love. When neither chief would marry them, they went to this rock and leapt off to be together forever. Sad and beautiful. I remember going to this state park so often as a child. The stories were haunting to me then, and still are. The other thing that used to terrify me was the river below. We were always warned by our teachers of the undertow in the river, and since part of the field trip to Starved Rock was a little boat ride, we were (at least in my memory) constantly warned that if we fell in the river the undertow would hold us under and we would drown. I had the most vivid images of long white gnarly toes just beneath the rippling surface of the water, waiting to grab me and pull me under and hold me there until I drown. Hmm, maybe this is why I have a pathological disgust of feet? This blog is so cathartic!

Here is Domi at the Eye-talian restaurant. (Is the Eye-talian joke driven into the ground yet? No? Awesome!!)



Sofia's pointing at the starry "sky"

Not so Starved Rock

This weekend we went back to Morris to visit with the abuelos and the primas. It was probably, I'm assuming, the last beautiful Indian Summer weekend of the year, but I also said that last weekend so you never know.
We went to the farmer's market Saturday morning, but got there a little late, so the pickings were slimmer than usual. Then we went to Morris and hung out with the abuelos, went for a walk, made delicious dinner, and sat outside and counted the stars with Domingo. He was a little confused as he usually only sees the moon in the morning- I only wish I were joking.
Then Sunday we got up, and did some pilates. Domingo is a very good weight, but he does make the workout take 2 or 3 times longer, since you have to take foreced rest brakes when he hightails it for the stairs.
Later, we took a little trip to Starved Rock State Park. It's pretty close to my parents house, and is really quite beautiful. This weekend, we weren't the only ones with that idea though, and it wasn't exactly a commune with nature, more like a commune with a hundred other sweaty tired people carrying their little ones in backpacks, piggy back, or forcing them to walk "just a little further". But the views are worth the climb, and worth pushing past the people.
Then after our excursion, we went to a nearby town and had a nice Eye-talian dinner under the fake stars. The place was actually very cute, even though the server actually said things like "Eye-talian bread". Whats even better, Domingo and the girls behaved like champions. I had very low expectations because Domingo has taken to forgoing his afternoon nap, and goes to bed pretty early as a result. He had a really busy day with all the fresh air and whatnot, so I assumed that melt down was unavoidable. I was pleasantly surprised when he ate lots of bread (as usual) some pasta and vegetables, some pineapple juice, and then played with his cousins until about 5 mintues before we were done. At that point he was bored and exhuasted, so we just went for a little walk around the empty restaurant, and it was great!
It was a wonderful weekend. The weather was perfect, the sun was sunny, the air was warm and breezy, and we got to spend a lot of time outside. I really try to take advantage of days like this as much as possible because I'm very easily affected by the weather, and lack of sun. I want to soak up every last minute. But the fact is, it's getting towards the end of October, and really there's no stopping the sun from setting earlier, until December 21 that is! (yes, I'm already counting down, so what?)
You'll have to wait to enjoy the last (photographic) fruits of summer, Blogger is once again giving me a hard time, and I'm too tired to wait around and see when it will finally let me upload pictures. But never fear, I'll get them up here eventurally.

Social Butterfly

Domingo is the king of the toddler social scene. He went to a friend's birthday party today. Yes, he is barely 1 year old and already has more of a social life than his mother. Not that surprising really. And oh yeah, I was not the one to take him to this party.
Oh do I have mixed feelings about this! Ana is also a very social creature, and she has made friends with other babysitters in the neighborhood. This is how Domi met his birthday party friends. It works out well because Ana gets to spend time with other adults, and Domingo gets to play with other kids his age, and a little older. It is good for everyone, so I'm not complaining, especially since if it were me home full time, I would NEVER go up to strangers and their children and ask to play. I would probably just hang out with Domi all day, and we would have our activities, but not really do much interacting with other kids/moms/babysitters. It's just not my thing. That said, I have some guilt around the idea of someone else taking my son to his first (non-family) birthday party, someone else knows who his "friends" are and I don't, and that I'm not around everyday, all day.
Now I'm not going to beat myself up too badly. I have met his "friends", I use quotes because, really, a one year old does not exactly have friends, he doesn't play with other kids, he basically just plays by himself in close proximity to other kids, that, and he alternates between taking other kids toys and crying when those other kids take his toys.
I also spend a lot of quality time with Domingo, on my days off and when I come home from work, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. But I also actually like my job, when it's not crazy, and honestly feel like I'm doing something worthwhile and important. This helps me be a better person, and a better parent. I know I'm not saving the world, but I actually do make a difference in people's lives, and that's important to me.
No, I don't love that Domingo ate pizza and cake and ice-cream, but it's one day, and it's not like he was sucking down sodas in his sippy cup. No, I'm not crazy about everything Ana does, but she is really great with him. She is constantly stimulating him which is part of the reason, I think, that he's so engaged. And most importantly, she really loves him, and he loves her, and that is worth it's wieght in gold.
So here are some party photos that I asked Ana to take at the party, because if I couldn't be there, I at least wanted to have it documented for Domi's world. I'm nothing if not committed. Enjoy!

"Pipsa" face



Mas?



Not a dunces cap

Pictures part 2!

Here are some more pics from this weekend:

Cake!



Yummy!



Irma and her babies. (she delivered all these kids- except her own, she "only" went through labor for those guys)



Moms and tots, they're just a bunch of crazy moms and tots, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.



Graciela is still looking for the reaper. Come on baby, don't fear.




There he is!




Goin' off the rails...



So much grey hair.



Pumpkins!



Atumnally yours,
Staff writer: Domi's world.

Pictures part 1

As promised, here are the pictures from this weekend's festivities. But for some reason, blogger wouldn't let me upload more than this so I'll post more later.

Handsomest boy in the universe.



Birthday cake.



Blowing out candles.



Beating the Mermaid.



Ritual Mermaid slaughter.

Feliz Cumpleanos ninas!

This weekend we went out to Morris to celebrate the twins 3rd birthday! It was a super-funpak weekend. Friday Domi and I went out early and hung out with abuela for lunch, and then went to Leticia's and played with the twins. Then Saturday all heck broke loose when we got over to their house and saw the most awesome sight you can behold. No pictures were taken of this on our camera and I have no idea why, but they had a giant "bounce house" a.k.a "royal bouncer", a.k.a. "globo loco" a.k.a. "the most awesome thing in the world". Everyone had a great time, (but most of all the adults) Domi even got into the spirit of things and was crawling around in there, avoiding getting brained by little flying bodies and large flayling bodies. It was so great, if you have a yard, I highly reccommend getting this thing. So no afternoon nap for Domingo on Saturday, and by the end of the party everyone was so tired and crabby it was a mad dash for the door! But overall, the kids and grownups had a great time.
But that's not all! The fun continued on Sunday when we went to the Dollinger farm. We got dressed in our farmiest duds and headed out to the pumpkin patch, rode the trains, looked at stinky animals, and picked out some pumpkins to carve. It was a lot of fun. Then it was BACK to Leticia's for more bouncing. I think even though I didn't work out all weekend, and ate all kinds of junk food, I ended up ok because I must've burned 1000 calories by bouncing for hours on end. It is the best workout as I'm sore today!
There is something wrong with blogger right now and it's not letting me upload any pictures. So I'll post them at a later date. For now, just imagine the most awesome time ever had by anyone captured on film, and that would be us.

Superstitious 13th month-day post!!

And it's in October too! I was laying down with you tonight after you had woken up in tears and realized that I almost let your month day go by without a post! (two days late isn't so bad though right?) You've done a lot this past month and I want to make sure I get it down.
So while we're on the topic, let's talk sleep. Better yet, why don't we just go to sleep? As in right now, all night, as in please for the love of God and all that is holy why won't you sleep? Actually the answer (I think) is you're getting four molars at once. And unfortunately it's not like the little teeth that kind of popped up overnight. This is kind of a ebb/flow process where one night you'll be up whining and crying and trying to grind your way back inside my body, and the next you'll sleep in until 7:00. And if you look in your mouth, you can see the giant white horses just beneath the vast pink hills (that's for tia J), so close to coming through, but not quite there yet. I know that once this molar nightmare is over you'll be a champion sleeper, I've seen little glimpses and I cannot wait. Like Daddy says 2010 is going to be a great year.
Onto more fun topics, like what you are saying these days. We are still signing things and you are getting more and more all the time. In addition to the signs though, we are using sounds too. You'll imitate the dog bark, the horse clip clop, or the elephant blat, or the snake hiss, or frog noise that we decided was the sound a frog makes even though it has no basis in reality. It's fun to play this game with you. You get so proud when you see a picture of an animal, or the animal itself, and you make the corresponding sound. Ducks are probably your favorite, maybe because that was the first one you learned, but wolves are fun too because you get to hooooowwwl.
And you are talking up a storm! You have picked up a few new words, namely pan, pan y mas pan! Pan is your favorite food on earth, ah the manzana doesn't fall far from the arbol. Every morning when I get up, we brush our teeth, and then just as you are about to freak out when I take the little finger brush away because you are going to choke yourself with it, I say "vamos a comer PAN!" and you look up and smile and say "pan" and are all like, "toothbrush who? That's for suckers, get me some pan!" Another big surprise is that you know how to say cheese too. Considering my diet would consist entirely of pan y queso if my colon would allow it, it makes sense that my progeny also has a taste for delicious smelling cheese. You also have learned the word for your other favorite food, grapes. Uvas round out the triumverant of things you deign edible. Not surprising at all to me is the fact that your third word after pelota (ota) and dada, was pan, and all the words that followed were food words. Yes, you are your mother's son. Sadly for mama though, you are now referring to me as leche. Papa wasn't bad enough, today when I was in the shower I asked Chris to get you some milk, and when he asked you where your milk was you pointed at me in the shower. Um, no, not cool, not funny. (ok very funny) So no "mama" yet, but you bet your buttons that's gonna be a sweet day.

So, speaking of milk, we are still nursing before bed and in the morning. It's going fine although I'm suspecting that my milk is not going to last much longer and you get increasingly frustrated when the let down takes longer and doesn't last as long as you want. The other milk thing is I've given the word that the bottle is now officially banned. I haven't put them away yet, but that's in the works. Ana was complaining bitterly today that you need your bottle and only you drank 4 ounces of milk today. I want to do some research into this, whether the only reason to get rid of the bottle at 1 year is just because it's harder the longer you wait, or if there is actually some good reason. My thinking is it's going to be hard no matter when you do it, and if it doesn't take in 2 weeks, we may have to reassess. But for now, all liquids except milk are banned until you get used to the cup. I doubt if my decree will be adhered to, even by me.

You are still such a music lover. You'll sit and play your music cube over and over again until my head is ready to explode. You do your little arm jiggly dance, and when we sing Elena la Ballena, you always end it with a "bum bum!" It's so funny. I have to get more Spanish CDs since I left your's at tia Leticia's and she DID NOT give us one in return -scowling at her right now. (Actually I forgot yours there, so it wasn't part of a meaningful music exchange, just mommy being forgetful, so I'm really scowling at myself). The ones we have in English are ok, but there is something less grating about the wheels on the bus in Spanish.

You are still not walking, but are now showing signs of interest. Sometimes I'll be in the kitchen and all of a sudden feel something pulling my pants down and I'll look behind me and you are trying to walk behind me. It's pretty funny, until my pants come down and you're on the floor saying boom. You are cruising everywhere and will finally walk while holding our fingers, before you'd just plop down and crawl if we tried to get you to move any distance at all.

You are such a charmer. Everyone always smiles and waves at you, complete strangers can't help but come up to you and say hi. I'm glad you are such a social butterfly and will hopefully avoid the magnetic pull of being an anti-social misanthrope like your mother. It's actually good for me too since I am forced to interact with humanity when they say how gorgeous you are, I mean how could I not tell them they are stating the obvious?

You are such a wonder-boy. Sometimes I look at you and can't believe how lucky I am to have you in my life. No matter how crappy or long or tiring my day has been, when I see you're little arms held out for me to pick you up, oo-pah-lala, I have an infinite supply of energy, I'm filled with complete love for you and could carry you a million miles, but thankfully usually just a snuggle and to the couch is all you're looking for. Happy month-day.
love,
mama

p.s. here is a video Chris took of Domi eating an apple. He really loves his honeycrisp apples, what to do when the season is over!?!!



apple eater from alice on Vimeo.

Domi in the Garden

Today we celebrated Columbus Day by thoroughly enjoying the effects of Global warming. Hey, Globalism started w/ Christopher Columbus, right? We all went to the Garfield Park Conservatory for this really great exhibit they have there called Niki in the Garden. I love the conservatory, actually Chris and I were going to have our wedding reception there until we had a change of plans and decided to get married in South Bend. My favorite time to go, however, is in the winter when I desperately need a little heat and humidity, the palm house, or the aroid house is just what the horticulturalist ordered. But even in 90 degree October heat, it was pretty cool. When Chris and I were planning our wedding, there was another sculpture exhibit there, Chihuly in the Park, that exhibit was more like organic and plant-like pieces that seemed like enormous alien flowers and plants were plopped down in the middle of the earth plants. It was very beautiful, but also required a hefty insurance policy for anyone renting out the place.
This exhibit is totally different, but also really neat. There are about 30 or so giant colorful mosaic sculpture by artist Niki de Saint Phalle that are set inside and outside the conservatory. It is very accessible, and the kids were really getting into it since you are allowed to touch, and sit on, and climb on many of the pieces. Domingo was duly excited by the bright colors and strange textures, but it was so hot that we couldn't stay as long as I would've liked. Here are some pictures from our day.

Inside the Palm house.



Hanging out with Louis Armstrong.



Ssssirpiente.



American Baby Idol.



I really loved this one.



But this was my favorite piece of the day.

Lazy days of (indian) summer post

No long elaborate post on the meaning of life today. I'm feeling lax due to the 90 degree weather in OCTOBER for God's sake. I had such big plans for this weekend too. Oh well, that's life. Here are some pictures!

This is the world's fullest diaper. You really can't get an accurate view from this picture, but it was RIDICULOUS.


"Have you no shame woman? Putting this picture of me on the internet where the world can see that you don't change my diapers is really beyond the pale. Also, how 'baby-safe' are you if you are letting me play with the hazardous contents of your death-purse?"



Not quite corned-out after the cornfest.

CORNFEST 2008 Y'ALL!!

Oh, and shots, tio Gustavo, and 12 month doctor appointment. But, priorities people, it was the 59th Grundy County Corn Festival, and it was a blast! (As you can see by the pictures.) Domi and I got to town early Friday, and went downtown with tio Gustavo, tia Leticia and the primas. We had some lunch, pet some goats, and went for a long walk. Tio Gustavo is briefly back states-side from Paraguay via Japan, before he goes back to Paraguay for a year. He was in town for the weekend and we got to hang out. The next day, everyone went and ran or walked in the Cornfest 5k. It was a really fun race that was on the I&M canal where we always go and run anyway, so it was a very familiar course. Domi went on the walk with Abuela and Abuelo and fell asleep along the way. But he was not to sleep serenely for too long, because right after the race, we went to get his vaccines from our family friend, Dr. Cho. Not fun. I won't bore the reading public again with my thoughts on this subject, I'll just let you know, that it went fine, Domingo showed no adverse reaction at all, and was back to his regular cheerful self within minutes. We then walked around, watched the little kid version of the water fights, went to the petting zoo again, then ate enough fried vegatables to clog an artery. Oh, and kettle corn too.
Then Emma and Mateo came to join the fun, so it was back downtown to show off the wonders of small town America. Tia Hez and James joined us. I don't know what it is about little boys, but if it's big and red with wheels and you can ride on it, it's a hit. Domingo was a little skeptical of the petting zoo the first two or three times we went, but by the forth, he was all over it, pointing and quacking with the ducks, hopping with the rabbit, clip-clopping with the donkey, and clucking with the chickens. His favorite by far were the ducks, but they were the least cooperative of all the animals, so he made do with watching other kids chase them around.
Sunday we went back for more, watched the Jesse White Tumblers, although Domingo just roasted in the sun and didn't really focus on the tumbling. The twins were into it for a minute or two, and Leticia and I were gasping, and oohing and aahing enough for the three of them. They are really incredible.
We had a really fun time this year, and it's really funny to go to the events, and rides etc. and see them through my nieces' and son's eyes. I vividly remember going to the fair, watching the parade, and drinking lemon-shake-ups, and now they get to do it! It's pretty wild.
Then Sunday night we came back to Chicago and had dinner with the abuelos and Gustavo. Monday it was time to say goodbye to tio Gustavo and we went to our 12 month appointment with our doctor in Chicago. I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but I adore our pediatrician. She's so great. First of all, she was completely supportive of getting our shots elsewhere because our insurance cuts off on well child visits before all the 1st year vaccines are finished. I was afraid she would at least make me feel inadequate for having crappy insurance (it's really not, we didn't have to pay anything for our very complicated pregnancy, but this is one thing that just sucks) but she didn't, she just said if you can get it free or cheap somewhere else, there is no reason to get them here! Then we talked about vaccines, autism, and warning signs. She said that Domingo looked perfect, was exhibiting lots of non-autistic behavior (pointing, talking, babbling, hugging, responding to his name etc.) but if I still have concerns at the next appointment to make sure to talk to her again. She did say that he is technically "behind" with the walking, but not to worry, and if I wanted, gave me some tips to motivate the little lazy bones to get off his heiner and walk. But she then said that there are lots of late walkers out there, herself included, and none of them crawl to school, so not to stress out. (See why I love her?!) She did ask about sleep, and I felt like I was honest, I said that it's going better than a few days ago, and that I think he was having a hard time because he's getting FOUR molars at the SAME TIME. I would be cranky too. But I think the worst is over (knocking my knuckles bloody on wood), and we've had a few good nights recently. Then the not fun stuff, a finger prick discovered that Domingo was a little bit anemic (breastfeeding bites me in the rear) and we need to start a nasty supplement, as well as a meatier diet. But we are aparently lead-free, or at least within an acceptable range, so keep those Chinese toys coming!
Well here's what you read this far down to see anyway, the STATS:
Height: 32.5 inches >95% (this was slightly different from the height at Cho's, and I don't think he grew 3/4 of an inch in 2 days, but still, he's pretty tall)
Weight: 25.5 pounds 75%-90% (slimming down!)
Head: 18 3/4 inches 75% (I doesn't seem like his head is getting bigger, but it's only like an inch smaller than mine, so I guess it doesn't need to get much bigger!)

Ok, to sign off, here are some pictures from this weekend.


No food critic.


Still not quite sure he's into it.


Definitely into this!


Same here.


Although a city-boy his whole life, Domi's just a farm boy at heart.