Park Tourist

I've left blood samples with at least 300 mosquitos in the Amazon jungle, taken photos with llamas at the very top of the ruins of Machu Picchu, watched the festival of Inti-Raymi in Cuzco, and dined on culinary master pieces in Lima. But now with two little ones in tow, I've become a tourist to Peruvian children's parks instead, sight-seeing large tube slides and bounce-houses like nobody's business.

By the time this trip is over, you can ask me anything about Peruvian parks for kids.

Just don't ask me how to get the mosquitos to stop biting.

They love that McDonald's-infused blood - Shirley

In-flight Survival

OMG I'm alive and well. My mini apocalypse came and went, and it turns out that the Earth is still here and so am I! (Although I'm now on a different hemisphere). I'll post more about what we've been up to, but for now I wanted to exclaim how amazing it was for me that the secret children's Benadryl, stashed in a TSA-approved bottle in my pocket, stayed in my pocket for 10 hours in flight. It got a little "if-y" during the last couple of hours, but I made it through.

There was really no way for me to simulate an airplane flight so that I would know how Mateo would react. As it turns out, he barely acknowledged that the plane had an aisle - the thing I was most worried about due to my past experience with Diego, Mr. "I must walk up and down the aisle for 7 hrs on a red-eye flight to the Bahamas or I will throw a fit and wake all the passengers."

The flight was also empty enough that Mateo did not have to be a lap-passenger - the second thing that I was most worried about. The boys probably slept only 2 hours in flight during this daylight flight. I don't know exactly how long, because I immediately dozed off too as soon as the opportunity presented itself. I woke up to hear Mateo's cries and judging by the movie that was playing on my screen, we couldn't have been asleep for that long.

I really don't know how I survived the other 8 hrs. I think it just had to do with Diego being older and Mateo being a more tolerant baby than Diego was. In any case, we're here in Peru now enjoying the hot weather and I'm already sun-burned. I'm making the most of this trip now knowing that the second mini apocalypse might occur in a couple of weeks during the flight back home. That one will be a red-eye.



Lord help me if it's anything like the past Bahamian red-eye - Shirley

DeathTrap

If you're reading this on the same day as it posts, I'm currently trapped in a flying tube of metal for the next 10 or so hours (who's counting anymore) with Mateo running a muck on my lap.  Have you ever thoughtfully answered the question:  "If you could know when and how you were going to die, would you?"

Well - since we bought our tickets to Peru, Wednesday January 23rd became my own personally known apocalypse.  You might be thinking "Oh, there she goes; exaggerating again!" But honestly I try to see past that date, and I can't.  I don't have the words to properly explain to you how terrified I am to endure this flight.  For God's sake, I'm a grown-ass mom of 2 and yet the thought of getting onto that plane instantly turns me into a groveling little girl in the fetal position.

I'm too consumed in having NO idea how I'm going to handle a 10 hour flight (smack-dab in the daylight hours, no red-eye was available) and one connecting flight with 2 kids under the age of 3.  It's truly been weighing heavily in the back of my mind for some time now.  The past flight to the Bahamas when Diego was around Mateo's current age, really did a number on me!

I wish the entire flight of passengers were made up of readers like you: moms who understand my plight.  I wish we could all be on the flight singing Kumbaya and letting our little ones smash the beverage carts into the seats while we drink in-flight cocktails, and watch Despicable Me on the big screen.  But I don't have you here with me right now, and you KNOW I'm struggling.  I'll imagine you cheering me on:  "You can do it, Shirley!  This one is for all the traveling mothers out there!"

I hope I don't let you down, truly.  - Shirley

P.S.  Posts may become scarce here for the next couple of weeks but I am bringing my Ipad (tricked out with a bluetooth keyboard) in case I have the opportunity to write a little (if I survive).  I'll probably be on Instagram more (again - if I survive the flight). @GoldenDreemz

3 Years!

Your 3rd year really established what a great big brother you are. My little sister and I are twice the age difference as you and your brother are, and yet I don't remember being as doting an older sibling as you at that age. I often see you go up to your brother in a semi embrace, place your face very close to his, and then you usually try to kiss him on the forehead without anyone spurring you on. You don't do this to anyone else.

Not even the dog.

You still need to work on sharing your toys Kindle, but for the most part it seems that "older brother" is a role you were meant to take on.

OTHER 3YR DD TIDBITS

• About a month ago you started asking for shows specifically by name. Your favorite requests are: "Captain Hook" (Jake and the Neverland Pirates), "Gabba-Gabba" (Yo-Gabba-Gabba), and "Bubble Guppies".
• You imitate everything now. Your dad loves making you say, "Mama farted". Your grandpa likes to make you say "Brother's crazy" or "Brother's Gordo (FAT)" and I love to hear you say "soda" for some reason. You seem to say it with an accent, a drawl, AND a lisp! I love it!
• You also said your name about a month ago. You pronounced it very clearly while imitating me DEE-AY-GO, but when I asked you what your name was you said "Eggo" (we don't even eat waffles) and now you often speak in the third person.
• You play with your dinos and Godzilla the most out of all your toys. You identify the T-Hex (T-Rex), Ty-haha-TOPS (Triceratops), and Diplodicus (OH-kiss). And watch Deee-Ho Dan (Dino Dan) at your grandapa's house.
• Your terrible two's seems to have calmed down although I've already been warned by other mothers that it lasts through 3 years too.
• At some point in the middle of your 2 years, you started getting shy around strangers, which is a good thing. I noticed it one day on the elevator.
• You no longer wake up at 6am like before. I have to wake you in the mornings now, and I've clocked you up to 9:30 am on weekends occasionally. Too bad for me that your little brother still gets up a 6 on the dot!
• You take one 2-3hr nap a day. Usually starting around 2 or 4pm.
• You love to drink instant Ramen soup and specifically ask for it. I moderate though. You'll get enough of that in college while on the starving student diet.

DD SOUND BITES:

THINGS YOU'LL HEAR DIEGO SAY AROUND THE HOUSE
"I did it!" (while winning a game on his Kindle)
"Dada, help"  (when he can beat a game on his Kindle)
"Dada did it!" (when Dada wins a game for him on his Kindle)
"No brother... Nooooooo"  (when little brother tries to touch his Kindle)
"Here brother, brother. Take this"  (when he's giving his brother something instead of the Kindle)
"Watch Hook"  (when he wants to watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates)
"Eggo fell down" (when he falls down)
"kee-cho-cho!!!!!" (Spanish translation for "Cochino": Dirty boy! when he farts on cue.  Such a boy. So gross)
"Mama! Mia" (trying to say Mama Mira - which means Mama, look!)

DRAMATIC DIALOGUE

Me calling brother:  "Mateoooooo!"

Diego imitates but can't say his name:  "Brodahhhhhh!"

Me calling him again:  "Matayto - Potatoooooo!"

Diego imitating:  "Brodahhhh-Brodahhhhhhhhhh!"

AN INTERVIEW WITH DIEGO:

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?
Gabba

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?
Blue

DO YOU LOVE MAMA?
No.

DO YOU LOVE DADA?
No!

DO YOU LOVE SHARKS?
Nooooooooo!

WELL THEN, WHO DO YOU LOVE?
Brodah!

You're so sweet - Shirley

Fashion Friday 18 Jan 2013

I haven't done one of these in awhile.  I've honestly not been feeling very fashionable.  But I find that taking pictures of myself (so vain!) in my outfits has really helped me see what does and doesn't work on me.  It's also helped me stick to a healthy diet this week.  Today is Friday aka: Forgotten-Fast-Food-Friday (sadface).

Instead of my usual McDonald's treat, my mom has offered me a home-cooked meal when I drop Diego off after his speech therapy.  I'll take it!

I bought the blouse below for $13 on clearance at Target.  I don't usually wear blouses, but I'm trying to add some variety here.  I added one of my favorite rustic neclaces and didn't bother to do my hair a messy bun.  I liked the change for a day.

Then there's the pic below.  I totally didn't want to get dressed that morning.  Do you have those comfy go-to pants that you always gravitate towards?  For me it's these old, worn-in Paige jeans.  But now that I took this pic, they're obviously too warn-in.  Time for a new pair of go-to jeans!  These can stay as house-loungers until I eventually throw them out.  In order to dress up this blah-outfit, I added an arm-patched blazer recently gifted to me from my sister's cleaned-out closet.  I just love the arm-patch detail!

-Shirley

Bedtime Declaration

Over a year ago, I was picking up Diego from daycare and in our normal mom/sitter discourse, (i.e., me asking how things went) the sitter said, "Fine, but he didn't want to go to sleep today; he kicked the crib".

And THAT, my friends, is the best picture I can paint for you when it came to Diego and cribs.  The little dude, just never liked them and that's why he's a co-sleeper today.  Mateo on the otherhand, sleeps well in his crib, but he always wakes from his naps screaming to the top of his lungs.  I subconsciously assumed he was indifferent to the crib.

Until last night.

It was 9:15pm and Mateo started with his 'tude, the classic indicator for bedtime.  He scampered away into the nursery in a fuss and crying.  Instead of following him, I made a quick detour to the kitchen to warm up his bottle first, I knew that my detour activities would only piss him off more.  As I walked into the room, I expected to find him sitting on the floor, amongst his toys, with a sourpuss and red face, his eyes half closed, and tears streaming giving off a "My-mommy-doesn't-love-me-and-I'm-alone-in-this-world" vibe (refer to picture above).

Instead I found him standing at his crib pulling the covers through the railing in his attempts to figure out how to get into the crib.  He actually WANTED to get in?  He didn't look tired to me.  I hadn't noticed him yawn, but apparently, he was declaring his bedtime.  I always thought if I kept him up late, he would just hang out until he would ultimately crash somewhere (preferably on the area rug) and just fall sleep out of pure exhaustion.  I don't know why, but I never expected any of my children to WANT to sleep in their crib.

 These kids surprise me every day! - Shirley

13 Months!

Hard to believe that it's only been a month since you hit your 1 year milestone. Since then the most significant change for me is that you've FINALLY become more confident walking on hard surfaces without my help! Now that my days are more "hands-free", I enjoy executing mommy tasks much more peacefully: like cooking dinner.

The other day I was drifting off into one of "said" cooking trances, when your brother crawled by on the floor pushing along his yellow dump truck. Then you appeared trailing after him pushing along a blue truck. I just loved it. I love how you two play with each other now (plus you keep yourselves entertained and keep me out of the equation).

That truck scene confirmed to me that fate had made the right decision by completely discounting my desires for a girl and handing me another son as my second child. There, I said it ok... Fate was right.

I was wrong.

Does fate want a cookie? (because I can whip one up much more peacefully now! Ha!)

OTHER TATER TIDBITS

• You know how to drink out of a straw. Say what? When did that happen?
• You love blowing on a flute and blowing bubbles
• You do this clicking sound with your mouth and point to the kitchen counter. Can you be any more clear that you're hungry?
• You fight me tooth and nail when I try to put on your shoes (and I think it's ironic that all your shoes have laces -which are not conducive when someone is fighting you tooth and nail - and yet it's your older brother whose shoes use velcro straps.  Where did I go wrong?)
• You don't fight me when I put on your puffy jacket: it means we're going out! And boy are you ever the man about town!
• You imitate sounds of airplanes flying as you soar a toy plane in the air
• You try to copy sounds that we say occasionally
• I handed you a brush and you skimmed the top of your head with it numerous times
• You bring books to me and then want me to pick you up onto my lap and read them to you, but your attention span is pretty short
• You love to dance to music and Grandpa enjoys playing Peruvian music or salsa to watch your moves
• You also always dance to the Yo Gabba Gabba theme song.
• You and your brother fight occasionally, and when you do you hold your own. Pushing him, biting him, and pulling his hair. I can already tell, your future wrestling matches are going to give me gray hairs!
• You always set your lips in an O-shape like you are permanently making the "ooooo" sound. I think it's your version of a frown because it's usually followed up with an unhappy ooooo noise. And most times I see you making that face when you're restraining your smile. Don't do that, you have such a beautiful, dimply smile!

Trying to restrain his dimples with O-shaped lips.  Doing a bad job.  Those dimples are potent!

-Shirley