Sunday, March 30, 2008

Grocery Shopping

Normally, I do all the grocery shopping for the house. Mike and I have learned that I am faster at the grocery store than he is. That's fine with him.

The last two weeks, however, he's been helping.

I wrote up last week's list for him. It looke something like this:
  • Gallon of milk
  • Carrots
  • Crystal Light
  • Confectioner's sugar

I read it to him and when I got to the sugar part, he asked me exactly what it was. I told him it was powdered sugar and showed him the nearly empty bag we had. He nodded, but I wasn't sure he remember.

I decided to revise the list. When I finished, it looked more like this:

  • Gallon of milk - 1% or 2%, whichever has the farthest expiration date
  • Baby carrots
  • Crystal Light - iced tea
  • Confectioner's sugar - looks like blow

Off he went to the store. When he returned, he posted the list on the fridge. I asked why and he said he appreciated my comments and they were extremely helpful. His favorite was my description of the powedered sugar.

Hey, at least he got it right. :)

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Might As Well Face It, You're Addicted To...

FACEBOOK.

Great, something else to spend hours on.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Month Five

Dear Patrick,

About a week ago, you turned five months old. I’m sorry that I am unable to write you a letter on the exact date of your birth, but you will learn soon enough that schedules sometimes get busy and we can’t always accomplish what we need to when we want to.

Nevertheless, I have been looking forward to writing you this month’s letter because this month, you started doing things that have left your Daddy and me in sheer amazement of you. You are hardly the little baby we brought home from the hospital five months ago – you are a growing little boy with your own personality and tastes.

You are sleeping through the night! I’m not talking about 5 or 6 hours at a time either. You fall asleep around 7 or 7:30 in the evening and wake up around 6 the next morning. It’s great!
You have started teething and spend hours drooling. You put all your toys into your moth as well as your fingers, your bibs, even you father’s nose! We feel terrible that you are going through this, but there’s not much we can do. Fortunately, you are mostly in good spirits and love to flash us your gummy smile (soon not to be so gummy, I imagine!).

You have your set of favorite toys, including a frog named Leap that sings in English and Spanish. The other day, I moved it out of your reach and you howled in protest, your arms waving for the toy, as if to say, “Hey Ma! Give him back to me. He’s my BEST FRIEND!”

This month, we ventured on your first airplane ride to Florida. You behaved pretty well, considering your age. On the plane, you laughed and ate, peed and slept, cried and pooped. Despite all the things you did on the plane, everyone loved you, claiming you were adorable. Of course, it didn’t end there. Once we arrived in South Florida, everyone was lined up to see you – your Abuelos, aunts, uncles, countless cousins and friends.

You loved the sunshine and breeze. And you didn’t mind all the accessories we put on you either: the sunglasses and hat to shield you from the sun. However, you did mind the sandals on your feet. You kept kicking them, sending your father to retrace his steps on more than on occasion. Each time you kicked them off, you squealed with delight, almost as if you knew you were being mischievous.

Patrick, your fifth month has been a wonderful one. Everyday, you make me smile and remind me of the things most important in my life. Thank you.

Until next month,
Mama

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Our Miami Trip (as told via photos)

Even in Miami, a little boy has to have his bath.

Exhausted, after a long day of fun, sunshine, Abuelo, Abuela, arroz, frijoles...


Taking time to chat with Grandma back home.


I asked the woman at the Publix bakery to write "Let's Eat" on this cake. Instead, I got this.


Birthday celebrations for an old lady.

Hanging out with Abuela and Abuela.


Visiting FIU, my old graduate school and place of employment a million years ago.

At a cousin's birthday party. Clearly, Patrick does not enjoy parties.


A semi-dip in the pool. Just to get a taste of what the water feels like. Patrick was unimpressed.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Back from the land of sun and humidity...

This is what Patrick thought of Miami:



"Hey Mama, take me down to South Beach. I'm ready!"

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Another Year Older...

... and how do we celebrate?


We're off to the land of pastelitos, mid-day rain showers and most importantly, Abuelo and Abuela!






Miami - here we come!