Parsley

In order to decorate for Halloween, I purchased some LED candles that change colors. Elena is fascinated by them and Mom and I noticed her blowing at the candles. She explained that she has "magical breath" and when she blows on the candles, they change colors. I asked her why her breath was magical and she answered "because I ate parsley".

Alvaro's latest photos

In a word - Elena

Two short stories...

1. I told Elena to "get your tail in the car now!"...she immediately got agitated and said desperately, "but I really don't have a tail!!!!".

2. for my birthday, one of my gifts from Elena was a beauty-queen style sash that reads "World's Greatest Mom". Once I put it on, Elena comes up and says "look mama, it says 'I love you Mama'" all while running her fingers over the letters as if she's reading. all together now - awwwwww

Don't be fooled by the apparent bluntness of those teeth

Our little Dracula

the music difference

I really need to try to record her, because Elena now sings along with the Spanish radio station. She informs me that "in mama's car, we listen to spanish music, but in tata's car, we listen to the beatles". She then breaks into song, singing "strawberry fields forever" and "lucy in the sky with diamonds".

The weeping garden

So while Mom was in Greece, Dad came up to Austin for the weekend. While hanging out outside with Elena, she ran off from Dad to the flower garden in the back corner of our yard. Elena then informed Dad that "The flowers are crying because you didn't come visit Nonno" and she proceeded to wipe the flowers with a tissue, drying their tears. Talk about a guilt trip.

Hi everyone! Fyi Javis new address is the same but its now Striker instead of mahmudiyah.

hi everyone hope everyone is doing fine. we visited the parthenon and the acropolis today. we also ate some lamb stew with some sangria. they were both wonderful. it was a bitch to get here from the airport but we made it. it seems to be pretty laid back here so we are having a very good time. I love you guys very much. talk to you all soon. Make sure you tell everyone that I will try to post updates on this blog.. Love you mom

Some new photos...

Alvaro's new undies

The little man is taking well to his green move. and seriously - have you ever seen a cuter rear end?

Alvaro's impromptu photo session

here's a sample from alvaro's latest photos...I had a coupon, he looked cute, so off to the mall we went!

enjoy a message from Monstro!

from Paco

Hello all,



So Elena has been under the weather lately; Last night marked the 3rd night which Elena fell pray to "the weep" - an unstoppable urge to cry about most anything (eg. pant legs being too short, hair drying, a peanut found on the floor, etc.). Some of these incidents have been a major trial of human patience, others a great opportunity for a hug, and others yet lead you to understand that God has one hell of a sense of humor...



Last night after her bath Elena was standing in the bathroom wrapped in a towel and began weeping because she was taken out of the bath. Araceli, in an attempt to raise Elena's spirits suggested they sing a song together.



The following link is a dramatic reenactment of the events (the first thing that came to my head when I heard it from the other room.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH2nQHPs4aA

So everyone knows that Elena calls her vagina VJJ. Anyway, after my annual, Grandma asks me what is VJJ. I proceed to explain the whole thing to her. So when someone asked what I went to the doctors for, she told them " she did something to her vjj.

Issy loves to watch the discovery channel. She apparently learned all about skunks. So now when she doesn't appreciate what you are telling her or she wants you to leave her alone, she gets on all fours and pretends to spray you.

So everybody knows how Grandma loves to scream. Well, apparently one day Isabel was going to touch something that she shouldn't. Grandma proceeded to scream at her to leave it alone. Issy then tells her "chihuahua Grandma, you make me so nervous.

What I want to avoid at all costs....

So this morning, I was chilling out with some of the radiology guys, reading CT scans and listening to music. Then the attending walked in, and asked the standard questions that I routinely have to answer:
"What's your name?" Clarissa
"Where are you from?" Here.
"What are you going into" OB.
"When do you find out where you're going?" March.
So then he decided to share a relevant story from his intern year, long long ago.
So his buddy was delivering a baby, and it seemed like the woman needed several more pushes before the baby was going to come. Since this was before there was a limit on work hours, this dude had apparently been awake for over 30 hours and was exhausted. So he sits on a stool, to just rest for a minute, and he falls asleep....he wakes up abruptly when he realizes that in his stupor, he has flopped forward, and his head landed on this woman's vagina. Yup. That is most definitely to be avoided.

Stories

Elena (telling story) - One time, when I was a big girl, they wouldn't let me on the bus. 

Mark - Oh, because you were black?

Elena - Oh, no. I was white. 

Elena (waking up and not wanting to go to school) - Today is not today. I'll go to school tomorrow. 

Alvaro's Stats

Length - 25.5 inches - 75th percentile

Head - 43 cm - 75th percentile

Weight - 17 lbs. 11 oz. - 93rd percentile

The end of an era

It took school precisely 4 days to cut "ka-buzz" from Elena's vocabulary. She now says "bee-cuzzz" and sighed heavily at me when I said "Not, ka-buzz?"...(exasperated expression) "no Mama, it's not".

I'm awake, OK??

I picked up the ever-smiley Alvaro, tossing him into the air to make him giggle. And he vomited...on my face. at least i had my glasses on.  

the TRUST ME day...

well today started out with me climbing a 125 foot antenna tower with no harness and everyone saying.. TRUST ME you'll be alright.. well of course i know how to climb.. but at 125 feet trust goes out the window and the oh shit im about to die mentality kicks in.. this is about when the antenna begins to collaps on its self.. i scream like a 5 yo girl and jump for the roof that was thankfully covered with folded up camo nets.. broke my fall.. only about 25 feet or so..

about 2 hours later... were breaking a wall down when a wire falls down in the wall.. i said uhh im not getting that.. sgt osorio says come on man grab it.. i say no...... im not putting my hand in there.. (here it comes) oh come on guti.. TRUST ME you'll be alright.. so i did.. and im reaching... and streaching.. and black out.. apparently we cut a 220 wire and i grabbed the ends.. woke up about a min later and didnt know where i was at.

4 hours after this.. im carrying a desk across a bridge.. the railing doesnt start till about 4 feet over the water.. im carrying the ass end.. with one of my soldiers on the front. i cant see anything.. desk in my face i ask hey am i walking straight onto the bridge.. yeaaaah he said TRUST ME .... 2 seconds later im completely engulfed in what we call the AIDS water.. i hop out and run to the showers with my eyes mouth and any other orfice on my body closed as best as it could be.. keep in mind im squeezing my booty cheeks closed as well while running.. very difficult if i do say so myself.. and yeah

This is the TRUST ME day

thought you guys might get a kick outa this one

First

Elena's drop-off for her first day of school was entirely uneventful. She got up this morning without a problem and the first words out of her mouth were "Mama, I need you (big hug). I GET TO GO TO SCHOOL RIGHT NOW!!!". We got there a bit early and thought we'd wait in the car, but she insisted she was ready to get down. Once inside, she showed her lunch box to the school director, hung up her coat, and ran off to go play. We didn't even get to say goodbye to her, but the director said it's best to go when they are distracted. So, we left and had breakfast. Very proud of the kiddo. Of course, there is still tomorrow...

Since Elena's request for a dress,sweater and knee high socks is the only way for a lady dress, she looked at me strangely when she saw me wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and tennis shoes. She n
then asked me "Nonna, why are you dressed like a man?"

Some random musings...

On the occasion of Elena's first day of school tomorrow, I've been thinking over her 3 years and thought I'd write down some of my favorite stories. 

In no particular order: 

1. but i've GOT to give him ninny

While driving in the car, Alvaro starts to cry fairly hysterically from hunger. Before Mom and I know it, Elena has wriggled herself out of the car seat straps,  pulled an arm out of her top, and was leaning over his carrier in an attempt to nurse Alvaro. No matter how much we protested (in hysterical laughter), she insisted she had some ninny 'riiiiight here'

2. can't buy me snow. or can you?

Elena got to witness some snow flurries at Mark's house. This fun and unusual event only irritated her later, when she realized there was no snow on her grass at home. I explained that Texas doesn't usually get snow, so there wouldn't be any this year. Two responses: 1. Tell Nonno, he'll buy some snow. (I'm sure he would have). 2. Markipoo's house isn't in Texas then, because it snowed there. 

3. Not the kind of kick I was talking about.

While pregnant, we were laying on the bed when Alvaro started to kick. I quickly grabbed Elena's hand to have her feel his movements and Paco and I explained to her that when she was in utero, she kicked the same way. Elena jumps to her feet and said "I can kick you right now?", with her foot cocked back ready to fire. 

4. Food, always on her mind. 

Paco taught Elena the "now I lay  me..." prayer and she mastered it fairly quickly. One night, while Paco was out of town, Elena had really been irritating me and Mom and refused to go to sleep. While I was getting ready, she came in to my bathroom to say her prayers for the 10th time. except this time, she finished it out with "and if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.....to breakfast". 

5. Truth, out of the mouthes of babes

Elena went to work with Paco one day shortly after Alvaro's birth. She insisted she had to wear "jeans and a shirt because I'm going to work". This from a kid who asks for a dress and knee socks and a sweater every day. While at work, Elena behaved fairly well, says Paco. She did note to him that his job was "reeeeeeally boring". She shouldn't complain too much, since she reminds us all daily that "Tata goes to work to buy money to buy me toys". 

I'm sure I've got more stories that will come to mind, but please share some of your favorite Elena stories if you've got them.  

A day in Iraq

after getting back from a rough 14 hour mission.. im walking with a friend of mine oh and i guess i should let you know at night its so dark you cant see your hand infront of your face.. so were walking across a bridge talking about how "badass" we are when something wraps its self around my leg and bites me.. well of course i yell some foul language and proceed to beat the crap out of my leg with my rifle.. when i look up, with my flashlight i see my friend in a dead sprint about 100 meters away from me yelling "im so sorry im so sorry.." this is about the time i realize it was a cat... not a kitty cat.. a wild cat.. a crazy cat.. but a cat non the less.

i felt like a homo..

gota love iraq

love you guys