Growing Pains

Miguel you are driving me crazy. I want to think this is a developmental stage. You take all of Tonio's toys, whine a lot and scream. Last night I made you a chicken and rice and cheese dish. It was pretty good and you refused to eat it. You love all three of those things and yet you refused. It was just different I guess. The thing that concerns me the most is not that you say "I dont like Tonio" every other sentence but you cant let him have anything. Anything he plays with you take. I dont have anyone to really talk with and compare. Generally, you are sweet and good. You will say I love you and give kisses and like to help. I have heard it is hard for kids in your situation because nothing is yours and all you want is something sacred. The problem is nothing is sacred for anyone else either.

Funny Things this week

On Saturday night, Tonio woke up screaming. I think he was having a bad dream because I went in and kissed him and rearranged his blankies and he was fine. The next morning all of us were in bed, snuggling because it was so cold outside (we have been in a cold streak) and I asked Tonio if he had a nightmare and he said, "Mmmm Hmmm". "About what?" "Banana slugs", he said. I just about killed me. We all got a good laugh out of that one.


On Sunday I took Miguel to the craft shop because I want to make him a new stinkie. His stinkie is about to be retired to the Stinkie Hall of Fame, as Brian likes to say. I asked him to pick some yarn and he went for the same light blue color of his stinkie now. I asked if that is what he wanted and he put it in his mouth, the ball of yarn, and chewed. Then he said yes. Crazy kid.

Today we had one of our old days. I work on Wednesdays now so I have not been able to do the park, library and farmers market. This week I swithced. We went to the cafe for bagels and coffee on Hayes. Then stopped by Marlenas, the drag bar that has over 1000 santas! We hung out with the owner for awhile talking about santas. Then off to the store with the beautiful holiday carnival scene- merry go rounds, ferris wheels, circus tent, swings. It is so whimsical and beautiful. Then to the library for the Polar Express/Thomas train holiday exhibit. Miguel still remembered pushing the buttons for two trains from last year. We were there for about 40 minutes. You both loved it. We saw the waffle man, got apple samples, and popcorn. You then played at the playground out in city hall. As we were walking home we spotted snow on the steps of City Hall. It has been an especially cold week with snow in Oakland. They filled the steps. We played in the snow and threw snow balls for the next hour. It was great. Then BAM! you both started to cry because your little fingers were so cold. It was a great morning. I love you both so much.

Changes

You two are growing so quickly. You both can sing the ABCs. If ask either of you to sing a Bob Marley song, you will both start to sing, "Dont worry about a thing..." in these precious baby voices (not your normal yelling voices). You both still love dancing to Michael Jackson and a new obsession is football. Every night, Miguel, you sleep with your football and you love to run around the house yelling "Hut Hut Hut!". You both also like to pretend you are doctors, giving shots, bandaids and lollipops to each other. Sometimes your cuteness aches. I love you so much.

Halloween

I made Tonio's pirate costume. You love going around saying, "RRRR Matey" And "scaliwag" and "yo ho Pirates Life for me"! Miguel did not want to be anything. You really were adamant, after many weeks of wanting to be a pirate or monster, not being anything. So I made you a simple super hero outfit. Tonight we went Trick or Treating and Tonio you had a hard time understanding the concept of getting candy, putting it into your bag, and then eating it later. Instead you had to eat everything as you got it. You ate this disgusting piece of lollypop that went on the ground numerous times. Miguel you loved the lollypops too. You both were terrific, if not a candy covered sticky mess. I am afraid of tomorrow and that you want to do it again.

Pumpkin Patches

We had a great October going to pumpkin patches. They seemed more like amusement parks with all the rides and bouncy houses and less farms but you both had fun with all the "poompkins". Tonio you loved throwing them down and Miguel you enjoyed sitting on them. We also had fun painting them with your buddies Gracie and Emily.

Camping

We went to Butano State Park for our first camping trip. Tonio loved throwing pine cones into the fire and you both loved running around in our monster 10 person tent. You both must of ran around for about an hour and half with flash lights. You were both so good and we had a great time.

School

I was planning on going back to work next year when Miguel was 4 and Toto 3. In about 3 days we were told and ready to buy a great house at a great price and I was offered 2 jobs. It felt right and I needed a job for the loan. Well, the house fell through and I now had a part time teaching job- 3 days a week. It was a hard week, trying to find a pre-school. It tore my heart out. I was not ready and you both cried every morning for about two weeks. It killed me. Now you like school and enjoy going. The teachers are very nice and it is only a block away. It is still hard to be away from you but I know this is good for you.

Dear Toto

First Day of School

Long Story but I thought we were going to buy a house- a big house (for our little budget) for you two to run around, so I took a part time job to help pay for the mortgage. I knew I would have to go back to work but I was planning on it being next year. So the house fell through and I am stuck with a job and I cried all week. I was/ am extremely sad. I love our days together. We have had so much fun. I never would have dreamed of being a stay at home mom and it turns out I love it- I absolutely adore it. I work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I can pick you up by 3:30, and that leaves the afternoon to play (minus my night school days).

I started work this week and today was your first day of pre school. Surprisingly, Miguel you loved it. I say surprisingly because I started a gymnastics class for you and you were so excited and then cried every day we have gone. Not pre school. You had a great day and really took to it. Toto, you love gym but cried today. Daddy has to take you in the morning and he said you knew something was up before leaving the house (evident by the stone face in the pic). But I came and you lept into my arms and the teacher said you were great.

Outside of Mia, this has been one of the hardest weeks. It hurt to think of giving up park days and waffle guy. I love you both so much.

Wednesdays

Our Wednesday Routine:

1. Go to the City Hall park
2. Run around the main library
3. Go to the Farmers Market and try free samples
4. Eat a waffle. Now you both love to yell at him, "Hey Waffle Guy!" You actually start yelling this on Tuesday night in anticipation of the Waffle Guy.

Michael Jackskin

In July, Michael Jackson died. I loved him as a kid. I had a poster of him in my room and I remember the day I first saw "Thriller". The days following Michael Jackson's death, his music was everywhere: cafes, in cars going by, blasting from apartment windows. We played his songs and showed you a few videos and little did we know that this would create an obsession. Miguel you love him. You call him Michael Jackskin. You have to listen to him before nap and bedtime, every time we get into Josh's car, and every other time in between. You do the head twitch thing from "Thriller" and the moon dance. When we sing songs you like to dedicate it to Michael Jackskin. At the end of the ABC song we sing, "Now Michael Jackskin knows his abc's, next time wont you sing with me?" You love him. Now Tonio does the head twitch (more a full body twitch) and loves to yell, "Michael Hackson". Tonio YELLS it!

Happy Day

Dear Miguel,

Yesterday was your third birthday. I dont know who gets more excited about it- you or me? I planned and replanned for weeks. You just yelled and whinned "presents" for days. You are so wonderful Miguel. At night when I go and check on you in your room, and you are curled up with your stinkie in your mouth, I think my heart will break. I love you so much. Sometimes you can drive me crazy. You test me constantly. Whether you hit your brother, rip apart library books, or simply run away with things I told you not to have, you can test me. But at the end of it all I think you are the best. You make laugh with your funny sayings, "I funny" or "Have fun!" and you make me feel great with your sensitivity and compassionate. Once I feel playing on your skateboard and you came running and cried "Mommy are you okay?" This has been a tough year for me, losing both Mia and Bill and sometimes I cry. You always ask the same question.


You are so smart. You remember people from a year ago and can recognize places from that long too. You love to play, climb, chase, make friends, swim, dance, and hit your brother. You have such beautiful, soulful brown eyes and cute whispy brown hair. Miguel, my heart hurts for you. Happy Birthday.

We had a few parties for you: one at the pool with your friends and then a pizza dinner at your favorite place, Paxti's, with Myra and Kevin.

I love you Miguelito.

Mom

Funny Times

With Meme at the pool.
With Luke at the park
Where's my sunglasses?
Breaking pens in the car. Toto is a big mess!

Window!

Goggles!

Stinkie

This is Miguel's Stinkie. It was the last blanket Mia crocheted and it was her hardest one. Instead of a popper Miguel uses his Stinkie. The name is self explanatory. It stinks! Last week the Stinkie almost ripped in half! It was a disaster. I called Juju's mom to help fix it. I had to sneak it out at nap time and Ms. Schneider came to pick it up. Miguel never slept that day. "STINKIIIEEE! STINKIIIIEEE!" he wailed. Ms. Schneider said she couldnt bring it back to the city for two nights and I didnt know what to do. Would it be worse for us or for Miguel? She fixed the stickie and brought it back late the same night to a very happy and grateful little boy.

Vacation in Venice (beach)

I was a single mom for a week in Venice. We rented a house about two blocks from the Venice Board Walk. The boys and I spent many hours splashing, building sand castles (and knocking them down), eating ice cream and visiting friends. On Tuesday (August 4) we meet Taylor, Big Daddy (Tay's dad), Meme and Joe at the Santa Monica Pier for a day of corn dogs, digging for sand crabs and swimming. It was six generations of my family playing at the Santa Monica Beach. It was a great vacation, and I felt nostalgic for all the days that I spent in Venice rollerblading, boogie boarding and sitting in the sun.