HIIIIIIII

Emilio's first word is officially "Hi" but it isn't what he says; it is how he says it. It is a soft, long "Hi" that warms your heart the minute the syllable leaves his mouth. He can also say "Moo" when asked what a cow says in Spanish, he roars when asked what the dinosaurs says and is getting his snake hiss down really good. The other day he picked up his shoe and tried to put it on and yesterday he attempted to brush his own hair with papa's brush. It can't be. I won't believe it. He is almost one. A whole year in this world. I love him. I love him. I love him.

Waiting

Ignacio is officially on the waiting list for Centro preschool here in Minneapolis. January has been cold and lonely for us, but one of the positives is that it moved me to looking into preschools much more seriously. After playing phone tag with the director of Siembra, the preschool program, for one month...yea, that's how busy they are...I finally got through. I felt like a Real Housewife from New York trying to get Ignacio into one of the private nursury schools, only in our case we are going for the inner-city non-profit program for immigrant families. After asking my questions and listening intently to the director explain the program, Ignacio's name was officially added. After I hung up the phone it hit me. Soon we will not be together all day. He and his brother will not cry and fight incesently over the plastic animals and he will have stories to tell me about his experiences in which I did not partake. All of a sudden the minutes, hours and days that seem to DRAG on right now became fleeting moments of precious time. The director couldn't tell us how long it will be until he is given a spot...6 months or more? But for now we are waiting...but I prefer to see it as living.

Up for interpretation

Ignacio has taken it upon himself to be Emilio's ambassador. It suddenly appears that Emilio is a foreign exchange student from a far-off land and only Ignacio knows his language and, for that reason, has taken responsibility of ensuring our FULL understanding of Emilio's wants and needs. Last night Angel was trying to feed Emilio and was crying. Ignacio stated, "He's saying, 'I DON'T WANT PRUNES!!!!'" Thank you Ignacio. Today Emilio was throwing his food on the floor and I said, "No, no Emilio." Ignacio quickly responded, "It's his job. He's learning. He's saying, 'I DON'T WANT MORE FOOD!!!" Thank you Ignacio. The funniest part is that he says Emilio's supposed words with conviction and emotion. The other night I left for work and Ignacio said, "When you leave Emilio's sad and says, 'I want milky." Oh boy...Emilio, please start talking soon so we can respectfully relieve Ignacio from his position as your interpreter.

Un-fricken-believable

Running late to apply for Passports.
Finally park downtown, find quarters for meter and walk a block to the government center.
Three escalators and 15 questions posed by Ignacio later we make it through the doors.
Only accept money order/check.
We don't have a money order or a check.
Angel runs blocks away to our bank...I stay with the kids while meter is running.
Ignacio asks if there is a potty and with Emilio in arms we run.
Ignacio makes it to the potty but has accuracy issues so underwear and entire left pant leg wet.
I cringe as I have to put Emilio down on the bathroom floor to help a crying Ignacio.
We make it back to the service center and Emilio poops.
I have no diaper or wipes.
One kid smells like pee the other poop.
Our number is called...we don't have Emilio's Social Security number.
Our photo (taken at WALGREENS) doesn't meet criteria.
We hold a stinky baby up and try to make him smile.
Application accepted...and there is a $60.00 processing fee. Didn't know that.

Technical Difficulties

"Happy New Ears!!!!" That is what Ignacio said at our friend's house on January 1st. We all practically wet ourselves. The holiday season has come and gone and yet I have not blogged or posted any pictures.

Our trip to Milwaukee to be with Mama Ama and the family was, for lack of a better word, magical. It was the closest I have felt to being cross-legged on the floor in the "fancy room" at Edge O' Woods on the 24th, when the room used to fill with laundry baskets of gifts and everyone came through the front door to share in the moment. We had the opportunity to embrace so many family members we hadn't seen in years, many of them meeting my kids for the first time. I was proud watching them fall in love with Ignacio and Emilio in a matter of seconds and felt like I regained a piece of myself and my childhood as family member after family member made the comment, "You were JUST like Ignacio!!!" As they fell in love with him, I felt that they were falling in love with my inner child all over again.

I felt loved, I felt seen and I felt whole. Ignacio quickly made "best friends" including Auntie Kath (one of the only ones who could keep up with him) and Auntie Mary (one of the only ones who let him talk and talk with no interruption). And, well, you can only imagine Mama Ama's delight as Ignacio brought all her ideas to life. He frolicked around the living room in the elf costume she bought him, and decorated the tree for her and even put his animal toys out to be by baby Jesus. I just remember looking around at Krista's birthday moment and thinking, "This is what it feels like to have family."

One of my most precious moments was watching Ignacio as Santa came roaming through the backyard and passed under the lighted arch, right before turning to pet one of the moving reindeer. I got so wrapped up in the moment I was shrieking with delight. It was magical.

I have so many wonderful pictures but, for some reason my computer isn't reading my camera so I can't download them. Technical difficulties are creating some issues but, with time I am hoping to get this figured out. For the time being, Happy (belated) Holidays and Happy New Ears to you and yours.

THREE!!!

Sometimes God gives you gifts like a break in the clouds when you long for a ray of sun or a rainy day to give a reason to stay inside. One year ago today my gift came in a small, quiet baby...my godson. Addison is three today. Three years that I have been able to grow with him, learn with him and laugh with him. Whether it be peeling him off electric devices or watching his face light up at the news he can eat as many cookies as he wants at aunties house, it truly has been a trip. What is even more amazing is to watch his friendship with Ignacio grow and mature from just staring at one another as infants to having in depth conversations about being "best friends" and sharing in the excitement of wearing big boy underwear. Happy Birthday Addison. You will ALWAYS be auntie's Bam Bam.