Promise

I promise to post new things...just been busy, busy and busy! Love to all!

It's not what he does...

Ignacio is getting so big! He learns so fast that, at least once a day, I just smile because I realize he remembered something even I forgot or notices something all together amazing. Today has been a great day because I got to see Ignacio try his first kiwi. I tell you, having a baby is like hosting a foreign exchange student only it's like they are visiting from another planet! You explain things slowly, excite in watching then experience new things like your food and delight in patiently awaiting their reaction. Well, he loved the kiwi and ate two. Here are other things he is up to lately:

Ignacio can:

Show you where his eyes and mouth are when asked.

Say "oshhh" for oso (bear) and anya for banana.

Hold his cup up to yours when you say, "Salud!" and then take a dramatic swig.

Bark like a dog, baa like a sheep and moo like a cow when asked, "What does the dog say?" in Spanish. He is still working on the duck...it still sounds like he is just choking.

Take off his own shoes in the car (The minute you hear the velco peel you know he is not in a good place!) or throw his food on the floor as a way to say, "Listen up people, I ain't happy!"

Pretend to put lotion on and also brush his teeth when mama or papa does.

Hold bottles to his stuffed animals' mouth to feed them and smack his own lips while doing it so it sounds like they are drinking.

Dance, but prefers to do it when he is by himself because he gets embarrassed!

When asked where a certain animal is can put it out of a pile of toys like the cow, pig, sheep, and duck.

Listen very well.

He is so much fun to hang out with and it is interesting to watch our relationship develop as we get to know eachother. Don't get me wrong, it is SO MUCH work! In the end, even if he can do all of these wonderful new things, it is more about who he is than what he can do. And he is a wonderful little spirit!

I bought Ignacio his first set of finger paints and this is his official first piece of artwork!

Taking a walk in the frigid weather with his snow suit from Tia Casey on! Mommy puts the hat on when we are playing and crawls around the house barking like a puppy! Fun times!

Here he is in his new hat from Great-Grandma Smith. Ride 'em cowboy!

For your viewing pleasure!

Here are two videos. One is of Addison and Ignacio playing hide and seek behind our curtain. It was close to their bedtime so they both had the "zooms" like kitties! The other is of Ignacio this morning helping mommy clean. Watch near the end of the video when he looks at his reflection and dances. Adorable!

Ball

Ignacio seriously loves the word "ball" and he literally wakes up saying it and goes to bed saying it. If someone comes over the first thing out of his mouth is "ball" and he can go from wailing to seeing a ball and the tears stop and "ball" comes flying out of his mouth. And he doesn't just say it once. Ignacio says ball probably, and I am not kidding here, over 200 times a day. Since his obsession with balls started a few weeks ago he has shown me a whole new world, where anything can become a ball. It is like his brain is wired to see balls everywhere. I feel like I am in a "Where's Waldo" book only I am constantly trying to see what he is seeing that is making him say "ball" over and over again. The following is a list of items that, before Ignacio, I never would have noticed look like balls:

The red cement figures on the pavement in front of Target stores
The light fixture in the cafe at the zoo
My sister's boob
The chandelier at the chinese restaurant
The post on a railing
The eyes of a frog
The toys in the monkey cages at the zoo and the list could go on and on.........

Today at the zoo he said his other favorite word as we looked at the majestic female lion perched on top of a rock behind the glass..."kitty!!!" For a moment I thought, "I should correct him and say "leon" so that he knows what animal it really is." Instead I just bent down next to him and smiled. You're right honey, that is a really big kitty.

Fire and Wire

Today I woke up to Ignacio crying in his crib and, as I opened the door to his room, he flopped down with bear for me to give him his morning cuddle. Now it is almost 9am and, as usual, I have already done more in the last two hours than I ever would have before having Ignacio. He is learning so fast and it is amazing to watch his little eyes focus because you just know there is so much happening in that little brain. Fire and wire those pathways! He is smart, quick and poised to absorb everything he comes into contact with. I think one of the best parts of being his mom is just experiencing things with him, like going on the ride this weekend. The look on his face when it started moving was something that, if I could, I would bottle and give away for free. I feel so lucky to have this time with him, even on the really hard days! Enjoy the pictures of him. We went to the Mall of America (something I NEVER do) and, although we didn't get to eat at the Rainforest Cafe (which was the whole reason we went), we did meet a creepy frog man and went to the amuzement park.

Ignacio in his big boy shoes!

PJ Party

Ama bought Ignacio the cutest pajamas EVER! I can barely contain myself from snuggling him the whole morning when he has these on. He is so LONG, much like his mother.