Toddler Moments

Angel: "What is your name?"
Ignacio: "Angel Ignacio Cisneros."
Angel:"What is your brother's name?"
Ignacio: "Emilio David Cisneros."
Angel: "What is papa's name?"
Ignacio: "Papa Cisneros."

Ignacio LOVES to say "show mommy" whenever he wants me to see what he is doing. He says it about 150 times a day. The other day he was ON my back and said, "Show mommy" as if I would somehow miss what he was doing.

We repainted our living room and were SO excited about the color scheme we picked out. At Home Depot it was the "Classic Elegance" color combination: a dark chocolate brown and a light khaki color. As we popped the can open and poured it into the pan, Ignacio stood by with excitement. Angel dipped the roller in and Ignacio said with disgust, "Is that poop?" So much for elegance. According to our toddler we were painting our walls poop color.

On Strike

It has been a rough weekend. Yesterday morning Emilio woke up and decided he was going on strike...from the boob that is. He would not eat. In the morning he was practically lunging at the breakfast on my plate but the minute I would introduce the milky milky he would fuss, fuss, fuss, crying until I removed my boob from his face and arching in rejection. I thought maybe it was a fluke so I tried again...and again...and again until finally at 5pm I called the nurse line. I mean, come on. No nursing for 12 hours? This is a kid who eats every two hours like it is nobody's business. The nurse said to be patient. Later that night I went against my normal parenting rules and looked it up online, searching for support and guidance. I felt rejected. I felt alone. Nursing is something Emilio and I do TOGETHER like 1o times a day so to all of a sudden not do it was heartbreaking. Every website said the same thing...teething is probably the culprit...usually 2 to 5 days of a strike...lots of skin to skin contact in the mean time...yes, it is frustrating. 2 to 5 days????? My boobs are going to go CRAZY! 10 weeks ago his nursing strike would have been a blessing. I was praying for him to finally take a bottle and STOP nursing with a can of formula in hand and here I was practically in tears because he would ONLY take a bottle and wanted nothing to do with me. Motherhood...I tell ya! At 3am he woke up and I made my way into his room with a bottle of my milk in the frig ready for his 100th rejection of the boob. It had now been almost 24 hours into his nursing strike and there appeared to be no reconciliation in sight. I tried nursing and he refused, turning red in the face and crying with distress. "Okay, okay. I 'll get the bottle." I held him tight and put the bottle into his little mouth and his lips quickly clung around it as he sucked the milk down. I was suddenly sad and seething with jealousy at the bottle. How dare he choose you over me! Irrational I know, but it was 3am. As the milk quickly ran out in the bottle he cried in despair again, still hungry. So I did what I have done for 5 months when I hear that little cry, which was to put him to the boob. He nestled in and latched on. As his little hand moved up towards my face I put my finger out for him to clutch as he always does while eating and tears came to my eyes. "We're back," I thought, even if it is for this one moment. Today has been better. Still fussy but latching. I think we are going to be okay. I just hope we can reconcile in negotiations next time before he decides to walk the picket line.

Jack-O-Lantern

Emilio is getting his TWO bottom teeth. The right one is just through and the left is soon to follow. Four and half months. Now that's a record in our family! There is something so sentimental this time around. The sight of a tooth means that the tiny baby stage is over and he is turning into a big baby. No more gummy smiles to warm your heart, just a little jack-o-lantern to make you smile. I will probably feel the same when that little tooth finally falls out and I have to sneak the quarter under his pillow in the event the Tooth Fairy can't make it. Let's hope he isn't a biter!

Garden of Eden

While at the Garden of Eden...I mean my family's garden... I took it upon myself to take some shots of the beauty I was beholding. My new goal is to get a picture in Birds and Bloom. Ask Mary and Dirk. I am convinced at least ONE of them has to make it! All I can say is when I look at the pictures I think, "Birds and fricken Bloom baby!"

Summer Lovin'

Summer is upon us and in full swing. We have been outside for most of the days...at the beach, pool, with friends or with family.
Three words...Birds and Bloom. I'll explain later.

Hey, look at me. I like sucking on my fingers.

At the beach being BIG dorks.

HELLOOOO world. I'm Emilio!

Yea, maybe that eating-the-sand thing isn't such a great idea. Here we are at Elm Creek. Our version of Brown Deer Park.

My two silly boys. This is the day Emilio rolled over from back to front. Ignacio was right there like a cheerleader.

I LOVE this picture. Pure joy~

Raspberries the size of a grape...and yes, we ate them all.

We got our own PERSONAL garden tour, brought to us special by Mama Ama.

Mama Ama was great with Emilio and it was so special to have them meet. Just another full circle moment.

Love, love and more love from auntie Mary. I

Ignacio in his own world playing with the sand. He loves being in the sun (like Ama), doesn't mind the sand (like Papa) and can always go for an ice cream (like Mami).

Angel, the human jungle gym! Here we are in the pool on the roof. We have spent sooo many days there this summer. Can't beat it!

Me with my boys. Ama taught Ignacio to swim with his life jacket so my arms will no longer be sore after swimming with him.

The Moment

Ever have that moment in your life when you are doing exactly what you want to be doing? That moment when you wouldn't want to be anywhere else or doing anything else in the whole wide world. That moment when all the senses align and you experience the closest thing to perfect you may ever experience. There is no crystal blue water on a deserted island that looks better. There is no silence or solitude that you seek outside of that moment. This moment came to me on Sunday as I lay with the top of Emilio's head tucked under my chin as we took a rest together on a blanket in the shade at the beach. It was our moment.


Savor it
The moment
Soak it in like hot sun on a warm day
Be in it
The moment
Soon the shade comes to cool the skin

Love you too.

Today Ignacio looked at me out of the blue and said, "I love you mommy." I love him too. He then went over without a diaper on and practically sat on his brother's face. I choose to focus on the "I love you" part of the day.