Conversations With Marcelo

Me (at 9:45 am): Marcelo? Are you back in bed?

Him: Yeah! I'm tired! I played with the baby all morning!

Me: You know what I did? I made you breakfast, washed TWO loads of dishes, finished folding the laundry, cleaned the kitchen, put dinner in the crock-pot for tonight, made you breakfast, brought it to you, and am now cleaning it up.

Him:. . . Right, so we both were busy this morning.


I'm sure I'll laugh about this SOMEDAY.

Picture of the day:



Try finding a cuter baby. JUST TRY!

P.S. She TOTALLY looks like those "American Girls" dolls in this picture. Like the Samantha doll. Am I right or am I right? Look for yourself.
It's those two little teeth.

Book Review: Young Woman and the Sea

Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World by Glenn Stout


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was amazing. Interesting history, woman's lib, robbed childhoods, this book has it all. Did you know that Trudy Ederle invented the bikini 20 years before French engineer Louis Réard did it in 1946? She actually swam the Channel in one because she found that it had less drag than any other suits she tried.

Also, did you know that Native Americans invented the crawl, or freestyle stroke? For years the breaststroke or sidestroke was thought to be superior to any other swim stroke until the Americans showed up at the Olympics and blew everyone out of the water. But this book talks about how it was discovered by an artist and displayed to the world at the world's fair (If I'm remembering correctly)

And while all that is awesome and interesting, this book is about Trudy. A New York native of German descent who fell in love with the water on the Jersey shore. About the struggle of women to be treated as equals. About this history of swimming. About the fear of water. About the geological makeup of the Channel itself. About the rights of athletes. This book honestly is so amazing and will suck you in within the first few pages. I'm not kidding. If that story about the fire in the ship off Long Island doesn't get you, I don't know what will.

I really want some of you read this so we can talk about it! You will not believe what happens at the Olympics in 1924. And you will NOT believe what happened the first time she tried to swim the channel. But ultimately this is a story about one woman's triumph and how she succeeded when everyone tried to tell her to get out of the water. LITERALLY. Oh, not only did she succeed, she SMASHED the record. A woman. An American Woman. Oh, and did I mention she was 19? Yeah, she was a teenager.

This is the Seabiscuit of 2009. I'll go on record as stating that right now. Makes me happy to be a swimmer. And by the way, it's ok to be chubby if you are a channel swimmer. Maybe I should look into it?

View all my reviews >>

Liar

Is there any smell more delicious than rain on hot asphalt?

Seriously?

If you say there is, I will call you a liar.

I love the rain. The snow can suck it. But the rain?

Hmmmmmm. . . .

Currently Reading

So I'm currently reading this book that you see appearing to the right of my words. I'm going to admit that I TOTALLY pick books based on their cover. And this one grabbed me.

I'm only on page 45, but I am SUCKED IN. It's about the first woman who swam the English Channel and how she did it hours faster than any man had ever done it. (At that time, that is)

Anyway, I'm not done yet but I found the funniest story on page 34. Apparently, there was a very "Pro-American" push around the time of the first world war. And many of the immigrants (especially those of German descent) were feeling the pressure to prove their loyalty to America whilst it was fighting against the Motherland.

Anyway, here is a quote:

"Foods such as sauerkraut temporarily became know as 'liberty cabbage,' German measles was referred to as 'liberty measles,' and even the most ubiquitous of American foods with a German heritage-the hamburger-temporarily became know as the 'liberty sandwich.'

Ha!! Does that remind you of the "freedom fries" debacle that was going around a while ago? Anyway, this book is awesome!! I'm not even 15% through it and I'm dying to get back to it right now. So I will leave you so I can go back to reading.

And for dinner tonight? I think I'll have a liberty sandwich with a side of freedom fries. And of course I'll hold on the Benedict Arnold mayonnaise. "

Loser

It's official. Marcelo has more friends than I do. Just now, 2 friends called him up and invited him to go to a movie. Friday night out with the boys. He was in the process of cooking himself some chicken, (in his chones of course. We are ALWAYS in our chones around here.) and so he asked me to pull it out of the pan so he could take it with him. And I did. And then he rushed out the door and went.

I'm so freaking jealous I could vomit.

My itinerary for the evening:

Step 1) Take a shower
Step 2) Fall Asleep while listening to a book on tape.

I was thinking about watch Disk 2 of Season 1 of "The Tudors" but now I'm too depressed.

It's so not fair!! I've lived in this country for 29 years! He's only been here for 5! It's not fair that he has more friends than me.

Boo Hoo for me

Dear 14 Year Old Boys and Girls All Over the World. . .

. . .This is not a good idea


I know you may think it is right now. And I know that Rob Pattinson is like "SO HOT" right now. Especially with his crazy messed up hair going on. But believe me, this Twilight thing is just a fad, a phase, a moment in pop culture history.

In 70 years when you are 84, I SWEAR you will not want this on your back. Please, just listen to me and trust me on this one.


I can see you don't believe me. I'm sorry I had to do this to prove my point.

I know most of you are too young to remember this, but there was a time when THIS haircut




















was considered cool.

Enough said

A Message from Evelyn

So Evelyn Turn 14 months a while ago. (Since starting this post she's actually turned 15 MONTHS!) I decided to document her life at this point again with one of those "Baby's Favorite Things" Blog. I have also decided to add lots of cute pictures and videos of her. So if you don't want to be smacked in the face with cuteness, please look away riiiiight NOW! (Lots of videos and pictures. Be warned. Scan if you must.)

Hey everyone!! It's me Evi! Well, I'm now 14(o sea 15) months old, and I thought I would let you know how I'm doing these days. I've decided to make a list of "Fours". You know, four of this, four of that. I'm sure you can follow along. I mean, most of you have been blogging longer than me!! So please enjoy getting to know a little about me!

4 of my Favorite Foods:
1. Peas. Here I am eating some frozen peas while mom was trying to cook. They are so good I don't wait for them to be heated up!

2. Chicken
3. Noodles!!!
4. Popsicles, Here I am sharing a popsicle with Raya.




4 of my Favorite Actives with Papi
1. Sleeping on his shoulder









2. Reading









3. Waving "chao" to mom (More on that later)
4. Jumping on him while he's on the bed and doing my best to jump on his "package" I get it just about every time!!!

4 Things I Recognize
1. Papi's picture on the fridge. I want mom to pick me up every day so I can stare at it and point to it and smile. I love my Papi!
2. The song from the annoying gift my Mamita gave me in Ecuador. I make mommy dance to it when I turn it on. Also, I love the following songs and will stop crying when I hear them: the Gilmore Girls theme song, "Poker Face" by Lady GaGa (I don't know how Mom figured this one out! But she's happy it has stopped playing constantly on the radio), Wiggles Theme song and any hymn sung by Papi.
3. My "bedtime" song. Mami and Papi sing it to me, and when I hear it, I put my head right on the shoulder of the person holding me. (Mami's note: The song is Juanes "Time to change" but we've changed it to "It's time to sleep. . .Es tiempo de dormir")
4. I notice ANYTHING that mami does. If she does it once, I can remember and do it myself the next time. Like talking on phone, opening cabinets, opening Raya's cage,prying open Raya's mouth to get something out like Mami does. Things like that. Mami has to be careful what she shows me now!!!

4 Things I just learned to do
1: Wave bye-bye and say "Chao" while I do it. (Mom's interjected comment: OH MY GOSH!! IT'S FREAKING AWESOME. Here is a video of it. The best is the "over the shoulder" chao. Breaks my heart.)



2. I just learned about books! And I found my favorite one. It's call "La Ratita Presumida" and I bring it to mami and then sit in her lap so she will read to me. I especially love it when mami makes the sound of the cat eating the mouse at the end. I have her do it over and over again. Here I am looking for my favorite books. I feel that if I climb ALL the way in, I might get them better.




3. Getting off the bed by myself. Actually, I've been doing this since we were in Ecuador, but I forgot to tell you all about it!! I'm an expert now. But I'm not so good getting off other tall things.
4. Run away from mami. See, if I want some "alone" time to like, destroy a book, or pull out all the wipes from the big green container, then I have to find a little spot to be alone or mami will take those things away from me. And if I see her coming? Then I get up and run away from her, screaming and further destroying what is in my hand. It's a high cost, but I HAVE to get away from Mami!! She's vigilant!!
4 Things I can almost do
1. Somersault alone. Right now I just go up on my head and legs and wait for mami or papi to push me over.


2.Climb out of the bathtub. I'm ALLLLMOST there!!
3.Talk. I babble, and coo and pretend to make sentences like mami and papi, but I don't really say any words they recognize. Luckily whining still works!!
4.Fold my arms during prayers. I start off good, but it's just so much work holding them still the whole time!! I'm working on it, though

4 Things I do that drive mom crazy or stop mom's heart when she sees me doing it
1. Eating dog Food. I LOVE IT!! If I find a random piece that has dropped, you'd better believe I'm going to snatch it up and have it half dissolved in my mouth before mom finds it! Papi keeps yelling at Mami to keep the food off the floor, but Mami feels badly that Raya is starving all the time because of my actions so she puts it down and forgets about it. And you know I take advantage of her short term memory! I CAN'T HELP IT!! I GOTTA GET ME SOME DOG FOOD!!! I also like to play in her water dish. Please observe:



2. Climbing up on the dining room table chairs. I've fallen a few times. But I love it. Give me a chair and I'll climb it. I also like to pound on the keyboard of the computer, but the chair mysteriously moved away from the computer so I can no longer do that. OH WELL!!



3. Eating my bubbles during bath time. I practically inhale them. They taste so good!

4. Demanding my own Popsicle and then running around the house dripping it everywhere. But if Mami tries to take it from me I scream and throw myself on the ground. I don't think she's going to give me any more Popsicles. *frowny face*

4 Things I look forward to doing
1. Playing on top of the counter while mom is making dinner or doing the dishes. I get full range of the whole thing!! It's like Christmas!
2. Going to nursery with Mami and Papi and getting to play with toys, friends and especially snacktime! Those 3 year old just sit and blah blah blah all the time. Don't they see the goldfish crackers right in front of them? What are they waiting for? I do not wait: I jam as much food as I can in my mouth while they waste time and blah blah away.
3. Bath time. You know, to eat those bubbles!! And it's nice and warm. And I get to dump water on myself. But mostly I like to eat the bubbles
4. Going outside with mom and Raya. Raya goes to the bathroom, and I get 30 minutes to do whatever I want! I pick up rocks, (BIG rocks too!! Grapefruit sized rocks are my favorite) and I dig in the dirt. It's honestly the best part of my day. And I get to do it at least 2 times a day!! Sometimes three, if Raya whines enough. *Mental note. . . try to tell Raya to whine more so we get to be outside more often*

4 Things that annoy me
1. When mom takes my Popsicle. Seriously, mom. I'm about to flip my shiz if you do that again!!
2. When mom won't give me the boob. I mean, I'm digging in her shirt, practically pulling it out. Why won't she just give it up? MAN!
3.When mom puts me in my crib for nap time. I make sure to scream so she knows how upset I am. I do this every day. I've heard Mami say to different people that she's pretty sure I shouldn't be crying anymore, but I don't care. I DO WHAT I WANT!!
4. When mom tells me "NO". Mami says it to me and I FLIP OUT!! Like seriously flip out, rolling on the ground, flinging myself all over, full red faced tantrum flip out. Man, why doesn't she just give me what I want?

4 Words that I say
1: Chao
2. Mama
3. Gracias (Comes out "acias" but it's the thought that counts, right?)
4. Raya-My first word. I love me some Raya!

4 Commands or phrases that I recognize and will do when asked!
1. "A Papi" or "A Mami" When I need to take something to mom or dad. They say it and I take it to the other one that isn't giving the command.
2. "A Raya". I know who Raya is and I take her treats and toys too. Or anything else that mom tells me to take to her
3. "Cuidado!" Mom says that to me WAAAAY too much. I think I'm becoming desensitized to it
4. "Chao!" Especially when I hear daddy say this to me in the morning before he leaves. It makes me cry! I hate when daddy leaves me in the morning!

4 Things that I Love
1. My Raya-My best friend. Here are just a few choice pictures of me and my best friend. Here I am trying to show her how she needs to climb into her cage. When pointing doesn't work. . .















I don't really care. I just love my Raya!


And if, as a last resort I have to go to her, it's fine. There's plenty of room for us in here!


2. My Peluches (Stuffed animals and dolls) I see how many of them I can gather into my arms at one time and then take them to mom or dad. Sometimes I roll around with them on the floor or on the tile covering myself with them. Issss for fun!


3. Spinning in circles. I will do this forever if given the chance. I pivot on my right foot, put my head down and go! I do it until I get dizzy, fall down, smack my head on something and start crying.
4. Did I mention the walks we go on? Oh I did? I'm going to talk about them more! Like I said, I love to pick up rocks, wood chips and pine cones. I carry them around for a good 30 min. Sometimes, when mom isn't looking, I try to sneak one into my mouth. Mom NEVER lets me eat them!! I don't mind when she takes them away from me. I'll just get more the next time!
5. Oh, and a super great fifth thing. . . Sitting in or standing on baskets. But of course, first they must be emptied first!













So that's basically my life right now! Thanks for staying with me and reading to the end. I need to give the computer back to mom now. I'm tired!! Can someone sing me some Juanes please?