Diga. . .DIGA!!!

The Bibi doesn't talk. I know I have mentioned this before, but apparently my pediatrician just became aware of the fact and has referred us to a specialist.

We have now had 3 home visits by 4 different women. A lot of time they ask the same questions. And both on Tuesday and again today they played a lot of the same games. But they all come up with the same conclusion: A very bright child, ahead of schedule for problem solving, motor skills and logic. A bright child who can communicate in other ways, but just chooses not to talk.

See, Evi DOES communicate when she wants something. She points to the fridge, or pulls me over to the bedroom to point to her videos, or puts her shoes on and points to the door. I mean, that's pretty dang clear, right? And when I ask her to put her shoes on, she goes right and does it. She can point to things in books and can match items we give to her. She recognizes the names of things and does the commands i give her. And yet, no words!!

Sure, she makes sounds, like she'll make a "ma ma ma ma" sound sometimes, but she doesn't come to me and say, "mama, afuera" when she wants to go outside. or "mama, leche" when she wants milk. The kid just doesn't talk. She just refuses to.

And to answer your questions about sign language, I don't think that would help us at this time. It's not like she is frustrated. She makes her wants very clearly known. I know what she is saying (well, not really, but you know what I mean) so the sign language is kind of not needed at this point. I mean, it's for kids that need to get what they want. And she has no problem getting what she wants from pointing, dragging and gestures. So in a way, I guess she does her "own" signs.

Anyway, we'll probably have these visits for a little while longer. I'll let you know how they all go. But in the mean time, I'll just keep taking my kid outside when she puts her shoes on, brings me her coat and points to the door. It seems to be working for now.

Christmas Wrap-Up

Last year we spent Christmas at my sister Sarah's house. Besides it being awesome and very accommodating for when people get sick (there's a bathroom on every floor and at every end of the house. At let me tell you, I needed every one!) but besides that, they have a great tradition about who the gifts come from.

At her house, they and the kids get not only presents from Santa, but also from Barack Obama, Nacho Libre, Spiderman and lots of other assorted celebrities/fake people. And I liked that. I mean, I don't think my kid would ever really think that Nacho Libre gave him a gift, so it might not be such a heart break when he learns that Santa isn't real either.

So, with a totally free conscious I've decided to steal Sarah's idea. And so Evi received many gifts this year from various people.

From Frank Lloyd Wright she received these blocks:




















From Pablo Picasso this:

And from Jack Kerouac she received the following books:



You get the idea. I don't believe in threatening my kids with Santa. Because if they were really bad, I would never not bring them anything. So why threaten to do something I would never be willing to follow through? Doesn't that make me a liar? A stinking threatening liar?

Anyway, I think my kids will be so filled with Santa crap at school and I don't plan on bursting their little bubbles at age 3. But if they think Santa is bringing them presents, then they can also believe that the deceased Frank Lloyd Wright can also bring them building blocks.

Who's with me on this?

And thanks to Sarah and Chad for the idea. You are the greatest. Who did your kids get presents from this year?

It's going around

So we are all sick. Evi got it first on Christmas Eve. I should've known because she was acting a fright at P.F. Chang's that night. She was screaming at the top of her lungs and didn't want to eat anything. (Marcelo and I still enjoyed the food, though. So the evening wasn't totally ruined)

And she continued to get sicker over the next 12 hours. Which means that me, the primary kisser of her face also am sick. I got it Christmas night.

And now Marcelo has it. He got it last night.

I think everyone with a husband will back me up when I say this: Men are horrible when they are sick. I mean, we ALL have it. This whole house is infected. Bibi's nose is on a 24 hour drip and the poor girl can't breathe. Also, I had it starting yesterday, but I still managed to feed everyone 3 meals, return things to various stores and clean this house . . .twice (with a place this small you have to clean constantly or it looks horrible)

But once Marcelo gets sick? ALERT THE NEWS MEDIA!! MARCELO IS SICK!! He sleeps in bed all day, and asks for meals to be catered to him. I didn't see him offering to cater meals to me when I was sick! Nor did I see him volunteering to watch the baby so I could take a 8 hour nap during the day.

Seriously, what is it about guys that makes them so weak when they are sick? I might as well have a second child for all the good he is to me now.

Anyway, I'm sure all your husbands are this way. I 'm sure I don't hold the monopoly on whiny sick husbands.

The worst part about it? We agreed to volunteer in the nursery today for the permanent teachers. And now we can't do it. We need to find subs in the next 25 min. I'm thinking that won't happen, so we might have to send our kids to another class. We'll see.

Happy snotting!!

DISCLAIMER!! No matter what the picture says, we don't have swine flu. Just a general cold virus going around.

People let me tell you about my Best Friend

I know you were all dying to see more pictures and videos of Evi and Raya. WELL YOU ARE IN LUCK!! Here you go.

Evi really does love Raya. Evi brings her all her favorite toys and clothes to her cage. You would not believe the stuff I have found in there. Toothbrushes and books. Even her prized rabbit was in there!! Now that's love. She also makes sure Raya gets all her leftovers. And if Raya doesn't want to eat it voluntarily, Evi has learned how to grab her mouth, lift the side of it and shove stuff in between her teeth. (mental note:get that on camera)

Anyway, one day Evi was on one. I don't know what was in her food, but she was acting seriously crazy. And this is what happened: peek-a-boo with Raya. Notice Evi's merriment at all Raya actions:



Look at Raya's face. She's in misery!! She's like "when will this be over??" But she puts up with it. She always does.

Here is some more abuse. Evi found this sticker and after pulling it off her arm over and over, she thought, "where else can I stick this?" Naturally the most logical choice was Raya's head:






Look at the gaze of pure torture on Raya's face. She's like "I know I'll get in trouble if I object. So, please don't push too hard on my head." Did I mention I have the best dog ever?

Here she is putting up with a few kisses, an off key song, and a tackle that results in a head banging.



Oh the tortures that this dog puts up with! She is a saint. I'm so happy they are best friends. I should get them matching BFF bracelets.

Cause that wouldn't be weird or anything.

Whipping Rabbit

My first child loves this rabbit. It was given to me from someone at a shower. I can't remember who. I kept it around even though I never thought she would like stuffed animals. But she proved me wrong. Here is how I found her during nap time one day.















And here she is sharing dinner with him. "One for me. . . One for you". And I love how she makes sure he stays hydrated. That is applesauce she's got there, if you were wondering.



But my favorite activity she does with him is the "whipping" rabbit. Much like the book of the same name, Bibi often tries to make this rabbit take her punishments. Namely, her time outs. (She gets time outs for ripping ornaments off the tree). And so when I came around the corner, this is what I found:

(That's her time out corner, of course). I'm sure the rabbit deserved it, and he took his punishment well. What a good whipping rabbit.

I hope everyone is having a good Christmas season. Marcelo finally got his grades back from this semester, so he told me that his vacation has OFFICIALLY started now. So on this night before Christmas I'm going to sign off and watch White Christmas with my husband. Yes, he is willing to watch it with me. Wait till he gets to the dancing numbers. I'm not sure he'll be into it then.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope Frank Lloyd Wright visited your house as well this season. He is so generous around the holidays.

Book Review: Naked

Naked by David Sedaris


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dave Sedaris is hilarious. That's a given. However, this book has a lot more sex, (and specifically GAY sex) in it than his other books. Maybe more than all his others combined. There's just a lot about being gay, thinking gay, looking at other men, men coming on to him etc.

On the upside, I realized 2 Sedaris books ago that I can name all the 6 kids in his family: Lisa, Dave, Gretchen, Amy, Tiffany and The Rooster. Maybe I need to read something else.

Hmmm.

Holiday Panic

I am in full panic mode. I haven't bought ANYTHING for anybody, and there are only like negative three days left before Christmas. (I'm kidding of course, there are actually 10 shopping days left.)

But there could be 110 days for all it means to me. I'm without transport for the next week or so. Marcelo has finals, and will be at school all day studying (Doesn't that sound awfully TAMN of me?) So I really don't know what I'm going to do.

Usually I get my inspiration while I shop. I see what is out there, and then that makes me think of other things to get other people, and it continues. I can get my shopping done quite quickly, but it involves me actually leaving the house.

I don't like shopping online, unless I'm specifically looking for something. I don't go online just to browse. It's overwhelming, distracting and too time consuming. Meaning I will waste all day looking at crap I don't really need. And instead of buying the presents I really wanted originally, I end up buying a DVD of Moulin Rouge. So I've learned to KISS. I log on, shop, and get off. Keep it simple, stupid.

But that's beyond the point now. I'm in full panic mode. Marcelo is so difficult to buy for! He's picky, and even if I get him something that he needs (like pants) I end up getting the wrong dye shade. It's really very horrible. But gift cards are like saying "I really don't know you. I'm very non-creative and I value our relationship at $15". Which is acceptable for the mail man. But not for spouses.

So, this is it. What do you think I should buy for the following people?
My Husband
My daughter
Myself
An un-named female family member that might read this blog and who I have for Secret Santa.
My mom.

Thank you for your help.