Vivi's Beebee's

OK, the correct new address is below

2006-06-19T10:08:00.000-04:00

We have a new page - click here
There you will find links to pictures and blogs.

:)

Jaime in the Box

2006-04-29T09:24:00.000-04:00

We have Moved!

This is our new blog location.

We also have a homepage now. Make sure to stop by and check it out.

Jaime is almost 6 months old and he is so cute I can barely stand it. It is amazing how fast he is developing and how agile he is getting.

This will probably be the last blog entry on this site. Blogging will continue on a semi-frequent basis at the new address.

Almost 5 months old ...

2006-04-04T15:04:00.000-04:00

Jaime is growing so fast and he is is Oh! so cute nowadays. He loves to eat, his face lights up with each bite he gets. Banana seems to be his all time favorite still. Jaime is into touching faces and one on one interaction. He prefers to be amused by another person than to play with toys. As you can see in the picture he is still putting everything in his mouth and most of his outfits' feet get soaking wet at some point during the day.

His vocabulary has not changed much. Jaime can now say "Brr" which is performed with many saliva bubbles.

Being with him is a joy that cannot be decribed and it is by far more rewarding than most company I ever been with. We have so much fun together. When he finally falls asleep, I miss him.

Sweet Potato Boy

2006-03-12T17:35:00.000-05:00

Life is good these days. I am done working and the extra free time is great. I once again have time to clean and organize the house, play tons with Jaime and eve enjoy some quiet time when the little one is asleep.

Tomorrow I should receive my started kit and book on how to silk paint. It seems so much fun and I can barely wait to start. I am looking for a craft I can dedicate myself to and become an expert in. There are just so many ways to express myself I am having a hard time choosing one.

I will also start taking some pottery classes and see how I like it. I even convinced Michael to come along and try it.

Jaime is now licking his toes and is always grabbing his feet. The posture on this picture is how you will find him most of the time - grabbing legs, feet, or bum. :) This little one is learning stuff so fast, everyday there is something new. Two days ago ge tried his first solid food - sweet potato, and I think he liked it. :) I will post pictures of his first meal soon.

Mommy, your finger tastes good!

2006-02-21T16:43:00.000-05:00

Jaime is a true joy these days. Everyday there is something new with him. Today he was in the mood of bitting me and he was getting a kick out of it, too.

I feel honored to be his mom. He is a good boy, always smiling and his cries are always justified.

He is sleeping thru the night, kinda. He wakes up to get his chupeta and to get turned over to the other side (Jaime is a side sleeper). Then he is back to Lala land until the crack of dawn (actually is before that, about 1 hour earlier). He starts the day with a smile. That is an inspiration to us all. He makes me get up with a smile, too. Well, my smiles start after I see his, before that I am a half asleep grump.

I can say this over an over and over again - being a mom is the best thing in the world. I am so glad this Munchie-Munchie came to be and that he is such an amazing little one.

***
Forever Molly little girl ... I miss you.

Mejillas Rosaditas

2006-02-08T22:46:00.000-05:00

We just returned from a trip to Boston, Jaime's first out-of-state adventure. The Stover family got to see and meet the new addition to the clan. Jaime returned home with newly learned skills. You were right Debbie, it seems that trips do something very positive to little munchie-munchies. He has discovered his voice and screaming is a fun thing to do. Basically he does not shut up and I love it.

Today he is 3 months old. Wow.

***
Forever Molly Ballie - it has been 6 months since you left us ... :(

Growing Up

2006-01-28T08:52:00.000-05:00

Our little one is growing up so fast. He can now hold his head and can sit supported by pillows. He coes and complains and laughs and smiles, he is always very vocal. He makes daddy walk around the house with him showing him windows and pictures on the walls ... and daddy, do not dare to stop because the master and commander of this house gets upset. He knows what he wants and I love that about my lil' man.

Happiness is ...

2006-01-23T19:04:00.000-05:00

Funny Little One

2006-01-12T08:36:00.000-05:00

Once there was a full head of hair ...

2005-12-28T12:05:00.000-05:00

Little Jaime's has lost his newborn hair. Well, almost all his hair. If you think the Samurai style hairdo photo is funny, it is much more amuzing in person. He had long hair on the back of his head since he was born. That is, he has a pseudo mullet. Now all that is left is this cute patch.

6 weeks old and already a looker

2005-12-22T10:36:00.000-05:00

Our little one now responds to us with smiles and lovely baby sounds. He is also very funny, but I am not sure why. He makes me laugh with such joy, a feeling so genuine I have not experienced in a long while. It is amazing how a new life can bring such raw emotions back into our hearts. He reminds me everyday that life is worth living and that I should lighten up a bit (a lot Mike would say). I am so lucky to have such an amazing kid (baby) as my son.

What a Set of Hands

2005-12-12T18:39:00.000-05:00

Thanks Kari and Ken for the sling, Jaime feels like a pea in a pod near Daddy's heart.

As time passes his facial features get more detailed. He looks less like a baby and more like a little boy (I know he is not even close from being a little boy yet, but he looks so different from the little lump thing we brought home some weeks ago).

What I love the most about him are his huge hands, as you can see on the last picture. He has my dad's hands but with longer fingers, thank the universe, Baccus and Ra for that!

He is now 5 weeks old and he behaves like a little hungry angel. I am slowly getting used to the mommy routine and I look forward to the 6 week mark so I can leave home with him and go shopping and more important, go visit friends and show him off. I have grown very tired of being inside my house all (most of ) the time.

Breastfeeding is not going so well, He is getting "the boob" every other feeding, but it is not enough to satisfy his hunger, so he gets formula as well. He is my little tub o' lub (not sure how to spell that).

We are so lucky to be his parents. I am specially lucky that I can care for him day after day without worrying I will have to leave him to go back to work. Being a mom is one of the best roles I have had so far in my life. Thank you Michael for that. :)

A Gemini Scorpio

2005-12-04T12:54:00.000-05:00

Jaime's badass side. This was his reaction to a comment Rachel made about his baby weewee . Seconds after this shot was taken he walked out of the room huffing and puffing.

This is his angel side, which is around most of the day. For his nightime mood see above.

Dreaded Naked Pictures

2005-11-23T10:34:00.000-05:00

No one likes when parents dig out our childhood naked pictures to show them off to our new partner or friends.

I am sure that posting them on the web is also a no-no! Sorry Jaime, now that I am a mom I understand the joy of sharing your naked pictures for the world to see. You are just too cute and very handsome, too.

Jaime enjoyed his first bath as you can see - no tears, only a puzzled face, and silence, which I consider to mean: "Hey people, I like this bathing deal. I hope we do it again and often. "

I have not had a chance to give him a bath yet, maybe I will venture into it today, after I breastfeed, pump and change diapers 6 to 10 times. Oh, yes ... There is also the cutting of the fingernails deal ... yuck! Now, that will be a hard task to tackle.

Jaime Ray Stover (MIni Mike)

2005-11-16T07:50:00.000-05:00

Jaime - 8 days Old

Little Jaime Ray is Here! He arrived on November 8 at 12:49 ( or 12:50) pm weighting 9 pounds and 1 ounce, with a height of 22 inches. He is a nicely headed boy, too -- with a 19 cm (or inches?) circumference.

Labor was long and full of events, both good and not so good. After many thoughts of giving up while on the the delivery bed at the hospital, he was born safely and in very good health. I am so happy this phase is over.

Being a new mother is proving to be a very challenging, overwhelming, and humbling experience. However, I must bring up the old saying: It is 100% worth it. Having Jaime in my arms fills my heart with awe and pride. It also brings another emotion very familiar to me - love, a love so huge that does not fit inside me, a love greater than any other, amazing.

Here is a link for more pictures of Jaime Ray: http://jaimeray.piczo.com/?cr=2&rfm=y

2005-10-18T12:49:00.000-04:00

***

Induction Countdown

Jaime is officially being evicted on 11/7 at 6 pm

*** Less than 1 day left in the womb ***

Thoughts and Comments:

10/18 - Frack, Darn, help, sheeeesh, come on now! When are you coming out, little buggar???

10/19 (Morning) - I opened my eyes and Jaime is still in here, inside this big belly ... what is he waiting for?

10/19 (Afternoon) - Oh! The pain that goes nowhere, the waiting that is killing me, the heartburn ... and Jaime, the fresh prince of Penfield, just moving around and around and around.

10/20 (Morning) - Grumpy.

10/21 (Morning) - It will all start today, I can feel it, I can sense it, I want it, I need it!

10/21 (Evening) - Nothing ... nothing! .... NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10/22 (Morning) - A rainy morning and no news.

10/23 - nothing to say on the day most people voted as the one when Jaime will arrive.

10/24 - prenatal appoinment shows an 8 lb baby and nothing to worry about. I am being encouraged to wait it out. Like it is that easy ...

10/25 (Morning) - Last workday. No news on the baby front, just a huge, tight belly.

10/25 (Evening) - Going for a walk - feeling pretty confident now that his will be a November baby or a December one...

10/26 (lunchtime) I am off to Home Depot ... maybe even a place like that can be a girl's best friend and get my labor started. :)

10/27 (late morning) - Cleaning the house and organizing for the eventual arrival. Humf, Puff, Puff, Grrrrr!

10/28 (afternoon) - Belly aches, some progress can be seen, but no labor pains yet.

10/29 (Morning) - I am good, I feel so good I think I am never having this baby.

10/30 (Lunch time) - Just back from a long nature walk - tons of contractions but nothing labor like. Very Good fried cakes.

10/31 (Morning) - Halloween is here and Jaime is not - I guess on the trick or treat menace, We are getting tricked.

11/1 (Morning) - What can I say? :)

11/1 (Evening) - An eviction notice has been given to Jaime - On 11/7 I am checking in at Highland (at 6 pm) to start labor procedures and finish his stay at Mommy's Inn. The one month's deposit will be used to pay for the extra weeks in the womb and the damage done to the belly (the extra stretch marks and pounds added).

11/2 (Morning) - No news.

11/3 (Morning) - I feel good, no signs of labor.

11/4 (Morning) - Another day, another chance to become a mommy before induction hell.

11/6 (Afternoon) - Contractions and misc., nothing painful or regular enough to go to the hospital.

11/7 (early Morning) - Strong Contractions are the Soup du Jour, but they are still too far apart to head to the hospital. :)

***

Forever Molly Ballie

A Guessing Game.

2005-10-06T22:51:00.000-04:00

When will baby Jaime be born? Please participate in this poll! I will update this blog to reflect your vote. Do you think you can guess correctly? Here is some info to help you decide on a single day of the Month:

My doctor's estimated due date is October 28

My estimated due date is October 30

A baby can be born up to 2 weeks after the due date and anytime before the due date

Only 5% of babies are born on the due date

If you want to guess, please leave a comment on this blog. I will be updating it daily. I you change your mind about the date, let me know and I will change it here, too. I will leave you with my best guess:

Person and Date:

David Engel - 10/12, Papi 10/12

Rocco - 10/15

E - 10/17 (water will break on 10/16)

Catita - 10/19, Grandpa Ray 10/19

Grandma Sarita - 10/20

Viviane - 10/21, Ann Marie - 10/21, Noon, 7.6 oz 22 inches and a head full of hair. :)

Donna - last hours of 10/21

Kari - 10/22, Raymundito 10/22

Rachel - 10/23, Daddy-to-be Mike - 10/23, Ranya - 10/23, Julie - 10/23 at 10 pm

Grandma Liz - 10/24

... and the dates fly by without news!

Anissa - 10/25, Maria - 10/25

Ken - 10/26, Mike (daddy-to-be) new hopeful date - 10/26

Montana - 10 /27

Beast - 10/28

Jaime ... are you really going to be a Halloween baby?

Trudy - 10/29, Sandy - 10/29, Grandpa Alex's new date 10/29

Daniel - 10/30. Grandma Sarita's 2nd try 10/30

Jenny - 10/31,

October is gone. Oh, Jaime, Jaime , don't you wanna come out and play?

Helen - 11/1, Dave Stover - 1/1

Molly (Message from the beyond) - 11/2

The spider in the corner - 11/3

Emmett and Mommy-to-be-Vivi new estimated date - 11/4

Angleantithia - 11/5

Jeff - 11/6, Marite - 11/6

Induction date - 11/7

Baby Jaime - 11/28

**********

Forever Molly Ballie

Insomnia by Faithless

2005-09-23T01:41:00.000-04:00

It is now 2 am and as I slowly head upstairs to try to sleep this song comes to my mind. I then find myself singing it in my head and dancing in front of the mirror. Funny to watch myself break a move without real music, sporting such a big belly. Sleep deprivation is making me do the silliest things.

Time to call Mr. Sandman to rescue me. Good night.

Insomnia by Faithless:

Deep in the bosom of the gentle night,
Is where I search for the light,
Pick up my pen and start to write,
I struggle a fight,
Dark forces in the clear moonlight without fear,
Insomnia.

I can’t get no sleep.

I used to worry,
Thought I was going mad in a hurry,
Getting stressed, making excess
Mess in darkness. no electricity,
Something’s all over me, greasy.
Insomnia please release me,
And let me dream of making mad love to my girl on the heath,
Tearing off tights with my teeth.
But there’s no release, no peace,
I toss and turn without cease.
Like a curse,
I open my eyes and rise like yeast.

At least,
A couple of weeks since I last slept.
Kept taking sleepers,
But now I keep myself pepped
Deeper still,
The night, I write by candle light,
I find in sight
Fundamental movement.

So when it’s black
This insomniac
Take an original tack
Keep the beast in my nature under ceaseless attack.

I gets no sleep
I can't get no sleep.

***
Forever Little Molly Ballie

...and who will save the doggies?

2005-09-05T19:19:00.000-04:00

A sad looking dog peers out through the burglar bars in a flooded home in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans, La., Monday, Sept. 5, 2005. Thousands of animals have been left stranded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

I know they are rescuing stranded dogs, but ... what is going to happen to all of them? I fear too many have their days counted no matter if they were rescued. Who will claim them? After not only loosing their family and their homes, they will be marching towards heaven by the loads. I know I should be worring about my fellow humans, but my heart always had a softer spot for doggies.

Molly, I know you will be there to welcome and show them the way into doggie heaven.

Montana and Beast, you are so very lucky, like we are.

I am always a bit uneasy about quoting PETA's views on what is going on, but ... just in case there is some dash of truth on what they are saying, here is the latest PETA news on what is happening in NO:

http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-disasterupdate.asp

I have seen on TV images of people being rescued with their dogs, but I am afraid that this may not always be the case.

*** Forever little Mollie Ballie ***

Top of the 8 ...

2005-09-01T17:40:00.000-04:00

It is official, I am on my 8th month! I have been spending some time thinking about a Halloween costume for Jaime, but I am not sure I will find something small enough. Maybe a onesie will do, however, I have to keep searching for the perfect outfit for his first official pictures. I know this little fella will arrive before October 31 and I would love to get him all dressed up for the occasion.

Well, then again after looking at the pics on this site, I am not sure I want to ridicule little Jaime: Halloween Costumes Link. The last costume looks more like a cute KKK in training than whatever it is suposed to be.

Forever Little Mollie Ballie ...

Moving Right Along!

2005-08-23T15:58:00.000-04:00

Project done. Now, hanging these to look perfectly symmetrical is another story! :)

Next up: Covering the baby baskets with the same green fabric and creating a runner for perhaps a future dresser.

Baby news: 67 days to go!

*** Forever Little Molly Ballie ***

A finished Crib Skirt!

2005-08-18T11:04:00.000-04:00

After many hours of cutting, sewing, measuring and attention to detail, Jaime's crib skirt is complete.

Crib with Skirt

I looked all around for my vision of what this skirt should look like. Once I realized I could not find it already made I ventured into it myself. I wanted the skirt to feel more like a continuation of the furniture versus a part of the bedding. I used a long fringe to decorate the bottom of the skirt and used heavy upholstery fabric for the skirt itself.

Fringe and Fabric

With the remaining fabric and findings I will cover some baskets and make a wall decoration that will spell "Jaime". Below is a picture of what I envision doing.

New project

So I am off to Michael's to find the perfect wood letters for this project.

Baby News: We have reached week 30! From now on is count down to delivery date - 10 more weeks to go and the one who has been kicking the hell out of me will grace us with his presence.

*** Forever Molly Ballie ***

Jaime the Republican?

2005-08-09T14:46:00.000-04:00

Here are picks of his first hat, please note the detail on the same.

Jamie's First Hat

Hat Detail

Maybe his faith has been sealed by this hat and the political symbol he will be carry around. Is he already a Bush lover, anti gay marriage and a fierce prolifer?

Well, so far all we can see of him is right here inside this belly, with 2 and 1/2 lbs and about 15 inches long at 28 weeks. There are only 12 more weeks of baking left, if Bunn Jaime is to arrive on time.

Jaime in the Belly

******************************************************************************

Forever Little Molly Ballie

My Little Girl

2005-08-04T17:39:00.000-04:00

I miss you already ...

A secret revealed!

2005-07-15T19:32:00.000-04:00

We are going to be the proud parents of a little boy! What started as a uneventful ultrasound which showed us a non compliant baby again, followed by an even more routine prenatal appointment, ended up in great news! The doctor decided to give it another try at the ultrasound and after some poking the baby showed us his heart with all very healthy chambers and his well formed genitals! I am still so happy I have not been able to fall asleep for my daily siesta.

With this news everything is a bit different, I now have a renewed desire to decorate and buy boy's stuff, and I feel that the pink carpet in the baby's bedroom will eventually have to be changed to something more masculine. Unless, of course, I can come up with a decoration idea like ... hmmmm ... aha! The Human Anatomy theme can work if I convince myself that the carpet represents flesh and muscles in the human body. However, this theme may scare the poor kid. I need to keep thinking on a good masculine theme that incorporates a pink carpet.

4th of July in NC

2005-07-08T12:26:00.000-04:00

We spent the 4th of July in NC visiting my parents-in-law. It was so much fun! We did many things, ate good food and learned the basics of the basics of bridge from someone who knows his stuff -- Ray.

The picture with Mike on it was taken alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway. The vistas are amazing, the drive through it is also a pleasure. We took a steep, very curvy, narrow road to get to the parkway, not for the faint of heart! We had a pleasant lunch at an Inn up there, overlooking the Appalachian mountains. Overall, a perfect, unforgettable outing surrounded by great company!

Of all places we visited, the Biltmore House was the most amazing. I wish I could have been a guest in that house at the beginning of the century, which would have meant I would have owned many dresses and would have had someone help me get changed several times a day. I recommend a visit to this magnificent home followed by some yummy food at the next door stables, converted into a nice cafe. Unfortunately, we were not able to see more of the estate as I was feeling exhausted, perhaps due to the lack of central air in the house or the several stairs we had to go up and down during the tour. Being pregnant truly makes me loose energy fast!

Thank you so much Liz for all the brave driving through tortuous roads and many miles. We truly enjoyed our visit!

The baby in the belly also seems to have enjoyed the trip, as it is now more active than ever. There are only 16 more weeks of baking time!

22 weeks and counting!

2005-06-27T13:11:00.000-04:00

As I sit here sipping on my homemade decaf coffee mocha, I thank the Gods for feeling good enough to enjoy such a wonderful drink! Life has been so great lately, I can feel the baby moving, I have energy and I can eat. Summer days by the pool, courtesy of my parents, make this time of my life even better. A part of me is starting to feel scared as time is starting to run out and I have done nothing to prepare for the arrival of tinnyfoot!

By my friend Helen's insistance, I managed to start a baby registry but I am so clueless about what brand of products to select. All I know is that I really want to use cotton diapers like my mom used on my little sister. It makes me feel good to know I will not polute the world with zillions of dirty diapers! Well, maybe just a couple dozens until I get used to the cotton ones!

Below are some early images of tinnyfoot. I intended to add them to this blog long time ago but have procastinated for weeks! :)

TinnyFoot's profile

TinnyFoot at 12 weeks

Tagged with a Book Meme!

2005-06-24T15:34:00.000-04:00

(This entry will be edited for grammar and spelling in the next couple of days)

Thanks to my lovely man I got tagged with this meme:

How Many Books to I own?

Not very many - I do not collect books, I destroy books, I loose them and lend them to other people and never ask for them back! I am not proud of the fact that I am a book's worst nightmare, even less now that I have acquired a huge collection when marrying Mike. His collection has decreased since we met, that I can guarantee! If I have to give you a number of books I own and have in my possession, I would say around ... hmmmm .... 30ish? (Including cookbooks!)

Five Books that Influenced Me:

Starting from Childhood to nowadays, here is a possible list:

Memorias de um Burro - From a Russian writer called Countess Segur (Condessa de Segur). I could not find a link to this book, as it seems that its popularity never reached these lands. This was the first book I read from beginning to end. I remember loving it so much I carried it with me everywhere I went. I do not remember how old I was, but I am sure I still played with dolls at the time! :) Anyway, this book was wonderful to me and I read parts of it over and over again. It was about a donkey that was passed around from owner to owner, finding sadness and happiness through its life. He taught life lessons to every owner he had, simple life lessons because, as he used to say "he was only a donkey and was not able to have complex thoughts." This book made me believe that I was smart enough to read a book from start to finish, and that meant so much to me!

1001 Arabian Nights - I read it in Spanish so I am not going to quote a translator here. I read this book when I was on my early teens, in my very early teens. I remember so because this book was very shocking to me in ways I did not truly understand at that time, but somehow I liked the shocking parts! This book open my mind to a world where magical things happened, as well as places and situations that where not fair to the characters, not to mention some sexuality. Despite of the fact that it sounded like fables, it had a stain of reality and rawness to it that made me read the entire 2 volumes from start to finish! I also fell in love with the heroine, the one telling the stories. She was the smartest woman I came across in my then short lived literary experience.

Feliz Ano Velh0 - Marcelo Rubens Paiva. I was a full fletched teenager when I read this book. Oh, what a book! Why is this book so special? Maybe it was the fact that he was a Paulista (from Sao Paulo) like me, or maybe it was the way he wrote, using such a modern Portuguese, which I could so relate to. This book marked a phase in my life that I will never forget, it marked the period when I transitioned from a kid to a pseudo-grown up. This is an autobiography where he tells us his story and how in a freak accident (jumping in a pool) he became a quadriplegic. His story made me value my body and my life. His story made me intensively savor what I was living at that time - my first kiss, my first date, blooming into a woman and no longer feeling like a child. I started then to understand the power I had over my life, and memories of scenes from this book, resembled all of that. I know this book also had an influence over my brothers lives and over many of my friends.

Love in The Times of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Like my dad calls it - this book is a jewel! I am not sure an English translation is capable of capturing the magic of this book. The Spanish version is mesmerizing. The characters are so human, so full of flaws, so full of human emotions and capable of such an amazing, powerful love. I wanted to find love the way it was described by this book, a sentiment that transcends time and life itself. I was on my late teens when I read it, and at that time I had had a small share of heartaches and disenchantment. So this book hit the spot and got burnt into my memories forever.

Communion - Whitley Strieber. Darn the day I decided to read this book. It all started with a comment Mike made as this being one of the most hair-rising books he has read. How bad can a book get? I like gruesome stories, so of course I had to read it! There is nothing gruesome about this book. It is not a scary book to read, it is more like a documentary of the author's story, of what happened to him. However, since finishing this book I cannot sleep alone in the house without fear. This fear is even worst now that I am pregnant, as I feel I need to make sure nothing bad happens to my unborn child while I am asleep alone in the house. Do not read this book if you value your sleep.

Honorable Mention: I could not end the answer to this question without mentioning the below author.

Complete Works of Pablo Neruda - More than a set of Books, they are a compilation of life lessons and beauty and love ...

"... I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep. "

The above list could have been totally different, If I had decided to go the route of books that have influenced my career and intellect. Instead, I have chosen the vie of the heart!

Last Book I Bought:

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger. On the nightstand somewhere, unfinished ... it seems to be a very good one!

Last Book I Read for the First Time:

The Mote in God's Eye - Larry Niven and Jerry Purnelle. A very good SciFi book about a future and a first encounter with an alien species. The aliens found are awesome, and the issues that arise due to the encounter are realistic and amusing at the same time.

Last Book I Read for the Second Time:

What to Expect When You Are Expecting - Heidi Murkoff. I have read it more than twice now. There are a few chapters I have not read yet, which relate to giving birth. I am not ready to know all the details quite yet.

Who am I tagging with this Meme:

I will have to come back to this with a proper answer as I do not know anyone with a blog. I will need to make some new cyber friends with a blog and then tag them!. Any volunteers, please let me know!

2005-06-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we drove to Niagara on the Canadian side to have some Brazilian style BBQ - rodizio! The Place is called Copacabana, and the food was good. That part of Niagara has changed so much. We where there a year and a half ago and the Casino behind us in the picture was under construction. The Copacabana did not exist, neither did most businesses near by (includying the 2 Starbucks who are a block apart).

Niagara Falls

I have been craving to smoke a cigarrete, a pregnant woman cravings, I think. I got my wish fulfilled when I walked into the Casino. The smokey air was so thick you could feel the nicotine sticking to your skin! I must admit that it felt kind of good for a minute! afterwards I was dying to leave the place as I started freaking out that so much cigarrete smoke was going to hurt tinnyfoot!

At the same time we were posing for the picture you just saw, a man was getting ready to walk on a wire above us. Amazing enough the woman that took the picture knew this daring man, as did the gentleman she was with. In minutes we heard his lifestory - 61 years old who walks this wire twice a day to get money for kids with cancer. He is an Aries who loves adventure and quiet times. Canadian to the end who enjoys hockey and prefers French over English when reading a newspaper.

Man on Wire

We were impressed. As we walked away towards our car we turned around to take a pick at this man walking on a wire without protection of any kind (carrying a 60 pound stick through a 25 minute spectacle.) The only sensation we got from looking at him was: "We do not want to watch this! We do not want to watch him fall! " People all around us had their eyes glued on the guy, maybe secretly hoping for a fall or something! Human kind can be so gruesome!

Life is Good in the Kitchen!

2005-06-15T11:28:00.000-04:00

We have successfully made our second needed change in the house due to the pregnancy. The first change was a new refrigerator and now this! A new sink! We are such a practical couple and we know that these things needed to be replaced before the arrival of our new baby! There is no way we could have brought a child into this world with and old smelly fridge and a stained sink!

The baby is sooo happy with the change that he(?) has been moving all morning, celebrating! It is so amazing to feel the little one move around inside my belly, it tenders my heart in ways I could not think possible. I am in love with this little one who lives cozily and peacefully in my womb!

Anyway, we had big plans to bake some awesome sweets and deserts tonight but the sink needs to be "cured" for 24 hours - so I guess we will need to eat out tonight ... what a bummer! :)

Old Sink

The old sink looks pretty bad now that it is on the garage floor!

New Sink

What a beauty! A big tub in the kitchen! There is no sink division. We now have a nice spout and even a soap dispenser - we are living large! :)

Picture of Me

2005-06-10T11:45:00.000-04:00

I needed to post a picture of me here so I can add it to my profile. This is a picture of me shortly after I realized I was preggers and I wanted to record my calm, happy face forever. :)

My belly feels so stretched out right now, it almost hurts, it is uncomfortable, but no matter, the thought of knowing my little one is inside makes it all good! I do feel the baby moving a bit, sometimes it feels stronger, sometimes I am not sure. It is hard to describe the feeling. Some women say it feels like flutters or butterflies or bubbles bursting inside ... hmmmm .... it feels a bit kinda like these descriptions, but not really. I cannot describe the feeling it is very unique and different from gas or cramps or muscle pulls or anything else I have felt. I can barely wait until Michael can feel the baby inside my belly, that will be a nice moment to live and I am looking forward to find myself there!

About the sex of the baby - here are some statistics:

Grandma lele thinks he is a boy
Rachel (I think) thinks he is a boy, too.
I think he is a boy.
My mom thinks she is a girl.
The chinese calendar tells me she is a girl.
Michael has no huntch (spelling), but I think that he thinks she is a girl.
The baby's heartbeat is fast - which can mean: Girl!

So far 4 to 3 for a girl! it is kind of nice to have this guessing game!

Happy Mommy-to-be

20 Week Ultrasound 'Scam'

2005-06-09T12:11:00.000-04:00

As the good proud parents-to-be we are, we arrived at my 20 week ultrasound scan session with a new tape and high hopes for great entertainment. After waiting a couple of minutes and getting set up in the poorly illuminated room, we were ready to see our little peanut move around and show its face and private parts. The main participant was found asleep, showing nothing but his/her back to us. We saw a leg that looked more like a chicken wing, a foot with all its toes and a big head trailed by a spinal cord. No funny moves, no tender movements, nothing. Below is the best shot we got for your amusement.

Well not all is lost, due to his/her lack of cooperation my doctor scheduled a second ultrasound. Ha! This time right before the scan I will drink a potion made of Mountain Dew, Colombian Coffee, orange juice and tabasco, that should wake him up. To make sure he is awake I will also drive to the appointment like a maniac to ensure my addrenaline pumps nice and good through my veins. To top it off, I will to some jumping jacks and crunches just before laying on the examination bed. If these things do not work, then I will know for sure s/he got from me the love for sleepy times and s/he will be the nicest baby of them all, who will prefer a good nap above all things.

The next peek inside the womb has been scheduled for July 15! Wish us luck!

Is there a baby here?

Kissing Up! :)

2005-05-17T20:07:00.000-04:00

Being pregnant is not bringing the best out of me, and I find so amazing how well Michael is dealing with me and the whole pregnancy thing. He almost never gets into my nerves, and when he does he is so sweet about it that it makes me feel bad to have "bad" feelings in my mind.

When I start taking things too seriously he laughs and makes it all better. When I am down in the dumps he picks me up and puts me in the hot tub! if I do not clean for a week, he does it for me. When I feel like having all the covers at night, he simply sleeps closer to me! He gives me space to freak out and to be me. I know it took a long time to find him, but the wait was so worth it ... and soon we will have a little one to share our lives with.

I love you, baby ... so much! By your side I am a better person!

Michael's pics from the years I have known him!
Posted by Hello

Babble Babble

2005-04-28T17:59:00.000-04:00

Afternoon to all! I find myself content, with a full tummy and ready to write some stuff here, whatever decides to come to my mind.

I guess the most present thing is my pregnancy which slowly but surely does not let me forget my blessed state. I am so sick of being sick all the time, I wish the second trimester "feel better" months arrive soon ...wait! I am on my second trimester, darn! Well, at least I am looking forward to mowing the lawn later this week, that will cheer me up. Also, there is so much work to be done in the yard and nowadays I do not feel up to it physically. Hopefully that will change soon because I have many bulbs to plant and many flowers to transfer, which Mike and I have been growing from seeds in the basement.

Doggies are fine, I always enjoy finding Beast and Molly butt-to-butt on the floor, like old friends taking a nap together. Montana showed up limping yesterday and today his front paw is a bit swollen. It seems that every couple of months he manages to get hurt all by himself, he is true a trouble maker and I love him!

Chevelle is going to be playing at the Waterstreet Music Hall on May 12, or something like that. I love them, and I am surprised that they would be performing on such small venue. A part of me wants to go see them, but another part of me (the old-fart part which started exisiting a couple of years ago) tells me not to bother with parking and long lines and crowded places and drunk people and loud music and dirty bathrooms, which I need to use every hour or so these days! Besides, I cannot drink, I cannot party either, so why bother, really.

Now for my bulleted list of happenings dedicated to my love Michael, who thinks bulleted lists are awesome. Love ya, baby!

It hailed today
We had pasta for dinner
Survivor is the highlight of the evening
I cleaned the pantry
I walked 2 miles at the Y
Mike has been called for Jury Duty
We did not get a lottery ticket. Thus, we have not won the lottery.

Sunday's News

2005-04-24T11:04:00.000-04:00

Yummy breakfast with Mike.
I am feeling ok this morning.
Sun is not shinning.
Dogs are being good.
Will buy hostas for the garden later today.
We did not win the lottery.