Little Gym

I decided it was time for Marcelo to have a hand at some kind of organized activity, something he could do individually. I thought time without his older sister would be good for him. Having an older sibling always at his side is effectively like an automatic supply of self confidence in your pocket. It's nice, it's convenient but I want to make sure he has his own sense of self confidence that doesn't depend on Sofia's presence and Sofia always "going first".

Marcelo has always been very sociable and outgoing anyway. He loves to dance and recently, sing. He likes to jump and run. So we enrolled him in Little Gym class where he could do all of these things and have a chance to socialize and learn to be part of a group. He will also get individual Daddy time which is probably just as important. And Ray will reap some benefits as well albeit maybe not as life affirming. But getting out of the house is a welcome reprieve when you work at home.

On Marcelo's first day, we all went to see how he would do. Before going, I asked him if he would like to go to a gym class like the one Sofia used to go to where he used to watch her. He said yes. I'm not sure how much he understood that this was something we were all going to do for him. Since nothing has ever been just about him before, I don't really think he got that in essence, Sofia didn't get to do something that he was going to get to do.

When it was time to go in, I think he still expected Sofia to go in with him. We explained Daddy would go with him and he was OK. For the first fifteen minutes or so, he was very shy. Ray kind of dragged him around doing the activities like running in a circle. It took him a while to assimilate what this whole thing was about and what his part was going to be in it. Was he going to be made to do stuff he didn't want to do, was it going to be fun, was it going to be scary --all things that needed to be considered, I'm sure. Then suddenly, after the deliberation was apparently complete, he just started doing things, running here and there, wanting to try everything. By the end, he was the most enthusiastic child there. His cheeks were red with fun-filled excitement and satisfaction at this new activity.

I'm so glad we took him there. It's a positive experience for him in the "terrible two's year" that I hope will help mitigate some of the terribleness. He has been to two more classes just with Ray since, and he has done really well at the gymnastics activities, the group activities, and of course a little flirting with the teacher on the side never hurt anyone.

My Little Brother

When Marcelo first saw his little brother at the hospital, he followed suit to Sofia's reaction. He and Sofia entered the room quietly (this in of itself is highly unusual) with eyes and mouth wide open. In fact, their eyes were as wide open as I have ever seen them. I think Sofia knew what to expect but for Marcelo it was real wonderment at seeing the baby that we had been talking to him about being in my tummy for all these months. And then to see a real baby in my arms was probably like some kind of magic trick for him. I wish I could have captured it on video (but alas I am only one person and have only to hands.) Anyway, after the first five minutes of wonderment, Sofia started asking if she could eat my left over dessert and Marcelo became fascinated with the window and the blinds.

Since then, Marcelo hasn't been too interested in interacting with baby Peter. I've asked him if he wants to look at him up close or touch his feet, to which he replies, "no". I guess he's just not sure what to make of him much. He does talk to me about the baby and the baby's things and often refers to him as "your baby" or "my baby [brother]". And each night, he sweetly says goodnight to the baby when he goes to bed. He doesn't appear to be jealous or acting out do to our new addition so I don't mind him keeping his distance a little from the baby for now because ironically, I know I will be begging them to stop causing havoc together in only too soon of a time.

The cutest boy in the world

... even on a bad hair day and when taken off guard.

Stinkerbell

I guess that's what happens when your only friend is your five year-old sister.

Goodbye Baby Nursery

A couple of weeks before the NEW baby brother was born, we dismantled the baby nursery in Marcelo's room to ready the new baby nursery in the other little bedroom upstairs. This was Marcelo's room for his first 2 1/2 years.

View from doorway
(1) Wool Zebra Stripe Rug [Bargains.com] (2) Story Time Rocker [modernnusery.com] (3) Dresser [Ikea] (4) Rocking Horse [Christmas Gift 2008 Abuelos] (5) Ouef Crib [modernnursery.com] (6) Ceiling Fan [Lowe's] (7) Aquanauts Poster [meomi] (8) Shelf: Alberto Cerriteno Print; eel [Living Planet Aquarium SLC]; owl [Gymboree]; M [Robert's Craft]; dry cactus in Ikea pot; Orange Suitcases [Land of Nod]; Black & White Blocks [online]; Automoblox Car (9) Ikea Window Treatments

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Also see at Project Nursery Gallery {beta}

Christmas '09

Marcelo's prize gift from Santa this year was Woody from "Toy Story".

Here he is making sure his hat never comes off again, sporting his new Christmas home made pajamas.

These are just a few of the Christmas festivity moments at our house.

This springy green alien ball was the highlight of the gift opening. Marcelo's reaction was bewilderment and a nervous aversion to it. He could barely stand to look at it much less touch it. Doing so, would send him into screaming hysterics. My only guess is that he must have thought it was alive.

Sometimes the best gift is that familiar comfort item --a new sippy cup with just the right straw, that doesn't leak, and fits just right in your little hand.

Hair Styling

As anyone should well know by now, Sofia and Marcelo have a mutant gene which compels them to wake up at an unnatural hour of the morning, pre-dawn would be more accurate. On this fine Saturday, we woke up with the awareness that the kids were surely already up and pleased that there was no noise evidence of anyone crying or destroying the house. However, the eerily too quiet atmosphere soon started to bring on a little bit of nervous suspicion within me.

They were found in the kids bathroom styling each other’s hair with petroleum jelly. Now I see it’s obvious that Marcelo had been growing out his hair all this time because he’s such a big fan of Edward (from the Twilight series).

Since we couldn't get the petroleum jelly out of his hair even after several shampoos, I decided it was time for a haircut.