Random Pics from December

Some of our visit with Suzy, some around the house, some at Rafa's work Christmas party. Some favorites.

Dear Diego

Dear Diego
You are 11 months old now. You are walking, talking (with your hands, despite your father you have learned a couple of signs already), listening, understanding, dancing, singing. You are such a little boy now. We are always joking that you have stopped crawling altogether now because 'crawling is for babies'. There are no babies left in this house. In the last week you have done many amazing things but two have stood out. I was watching TV this week, a movie in Italian. Someone in the film said a phrase which included the word 'bravo'. You immediately turned around to find me and clapped your hands. Bravo! You are clearly a genius. I also have to be much more careful what I watch on TV from now on. You have been loving books. We read books at night before bed. Today I had shut off all the lights and was singing you to sleep. In honor of Christmas time I was singing Silent Night. You recognized the tune and sat right up to look for your book of Christmas Carols. Wow! Little man you are a joy to be around and it is so much fun to watch you learning.
Today was our last day together on maternity leave, and also your father's last day at his current job. You're going to be spending lots more time with him in the next little bit. Good thing too because you seem to be preferring him lately. Today you fell and cut your tongue on one of your sharp little teeth. You wanted your dad and not me. Just for the record I think that's great. I love to see you together.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve - our first together. What a fun and wonderful journey we have started. I was thinking today that you are growing up fast and while I'm sure it will go too fast I am really excited to see who you become and talk to you all grown up. I know I've told you this before but I sure am glad you picked us.

Mom.

Walking

Walking - and now... standing up on his own. It's all down hill from here - or up hill - or.. down hill and then up hill and then down again. Either way we are officially moving around.

Ten Months

Snow

Quick Update

Lots has happened - and when I have more time I'll post the pictures that go with this update - but if I wait till then something else really important might happen.
1. Diego and I had a lovely road trip - we rented a car (!) and went up to my mom's. We got to see the dress rehearsal of the play she was directing. Diego tried desperately to get up on the stage (clearly he has it in his blood) but I managed to man handle him off. "Diego - you are not in the play!" From there we went on to Suzy's house in Whitney - just outside of Algonquin park. Diego did great in the car and then we had two nights and one full day of playing, eating, talking and generally doing not a lot. Lovely.
2. Diego is walking. He's been taking a few steps but the big open floors of Suzy's house and the motivation of keeping up with her 2 1/2 year old son got him really moving.
3. In the spirit of 'big boy' developments we have put Diego on the floor with a twin mattress. He HATED the crib - would stand at the bars, shaking them and screaming for up to 45 minutes. At Suzy's it occurred to me that not much could happen to him as long as he was close to the ground so I put the crib mattress on the floor, laid down beside him, we went to sleep and then I slipped away. Magic! So, we've bought a lovely new mattress which the salesperson tells me will last him 20 years. When it starts to be uncomfortable he will just have to move out. The other fringe benefit of this new mattress is that Rafa and I sleep much more comfortably when we end up crashing with him. It's win win really. There is a gate at the door of his room and a closet organizer to hang on the wall so that all the stuff in the room is stored one meter above the floor. Good to go.

I have some lovely pictures to go along with all this good news - which will come along shortly.