And then there were four....

We were all cuddled up in the bed the other morning and I was thinking about how much fun it will be to be four. I have enjoyed being three (I don't say it enough but I am fully in love with my little family) however we are all ready for a little change in dynamic. Four is going to be fun. Just in time because Diego is becoming a little bit of a Pre-Madonna. It's time for some forced sharing of toys and attention here.

First Haircut

First haircut. Location: Grandma's house. Salon: Chez Julia. Belated Christmas celebrations in January.

Dear Diego

Dear Diego - you are two years old now. I know I say this every time but you are more and more fun everyday. Here is a picture of you 'rocking out' with you Papa - how we love playing with you.

You continue to be happy at the Day Care which is a big relief for us. Often which I pick you up you don't want to leave, so we sometimes stay and play for a little bit with the other children. Generally you are really well behaved in public. Recently we went on a big trip to Colombia and you were such a good traveller. Thanks for being such a trouper - you are going to need to be flexible soon because we are going have have another baby and you are going to have to share everything with your little sister.

You are talking a lot now - in both languages. The other day when I was visiting you at Day Care I found out, for sure, that your English is progressing along just as much as your Spanish. I love that you speak mostly Spanish with us at home, and.., it was fun to hear all your English words as well. Sometimes you get the two mixed up, but that happens to all of us. You'll figure it out.

One of your first phrases was "not my lover" - thanks to a months long obsession with Michael Jackson. I am not offended by the fact that you could say that before "te quiero Mama" but I do wonder about what that means for our future with you. Will you be a performer as everyone seems to think or just a pop music lover. Your rhythm is good and you are beginning to sing, in tune.

We have had lots of snow this winter and you are loving playing in it. We have fun playing with you and now that you have your very own shovel you are helping out with some of the chores as well. You love to be involved in everything that we are doing.

Keeping growing and exploring little man - it only gets better!

Love Mama

Party!

We had a small party today to celebrate Diego's second birthday. You can ask him in either language now "how old are you" "cuantos años tienes" and he will respond (with the approprate langauge in return) "two!" "dos!". He's so smart. We had a nice afternoon, with a few friends and their toddlers. We had a gift exchange rather than traidition 'gift giving' which was a big success and served to clean out everyone's house a little bit. We kept a few nice things and the rest is going to the Salvation Army - plus everyone went home with at least one new toy. I made a gluten free cake which turned out well and Diego, more or less, managed to blow out his own candles.

Our birthday present to Deigo was this ball tent. Folds up small when you don't need it and fits nicely into the new playroom when we do.

It was also a big hit at the party.

Diego and Ayanna in the tent while Elise looks cautiously on. The two kids in the tent are half latino... coincidence?

Projects

I decided what we really needed was a play room - as opposed to an office for me. The sewing room went in the closet. I moved the clothes closet to the current piece of furniture where the sewing room was. We gave away the piano and one table and voila. Playroom.

I'm not sure why this picture is on it's side - but this is my new sewing room in a closet. It's not so bad really, with some manovering I can get the table out if I need more space and mostly, for small repairs, I can leave the mechine where it is to work. I've lost my cutting table but I can close the curtain and the whole thing disapears.

Winter

All kinds of winter activities.