Cousins galore!!!!!

Last weekend we packed up the ole diaper bag and headed over to aunt Vero and uncle Guillo's house for a fun filled family day. The coolest part of everything was having a chance to play with my cousins. Of course Sebastian, Catalina and Maite were there, but I also got to see my cousin Maria Jesus who is almost the exact same age as me. We're only 20 days different.

So, while mommy and daddy hung out eating and talking about adult stuff, me and my cousins played :) Mom did take a few minutes out to snap some pictures. What do you all think? We're the cutest batch of cousins around, aren't we?!

the mountains glow ... I love snow!

Mom and I went up on the rooftop to snap a few pictures of the snow capped mountains ... mom says this is when she loves being a "Santiago-ian." she's right, we've had some really gorgeous days lately ...

News flash ... toof # 4

My fourth tooth has broken through. This one didn't even keep me up at night. I guess I'm getting tougher in my old age.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow ...

Yes, that's right, we had snow today in Santiago. It was amazingly peaceful and covered the city with a white glow. I can't wait to see the mountains tomorrow when the clouds finally clear. I'm pretty sure it'll be the prettiest sight ever.

I keep bugging mom to get on the ball and post some new pictures, but then she reminded me that she recently broke the screen of computer #3, so has been a little slow loading things.

Yes, I typed it right, it's 3 computers she has destroyed ... don't tell her I told you though because she has been REALLY cranky about it and everytime someone mentions it her face gets red.

Anyway, I'll try to gt some pictures up soon, promise!!

free teef

Yup, thas right. My big gummy grin isn't so gummy anymore. I've got free teef!!!

Pictures to come soon ...

Stateside

I've been having one heck of a winter! Fighting off flu bugs, pushing out new teeth, learning to (and then refusing) to crawl, taking family trips ... and wait, have I mentioned yet that I spent a fantabulous 13 days stateside? I haven't told you yet? OMG, where has my head been? Well let me tell you about my trip then!!

Mommy and I said our farewells on July 7th and headed to the airport. It was a cold night and mommy had me all bundled up in my warmest PJs for the 10 and a half hour flight to Florida. I thought the plane was totally cool and decided that it was SO cool that instead of going to sleep I'd stay up and meet all the new friendly faces. PJs, yeah right. Mommy should have put on my walkin shoes!

I met some pretty nice people on the plane and all were very impressed at how well behaved I was. Well, all were impressed up until about 1am when the lights went out and ... yup, you guessed it. My lights were still on highbeam! Someone seriously should have sent me the memo that said hair pulling is cool until said hair owner wants to sleep. Oh well, friend made and friend lost. Mommy decided cruising the isles would be better.

So, 15 hours and two airports later we arrived in Gainesville. Grammy was there at the airport waiting for me (oh yeah, and mommy too) and we headed off to her house. The land of the green trees. Lord, I'd never seen so much green! Her house was really fun. I got to meet my Granpa Cacho and a new furry friend, Cacho the dog.


I loved them both, but decided that Cacho is definitely a bit sloppier (and wetter) in the cuddling department. The 5 of us did some really cool things together. As you see from the picture, I had my first kiddie pool experience but I'd say the coolest thing we did was when went went to my great grandpa's house to meet the whole Stefanelli clan. Man, there were lots of them! They talked a little funny, were really nice, and there was definitely nothing lacking in the love department. It was there, and I got LOTS of it! Take a look at this picture ... it's my great grandpa with all of us "grands"

That's great grandpa in the middle with all the grands...

So, after an incredible welcome from all the Stef's we took it down a notch and dig some relaxing. I played with new toys, ate some new food (which was MUCH better than the junk they have in Chile), visited a bunch of grammys friends from the livrary and even did some exploring at the Sante Fe zoo. Here's a few snaps from those days ...

Hanging out in the backyard with mommy and Cacho

I loved listening to Granpa Cacho play guitar

Me and my grammy spending some snuggle time

The hairy thing in the zoo were a lot more entertaining when they ran around.

After spending time with my grammy I was really itching to get over to my grandpa's house. Mommy and I headed over there and I got a really loving welcome! I got to meet grandma Marsha for the first time and she was really fun. I also spent a lot of quality time with my grandpa. I think he liked to play with my toys as much as me! On our second day there I got to meet my uncle Joey and aunt Judy and also my uncle Jacob. Uncle Jacob was a little more impressed by his date than he was with me ... but aunt Judy and uncle Joey played enough with me to compensate :) I also was real excited to meet mommy's friends Jill and Mark. They were a cool pair but the coolest was hanging with Dulcie, their daughter. She's bigger than me but we still had a load of fun chilling out in my inflatable pool and playing with my new toys. Here's a couple pictures from our get together.

Grandma and grandpa picked me out some delicious toys!

Dulcie and I with aunt Judy and uncle Joey

My new fried Dulcie Sue. I was mesmorized ...

So after that night I had a few more days to spend with my grandma and grandpa Luke. Grandpa wanted to create some great memories, so we had to take full advantage of our time together. We took a trip to Paynes Prarie, went out looking for alligators, went to the "swamp", and even went by my granddad's old stomping ground, the Beta house.

It's great to be a Florida Gator

A final splash beofre heading back to Chile.

The end of the trip went sooo fast and was so packed with fun that by the time I got on plane trip numero 2 ... I was ready to sleep .... the WHOLE way home!

So, as you can see ... I've been keeping myself pretty dern busy lately and I tell you what, I've been loving every minute of it!! Now I've just gotta slow down and find the time ... to do it all again!

Family Fun Uruguain style

Mommy, Daddy and I took off for a long weekend and headed to Montevideo, Uruguay. The weather was kinda icky and cold, but we still had the best time ever. We toured all the sites together. Went to a street market 8 blocks long. Ate some delicious meat. And shared time together playing and cuddling. I'd have to say it was the best 3 nights I've spent with my mommy and daddy so far!

PJ day

I'm feeling really under the weather. On Friday, I woke up in the middle of the night and my tummy hurt so bad that I threw up in my crib. It was really gross, but daddy cleaned me all up and changed my sheets so I'd be good as new. I went back to sleep, but honestly, it wasn't a good sleep. In the morning I had a fever of 39.2C which is like 102.4 in Fahrenheit. I was really miserable, and just wanted to sleep and cuddle my mommy. After lots of z's and some fever reducer, I'm starting to feel better.

Today, mommy and daddy decided it is a PJ Father's Day. We're hanging out it our relaxed gear and celebrating my great daddy with breakfast IN BED!

could it be my teeth are coming?

I've heard mommy talking a lot lately about these things called teeth that supposedly are going to be showing up in my mouth pretty soon. My nanny, Sarela, swears that it is any day now. Mommy is not so sure. In the meantime I'll just keep practicing my chewing. Yummmmmm.

i'm a pint sized noise maker

If this wont make your day .....

busy busy!

For the last ... very long time I have been staying at my grandparents house with mommy and daddy. They are taking care of the house while tata and Vicky are in Europe. We're all very happy in the house and now mommy has started going nuts saving because she wants to get a house too! We'll see how long this spending sacrifice continues ...

anyway, we've all been very busy. Daddy has started to study again for his test. He's determined that he's gonna pass that stinking GMAT even if it kills us all in the process. Mommy has been busy too. She's working a lot and now is responsible for all the english classes at her school. That's a lot of kids!

Me, I'm been a little under the weather the last few days, but I'm still practicing my moves. During the nights I flip around all over the place. When mommy comes to my bedroom in the morning there is no telling what position I'll be in. This morning I was turned sideways and had completely flipped around. I'm also doing some new wiggles which mommy assures everyone is the start of crawling. I don't know though. i'm still pretty happy having everyone lug me around from place to place. Why crawl if it isn't completely necessary?

my aching back!

Mom and I have been hanging out today because she hurt her back. The doctor told her it is a muscle strain and a pinched nerve in her lower back and that she's got to take it easy for a while. Mommy is really miserable and she hasn't even gone to the trainer yet for her new excercise rouine!  I bet she's gonna be a hurtin mommy! I hope she'll get better soon, since she can't pick me up I am missing her snuggles.

Anyway, She'll be snapping some new pictures in the next few days. Here are the most recent goodies. Aren't I getting big???

Aloha!

I know it's been awhile folks, but we've been busy around here. I was vacationing with my grandparents while mommy and daddy went to Aunt Jarett's wedding in Hawaii. They said that the Islands were very pretty and that they had a blast. Even though I missed them a lot, I know that it was good for them to get away and have a little time together. Mommy came back looking very well rested and I almost didn't recognize daddy because he had gotten so tan!

They spent the first part of their vacation in Honolulu. Yup, mostly on the beach!

After relaxing a bit (A LOT) in Honolulu, they went to Maui where, as you can see, they were a bit more adventurous.

Maui was also were auntie Jarett got married. don't they look great?!

  

In the name of ...

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I was baptised yesterday at San Pedro de Las Condes. There were four other little kids there, but I by far behaved the best ... and everyone says I was the cutest too. I'm not trying to be vain, but I did look pretty adorable if I do say so myself.

A lot of people came to the church to see me, and afterwards we had a little celebration at Tata and Vicky's house where we had yummy food and delicious cake!

My godparents, aunt Veronica and uncle Daniel, gave me lots of snuggles and also a beautiful little pendant to wear when I get bigger. Uncle Danny also bought me a little Winnie the Pooh toy that lights up. I think it's pretty cool!

Here are a few pictures we snapped at the church. What do you think? Was I the cutest one there?

rice is nice!

This morning I got my first taste of big girl food! Mommy made me an extra special treat of rice cereal and breast milk. Everyone was a little nervous that I wouldn't like it ... but come on, what families do I come from anyway?! I gotta keep up with all these big eaters :)

Even though I look like I splattered it all over myself, I swear that a bunch made it to my tummy!

I love my grammy, she delicious!

bouncy bouncy

Grandpa sent me a new bouncy chair amd I've been having a ball! As you can see, I tend to salivate a little when I get excited!

under the weather ...

I'm pretty sure it was mommy who gave me this yucky cold with boogies and a phlemy cough. But no matter who it was ... I'm feeling ick. It hasn't stopped me from smiling though ... or stop grammy from snapping adorable pics.

Grammy visits me again!

I've been pretty busy the past week. After daddy left for his business trip mommy and I had a weekend together and then on Sunday we went to pick up GRAMMY! She's back in Santiago visiting me for the second time. We've definitely been making up for lost time with lots of loving and lots of cuddles.

Today we all went out to a little town called Champa with the parents and children from mommy's school.  One of the little boys has a really cool farm with all sorts of fruit trees and animals. I really loved watching all the kids play and I know mommy and grammy loved the good food and the adult conversation!

Speaking of good food I'll be getting my share soon! Yesterday, at my five month check up Dr. Rodriguez told mommy I can start eating fruits and rice cereal. I weigh 7 kilos now and the doc says I'm doing well.  He was especially impressed when he saw that I can sit up by myself, flip over, and put my toes in my mouth.

sniff sniff

Daddy is off to Asia. Since he left mommy has been draggin her feet all over the house and I've been cranky. We miss him a lot. The thing is, daddy works in logistics of his company, CMPC. Different companies call him for pulp and then he makes sure it gets there. He is responsible for getting his product to China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. He does a great job! In fact, he does such a good job that the whole idea of his trip is to be schmoozed by his clients. He's flying business, staying at the fanciest hotels and will be eating the best foods the cities have to offer. BUT, we'll still be missing him like crazy.

Anyway, wish him a safe trip for us ... and a speedy return!

sitting and standing ...

I've been practicing sitting lately in my new Bumbo chair that mommy bought me. It's a really pretty pink and it fits my little tushy like a glove. I love it!

When I'm not sitting mommy likes to put me up for some standing practice too. I tell ya, it's rough on my little legs but I certainly do prefer the view higher up.

i've been practicing some new moves

We've been busy around here lately. Mommy started working at the Montessori school at the beginning of the month and I've never seen her more tired. Daddy is in the final weeks of his GMAT courses and I think his head is going to spin off any day now. And me ... well, I've been practicing some new moves and I'm pretty pooped out too. I'm babbling up a storm, learning how to sit and balance on my own and sticking everything I can get my hands on into my mouth. Yup, I'm a busy gal.

finally, an update!

Ok, Ok. Mom has been recieving my fan mail and after 3 or 4 tickle threats I've decided to get my tushy in motion and give an update.
As you all can imagine a lot has been going on in the last few weeks ... gosh, has it been THAT long?!

First, and most importantly, my grandpa came to visit me. He and I got along really well and had a lot of fun together! Mommy says that he must have been teaching me how too talk too because now I babble and babble and babble all day long, just like him!

Seriously though, we did a lot of things together and now that he sent mommy pictures I can SHOW you some of the things that we did, not just describe it!

One of the first things we did was to take a trip to the big Jumbo supermarket so grandpa could get a few essentials. Grandpa really loved going there and checking out all the different foods and drinks that we have in Chile. He bought a few things for mommy and daddy and also got some presents for my Atria family. Here we are cruising the isles together:

Me and grandpa love going on walks together. Every single day grandpa would take me on at least one walk. Sometimes we went left, sometimes we went right, sometime we went straight, and oneday even got lost!!! But all of our walks together were "bumpity, bumpity" GREAT! Here's a shot of me and mommy at the park on one of the various walks we took with grandpa: (don't worry folks, mommy left the dog behind)

Here's a picture mommy snapped on a chilly sunday morning. Grandpa and I went walking down Sanchez Fontecilla, the street they close off to cars every Sunday. all the walkers loved my adorable little chicken suit. How embarasssssing!

Of course, grandpa and I weren't always on the go. Sometimes we stayed in the house and just played in my bouncy chair or on my activity mat. No matter what we did though, grandpa alway kept me entertained telling me stories about mommy when she was little or just talking to me about life in general. Maybe one day I'll understand all that stuff about finances!

this one is one of my favorites. I even got dressed up for the picture!



The Saturday before grandpa left was a big day for me. I had my 4 month check up AND got to take a trip to Cajon de Maipo with the grandpa and the Atria family. In case you are wondering ... Of course I passed my check-up with flying colors (14 pounds already). Lunch was great too!

Grandpa thinks my doctor is good looking? What do you think?? I personally think my tushy steals the show!

Here we are at Casa del Bosque. The food was yummy I hear, but I just preferred to sleep.

and ... Here's a picture in front of the restaurant we went to. I was wearing gator garb too before I vomited on myself! uuups!

Of course we did lots more than I can put down in this blog ... but really the best thing was just ... being with him!  I was sad when he had to go but I know I'll be seeing him again soon and I can't wait until the day I get to talk back to him and ask him all the questions I've got. I guess until then, I just practice babbling. Thanks for coming to visit me grandpa.

I LOVE YOU!