First Food!

Yesterday we got the official "ok" from the pediatrician to begin introducing foods to Juani! Of course I am thrilled about this new step in life as it allows him to join me at the dinner table, which means maybe, just maybe, I will begin to be able to eat without him on my lap! So, after debating what his first solid intake should be, I gave into traditional culture. Here in Argentina, nearly everyone's first food is pureed butternut squash. (also known as pumpkin squash) He ate like a champ and made a mess while doing so. But we had a blast. His facial expressions are priceless, which is why we made a video, because photos were just not capturing it.
I hope you enjoy it!

I am not biased!

My son is simply the cutest kid I have ever seen. And I am not the only one who seems to think so. People stop us in the street to tell me how beautiful he is (see previous entry's face touching "awers" refrence) Women are already melting at his feet as he plays coy, grinning yet turning away as if he were actually shy. (yeah right!)
There are days that I look at him and wonder, how did I get so lucky? There are day when I watch him sleep and think to myself, now can one individual be so perfect?

News of the week:
So after sleeping through the night by 4 months, we obviously had to digress to waking upon every hour just to make sure I get the full experience of motherhood. After 3 back to back sleepless nights I finally decided I would merely let him grunt and protest in his crib all by his lonesome, hoping and praying he would go back to sleep. WRONG! His grunt quickly escalated to mild screams and finally a bit of crying, yet I was determined to go back to sleep, inviting him to do the same (once he had tired himself out of course) However, I was completely unsuccessful and here is why. After about 10 minutes of attempting to ignore him from across the hall I suddenly heard magic words. That is right ladies and gentlemen, my Argentine American son began babbling mama mama mama with an Italian accent. Of course, I broke and immediately gave in, kissing him from head to toe, my frowns turning to smiles, as I tucked him beside me, in the end, giving him what he wanted, his Mama.
Other, news on the forefront is that it appears Juan has a thing for older women. He has somewhat of a Czechoslovakian girlfriend! Her name is Maggie and she comes to play once a week while I give her mother Spanish classes.

So cute! So innocent!

oh man oh man

These last two weeks have been soooooooo difficult. Surprisingly, however, not because of being a mommy, but because I was forced to recognize my own limitations. I took on a job that I thought I could handle and failed miserably. For someone that is "pert near perfect" that is a hard egotistical realization to have.

So while some things marched into reverse, other things continued moving forward, like...I got a babysitter!!!!!!! Her name is Florencia, she is 17, she is fantastic. The first day she began, Juan fell asleep in her arms within 10 minutes of their meeting, and that is when I knew it was love from the get go so I hired her on the spot and now, not only do I have time to think and breathe and bathe, but my house is spic and span, dinner is done each night, Juan is happy all day, and so is his mommy!

There is oh so much to tell you all... like, Juani has started adding some "mamamamas into his blah blah blahs" He smiles all the time causing each and every "street awer" (the people that stop and try to touch my child's face saying "awe so cute" while I secretly fantasize about cutting their finger off and screaming "who the hell are you and what in god's name possessed you to touch a child you do not know!") to stop in their tracks and attempt to touch Juani's face saying, "awe, he is so cute! look at how he smiles" "Yes I know, he is effing cute, now get your grimy hands away from him you freak!" Or at least that is something of the dialogue that goes on in my head while strain to continue smiling.

He is weighing in at nearly 19 pounds these days! So I am in dire need of my mommy's magic healing hands. He is nearly sitting on his own...toppling over from time to time. He tries his darndest to crawl but goes backwards instead of forwards, followed by shrieking cries of frustration.
In about two weeks we will begin introducing food, though we have already allowed him to taste a few things...lemon, beef, apple, banana...nothing solid, just flavors. (the lemon is the best!)
Here are some of the latest photos...