(Not so uncommon for me nowadays) I awoke from my sleep on the couch to find the house quiet, late at night with everyone off to bed. Isa has made it a habit now to sleep in our bed, which I both hate/love. There's something nice at night feeling little feet in your face or having her little hand draped over my neck. But in the morning when they awake it's not so cool to have someone in your ear loudly asking for "chocolate milk" or to "watch cartoons".
Tonight, though, I sleepily got off the couch to walk over to the kids room. It was almost 2am and just wanted to peek over to see how they were (my nightly ritual). Isa, of course, had ignored my warning to stay in her bed and was missing from the room - she's in our bed passed out with her mom. Nico Boy, on the other hand, is sound asleep with his shirt slightly tossed up and his belly poking out.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Against all better judgement I couldn't resist picking him up and holding him in my office chair as he snoozed on my shoulder. I know the next morning before I head out the door to work he'll greet me with a smile and a "da!" For now I'm pretty content just holding him. It's dark in the room. The ceiling fan quietly spins blowing a lazy breeze. His hand is draped on my neck and he stirs for a moment to look at me and then settles his head back onto my shoulder as I rub his back. I can feel his warm belly against my chest as he snores quietly in my ear. This is probably one of the more satisfying moments I can remember recently.
Whodathunk that I'd be a complete sucker for a couple of little kids who constantly needed their butts wiped, toys cleaned up after, and monitored like a hawk at all moments? I was the last person 10 years ago. The things they say, the things they do, watching them grow impress me daily. At night watching them sleep, though, makes me feel complete.
Whodathunk that I'd be a complete sucker for a couple of little kids who constantly needed their butts wiped, toys cleaned up after, and monitored like a hawk at all moments? I was the last person 10 years ago. The things they say, the things they do, watching them grow impress me daily. At night watching them sleep, though, makes me feel complete.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Show Off
I know I'm biased, but damn this kid is cute! Taken a couple of weeks ago when I was changing Nico Boy's diapers he surprised me by standing straight up while I reached over to grab a wipe for his butt one morning.
This is probably one of those photos he'll hate me for later for posting for all to see. Either way my little boy is growing up!
This is probably one of those photos he'll hate me for later for posting for all to see. Either way my little boy is growing up!
Where the Wild Things Are
As a small boy I've always loved this book. It's one of the first book I read that had illustrations that really appealed to me. I guess I could relate to Max's naughty and imaginative nature. It's probably one of the things that led me to really get into fine art and thus into art direction and design. I even (sheepishly) admit to indulging myself into Todd McFarlane's Where the Wild Things Are figures a few years ago. I also admit to exposing my children to anything that held fond memories for me as a child - Disney World, Sinatra and Nat King Cole, drawing and painting, whatever.
I was pretty stoked to hear that Where the Wild Things Are was going to be made into a movie awhile back. After the movie opening a couple of weeks ago El had been prepping Isa by reading her the book before bed for the past two weeks. This is the same thing we did when Pixar's Wall-E was about to come out to help familiarize herself to it. Same goes for Disney. Anyways, it was a great way to get her to watch something I personally wanted to see without her losing interest or getting fidgety in the theater (yes...I work that way).
This morning I went to her room to find her "reading" the book to herself. Tonight was the night! After work we had a tasty anitpasto dinner El prepared and drove the kids out to see it. Spike Jonze's version of it remained true to the book imagery. Even Max was spot on to how I thought he should be although a little older. Nico was passed out, but Isa held her attention for the most part. I thought it was GREAT. Definitely a little more (surprisingly) graphic than I imagined at times but still true to form. I thought Spike managed to successfully "extend" the movie out - a difficult task considering the actual length of Maurice Sendak's book. The Wild Things even got a little scary at times with what they were capable of doing. Overall, great flick. Just not necessarily a kid flick - just a flick about a kid.
I was pretty stoked to hear that Where the Wild Things Are was going to be made into a movie awhile back. After the movie opening a couple of weeks ago El had been prepping Isa by reading her the book before bed for the past two weeks. This is the same thing we did when Pixar's Wall-E was about to come out to help familiarize herself to it. Same goes for Disney. Anyways, it was a great way to get her to watch something I personally wanted to see without her losing interest or getting fidgety in the theater (yes...I work that way).
This morning I went to her room to find her "reading" the book to herself. Tonight was the night! After work we had a tasty anitpasto dinner El prepared and drove the kids out to see it. Spike Jonze's version of it remained true to the book imagery. Even Max was spot on to how I thought he should be although a little older. Nico was passed out, but Isa held her attention for the most part. I thought it was GREAT. Definitely a little more (surprisingly) graphic than I imagined at times but still true to form. I thought Spike managed to successfully "extend" the movie out - a difficult task considering the actual length of Maurice Sendak's book. The Wild Things even got a little scary at times with what they were capable of doing. Overall, great flick. Just not necessarily a kid flick - just a flick about a kid.
It's Official Now...Fall is Upon Us.
We've kind of made it a tradition with us to kick off the cooler season by taking the kid(s) every year to the Celebration's Pumpkin Patch for photo ops and to take in some nice, cool(er) night air. This being Nicholas' first year we were able to capture some moments. As Isabella gets older she has grown to appreciate these types of things more.
She has definitely become more sociable with people. Before she would be shyer around most people with the exception of anyone who seemed like a "mom-type". Now she talks to everyone. She's even started to warm up again to her daddy's camera and would throw in a pose or two if coerced with the proper reward. Ice cream afterwards perhaps.
Nico Boy on the other hand is a true natural and seems to just enjoy being around new environments and experiences. Such a simple, happy boy he's always been very easy to please and I've discovered that he cries if he thinks you're mad at him. This, of course, is easy pickings when I want to see how cute he is when he's upset (sadistic - I know).
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Chasing My Tail
That's what it's been feeling like these past few months. So much has been going on and I want to write about it, but things have been too busy to even do that. I've spent a few hours writing here and there and even have new photos ready to go. Just when I think I can sit down and collect my thoughts something new happens. Good and bad. A lot of new developments in my life and I need to get cracking on it before I start to lose any kind of chronological order to it. I'll get there I know it. Just need to focus...
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Amidst all the stress there is still light at the end of the tunnel. Nooo not that light...
This weekend was a productive one. There's lots to be done at the house, but oddly enough it's the kind of work that makes me feel that I'm in control again. Too many things have been happening that has made me edgy and confrontational. Cross me the wrong way I was likely to get in your face and start smacking you around. I'm not talking about my family : )
This weekend was a project weekend. Fix the electrical wiring on the dishwasher, put the aquarium back together, clear out my old clothes (who am I kidding? They're too small now!), and general cleaning which managed to do alot of - I was just finishing the last touches. For weeks I've been resodding the front lawn and both cars got a much needed cleaning. El cleared out stuff waiting for a pickup out of our garage so we reclaimed that space. Carpets were steamed, computers were back online. More things to check off the mental laundry list. It felt good. Oh and I made El very happy by working on a new dish she loved. So much, in fact, she asked me to make it again Sunday night as well - spicy shrimp & grits. A twist of a southern dish and Vickery's Seaffod Saute with an asian twist. A little smoked paprika, siracha, creamy slow cooked grits and sweet white shrimp...mmm.
And just like paid tv advertising I can blurt out "BUT WAIT! There's more!" I got a call last week that certainly lifted my spirits. Another project I've been "working" on that also solves one of my biggest headaches. That story will play out soon enough. Slowly, but surely, our lives will straighten out the messes and we can get back to being a normal family again.
As we sipped on a beer after a long, hard weekend El and I relaxed in our family room with the lights out listening to some music and watching the fish in the newly stocked and cleaned tank. I can only think of the day's events with the kids. Those two knuckleheads only make me smile. Sure I get mad sometimes, but I love them. Nico Boy's smile and twinkling eyes makes me laugh, especially when he stands at his crib in the morning to greet me. His new learned thing is to wave at you and say in his quiet, husky voice "hiiiii"! His mother gave him a new nickname, "Killik Boy". The name has stuck and my parents have adopted it as well for him. In our weird filipino family slang language it roughly means "He Who Wants You To Carry Him Everywhere".
His big sister loves to goad him into screaming matches with her. Isabella's vocabulary has expanded greatly. Her baby talk is almost completely gone now. She surprised me this weekend when I was upset with her for being too rough with Nicholas. She looked at me later and said "I'm sorry you're mad at me, daddy". She then hugged my leg and kissed me. Then she kissed her brother and gave him a big hug and said "I'm sorry Nicholas". How could I be angry with THAT???
Later on she realized her beloved bunny was missing and accusingly said " Daddy did you take bunny? DID YOU???" Yes I did. He was being washed and I pulled him out of dryer to give to her. She squealed happily, kissed him on the nose and promptly flipped him over and asked me "Is this bunny's butt"? Hahaha! What a clown.
I feel pretty good.
This weekend was a project weekend. Fix the electrical wiring on the dishwasher, put the aquarium back together, clear out my old clothes (who am I kidding? They're too small now!), and general cleaning which managed to do alot of - I was just finishing the last touches. For weeks I've been resodding the front lawn and both cars got a much needed cleaning. El cleared out stuff waiting for a pickup out of our garage so we reclaimed that space. Carpets were steamed, computers were back online. More things to check off the mental laundry list. It felt good. Oh and I made El very happy by working on a new dish she loved. So much, in fact, she asked me to make it again Sunday night as well - spicy shrimp & grits. A twist of a southern dish and Vickery's Seaffod Saute with an asian twist. A little smoked paprika, siracha, creamy slow cooked grits and sweet white shrimp...mmm.
And just like paid tv advertising I can blurt out "BUT WAIT! There's more!" I got a call last week that certainly lifted my spirits. Another project I've been "working" on that also solves one of my biggest headaches. That story will play out soon enough. Slowly, but surely, our lives will straighten out the messes and we can get back to being a normal family again.
As we sipped on a beer after a long, hard weekend El and I relaxed in our family room with the lights out listening to some music and watching the fish in the newly stocked and cleaned tank. I can only think of the day's events with the kids. Those two knuckleheads only make me smile. Sure I get mad sometimes, but I love them. Nico Boy's smile and twinkling eyes makes me laugh, especially when he stands at his crib in the morning to greet me. His new learned thing is to wave at you and say in his quiet, husky voice "hiiiii"! His mother gave him a new nickname, "Killik Boy". The name has stuck and my parents have adopted it as well for him. In our weird filipino family slang language it roughly means "He Who Wants You To Carry Him Everywhere".
His big sister loves to goad him into screaming matches with her. Isabella's vocabulary has expanded greatly. Her baby talk is almost completely gone now. She surprised me this weekend when I was upset with her for being too rough with Nicholas. She looked at me later and said "I'm sorry you're mad at me, daddy". She then hugged my leg and kissed me. Then she kissed her brother and gave him a big hug and said "I'm sorry Nicholas". How could I be angry with THAT???
Later on she realized her beloved bunny was missing and accusingly said " Daddy did you take bunny? DID YOU???" Yes I did. He was being washed and I pulled him out of dryer to give to her. She squealed happily, kissed him on the nose and promptly flipped him over and asked me "Is this bunny's butt"? Hahaha! What a clown.
I feel pretty good.
It's Been A Rough Season
It's been a rough season. One incident after another for us. Just can't seem to catch a break. No matter how hard El and I try to save some money or get something accomplished our plans are thwarted by some assclown(s), which in turn costs us more money.
Over a week ago I got a call around lunchtime from a hysterical wife. All I heard was "there are men in the house!" WTF?!? I dashed out of work and told her to get out of the house. By the time I got there police were going through the house to make sure no one was still around and people were being questioned.
As Eleanor was pulling into our driveway with the kids a van was sitting there. She pulls up and he backs out with a nod to her. She thinks it's someone who got lost and was turning around. Turns out he was the getaway driver/lookout and two other a$$h*les broke in thru our french doors to rob the place. Also turns out that they were doing this to alot of homes over a long period of time. All three had spent time previously for drugs and burglary.
Our house was ransacked. El came home to find our electronics piled up by the front door inside. With the two kids in hand it was lucky she didn't run into the culprits. What they did manage to take was all the high end jewelry, a laptop and some other small electronics. El was pretty devastated and I was ready to kill someone.
Luckily neighbors were able to get a plate number and ID the bad guys. Thursday they were arrested for breaking into another home. While they are still in jail our lives have been a mess. They'll be out in a few years to terrorize more people I'm sure. Unfortunately the law works for criminals like these guys as well. If it's drugs they want. I say save us the money, time and resources. Lock them in a room with all the drugs they want and let them kill themselves. They're just a waste of space.
Over a week ago I got a call around lunchtime from a hysterical wife. All I heard was "there are men in the house!" WTF?!? I dashed out of work and told her to get out of the house. By the time I got there police were going through the house to make sure no one was still around and people were being questioned.
As Eleanor was pulling into our driveway with the kids a van was sitting there. She pulls up and he backs out with a nod to her. She thinks it's someone who got lost and was turning around. Turns out he was the getaway driver/lookout and two other a$$h*les broke in thru our french doors to rob the place. Also turns out that they were doing this to alot of homes over a long period of time. All three had spent time previously for drugs and burglary.
Our house was ransacked. El came home to find our electronics piled up by the front door inside. With the two kids in hand it was lucky she didn't run into the culprits. What they did manage to take was all the high end jewelry, a laptop and some other small electronics. El was pretty devastated and I was ready to kill someone.
Luckily neighbors were able to get a plate number and ID the bad guys. Thursday they were arrested for breaking into another home. While they are still in jail our lives have been a mess. They'll be out in a few years to terrorize more people I'm sure. Unfortunately the law works for criminals like these guys as well. If it's drugs they want. I say save us the money, time and resources. Lock them in a room with all the drugs they want and let them kill themselves. They're just a waste of space.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Bunny's Adventure
That Isa Pisa will never learn not to bring Bunny with her on trips. By sheer luck and Daddy running around trying to get the kids to their latest doctor's appointment in MetroWest Isa snuck her beloved Bunny into the car and into the doctor's office without me noticing. At least I didn't notice until we were already there. And, of course, she forgot it sitting on a bench or the floor during Nico's checkup. It wasn't until alter that evening before bed that she "couldn't find Bunny". Backtracking I remembered seeing it last at the pediatrician's - she insisted it must still be in the SUV. Tired already from rushing around I wasn't jumping thru hoops to rush and retrieve him. I had to make up some cockamamie story about how she left him and he was crying and sitting alone at the doctor's in the dark - he'd have to make his way home on the mean streets of Orlando!
At lunch today I drove out to get her precious Bunny, whom she kept asking for all weekend. I thought it might build some excitement for her as I kept texting her mom "snapshots" of Bunny making his way home. First, it was leaving the pediatrician's to get to a bus stop, which he rode all the way to daddy's office. Then he had to make the trek in the hot sun stopping momentarily to get a drink and sit in some shade. Afterwards, he chilled at daddy's office in some A/C to catch a ride the rest of the way home. And lastly. in the safety of his bed waiting for his absent-minded pal, Isa.
That Isa...
At lunch today I drove out to get her precious Bunny, whom she kept asking for all weekend. I thought it might build some excitement for her as I kept texting her mom "snapshots" of Bunny making his way home. First, it was leaving the pediatrician's to get to a bus stop, which he rode all the way to daddy's office. Then he had to make the trek in the hot sun stopping momentarily to get a drink and sit in some shade. Afterwards, he chilled at daddy's office in some A/C to catch a ride the rest of the way home. And lastly. in the safety of his bed waiting for his absent-minded pal, Isa.
That Isa...
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