tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18096115278620285282024-03-21T22:39:04.313-04:002 Make My Daydeyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-7808237643557378152012-09-16T23:44:00.001-04:002012-09-16T23:44:35.737-04:00Blue Period<div><p>"Vale, what is it that you are painting?"<br>
"THIS is what I am painting!", and he pointed to the blue blob...</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQO7ejnIT3_cRg3Q5HfxIYmfZWcwM6CqG7pybviSADbDtBpX1gM8ZwWhvokwWzs8vm6BYTMGs5pPE2zWDrX1cdcFmwd07_8ZZ8L_EG6zBYKWXoIImH04ko3-K_14vTqBiV5XVRBIT2pJPt/' /></div>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-53428771621456583712012-09-10T23:21:00.001-04:002012-09-12T22:31:08.290-04:00Beautiful<div><p>A month or so ago, while watching me put make up on before going out, Vale said: "Ауу, колко си хубав!" ("Aww, how handsome you are!"). Of course, I drowned him in kisses! </p>
<p>He still continues to give me this exact compliment every time I get ready to go out or, lately, even when I only change into my home clothes or even PJs. And every time I give him kisses (how can one not!). If I am busy and delay the kisses by seconds, he says "Айде, цункай ме!" ("Come on,  kiss me!"). Martin has been more reserved in his compliments, usually only correcting his little brother: "КрасивА! За момиче се казва красивА не красив!" ("Beautiful! You say beautiful for girls, not handsome!"</p>
<p>Today, we saw one of Martin's friends from preschool in our neighborhood while riding the bikes. Later at home Martin was talking about her and explained to Vale: <br>
"Her name is Lindsey Grace. She is... She is my most beautiful girlfriend."<br>
He thought a little more and said "Alexa is also beautiful."<br>
I asked about other girls he knows and he agreed they are all beautiful. Then he concluded: "Girls are just born beautiful! ... Mamo, you are beautiful too!"<br>
Coming from the two most gorgeous men in the world, these words just made my... life!</p>
</div>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-2304415425179385512012-04-11T12:17:00.001-04:002012-04-11T12:17:31.069-04:00Big Boy<div><p>So self-sufficient! <br>
Already out of diapers (at 2 and 2 months), except for when he sleeps. He loves saying "Vale big boy" every time he does a 'big boy' thing.</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVa82giU1AFElyk-gxtJifurVZvqluZ3_cYUO85u0Unyyh2h3l4hh3qFv_2SROTobcBK8vUWIZ4i4qRC0AIjjHTlxBFqDXFN0w0MSiP_P-fyRNwbry2kDgubORjGcDJnauqYATR4gQRwN/' /></div>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-78119235596159516142012-02-11T19:11:00.006-05:002012-02-13T12:33:12.568-05:00Be Mine!Be My Valentin! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHux0PcPdnhdFroi9hHvM4WbEgqprBof7ume4WRMX5XTF5NRpx04MdsIie2SEFe4TWkg1kSA-iuMujk4smnJacSkJ-QAqqowkxVqiLhsh2u27U-zwc_aRqnRWTv7AunkwnIFXNEaBz5RJ/s1600/P1160442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHux0PcPdnhdFroi9hHvM4WbEgqprBof7ume4WRMX5XTF5NRpx04MdsIie2SEFe4TWkg1kSA-iuMujk4smnJacSkJ-QAqqowkxVqiLhsh2u27U-zwc_aRqnRWTv7AunkwnIFXNEaBz5RJ/s400/P1160442.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708674255795775714" /></a><br /><br />Be My Martin! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RkJB6qnbV-UZzySa9yvLozliNa5rtHNb0LDVGwYqcGqmMLqZwilQ8Fo_y7DEWhdgR2bBh5xTntGKzzKJAbGulNhhPkg7c0h85mvYZksxopcKn6X09WZVrkM3q0fcWdmLWPPbbivMO_Cl/s1600/P1160435-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RkJB6qnbV-UZzySa9yvLozliNa5rtHNb0LDVGwYqcGqmMLqZwilQ8Fo_y7DEWhdgR2bBh5xTntGKzzKJAbGulNhhPkg7c0h85mvYZksxopcKn6X09WZVrkM3q0fcWdmLWPPbbivMO_Cl/s400/P1160435-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708036638816213938" /></a><br /><br />Always mine....deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-82691943289672492382012-02-08T09:55:00.005-05:002012-02-08T10:07:12.276-05:002 Years Old<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa6D7u9AIsdeE4rSl2EfP-Td7DvNM3z-qUr_653N3ve9HbRbCbpXzLF7EMdaswMxJPQ5pKfoDKzo4yNvJ7xjPHPa3bGKa39MvSrIXRdAQPS3Ta_MGlF-3m1UQBg3K0E93OZ5FdBxd1CR4/s1600/P1160292_sm.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa6D7u9AIsdeE4rSl2EfP-Td7DvNM3z-qUr_653N3ve9HbRbCbpXzLF7EMdaswMxJPQ5pKfoDKzo4yNvJ7xjPHPa3bGKa39MvSrIXRdAQPS3Ta_MGlF-3m1UQBg3K0E93OZ5FdBxd1CR4/s400/P1160292_sm.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706779181726417666" /></a><br /><br />Yo: "Vale, y como te sientes ahora de 2 anos?" <br />Vale: "Me siento aqui!" - mostrando la silla donde se sentaba... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSBws5qF0OyiY_z6UNlmTojlGQvr-wib8unkaIrmC-NO3zFSQSmSZP1Z7Co8_R0CQmI_Ql9iou7fJrVNIpWBhRYoL2zCdV-dDr8gTPIae6IeDWcX87_ZfemumUFXJaieAB1wjOMLf6d63/s1600/P1160393_sm.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSBws5qF0OyiY_z6UNlmTojlGQvr-wib8unkaIrmC-NO3zFSQSmSZP1Z7Co8_R0CQmI_Ql9iou7fJrVNIpWBhRYoL2zCdV-dDr8gTPIae6IeDWcX87_ZfemumUFXJaieAB1wjOMLf6d63/s400/P1160393_sm.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706780517902464866" /></a><br /><br />The birthday party was a blast! He is still talking to himself "Birthday boy, birthday boy".deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-38476656807216681472011-10-10T22:20:00.001-04:002011-10-10T22:20:50.209-04:00More naughty than his big brother<div><p>Just figured out how to get to the top rack of the dishwasher.</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjzkw544vVOkKjYbOOOFoQzUBaMVy0PneMU3qi6FZCKeSSCv39xBV6X0KghxgRPgEL5Iil1HiOJwm0aTRBV3dmqStNyLGquF1twRUPoGRH4B3WE6n0N6NW7gHLmfiKF98YnH5wyvkAVB6/' /></div>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-72933793746786793632011-09-11T21:31:00.009-04:002011-09-15T13:36:03.428-04:00Day Care ArtA small part of Martin's art during the 2 summer months they went to a full-time home-based day care (now all glued on the wall of his room): <br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lQBJOBrFoqiWhavHEJNC1UNJLAFwqTvXM4nEKvr3n3mjdiv1Z1QmtZ5X-qXvyyB2CW_gZ56vlCzeWSlmhkkrWLFp3No61wY6e7EtBkd94_JJafFDYBb2-fpoJbzod5DFQGM4I6rNuY0e/s1600/2011-08-28+DayCare+Art.jpg'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lQBJOBrFoqiWhavHEJNC1UNJLAFwqTvXM4nEKvr3n3mjdiv1Z1QmtZ5X-qXvyyB2CW_gZ56vlCzeWSlmhkkrWLFp3No61wY6e7EtBkd94_JJafFDYBb2-fpoJbzod5DFQGM4I6rNuY0e/s400/2011-08-28+DayCare+Art.jpg' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><br />And some of Vale's art: <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4eVQMFhnZehFPViN74SEVtT3xNepaH4iHyMyMFXgP99TM2GgVGaFIGnwqUNKChYW7Iypue8ZHI0Hq8Yb4SzlESDOh2k5mq-Gq7uWU4dqMsOKbnDrdHp6v-SuWc5CQTCzHRKNrdQYAW1B/s1600/2011-08-28+DayCare+Art1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4eVQMFhnZehFPViN74SEVtT3xNepaH4iHyMyMFXgP99TM2GgVGaFIGnwqUNKChYW7Iypue8ZHI0Hq8Yb4SzlESDOh2k5mq-Gq7uWU4dqMsOKbnDrdHp6v-SuWc5CQTCzHRKNrdQYAW1B/s400/2011-08-28+DayCare+Art1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651282269122227906" /></a><br />The top right drawing is a portrait of Vale by his brother. The explanation reads: <br />'Esto es Vale. Se esta comiendo las cartas. Tiene 2 cartas en cada mano. Esta jugando con papi i Martin.' <br />And yes - Vale's teethmarks are on most of the memory game cards... :)deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-21660378264378138462011-08-30T22:12:00.005-04:002011-08-30T22:29:01.758-04:00The Yesterday Tense"Mamo, do you remember yesterday when we were in Punta Cana and we danced with the other kids and there was the sea and we slept there...? I want to go again to Punta Cana..." <br />"Mamo, do you remember when we went to the pool... in YMCA... yesterday... and Vale was there..." <br />"Mamo, do you remember when your car broke? Yesterday... And baba and diado were there... Why did it break?" <br />"Mamo, do you remember when we went to see the animals? And gave them food... Yesterday, mamo. Why don't we see them again?"deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-17585018235267090852011-08-21T22:04:00.002-04:002011-08-21T22:07:20.562-04:00Three Times the LoveThis is how Martin parts with me for the night: <br />"I love you too! Y te quiero mucho! y... y... <br />и те обичам много!" deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-52442964158999724132011-08-10T21:55:00.004-04:002011-08-10T22:08:41.185-04:00Music and LanguagesAs soon as I start the car and Vale hears NPR on, he starts 'Mama, mama, mama, mmmm...' which means he wants to listen to music. <br />As soon as I switch to music Martin starts: <br />'This song is in Bulgarian... This song is in Spanish... This song is in English...'<br />So, here comes Pitbull with 'I know you want me (Calle ocho)'... <br />Martin: 'Esa es de Simon.' - meaning Simon likes it. 'Habla como en Miami - como Simon.' <br />I: 'Como se habla en Miami?'<br />Martin: 'En Espanol y en Ingles.' <br /><br />Soon comes some Tarkan music. <br />I: 'So, what language is this one in?'<br />Martin: 'Mmmm... Mmmmm... Ne znam (I don't know).'<br />I: 'Of course you don't! This is Turkish.'<br /><br /><br />deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-4014820941790622052011-08-07T22:34:00.008-04:002011-08-07T22:51:12.931-04:00Pool Time<div>This was what made my day today:<br />- my nephew Simon's first jump in the pool for the day - he ran to get speed and splashed like a ball in the water. He is such a daredevil!<br />- Martin's increasingly brave jumps too (trying to follow everything his cousin does). </div><div>- Valentin's running like a borracho. For the casual viewer (and for me especially) it is a mirracle he is not falling on every step. And he is having the time of his life every time he runs. </div><div>- The almost 4 hour nap the kids took after the pool. At the same time! </div>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-20222217723367130372011-08-04T23:34:00.004-04:002011-08-04T23:50:12.365-04:00Wet KissesI kissed Martin good night and headed for the door. <br /><br /><strong>Martin:</strong> Mama, you give wet kisses. <br /><br />I used to call his 'wet kisses' back in the time he was teething and giving me slobbery kisses. Then Vale started doing the same (and still does) and that is how Martin knows the term. <br /><br /><strong>Martin:</strong> Mama, you love giving wet kisses? <br /><strong>Me:</strong> Yes, very much! <br /><strong>Martin:</strong> I only love a little giving wet kisses.<br /><strong>Me:</strong> Do you want to give me one? <br /><strong>Martin:</strong> Yes. <br /><br />It felt pretty dry to me, but still made my day (and night)! <br /><br />[<em>The conversation is translated from Bulgarian</em>]deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-12029376038435198492011-07-29T12:32:00.003-04:002011-07-29T12:39:22.242-04:00Baby ModelValentin IN and ON the new box of Sam's Club diapers :).<br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KVgCinTIp9o/Ti4bnt-pmAI/AAAAAAAAjzo/yVE3aT5B2QM/s640/P1130414.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 546px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KVgCinTIp9o/Ti4bnt-pmAI/AAAAAAAAjzo/yVE3aT5B2QM/s640/P1130414.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-64147173983165877262011-05-13T23:01:00.013-04:002011-05-14T00:21:11.244-04:00Baptised<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZGNL2woI/AAAAAAAAfGw/L0JzVvd8P5o/s640/P1110259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 457px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZGNL2woI/AAAAAAAAfGw/L0JzVvd8P5o/s640/P1110259.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZJRX0UdI/AAAAAAAAfHQ/mYSjuCdPZvs/s640/P1110263.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 456px; height: 640px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZJRX0UdI/AAAAAAAAfHQ/mYSjuCdPZvs/s640/P1110263.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZMzNgmNI/AAAAAAAAfIA/oUUCBh75Qc0/s640/P1110272.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 457px; height: 640px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZMzNgmNI/AAAAAAAAfIA/oUUCBh75Qc0/s640/P1110272.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZVpmko3I/AAAAAAAAfJs/dSbh7KRcU98/s640/P1110289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZVpmko3I/AAAAAAAAfJs/dSbh7KRcU98/s640/P1110289.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZRUkP4NI/AAAAAAAAfJE/mRaD9hZulzc/s640/P1110281.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZRUkP4NI/AAAAAAAAfJE/mRaD9hZulzc/s640/P1110281.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZXZCKqVI/AAAAAAAAfKA/xYNzgnldW44/s640/P1110292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZXZCKqVI/AAAAAAAAfKA/xYNzgnldW44/s640/P1110292.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZZh2OtSI/AAAAAAAAfKc/s-JnP8l-OAs/s640/P1110295.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZZh2OtSI/AAAAAAAAfKc/s-JnP8l-OAs/s640/P1110295.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZafR1uMI/AAAAAAAAfKk/uoWmrnKbIyI/s640/P1110296.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZafR1uMI/AAAAAAAAfKk/uoWmrnKbIyI/s640/P1110296.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZqD8w0CI/AAAAAAAAfNk/PWfrf58uGZM/s640/P1110322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZqD8w0CI/AAAAAAAAfNk/PWfrf58uGZM/s640/P1110322.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZuPMv-yI/AAAAAAAAfOc/qWrY97GF30Q/s640/P1110330.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZuPMv-yI/AAAAAAAAfOc/qWrY97GF30Q/s640/P1110330.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZrYUmWQI/AAAAAAAAfN0/KUnE1ArhAlQ/s640/P1110325.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZrYUmWQI/AAAAAAAAfN0/KUnE1ArhAlQ/s640/P1110325.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZxxvSIfI/AAAAAAAAfPU/aL0QKxAT54U/s640/P1110337.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdZxxvSIfI/AAAAAAAAfPU/aL0QKxAT54U/s640/P1110337.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdaBKlTgyI/AAAAAAAAfSo/CBOe4IZgjIY/s640/P1110362.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 455px; height: 640px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdaBKlTgyI/AAAAAAAAfSo/CBOe4IZgjIY/s640/P1110362.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdaRjBwLlI/AAAAAAAAfV8/WDQvYCSxh5I/s640/P1110394.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdaRjBwLlI/AAAAAAAAfV8/WDQvYCSxh5I/s640/P1110394.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdaRB5GJiI/AAAAAAAAfV0/e-IkwdNuYYE/s640/P1110393.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TcdaRB5GJiI/AAAAAAAAfV0/e-IkwdNuYYE/s640/P1110393.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/Tc379F6-7nI/AAAAAAAAgS0/CA8lPbGlpMk/s640/P1110396.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/Tc379F6-7nI/AAAAAAAAgS0/CA8lPbGlpMk/s640/P1110396.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-38698067634255634812011-03-17T09:51:00.026-04:002011-05-14T00:22:23.456-04:00Speech Samples<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhE1Iyi7FKS6Y3qaVqS-2biitcRTpNT8AoUtgWVSuQsiijO6EpIjhYcQaWvCYyuLxVMIJ9BdvIZSQ7ydM_whaxTG2Ngyk5WZrjcRJX0eIQVBwM6JavmQwG4wV2vTJEQz2mFUJ5UNdnuZo/s1600/P1110227.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhE1Iyi7FKS6Y3qaVqS-2biitcRTpNT8AoUtgWVSuQsiijO6EpIjhYcQaWvCYyuLxVMIJ9BdvIZSQ7ydM_whaxTG2Ngyk5WZrjcRJX0eIQVBwM6JavmQwG4wV2vTJEQz2mFUJ5UNdnuZo/s400/P1110227.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606399890268768818" /></a><br />Martin is about 2 and a half years old at that time.<br /> <br />Overheard from my home office while working: <br /><br />Martin: Баба, ти оздравя, защото ти пи milk chocolate? И аз пия milk chocolate - да оздравеем! (meant to say 'chocolate milk')<br />М: Вале, Вале, не тука! Баба, махни го! Карай количката - този мотор на мене! Не Вале! <br />баба: Той няма да ти го вземе - той само го пипа! <br />М: Не искам той да пипа. Не искам! .... И после ще го остави! :)<br />баба: Ти наяаде ли се? <br />М: Още не! <br />баба: Хайде, закъсняхме за playground.<br />М: Пьрво да го изпиям milk chocolate... Виж! (finishing his drink)<br />баба: Браво на тебе!<br />М: Като дойдем и после ще изядем това. <br /><br />****<br />М: Баба, земи една очила да четеме книжки!<br /><br />****<br />М: И аз обичам много моркови. И аз обичам зеленчуци. И обичам alma (=almond) butter. Това е една семка - не се еде! И ти няма да го еде? <br /><br />****<br />М: Me siento mal! Me siento gordo! <br /><br />****<br />М: Пак ще играяме!<br />баба: Седни да си починеш. <br />М: Не искам да седя - искам да работя!<br /><br />****<br />М: Валето лапа всичко!<br />баба: Какво прави Валето? <br />М: Валето прави беля - всичко лапа!<br /><br />****<br />М: Бабо, искам тахьн. Аз сьм гладен за тахьн. Искам тахьнче! Не пьрво супа - искам пьрво тахьн! Бабо, тахьнче с мееед! Сльнчоглед тахьн! Ама баба не знае кьде тати купил сльнчоглед тахьн. Ама той купил на магазина бе! Пьк баба не знае че тати купил слънчоглед тахьн на магазина. Не искам фелийка. Не го печей! Това е сандвич. Бабо, помогни ми да ми намажем фелийката... Ние окапахме малко и ние ще го облизаме! И става сандвич! Става хубав садвич кото фелийката като сложим тахьн. Който яаде тахьн трябва да пие вода! <br /><br />****<br />М: (after spending the day at his grandparents' and his grandpa not hoeing in his garden this time): Следващия пьт ще копаеме! <br /><br />****<br />М: Мамо, четей тази книжка! <br /><br />****<br />М: Esta pelota esta rompida!deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-75249486268198796402011-03-16T15:11:00.006-04:002011-03-16T15:40:22.261-04:00Correcting Our EnglishMartin is already correcting our English pronunciation! <br /><br />The other day at a birthday party I had to translate some instructions to him while he was participating in a circle time led by an instructor. So, I felt a bit guilty for not exposing him to English more and not teaching him English at all. <br /><br />However, every time his Dad says Woody (the character from Toy Story), Martin is passionately correcting him by saying it with the American D-rolling-to-R sound. And when he gets this rolling D sound, then Martin is not happy with his long WU sound, but corrects it to a shorter WU sound. But what amazes me here is that Martin notices we speak with an accent!!! <br /><br />I just hope he grows up like the rest of the Americans that think foreign accents are cool... And not be ashamed of us one day!deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-42552611965671468572011-02-21T15:12:00.012-05:002011-03-21T10:34:43.624-04:0014 of February - Valentin's DayThis is the last time I use those angel wings on Vale. The whole time of the 'photo session' he had a face of ‘oh, this is so ridiculous!!!’ Not to mention that I had to chase his naked butt all over the second floor – from his room to the bathroom to the office room… and I had to clean the carpet after a peeing accident he so enjoyed watching… How do the pros do it? <br /><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEtuRMhzI/AAAAAAAAek4/yAa0eXWdYDE/s800/P1100543.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEtuRMhzI/AAAAAAAAek4/yAa0eXWdYDE/s800/P1100543.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEtOs5j0I/AAAAAAAAekw/NVrWXigygoc/s800/P1100538.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEtOs5j0I/AAAAAAAAekw/NVrWXigygoc/s800/P1100538.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEr2ieerI/AAAAAAAAekY/N1M5lxh7yZw/s800/P1100528.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEr2ieerI/AAAAAAAAekY/N1M5lxh7yZw/s800/P1100528.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEvVg6WHI/AAAAAAAAelY/sUDuPD57zuw/s800/P1100523-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEvVg6WHI/AAAAAAAAelY/sUDuPD57zuw/s800/P1100523-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEu5RlpmI/AAAAAAAAelQ/PltyGLv4oVo/s800/P1100523-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEu5RlpmI/AAAAAAAAelQ/PltyGLv4oVo/s800/P1100523-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEuC-99BI/AAAAAAAAelA/9WucxSGfX1E/s800/P1100551.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEuC-99BI/AAAAAAAAelA/9WucxSGfX1E/s800/P1100551.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEus7x_QI/AAAAAAAAelI/NSsTtytynP4/s800/P1100554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TWLEus7x_QI/AAAAAAAAelI/NSsTtytynP4/s800/P1100554.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-40344703261208371362011-02-02T10:27:00.017-05:002011-02-02T23:26:20.662-05:00Valentin is One Year Old<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYJdaWjfGRd-Lo_dJwjDZKfGse_36Li3XYMuKzpcGHviy2xa1gK92u0gKl5jfaf8ysKbepMrLkCGsvPzLyxYcR1YGBs72S6JjbKnUjS6N1qfKaI6crqfIgCsQMKe4c0Cy-naubg9hARJB/s1600/P1100434.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYJdaWjfGRd-Lo_dJwjDZKfGse_36Li3XYMuKzpcGHviy2xa1gK92u0gKl5jfaf8ysKbepMrLkCGsvPzLyxYcR1YGBs72S6JjbKnUjS6N1qfKaI6crqfIgCsQMKe4c0Cy-naubg9hARJB/s400/P1100434.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a></div><br />I just now realize how little I write about Valentin here. No, I am no longer mad at him for not being born a girl. And yes, of course I was in the beginning - but only the first few seconds after he was born while I was still expecting him to be one of those cases when doctors made mistakes on the ultrasound. But that changed the moment they lay his little body on my chest. I remember the warmth he emanated - it went straight to my heart... Now I don't want to change anything about him! <br /><br />I realize that during Martin's first year, I blogged about every single milestone - how he slept, how he ate, every tooth that came through, about his growth charts, his burps and hiccups... It is not that those are not important now with the second child - no, we are equally excited to see Valentin grow. Hearing him say 'mama' (at 9 months) felt as good and exciting as the first time Martin said it. And we suffered every tooth that came through. And he is still waking me up every single night to nurse, and then I am dead tired for the rest of the day at work! And seeing him roll over, then crawl, then pull up, then taking a few feeble steps by himself (still not walking, though) has been equally exciting as with the first one. The difference this time, however, was that we never doubted these milestones will happen - we were much more relaxed and did not need this feedback to assure ourselves we must be doing something right. <br /><br />Vale has an incredible personality! He is always smiling, always content. He's been taking stoically Martin's constant pulling his toys out of his hands. He would occasionally do the same to Martin without being afraid of the subsequent pushing and pulling and occasional fall to the ground. Vale would put anything in his mouth. And if he knows it might be dangerous, he would look at me with an evil grin and put it in his mouth faster. He would then laugh out loud at my reaction and clench his teeth tight so that I have a hard time pulling the object out. He would challenge me to play with him by looking teasingly at me, then laughing out load and crawling rapidly away and would scream with pleasure when I start chasing him. He would belly laugh when I catch him and start to tickle him. <br /><br />On his birthday, however, Vale woke up very cranky and fussy and would cry at the slightest sign I might put him down. Having had runny nose and cough for the past week or so, I doubted ear infection and took him to his doctor. She confirmed my fears and put him on antibiotics. First ear infection on his first birthday - not fun! Still, we gathered <em>la familia </em>to celebrate the occasion and to drink for his health of course. He had a cake with one candle, which he did not have the desire to blow (although he knows how to blow candles and does it every time he sees a lit one), but Martin and Simon were more than happy to help! <br /><br />Martin seems to have outgrown his jealousy stage. He is very attached to Vale. And continues to act as his advocate - for example, whenever Vale does something that Martin knows is wrong, before I even say something, he would say 'Valeto ne iska time-out' ('Vale does not want a time-out') (of course I still don't put Vale in time-outs and I do it very rarely with Martin, but he has learnt to associate bad behaviour with the prospect of a time-out). And yesterday, I heard Martin talking on his toy phone to the 'firemen that come to take bad boys away' (we had to come up with something to scare him when he absolutely refuses to behave): <br />"Ne idvaite da vzemete Martin i Valeto - nie dobro momche. I Valeto dobro momche. Toi ne plache", (said at a time when Vale was in the other room crying his lungs off), " i niama da vzemete mama, i tati, i baba, i diado... ". <br />("Don't come to take Martin & Vale away - we good boy. Vale also good boy. He doesn't cry. And don't take away mama, daddy, grandma, grandpa...")<br /><br />Must be love!deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-80617210469479780212011-01-12T21:51:00.007-05:002011-01-13T09:19:08.029-05:00Kro-ko-dilAt 2.5 years of age, Martin already recognizes the numbers (0-9) and the letters of the English alphabet (I give the full credit to his baba). In random order, when we show him a letter or number or when we write one, he would say which letter/number it is ([ei] for A, [es] for S, etc). And unlike me, he would not hesitate between the names of G and J (sometimes I still do). <br />Also, today before bedtime he wanted us to draw on his dry-erase white board. After I drew a few things, I asked him to draw. I asked for a leaf and I got a pretty good shape, I asked for a circle and got not a bad one, which later he said is not a circle but an apple. I asked if he can draw a <em>krokodil</em>(crocodile) and he said "<em>Yes! Kro-ko-dil</em>." at which he drew a "/" for each syllable as he was pronouncing it. And then he said "<em>tuka pishe krokodil</em>" ("<em>here it says crocodile</em>") - that is, he knew he did not draw it, but wrote it. <br /> I tried a few more concrete and then abstract nouns and correctly got the verbal separation of syllables and relevant number of slashes on the white board. Even for <em>snejen chovek </em>(snowman), I heard the separated syllables "<em>sne-jen-cho-vek</em>" and saw him simultaneously write 4 slashes on the board. He correctly separated in syllables and slashes on the white board <em>Ve-ne-zue-la</em>, <em>E-ze-quiel</em> (the name of his uncle), <em>te-rri-fic </em>(even though it was a new (English) word for him), the names of everyone in the family, a few more Bulgarian and Spanish words. The only one he had trouble with was <em>boligrafo </em>(I don't think he had heard this one before) - he could not even repeat it correctly - came up as <em>loligano </em>or something of that sort. <br />And, on a side note, he wrote the slashes in right-to-left order as in Arabic :) (even though he was writing with the right hand). <br />He is extremely interested in decoding written text. When the credits of a movie start rolling on the screen he would pay close attention and occasionally say “Here is diado’s letter (for S), here is mommy’s letter (for D), here is U, here is A, here is daddy’s letter (for I)”… Today he correctly spelled <em>Old Navy </em>even reading it upside down on the T-shirt he was wearing. <br />My mom just asked me what language she should start teaching him to read in. I am currently (not) reading (i.e. trying hard to find the time to read) 'The Multilingual Mind’ by Tracey Tokuhama-Espinoza and I find the answer there to be the minority language. And since my mom cannot teach him Spanish, he is left with Bulgarian. So, Cyrillic is next on the schedule!deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-46171813190811112322010-12-27T14:56:00.032-05:002011-01-10T16:50:05.488-05:00Punta Cana Revisited<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqtoln4WhI/AAAAAAAAdZA/NpBhOjxwsLc/s400/P1090905.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqtoln4WhI/AAAAAAAAdZA/NpBhOjxwsLc/s400/P1090905.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><em>Our trip in the week before Christmas (with the kids at 2.5years and 10months of age and my parents) </em><br /><br />Starting from the airplane ride, the trip was not nearly as peaceful as when we made it only with Martin at 10 months of age. Valentin is at exactly the same age now, but unlike his brother, this boy MOVES. He slept very little and was quite fidgety for the rest of the trip. Even flying with my parents and taking turns to hold him did not give us much break.<br />The hotel, Barcelo Dominican Beach, was quite older than the one we stayed last time, but the property grounds were big and well-kept. The rooms were extremely humid and decorated in cheesy floral hotel colors - thank goodness we did not have to spend long hours in them! Only the first day and a half were rainy and we had gorgeous weather for the rest of our stay. We stayed on the beach as much as we could. It felt unreal to be in a bathing suit after leaving Charlotte with layers of sweaters, coats, hats and gloves. <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqHvVpDKgI/AAAAAAAAdOI/AbWV8d3g1qs/s400/P1090766.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqHvVpDKgI/AAAAAAAAdOI/AbWV8d3g1qs/s400/P1090766.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Mini Disco</strong><br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqGQuYRhPI/AAAAAAAAdGU/PWMOGJY4G7w/s400/P1090650.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqGQuYRhPI/AAAAAAAAdGU/PWMOGJY4G7w/s400/P1090650.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Before the main show every evening, there was a show for kids consisting of playing kids music, one lady showing the moves and all kids that dared go on stage following her. The first night I asked Martin if he wanted to dance on stage, he said 'Yes' and I took him there leaving him with the rest of the kids. He started following the moves - step forward - kick, step backward - turn around, hands up... then he stopped, looked around and noticed all the audience staring at the stage and suddenly his smile turned downwards, he saw me and ran to me crying. We watched the show till the end and joined the last song (about the train) together... <br />The next evening Martin went on stage by himself and did not come back till the whole show was over. He was trying to follow all the moves and was having a great time! Every morning he would wake up singing some of the songs from the evening ("Hands up! Baby, Hands up! Give me your hart, give me, give me, your heart - give me give me! All your love!", "Veo veo! Que ves? Una cosita. Y que cosita es?... ", etc. etc.).<br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRq78ozpBgI/AAAAAAAAdg0/mAXhJprmf_M/s400/2010-12-15%20Punta%20Cana.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRq78ozpBgI/AAAAAAAAdg0/mAXhJprmf_M/s400/2010-12-15%20Punta%20Cana.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqF-41X5MI/AAAAAAAAdEY/rVLaERASseE/s400/P1090614.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqF-41X5MI/AAAAAAAAdEY/rVLaERASseE/s400/P1090614.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Martin also made two girlfriends from the very first day - Luciana (3) from Peru and Maria(2) from Chicago. He would 'date' one of them during breakfast and in the pool and the other at the Christmas tree in the lobby (after dinner) and all throughout the discoteque. They would go on stage together and although Maria would be in her own parallel world dancing to what seemed a totally different music, both of them would often check on what the other is doing... They were very cute together! <br />At the end of each show every kid will get a small bag of hard candy. Grandpa taught him to put it in his pocket and wait for the next morning to eat it! He indulged into every single candy the next day, kind of like Israel and I savor our morning coffee with occasional chocolate bar.<br />One day, there was a kids party at the pool. They played the mini disco hits and played some games. Martin won the game where kids in a circle pass along a ball after receiving it from their neighbour and turning around. When the music stops the kid having the ball has to leave the circle. Fast turning around and passing the ball was key to winning, but Martin was taking his time and enjoying it! Still, he won! <br />Another night, they had a similar game on stage in the evening. They interviewed each kid leaving the circle: "Como te llamas? De donde vienes?". When Martin's turn came, he said his name, but to 'De Donde vienes?' he answered "De donde?" one evening and "de Venezuela" the next. And then they made him say "Chipi-chupi!" before they gave him the bag with candy. He was so cute - the youngest one on stage to have to do that... <br /><br /><strong>The Baby</strong><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqECs7vu7I/AAAAAAAAdfk/2elkYG06WXY/s400/P1090437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqECs7vu7I/AAAAAAAAdfk/2elkYG06WXY/s400/P1090437.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Valentin will probably become a mountain climber one day. He loved to climb the beach lounge chairs with the head position up. Even getting a blister on his toe did not stop him from constantly trying to climb over. He always tries to put his feet on an elevated surface - be it the table, the arm rests of chair, or anything higher than the ground. Unlike Martin at this age, he did not mind at all the sand getting all over his face and mounth. I think he liked the taste of it - he continued sucking his thumb no matter how much sand there was on it and did not flinch a bit. He also enjoyed the Chrismas tree in the lobby, but for slightly different reasons - there were so many ornaments he could touch, taste, throw and too little time to do it. He was fast and my dad could hardly keep up with him. <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRrDDSruazI/AAAAAAAAdhg/fYemsPkFUrQ/s400/2010-12-15%20Punta%20Cana2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRrDDSruazI/AAAAAAAAdhg/fYemsPkFUrQ/s400/2010-12-15%20Punta%20Cana2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Food & Drink</strong><br />The main buffet was our favorite. The freshly squeezed juices of banana, melon, watermelon, pineapple, papaya were the best part! We could find queso fresco, passion fruit, plantains, fish and mariscos. But even chicken had a totally different flavor than the hormone-grown chickens we eat in US. The a-la-carte restaurants were not great, but were a break from buffet food which inevitably comes in great quantities... <br />Martin was very cute noticing every person's use of Spanish: "Lelichkata (la senora)/chichkoto (el senor) habla Espanol!"<br />Alcohol drinks were also included. And here is where all these All Inclusive pacakges make money - from people like us: my mom never drinks, my dad ventured to try pinacolada, Mama Juana (the Dominican rum) and Irish coffee, but he would do one drink per day. I cannot drink because I am still nursing and Israel does not drink much if he does not have company...<br /><br /><strong>Grandparents</strong><br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqEdzAkXKI/AAAAAAAAc7k/lNcjCYkqDU0/s400/P1090457.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqEdzAkXKI/AAAAAAAAc7k/lNcjCYkqDU0/s400/P1090457.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqCgRBwy6I/AAAAAAAAcxQ/-AKr9rtX_yk/s400/P1090337.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqCgRBwy6I/AAAAAAAAcxQ/-AKr9rtX_yk/s400/P1090337.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />My Dad was constantly busy with either Martin or Valentin. He would go patiently through offering them different kinds of food until he finds what they like and would still more patiently feed them (Martin gets distracted a lot and it takes an hour to feed him the bare minimum). He would take Martin for walks on the ocean, take him easy in the water (not to shock him with the cold water), swing with him on a swing, play games, run with him, and he would always try to look busy with the kids at the beginning of the main show when the dancers picked up people from the audience to dance on stage. Still, this did not save him and he got picked up twice. My mom looked like she was taking a much deserved break from the kids :). <br /><br /><strong>Us</strong><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqHJ6prCfI/AAAAAAAAdK0/7AKCyDBd7yk/s400/P1090725.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TRqHJ6prCfI/AAAAAAAAdK0/7AKCyDBd7yk/s400/P1090725.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I thought about it, thought about it, thought about it, and finally succumbed to the constant offers of the locals to braid my hair. I don't like huge changes (especially with my hair) and only did it half-way. Next time, however, I will do full braids and not worry about washing and drying my hair at all. How nice would that be!!! <br /><br />Isra and I got picked up to go on stage for one of their shows. However, Martin thought we are there to dance without him and ran on stage crying for me. So, I stepped down and avoided being made fun of (thanks Martin!). <br /><br />Traveling with the grandparents did not give us too much break from the kids (at least not what we hoped for). We stayed late one night (even went to the club), but since the kids wake up at 6:30am every morning, we had a miserable day and agreed it was just not worth it. Vale was waking up once or twice at night (and he hasn't missed a night for 6 months now), so I still could not get the rest I needed. And unlike the first time to Punta Cana when I could read my book by the pool while Martin was sleeping next to us, this time we had at least one kid awake at all times and my book stayed unread (except for 2 chapters). <br /><br />More photos <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/deyana/20101215PuntaCana?authkey=Gv1sRgCK38_8vDsaajFw#">here </a>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-65968587717085545182010-11-22T13:53:00.012-05:002010-12-02T17:35:49.496-05:00What happens when kids see Santa too soon after Halloween<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TPfZKSRfEDI/AAAAAAAAcgY/X3PRIFC0vH0/s400/P1070955.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TPfZKSRfEDI/AAAAAAAAcgY/X3PRIFC0vH0/s400/P1070955.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Going to the <em>Breakfast with Santa</em> event at Simon's preschool (on Nov 20th), I tried to prepare Martin for seeing Santa and sitting on his lap (without crying like he did last year). I told him that Santa is good and will bring him a present on Christmas and that if he sits long enough for a picture without crying, Santa will give him a candy cane. Hearing 'candy' Martin lit up and said: "Daa... Martin will say 'Trick-or-Treat' and Santa will give candy." <br /><br /><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TPfaOL_ARII/AAAAAAAAclc/uoB7iqaZDtQ/s400/P1090011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TPfaOL_ARII/AAAAAAAAclc/uoB7iqaZDtQ/s400/P1090011.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-55888061917329006762010-11-19T13:05:00.023-05:002010-11-22T17:12:28.105-05:00Belated Halloween PostHalloween came along very early in Octomber and we had several occasions to wear costumes: First was Lila's Halloween-themed First birthday party. <br /><br />Then the Fall festival in the Library:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfn2Ve2ns7AwnPh932-rjCmT3JFWDZOGqdEED32MMDX9vBcPMmzCFQp2ibphSgrtBEGTpL153nUz8pxKGaKPFTCDIxoY4zoat_zkuf5opqS_hwY32hd3sy5EPLiBE0pK1byBm73OXsPQXI/s1600/DSC_5566.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfn2Ve2ns7AwnPh932-rjCmT3JFWDZOGqdEED32MMDX9vBcPMmzCFQp2ibphSgrtBEGTpL153nUz8pxKGaKPFTCDIxoY4zoat_zkuf5opqS_hwY32hd3sy5EPLiBE0pK1byBm73OXsPQXI/s400/DSC_5566.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541324958827958802" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DeorYdN8EAQlJw1iFNh8uwd_C7F0MXpMCtWZHYs0p74Qn15PuZUDd1hzUgB4yHbFf8L6r8YVAMKt_izdiD3HvpTRT-5UdGy4_CzqJWlRGhs6GvTA-c-gksKPK5Hr2Tb8ar6EqGCV1VrI/s1600/DSC_5597.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DeorYdN8EAQlJw1iFNh8uwd_C7F0MXpMCtWZHYs0p74Qn15PuZUDd1hzUgB4yHbFf8L6r8YVAMKt_izdiD3HvpTRT-5UdGy4_CzqJWlRGhs6GvTA-c-gksKPK5Hr2Tb8ar6EqGCV1VrI/s400/DSC_5597.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542454823718502322" /></a><br /><br />Early trick-or-treating at Bill & Martha's: <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_30BkNK4eK1dvXi-ExPozU91RtIlIKeNVryZcax13XRmi-CNUrFx2jmnngJJGOiPfAW_5Xg6dM0w3y9L_PICwUJ9Q-ytzd1296m3LuyC0KGOLwwMQLsOvRmKWmg0qfg6ZeuOphPX0cmr/s1600/DSC_5609.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_30BkNK4eK1dvXi-ExPozU91RtIlIKeNVryZcax13XRmi-CNUrFx2jmnngJJGOiPfAW_5Xg6dM0w3y9L_PICwUJ9Q-ytzd1296m3LuyC0KGOLwwMQLsOvRmKWmg0qfg6ZeuOphPX0cmr/s400/DSC_5609.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541325821977547106" /></a><br /><br />The Chills and Thrills Lollipop concert:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECcy2roZWIg6r1MT5_l40tGDulcQC8Mo6zzrLwl35KTCy5wi4qgqYwOZO8Nl9qKvh53EHwzE4CpTT9j5JBpCUajsyZuezU-yEGn5Ufeuz9fvgZWneW-V71K-kb_40g3RcQj7rFd9rmJEC/s1600/DSCN1546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECcy2roZWIg6r1MT5_l40tGDulcQC8Mo6zzrLwl35KTCy5wi4qgqYwOZO8Nl9qKvh53EHwzE4CpTT9j5JBpCUajsyZuezU-yEGn5Ufeuz9fvgZWneW-V71K-kb_40g3RcQj7rFd9rmJEC/s400/DSCN1546.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541327650679677202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRk7V34r15Q7RZJKq24ZwSO-ocAuGl3b3-SrsqrOPrti1Prh0Gbm2iclP7xmg1zkPccavYdE2pespFVJKFCBhCSRDHFklJnVnOopeiLJHSM1e4Kvp7amnm7DfackjqHkQMF2MiqFOubGZS/s1600/DSCN1554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRk7V34r15Q7RZJKq24ZwSO-ocAuGl3b3-SrsqrOPrti1Prh0Gbm2iclP7xmg1zkPccavYdE2pespFVJKFCBhCSRDHFklJnVnOopeiLJHSM1e4Kvp7amnm7DfackjqHkQMF2MiqFOubGZS/s400/DSCN1554.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541328013223785714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2ArLPO0ac5_nPvpuI7UR1zWv6wxWzXUJ-EfAd8zcU4W37UVrP6PjbzZEGZxzdZVP61JRN31pVWnN9T2anbmH-jdd2w1KBFKmFjsxkUA_FN7t2c7f8i8VtDjCFLk_nuovp0-B0DErSqaH/s1600/DSCN1563.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2ArLPO0ac5_nPvpuI7UR1zWv6wxWzXUJ-EfAd8zcU4W37UVrP6PjbzZEGZxzdZVP61JRN31pVWnN9T2anbmH-jdd2w1KBFKmFjsxkUA_FN7t2c7f8i8VtDjCFLk_nuovp0-B0DErSqaH/s400/DSCN1563.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541328294382917282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlfPervg6uxgJWHsf-e_pSSJST5y7gMe2uMvH6zriSYbdy5iawiBETyjEuyMaf0ojXS40i9atdNNs0ZLB1Y4zOQ6CeI2m3hbzEQL0Uf1DEfcZz7dcC8jWonLde2meuIha6SsVKgM-_Zbf/s1600/DSCN1572.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlfPervg6uxgJWHsf-e_pSSJST5y7gMe2uMvH6zriSYbdy5iawiBETyjEuyMaf0ojXS40i9atdNNs0ZLB1Y4zOQ6CeI2m3hbzEQL0Uf1DEfcZz7dcC8jWonLde2meuIha6SsVKgM-_Zbf/s400/DSCN1572.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541328603789148594" /></a><br /><br />The Halloween party at the Bulgarian School on Halloween day:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jWuwxZz8LlGjydI_0R-B2qbM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4WSF6DUQI/AAAAAAAAbVA/APUQs5LlXW8/s400/P1070670.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n5Y-0ylanYZ6e51duKrSK6bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4WWLpjNVI/AAAAAAAAbVY/eCLOVwDs3XM/s400/P1070673.JPG" height="286" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Sp-fCYdGLngXemkltlR496bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4Wrsg7XGI/AAAAAAAAbXc/yLLzbkix_oU/s400/P1070692.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BJ8JXxiQU6-1q8Jaab3AwKbM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4W2QWWwqI/AAAAAAAAbYU/Rb9mxmnzTgs/s400/P1070704.JPG" height="400" width="366" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MvrxtYYn1Od4OHFsnodrY6bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4W4m1phII/AAAAAAAAbYk/BzUqZ5mFVMw/s400/P1070707.JPG" height="400" width="286" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ovZHzBGAmDbYfx70hRK5h6bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4WeJR1RbI/AAAAAAAAbWM/QowbzQM24xA/s400/P1070680.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rfqBFeOq_Oy5zx3xrTkKi6bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4W0OvRjbI/AAAAAAAAbYE/Ubn6nWB3e1s/s400/P1070702.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gIw6qd7FYVtBpD6M0Fbtz6bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4W7Pj9PlI/AAAAAAAAbY0/e8k0gsd2bC4/s400/P1070709.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Tft-7llR9M5v9zgtAZstmqbM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4XAja499I/AAAAAAAAbZU/k54ZfgH63Wk/s400/P1070714.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3Er1zypkwBZE5wslS-m7CKbM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4XI5qUffI/AAAAAAAAbaA/CZviXf0uDts/s400/P1070720.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/biFq90rkfdegyxW32IhEi6bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4XWbjeUKI/AAAAAAAAbbQ/FxyDHFB_vBg/s400/P1070729.JPG" height="400" width="284" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/N3LhDo__JdpH8QkT69Tb26bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4Xre35LlI/AAAAAAAAbdA/kCSPNdKc8vU/s400/P1070744.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ncMbMdJslDgvpTT9phXeqabM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4X11S1ZuI/AAAAAAAAbd8/zcWFvq6LUss/s400/P1070752.JPG" height="287" width="400" /></a><br /><br />And Trick-or-Treating in the neighbourhood. <br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3hC2iAfbP2QwrVVyug4bj6bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4X5TforCI/AAAAAAAAbeM/ollYgIu9L7U/s400/P1070754.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Mi0LkeC_tIJauP67ncX3mKbM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4X_Bx9eZI/AAAAAAAAbes/ID71VjgHRf8/s400/P1070760.JPG" height="287" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tY9s-AVm5zbRZT1rcKDU5qbM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4YGH2mycI/AAAAAAAAbfQ/vMFnNsDHXr4/s400/P1070764.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ctd2ANxrCNcie9g29OzAT6bM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4YKp8xIcI/AAAAAAAAbf4/F6KBGgEbDxE/s400/P1070769.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><br />'Le sacamos el jugo' del Buzz Lightyear costume - like my mother-in-law likes to say. Which does not make me feel so bad purchasing a costume that will be worn presumably once and will be too small for him next year (or, Martin will be into something other than Toy Story). Valentin's Cupid costume was my idea, but came too late for the first events. Still, I think this was the most appropriate disguise for him - having this name and being the chubby, cheruby, curly-haired angel baby he is!!! Muaahh!<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5sT06utb9TfBCmN4HSfpnqbM8VKbyU6p6mmGbFIj7gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bhYB94M7_wc/TM4YTcIXf_I/AAAAAAAAbgs/yVD58wAAeI0/s400/P1070777.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Martin LOVED trick-or-treating! Right after the first house he realized that by saying Trick-or-treat people give him candy and he was hooked. We stopped to talk to some neighbours and he was all 'Come on. Let's go to this next house to say Trick-or-Treat.' I would also occasionally ask him to tell people what Buzz Lightyear says and he was all "I'm Buzz Lightyear! Space Ranger! To Infinity and Beyond!". This costume was a success (although most of my friends - usually moms to smaller kids - did not have any idea what he is dressed up as. I didn't have any idea either until six months ago when we first saw Toy Story and have been seeing it every night since then with only little interruption from Up, Ratatulle, The Bee Movie and Snow White...deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-15049935744910912602010-10-18T15:27:00.012-04:002010-11-03T17:23:38.560-04:00Columbus Day Weekend at the Beach<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzFizVXqsJGt08bJtmDwvOVKnvqedvBy_6m1tTPnM-ZeguNBfS8l7ABqTj6wqqJxvYCYNOqIxmdOvxonl-QVFf87-xFFEEMbvl_rHHzGyycnrWYCmpJAAv3zU1XTEP7OWRDBmifxsfBKm/s1600/P1070397.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzFizVXqsJGt08bJtmDwvOVKnvqedvBy_6m1tTPnM-ZeguNBfS8l7ABqTj6wqqJxvYCYNOqIxmdOvxonl-QVFf87-xFFEEMbvl_rHHzGyycnrWYCmpJAAv3zU1XTEP7OWRDBmifxsfBKm/s400/P1070397.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535435262432050450" /></a><em>(an attempt to capture the two brand new teeth)</em><br /><br />Vale grew up so much in only one long weekend. His grandma left him on Thursday with only one tooth poking out of his gum and found him on Tuesday with two teeth, able to crawl quite professionally (until then he was only sliding on his belly), able to clap his hands intentionally, and also making sounds with his tongue like horses steps...<br /><br />Of course, taking him to the beach might have helped. We rented a house on Topsail Island and went with friends and their babies. After a cold week in Charlotte, we had gorgeous weather at the ocean. We took long walks on the beach, and stayed under the canopy all day long. Valentin would usually fall into deep sleep the moment the stroller hit the sand. Martin would wade in the water or play football with papi or would help him make sand castles (yes, Martin was only helping papi, who was very serious and concentrated on the job). <br />When it was Martin's turn to sleep, Vale would be awake. He discovered sand, but only with his feet - as I had learned my lesson that sand tends to sticks to baby hands oiled with sun-block and baby hands tend to find their way to baby mouth and baby eyes very quickly... Thanks to guinea-pig Martin! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFN7S7c3lGp-6O5i8ggAhH2QD38wBPY95n2Al_Fo0m-Dm2k5DI-HDCEIBnfxgK050QLTfmPZagH39-Ww4BqjkazQDao_msQa9Bv3vuzUfp3vz9aFvyBxyx2gJ3O6cjz93E7cNRC1JhEjF/s1600/P1070441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFN7S7c3lGp-6O5i8ggAhH2QD38wBPY95n2Al_Fo0m-Dm2k5DI-HDCEIBnfxgK050QLTfmPZagH39-Ww4BqjkazQDao_msQa9Bv3vuzUfp3vz9aFvyBxyx2gJ3O6cjz93E7cNRC1JhEjF/s400/P1070441.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535428961863592306" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_W3IJdky7sPg_857RKF2IV-FZD7rCrYAefju0W5Pvpj7feHwaU5Xb5wYa5Gb_JzXnF6At9XQ61a8z2tytm0gQglYf5XO6PB29fUqjPxbJ4p26rJtVYy77D2_JdHlLS3IzlI3XISveOU4/s1600/P1070468.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_W3IJdky7sPg_857RKF2IV-FZD7rCrYAefju0W5Pvpj7feHwaU5Xb5wYa5Gb_JzXnF6At9XQ61a8z2tytm0gQglYf5XO6PB29fUqjPxbJ4p26rJtVYy77D2_JdHlLS3IzlI3XISveOU4/s400/P1070468.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535430809264926626" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDsF-8iuU5MimbLZ-HzuUetsKa_XyqIlP0kWmrZDmhiqBckc48o40tb4kgaMjR4mais8THHRrnHu0OyN3A90eOxcsldKCGSV2y_jfQwzkmO02UbVwDZiRZcXDGn4QiTwsvlV0HFnhFCl9/s1600/P1070491.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDsF-8iuU5MimbLZ-HzuUetsKa_XyqIlP0kWmrZDmhiqBckc48o40tb4kgaMjR4mais8THHRrnHu0OyN3A90eOxcsldKCGSV2y_jfQwzkmO02UbVwDZiRZcXDGn4QiTwsvlV0HFnhFCl9/s400/P1070491.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535434114885779874" /></a>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-1641084944997814642010-10-12T23:05:00.009-04:002010-10-29T17:08:23.199-04:00Biseri (Gems)We try to phrase limits and commands in a positive way for Martin. So, instead of 'Don't give cheerios to Vale', we say 'Kato porasne i Valeto shte iade cheerios' (When Vale grows up, he will also eat cheerios). So, Martin really likes the idea of Vale growing up and he says all the times things like 'Kato porasne i Valeto shte skacha' (when Vale grows up he will also jump). 'Kato porasne i Valeto shte rita topka"(when Vale grows up he will also kick the ball)... So, the other day, I lay in bed nursing Valeto and Martin was close to us. He observed (as usual): "Valeto iade teta" (Valeto eats boob). And then added: 'Kato porasne i Martin shte iade teta" (When Martin grows up, he will also eat boob). <br /><br />***************<br /><br />On a night when the moon was about 40% full: <br />"Mamo, tova e lunata. Se schupila lunata." <br />("Mommy, this is the moon. The moon broke.")<br /><br />****************<br /><br />"Mamo, Martin iska da vidi pampersa na Valeto" while I change Vale and comment on the poop he had made. He sees it and says: "Ima ujas!"<br /><br />***********<br />Martin counting in Spanish (past 10): <br />"Dieciseis, diecisiete, dieciocho, diecinueve, DIECIDIEZ"<br />("sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, TENTEEN")deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809611527862028528.post-54603851609090423182010-08-25T22:42:00.003-04:002010-08-25T22:58:55.153-04:00Fast and Furious<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd9qn8mdfkBbaS_B8_f30im1GqZxYtoe7WWz8K2rLvxCXDdQiBuDaTM-b84Y1V1gvY8mDFjS53bZiey8Y57oUiFf2Qv0FWn9TGeS81TloRXV-D0pXAh2VbuKNuP3T2LppwJuTmDejqYwq/s1600/P1070102.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 359px; HEIGHT: 253px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd9qn8mdfkBbaS_B8_f30im1GqZxYtoe7WWz8K2rLvxCXDdQiBuDaTM-b84Y1V1gvY8mDFjS53bZiey8Y57oUiFf2Qv0FWn9TGeS81TloRXV-D0pXAh2VbuKNuP3T2LppwJuTmDejqYwq/s400/P1070102.JPG" width="365" height="260" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUNHmahrgrmblOKvbmYFYBmR6PJb8JAFy8k90nkzXM4Mna6M6zytIR-RmpqZeDst1Knlwsvg2XM0xVkcGVzx6eiAY1NE6yTKGvM6BxwlEPFMnga_4Vi_ayMUWBN4RsYGeQZSQT1-DNN_w/s1600/diesel.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUNHmahrgrmblOKvbmYFYBmR6PJb8JAFy8k90nkzXM4Mna6M6zytIR-RmpqZeDst1Knlwsvg2XM0xVkcGVzx6eiAY1NE6yTKGvM6BxwlEPFMnga_4Vi_ayMUWBN4RsYGeQZSQT1-DNN_w/s400/diesel.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoINWEvmMD79NXEM-DERyAcPpw84TL7dRbxBNHe5crtrZATa8QjvomSjgfvduDtJG48plUl7gsZWSdgUOW9ohyphenhyphenYTxD85pm4jQvzbS9XDf3KuRRNQET_u-9sNoFhOZTqDiyD5uV6dG8C5E/s400/P1070102-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509545035490131154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoINWEvmMD79NXEM-DERyAcPpw84TL7dRbxBNHe5crtrZATa8QjvomSjgfvduDtJG48plUl7gsZWSdgUOW9ohyphenhyphenYTxD85pm4jQvzbS9XDf3KuRRNQET_u-9sNoFhOZTqDiyD5uV6dG8C5E/s400/P1070102-1.JPG" /></a></div>deyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11425539987741928980noreply@blogger.com0