Before Vacation

We're 98% done with our move. That last 2% is killing us though. We didn't really pack...we just grabbed stuff every day and brought it with us. Xavi helped too but ended up packing things like our keys or wallets then going to bed. It didn't actually help. We would end up blaming each other for moving these things during the organization process on this end. But we're onto him now. So if you're wondering why we even need that last 2% of stuff if we've been living without it for a little more than a week, join the club - we are thinking the exact same thing! Lots of c-r-a-p going to the trash in the coming days. Sorry about the spelling but these days it has become a habit, a part of our daily speech. The other day Daniel was recounting some outrageous story (I don't even remember what it was) and I said "shut up, no way"...the next thing I hear is "shut up!" out of xavi's mouth. I've been so good about so many other words too. He also yells "WHAAAAT" at the top of his lungs when I call him and I've realized that I don't like that. My dad used to complain about us doing that as kids and always wanted us to respond with the more polite "mande?" which I thought was BS. It literally translates to "order me?", which didn't jive with my (and probably not my three sisters) american feminist mentality (at the oh so wise ages of 13-19), but really is only a polite way to respond to someone. I think I have to work on that with Xavi (maybe Caro will catch on if Xavi does), much to my dad's delight. Xavi is also asking "what's that?" about everything! We haven't moved on to "why?" yet but I see it coming down the road - eek! Vacation began today for him and he is anxiously awaiting his upcoming flight to NY to see his grandparents. He talks about it all the time and when he's done he looks at me and asks "Do you want to come with me, mami?" ...he may take the baby too...they're getting along like brother and sister. One minute they love each other, the next minute they start rough housing and I hear myself say something my parents would have said "this is going to end in tears!" and sometimes it does....but not always.

Carolina doesn't know what's up, just that she gets to see her big brother all day and loves it (most of the time). She has a bit of a runny nose, is doing really well on zantac and not throwing up much at all. I'm hoping she can come of the medication by Christmas break. She'll be 10 months old and fully on solids by then, I think. I didn't get this on video but she "crawled" for the first time today. That sort of army crawl babies do first, where they push off with their feet, pull with their hands and drag themselves on their bellies (maybe even a little on their faces if they don't pick up their heads - which she did, but she was on a soft blanket). She did it ever so slowly and angrily until she moved a few inches and reached the remote control to the TV! Hurray. It's always the remote, isn't it. I have a video of Xavi going for it on our bed when he was about the same age (?). It was exciting but lasted so long that I didn't actually think she would do it and she was POed - can you tell? There are days where I swear she is practically having a 2 year old's tantrum at 6 months!! Oh yeah, she is 6 months old today. Oh and it's Mari's birthday! Happy Birthday, old lady!