Saturday, July 29, 2006

Thank you Friendly Neighbor



I was starting to feel sorry for myself for a minute because of my lack of husband (working nights, sleeping days), large & cumbersome size & lack of air to breathe & a wild toddler who screams to be taken outside for hours of fun, where it is HOT. And, my helpful and sweet 6 year old is on his first trip alone with his grandparents. Believe me, I`ve had much worse problems, but this weekend was looking a little challenging. And then... my friendly neighbor and great friend sent me a festival of flavor from the farmers market! What a great way to start my Saturday.

Friday, July 28, 2006



I had to steal this from the Post today because the reviewer, Stephen Hunter, really describes the utter awesomeness of the original stars of Miami Vice. I LOVE Miami Vice & I`m not that excited about the new movie. It seems like its an updated version of the most perfect show ever, but with some music from nowadays and not the fabulous Smugglers` Blues Glenn Frye & Don Henley type of stuff that I like so much.

"But the worst news about "Miami Vice" is that Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, replacing Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in the key roles, don't hold a candle, a flashlight, a freakin' match to the original guys. Though they seem so two-decades-ago, Crockett in his pastels and sockless white loafers and Tubbs with his surly mumbling and ever-buttoned double-breasted jacket and tie -- no matter the weather or the incoming -- the boys were at once McQueen-chilled, hipster-chic and existential-exotic. They were uranium-depleted cool. Johnson's Crockett had a fallen Southern prince aspect to him as a former Florida wide receiver ruined by two years in Nam, a failed marriage, a weakness for women and booze, but underneath it: good-old-boy true grit. Tubbs, by contrast, was a black New Yorker with dead eyes and a drop-dead smile and a kind of musical sensibility. He represented the Afro-Caribbean presence that came to dominate Miami in the '80s and turn it into the American Casablanca. He could mix with the homeboys, the Haitians, the wraiths of color that brought their potions to a city on a bay that is never confused with Baltimore."

Off to the lake



My firstborn son is going on vacation with his grandparents, without us. I miss him already and he leaves this afternoon. I know he will have a wonderful time and I wish we were going too, but alas, I am way too big and scarily pregnant for a 15 hour drive! He will swim, help with cooking, play with his uncle, and explore in the dark with his flashlight, among many other great things.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Very Grateful Wednesday





I am extremely grateful today for my 2 friendly neighbors (and very good friends) who threw a beautiful baby shower for me on Sunday. It was on the top floor of an Arlington apt building, with gorgeous flowers and great food. I was so happy & so was the dear husband. Kids made a fun space for themselves, games were played and it was such a super group of people, mostly our neighborhood cocktail hour crew. It hasn`t been easy for me to even attend baby showers in the last 4 years, but it was healing and wonderful to celebrate this new little person arriving in 3 weeks(!!!!). To the ladies that planned this party, THANK YOU!

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Trying to be grateful

OK, not feeling very motivated right now. I`m way bigger than I hoped to be and I`m not dealing with it very well & I just feel so out of breath. Let`s still find things to be grateful for:

1. I`m grateful to my husband for having the patience that he does and having many mad skillz to do all kinds of things, like helping a man in the middle of a grand mal seizure yesterday. I hope that guy is Ok today.

2. I`m grateful to God that I`ve gotten this far with little Joaquin and he grows and moves well. I may be big, but so is he and I have to be substantial to support him, now & when I make milk for him. I`m also pretty thankful for the new experience of great skin, hair & nails this time.

3. I`m grateful this week that we had another good LLL meeting and lots of mamas were there asking tough questions. It was exhausting but those ladies are inspiring.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

The most beautiful desert in the world, in Saudi Arabia


I spent a lot of time here when I was a kid and I love this landscape. It was like the calm before the storm in the Middle East when we lived there in the late 70`s.

Friday, July 14, 2006

Warning, mature themes

One of the scariest movies I`ve ever seen is "Candyman" and what makes it scary to me is that the Candyman can kill you anywhere no matter how many people are around you. Nobody can help you. Losing a baby to shoulder dystocia is just like that. Everybody was tested and everybody failed, nobody could save my son and lots of people tried. It looked to me like there were more than 30 people in the ER alone and none of them could help Alistair in time. This little boy I`m carrying now feels big like his brother and every day I feel more Ok with the choice (or lack thereof) to have him born surgically.


With the urge to organize the house kicking in, where should I start? Oh, maybe I`ll make my dear husband a Mojito station in the kitchen so the counters aren`t covered in mint & lime. Priorities!

A photo of a 6 year old`s favorite spot next to his house, taken by the 6 year old himself



and both boys dressed alike by Papi, complete with Pirates of the Caribbean hats on.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Tiny Boy # 4 has a delivery date!

OK, so teeny will arrive on August 16th at 12 noon!

Saturday, July 01, 2006





The boyz, happy & handsome on a Sunday morning.
Father & son hanging out on the floor.

mama!

My deck in the Shire, just pretty & then cleaned up & prettier



About Me

My photo
I'm just a mom in the world. A crunchy Catholic mama of 6 trying to make sense of it all and stay positive. 5 boys here & 1 in heaven. One awesome man who I get to grow old with. I help new moms breastfeed. I`m happy. I don`t go to shows or dance clubs every night but I would if I could. Where`s the nanny? When I see her she`s SO fired! One of my boys is super sweet and sensitive, another one is a holy terror. I learn a ton from all of them daily. Like Nigella says, as any parent of small children knows,there comes a point in the day where you can`t go any further without a drink! I love cocktail hour. I`d like nothing more than to be with my family and some good friends surrounded by tropical plants drinking a margarita listening to the Eagles. I don`t care about trendy, I like that grungy 70`s vibe.