Birthday party

A peace offering from Chili Garcia

Eventually I opened the rest of his gifts because it took way too long to go through all of them.

drummin'

drum, drum, drum, drum,

drum, drum. He loves to play the drums.

more birthday photos

Rocco and David had a huge birthday celebration. I think there were about 55 people here. I was running around like a crazy lady so I didn't take 1 photo. A friend of Amy's took a lot of photos so I'm hoping to get a copy of them soon. Bummer. Anyway it was a lot of fun and it was cute to have so many babies crawling around. You had to look down before walking just to make sure you didn't step on a little person.

Pic 1: Birthday boy

Pic 2: Day after party - opening all his gifts.

Pic 3: Rocco and Tia Jen. Andy and Jen drove from Carlsbad (8 hours) just to celebrate his birthday. It was great to have them here and I was sad when they left. Although it was nice to have the quiet again. I think my brother is deaf. When he's here the TV volume is out of control high.

Pic 4: Rocco standing up for quality and cheap prices. Jen, Andy and I were coming up with new adverstisement slogans.

Pic 5: Another Rocco and Tia Jen photo.

Still can't believe he is 1......

Pinch me, it can't be real.

Rocco turns 1

On August 21st, he turned 1 year old.

He has 7 teeth.

He can pull himself up.

He climbs stairs.

He crawls everywhere.

He gets into everything.

He still wake us up 2-3 times a night.

He is still breastfeeding.

He is a cuddler and loves to snuggle.

He loves frijoles.

He makes us very very happy!

3 teeth and a baby

Rocco has not 1, not 2 but 3 teeth coming in at the same time. It´s been HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel so bad for him. He´s been in so much pain. I´ve been giving him Baby Oral gel at night and at day, Chamomilla. It´s been hard for him to eat much because his gums are so sore. But tonight he ate 2 bowls of frijoles which is great for him. He´s not a big solid food eater so I was impressed with his eating tonight. He also ate banana and drank lots of water before falling asleep at 6PM. Poor little guy. Hope his teeth come through soon...

Pic 1 Running away from me.

Pic 2 and 3 In the backyard

Portland the Pulseless City

I got into major trouble saying that. Honestly I just don't get Portland. It's cute, it's clean...whatever. it's beautiful, it's green, yadda yadda yadda...but honestly, I don't get it. It's kinda weird and where the hellz are the people?

But it was worth being there just to see Sarita and Gwyn. It was soooooooo good to see them and how I miss my gal pal Sarita. She is doing great and was in a zen space considering they were on the move yet again. Rocco was cool and well behaved...I think he was at least.

Daniel and I LOVE being part of their lives because come on, who does it like Sarita and Gwyn. They are through and through one of a kind. Love them much!

Pic 1: Rocco on the road again.

Pic 2: Daniel was bummed that it was closed. He was so ready for a Doner
Pic 3: Rocco, Sarita and Gwyn
Pic 4: Me and Lady S in some park near the Sunday market.

Pic 5: Gwyn and Rocco

Pic 6: An alternative family - 2 Euros and a baby. Movie coming to a theater near you.

Pic 7: Advertisment for the Spoiled Cat: Hemp filled luxury body pillows for cats. The cat is supposed to look calm and soothed and instead looks tormented. I was sold. I bought one for Chili Garcia.

Pic 8 Family Photo

Eugene with the garcia gang, part 3

Daniel was clearly outnumbered, but he handled himself well and begged to be a Garcia by the end of our stay.

Well, maybe not but he had a great time and wants to go back next year. He believes this is the only place he'll ever get some sleep. I´m in favor. I´d love to go up north and spend more time with my cousin Phillip and Sherry. Hands down, the coolest kids in town!

Pic 1: One of the many stickers on cousin Ben's car.

Pic 2: Phillip and Sherry discussing something very important. Do we buy tomato's or blueberries or both... ?

Pic 3: I think Sherry was buying cheese

Pic 4: Rocco and his magic shakers

Pic 5: Phillip, Daphne and Ben.

Dexter - home of the Garcia's, part 2

There are Garcia's sprinkled all over the world just like sundae toppings. That's what we Garcia's do - bring joy and happiness to the world.....filling your belly with synthetic sweetness and keeping the gene pool going around and around and around!

Well maybe I'm having a moment here. I should stop....I digress. What I mean to write is that I have some pretty awesome family living in Dexter, OR. If you've ever watched Animal House APPARENTLY there is some diner scene that takes place in Dexter. My little cousin Daphne took me there. It's a mile or so away from my cousin Phillip's house.

We relaxed and slept and laughed and ate and laughed some more while we were at Phillip and Sherry's house. It was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. Daniel slept all day and all night. Well not all day and all night, but he took several naps and slept in which never happens. Tia Sherry would take him in the morning and in the afternoon and my lil' cousin Daphne played and read to him and chased him around and my cousin Phillip held him and gave him lots of love. He was given a new name in Dexter. We began to call him the Supreme Leader and I have to say that he was in heaven and accepted all forms of love and flattery without protest. He was in his element.

We want to go back to Dexter.....it was the most relaxing time we've had since we brought the Supreme Leader into the world.

Pic 1: Daniel napping in the zen back yard

Pic 2: Sherry walking the Supreme Leader

Pic 3: The yard, all 5 acres of it with a creek hidden behind the trees. Gorgeous.

Pic 4: An old playhouse built by my cousin for the kids when they were, er, um, well kids.

Pic 5: Phillip with Rocco

Driving up north to Oregon, part 1

I've been meaning to post some photos of our great trip to Oregon. We had such a nice time, despite the look of Rocco's (see picture of unhappy baby). We left on a Wed., morning around 11AM and made it to Ashland around 5PM. Rocco was pretty well behaved until 4PM and I think he cried for that last hour. Other than that, the ride up was pretty easy. We listened to various podcasts - This American Life, Wait Wait don't tell me, BBC Global News and lots of NPR stuff. And we listened to Bob. Lots and lots of Bob Dylan. Daniel and I always have great conversation on road trips because we are forced to talk to each other. Seriously! At home, we are both so busy that we don't have time to just sit around and talk. It was very nice and I think that's why I like road trips so much.

Pic 1: Katy, her daughter Viola and Rocco. Katy and Paul live in Ashland and it was a perfect "stop over." They were so kind and gave us their bed and fed us. It was great to talk to them and catch up. Their daughter is this white haired blond beauty. She is what I imagine a Swiss alps baby looks like...well that, or a cherub. Katy, she needs a harp!

Pic 2: On the road

Pic 3: Beautiful drive - listening to Bob all the way up....

Pic 4: A not so happy, normally happy little boy

Veggie Garden

Our veggie garden is coming along. Our tomatoes taste great. Our corn was doing great until 2 nights ago when some random Oaklandish animal ate them, and took all 6 stalks away. I was really bummed out because the corn were getting nice and big and I was already imagining some nice summer grilling. Our zucchini's aren't ready but they are growing nicely. We also have basil and mint which have totally taken off. It's been nice to tend the little garden and I'm proud of myself for not killing any of the veggies.

Oh and I even made plum jelly. We had 15 pounds so I ended up jarring about 35 cans. I've been giving them away as it's just way too much jelly for us.

Double the trouble

I've said it before and I'll say it again, HE LOVES to look at himself in the mirror.

I set up a vanity space for him in the dining room so that he can sit and stare at himself for many many minutes out of the day. It's very funny watching him talk to himself, pound the mirror with his hands and stare at himself.