M & D + 1

Mud Boy

2009-11-01T13:13:00.000-06:00

Playing in the mud

2009-11-01T13:11:00.001-06:00

God he loves to get dirty. I change him at least twice, sometime three times a day.

Norwalk, CA

2009-11-01T13:07:00.002-06:00

Rocco has grown so much in the last month. He is eating better and kissing and dancing and his hair is out of control. Here he is in my mom's backyard. More on the way...

Rocco and mama

2009-10-05T11:19:00.004-05:00

and more pics

2009-10-05T11:06:00.003-05:00

Here are some more photos that I think are great. This Wednesday will mark 2 weeks since my mom passed away. I wish time would stop but it just keeps on going.

Rocco began standing on his own. Yesterday he stood up for 7 seconds before falling on his butt and laughing. He has been laughing so much lately - and I mean laughing at everything. He points and laughs. He falls and laughs. I sneeze and he laughs, he farts and laughs...the list goes on and on.

I'm glad that he is so happy. He reminds me to smile and reminds me that life goes on and reminds me of my mom and dad.

Pic 1: My parent's party days. They are the far right couple.

Pic 2: Andy's high school graduation. I'm just finishing 8th grade and I think I'm so cool.

Pic 3:My mom and Dad.

Pic 4: Me and Andy.

Pic 5: Nana Victoria. She was my mother's mom and passed away in 93. She was a cool woman and I loved her very much - always with her cigarette, and a beer, telling everyone including my grandfather what to do which she deservedly earned after bearing 11 children, keeping them fed, safe and loved. A true matriarch.

Pics of my mom

2009-10-02T14:48:00.002-05:00

For my mom's funeral we put together a collage of old photos and these were some of my favorites. We have so many albums that I hope we can scan in. My brother and I will have to divide the work since there are at least 20 books.

Pic 1: My mom with Tio Oscar in Tucson, AZ. My mom was about 17 years old.
Pic 2: My mom and Dad at the yearly Bell Helmets Christmas Party.
Pic 3: Wedding Day. October 25, 1969.
Pic 4: A photo my mom sent to my dad in 1968 when they were dating. She was in Tucson and my Dad was in Long Beach.
Pic 5: Another wedding photo. I love this photo. She looks beautiful, healthy and happy. This is how I want to remember her.

Birthday party

2009-08-29T09:26:00.001-05:00

A peace offering from Chili Garcia

2009-08-27T19:13:00.003-05:00

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

drummin'

2009-08-27T19:10:00.002-05:00

drum, drum, drum, drum,

drum, drum. He loves to play the drums.

more birthday photos

2009-08-27T12:36:00.003-05:00

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

2009-08-27T12:27:00.002-05:00

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

2009-08-13T23:00:00.003-05:00

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

2009-08-13T22:36:00.005-05:00

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

2009-08-13T22:24:00.004-05:00

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

2009-08-13T21:58:00.004-05:00

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

2009-08-13T21:37:00.004-05:00

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

2009-08-12T17:48:00.004-05:00

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

2009-08-12T17:38:00.002-05:00

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.

Pinky toe and chile in my eye

2009-08-05T23:36:00.005-05:00

It's been a rough week for Mama G. My sinuses are horrible. I've been so congested and vomiting due to really disgusting post nasal drip. Then I broke my pinky toe on Monday chasing Rocco so I'm limping around and the finale to the trifecta was getting chile in my eye. Anyway I'm a mess.

Daniel officially changed groups at Papa Bear, Corp and life is soooooooooo much better now that he stopped reporting to Chorizo.

El Roquito is doing great. God, it's been quite an amazing week for him. He began holding himself up against furniture and he climbs stairs now and well just seeing him stand up is incredible (with the support of heavy furniture that is). It's really amazing. It all happened in one day.

And wow, he's going to be 1 year in a matter of weeks. It's really so...................................
I'm sad and happy and I can't believe that his first year anniversary is upon us. This year has gone by so fast.

p.s. our trip to Oregon was GREAT. We will post pictures soon.

Pic 1: giving Rocco direction to look at the camera

Pic 2: family photo in VJ and Mo's backyard in Woodside, Ca (a magical place)

Pic 3: Breakfast bagel with cream cheese

Pic 4: Daniel thought he looked so funny and insisted on this photo

Pic 5: prisoner in his cage

Rocco and David

2009-07-23T11:00:00.003-05:00

Rocco and Lucas

2009-07-23T10:52:00.004-05:00

Not so regular

2009-07-23T10:46:00.002-05:00

it's August 4th and I'm just now getting around to updating this blog. My days fly now that Rocco is so mobile. I basically chase him throughout the day. He a handful and is in a bad stage of hitting so I find myself saying , "no hitting" at least 10 times a day. Sometimes he begins to cry after I say no hitting. He must understand that he's in trouble. It sure doesn't stop him though. He's also in a biting stage and well, it HURTS. There are moments in between the hitting and biting where I wonder what happened to my little baby? He's still sweet and awfully cute but he's...um...a handful.

Crawling Around

2009-07-02T23:18:00.002-05:00

Here he is motoring around the house this morning.

Bath Time

2009-07-02T22:53:00.005-05:00

Our nightly ritual goes like this:

We begin every night (except for weekends) at 5:30PM. We begin with oatmeal dinner. I blend it with cinnamon and almond milk and he LOVES it. Tonight I added banana to the blender and he tolerated it. He still isn't a huge fan. Then at about 5:50ish we go to the bathroom where he takes his bath. He hangs out in the water for about 10 minutes and then I take him to our bedroom and I give him a little massage and put his pajamas on. After that we read 1-2 books, I breast feed him and then somewhere around 6:20-6:40PM he is asleep and is transferred to his crib.

It's been a good ritual except that the last week we've had some breastfeeding issues which have required me to call La Leche League. He begins to cry and push me away. I was so scared that he was trying to self ween so I called LLL and they told me that they don't believe any baby self weens before 1 year and that he must be experiencing some major changes. I told the counselor about his new teeth, his new ability to crawl and sleeping in the crib. She told me to GIVE HIM LOTS AND LOTS OF ATTENTION. I have to emphasize this because I swear to god, i don't think that I have more to give this little baby. He gets so much attention already. I can't even count how many times he is kissed and hugged and held throughout the day. But I didn't want to get into an " I already love my baby sufficiently" conversation so instead of putting him on the floor so he could motor around, I just held him longer than I usually do and what do you know - he started eating again. He seems to go on strike every other day and when he does I put him on my lap and sing, "row row row your boat, gently down the stream...merrily...merrily...merrily....life is but a dream...." because he loves this song. I sing this a couple of times and kiss him about 20 times THEN he'll eat.

High Maintenance.

so many changes

2009-07-02T22:35:00.004-05:00

The last 3 weeks have been full of changes. Rocco's two front teeth came through, he began sleeping in his crib regularly (well except for naps and the morning hours), he started crawling, he finished his baby sign language class and began swimming classes at the Berkeley warm pool. It's been more busy than usual now that I have him involved in so many activities. I barely have time to shower or eat these days. Unfortunately when I do go to eat, it hasn't been very healthy. I am a slave to sugar. It's bad. I'm trying all the time to stop but I give in, then feel guilty, give in a little more than go to sleep. One day I'll break the habit. Until then I will complain and "talk" about it.

Ok, back to the real reason I write this blog: Rocco. He is changing before our eyes. It's been such a trip to see it all. One day he is sitting, then he is crawling, and now he is trying to stand up on his own. His crawl is getting faster and faster and he chases me around the house. We laugh a lot and I have so much fun with him. Now that he is moving around I'm constantly following him around. He's had a few minor accidents already. He banged his head against the wall, a chair, the door...etc. Luckily his little falls haven't required any medical care, usually a kiss takes care of the pain.

Today I had the mister in his lederhosen. They still don't fit entirely but he's close...

I think that by his birthday he SHOULD fit into them. I can't believe he's turning a year old in less than 2 months. I've lost my baby. He's knocking on toddlerville's door .