This page has been designed specifically for the printed screen. It may look different than the page you were viewing on the web.
Please recycle it when you're done reading.
The URI for this page is { http://www.wanderingoutloud.com }
We went with Lala to Moonshine's Sunday brunch last weekend with Marin. We were all eating and enjoying our food when HO got up to get a second plate of food from the buffet. There was still a little bit of food on his plate, but he was clearly done with it. So when the waitress came by the table and picked up his old plate, Marin yells, "Papa's Food! Papa's Food!" She was protecting HO's plate from the waitress. It was hilarious. She was so mad at the waitress. We tried to explain that Papa was getting more food, but she wouldn't have it. For the rest of the brunch, every time the waitress walked by our table, Marin would turn her smile into a scowl as she scorned the waitress and muttered, "Papa's food." Marin would neither forget nor forgive that waitress for taking Papa's fooooo!
Tagged as Marin | No Comments » | Continue 
Just have to put it on the record how much fun we are having with Marin. I could not imagine her any sweeter, cuter, nicer or more unique and interesting. This morning when I got her out of bed (she says "ma ma, pa pa" in the SWEETEST little voice when she wakes up), I put her in bed with us for a second. She turned to HO and said, "Papa, I muv wooo." I was just shocked. How many 20 month olds wake up and tell their parents they love them? I don't know, but it doesn't really matter I guess. Our does.
I realized the other day that she is now a tiny little person. She was wearing my scarf and her hat from Lala with a jacket. She just looked like a midget. Like a full grown-up, just miniature. She is so smart and interactive, it really is like having this cute itty bitty person hang out with us. Well, give or take a few tantrums and spilled milks. But I can't say I don't do that myself even now.
Finally, she is soooo cute when she plays her banjo! She holds it backwards and strums the neck while holding the round part. Then she sings. I mean sings. She wrinkles up her brow, closes her eyes and looks like she is truly singing from the soul. It is freaking hilarious! I am simply amazed that she instantly knew how to use the pick (and what it was for even). How did she know? But she instantly took it and started making music. She is awesome! That"for children ages 6+" is bogus. It is so perfect for Marin. I can't wait to see how she grows with it.
Tagged as Marin | No Comments » | Continue
We took Christmas pretty lightly this year. After getting the "how could you?!" look from a few people when we mentioned that we weren't getting Marin any gifts, we decided to get a few for under the tree. She got a banjo (which we call a guitar b/c she LOVES guitars), a set of little plastic horses (to get her ready for San Miguel) and a little monkey purse with her own hairbrush (with a monkey playing a guitar of course!). So Christmas morning was fun when we showed her all the things that Santa brought her (we had to leave our key out under the doormat since we don't have a chimney). Then we went over to Lala's and Marin got to open all her gifts from the rest of the family. It was really cute because she showed genuine enthusiasm with a big open mouth and a "wow!" even for socks and sweatpants. She asked politely each time if she could open another present. She took time and laid out and played with each gift as she opened them. She was so civilized about it! She even gently put pieces of wrapping paper on the sofa as she removed them from the gifts. Anyway, the funny part is that the next morning we woke up and Marin went over to the tree pointing... "more presents, more presents?" She didn't understand why there weren't more presents the next day! So cute. I tried to explain that Christmas was over and there weren't going to be more presents. I suppose she got it. But she did have a point. Maybe we will celebrate Hanukkah next year.
Tagged as Marin | No Comments » | Continue
I've heard it a million times, but it is so true. Their brains are like sponges. Marin sees something just once and has it committed to perfect memory. People, places, things. It is incredible. I am jealous of her abilities. She remembers that I told her squirrels sleep in trees, she remembers which blanket each stuffed animal is sleeping under, she remembers Trey used the hammer to knock on the wall and that Lalo uses the toothbrush on the left sink. She remembers AND notices everything. Just try to sneak a yogurt covered raisin into your mouth without her noticing. Impossible!
Tagged as Marin | No Comments » | Continue
Marin loves Molly. We got a Christmas card from my aunt Molly and Marin picked up on me mentioning to HO that we got a card from Molly. Now Marin points to the card and says "Molly! Molly!" The other day, Brad called from Thailand. I told Marin to say, "Hi Brad" and she said, "Hi Molly, Hi Brad." See, Molly's husband is named Brad and since Bradley has been gone for a few weeks/months? now, she can't imagine thinking of Brad without Molly. Funny. So the other night, she was dreaming and started saying "Molly, Molly" in her sleep. I'd love to know what she was dreaming, but it is fun to know that Molly was in it.
Tagged as Marin | No Comments » | Continue
Without any gender guidance whatsoever, I have been amazed at how girl-y Marin is. Her purses, her love of clothes and dressing up, she loves wearing barrettes in her hair and being the mommy to all her babies. One day a few weeks ago she happened to go in the bathroom when HO was shaving and she became obsessed with it. Every time she goes to the bathroom, she points to the razor and rubs her cheeks saying "Papa, Papa." I thought it was cute, so I suggested we buy this little fake shaving kit for her as a Christmas gift. HO wasn't so happy with the idea, so I didn't argue and we passed it up. On Christmas day, one of Lala's gifts to Marin was a cooking set with some plastic knives. Even though she had only seen HO shave once, and had no idea I almost bought her a little shaving kit, the FIRST thing she did with her little fake knives was run them across her face like a razor! It was hilarious. I suppose that it a great confirmation that we can not control what Marin will want to do or be or have interest in. She is who she is. Great lesson.
Tagged as Marin | No Comments » | Continue
We met Brad, Molly, Ed, Brian, Laura and Sadie out the other night for the pre-Christmas tradition of eating Bratwurst at Sholz' Beer Garden. Next door is a venue for events. Some company was renting the space for their fancy Christmas party. Well, they had a live band and a big dance floor and Marin wasn't about to miss that. So, she took turns sweet talking Molly, Ed and me into taking her over to the party to crash and dance. It was so hilarious I can't even believe it was my daughter that was doing it. While all the party-goers sat at their tables in their suits and fancy dresses, Marin busted a lone move on the dance floor. She did what I call the Hamster Dance where she puts her hands up like little paws and rotates while bouncing from side to side. She bent waaaayyyy down and bounced with her bootie sticking out. She rocked from side to side and turned around. When she got tired, she just sat on the floor and rocked her head to the music--entranced by the band. This girl got all the rhythm that HO and I missed out on from the gene pool. She was a little star. The singer even got off the stage, dedicated a song to her and started dancing with her. Then he took her up on stage. Now that is when she started crying and wanted nothing to do with it. Remember the shy factor. But wow, it was really fun to watch her get down at this fancy party. Of course I am the shy mom standing in the corner with my arms crossed trying to look casual. ;) Maybe I need to take some dance lessons so I will be out there with her ...
Tagged as Marin | No Comments » | Continue
It was bound to happen sooner or later. Our outgoing, befriendable Marin is now officially *shy*. Both HO and I were painfully shy as children. I am sure I spent most of my time outside of the home hiding between my mother's legs like an ostrich. Marin had been so outgoing until now. We thought maybe it was because we expose her to so many people and places. Nope. She is now terribly shy in front of strangers. After a little while she warms up of course, but she can really clam up and hide her little face from friendly passers-by who just want to make her grin (or answer their silly questions). She does neither.
But she still does enjoy the strangers who don't actually approach her first. I recently spent some time carting her around in a store where she made herself famous for waving and shouting "hiiiii" "hiiiiii" to everyone non-stop. Even after they said "hi" back like 50 times. As annoying as it sounds, it was actually quite cute.
Tagged as Marin | No Comments » | Continue
I haven't written in a while because a) who can keep up with a blog on a regular basis plus have a real life? and 2) I have been working around the clock on the new dishola website we just launched yesterday.
So while I still feel really "busy" I am at least going to jot down a few things here before I move on to today's tasks:
Marin is doing great. She is full on into 2- and 3-word sentences now. It's really cute b/c she doesn't actually have that much to talk about, so she just tells us the same things over and over and over (isn't that what we do when we get older too?) It is all about conversations like bye-bye floppy [and every other noun in our house]; squirrel nigh-nigh tree; mama, let's go!; papa too slow! She is an incredible communicator. When she doesn't know a word, she invents her own sign language. It is so amazing to watch and experience.
The weather just got cold finally. I wanted to make a post a few weeks back bragging that I had all my windows open nonstop for like 4 weeks. The weather was beautiful and perfect day and night for a record period. Then it got cold. Then it got hot. Then last weekend we actually used the air conditioner and the heater both within a 12 hour period of time. I know, that is crazy. I pretty much don't have words to explain how I feel about that. But we did it.
We also decided to make the plunge (or at least dangle our legs) into San Miguel. We set Jan 4 as our move date. We will enter a 3 month "trial" period and keep our house here. We are excited and nervous about the change. ...
Tagged as Random | No Comments » | Continue
One of the pros to having a baby instead of a dog/monkey/cat/pig is that they can make their own art. I find it beautiful. These are going on the fridge for sure.
Tagged as Marin | No Comments » | Continue
