Here goes 2013

NOTE: Apologies for the wacka-doodle fonts on this one - after an hour of trying fruitlessly to fix them, I officially give up.  It *is* a free service, so only so much you can expect!

Happy 2013!  We're back and off to a great start...with a minor exception.  Remember the adorableness that was the daily lonchera routine?  Well, I am sad to say that at the end of his first day back at La Escuelita, Matteo made a beeline for me rather than the cabinet.  Since then he’s reliably either come right up to us or vaguely acknowledges us and goes about his business, but unless prompted the lonchera routine is no more.  Ah well, it a WAS a pretty 2012 thing to do.  That and eating cut up food.  That’s lame, too…it’s 2013 darn it and he wants BIG food and for mom to get that silly lonchera!

You know what wasn’t a passing phase?  Lily’s obsession with all things clothes, makeup and high heels.  Her favorite play date activity is now “makeovers” involving her transforming herself - and any child who will suffer her - into a cross between a mini drag queen and a Jersey Shore cast member.  Her drawings are increasingly impressive as well, including “stories” she creates with titles like “Fashions of Clothes by Lily Lowe.”  They’re a bit thin in the plot department, but they more than make up for it with avant garde looks. 

Speaking of looks…Lily has updated hers as well.  No, I’m not just talking about her growing her bangs out.  She has now (at long last) joined the ranks of the toothless!  After months and months of wiggling her poor bottom tooth, she finally convinced it to come out.  The jury is undecided if the tooth actually wanted to leave, but darn it Lily was tired of waiting.  Thankfully it happened on MLK Day so I was home for it because MAN was she excited!!!  She carried the little bugger around the house the remainder of the day, told anyone and everyone she encountered, and made quite the production of putting it in Toothy, her tooth fairy pillow.  Needless to say the excitement only mounted the next day when she found her Tooth Fairy had left her a note AND a whopping $10 (because the first and last teeth lost are the most important, doncha know?).

And for phases that haven’t passed, Sir ClingsALot has decided to up the ante in that department.  Did I mention how hard it is to cook because he thinks anyone in the kitchen should be holding him?  Now, when his cuddling needs are not being met by the chef du jour, he will simply wrap his wee arms around our legs, push his body through, but keep his feet immobile and his arms wrapped, so he’s kind of hanging forward and through your legs at a 45 degree angle…all while making tiny miffed sounds.  It’s quite sad…one might even say pathetic…but all explanations about the need to prepare a quality dinner fall on little deaf ears.  And did I mention that when you DO hold him, he will snuggle into your shoulder and lay his sweet head there, making you feel both madly in love and REALLY SUPER GUILTY for not picking him up every single time?  To be fair, though, he isn’t all cling.  When we’re in the rec room he becomes Mr Engineer – pulling out the wooden tracks and all the Thomas trains and going to town trying to set up a track.  It’s both fascinating and endearing to watch – he gets very intent and clearly puts all his concentration into the effort…yet never seems to get frustrated when certain tracks won’t match up or when they never actually make a circle.  He gladly accepts help, but doesn’t solicit it – it’s like it is his own private mission. 

While I love the train play, I could do without the latest edition – The Barbie Guitar.  It was purchased with Christmas money, picked out by Lily as a “present” for my birthday….and had I known how I would be terrorized by it I would have run it over in the Target parking lot.  This thing is evil, pure and simple.  It plays notes, a weird song that sounds like a John Hughes soundtrack, and the chorus “I’m a Barbie girl in a Barbie wooooorld, life is PLASTIC, it’s FANTASTIC!” over and over and over.  Lily and Matteo both adore it and play with it pretty much every day until Chris or I beg/yell at them to stop.  We’ve even tried putting it in different locations, but to no avail.  It’s like flies to honey.  Except the honey is putrid.  Ok, even thinking about the Barbie guitar gives me the icks, so instead I’ll cover the other highlights really fast….had my 40^th bday party and it was awesome, we had a horrid 10 days of sickness where everyone took turns being sickly except Teflon Lily (I’ve told you she was a tough girl!) and we had amusing converations like these…. 

Me, after Lily mad an astute observation in the car: Nothing gets past you, kidaroo! Lily: except trees

Mama, guess what? I have a lot of questions!

Lily: Why does Paco follow you around all the time?

Me: Because I am kind and gentle with him.
Lily: So am I! 
Me: All the time. Lily: Oh. Sometimes I forget

Matteo (YES! He gets quotes now!): PaCO! PaaaaaCO!  Said first thing in the morning…and just about every other time he sees him.  Conversely, I get an “oh, it’s you, ‘bout time” look first thing in the am.

Me: Do you know why we remember Dr King?
Lily: Because he gave a lot of speeches about why it is important to share.

Lily: Daddy is Homer Simpsons because he drink a lot of beer (nope, not even going to try and caveat that one).

Me: Lily, you have the best personality

Lily: Aaaaand I burp a lot!

Looking forward to a 2013 filled with charm!