Sabes que es “babywearing” o mejor dicho el arte de cargar a tu bebe cerca de ti? Por cientos de generaciones diferentes grupos de padres en todas partes del mundo saben que cargar a tu bebe desde recién nacido es la mejor forma de crear el vinculo tan especial entre padres e hijos. Babywearing son solo técnicas para cargar al bebe con la ayuda de los “baby carriers” o portabebes. Tan fácil como usar un rebozo (si! yo tengo uno y lo se usar tal cual como “india”) o como otros portabebes que se usan en otras partes del mundo. Como el “mei tai” en Asia o los ahora comunes “soft structured carriers” (SSC) como el Beco (www.becobabycarrier.com) o el “ring sling”. Muchos estudios recientes apoyan la noción que cargar a los hijos no crea problemas de desarrollo e independencia en los niños. tampoco me impide hacer mis actividades diarias. Al contrario, es la herramienta perfecta para darle a conocer a tu bebe que el o ella están seguros y proteguidos en todo momento. El solo echo de tener al bebe a la misma altura que el adulto les ayuda a ver el mundo desde nuestra perspectiva y no desde adentro de una carreola. Si quieres mas información o solo tienes curiosidad de saber como aprendí a amar el rebozo mexicano, dime y te cuento. 
Que es babywearing
Posted in Babywearing on 02/16/2010 09:19 pm by celIn their own beds, it’s bitttersweet
Posted in Family on 08/23/2009 09:48 pm by celWhen Sebastian was born we had the idea (silly though) that he would fall asleep at night and in his own bed, and let us sleep too. Wrong! After the first two weeks of his life and trying to sleep train him we realized we needed to cosleep, we needed him in our bed right between Alfredo and I, just as much as he needed us.
Sebastian no longer sleeps with us on a regular basis. Ocassionaly he asks to climb on bed and we let him. There will be one day that he won’t ask us anymore. That will be a sad day. So we cherish today. I love having them close. Who doesn’t love little fingers poking your nose at night. Lol.
I didn’t do it with my first at first. We thought he’d sleep in his own room/bed, but that’s completely unrealistic when a baby us 100% breastfed. There’s just no way I was going to get out of my bed/room, walk in the dark, grab baby, feed, put baby back to sleep and go back to my bed. Believe me I tried but after two weeks we realized why the tribes/Indians etc sleep in one big room in the floor with the babies next to them. They knew for a long time what’s right. It’s the right thing to do know too. However we don’t have a village anymore to help us moms when we are too tired to do it all (right Kristin, where’s our village?!).
This morning I decided I would give it a try and have each kiddo sleep in their own room for nap and bedtime. Not so much because it was inconvenient for me, but because Sebastian takes a loooong time to go to sleep. He talks about endless things aliens, spaceships, new batteries for his new miniature Black & Decker tools, he claps, asks for water. You name it. Then Ana takes a long time to fall asleep too and me forever.
I assembled Ana’s crib into a toddler bed ad she took a nap there. I stayed with her for 30 minutes and she took a two hour nap!!! At night she went straight to my room and wanted to climb on my bed, but I brought her to her room, wind up a music box with “When you wish upon a star” (Pinocchio). She held my hand, whined a little but didn’t hey out of her bed and fell asleep within 30 minutes. Success!
It’s 9:45pm and each kid is sleeping in their own room. No major meltdowns and “no cry it out” with Ana which I feel is a total succes thanks to our extended co-sleeping. Ana has slept every single night of her life on my bed. At one point she slept in her crib but it was pushed against my own bed. More like a little extension of my own bed.
I’m proud of my kiddos. I’m sad too because I realize they are growing up. I’m happy I get to sleep in my bed, but I’m sad because they get to sleep in theirs. I’ll miss you til the morning.
I can finally say Texas is home…
Posted in Family on 06/25/2009 02:04 pm by celToday I finally exchanged my Hawaii driver’s license for a Texas one! I must say the Hawaii DL was quite the coversation piece whenever someone saw it. I’m going to miss the rainbow. My new DL is just a piece of paper (temporary for the next 8 weeks!!!) and then I’ll get the card in the mail. I’m also registered to vote! And we also have a home phone number on top of the cell phones. I feel like I can finally answer the question “where are you from?” with a positive “from Texas”. I know and you know that I’m not “from” Texas since I’m originally from “somewhere else” but now this is home and after 9 years of ambivalent answers I feel good. With my luck I’m sure I’ll get one of those jury duty letters any time now.
On a side note, check out the temperature on my truck’s thermometer. That was taken at 11:45AM!!!! If you need centigrades, it was 41C. Burning HOT!
Thankfully and surely by the Grace of God it just rained and it feels awesome right now. I wonder how long that’ll last.
Meeting new neighbors
Posted in Family on 06/20/2009 04:40 am by celYesterday evening the kids and I went for a walk. It was nice and cool. Only 82 degrees. 
I’m glad I brought a bottle of water with me. Sebastian kept asking for water and as soon as he drank it he would start running and said “I’ve got more power!” it was so funny. On our way back we stopped at a couple of houses. The first one our next door neighbor didn’t answer, but we found out they do have a little dog. Then we went to visit the family that lives two houses on the other side. They seem like a great family. The husband is a cop so I feel a little safer. Lol and the coolest part is they have a 2 year old boy and are expecting another baby in a few weeks. The mom was very excited to have other kids in the street and so was I. Sebastian quickly found al the toys and was hard to leave. After a week with no TV and toys we have become more “resourceful”. They also have a 1 year old black lab. Sebastian wanted to say hi to him so they let him in and Ana was freaked out. She kept saying “bite bite”. I’m not sure where she got that since she has never been bitten by anything. In fact she’s the biter. :p
We came home later and when in bed Sebastian kept asking me “mama what’s that boy’s name again? Can we go play with my new friend?”. It’s so sweet and hopefully they can become good buddies.
Our uhaul is on it’s way. Praying for a safe delivery of the goods including husband who’s driving the hugemongo truck.
We also drove into town to pick up my mailbox key (which btw I couldn’t get because I forgot my wallet with all my IDs. Great). That was the first time I drove by myself through town. It’s really nice. Small town feeling (it’s a small town afterall lol). It feels like the part of Austin that I liked. Many small businesses. There’s a great park called Landa Park. I need to do more research but it’s next to the river. There are two railroad tracks that cross the town in several points. If you’re lucky you’ll get stuck in traffic. The kids enjoy seeing the train and Ana screams “choochooooooo tein!”. Tomorrow I need to go back to get the key from the post office and do some shopping. I might check out Target.
I know Alfredo will be reading this in a few days. I just want to say that I love you and thank you for all the hard work you have done and continue to do for us. The house is total awesomeness. Thank you!!! It was worth the wait and then some.
We are HOME!
Posted in Family on 06/18/2009 08:17 am by celAnd that means our own home! We are so blessed to have found this place and lucky to be the new owners. We are now in New Braunfels, Texas. Just North of San Antonio. The town is really small and we live on the outskirts towards the Hill Country. We absolutely love the small town feeling. All the shopping is within 10-15 minute drive.
We have a large backyard with 4 peach, 1 (or 2 I haven’t identified them all) apple, and a lime tree with tons of limes in it!!! The patio has climbing rose bushes who are just gorgeous. I need to learn how to care for roses because they are all over the front yard and along the fence also. Beyond our yard there’s a small pond and the greenbelt. No houses looking in, which is awesome. We are also at the end of the cul-de-sac. Pretty cool for learning bike riding.
I’ve also learned that there are several families with small children. I do hope they stay here for the long run. It would be nice to have them as buddies.
If you plan on cutting me off when driving
Posted in General on 06/03/2009 11:05 am by celOn Saturday my mom and I went to Costco. It’s less than 5 minutes away from our place and during the short drive my mom was asking me if I was ready to move to Texas to which I replied with an emphatic yes! Told her I was tired of the crazy people that drive on I95 and cut me off.
So we get to the parking lot and I’m driving 10mph. Using my single light and just being careful like usual. Re Costco is within the mall so it’s always full of people and kids.
I put my single light to turn left. No incoming cars from the opposite lane, checked. No cars to my right either. It’s worth noting that the people to my left or right all must stop at the various stop signs.
As I start turning left my mom screams “Cuidado!” (careful! But really means to watch out). I slammed my breaks and this old lady in a yellow beetle zooms past in front of me. Whoa! I honked at her and all the lady did was raise her left arm as if dismissing me. What!?! Seriously lady.
I kept driving, fuming and shaking. I parked and then I looked up and the lady in the yellow beetle parked in a handicapped stall. I quickly got out of the car. Thinking to myself that I could not let that just pass.
I was able to catch up to her in front of the costco entrance. I was just right behind her. Our conversation went like this:
Me: “excuse me”.
(She turns around with a face that clearly said she had no idea who I was) “you know I almost crashed into you”.
Her: oh I know.
Me: really?
Her : oh, I apologize. (her tone blah and not really apologetic)
Me: you should really be more careful and slow down. Next time you won’t be so lucky that the other driver is driving slowly.
Her: oh yes I know.
Me: I hope so. 
And I walked away. Geez! I know every place has bad drivers but here everybody always seems to be in a rush or always running late. So people in NoVA. Slow down!
Btw. That goes for all drivers out there.
Rant over 
Life’s about to change again.
Posted in Home on 06/01/2009 10:43 am by celMy last update was two weeks ago regarding my back. Well I did go to the doctor and apparently it was muscular, but last week went to get x-rays done. I’m waiting for the results. It still hurts.
My mom leaves tomorrow after staying here for 8 weeks. Sebastian is going to miss going down to the basement to wake her up. Ana will miss her “gruagua” (grandma) and sebastian his “aguita” (abuelita).
We’re getting ready for another move. This time to Texas. The sight of boxes overwhelms me. I just hope this is the last move in at least a decade!!!
I got a haircut! I hadn’t had one since December of 2007!!! I was letting it grow. And I love it! Next step some highlights, but that will have to wait until after the move.
Achy back
Posted in Mommy on 05/15/2009 10:08 am by celMy BLC ended sort of abruptly 3 weeks ago when I started having back pain. Yesterday I was in so much pain I spent most day on the couch. Today I have a doctor’s appointment and. I hope it can be easily fixed.
DAYS 5,6 & 7 BLC
Posted in Family on 04/12/2009 08:37 pm by celThis weekend has been so hectic. Starting with Friday when my mom arrived from Mexico. I wasn’t able to excercise but I did a lot of housework and was sweating by the end of the day. I ate healthy but I can’t remember details. Ha!
Saturday I did my 35 minute workout of Taebo. I was able to do many more if the excercises as I’m learning the routines. Food was ok, between veggie ommelete and grilled chicken with greens salad and roasted eggplant.
Easter Sunday was crazy. Had another veggie ommelete, skipped snacks ad lunch because we went to Mass to DC and then ended up in a buffet restaurant. It was a bad bad move. I ate so much because I was so hungry. And now two hours later I feel sick. Ugh. I’m doing double workout tomorrow.
I’m trying to find a Zumba DVD that won’t cost an arm and a leg. If anyone knows of one of have one laying around that you don’t want let me know
We also had an egg hunt after dinner. The kids loved it. Prizes were hot wheels, playdoh, some spongebob pills that grow when you put them in water and chocolates. Just a few.
Happy Easter!
DAY 5 - BLC
Posted in Family on 04/10/2009 05:41 pm by celI found this growing “wild” in one of the terraces and I thought it was just a huge weed. I’m glad I haven’t touched the yard yet. It’s was a really nice spring surprise since this is one of my favorite flowers. It’s called bleeding heart.
Breakfast - ham, tomato, mushrooms and just a bit of cheese omellete and 2 whole grain toast. Coffee and water if you are ever in the neighborhood come and I’ll make one for you.
Snack - sugar free rice pudding
Lunch - Half pita with turkey and cheese
Snack - hummus with half pita bread
Dinner - greens salad… Lovely!