A Fun Farewell to Summer Vacation

On Labor Day, we usually like to get together with Michael's side of the family and have munchies and play some softball at the elementary school. This year, my family came also and since both sides of our family are fun to be with, it was double the fun!

We had a BBQ and then went to the school for some softball playing, chatting, and playground playing.

Since it was the last day of summer vacation, I decided to get the kids ice cream from the ice cream truck...

I made this from the videos that I took. Everyone backed up considerably after the first ball that Whitney hit...

PR - Day 9 - Gilligan's Island and Ponce

Today was our last full day in Puerto Rico. We consulted the book that Michael got and it said that there is an island near Guánica called Gilligan's Island that has a ferry to and from it every hour and that it has some fun places to swim and explore.

It took us about an hour and a half to get there. We stopped for a few minutes at a Burger King to use their facilities and Michael bought some cinnamon rolls to keep the kids happy a little longer.

We found the launching area after only two U-turns and had about forty minutes before the boat left. We sprayed sunblock on everyone and went to buy our tickets for the ferry. It cost us over $50, so we had high hopes that it would be a lot of fun. We grabbed a few snacks, but not knowing what to expect, we weren't sure what to bring.

The boat ride was fun because we had an up-close view of the gorgeous aquamarine water. The water was so clear and the ocean wasn't very deep close to the island, so we could see the bottom a minute or two before we got to the dock.

I had fun doing this video, so I thought I'd add it... I know, some of the pictures are duplicates.

It was hard to find a place that didn't have a lot of people around, so we walked a little way and found a small "beach" area under a big tree. The negatives were that because it was under a tree, it also had a bunch of roots coming out of the ground and I kept hitting my head on a low branch! The kids were having fun in the water anyway and didn't seem to mind the seaweed too much, but Michael did, so he went scouting for a better place.

We also saw a couple of small crabs and a hermit crab.

Katie had a real snack, but wanted to try the leaves and see if they were any good.

The kids used the bags from their chips to gather seaweed and other stuff. They tried catching fish, but weren't quite fast enough...

Here they're doing what they love: digging!

Michael found a spot for us that was away from crabs, seaweed, and low-hanging branches. The kids loved this area! It was only about waist-deep for the older kids pretty far out. The only trouble we had was Eliza got into a little deeper area and got scared since the water came up to the top of her chin. Nathaniel was really fast in grabbing her and bringing her to shallower water.

There were virtually no waves, so Katie could sit with me right in the water.

After we had been there for about an hour and a half, some dark clouds started rolling in and we started hearing thunder. I was a little concerned, since I didn't see the end of the clouds, that it might be a bigger storm than we had yesterday. I really didn't want to get stuck on the island. Then Katie started fussing and Timmy started acting tired. So, despite the fact that everyone else was having fun, we decided to catch the next boat back to Guánica. We were all sad to go so soon, especially since it was clearing up right when the boat came. Still, we had a great time while we were there!

When we got back and were debarking, Timmy's flip flop came off, fell in the water, and floated under the dock. The first mate grabbed a broom and was able to retrieve it for us. Then we all showered off and decided to go to Ponce so that Michael could go to the Museum of Music.

He led the way through Ponce and found a parking spot (miraculously) on the street just outside. I was parked illegally behind him, but the spot in front of him opened up and I was able to move there. I had all the kids get into the back of Louise's car and they watched a movie on my iPod while we waited. I knew Michael would be back soon since they closed in 20 minutes.

Sure enough, it didn't take too long. We started back to Miguel and Louise's house, but had to make one last stop. I told Michael he could go the the Museum of Music if we could stop and get a treat. So, we stopped at WalMart and Michael came out with some cookies for us to snack on. We started going back to the main road when I remembered that Timmy hadn't gone to the bathroom in a while, so we stopped at McDonald's for a few minutes. Michael kept going and I think that was the only time he beat me home! For some reason, I am usually able to pass him on the way home (whether it's in NJ or PR) and he doesn't see me. I don't pass him so that I can beat him, he just drives slow sometimes. Still, it's pretty funny to see the look on his face!

When we got home, we had lechón (pork) and arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) from the lechonera down the road, plus tostones, salad, and a bunch of other really good Puerto Rican fare. YUMMY!

I'm kind of sad because I wanted to take a video of the coquís that keep gathering at the windows and "talking" to us. Of course, tonight was the only night that they didn't do that! This is what we would hear when one got up by the window.

No More Peas, Please!

Katie is eating pureed peas and barley. I think she liked the pureed chicken soup that Michael fed her last night better.

Katie's Expression

Will Crawl for Chocolate

Katie started crawling today...and she already looks like she's going to take after me!

Little Miss Laughs-a-lot

Christian was throwing an orange segment into the air and catching it in his mouth while making a funny sound. Katie thought it was hilarious!

Katie's Belly Laugh from Amanda Maldonado on Vimeo.

Yummy!

Katie is at the age where she puts everything in her mouth. If she can't find anything to suck on, she will settle for her fingers, toes, and upper lip.


Yummy Lips and Toes from Amanda Maldonado on Vimeo.

I had just changed her diaper and was about to put on her pajamas when she started eating her toes (she just recently discovered them). She has been licking her lip for a few months now and I finally got it on tape.

Starring Timmy and Katie

Timmy loves Katie...and the camera.

Katie loves Timmy...and the limelight.


Hi, Kayteen! from Amanda Maldonado on Vimeo.

Because...I Wanna See

I tried to get a video of Timmy saying uhcuz (because), but this is what I ended up with:


I Wanna See! from Amanda Maldonado on Vimeo.

At least he said it, just not as clearly when I asked him without the camera rolling.

Apparently, he wants to see himself on the camera, but won't sit still for a picture. His tip off was the camera sound when I turned it on. I'll have to fix that, then I'm going to have to get sneaky. Wish me luck!

My Two-Year-Old

Timmy has been growing very fast for the past six months (unless it just seems like it because now I have someone smaller to compare him to). He seemed so small around his birthday! He is very good with the baby and loves to give her wet kisses, then wipe off the wetness. I haven't noticed a huge difference in his behavior after Katie arrived, except I think that now he hits his older brothers and sister more and sometimes throws a fit when he can't have what he wants. He's probably just acting like a two-year- old! This video is a milder version of how he acts when he wants something and doesn't get it:

He tends to fall asleep in a variety of places when he's tired. He's fallen asleep on our bay window, in the shopping cart, in his booster chair at the table, and a few times in front of the TV.

This was on Christian's birthday. He fell asleep on the bay window holding his truck.

This is when Grandma M. and I were at the store during naptime on July 18.

You can see from the previous pictures that he had more curls a month ago. He got his second haircut, but his first professional haircut, on July 19.

He is very sweet most of the time and so cute. He is usually cheerful and helpful (he will throw away his own diaper and Katie's, too). We are very lucky to have a boy who is so sweet with his baby sister.

Katie's Progress

I took Katie to her doctor 2 weeks ago and forgot to post how she is doing. She was 13 1/2 pounds and 23 inches long. She is doing great and is smiling like crazy and is cooing, too. She is so sweet. The kids love to kiss her! Can you blame them? They love watching this:

Look how much Katie has changed over the past few months!

This was when she was four days old:

This was today (she's two and a half months old):

She has started to just have one or two BM's a day, so it's quite a bit when she does. She often goes through her diaper and messes up whatever she's wearing. When I went to my six-week checkup at seven and a half weeks, she had a really cute white spring dress on (naturally), and pooped everywhere. Unfortunately, I had already gotten my gown on, so I tried to change her without exposing myself. The doctor had to come back several times before I had cleaned her up and then nursed her. What an interesting appointment! I have a great OB/GYN, who is very understanding and told me to take my time...I think I was in the room almost half an hour before I was ready!