Christmas is approaching

This picture of the moon was taken the night that the moon was closer to us in 15 years, thinking about those who are far away but still able to see the same moon.

Esta foto es de la luna, tomada en la noche en que la luna estaba mas cerca de nosotros en 15 años, pensando en aquellos que estan lejos pero aun son capacer de ver la misma luna.

As Chirstmas is getting closer, I am able to start showing some of the things I have made. A friend asked me to make some crayon holders. These were different from the one I made for my niece, but they came out nice. I am an expert now on the subject. The tutorial came from here.

Como nos vamos acercando a las Navidades, puedo ir enseñando algunas de las cosas que he hecho. Una amiga me pidió que le hiciera unos estuches de plastidecores. Estos eran diferentes del que le hice a mi sobrinita, pero salieron bien. Soy una experta ya en esto. La explicación salió de aquí.

Finally here!

We finally made it to Spain, after over 25h of trip, we made it safe and sound. We made a stop in Munich, where we stayed at my brother in law's mom's home. There was snow on the ground and it was so beautiful! And it was a great break to see her and my sister's boyfriend too for a few hours. We really enjoyed ourselves and took a nice nap which helped in such a loooong long trip.

Por fin llegamos a España, después de 25 h de viaje, hemos llegado a salvo. Paramos en Munich, donde nos quedamos en la casa de la madre de mi cuñado. Había nieven en el suelo ¡y estaba precioso! Y fue un descanso muy agradable, viéndoles a ella y a el novio e mi hermana también por unas horas. La verdad es que lo pasamos bien y nos pegamos una buena siesta que nos ayudo en un viaje taaan tan largo.

This is something I made for my niece, it was her birthday and she likes to paint, something pretty and practical. She liked it and her mom too!

Esto es lo que le hice a mi sobrinita, era su cumple y le gusta pintar, algo bonito y práctico. Le gusto y también a su mama.

In this trip I learned that you can actually bring needles to the airplane. I got to sew and finished an ornament that I started here the other day. That little tree stayed in Germany and her new owner seemed to like it. I think it will look nice in her beautiful home.

En este viaje aprendí que se pueden llevar agujas en el avión. Llegue a coser y acabe el arbolito de navidad que empece aqui el otro día. Un arbolito que se quedo en Alemania y a su nueva dueña parece que le gusto. Creo que quedara bien en este hogar tan bonito.

And these are some pictures I wanted to share from our small visit to Munich, nice right?

Y estas son unas imágenes que quería compartir de nuestra pequeña visita a Alemania, que bonito ¿verdad?

Christmas is coming

I have been busy making little things for Christmas. This is just a little peek. You can see more pictures on our Christmas ornament workshop here. I will leave some of the other stuff for later, after the delivery of those little presents.

He estado ocupadad haciendo cosiras para Navidad. Esto es un vistacito. Podeis ver mas fotos de nuestra clase de decoraciones de navidad aqui. Dejare las otras fotos para mas tarde, despues de haber dado esos regalitos.

And I hope to get some pictures today of that new baby girl. I am so happy that I will get to meet her before my trip. Congratulations Pascaline!

Y espero hacerle algunas fotos a esta bebe recien nacida. Estos tan feliz de que la pueda conocer antes de mi viaje. Enhorabuena Pascaline!

Cakes, cupcakes, babies

Lately I have been very much into making sweets and cakes and cupcakes...so much that I ended up buying a hand mixer that I found on sale. Now I am really going to bake.
Here are the cupcakes we made for my friend's baby shower. I post them today announcing the birth of a new baby girl. Just like these little chicks in their nests. What a happy day!

Ultimamente he estado haciendo muchos dulces y pasteles y madalenas...tanto es asi que he acabado comprandome una batidora de mano que habia de oferta. Ahora si que voy a hornear.
Aqui estan las madalenas que hice para la fiesta para el bebe de mi amiga. Las pongo hoy anunciando la bienvenida de una ninha recien nacida. Justo como estos pollitos en sus nidos. Que dia mas feliz!

This is the happy mama and all of her friends. she is holding a fabric card that I made and that we all signed.

Aqui esta la feliz mama y sus amigas. Tiene en las manos una tarjeta hecha de tela que le hice y que todas firmamos.

And these are the cakes I made for Luca's birthay with the master cake maker, my friend Pilar. There is so much to learn from such a wise woman.

Y estas son las tartas que hice para el cumpleanhos de Luca con la maestra pastelera, mi amiga Pilar. Hay tanto que aprender de esta mujer tan sabia.

Do you see all those layers? Yes, they were THAT good!
Veis todas esas capas? Si estaban ASI de ricas!

Bag for everything

Following my previous bag tutorial I have made this one. The one I made back then, I use it as diaper bag, since Mr Luca is not ready to let diapers go yet, and it has been the best bag I have had for holding millions of things. I love it!
I have been sewing a lot lately, little presents for Christmas, and I still can't find enough time!
At least I feel that I have finished some of those projects that I had in my mind for the longest time!
Hope your holiday crafting is going well!

Siguiendo mi tutorial previo he hecho este. La que hice en aquel entonces, la uso como bolsa de panhales, ya que el Luquita no esta listo para dejar los panhales, y ha sido la mejor bolsa que he tenido para poner millones de cosas. Me encanta!
He estado cosiendo un monton ultimamente, pequenhos regalos para las Navidades, y aun no encuentro suficiente tiempo! Por lo menos siento que he acabado algunos proyectos que tenia en la cabeza desde hacia tiempo!
Espero que vuestras manualidades para estas fiestas vayan bien!

Third post

So This is the third post that I start and haven't finished. One was about Thanksgiving, but with the family here I had little time to sit in front of the computer. On top of that I have my camera in the repair shop...hopefully I will hear back from them soon. I dropped my camera and it broke, my new camera...but now I am borrowing one for the upcoming holidays.

Pues este es el tercer post que empiezo y no acabo. Uno era del dia de accion de gracias, pero con la familia aqui no he tenido tiempo de sentarme en el ordenador. Encima, tengo la camara en la tienda para uqe me la arreglen...espero saber de ellos pronto. Se me cayo y se rompio, mi camara nueva...pero ahora me estan prestando una para las fiestas que se aproximan.

We celebrated once and again Luca's birthday for which I prepared along with my friend Pilar, two huge birthday cakes. It was a lot of fun. I will post close ups when I get them. They had a lot of layers and they were a hit. Well, even though we were about 50 people, we only ate one cake so I'm still eating cake today!

Celebramos una vez mas el cumpleanhos de Luca para el que prepare junto con mi amiga Pilar, dos tartas enormes de cumpleanhos. Estuvo muy bien. Pondre fotos de cerca cuando las consiga. Tenian muchas capas y tuvieron mucho exito. Bueno, aunque eramos unas 50 personas, solo nos comimos una tarta y yo aun estoy comiendo tarta hoy!

I am sewing quite a bit now that Christmas is around the corner. I'm afraid I won't be able to show pics for now, but I have to say that I am proud of my production. I still want to give some little things here and there and I better use every single minute I have for myself because in less than 2 weeks, we will be heading to Spain. Yes! We will spend there some time with my family and I can't wait to see everybody.

Estoy cosiendo bastante ultimamente ahora que las Navidades estan a la vuelta de la esquina. Me temo que no podre ensenhar fotos por ahora, pero tengo que decir que estoy orgullosa de mi produccion. Aun quiero hacer unas cosillas aqui y alla asi que mas vale que use cada minuto que me queda libre porque en menos de 2 semanas, iremos de visita a Espanha. Si! Pasaremos algun tiempo con mi familia y tengo muchisimas ganas de verlos a todos.

I hope your break, if you had one, was good. Mine definitely was :)

Espero que vuestras vacaciones su tuvisteis, fueran buenas. Las mias definitivamente lo fueron :)

My yearbook

This is too funny...thanks chaparrita, you always find ways to make my day more fun!
Which one do you like best???

Esto tiene mucha gracias....gracias chaparrita, siempre encuentras la manera de hacer que mis dias sean mas divertidos! Cual os gusta mas?

Yellow and white and green

Well, if you really are interested on seeing the dust from my carpet check this....otherwise, continue reading and looking at pictures of my beautiful machine, and the baby shower preparations for this weekend...all inspired by Martha Stewart but designed by me.

Bueno, si realmente estais tan interesadas en ver el polvo de mi alfombra mirar aqui...sino, seguir leyendo y mirando las fotos de mi maquina preciosa, y de las preparaciones para la fiesta del doming para el bebe que tendra mi amiga...todo inspirado por Martha Stewart pero disenahado por mi.

New vacuum

So maybe that's why I have so many allergies!!! I bought a brand new vacuum at a store that was going out of business. It is really a nice one, I had to dig in my savings for that, but I figure it's an investment and it will probably keep my apartment much cleaner for two reasons, its way better than my former vacuum and I will be motivated to clean more frequently...maybe...but WOW...that thing can suck! I didn't even vacuum my whole apartment and I had to empty the canister! Scary to think about it. I took a picture of what it cleaned but I think it wouldn't be too nice to show it in my blog. You see all these stylish blogs with cool pictures all over the internet and me here, showing my dust, just great. I rather show a picture of Luca.

Asi que puede ser que por eso tenga tantas alergias!!! Me compre una aspiradora nueva en una tienda que estaba cerrando. Es una muy buena, tuve que sacar de mis ahorros para comparla, pero pense que seria una inversion y que probablemente dejaria mi apartamento mucho mas limpio por dos razones, es muchisimo mejor que la que tenia antes y estare mas motivada a usarla mas a menudo...QUIZAS... pero jo...como aspira! Ni siquiera la pase por todo mi apartamento y he tenido que vaciar el recipiente! Da miedo pensarlo. Le hice una foto a lo que limpio pero creo que no seria muy agradable ensenharlo en mi blog. Por ahi se ven todos estos blogs con tanto estilo, con unas fotos tan chulas por todo el interntet y yo aqui, ensenhando el polvo, que bien. Mejor ensenho una foto de Luca.

In my crafty news, no news really, I have been tatting, I'm getting a bit better, but not much, and also I have been helping friends to fix some outfits for a wedding party. I have also been fixing many things that don't fit well or are torn up, I'm in the cleaning/fixing mood. I do have presents that I would like to make but really, that is probably not going to happen. Unless I restrain myself from sleeping I just don't see when will I have time to decide what to make, how to make it and then make it. How do you all do it? when??? ahhhg I want to be more organized and more structured, but I'm not. This is something that I struggle with a lot. How do people keep a house clean or organized! For me it just doesn't happen, things pile up in each and every table or table looking place in my home, things that I just don't know what to do with them at the moment and then after 2-3 items, I just have no clue what is on that table and that is the end of organization there until the day I stress out about it. I am missing that Martha Stewart gene, that's for sure.

Sobre mis manualidades, la verdad no hay novedades, he estado haciendo frivolite, estoy mejorando, pero no mucho y tambien he estado ayudando a amigas a arreglar los trajes y vestidos de unos ninhos que participaran en una boda. Tambien he estado arreglando cosas que no me quedan bien o que estan descosidas, estoy con ganas de limpiar/arreglarlo todo. Tengo regalos que me encantaria hacer pero la verad, eso no va a ocurrir probablemente. A menos que me quede sin dormir. Como lo haceis? cuando??? ahhhg quiero ser mas organizada y mas estructurada, pero no lo soy. Es algo con lo que tengo problemas. Como hace la gente para mantener la casa limpia y organizada! A mi no me pasa, las cosas se acumulan en las mesas o cualquier lugar que se parezca a una mesa en este hogar, y no tengo idea de lo que hacer con ellas en su momento y luego cuando tengo 2-3 cosas, ya no tengo idea de lo que hay en esa mesa y ese es el fin del orden ahi hasta el dia que me estrese con ello. Me falta el gen de Martha Stewart, eso esta claro.

Freedom

Oh freedom. It feels great to have a few hours to myself, it has been a long long time since that happened. Well I have had times here and there, but not as a routine like it is now that Luca goes to school. I have been swimming and trying to do things around the house and also cleaning my car. Things that with Luca around I just can't do, and are so much needed!

Ah la libertad! Que gusto da tener unas horitas para mi, ha pasado muucho tiempo desde que eso ocurria. Bueno, he tenido ratos aqui y alla, pero no en una rutina como ahora que Luca va al colegio. He estado nadando e intentando hacer cosas por mi casa y tambien limpiando el coche. Cosas que con Luca pegado no puedo hacer, y son necesarias!

Well things are not as easy as they look! First of all, the week is flying! I guess I am really enjoying those few hours that seem to fly off my hands. But second, I am not getting to do all I want because well swimming makes me tired and it takes me longer to do thing and for some strange reason everything in my home seems to be breaking lately. I like to prioritize, so if it is not necessary then I say, well I don't really need it and I live without it. But today, the day I decided to clean my car, the vacuum blew on me and after a lot of trying to repair it, it didn't work and I realized that this was a priority and do need to spend some money in a good vacuum cleaner. Maybe that will motivate me to vacuum more often. So that's how I spent my free time today, trying to fix the vacuum and doing research on the internet about which one to buy. There are always so many options and there is always risk to spend a lot of money and later on being disappointed, like me with my camera, which wasn't that expensive but I don't like it. The pictures don't come out too good.

Bueno, las cosas no son tan faciles como parecen! Lo primero es que la semana esta volando. Supongo que estoy disfrutando tanto de esas horitas que se me escapan de las manos. Lo segundo es que no estoy haciendo todo lo que quisiera porque nadar me cansa y tardo mas en hacer otras cosas y por alguna razon estranaha en mi casa parece que todo se rompe ultimamente. He tenido que dar prioridad a algunas cosas, asi que si pienso que algo no es necesario entonces digo, bueno no lo necesito y vivire sin ello. Pero hoy, el dia que decido ponerme a limpiar mi coche, la aspiradora dejo de funcionar y despues de muchos intentos para arreglarla, que no funcionaron, me he dado cuenta de que esto si es prioridad y que necesito gastarme algun dinero en una buena aspiradora. Quizas eso me motive a limpiar mas a menudo. Asi es como he pasado mi tiempo libre hoy, intentando arreglarla e investigando por internet cual comprar. Hay tantas opciones y siempre hay un riesgo de gastar mucho dinero y luego desilusionarte, como con mi camara, que no fue tan cara pero no me gusta. Las fotos no salen muy bien.

Hopefully soon, I will be able to use some of that time to sew and make things quietly at home. In the meantime, we will stick to our daily routines and the unexpected surprises of life.

Esperemos que pronto pueda usar algo de ese tiempo para coser y hacer cosas tranquilamente en casa. Mientras tanto, seguiremos con nuestra rutina diaria y las sorpresas inesperadas que nos da la vida.

Fun weekend

Thanks for all the birthday greetings, he finally understood it is his birthday and he was sooo happy! We still are going to have one more big celebration when his grandparents and aunt are here with us. He also had a great time at his new school.. .He came in crying but as soon as he step on the classroom he was ready for school. Today was his second day and he went there very happy.

Gracias por todas las felicitaciones de cumpleanhos, por fin entendio que es su cumpleanhos y estaba tan feliz! Aun vamos a tener una fiesta mas cuando sus abuelos y tia esten por aqui. Tambien tuvo un buen dia en su primer dia en el cole nuevo...Entro llorando pero en cuanto piso la clase se le paso. Hoy es su segundo dia y fue feliz.

We spent this weekend in Atlanta. We had a wedding to attend to and it was an opportunity to see our family and have some fun. The wedding was nice and Luca decided to be a photographer. He was really funny with that camera, he even bent his knee to focus well and some of the pictures are actually good!!

Pasamos el fin de semana en Atlanta. Tuvimos una boda y la oportunidad de ver a nuestra familia y de divertirnos. La boda estuvo bien y Luca decidio ser el fotografo. Estaba de risa con la camara, hasta se arrodillaba con una pierna para enfocar mejor y algunas de las fotos salieron bien!

I am 3!

In my obsession with trying to make a language opportunity out of everything, I made birthday cards for Luca saying that he was 3, that he was happy to be the other classmates' friend and then I put some dots so he could count to three. That's his new thing, counting, and he counts everything. Today he is at his new school. He has some new friends, new teachers, new routine, and new celebration since today 3 years ago, he was born. It was hard leaving him behind since he cried and cried knowing that something unfamiliar was happening. I am sure he will have a great day because everybody there is really nice. I also made some books for the kids there today showing Luca as he progressed every year, as a little baby, when he was 1, 2 and finally 3. All for the sake of language.

Con mi obsesion de intentar que todo sea una oportunidad para poder hablar, le hice a Luca unas tarjetas de cumpleanhos que decian que tenia 3 anhos, que estaba muy feliz de ser amigo de sus companheritos y puse unos puntitos para contaran hasta 3. Eso es en lo que esta ahora, contando, y lo cuenta todo. Hoy esta en su cole nuevo. Tiene amigos nuevos, profesores nuevos, una rutina nueva, y una celebracion nueva ya que hoy, hace 3 anhos, nacio. Me costo dejarle porque se puso a llorar y llorar sabiendo que algo a lo que no esta familiarizado le estaba ocurriendo. Seguro que se lo pasara muy bien ya que la gente de alli es muy maja. Tambien les hice unos libritos a los ninhos en los que se muestra a Luca segun pasan los anhos, como un bebe, cuando tenia 1, 2 y finalmente 3 anhos. Todo por aprovechar para el lenguaje.

I made him a crown following the instructions of Soulemama. He liked it.
Le hice una corona siguiendo las instrucciones de Soulemama. Le gusto.

And this is also a celebration for the parents, right? It makes me remember what happened 3 years ago, the long wait at he hospital, the amazing way my husband took care of me and the tears of joy when we saw that little round face that just looked, yes, even then, like his father. Such an emotional moment, I was so proud of both of them, my little guy and my big guy, so happy too and so sad today thinking about it all over again.

Y esta es tambien una celebracion para los padres, no? Me acuerdo de lo que paso hace 3 anhos, la larga espera en el hospital, la manera tan increible en como mi marido cuido de mi y las lagrimas de alegria cuando vimos esa carita redondita que se parecia, si, ya desde entonces, a su papa. Que momento tan emocionante, estaba tan orgullosa de los dos, del chiquitin y del mas grande, tan feliz y tan triste hoy recondadolo todo de nuevo.

Can't hear you...

It is so nice to hear the world talk about the President elect of the USA, it looks like a breath of fresh air. Everybody seems to have hopes for the future and hopes on this man's ability to make things better not only here but all over the planet. I am so happy that even though I didn't have the chance to vote, it happened the way I was wishing for. I think this is great for the USA.

Es tan bueno oir al mundo entero hablar sobre el nuevo Presidente de los EEUU, parece como un poco de aire fresco. Todo el mundo parece tener esperanza en el fututo y esperanza en la habilidad e este hombre de mejorar las cosas no solo aqui sino que tambien en el resto del planeta. Estoy feliz de que aunque no haya tenido la oportunidad de votar, ocurrio de la manera que habia deseado. Creo que es estupendo para los EEUU.

In Luca's news he is doing GREAT with his cochlear implants. I can see a difference between just one and two. I can see him turning to his name in the right direction right away, which DID NOT happen before. I can see him absorbing words, and sounds that took him longer before like a sponge and babbling a lot and the best for us, when one falls off, which happens quite often, the other is still on and I can remind him to put it back on. It is just great. He goes around with those long cables and those red lights and looks like a Christmas tree, he is happy and I love seeing my bionic little boy. It is wonderful seeing him respond and terrible flashbacks come back when he is not hearing again for whatever reason. I am so used to have a hearing child now that it's really hard when he doesn't have his implant on or when they don't work. What a wonderful invention.

Respecto a Luca, esta ESTUPENDAMENTE con sus implantes cocleares. Veo una diferencia clara entre uno y dos implantes. Le veo mirar en la direccion correcta cuando se le llama, que antes NO hacia. Le noto como absorbe las palabras y los sonidos, y sonidos que tardaba mucho en producir ahora los absorbe como una esponja y los balbucea y lo mejor para nosotros es que, cuando uno se le cae, que ocurre bastante a menudo, el otro aun sigue puesto y le puedo recordar que se lo vuelva a colocar. Es increible. Va por ahi con esos cables largos colgandole y las luces rojas que parece un arbolito de navidad, es un ninho feliz y me encanta ver a mi ninhito bionico. Me encanta verle responder y terribles recuerdos me vienen a la cabeza cuando no oye de nuevo por cualquier razon. Estoy tan acostumbrada a tener a un ninho oyente ahora que es muy dificil cuando no oye porque no los tiene puestos o cuando no funcionan. Que invencion mas maravillosa.

Today we went to have the programing of one of his implants. He did good and then he was tested in the booth. He sits on my lap, the audiologist beeps at different frequencies and he is supposed to respond so that we can tell at what levels he is hearing. Funny thing, when there is sound in such a silent room like that, his implants' lights turn on. Well, I know now that I do have a mild hearing loss because sometimes I see the light but I hear no sound, but he DOES! and basically that means that with his cochlear implants, he hears better than his mother. Isn't that amazing??? It kind of makes me feel old.

Hoy fuimos a que le programaran uno de sus implantes. Le fue bien y luego le hicieron un test en la camara insonorizada. Se sienta encima mio, la audiologa poner pitidos a diferentes frecuencias y el se supone que tiene que responder cuando los oiga para que sepamos a que niveles oye. Lo mas gracioso es que cuando hay sonido en esa sala tan silenciosa, sus implantes se encienden. Bueno, ahora se que YO tengo una perdida leve de audicion porque a veces veo la luz pero no oigo nada, pero el SI! y eso significa que con los implantes cocleares, el escucha mejor que su madre. Que increible no??? Y me hace sentir un poco vieja.

And finally we had his first 3 year old celebration at school. He will have another one next week on his birthday at his new school and then again with all the family and friends around here. Maybe by then he will know how to blow candles...

Y al final tuvimos su celebracion del tercer cumpleanhos en el cole. Tendra otra la semana que viene en su cole nuevo y otra de nuevo con la familia y amigos de por aqui. Quizas por entonces sabra como soplar las velas...

This is after opening some cards I made for the kids with Luca's picture. He was very excited and so were his friends.

Y esto es despues de abrir unas tarjetas que hice para los ninhos con la foto de Luca. El estaba emocionadisimo y tambien lo estaban sus amigos.

Coasters

As a little present for her upcoming wedding for all that she has done for Luca, I made these coasters for one of his speech therapists. We will not see her anymore, at least not in a regular basis and I just want to show her my appreciation for teaching so much to both of us. We are so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful professionals and I realize this every day but even more when I see the type of support that others have with the hearing loss of their child. Lucky Luca lucky me.

Un pequenho regalo para su proxima boda y por todo lo que ha hecho por Luca, le hice unos posavasos a una de sus logopedas. No la veremos mas, por lo menos no semanalmente y quiero mostrarle el aprecio que le tengo por ensenharnos tanto a los dos. Somos muy afortunados de estar rodeados de unos profesionales tan maravillosos y me doy cuenta a diario pero aun mas cuando veo el tipo de apoyo que otros tienen con sus hijos sordos. Que afortunado es Luca y que afortunada soy yo.

Fall is making me twirl

Fall is making me twirl. I feel like that. So many things happening this season, so many events that Luca is probably wondering why is it not like this all year round because he is having a blast and I feel like I am going in circles trying to enjoy the moments that go by so fast.

El otonho me hace dar vueltas. Asi me siento. Tantas cosas estan ocurriendo esta temporada, tantas actividades qeu Luca se debe preguntar porqeu no es asi durante todo el anho ya que se lo esta pasando piapa y yo siento que voy dando vueltas intentando disfrutar del momento porque pasa tan rapido.

I have been sewing lately. I was not ready for the first Halloween event, but my friends lend us a doggy outfit. Luca wanted to wear the hard hat like his friend so he looked particularly funny. For the second and real Halloween day, I had his cowboy outfit ready. I am happy with how he looked. I was also a cowgirl but forgot to take pictures. We went to a nursing home to see elderly people who enjoyed giving candy to little ones like Luca. It was very nice for us and for them.

He estado cosiendo ultimamente. No estaba lista en la primera fiesta de Halloween, pero mis amigos nos prestaron un disfraz de perrito. Luca queria ponerse el gorro de construccion como el de su amigo asi qeu tenia unas pintas muy graciosas. Para el segundo y real dia de Halloween, ya tenia su disfraz de cowboy acabado. Estoy contenta de como quedo. Yo tambien era una cowgirl pero se me olvido hacerme fotos. Fuimos a un geriatrico a ver a ancianos a los que les gusta darles caramelos a ninhitos como Luca. Fue un dia muy bueno para nosotros y para ellos.

We also went with his class to a pumpkin patch and he enjoyed making towers with pumpkins.

Tambien fuimos con su clase a una venta de calabazas y disfruto haciendo torres con ellas.

And today, well this weekend, I decided it's time for him to be a big boy. I cut his hair, that was totally wild, I removed the diapers, although I can't say he gets it yet, and I got him a bed cause he has been jumping out of his crib and it was about time he has his independence without having to jump obstacles. He loves it, can you tell?

Y hoy, bueno este fin de semana, decidi que es hora de que sea un ninho grande. Le corte el pelo, que estaba a lo loco, le quite los panhales, aunque aun no puedo decir que entienda como funciona lo de ir sin ellos, y le compre una camita porque ha estado saltando de su cuna y ya era hora de que le diera mas independencia sin tener que saltar obstaculos. Le encanta, se nota?

Twenty six

My mom always remembers the 28s. She remembers this is the day of the month that my husband died. I always have a funny feeling on that day too. It's like if it was in my subconscious but don't let it come out to my memory. Time flies. Unbelievable it has been 26 months today. Sometimes it feels like yesterday that I shared something with him, sometimes it seems like very far away. Regardless of time, I feel like if my throat and my heart and my inside shrunk or was squeezed every time. Is that ever going to change? Before I know it I will be more time without him than I was ever with him, and that is very hard to understand and assimilate. He will always be young and we will change and get older. So strange. And this is when we met, I was 26 then. And he always had his eyes closed when the flash got to his eyes.

Mi madre siempre recuerda los 28s. Se acuerda de que este es el dia del mes en que mi marido murio. Yo siempre siento algo diferente en ese dia. Pero es como si mi subconsciente no lo dejara salir de mi memoria. El tiempo vuela. Es increible que hoy hagan 26 meses. A veces siento como si fuera ayer que pasamos tiempo juntos, a veces siento como si fuera hace mucho. A pesar del tiempo, siento que mi garganta y mi corazon y mis entranhas se enogieran o se apretujaran cada vez. Va a cambiar algun dia? Antes de que me quiera dar cuenta habre pasado mas tiempo sin el que con el, y eso es dificil de entender y asimilar. Siempre sera joveny nosotros cambiaremos y envejeceremos. Tan estranho. Y esta foto es de cuando nos conocimos, yo tenia 26 entonces. Y el siempre cerraba los ojos cuando le llegaba el flash a los ojos.

Great weekend

This weekend was a busy one for Luca and I. Well the weekend started early because it was homecoming at our University and there was nothing going on in this town other than the homecoming parade. I took Luca even though it was raining and that was a GREAT idea. He was so excited to see fire trucks, police cars, the bands, cars, and me, holding 2 umbrellas and the camera...just to see that face! It was worth it.

Este fin de semana fue muy repleto para Luca y para mi. Bueno, el fin de semana empezo pronto porque el viernes fue "homecoming" en nuestra Universidad y no habia nada mas en esta ciudad mas que la cabalgata de homecoming. Lleve a Luca a que la viera a pesar de que estaba lloviendo y fue INCREIBLE. Estaba tan emocionado de ver los coches de policia, los de bomberos las bandas de musica, y yo, con dos paraguas en una mano y la camara en otra...solo por capturar esa carita! merecio la pena!



And then the bat festival. I was amazed by Luca's independence and way of solving problems. No, communication is not a problem for this boy and he enjoyed the music and rhythm so much, it made me very happy. Here playing some Australian sticks.

Y luego en el festival de los murcielagos. Estaba alucinada de lo independiente que es Luca y de su manera de resolver problemas. No, comunicacion no es un problema para este ninho y le encanto la musica y el ritmo tanto, que me hizo muy feliz. Aqui tocando unos palos australianos.

To end, my tatting...I just love taking it in my purse wherever I go, I am addicted and I hope I can get better at this! There it goes!

Y para terminar...me encanta llevarlo en el bolso donde voy, estoy adicta y espero mejorar en esto! ahi va!

Shelves

I'm very proud of the way my new shelves with my fabrics turned out. I have been thinking and thinking about how to organize them since forever and I never seemed to find the right crates or bins to hold them. Finally Target had my solution and I love the way it turned out. Now I have to do the same thing with the lower shelve and all the different baskets, scraps and different items that are on top of it. One day...

Estoy super orgullosa de como me han quedado las estanterias de telas. He estado pensando y pensando como organizarlas desde hace muchisimo tiempo y nunca encontraba los cajones o cajas adecuados. Por fin Target me dio la solucion y me encanta como quedaron. ahora tengo que ponerme a hacer lo mismo con la de abajo que tiene muchas cestas, retalitos y cosas por todas partes. Un dia de estos...

He is officially bilateral

yes! He got both implants on today. He looked a bit puzzled and happy at the same time. He loves going to audiology because all these super nice women spoil him so much! And he is the king of the place, or so he thinks...he laughed and laughed as we were leaving the building, just wondering what was going through his head listening for the first time in stereo.

Si! Hoy le pusieron los dos implantes. Estaba un poquito confundido y feliz a la vez. Le encanta ir a audilogia porque estas mujeres tan simpaticas lo miman un monton! Y es el rey del lugar, o por lo menos se lo cree...se partio de risa mientras saliamos del edificio, me pregunto lo que le estaba pasando por la cabeza mientras escuchaba en estereo por primera vez.

Tatting

I have learned a new craft. I often think that I know too many little things, none of them too well, so I should focus more on a few instead of learning something new. But when the opportunity comes and a new challenge is presented, I am in! And this week, at our weekly workshops we learned how to do tatting. This is a craft that you don't usually see, or see people making it. I didn't even know what it was until this week. And now I'm addicted to it. It took me a good hour of unsuccessful trying, what's going on! I'm doing it right! I am doing exactly what you are doing but mine doesn't move (the thread should move if it's right)....but finally I figured it out and now I can say I can make it pretty fast and I only get confused every ten minutes or so.

He aprendido una labor nueva. Suelo pensar que se demasiadas cosas, pero ninguna muy bien, asi que deberia centrarme en pocas en lugar de aprender algo nuevo. Pero de repente la oportunidad me llama y ya estoy a la carga! Y esta semana, en nuestra clase semanal aprendimos como hacer frivolite. Es una labor que no se suele ver, o no sueles ver a gente haciendola. Ni siquiera sabia lo que era hasta esta semana. Y ahora estoy adicta a ella. Me llevo una buena hora de intentos fallidos, que pasa! lo estoy haciendo bien! Estoy haciendo exactamente lo mismo que tu pero el mio no corre (el hilo tiene que correr si esta bien hecho)...pero al final lo averigue y he de decir que me sale bastante rapido y solo me confundo cada 10 minutos.

I just have to add that I love doing crafts, they are so therapeutic for me, and I really don't know what I would do without them.

Solo anhadir que me encantan hacer labores, que son tan terapeuticas para mi, que la verdad es que no se que haria sin ellas.

Somedays are bright some days are dark

The last weekend, that I got to spend with my friends, I got the opportunity to have adult conversations for a long time! It is not easy when you are the only one in charge of a 2-year-old boy that sometimes cannot hear you well. Some days I feel that when my friends can take a break while their partners watch their kids they can stop for a minute and talk with other adults and enjoy the moment. Not me. I have to be always watching him, my eyes and my mind need to be switching back and forth between the conversation and him, and most of the time, it doesn't work. And I only get a break when someone, my family or friends are actually watching him intentionally. Some days I fell like pulling my hairs out and wonder why things have to be this way.

El fin de semana pasado, que lo pase con mis amigos, tuve la oportunidad de tener conversaciones con adultos que no tenia desde hacia mucho tiempo! No es facil cuando eres la unica persona a cargo de un niño de 2 años que a veces no te oye bien. Hay dias que siento que mientras mis amigos pueden tomarse un respiro mientras sus parejas cuidan de sus hijos, ella@s pueden parar un minuto y establecer una cnversacion con adultos y disfrutar del momento. Yo no. Siempre tengo que estar mirandole, mis ojos y mi mente necesitan estar moviendose de lado a lado entre el y la conversacion, y la mayoria del tiempo, no funciona. Y yo solo descanso cuando alguien, mi familia o amigos estan cuidando de el intencionadamente. Algunos dias quiero tirarme de los pelos y me pregunto porque las cosas tienen que ser asi.

On top of that, I have to watch that implant...wait until he gets two implants at once and then I will have to watch 2 implants instead of just one. That requires double amounts of attention and care, making sure it's working, that he has the magnet on his head, that his implant is in the right program (there are 4), that he hasn't lost it! yes, sometimes he decides to hide it or throw it or just loses it and he doesn't realize. Yesterday he separated it into 4 pieces and hide 2 inside the pillowcase and the other two were in between the mattress and the crib...no, I wasn't happy. And I wonder, why are our lives so challenging? Just because we know we can deal with it? Well, the good news is that there are good days too. Days like today that compensate for all the hard work, stress and minimal social life, and these days bring us the good side of all this, and hope for a less stressful, and more enjoyable future.

Encima, tengo que vigilar ese implante…espera a que le ponga los dos a la vez que entonces tender que vigilar dos implantes en lugar de uno solo. Eso require el doble de atencion y de cuidado, asegurandome de que funciona bien, de que el iman esta en su cabeza, de que su implante esta en el programa adecuado (hay 4), de que no lo ha perdido! Si, a veces decide esconderlo o tirarlo o simplemente lo pierde y ni se da cuenta. Ayer lo separo en 4 pedazos y escondio 2 dentro de la funda de su almohada y los otros dos estaban entre la cuna y el colchon…no, no me hizo mucha gracia. Y me pregunto, porque tienen que se nuestras vidas tan complicadas? Solo porque sabemos que saldremos adelante? Bueno, lo mejor de todo es que tambien hay dias buenos. Dias como hoy compensan todo el trabajo tan duro, el estres y la minima vida social, y dias como este nos muestran el lado bueno de todo esto, la esperanza de un futuro con menos estres y con mas tiempo para disfrutar.

With only 1.5 weeks wearing his new implant he did wonderful today at school. He repeated so many things that I wasn’t expecting and he was able to reproduce almost all his sounds. It’s still not as good as the other ear, but it’s only 1.5 weeks old! It blows me away. It took the other ear 2 weeks to even react to something so I am amazed. We also have a very nice school waiting for him to turn 3, with a nice teacher and many people that will advocate for him and his success. Days like this, and the good people around us help us, keep on going.

Con solo 1.5 semanas con su implante nuevo le fue increible en el cole hoy. Repitio tantas cosas que no esperaba y fue capaz de reproducir casi todos sus sonidos. Aun no esta al nivel del otro oido pero solo lo tiene 1.5 semanas! Alucino. Tardo 2 semanas en reaccionar con el primer oido a cualquier sonido asi que estoy alucinada. Tambien tenemos un colegio que esta muy bien esperando a que cumpla los 3, con una profesora muy maja y mucha gente que le ayudaran y defenderan para lograr muchos exitos. Dias como este, y la gente que nos rodea y nos ayuda, nos hacen seguir adelante.

And here is a post of the workshop I taught last week at our weekly meetings with my friends of Minerva's circle. It was great, it's nice to finish an easy project in a couple of hours and even better to teach my friends.

Y aqui esta el post de la clase que enseñe la semana pasada en nuestra cita semanas con mis amigas de Minerva's circle. Fue muy divertido, da gusto acabar un proyecto sencillo en un par de horas y aun mejor enseñar a mis amigas.

Happy friends

It is amazing how you become friends with people with just a very short relationship but a strong connection. I met my friends that now live in Orlando a few years ago through a common friend. We were neighbors but didn't get many opportunities to meet up before they left this city. For a while we shared something very strong in common, them and we were expecting babies almost at the same time. Theirs came first, and already in Orlando, Amelie was born a bit earlier than expected but healthy and filling this family with lots of joy. Our friendship continued in the distance, we went through tough times and happy ones together. And even though we don't get to see each other too often, we are always eager to get together and share some moments that will not be forgotten. Last weekend we went to spend the day with them and with little Amelie, since she is now a big 3 year old girl! Luca and I were both very excited.

I made this little apron for Amelie. I printed her name using a freezer paper stencil. It is so easy and the results are instant! I love that! She liked her new apron and she were it a lot the rest of that day!

Es incredible como se pueden crear amisatade con gente durante una relacion muy corta pero con una gran conexion. Conoci a mis amigos que ahora viven en Orlando hace algunos años a traves de una amiga comun. Eramos vecinos pero no tuvimos muchas oportunidades de juntarnos antes de que dejaran esta ciudad. Durante un tiempo compartimos algo muy fuerte, nosotros y ellos espereabamos bebes a la vez. El suyo llego antes, y ya en Orlando, Amelie nacio un poco antes de lo esperado pero sana y llenando a esta familia de felicidad. Nuestra amistad continuo en la distancia, pasamos juntos momentos duros y alegres. Y aunque no nos veamos lo suficiente, siempre tenemos ganas de juntarnos y de compartir momentos que no seran olvidados. El fin de semana pasado fuimos pasar el dia con ellos y con la pequeña Amelie, ya que es una niña grande de 3 años! Luca y yo estabamos emocionados.
Le hice este delantal a Amelie. Imprimi su nombre usando una plantilla de papel de congelar. Es muy facil y los resultados son instantaneos! Me encanta que sea asi! A ella le gusto y se lo puso un monton ese dia!

At the end we ended up spending the whole weekend at their place! and it was WONDERFUL! We had good food, good chats, good playtime, good cake, GREAT company and even a night out! Thank you so much for being such great friends!

Al final acabamos pasando todo el fin de semana en su casa! y fue MARAVILLOSO! Comimos muy bien, hablamos mucho, lo pasamos bien jugando, un pastel muy rico y la compañia INCREIBLE e incluso salimos de juerga! Muchisimas gracias por ser tan buenos amigos!

He is gone bilateral!

Yes! He did good! Luca went through a long session of listening to things in order to get his second implant and patiently participated in our games until the second implant went live. He put strange faces to the new weird sounds and seemed a little cuddly with me, which is so not like him. I think he might have been a bit scared and confused but we left the audiologist office with only his new implant and a happy boy and much happier mommy.

si! Le fue muy bien! Luca paso una sesion larguisima de escuchar cositas hasta que su segundo implante fue programado y participo pacientemente en nuestros juegos hasta que lo encendieron. Puso una cara un poco estranha a los sonidos tan raros que sentia y estuvo un poco mimoso conmigo, lo cual no es tipico de el. Creo que puede que estuviera un poco asustado y confundido pero salmos de la oficina de la audiologa solo con su implante nuevo y con un ninho feliz y una mami aun mas feliz!

This has been a roller coaster of days for us, first because I attended a conference about early childhood hearing loss in another city which was very inspiring and a learning experience as always, and for him because he stayed with his aunt Juju during 3 days of total fun activities. The best part, I think, he got his bicycle back and he rode it and rode it as much as he could. Not only he looks like him, he is like his papi. Thanks Juju for a wonderful week with both of us!

Estos han sido unos dias muy intensos para nosotros, primero porque fui a una conferencia de perdida de audicion en ninhos pequenhos en otra ciudad lo cual fue muy interesante y una experiencia de aprendizaje como siempre,y para el porque se quedo con su tia Juju durante 3 dias de diversion total. La mejor parte, creo, es que le dimos su bici y anduvo y anduvo en ella tanto como pudo. No solo se parece a el, tambien es como su papi. Gracias Juju por una semana maravillosa con nosotros dos!