Radar Love...

Costa Rica

2012-01-18T21:07:00.005-05:00

Ok, so I guess the slide into a new year and new country hasn't been enough to provoke me to be a better blogger. But thems is the breaks. I would love to post a bunch of pictures of Radar dancing with the monkeys of Costa Rica, but that hasn't happened as of yet. That is not to say that Costa Rica has been anything less than great!

We are loving it! Radar especially is loving it! He's made a bunch of friends, including two imaginary friends (named Bim and Mum Bim... Bim and Mum Bim are actually his hands and when his hands do something they shouldn't (ie, splash water all over the bathroom, throw something they shouldn't, hit Fanny, etc) and I tell him not to do whatever it is that he shouldn't be doing, he tells me that it wasn't him, but it was his friends!) Radar's talking more than ever and I am in love with the age 3! Age three is full of wonderful things like Radar saying to me, "Mama - yo estoy feliz con mi Mama!" (Mama, I am happy with my Mama!) And when I get back from the office, his face explodes into a smile and he sprints towards me for a leaping hug while screaming "Hola Mama!" Last night when we were reading his night time book, he interupted me and said, "Mama, tu fuiste a la oficina hoy un poco. Pero entonces veniste a la casa. Siempre vienes a la casa porque tu quieres mucho a nene." Yes, ladies and gentlemen... my 37 month is talking in full, conjugated, complex, logical sentences and I am so in love with every bit of it (oh, for those who require a translation, he said, "Mama, you went to the office today for a little bit. But then you came to the house. You always come to the house because you love me very much.")

Where was I before that tangent? Anyway, I would post a bunch of pictures, but it seems like I forgot to bring the charger for my good camera (do I get any points for bringing the camera?) What can I say... we've been on a busy adventure and I haven't stopped to write about it.

Anyway - we really are enjoying Costa Rica, although we haven't yet gotten out of San Jose (I still go to work at an office every day). And even though I don't have lots of pictures, I suppose I should post the few I have taken (without any particular context or explanation) and try to do better in the near future so that all of you, and later Radar, will have a good account of our little 2012 adventure!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Pants on

2011-12-28T09:16:00.007-05:00

FIRE!

Not to disparage any of you, but if my few readers haven't already caught on to the fact that I'm a bold faced liar when it comes to promising to post, then, well... how to put it politely... you're either unquenchable optimists or just plain dumb!

As for the Christmas plot. I would say that it was a HUGE success! I woke up at 5am, showered, finished packing, walked Fanny and put all our luggage in the car. I took his change of clothes downstairs. We had to be at the airport at about 6:45am, so at 6:30, I woke Radar up with great excitement and told him it was time to go downstairs to see what gifts Santa had left under the tree (after doing pee pee, of course). He immediately woke up and we went downstairs, him giggling and me giggling, both of us tensed up with anticipation.

And then we got downstairs.

And the tension immediately released.

And we stared at the tree.

Then we looked at each other.

With a shrug of my shoulders, I said, “Huh?”

With a shrug of his shoulders, he said, “Huh?”

I immediately grabbed the phone and called Santa. He explained that there had been a misunderstanding and that he hadn't received the message I had left with Mrs. Claus on Christmas Eve.

Everybody makes mistakes.

We got on skype and called Grammy to see if indeed Santa had delivered the gifts to Casa Grammy.

She said that she was a little disappointed because she thought the gifts were for her, but she promised she wouldn't open them.

We changed Radar, got in the car and went to the airport. I went up to the counter and explained the emergency situation to the JetBlue agent. She understood and gave us seats on the airplane to Grammy's house.

And we went to Grammy's house and Radar got all his presents.

It was a great big success!

And Radar never got upset about the whole mess.

He's 3 and when you're 3 (instead of terribly 2), you're much more mature and don't freak out over stupid things like no presents under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

Instead... at 3, you reserve your meltdowns for more serious crisis... like when you get to Grammy's and you see the cereal dispenser has fruit loops in it and you tell your Mama you want fruit loops and she serves you a bowl with milk.

That's right... when you're 3, that is a proper reason to have a full-blown, punching, screaming, crying temper tantrum! Because you wanted to turn the damn handle on the cereal dispenser yourself and you didn't want any damn milk in your cereal! And that there is a good reason to melt down on Christmas morning!

Ugh.

Ok, and I also didn't take pictures of anything having to do with the Christmas plot... but here are a few pictures / video that I did take over the last couple of days, including Radar's first and very successful visit to the dentist!!!

And that's it for this belated report.

Hope to see you one more time on this side of the calendar year!

Lots of love,
Titi and Radar

Santa tracker

2011-12-24T07:46:00.002-05:00

Feliz Noche Buena!!!

Today we are gearing up for the final episode of our 2011 Santa Plot (described in previous post & Antonio, I promise that when Radar becomes a proficient reader (as Tia Sara pointed out, likely within the year... I think that's what she said), if I catch him reading through old Radar Love posts, I will quickly delete any mention of there not being a Santa - including this one!)!

Over the past week, Radar has caught me twice talking on the phone to Santa, trying to clear up an apparent misunderstanding:

Me: No, no Santa. No, you must deliver the gifts to Radar's house, NOT Grammy's house.

(pause for Santa's feedback)

Me: I'm not sure why you thought that. We will be here, at Radar's house and we need the gifts to be delivered here. No, not to Grammy's.

(I look up to Radar to get his agreement and he nods in agreement).

And today we're going to use the awesome NORAD/GOOGLE Santa tracker to see Santa's progress. Of course, I imagine that cell phone reception in some of the more remote locations of the world might make it hard to get in touch with Santa, so I really hope he's got it straight!!!!

SANTA TRACKER

You can change the language up at the top, so have fun tracking Santa!!!

Finally, here's just a few pictures from our photo shoot yesterday where I tried to get a decent picture of Radar and Fanny sitting cooperatively and cutely... not such an easy thing to do!

And finally, the winner (that I posted on facebook yesterday as our official Christmas card since I was way too lame to print & send real cards!)

We wish you all a very Merry Noche Buena & I promise to post tomorrow about the success (or flop) of our Christmas plot!

Lots of love,

Titi, Radar, Fanny & Mulligan!

The Santa Plot

2011-12-19T07:56:00.002-05:00

I'm pretty stoked that Radar 'gets' a lot more these days. It makes talking (or cursing) in front of him a little harder, but the upside is awesome. For example, he 'gets' that Christmas is just around the corner and that Santa will be coming to bring him a gift if he's a good boy (ok, so the 'you have to be a good boy or Santa won't bring you a gift' angle isn't really working that well). We even sat down and wrote Santa a letter and Radar decided on the gift he wanted - a camera. So now, whenever he sees a picture of Santa or Santa on the tv, he says that Santa is going to bring him a camera.

***spoiler alert - - - if you believe in Santa, please skip to the pictures below***

The thing is, since I have to do Santa's bidding and since none of Santa's elves build any toys here in Nassau, I have to place the Christmas orders online and have them sent to Grammy's house. And since there are no more mules running between South Florida and Nassau before Christmas, that means that when Radar wakes up on Christmas morning, there will be no presents under the tree. And for a 3 year old that 'gets' it - that just plain sucks!

So here's the Santa plot. Although we can't get the gifts here before Christmas, we do have a flight booked to go over to Grammy's on Christmas morning. And I'm not going to tell Radar about that flight. Instead, when we wake up Christmas morning and go downstairs and see NO presents under the tree, I'm going to get really upset and I'm going to call the North Pole! At that point, Santa will explain that he made a terrible mistake and that he delivered the gifts to Grammy's house. I am then going to slam down the phone and we are going to hurriedly pack our suitcase to get to the airport and get to Grammy's house! Of course we'll be calling Grammy somewhere along the line for her confirmation that Santa indeed drop by her house and that he indeed did leave Radar's gifts there.

The reason I think this plot will go over pretty well? See, Radar already thinks that adults are pretty dumb and he really enjoys being smarter than big people. So there's no reason to think that he won't enjoy believing that Santa is just as dumb as the rest of us big people!

Ok - here's a few pictures from yesterday when we put up and decorated our tree (that Santa won't be visiting this coming weekend). Pardon the "Rudolph" look... I didn't realize until I reviewed the pictures this morning that Radar had a clump of squash on the tip of his nose! Oh well!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Happy Birthday my three year old Moon

2011-12-16T19:29:00.006-05:00

at 8:37 tonight
whether you’re asleep or still awake
i’m going to kiss your sweet face
just like I did for the first time
exactly three years ago at 8:37

as beautiful a picture as words can paint
they just can’t quantify or explain
what you do for my mind and my heart
words fall short

because when you fall sleep
i still study every detail of your face
sometimes tracing the contours of those delicious chubby cheeks with my finger
in absolute wonder
and i actually feel a heat radiate from within me

i feel that heat a lot
when you sing a new song
mangling the words into the sounds as you hear them
or when you never fail to notice that the sun is going down
or that the moon is out
or that the sun has come back up

if i’d read every book in the world
and seen every movie and every play
and been given a lifetime to sit and create
some awesome fictional character with my words
i could never have come up with a character as
unique
and
wonderful
as you

but since words are what i can offer this evening
and since you might actually read these words one day
i’ll write the words that I say to you every single day

i love you i love you i love you
i love you more than the sun and the moon and all the stars in all the sky
i even love you more than all the chocolate in all the world

and to borrow from a poem I wrote to you when you turned 9 months old, it all still holds just as true!!!

Happy Birthday my Moon

If I could eat the moon with a spoon,

I know it would taste like you.

If every star was a fine tuned guitar,

You'd be all of the songs up there too.

If the great big sun was a big ball of fun,

It would be boring without your light.

And if this spinning earth hadn't seen your birth,

Then nothing would be quite right.

You aren't just my smart, silly, sweet special son,

You're my food and my music and all of my fun.

You aren't just a normal three year old boy...

You're my everything.

You're my life.

You're my joy.

A veritable Radar concert!

2011-12-08T16:13:00.002-05:00

First letter to Santa

2011-12-08T15:23:00.003-05:00

Radar didn't do the writing, but we agreed on what the letter to Santa should say and he made me write upside down while he was busy decorating the rest of the card.

More to come...

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

A bear ate my dog

2011-12-07T09:35:00.002-05:00

Today, December 7, 2011—a date which will live in infamy—the Christena Pazos of America (albeit living in the Bahamas and soon to be relocating to Costa Rica) suddenly and deliberately posted on the blog known as Radar Love.

Ok - I’m not a big fan of excuses. If my own appetite for other people’s excuses is any kind of gauge, then nobody is much interested in hearing my excuses (although thank you Marco for offering yourself up for blame). There are always exceptions of course… in the past I’ve tried to come up with excuses that might actually catch people’s attention and therefore get me somewhere. I confess that on more than one occasion, when being lectured about being late for something (maybe paying a bill or having to change a flight at the last minute), I have simply said, “I’m sorry, but a bear ate my dog.” And in all cases, that particular excuse has gotten me what I wanted (late fee waived, flight changed, etc).

In this case though, Fanny is fine, albeit feeling quite abandoned. As far as I know, there are no bears in Nassau, so I doubt any of you would believe that excuse anyway. All I have to offer is that November was simply a tough month. November has 30 nights (yes, and days). I spent 16 of those 30 nights away from home and apart from Radar. Four separate trips - to BVI, Panama, Panama again and Zurich. It’s now December, but as I write this, I am sitting in my hotel room in the Cayman Islands and next week I head to Costa Rica again for a few more nights.

I’m not complaining, but it has made sneaking in blog posts a little tough lately. When I get home, I want to maximize my Radar time and I have to deal with both his super clinginess, his extra snuggleness and his propensity for punishing me with dictatorial bossiness. Again – not complaining (wah, wah, wah…)

So – being that I’m in Cayman at the moment, I don’t even have my camera to post a few pictures or a video of my little king. But things should calm down now over the next couple of weeks as I’ve got very little on my plate (aside from Radar’s 3^rd birthday on the 16^th, both a doctor’s appointment and Radar’s first dentist appointment, visits to the vet to get travel vaccines and travel documentation for Fanny and Mulligan, Christmas, a trip to Florida, moving to Costa Rica in early January, registering Radar in a new school for both the spring term in Costa Rica and in Nassau for next fall, etc, etc.) and I should have plenty of time to be a better blogger!

Anyhoo… I will at least promise some pictures by tomorrow (and a video, if I can convince Radar) so that you can all see how my handsome and vivacious little boy continues to grow into who he is becoming (what?).

Lots of love,

Titi

My roach

2011-10-31T17:19:00.002-04:00

He remains very excited to a be a cockroach for Halloween.

He was even excited about painting his face, and he insisted that HE paint his face.

And that has me thinking that maybe we could have done without the face paint!

Happy Halloween!

Titi & Radar

I'm not sure & Contest

2011-10-31T15:27:00.003-04:00

It's Halloween.

And even though I didn't get to go quite as overboard as I did last year, I'm still pretty excited about this evening's trick-or-treating & spook house (that being our house) events!

I think that Radar's also pretty excited (about the candy more than anything else)!

But I'm not entirely sure that everyone is as excited as we are...

But I think I'm going to just ignore the 20 lb elephant in the room and get on with tonight's festivities!!!

I've received some pictures already, so please do send them in if you want to be considered for the Radar Love Halloween Grand Prize!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Third time's a charm

2011-10-24T14:30:00.003-04:00

Not that the first two times weren't.

But really - on Hannah and Radar's third visit together, it really was all charm!

Well... like 90% charm for those of you that find shoving, hitting and all other forms of fighting less than charming.

Ok, then there was the nearly non-stop screaming. They sound exactly alike when they scream. If one would scream, the other would immediately pipe in. And we're talking about high pitched, glass shattering type of stuff.

But considering it was all happy screams, I'd say that falls under the charm category.

And there was the refusal to pose together for pictures.

It was either one...

or the other...

It was like they were conspiring...

But that too all falls under charm.

In fact, I take back the part about the 10% deduction for fighting... that's what brothers and sister are supposed to do.

And I find every bit of their relationship and interaction with one another charming.

So I will stick with the title line...

3rd time's a charm!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Marco... I will indeed hold another Halloween costume contest... good idea! That's an easy post!

4 years

2011-10-23T20:22:00.002-04:00

It's been 4 years.

I seldom cry anymore.

But I often think of the first little heart that beat under mine.

I often think of Bennett.

He changed my life.

He changed my heart.

He made me a mother for the first time.

Good night sweet boy.

I seldom cry anymore.

But I always love you.

-Mommy

La Cucaracha

2011-10-22T18:11:00.002-04:00

So, I guess my idea of continuing the blog roll in October has sort of been shot to shah-la-la!

Oh well. I was hoping that I'd dive back into my Halloween passion this October and thus, would have lots more projects to tell you all about. But this October has been (and will continue to be) full of travel and that makes home based projects a little more difficult. We're heading off again next Tuesday and we don't return until the evening of Saturday, the 29th... that really just gives me Sunday, the 30th (without a babysitter or any extra hands (other than Radar's (which, as cute as they are, aren't really that helpful with complex projects))) to decorate. So I guess this year will have to be somewhat scaled back.

No matter. That doesn't mean that I have to ditch the spirit altogether. And with that idea, I have been repeatedly asking Radar what he wants to be for Halloween. He had sort of settled on Pato (a goofy looking duck character from the tv show 'Pocoyo')...

...until a morning a couple of weeks ago when I was in the kitchen and a giant cockroach surprised me by crawling across the counter.

I responded in my usual cool, controlled manner (ie, screaming and throwing the cup full of water that I had in my hand across the kitchen, missing said roach by 5 feet)!

And Radar responded to my reaction in his usual cool, controlled manner (ie, screaming with delight at my terror scream and laughing until he gets the hiccups)!

Then it occurred to me to ask if Radar wanted to be a cockroach for Halloween.

And I think that unlike last year's costume that I poured my heart and many hours into, only to discover that Radar hated it and wouldn't wear it... I think this year's efforts and time investment will be well worth it!!!

There's a mask to go with the costume (it's still at Grammy's) and he'll be all in brown with gloves & shoes, but I think you get the point... this is one very happy Cucaracha!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Bubble

2011-10-20T08:48:00.003-04:00

I was trying to compose a blog post this weekend when Radar and I were sucked into a time warp bubble type of contraption thing! We're trying to figure a way out. I have no doubt that with the ingeniuty of our two minds, we'll find a way out by tomorrow or Saturday so that I can once again post!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Enough said

2011-10-13T08:46:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow we head up to New York for our visit with Hannah & her family! Let's see if this bloggy lazy pants can get her act together and post something!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Why do it when he won't even remember?

2011-10-04T14:07:00.005-04:00

On the weekend of September 10th, we made a quick weekend trip. On Friday I used my True Blue points on Jetblue to get two tickets to Dulles airport, connecting through Orlando. On Sunday, we used American Airlines frequent flyer miles to fly back home from BWI with a connection in Miami. The following Saturday morning it was back to the airport, American Airlines again - but this time they were two paid seats in coach that took us all the way to Spain and back, with connections on each leg. That's eight separate flights in the month of September alone.

Over the last ten years, I've done an awful lot of flying. Before Radar came along, it was still a pain to fly, but at least I had the whole routine down pat. I knew all the tricks for minimizing the hassles. It was all carry-on... quick layovers... upgrades or emergency seats... and no one ever rolled their eyes at me or sighed when they were behind me when going through security... I was fast!

That's all history now. It's hard to quantify the magnitude of 'worse-ed-ness' and 'pain-in-the-butt-ed-ness' of traveling with a small child - particularly airline travel - particularly single parent airline travel! I can no longer arrive at a destination in a 'ready-to-go' state. I am haggard, frazzled and exhausted. I always have to check in bags. I choose longer layovers. No more upgrades or emergency seats. And when people see me in the security line, they frantically move to another line to avoid being stuck behind me and when they do get stuck behind me, they most definitely roll their eyes and sigh!

Really... Radar is actually a good traveler and still, it really, really isn't easy (or fun much of the time) for me to fly with him. Yet at the age of 33 months, Radar's total flight tally is approaching 100! Sometimes after a particularly harrowing trip, I will often remind myself that Radar isn't even going to remember any of this. 100 flights. Dozens of visits to family and friends from the tip of Florida to the heart of Maine. Two trips to Spain. And he won't retain a single memory of any of it.

So why do it so much? Why not put the money aside and save it for trips he'll actually remember... like Disney when he's 5... or Spain when he's 8, etc, etc. There are some trips we can't avoid, but many, many more are planned with the full knowledge that it'll be exhausting for me and that he won't remember them.

And I guess the best answer I can come up with is that I think it's well, well worth it!

First - we all know that it isn't really a choice between traveling now or when he's a little older. I can't see a future where I'm not dragging Radar all over the place whenever an opportunity presents itself.

Second - as big of a pain as it is for me, it's even more of a joy. I guess it's like motherhood itself. To say it's easy is a lie... but it enriches everything. Radar has become my very favorite travel companion ever! I hate going on trips without him.

And most importantly - conscious memories aside... I believe that all this traveling is ingraining in Radar an ability to adapt to change, an appreciation for diversity and a verve for adventure.

So, with that theory firmly set in my belief system, we'll hop on yet another flight next Friday... this time back to New York where I'll be attending a "Single Mothers by Choice" conference and then we'll spend a long weekend with Hannah & her mommies in Long Island!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - I read all your comments... both anonymous and identified... and I agree. I've long wanted to start really putting down on paper all the different branches and leaves of my Pazos-side (and that includes Vea, since our particular brand of Pazos was merged with a Vea) family tree and bring them to life with stories that people remember or have otherwise filtered down to us through time. Sounds like a goal... I'll give it some thought and get back to you on how you can help me accomplish it!

PSS - Although this post was all about traveling, I must say that it sure is nice to hang out at home for a couple of week... especially when home includes a year-round beautiful beach that most people would have to go through plenty of travel-hassles to get to!!!!

This weekend at Old Fort Bay Beach

Eggs, Disciples, Months & Jurors

2011-09-30T13:00:00.000-04:00

And September Radar Love blog posts!

All things that come in a dozen.

I did it! I can type any old crap and in this post and meet my goal.

But I think I promised more goods on the Basque family... and so you shall have it.

My mom recently talked about the difference between 'family tree' and 'family'. The former has to do with the genes that tie us together from one generation to the next... genes that keep getting watered down over time, but that link us none the less. You'll hear a story in the news every now and then about the exhumation of someone long dead whose dna is matched (or excluded) with that of someone thought to be a descendent. My family tree includes Spanish Kings and Mayflower Settlers (and even George Bush!).

But they aren't family. Family is deeper and richer than family tree alone. Hannah is my family, even though she's not biologically related to me. Radar's godmother Gail is my family and my own godparents, Ricardo & Casilda, and all their kids are my family. And of course my immediate biological family tree is also my family.

In the Basque region of northern Spain, I found a perfect merger of the two. These people don't really look very much like me and although I've heard some sparse stories, I had never met them and knew very little about them as individual people. They were definitely a part of my family tree because my paternal grandmother's maternal grandfather was also Maria Belen's maternal grandfather's paternal grandfather.

Confused? Me too. Family trees can get confusing awfully quickly. But the point is that we're related... by the time you get down to Radar and Leide (pictured two posts ago), you're down to a fraction of a percentage that they share as biological family.

We spent two short days with our family tree in Jugo and they quickly blossomed into our family! They were so welcoming and just as interested in our lives as we were in theirs. We looked through old pictures and shared stories of the people we both know and knew in common, and of their families. I took notes and scribbled down all the strange Basque names that eventually led back to our common ancestor. We ate... we drank... and we visited the church up on the Jugo mountain (a road that starts right behind the farm house and steeply winds up until it reaches this gorgeous clearing at its peak)...

...we rang the church bells...

... we stood in front of the sign that says a bunch of things in Basque... anyone care to venture a guess????

...and we even played a seemingly impossible game of 'bowling' (or juego de bolo alaves) where you have to roll a 5 lb wooden ball (no finger holes) down a 7 inch narrow, 65 foot long wooden plank (the loma) to knock down four wooden pins that are impossibly placed (except for the head pin (called the canton) that is set right where the plank ends, so if you manage to keep the ball on the plank, that pin pretty much goes down!)

Hmmm.... why do you suppose I took such a wild tangent off of family and into some traditional, yet impossible game that Basques have played for centuries?

Well... quite obviously because other than Jose Maria (on his 5th or 6th try), I was the ONLY other person that kept that damn ball on the plank and scored a point - and I did it on only my second try!!!!!

Anyway - it was really wonderful and I can't wait to go back!

And that, my friends, family and other readers, wraps up September in a neat little bow. Tomorrow starts October which consists of another visit to see Hannah & more importantly (sorry Hannah), of Halloween!!! I have already been brainstorming on costumes and projects for our mini-haunted house. Unfortunately, Skeletor (seen here) was put up in the attic and was the victim of a visiting rat... I guess there's a downside to using all-purpose flour when making papier mache projects... it tastes like cake to some!

In short... I hope to keep up a reasonable pace in October, but I won't stick to a fixed number of posts as a goal (mostly because I quickly went over to random.org and the random # it gave me between 1 and 31 was 28... errr... I don't think so!)

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Ok, so Radar did actually score a point in bolos...

...but that was on account of him being a big, fat cheater and throwing the ball from just a few feet away from the pin!

PSS - Just because it's cute... here's Radar doing one of his many favorite things to do... taking pictures... and every time he lifts the camera to shoot, he says...

"Say Cheeeeee"

The best I can do for now...

2011-09-27T13:55:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was a really long day.

But Radar was SUCH a trooper! When we landed in Miami after a 9 hour flight, everyone, and I mean everyone, in the seats surrounding us complimented him on his stupendous behavior. He only slept for an hour of the flight, so he had 8 hours of spectacular behavior. Then we had a 3 hour layover in Miami and he conked out on the flight back to Nassau. It was a long, long day, but apparently not quite long enough to knock him off of Spanish time because he was up and smiling in my face at 3:30 this morning. I was amused.

Now at 2pm, I feel far less amused.

So there's just no way for my low capacity brain to blog a proper blog. But I wanted to at least leave you with a couple of pictures and to answer Marco's question about the chicken baby. Yes - the little girl in the picture with Radar from the last post is indeed the daughter of the chicken baby.

In short... Tia Sara sent me a few pictures to take with me. Everyone LOVED the pictures (I printed out copies), especially Pilar (who also cried when she saw the close up of her sister Maribi).

From this picture (from 1969, when Tia Sara was pregnant with Carlo)...

are pictured from left to right; Tia Sara, Nemecia (Antonio's wife) holding Belen (aka Chicken baby), Maria de Carmen (Pilar's youngest sister), Antonio (passed away just a couple of years ago at 88), Jose Luis (Maribi's husband), Maribi, Valentin (Pilar's brother), Pilar and Andy... I forgot to ask who the dog was & of course, you all see the Escudo (shield) up on the wall.

Well, of these folks (and objects), I met the Escudo...

and Nemecia (a lovelier lady would be hard to come by) & of course Pilar (standing to her left is her husband, Jose Maria)...

Valentin (sitting beside his neice, Pilar's lovely daughter Edurne)...

and finally, the chicken baby herself... Maria Belen, who goes by Belen (standing beside Angela)...

So that's about what I can manage today for my report on Jugo...

More to come...

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Just of kicks, here's a quick shot of Radar at the end of our tour of the Protos winery!!!!

Lots to share, but...

2011-09-24T22:06:00.005-04:00

...it's 4am and I need to try to get another few hours of sleep...

Tomorrow... strike that... later this morning we start making our way back to Madrid for our final night before our very long day tomorrow. To say that the last couple of days have been full don't do the last couple of days justice. They deserve a giant blog post, but that one, with all the pictures & explanations of how we are connected to this family here in Jugo, Spain, will have to wait a bit.

For right now - since I am up and since I'm not having much success in falling back to sleep at this very moment - I'll share a quick funny and a quick cute.

The quick funny.

As we drove through Spain, heading north from Madrid, we saw sites like this more often than I can count...

So as we were nearing Burgos, it was no surprise to see yet another bull on the hillside.

Only as we starting getting closer, we could see that this bull had something written on it... some graffiti scribble...

And then we got close enough to read it...

(translates to: "Silvia, I'm sorry. I love you.")

This poor schmuck must have really messed up! I wonder if Silvia forgave him?

And now for the cute...

This is Radar & Leide (not sure about the spelling)...

...they are cousins... both are 6th generation descendents of our common ancestor, Lucas Vea. Pretty neat, eh! (Tia - this is the daughter of the baby girl from the pictures you sent us... that'll all be part of a later post though!)

Ok, back to sleep for me... more to come!

Lots of love,

Titi & Radar

London makes the best buses

2011-09-22T21:53:00.005-04:00

Radar continues to tackle Spain in full overdrive which leads to full collapse every night. Sometimes the collapse comes in the form of conking out in my arms at an outdoor cafe after actually trying Sardines for dinner!

Sometimes it comes in the form of an evening meltdown that abruptly ends with him being asleep. But what's not up for debate is whether Radar is fully enjoying his trip. He absolutely is... and he's particularly enjoying sharing it with me. As we spent Monday and Tuesday walking all over Madrid, his favorite line was "Nene cansada. Mama lleva." (Radar's tired. Mama carries.) (Oh, Radar is pretty progressive on the whole Spanish gender conjugation thing... it's always 'Nene cansada' and 'Mama cansado').

(just like me... I live in the Bahamas, but get sun burned in Madrid!)

Anyway - this was, of course, a total lie. He wasn't tired because the moment we'd find a new park or attraction, he'd wiggle out of my arms and attack it with full force. When I would drag him away, all of a sudden the fatigue would hit him again and I'd have to carry him!

So I was a little concerned how he would take my quick leave of absence on Wednesday. I had to fly over to London for the day for some business meetings and then I returned yesterday. He's old enough now that I can explain some things to him. So I told him that Mama was going to Londres and that he would be going to see Jorge's cousins at the zoo with Nana and Avo.

"Mama no va Londres! Mama queda!" (Mama doesn't go to London. Mama stays.)

So I tried to say that I had to work.

"Mama no trabaja! Mama queda!" (Mama doesn't work. Mama stays.)

And then I tried a slightly different approach. I explained that London had the very best buses in all the world and that I was going on a special mission to get him the best bus in the world.

The kid seemed to actually understand and buy my explanation! Which, of course, meant that I better damn well get him a bus while in London.

And sure enough, I did. When I arrived back into Madrid yesterday, I met my dad and Angela and Radar at the airport where we rented a car to start heading north to Basque country (but not before making a night's pit stop in Ribera del Duero wine country). Well - on our hour and a half ride, Radar refused to let go of his bus (being that his Mama took the trouble of going all the way to London to get it for him)!

So - onward to Jugo tomorrow... don't know if we'll be connected, but I'll definitely take pictures and post whenever I can.

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Don't know how many of you had the chance to see the picture that Radar was tagged in on facebook from the birthday party he went to earlier this month... In it, he very obviously scowls at the idea of having to pose with Mickey Mouse.

(Skylar's party earlier this month)

I thought it was just because he wanted to be doing something else... but after our visit the other afternoon to Plaza Mayor, I'm thinking that maybe it's got something to do with the mouse!

PSS - Some other shots of Radar enjoying Spain so far.

at some of the zillions of kids' parks strewn throughout the city

in Plaza Mayor

in Campo Retiro

at the zoo

Google maps rocks!

2011-09-19T02:36:00.008-04:00

Less than 24 hours in Spain & Rockin' his 'best little traveller' status! Unlike Radar's Mom, he slept for about 7 hours on the flight over (I slept 1). When we were waiting for our luggage and there was almost an additional 30 minute delay for no good reason (ie, broken conveyor belt - we could see the piece through those stupid rubber curtain things), I was impatient and he took it all in stride. In fact, on the airport train heading toward baggage claim, an American couple asked his age and it turns out they have a grandson just days younger than Radar. They noted that their grandson wasn't nearly as well behaved (HA!) And we're doing this trip sans stroller!

So anyway... Madrid so far. We finally got checked in to our apartment at 2pm after killing an hour at a little restaurant just down the street. At one point a band of African musicians came singing, dancing and banging on various instruments down the street. Radar was up and dancing with them

(until one guy approached him for some change...)

But let me get onto explaining the post title. When I found this Madrid apartment on homeaway.com (I use it as often as possible when traveling now... so much nicer than a hotel!), I wanted to see what was nearby. So I located it on google maps and there, on the very same block, not a minute's walk away, was something called "La Escalera de Jacob" indicated with a little martini glass. So I thought, that must be a bar... moving my mouse over the icon brought up a 4-star rating with a review saying something about a fantastic show... so I followed the link and it took me to this little community theater (yes, with a bar) that has all sorts of live productions including some for small kids. I looked at their schedule for the Sunday that we were getting in (knowing that we'd have to do something to keep ourselves awake until a reasonable bedtime hour - first rule of tackling jetlag)... And VOILA!

Last night at 5pm, Radar had his first live theater experience and it was a HUGE success! We had front row seats in a tiny theater to "El Oso Ritmoso."

Where the bears and circus directress and police officer and crazy scientist all engaged the kids in the audience and Radar was clapping and singing and screaming and laughing!

It was AWESOME! At the end, as we walked out, all the characters were there to greet and Radar opened his arms to give the bear a hug (and the bear, in fine bear fashion, complied with a good bear hug). Then he opened his arms for the circus directress and she planted a big old kiss right on his cheek.

We ended the night at another street cafe (Radar went in full Halloween Pajama attire)

and then, after some yummy chocolate ice cream, we hit the sack at 9pm (it is now 9amish and he keeps sleeping - SUCK IT Jetlag!)

Anyway - so far, so very, very good!!!!

Besos y abrazos,

Titi and Radar

PS - Yes, Jorge the monkey joined us for this trip... Radar insisted!

33 months

2011-09-16T11:09:00.004-04:00

My Radar is 33 months old today! That's just 3 months shy of 3 and that there is a lot of 3's!

But according to some sage, old wives' tale wisdom that I heard this morning, I have reason to worry about my 33 month old boy's future marital relationship.

"Huh?" you say?

Let me explain.

I think I might have mentioned (or maybe not since I've been so bad about blogging) that Radar likes to be naked, particularly from the waist down. He will find any excuse he can. I will put clean underwear & pajamas on him right after a bath and five minutes later, the underwear and pajama pants will be in the dirty clothes hamper. When I ask Radar why he took off his pants, he gives me a very serious face and proclaims "ropa sucia." (dirty clothes)!

What I don't think I've mentioned (because it's kind of hard to appropriately broach the topic) is that even when clothed, Radar is very fond of playing with a certain area of his anatomy.

I have been reassured by many, many mothers of boys, as well as by websites such as BabyCenter.com, that this is very normal for little boys. So the only thing that I'm trying to do to maintain some perception that I'm a conscientious mother, is to teach Radar that certain things are left best at home. And I think I'm having at least some success on that front. I asked his teachers yesterday if he had ever tried taking his pants off at school and it seems he hasn't (yet). And as far as I can see, he seems to keep his private ping pong playing mostly at home as well.

But at least according to one source, I'm not doing my job well enough in this area!!!

This morning Maria was helping strap Radar into his car seat to head off to school and Radar jammed his hand into his shorts as she was doing so.

Maria looked up to me and said the following (I translate):

"If you let him play with his balls all the time, he will have a little erection all the time and then when he gets married, he won't have any more erections, so you should only let him do it a little bit."

Hey, maybe that's why Viagra is such a big hit... all those men used up their erection quotas when they were little boys!!!!!

Classic, classic stuff!!!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Radar can light up the darkest posts!

2011-09-14T10:41:00.004-04:00

This little light of mine...

I'm gonna let it shine...

This little light of mine...

Oh, I'm gonna let it shine...

This little light of mine...

I'm gonna let it shine...

Let it shine...

Let HIM shine!!!!

Yes - he's THAT easy to entertain!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Happy official birthday Marco... don't worry... this 40's business is a piece of cake (oh, be careful, because a piece of cake takes three times as long to burn off now!)

Our weekend

2011-09-12T10:17:00.004-04:00

By blogging today, I'll be keeping my dented September average on track to meet my goal of blogging on 12 days of this month. But I'll warn you right off the bat that it's going to be a pretty lame post. See, this was a VERY eventful weekend and I fully intended to capture it in its entirety. Radar and I travelled up to Frederick, MD on Friday to join in on a surprise 40th birthday party for my cousin Marcela. I lugged along my laptop and my big, fat camera. I started off on the right foot by capturing some shots of Radar blowing bubbles into his water bottle while we waited to board our first flight at the Nassau airport...

... and of Radar blowing too hard into the straw!

I mean, come on... if I'm going to take a dozen pictures of something as silly as that, imagine how many shots I'm going to take once the weekend's action really gets into gear!!!!

But then, as often happen, we got to where we were going and the camera stayed in its bag and the laptop stayed in my backpack. We had 20+ family gathered in one place & these are the biggest group shots that I was able to manage over the whole weekend!

I'm not saying that those aren't cute pictures, but they hardly capture the guts of the weekend. But, hey... a great many of my regular readers (including those who most frequently harass me about not blogging) were there and they got a dose of us firsthand, so how much can they really complain (a lot, I know).

Anyway - we got home after 11pm last night and Radar seems to have caught some sort of cough & cold thingy, so he bagged school today. But I'll be blogging again over the course of the week before we hop on yet another airplane this Saturday!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

First Day of School

2011-09-07T15:26:00.005-04:00

But before I get to that, let me respond to a couple of points brought up in the comments from the last post.

First to Antonio who has tried to throw down some gauntlet in order to get me to blog more in October than I do in September. That might have worked with some earlier form of me... but let me remind you that I no longer worry about finishing a twin century (I think I tallied a whole 15 miles at the last one) and that this Titi was perfectly satisfied with our middle of the pack finish at the triathlon-relay in Philly in June. But please don't lose all hope... although the new Titi doesn't respond well to competitive dares, I hear that she just might be susceptible to bribery!

Second to Tia Sara about her inquiry into the doll hanging incident from my youth. My mom addressed it a bit in the comments, but I'll elaborate a little. Unlike Radar, I was indeed a very big fan of dolls and stuffed animals when I was a kid. The particular doll I'm referring to is the same one that Mamina gave me for Christmas one year (she gave Ale a matching one)... she was one of those dolls that had long hair, but if you pulled a string from her back, it would pull the hair in through a hole in the top of her head and she had short hair. Ale dressed her doll up and put bows in her hair. I took some scissors and cut all the dolls hair off (so much for the string). It was the doll from the famous manger picture where Felipe is Joseph and I think I was Mary and Ale was an Angel. The doll was baby Jesus.

Anyway, when I got back home from that Christmas vacation in Venezuela, the crew-cut doll joined my collection of Winnie the Pooh & Tigger &Raggedy Anne & Andy, etc, etc. I had LOTS of stuffed animals. Some days they would attend school and I would teach them. On these days, invariably one or more of the students would be injured during recess and have to go in for surgery. I remember that poor Raggedy Anne had more battle scars than anyone including one in her butt (stitched up after surgery). But she apparently died during some of these surgeries because I would bury her in a box in the back yard (no worries though, I always dug her up the next day and she would rejoin the gang).

Ok - the meat of the story... So instead of school, one day there was a trial... I must have seen something on tv or learned something in school about trials. Anyway, the poor doll was accused of some very serious crime and after a very fair trial, the jury found her guilty (I believe that the resurrected Raggedy Anne may have been one of the jurors)! I, the judge, must have followed the jury's advice and sentenced the doll to die for her serious crimes. I had recently learned to tie a noose (that's probably Javier's fault - and come to think of it, that's probably why I wanted to hold the trial in the first place which means that the poor doll was dealing with a pretty biased judge & jury). I slipped the noose around her neck and threw her out of my second floor bedroom window and just left her there. Later that day my mom got a call from the neighbor informing her that there was a naked doll hanging from a noose from my bedroom window.

And that is the story of my poor doll - undoubtedly as my doll was being executed, Ale's was probably dressed in a very pretty dress and being rocked to sleep while being sung a lullaby. Draw your own conclusions!

Now - onto Radar's first day of school. It wasn't actually a big deal because it's the same program that he attended during July, although a couple of the teachers are different. But Radar strut right in and immediately made himself at home. The report on picking him up was that he had been well behaved and used the bathroom three times!

And here are just a few pics to share...

Radar's friend Belah catching me as I tried to sneak up and take a picture through the window

Better luck on the second try...

Shots from inside the classroom...

Radar deciding it was time to stop taking pictures & put the cap back on the lens!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Little Rafa

2011-09-05T16:39:00.005-04:00

You all know how very fond I am of my cousin Rafa... I mean, I named my son after him! And yet I don't know what it means that I thought of him when I watched something Radar did at his friend's birthday party on Saturday. I don't know if it reminded me of Rafa or maybe I just thought that Rafa would really think it was funny. Maybe Rafa will have an opinion on the matter.

See - what happened was that Radar got stuck with a doll at the party. He doesn't like dolls - he's never cared for teddy bears or dolls or the like. But he is competitive, so when he found himself inside with a few girls and they were fighting over this one doll, his competitive nature kicked in and he emerged from the mess as the victor, with doll in hand. That's not what made me think of Rafa though.

It was after he went outside with his prize and quickly realized that here he was, stuck with the freakin' doll when he'd much rather be jumping in the jumpy house!

If you'd asked me beforehand what I thought Radar would do in such a situation, I would have guessed that he would simply dump the doll and move on.

Why he didn't is a bit of a mystery to me. Maybe he didn't want to risk the girls coming out and getting the doll back. Maybe he knew I was watching and thought I might be upset if he just dumped the doll (which I totally wouldn't be... I mean, my history includes an incident when a doll was sentenced to death in a doll courthouse and then hanged by a noose from my 2nd story window!)

And why what he did do reminded me of Rafa is also a mystery. Here is this competitive guy that is clearly a responsible babysitter, but who would obviously really rather be doing something else.

I don't think that's a fair description of Rafa... but when Radar finally unloaded the doll on this poor, unsuspecting kid after making sure she was ok, it did indeed make me think of my cousin Rafa. Again, maybe I just thought that he'd have a perfect line for the ocassion!

Little Rafa then headed directly to the jumpy house where he would rather have been all along anyway!

Anyone care to explain this to me?

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Nerd no more!

2011-09-04T13:54:00.006-04:00

Over the past few months I've grown increasingly concerned that my son is a nerd! It's got nothing to do with him constantly singing "Happy Birthday" in a robot voice or how he sneaks into my closet to wear my high heeled shoes or that he's approaching three and still won't go to sleep without his pacifier.

No.

Those things don't concern me.

But what has concerned me is that my son is the ONLY child among his friends that doesn't like pizza! We go to parties and all the kids except Radar love pizza! I mean - who doesn't like pizza?????

But just a few days ago a solution began to present itself in the form of an e-mail from Jib Jab about a new ipad app they have where you plug your kid's name and face into children's animated books. They had one free book about making the world's largest pizza!

Who would have thought that by plugging Radar's face into the story, he would go bananas over the book. There's one page where Radar is rolling out the dough with a rolling pin. Apparently he somehow knew that I actually have a rolling pin in the kitchen (no idea how he knows that because I NEVER use it!) We read the book several times and every time we'd get to that page, he would roll the bed with the rolling pin! Maybe his opinion of pizza was changing?

So I bought a frozen cheese pizza and heated it up a couple nights ago.

NO! He refused to even let it get close to his mouth!

But I'm not one to give up so easily. If Radar's passion was for making pizza, then I would indulge him and maybe the excitement (and catastrophic mess) of making a real pizza would change his view on the pizza.

And so we embarked on this afternoon's project and after just a little bit of:

measuring

taste testing

whatever this face means

patting

rolling

spreading, topping & baking

Well, after all that... we have found our extremely successful solution and all my fears that Radar is a pizza-hating nerd have now vanished!!!!

The disasterous mess left in the kitchen after this adventure (including flour somehow caked onto the side of the refrigerator and on the ceiling!) is a small price to pay!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - September average still intact!!!

PSS - Antonio, we'll drive up to Jugo from Madrid on Thursday, September 22nd. We're flying over to Spain on Saturday the 17th and fly back hom on the 26th.

Guess the craft

2011-09-02T22:25:00.002-04:00

So I missed September 1st, but by blogging today I'm well on my way to maintaining at least a 12 blog post month average! Of course it's already 10pm, so I've almost run out of time to blog today and if I don't post until tomorrow, there goes my average.

I guess that means there's no time for me to write a bunch of blah, blah, blah about the minutia of our day since I got home from work at 6pm... like how Radar opted for a series of 5 consecutive time-outs, rather than to stop hitting me... or how he kept me hostage in his firehouse for 20 minutes until I got tired of it and escaped (and how that prompted the aforementioned hitting)... or how despite not napping today (or any day this week), he still doesn't fall asleep until 9:30 or 10:00 every night!

my firehouse prison

the warden checking in on his prisoner

the prisoner tickling the warden in an effort to escape

Instead I suppose I'll just have to post about the meat of our evening which was our preparation for a birthday party we're attending tomorrow. There's a Disney theme to the party and we have been encouraged to dress appropriately. Unfortunately, I don't have any off the shelf Disney apparel that works, so we had to quickly create something.

Your task is to guess what the craft is before scrolling down to see the correct answer:

???Guess the craft????

Ok...

did you make your guess?

Well, if you guessed that we were making a crown for the Serious King, you would be correct!!!!

Then again, if you guessed the crown was instead for the Goofy King, you'd again be correct!

In fact, the same holds true if you guessed we were crowning the Expectant King...

or the Right Leaning King...

or Count Drakula King...

or the Happy Go Lucky King!!!

If, on the other hand, your guess had anything to do with a Frog - well, then you were just wrong!

Well - nearly 10:30pm and I'm cranky, so I better follow Radar's lead and head off to dreamland.

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Just to plant a teaser for some of September's future posts, Radar will making his second trip across the pond (that being the Atlantic Ocean) on September 17th and we'll be heading up to Jugo to visit with family we've never met!

First and Last & a SMART September

2011-08-31T07:21:00.005-04:00

Ok, so I blogged on the first day of August and now on the last day of August (look Antonio, I'm posting more than just a link!)

And truth be told, it is truely a disgrace (as Tia Sara has repeatedly pointed out). In the month of August we went on two fantabulous trips to visit Avo & Nana Angela in West Virginia and to Freeport, Bahamas with godmother Gail (and Lali, except Lali didn't show up because of an expired passport situation (and come to think of it, how could I not blog about that? Pure NEGLIGENCE!)). We also had a little hurricane visit us. And yet I didn't blog. A total disgrace!

The thing is that my resolve about blogging has been too vague. I started the year by softly whispering to myself that I should really blog 'more'. 'More' is way too vague. At work, when we're setting objectives we're told that objectives should be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound). 'More' isn't very SMART. In August I did set a smart goal for myself - no meat for the month of August. And now, on the last day of August I am salivating over the prospect of tomorrow's celebration ceviche!

So, in an attempt to remedy my blogger block, I will set a SMART goal. It will be time-bound to the month of September. It will be attainable because I have a brain, fingers for typing and a computer for posting. It will be measurable because Tia Sara will be counting. It will be relevant because to say that blogging about Radar is irrelevant would be blasphemy! And it will be specific courtesy of Random.org's random number generator where I entered a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 30 and it gave me:

So there you have it. In the month of September I will blog on 12 days. I might even start tomorrow to start on the right foot.

And as for August, I'll just leave you with a little video of Radar's new favorite thing (ergo, my new favorite thing since I'm SO entertained by this ever clever funny boy)!

Lots of love,

Titi & Radar

Kids say the darndest things

2011-08-01T12:45:00.006-04:00

You've all seen Bill Cosby's show and the zillion other shows and youtube videos out there that capture kids saying the funniest things... Those things work because kids do actually say really funny things. As they start to really observe the world around them and use their developing logic to make sense of that world, they do indeed come up with the darndest conclusions.

Case in point was Radar on Sunday as we were leaving the pool at about 10am. My cell phone rang. It was uncle Stefan and we had a brief conversation because I was trying to pack up while preventing Radar from both running back to jump in the pool and / or grabbing my cell phone (and then jumping back in the pool). Radar kept asking (well, screaming) for my phone after I'd disconnected and as I often do, I took the path of least resistance and gave him the damn phone. He promptly flipped it open and started pushing buttons, but then got visibly disgusted.

"Mama, no funciona! Mama, no luz!" (aka, "Mama, it doesn't work. Mama, there's no lights.")

Of course the phone was working, but the cellphone back light didn't stand a chance against the bright sun. So I explained to Radar that he couldn't see the phone light when the sun was bright.

On a side note, Radar has a turtle night light that projects stars and the moon onto the walls at night. He has figured out that it doesn't work until it's night and until the lights are out. I know this because he ignores the turtle in the day time and once the sun goes down, he turns on the turtle, then turns off the room light.

But I guess the switch on this one was slightly out of his reach. So as a response to me telling Radar that he couldn't see the telephone light because the sun was too bright, he promptly and very matter-of-factly said,

"Mama, apague sol!" (aka, "Mama, turn off the sun!")

I'm feeling pretty proud of my Radar for connecting the dots and my ego is pretty bloated since Radar really must think that his Mama is all powerful!

Of course I didn't get this exchange on video, so the least I can do is leave you with a couple of pictures.

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Oh, on another note... Radar is currently going through a big time "be naked and play with your weenie" phase. I put clothes on him, he almost immediately takes them off and throws them in the clothes hamper and very liberally plays with his junk.

So, on that note, Radar was painting and creating some of his artwork masterpieces this weekend and there was one that he seemed to favor over the others.

Now, I don't want to jump to any conclusions about what is depicted in this masterpiece... but you let me know... Phallic or not?

A terrible mix up

2011-07-29T13:07:00.006-04:00

In my bloggy negligence of late, I've failed to even mention that Radar attended a summer school during the month July. I meant to blog about it... I even took pictures the first day, but never got around to posting. Bad me!

Anyway, fast forward a month and today was the last day of summer school. The painting pictures I posted a couple of days ago were from our project to make thank you cards for all of his teachers. And I've now registered Radar to go to the same school starting in September. It's three days a week (M,W,F) from 9am to 12:30pm and Radar LOVES, LOVES, LOVES it!!!!!

In fact, while a number of the other kids would cry when their parents left them off in the morning, Radar was the only kid who cried every day when I came to pick him up. As soon as he'd see me coming into the room, he'd scream "bye mama!" and run in the opposite direction.

Well, as I mentioned, today was the last day. I dropped Radar off at 9am and he bid me a quick farewell as he ran in to hang with his buds (ok, so mostly he was excited about his teacher Alissa who he seems to have developed a pretty sizable crush on... and she's a blonde... figures!)

As I was saying - I dropped him off - but when I went to pick him up there was all sorts of celebrating and commotion and I guess I got a little lost in my confusion because I thought that I'd picked up Radar and taken him home. But when I got home and took a closer look - I realized that there had been a terrible mix up and that instead of Radar, I'd brought home

a CAT!!!!

I imagine Lali is going to feel a good bit of pride on seeing these pictures!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Tia Sara - thank you so much for your staying power and for the positive reinforcement... it's fans like you that are slowly bringing me back to blogging life!!!!!

There are worse things...

2011-07-27T18:26:00.004-04:00

I have irrefutable evidence that there are certainly worse things

than being caught

RED HANDED!!!!

Oh, and by the way, if you happened to notice that Radar is wearing regular (well, not really regular... more like AWESOME) underwear, that would be because in a matter of 3 days Radar has gone from barely potty trained to about 90% potty trained (well, actually like 100%, but it's only been a couple of days so I don't want to jinx it)!!!!!

Up until 3 days ago he wouldn't poop in the toilet or his potty because it scared him. He would only pee when he felt like it and only sitting (he was not buying into the whole 'guys can pee standing' thing).

Then for no good reason he abruptly decided that using the toilet was the way to go and that wearing regular (err, sorry, AWESOME) underpants was his new thing. He hasn't wet or pooped a diaper for the last couple of days (not even at night) and today he made the bold decision to pee standing!!!!

Talk about zero to sixty!!! Keep it up my wonderful artist!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

New face cream

2011-07-23T19:06:00.003-04:00

Aside from my own lack of energy to keep my regular written journal, this blogging problem of mine is also a matter of bad timing. Radar does not like me doing my own thing these days. Whether it's cooking in the kitchen, talking on the phone or typing on the computer... he wants in on it. And I'm good with that because every day his goofy personality blossoms more and it gets more and more fun to spend time with him... it's more fun because it's getting totally unpredictable. Radar is learning things in his summer school and from his friends at the park and from Maria and her friends and from TV... and once he learns them, he likes very much to test them out on me. Afterall, I'm a very easy audience. I am amused nearly all the time (unless I'm horrified or terrified).

Anyway, I'm so enjoying my time with Radar, but it seems that during this phase it's much harder to document the fun I'm having. He won't let me video tape him and pictures don't really capture the really funny stuff he does. And when I do try to scramble to get some pictures or feel the inspiriation to write down some wonderful new funny thing, Radar refuses me the time and space to do it until the energy has passed.

But I did promise a post before the week was out, so I'll just have to settle with one of the funniest things that Radar did today. He's been having more diaper rash than usual of late, so we've been going through extra tubes of rash cream. I decided that on good days I'd lube him up with Vaseline since that seems to help prevent the worst cases of diaper rash and it's cheaper than diaper rash cream. Now when he sees a jar of Vaseline, he says "crema caca nene" (aka, baby poop cream). I was running low, so today when I went shopping I got a new jar.

When Maria unpacked the groceries, she left the new jar within reach. And in a matter of less than a minute, while I was in the living room checking e-mail, Radar dissappeared into the kitchen, then reappeared at my side and exclaimed,

"Mama! Crema caca nene cara! YUCK!" (aka, baby poop cream face)

And with that, he dug his finger back into the jar and lubed his face up a little bit more!

He is so awesome!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Self portraits...

2011-07-18T17:31:00.003-04:00

Good Lord Titi! Can't you at least post a picture now and then?

I know... terrible. Every day Radar is getting more and more savvy with the computer, so maybe I should just give him the camera and let him shoot his own self portraits...

I mean if a monkey can do it, then I'm sure Radar can.

Anyway, I thought that since I'm too lazy to post my own stories and pictures, I could at least most this most amusing story that caught my eye!

STORY LINK

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - I WILL post something that's actually about Radar this week!!!!

Tup up Anny!

2011-06-17T16:15:00.012-04:00

I looked at the calendar and I looked at the date of my last blog post.

More than a month.

Tia Sara and Antonio have left comments telling me I should be ashamed of myself.

Oh, I am!

And to be fair, the last few posts were super lazy, so they shouldn't even count as blog posts.

I suppose that means that I owe my few loyal readers a substantive update.

Or at least a boatload of excuses for my egregious lapse.

But the truth is that I'm not sure why it's been so hard for me to sit down and scribble a few words about what's going on. Sure, I've been busy. But more than that, I think I'm tending to feel sort of overwhelmed by my 2.5 year old these days. He is in full TEST-MOMMY mode most days and up until the moment that he collapses at night (which is usually not until 9 or 10 pm), he is also in full energy mode. At least at some point in each day, I kind of worry that I'm doing it all wrong.

Whether it's too much tv, too much candy, not enough consistency on my part (with things like potty training or discipline,) not enough reading to him, or just plain not enough energy to keep up with him or to do the right thing... it's usually something that has me questioning how I might be ruining or limiting Radar's future each day!

But that's really not a very good excuse for not blogging because those moments are minority moments. The majority moments are far more optimistic (or deluded). Because aside from testing me and sapping all my energy, Radar gives me so many reasons every single day to feel that, as imperfect a parent as I am, I'm doing just fine. I regret not blogging more because at least every other day he does something new that becomes my new favorite thing (until he does something else new). And as much as I think that I'll remember all these cute and uniquely Radar things, I'll probably forget most of them.

So I won't try blogging a month of backlog, but I guess I can start my rehabilitation by blogging a couple of new favorite things that Radar has started doing lately.

New Favorite Thing #1: The first has to do with Radar's tendency to both repeat and imitate those who perhaps should not be imitated (aka, his mom or his grandmother). And of course he's less enthusiastic about mimicking the good stuff like sharing or using the bathroom and more keen on some of the other stuff. Like my tendency (and Grammy's) to yell at the dog (dogs in Grammy's case) when she barks.

I don't normally say "shut-up" to people and I certainly wouldn't say it to someone in front of Radar. But I can't help myself with the dog. When she starts barking at 6 in the morning because she hears another dog in the neighborhood barking or at 10 at night because there's some thunder outside, I can not help myself.

"SHUP UP FANNY!"

It's not that Radar thinks it's funny. I think it just makes him feel powerful to yell at the dog with such authority. So now poor Fanny is subjected to constant harassment from Radar. If she so much as pants too loudly, Radar stops whatever he's doing, runs over to where she is, sternly points his finger at her and yells as loudly as he can.

"TUP UP ANNY!"

When we visit Grammy's he does the same thing with her dogs. Maybe I should stop him to avoid the risk that he might start doing this with other kids or with adults. But I find it entirely too amusing to stop him!

New Favorite Thing #2: Wine. Once or twice a week I like to have a glass of wine in the evening. Radar has never much liked it when I have a drink (no matter what it is... water, coffee, juice, wine) without him. Up until a few weeks ago, I had always gotten away with giving him his own drink in his own cup. We would toast, drink our respective drinks and all was good.

But then I made the mistake one day of letting Radar use a plastic wine glass for his juice. I drank my red wine in my glass wine glass and he drank his orange juice in his plastic wine glass. A few days later I poured myself a glass of wine and tried giving him his juice in a regular cup.

The cup was promptly hurled across the kitchen.

"NO MAMA. TATA UGO MAMA!" (aka 'tasa jugo mama', aka 'mama's juice glass')

It became clear then that if I was going to drink from a wine glass, so was he. That worked a couple of times until he pointed out that our drinks were different colors. I happened to have some reddish punch on hand, so I filled his glass with red liquid just like mine. A few days later I poured his orange juice into his plastic wine glass.

The glass was promptly hurled across the kitchen.

"UGO ROJO BEBE!" (aka 'red baby juice')

And so that's where we are today. I know that I shouldn't celebrate that my son hurls cups across the room when he doesn't get what he wants. And maybe I shouldn't celebrate that he's so keen to drink wine with his mother. But I can't help it! There are few things I enjoy more than sharing a fine vintage with my funny boy after a long day at the office.

Cheers!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Our photo session with Hannah

2011-05-20T08:09:00.000-04:00

Password = Family Session

ENJOY!!!

Reasons

2011-05-14T21:01:00.003-04:00

I guess that I can now formally be classified as a lazy blogger.

There are lots and lots of reasons that I've really slacked off on blogging responsibly this year.

But I know that no one cares to listen to my reasons because they're not so much reasons as they are excuses.

And no one likes to listen to a bunch of excuses.

So that's not why I titled this post "reasons".

I thought that I would do what lazy bloggers do...

post some pictures with not too many words.

And so as a follow-up to last weekend's visit to meet Radar's sister Hannah & her family, I leave you with some of the many, many reasons that Radar grew to love his big sister during our short visit.

Reason #31 - She knows that playdough art should always be taken very seriously.

Reason #77 - She can match his expressions without even trying.

Reason #112 - She lets him do the driving.

We should be getting the rest of our professional pictures in the next few days and I'll post a link to the photographers site to ask for your help in picking some of the best!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T22:07:00.001-04:00

Mine sure is!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar (and Hannah, of course)!!!

$10

2011-05-06T10:20:00.004-04:00

Although Tia Sara did not specifically put a $ figure on her wager, I'm going to assume that she was jumping on Marco's coattails and making a $5 bet on whether or not Radar would use his new bed.

$5 + $5 = $10

Pay up!!!!

Now granted, I have been spending at least part of the night on the floor next to his bed in case he wakes up and freaks out, but each night has gotten easier and last night I slept in my bed all night (while only getting up to check on him about 7 times)! And yes, I constantly arrange the pillows around him so that he won't bump his little head or feet on the wooden sides. So, in short, Marco was right that this has been much harder on me, but all in all I'd call "Operation Maybe He'll Sleep in his own Bed if it's a Car" a success!

Now - as to Tia's remark regarding the next post - setting aside this post, I PROMISE another post tomorrow (or maybe even late tonight)! Why? Well, because late this afternoon we hop on an airplane and we go to meet Radar's half sister, Hannah!

Ok, more later!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Anyone wanna make a bet?

2011-04-26T11:45:00.003-04:00

Just a quick little post...

Have I mentioned lately that Radar still sleeps in my bed?

I've tried on a few occasions to kick him out, but it hasn't really worked.

He'll only 'pretend' sleep in his bed (he gets in, puts the cover over him and then makes snoring sounds with his eyes open), but if I put him in the bed when he's sleeping, rarely will a half hour go by before he gets out and climbs into my bed.

I don't really mind. I'm pretty used to having my snuggle monster in the bed and sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, I love just staring at him by the light of the night light.

But he's 28+ months and maybe it's time to make another, more serious, effort at getting him to associate sleep with his own bed.

And it's just not working with his current bed, so maybe another bed is the solution. Maybe if I can find a bed that Radar finds very interesting - that is clearly HIS and not anyone else's... a bed that is cool and the envy of other toddlers... a bed that captures the essence of Radar in a way mommy's bed never could... maybe then he won't be so adamantly opposed to sleeping in it.

So... anyone wanna make a bet as to whether this new tactic of mine is going to work???

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Happy Easter!!!

2011-04-24T07:35:00.007-04:00

Not sure how it goes where you are, but around here Easter is serious business.

We get up with the sun and we start hunting for the elusive eggs in the yard.

See what I mean?

Serious!

We keep hunting and when we find a deviously concealed egg, we shake it to make sure something is inside.

Then we store it in our bag and move on to find the next one.

No time to actually see what's inside the eggs because there's more eggs out there that need finding. This is serious, serious business.

Hold on a second. This one seems to be open already.

Holy smokes Mommy!!!!!

There's a car in this one!!!!

Easter egg hunt officially on hiatus...

Vrrrooooommmm....

Ok fine. Egg hunt back on...

But the car doesn't go in the bag... the car comes with me!

Anyway... that's pretty much how Easter morning went around these parts.

Yes, there was a little bit of candy and chocolate, but as you can see...

I really needn't have bothered.

Happy Easter,

Titi and Radar

Home office

2011-04-19T15:48:00.006-04:00

One of the benefits of having access to so much technology and being so well connected, is that when you're feeling kind of crummy, you can still get work done in your home office. For the past couple of days, this has been my home office.

Pretty comfy and pretty practical. I've got my papers accessible, I prop myself up with some pillows and the spare pillow is my desk.

It's true that every now and then there are certain distractions that I don't have at the office.

But if you consider that I saved an hour driving back and forth (as well as a few bonus minutes for not showering or getting dressed), then it's easy to rationalize making a little time for said distraction (which keeps both of us happy).

And so it was that yesterday I was working uninterupted for a couple of hours in the afternoon... reading and typing away on my pillow desk when the above mentioned handsome distraction came knocking. I let him in and he got up into the bed to check out the home office set-up. I got out the camera to get some picture of my distractor when I noticed something.

It hadn't occurred to me that the pillow desk had been providing such stable support for the past couple of hours... as if its foundation was something firmer than a mushy bed.

I felt sort of bad that I'd been using Fanny as a desk for a couple of hours without even realizing it. But honestly, I really don't think it bothered her. Poor pug.

Anyway, that's the short tale of my home office... thank you pug!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar (and the desk)

No excuses

2011-04-17T08:34:00.000-04:00

That's what Lali said. She said that she didn't want to listen to any excuses. I've got lots, but I'm under orders. So I won't say stupid things like "I've lacked inspiration". That's just not true anyway. Not a day goes by with my 28 month old Radar (28 months yesterday!) that he doesn't surprise me, make me laugh, frustrate me, fill me with pride and love, inspire me and did I mention, frustrate me?

Like this morning. It's 8:30am on a Sunday morning and already I've been in love, I've already laughed and I've already been frustrated. But let's just say that it's too early to put it all in words (not an excuse... I think), so I'm going to just post a sequence of pictures from this morning and ask Lali or Caro or Tia Sara or Antonio (just some of the many people who have harrassed me about not posting for such a long time) to add your own words.

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar (and the pug, of course)

Super _ _ _ _ (a multiple choice question)

2011-03-20T17:59:00.004-04:00

Which do you prefer...

A. Supermoon?

(info)

as seen from my bedroom window at 11pm...

wait... that's not very clear... let's focus a bit more... better, but really - camera doesn't do it justice!

B. Superbebe (aka, Superstar)?

as seen just before yesterday's mustard art session...

(as cute as he is, the camera really doesn't do him justice either!!!)

Granted, I like full moons (as well as the werewolves they bring). I like special full moons, like last night's supermoon (also full worm moon - cool name, eh?) But honestly... to have to choose between these two? Seems like a no brainer to me!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Hold the ketchup please

2011-03-19T18:46:00.002-04:00

I didn't hear the refrigerator door open.

Radar always makes me open the refrigerator door.

I guess I'd deluded myself into believing he couldn't open it.

He likes to prove me wrong.

I didn't have a clue until I heard his famous "uh oh!"

I suppose I should be mad.

But why bother?

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Tio Javier will probably really love this post and claim some genetic love of mustard is responsible!

Letter of Intent

2011-03-17T22:31:00.005-04:00

So, it's been some time since I've participated in a Blog Carnival (where a bunch of people post using the same theme and link up to the host blog). Actually, it's been some time since I've blogged at all.

Forgetting that latter point for now, one of my favorite Blog Carnivals (that I always secretly plot to post on, but like posts on this blog seldom get to) is "Letters of Intent"... but each Friday comes and goes and I've missed another week.

I'll remind you that "Letters of Intent" gives you the opportunity each week to write a letter to someone (or something) that you'd love to send, but obviously don't (like that dream of telling your boss to shove it! (obviousl not my boss though)). So, without further ado, I give you my Letter of Intent for this week...

(click on the button to go read more letters from others)

Dear My Mind,

I am out!

I am not saying that with any measure of hostility. I am simply stating a fact. I like you well enough and I respect you most of the time. I've known you for as long as I can remember and I think that in many respects you've gotten better with time (although I think perhaps you've gotten more forgetful and to be fair, you've always been terrible with names). But unfortunately I am out.

Honestly I don't think I even meant to leave, although no one forced me into going so I can't blame anyone but myself. See, at the time it seemed like a sound idea... to take a 10 day vacation with Radar and the pug. I know what you thought about the plan from the beginning (I mean, I REALLY do know what you thought... I was there.) You thought it was a bit nuts. But you also agreed that it could be fun. Fly to Atlanta, rent a mini-van, then make a road trip with pit stops in GA, NC, VA and MD. Obviously we'd have to check the pug in in one of those hard shelled airline approved carriers and she'd fly beneath. I felt sort of bad about that - sending the pug as luggage, but you were right... it was the only thing that made sense considering that I was also traveling with Radar, a stroller and other carry-on bags. Plus, it's easy to make the argument that the pug wouldn't even fit under the seat... like me, she's not exactly on the svelte side of sexy!

You were patient and excellent in helping me choose Atlanta as our direct flight destination. Sure, it would have been a bit easier to fly directly to NC or even the DC area, but the airlines that fly directly to those cities do not have as friendly pet policies. In the online research that you did, reading traveler review, etc, you helped me find out that Delta was top among pet lovers' carriers. And although a simple connection through Atlanta could have gotten us up to the NC or DC area, we both agreed that it just wouldn't be fair to the pug to make a connection and prolong her jail sentence (plus, even if we'd found a quick connection, there was always the risk of a delay.) No! We would fly to Atlanta and drive from there. The plan was set and although you had some reservations, you were with me on the plan. I appreciate your support up to that point. I really do. On January 4th I purchased the airline tickets for Radar and me... $270 each for a not too ugly total of $540. Before traveling we'd have to pay the $75 (each way) fee for the pug... but even still... not too bad.

Then last week happened. And now I look around and find that I'm out. I've left you and I'm not sure I'm coming back.

I called Delta Airlines to confirm the pug's reservation (at the time I purchased our tickets I'd been told to just call a few weeks before the trip to confirm). The gentlemen on the other end of the line was really nice. He said, "no problem, there's plenty of room. What kind of dog is it?" Me, "a pug." Him, "Oh. A pug. Hold on, I need to check something." He places me on hold and when he comes back he informs me that Delta has recently changed their policy and now they don't accept snub-nosed dogs underneath! And sure enough, pugs are right there next to bulldogs on the snub-nosed prohibition list. As a pet friendly airline, they changed their policy for the good of these types of dogs. The only option was to take the pug onboard and cram her under the seat.

Yes! I heard your screams... believe me... I could barely concentrate with all your screaming... "Leave the dog behind! That's insane! How the hell are you going to travel with luggage, a wriggling 2-year-old, a stroller and a fat pug on board? Forget it! It was fun while it lasted, but walk away!!!!"

And walk away is just what I did. I walked away from you! I got out. I told the man on the phone that I would be taking my pug on board. "Maximum weight is 22 lbs," said he. "Oh, no problem, she's only 20 lbs," said I. (She 'was' probably closer to 24 lbs). "Can she stand up and turn around in her carrier?" asked he. "Oh yeah... I travel quite a bit with her," lied I. "It's $200 each way to take her on board," informed he. "Super!" replied I.

As soon as I got off the phone with the guy, safe in the knowledge that the pug's reservation was secure, I logged onto Amazon and bought the biggest approved onboard pet carrier I could find. A bargain at $60 (and as a Prime customer, I didn't even pay shipping for the priority delivery... aren't I savvy?) And then I informed Maria and Radar that they were strictly forbidden from feeding the pug and her 2.5 week crash diet began (half of what she's used to eating and NO snacks). Uncle Stefan was summoned to kidnap the pug as often as possible to ensure she was excercising.

And that's where I am today. A 21ish lb pug and six days to launch. Although I do miss you a bit and realize that this has not been an altogether amicable split - I also know you very well and I suspect that I'll be hearing from you. As I imagine myself in the airport trying to roll our giant suitcase with one hand, while pushing the stroller with the other hand, with a backpack crammed with computer, camera, diapers, etc, on my back and a squirming, scratching, wriggling pug trying to get out of the carrier I have hanging over my shoulder... I also imagine your voice sifting through it all saying, "I told you so!"

With kind regards,

Parenting tips

2011-03-07T08:21:00.004-05:00

I'll make all my excuses for why I haven't been blogging in another post.

For this post, I really just wanted to get something off my chest. It's for all you family people out there that I've had to listen to for 13 years about what great parents Vivi and Rafa are! Yeah - ok - so they've raised a couple of pretty terrific kids... so far anyway! I wasn't really around them when Pepe and little Vivi were babies though, so I guess I just took for granted that everyone was right and that they did all the things that good parents are supposed to do.

This past weekend though, I had the opportunity to see them parenting their new, beautiful daughter Christina. And now I'm thinking that the Pepe and Vivi turning out ok thing is more luck than parenting.

Take the Bumbo seat as an example. This is a Bumbo seat.

This is the warning clearly printed on the side of the Bumbo seat.

This is little Christina!

Now while I don't see anything else wrong with this picture, this whole Bumbo seat fiasco in and of itself seems like pretty compelling evidence that maybe Rafa and Vivi aren't really the perfect parents that we once thought them to be...

On the other hand, after having some sips of her drink, little Christina did seem like an awfully happy baby - so maybe they do know what they're doing after all!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Maybe

2011-02-27T16:35:00.005-05:00

Maybe in 7 years when I'm running late for work and rushing to get things ready in the morning... maybe after having woken Radar up 30 minutes earlier and being ready to walk out the door... maybe if I walked in his room and found this scene on his bed... well, then maybe I wouldn't think it was very sweet.

And maybe in 16 years when I didn't even hear Radar sneak in way past his curfew the night before... maybe when I see that the car is parked half on the grass and half in the driveway... maybe if I walked into the living room and found him like this on the couch with a crumpled can of beer on the floor... well, then maybe I wouldn't think it was so darling.

And maybe in 40 years when his wife is getting over a cold on a Sunday and my grandkids are behaving horribly... maybe when my daughter-in-law asked Radar to do ONE thing, like take out the garbage and she walks in the kitchen to see the pile in the can toppling over on its own weight... maybe if she then walked into den to find him like this in the Lazyboy at 3 o'clock in the afternoon with a game on the tv... well, then maybe she wouldn't see the beauty in it!

But as for this Sunday of this year, I can say that my eyes have rarely seen anything so sweet and darling and beautiful!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Same old questions

2011-02-20T16:54:00.006-05:00

So the rash turned out to be a virus... you can't blame me for thinking it was an allergy though. It started on Radar's face and then it hit my face... it crawled down Radar's neck to his torso, then onto my chest and back. It then crawled all over his arms and legs as well - just as my rash was getting better. Allergy just made sense.

Until the fever attacked Radar on Monday morning (just as I was leaving for Costa Rica - nearly pulled the plug on the trip too).

And then there was word that other kids in the neighborhood had gotten hit by the same symptoms!

Damned virus!

But as usual, Radar beat it back with his formidable immunity stick. The fever was gone after a day and the rash quickly dissappeared.

Weird!

So that's where we are now. I got back from Costa Rica on Thursday to a very healthy monkey man. And life has just hummed along since then. Visits to the park, to the beach and to visit friends. Singing and story-time before bed and even a three word sentence thrown about here and there...

"on ta pie?" ('donde esta pie', aka ' where is foot' - asked when said foot is repeatedly buried under sand... the answer to which is a joyful scream as foot is yanked out of sand, spraying sand all over mommy's face! Good fun!)

And of course there are the same old nagging questions.

The ones that toddler parenthood prevoke.

Like....

If he hates wearing sunglasses - why are goggles ok?

and...

If he hates wearing hats - why are helmets ok?

or...

All of the above?

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Before & After

2011-02-12T20:27:00.004-05:00

In case you think that I don't read the comments you leave... I absolutely do! I loved the story about the adopted Chinese twins whose adopted families gave them the same name and that they also found each other. I believe that one tops the freaky Radar/Hannah parallels!

But mostly I want to focus on a comment that Tia Lali made about Radar needing a haircut. Let me point out that his hairdresser has been profoundly negligent! His stylist never comes to the Bahamas and when we travel to his stylist, she spends almost all of her time goofing around, drinking and doing anything but attending to the business of properly coiffing Radar's doo! On our past few visits we have left with a half-a$$ prison-type cut (that goes for my hair as well).

And after everything we've been through, to think that this very same beautician would then diss Radar's too-long Rocker-doo? Seems pretty ballsy, if you ask me!

But all the same, I can't stand here and let my Radar be criticized (even when it's a wholly inapporpriate criticism!) And since his last few cuts have been lazy at best, I figured I could do just as well. With that said, I give you the...

BEFORE

and the...

AFTER

Ok, so it seems that Radar doesn't much like his new stylist! No matter - it'll have to do until we see our preffered stylist again in late March...

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Just when I thought that Radar had outgrown the Fanny water bowl fascination, he walked out of the kitchen looking like this...

...and when I went into the kitchen, I saw this (you can't tell from the picture, but the floor is soaked!) Oh well!

PSS - Not sure if you noticed the rash on Radar's face (it's actually on his belly too - and a tiny bit on his arms & legs). I have no idea what it is, but the same thing happened to me... so I think it's environmental. I thought it might be something in the water, so we stopped bathing for a couple of days (yum, yum!). That seemed to have no effect. I guess it could have been something we ate, but we haven't eaten anything new and we usually don't eat the same things, so I'm pretty clueless. The best consolation I have is that it doesn't itch, so I'm going to give it a few more days before I even begin to worry.

I head off to Costa Rica on Monday (without Radar) and if my rash improves while away and his doesn't... then I'll take more drastic measures (getting rid of all our food, dumping the laundry detergent, etc, etc.) when I get back. Wish us luck!

Jammin'

2011-02-10T21:37:00.000-05:00

Quality's a bit crap, but still funny!

Lots of love,
Titi and Radar

The parallels are freaky!

2011-02-10T11:51:00.003-05:00

This is Hannah last January (or so)...

In the picture with Hannah is Yoshi, her grandparents' pug.

Hannah loves Yoshi's water bowl! They have to hide the water bowl when Hannah visits.

>>>>>remember this post<<<<<

I'm telling you... the parallels are freaky!

Oh - the date is set... Radar and I will be going up in early May to spend a few days with his sister! How cool is that?

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

How does it feel to get it wrong?

2011-02-06T22:32:00.003-05:00

Just like vampires can't see visions when werewolves are around, I guess Radar's visions get a bit cloudy when the Steelers are around.

So, maybe you're wondering if Radar is upset that he got this one wrong.

Let's ask him.

Hmmm... I guess not!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - We did not watch the game... we spent all afternoon on the water and at the beach, so when we got back home at 6:30pm, it was bath and bed (even though clearly I haven't been able to get to sleep, I have been in bed) for us folks!

PSS - Oh... hope none of you actually put money down based on Radar's prediction... he's two years old for God's sake!!!! What's wrong with you!

PSSS - More on Hannah to come. We are already setting the groundwork for our first visit! Bubbly with excitement over it!!!

PSSSS - a few shots from today...

Pitts or Packers?

2011-02-05T16:59:00.008-05:00

Well, all you bettin' types out there...

As promised, we have your (nearly) airtight guarantee as to who the winner will be in tomorrow's Super Bowl!

Sure, Radar got it wrong on his first pick in Super Bowl 43... but cut him some slack... he was only 46 days old at the time and it was a really, really close game!

Last year, with a full year's experience under his belt, he boldly picked the Saints and he wasn't just right... he was sooooooo right!!! It was a 31 - 17 trouncing!

>>>>>>> PAST YEARS

This year he's now really a seasoned pro and if you want to bet against him... well, go ahead... I mean, I wouldn't, but hey... it's your funeral!

Anyway - let's get to the meat of it.

You start with two teams...

The Green Bay Packers

(personally my choice on account of green being my favorite color)

and

The Pittsburgh Steelers

(who Radar dissed two years ago)

The choice is then put up to our expert...

who climbs into postion...

moistens his lips with some cherry chapstick...

carefully studies his choices...

aims...

AND LUBES UP THE WINNER!!!!

The decision is a clear one ladies and gents...

This one WILL go to Pittsburgh!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Thanks for all your comments on our last post! We are extremely excited about Hannah and can't wait to share so much more in posts to come, months to come & years to come! I have been corresponding several times a day with Hannah's mommy and have learned so much about this beautiful, smart, fun and happy little girl.

I'll leave you with just a couple of fun things... the first was one that someone commented on a facebook post that Hannah's mommy made about Radar.. someone noted that Hannah and Radar are both palindromes... Coincidence? I THINK NOT!!!!

And then I thought I'd leave you with another couple quick pictures of Radar's beautiful big sister (3 weeks older than him to be precise!) You all know what a big fan I am of Halloween....

I'm in love!

2011-02-03T13:16:00.003-05:00

Yes. This is the post I mentioned. The one I really, really wanted to post and the one that couldn’t be rushed.

And Yes. You read the title right.

I’m in love.

I’m not talking about a tawdry affair or a passing infatuation either.

I’m talking about a head over heals, love at first sight, fairytale kind of love!

When did this happen, you ask?

Why, it happened yesterday.

Yesterday?

So now you’re thinking that either I’m kidding or exaggerating or that perhaps it is indeed a simple infatuation or tawdry affair.

I assure you – it is not!

I’m in love.

But let me back up a bit and explain in a little more depth.

It’s true that just two days ago I didn’t know that my new love even existed in this world. And it’s also true that it only took seeing one picture of this person to send me into a deep plunge off the cliff of no return. But the roots of this newfound love run so much deeper and that’s how I know it’s not just some passing infatuation!

It has a lot to do with how I’ve come to appreciate what ‘family’ means to me. I’m a big fan of the ‘traditional’ family… you know, the mom and dad with 2.4 kids, living in a two story suburban home with a white picket fence (dog and cat included)! Big fan! But obviously, I’m also a HUGE fan of the ‘non-traditional’ family… of adoption… of same-sex couples… and of course, of single moms!

My own non-traditional family has its quirks and dysfunctions, but it is also so very rich and beautiful. Tia Lali is a good example… she is my half-sister… she is 16 years my junior… she grew up with a different mother, in different cities and in a different time. None of that matters. She is every bit my sister, she is one of my very best friends and I love her through and through.

Then there’s Radar – obviously the very best example of what I’m talking about. I’m not married to his biological father – I don’t even know who he is! I chose half of Radar’s biology based on words I read on a screen, one audio interview I listened to and one (sort of fuzzy) picture of a little boy. That changes nothing! This gift that was made possible because a stranger decided to walk into a cryobank, is the most precious, beautiful and valuable gift of my life. Radar is my everything. I know that I’d love my son every bit as much if my circumstances had been more ‘traditional’… but the point is that I don’t love him one single atom less because they’re not.

But back to my point.

I’m in love!

And it has everything to do with my view that family can come in all shapes and sizes!

That is why, a couple of days ago, I went to a website called DSR (“Donor Sibling Registry”) and did a quick search using the ID# of Radar’s bio-dad. That is why my heart jumped and fluttered when I saw the results of that search… “Girl born Nov2008”. That is why I was blushing as I read a message from this little girl’s parents that said they were looking to connect with donor siblings. That is why I wrote back immediately and started a dialogue with this family from Long Island, NY. And that is why, when I got these pictures yesterday morning…

I FELL MADLY IN LOVE

WITH A LITTLE GIRL NAMED HANNAH!!!!!!

Can you see the resemblance (that's obviously a rhetorical, 'duh' kind of question!)?

Love,
Titi & Radar

On the go....

2011-02-02T22:24:00.002-05:00

I'm quickly typing this from my big, cozy bed on the 7th floor of the Sheraton Suites in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I have a post that I really, really want to post, but it's 11:30pm here and I have to get up early.

And this post that I really, really want to post is not the sort of post that should be rushed.

But it's a very, very cool post.

And it's worth the wait.

So stay tuned and I promise to post the post that I really, really want to post in the next couple of days.

I promise.

And I promise that it's worth the wait!

Love,

Titi

PS - Oh, for those of you US Football betting types that are in a panic because Radar has not yet given you his prediction for this Sunday's game... don't fret! I get back home late on Friday night and Radar will make his pick on Saturday. So stay tuned that for post as well!

Ignoring Noony

2011-01-29T08:46:00.004-05:00

Some of our feline loving readers might wonder why the cat has been so ignored in the new header above. (Although, in my defense, I did mention Radar's plural "pets", so he isn't actually totally ignored.) Well, quite simply, the cat can not go outside and those very cute pictures of Radar walking Fanny were clearly taken outside (the whole cat Aids thing, you know.)

Please take comfort though in knowing that the cat is anything but ignored within our house. When we come downstairs in the morning, the first thing that Radar does is run to the back patio shouting, "GATO, GATO, GATO!" He insists on letting the cat in and then he bosses the cat around.

"Up Noony! Down Noony! Go Noony! In Noony! No Noony!"

(Noony is his version of "Mully" which is short for Mulligan.)

(Oh, Noony doesn't obey ANY of these orders.)

And Radar also makes his best effort at playing with Noony... most days with little success... a swat here, a hiss there. But on some days, like today, Noony possesses an extra ounce of patience and seems to even enjoy the toddler attention that Radar heaps on him.

So without further ado, I add this addendum to the above header to show that Radar shows no prejudice when it comes to taking "his pets" for a walk!

Lots of love,

Titi, Radar & Noony

Reason #1

2011-01-25T13:40:00.009-05:00

I've had some trouble getting back into the swing of things and finding inspiration... not good for someone who claims to be an aspiring writer. But hey, let's just go with Marco's comment from my last post about how I'm an amazing mom and leave it at that!

But really... the general purpose of this blog is three-fold.

The principal reason I keep this up is that it is my virtual baby-book for Radar. I don't have a single completed photo-album. I have three or four empty baby books that were given to me as gifts. I really am a pretty disorganized person and this blog seems to have been one way that I've been able to keep a pretty good record of pictures, milestones and adventures!

The second reason for the blog is to keep family & friends up to date on Radar. Perhaps I ought to set an example of modesty, but the plain and simple truth is that I very, very much like to show off my little man. I was just at business meetings in Madrid, London and New York and when one of the bigwig suits asked me how my son was doing, I replied by saying "he's the most handsome boy on the planet and it turns out he's a genius too!" I bask in Tia Lali's comments because she is always the first to jump on the 'Radar is perfect' bandwagon. So, since my family & friends are scattered around the planet, this is the easiest way for me to brag about my most handsomest genius!

And finally, the third main reason I do this is to try to entertain my handful of readers. It brings me great joy to imagine my cousin Rafa smiling as he reads some ridiculous, self-deprecating story I've posted or reading comments of witty repartee from Tia Sara!

Lately though, I've been falling down on the job and haven't really fulfilled any of my reasons for writing this blog. And I guess when you hit a rut, the best thing is to approach the problem one step at a time. So let's take that first step today and just stick with Reason #1... a record for Radar.

With that said, today we'll document for the annals of Radar history that while milestones continue to tumble like a stack of marbles...

...one thing remains absolutely constant. What is it then that holds this copper haired boy's attention more than anything else?

Carros!!!!

Although that's a bit too narrow...

... because he likes to mix it up with vans and buses and planes and forklifts and tractors...

....and motorcycles (which he now calls mo mos)...

And since this interest was nearly his first and has only intensified with time, I guess I just need to accept that Radar most definitely falls into the stereotypical boy category when it comes to cars.

Get ready Grammy...

looks like this year's Thanksgiving vacation is going to be a NASCAR one!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Yes, that's chocolate on his chin.

Sweet dreams

2011-01-13T08:11:00.005-05:00

I've come to a couple of conclusions over the last week.

Exactly a week ago - last Thursday - all was well and I was sticking to my general philosophy that flu shots aren't really so necessary for younger people with healthy immune systems. Even knowing that January is the height of flu season, I didn't worry too much because even if the flu got us, our immune systems would tackle it, thereby building up even more immunity for the next fight.

That was Thursday. Last Friday at work, I noticed a little cough creeping into my throat. I got home and Radar had a raging fever. So, Mr. Flu had bitten us... no biggie! We were up for the fight... BRING IT ON BABY!

Friday night was a bad one for poor little Rafael Darwin. He kept dozing off for 45 minute to one hour restless sleeps before waking up screaming with night terrors! At about 9pm I gave him a dose of Children's Motrin to break the fever and give the sick monkey a shot at some more restful sleep. At 3am he woke up screaming with a bloody nose and a fever spiking again. Children's Tylenol... more restless sleeping... 6:30am another bloody nose!

Saturday was the start of my fever... both of us climbing up over 103 by the end of the day. I got the added flu bonuses of cough, soar throat and vomiting! Sweet!!! Saturday night... a better night for the weasel... a harder night for me.

Sunday morning... Radar's fever was gone and he was acting 95% back to normal. Great! This was just a bit more than a 24 hour demon and I had just one day to go... above mentioned philosophy still firmly in place... immunity hard at work and doing it's job. Sunday night was perfect for Radar... my fever back to 103 - a miserable night for me.

Monday... Radar perfect... Radar's mom back to 103... not feeling better, but substantially worse.

Tuesday... Radar perfect... Radar's mom woke up with a 101 fever - now absolutely drained, raging soar throat, wicked nasty cough, no appetite... and off to the doctor's I went for antibiotics and cough remedies.

So - sorry to bore you with the details, but it was living through these details that led me to the conclusions that I've now come to... and they are:

1. My mother didn't love me. Whereas I breastfed Radar for almost a full year, my mother willfully and with malice of forethought stopped breastfeeding me at around 5 months so that she could selfishly go to Hawaii, thereby leaving my poor, as yet underdeveloped immune system to fend for itself and causing me a lifetime of fighting off nasty bugs with a weaker defense system, (she denies this and does not regret going to Hawaii and thus, perhaps still does not love me) and

2. I think I need to reconsider my annual flu shot philosophy because if there is actually something I can do to avoid getting the flu, that might not be such a bad thing!

And now that I'm feeling somewhere around 80% human again and now that I've unloaded my bitchfest on you, let me just leave you with a few pictures from this morning that support what I repeatedly said above...

... Radar perfect ...

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

ps - Did I ever mention how freaking easy it is to make this little man laugh?

pss - The dog sticker on his hand is his prize for eating his whole breakfast!

psss - Oh, and lastly... if you actually read this whole post and wondered, "what's with the sweet dreams title?" Well, last night at about 2am I woke up because Radar was stirring... I turned to him and he was fast asleep. Then he said "Mama mopeen, Mama mopeen" and laughed in his sleep! Now, I have have no frickin' idea what the 'mopeen' is, but who cares... he was laughing and so it must be a good thing and I laughed as I myself drifted back into my own sweet dreams.

2011 resolutions

2011-01-06T07:32:00.002-05:00

I'm not really the type of person who starts off each year by jotting down lofty new year's resolutions about losing a bunch of weight or getting in shape or writing the great American novel. Because like too many people, the adrenaline and inspiration that a change in calendar brings tends to fade by about January 10th!

Instead, I'm the type of person who says she's not the type of person to set lofty new year's resolutions while secretly setting lofty new year's resolutions. See the difference?

And since this blog is not only a blog about Radar, but also apparently my not-so-private confessional (see Twilight post confession), I will confess some of my secret lofty resolutions:

1. Lose a bunch of weight
2. Get in shape
3. Write the great American novel

Ok, #3 isn't entirely true... but I do want to finish writing a novel... even a crappy unpublishable one. I've written a couple half novels, but then the inspiration fades and the rest of the pages sit unwritten. I would like to pick up one of those half finished books and just finish it. Just so that I can say that I actually wrote a novel. As for the great American novel - I'll leave that resolution for another year...

(even though my blog seems to have gone global and has now been translated into other languages!!! or maybe it was just a glitch with blogger this morning?)

As for Radar, I guess he's a bit too young to do something as stupid as setting new year's resolutions. But that doesn't matter because without a doubt, he'll reach many more new milestones in this next year than most of us put together.

And plus, who needs to set annual goals, when you live in a world where every part of every day is an adventure.... in a world where even every bath is like Disney World!

Come to think of it, I think maybe I should revise my resolutions to one simple one:

1. See the world a bit more like Radar does...

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

A simple Happy New Year's luncheon with Radar

2011-01-01T16:22:00.001-05:00

Lots of love,
Titi and Radar

The joy of surprises

2010-12-27T17:35:00.009-05:00

When Radar was born I became a new mom and although I'd known lots of babies and I'd read lots of stuff about babies, none of it really prepared me for my own baby. It's like most things in life - falling in love, making mistakes, being a mom - no matter how much you imagine it or read about it and no matter how much someone tells you - you still don't really get it until you live it.

These first two years with Radar have been so full of all those kind of wonderful surprises - the ones I'd heard about but didn't really get. How boys wait exactly until you move the diaper away to pee... how delicious it is when your baby giggles... how incorrigible toddlers can be!

But over the last couple of weeks, the surprises have been getting even better. Because more and more, they are surprises that are unique to the funny and devilish personality that is only Radar's! Grammy and I got one of those wonderful surprises on Christmas morning at the Nassau airport.

Just like last year (here), we flew from Nassau to Florida on Christmas morning and as a treat, I got Radar a Christmas green and red sprinkled donut.

And as you can see, just like last year, Radar thoroughly enjoyed his donut as he nibbled off the sprinkled top. That's not surprising... Radar likes junk. But after nibbling for a while, he put the donut down on a chair and I had Grammy sneak the donut into a bag since I really didn't want him eating it after he'd put it on a chair that who knows how many who knows who sat on! A minute later Radar went back to the chair and when he saw that his donut was missing, he looked at me and shrugged his shoulders. I gently explained that I didn't know where the donut was and that it must have run away.

That's when he surprised us...

As my mom and I sat with the luggage, Radar stomped away... he wasn't mad... no temper tantrum... he just stomped away. And when he got into a central location in the terminal with lots of people around, he stopped and started yelling as loudly as he could. Grammy and I looked at one another and we started laughing - of all the reactions that Radar could have had, we just hadn't expected this one. Because when I told Radar the donut had run away, he really understood and I hadn't expected that. And it wasn't really that Radar was yelling - but rather calling out in his loudest voice...

"DONUT? DONUT? DONUT?"

Oh - the joy of surprises!!!! And yes - Grammy gave him back his gross donut.

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Going to Santa

2010-12-24T20:24:00.004-05:00

Happy Noche Buena to all!!!

Not much to report here. You'll notice that in the pictures below there are no gifts under the tree and that probably doesn't surprise you much since it's only 8:25pm and at this moment the NORAD (which has teamed up with Google Earth... they're so funny) Santa Tracker has Santa dropping gifts off in Grytviken, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. So naturally he hasn't reached the Bahamas yet! The problem is that all of Radar's contact information shows my Mom's address in Florida! I meant to write Santa a letter to let him know to deliver gifts here, but it's too late now... he's already on the road (well... in the air actually).

The only solution I came up with was to get some tickets and get over to Florida as quickly as possible. So, first thing in the morning we'll be off to Grammy's house!

Until then, we wish all our much loved family and friends a joyous, peaceful and yes, merry Christmas!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - Hope none of you are too jealous that on December 24th wearing a shirt is optional here!

I'm pleased to report

2010-12-20T13:07:00.004-05:00

Just a couple of weeks ago I posted a question about how long it would take before every birthday party we attended didn't end with Radar's face covered in cake. It was not a complaint. I love his cake eating style and although I suppose one day his table manners will improve a bit... well, I wouldn't mind if he still had cake face after every party well into his 20's.

So when December 16th rolled around and it was time to celebrate his own birthday, I got a big fat chocolate cake, covered with whipped cream icing... I didn't care that the ladies at the bakery had taken great care to decorate the cake as if it was for someone who cared about such things.

I had the camera aimed at the cake and ready for Radar to dive head first into it. Instead, a little finger slowly entered the frame.

Instead of diving into the cake, he was being all delicate about the process.

Mind you, I realize that everything is relative and that some people might not view fingering a cake, then 'double dipping' as delicate...

Plus, it's about expectations. I was expecting cake splattered walls...

Did this mean that the answer to my question was that the cake faced parties were already over... that it ended at 2?

I kept aiming and snapping, hoping that the cake was still going down!

But little Mr. Manners just kept up the careful and neat dipping and licking. Stinker!

So finally I relented and cut the cake and served everyone their proper slice. And although Radar didn't really give me what I had been hoping for...

...I'm pleased to report that he didn't totally dissappoint.

Onward to Christmas now....

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

2

2010-12-16T00:01:00.002-05:00

your smile

your pout

how you order the dog to go

“out anny out!”

your lips when you dream

your sweet little “please”

how you caress my arm and my neck and my face

as you drift off to sleep by my side or in my embrace

your hair trigger temper

your “s-less” vocabulary

how you love to show off

mostly for me

how you skillfully maneuver your pacifier into your mouth

even with your eyes closed

how you bang on a piano or keyboard while I sing along ‘la, la, la’

then how you stop abruptly and look to me until I break out into applause

and how you join in, clapping and saying “bavo, bavo!”

how you dribble your drink and wet your shirt

then grab it to show me and in your most pitiable voice ask for my sympathy

and how you know it’s a game and know that I’ll play along

“pobrecito. te mojaste! poor thing, you got wet!”

your “uh-oh”

your “Mama”

every single time you say “Mama”

how you pretend to snore to trick me into thinking you’re sleeping

even though your eyes are wide open and you’re smiling at me

oh, that smile

how you love to flush the toilet for me

as you wave into the bowl saying “bye bye pee pee”

your telephone conversations

“hi”

“ohhhhhh”

“bye”

(how you flip the phone shut)

how you love to splash in the bath

how very easy it is to make you laugh

how you come to me so often for a hug

how you love your cat and your pug

these and at least a million more things

make me so, so happy

but more than all of them

is just you

and my absolute certainty that you know you are loved

and that you are a very happy two year old boy

Happy 2nd Birthday Radar

love is much too small a word

nothing in my 42+ years holds a candle to being your mom

nothing comes even close

i love you

Mama

Tongue curling yummy

2010-12-14T13:42:00.003-05:00

An anonymous commenter noted that in 2009 Radar's blog featured 298 posts and in 2010 (so far) only 145 (this would be 146) and that I should resolve to make 2011 a better year. Good point you! Of course if I do make such a resolution and if that resolution suffers the fate of all of my other New Year's resolutions... well, then 2011 could indeed be a bleak blogging year. But in the spirit of the holidays, I'm going to remain optimistic and say that I do resolve to be a better blogger in 2011... perhaps creating some regular features and more regularly joining in on other fun blogger games!

As for 2010 (which isn't over till the fat lady sings (and on account of one of my failed 2010 resolutions, I am said 'fat lady')), I figure that I can at least aim to surpass the 50% mark. That means that in the next 17ish days, I'd have to make at least 4 more posts (not including today's). That's not only doable... it's easy. See, although things had settled into a quiet, peaceful lull after our hectic Thanksgiving break travel, as of yesterday they picked right back up with the arrival of Avo and Nana Angela. Maria leaves for Peru today (for 3 weeks) so we've got some pinch-hitting nannies & other visitors coming onto the scene. Godmother Gail flies in on Friday, Grammy flies in next Tuesday and then we head to Florida on Christmas day for a few days.

AND, of course, in just two days time, Mr. Radar will be officially turning TWO!!! Since Maria is leaving today, we took the opportunity to celebrate Radar's birthday for the first time last night (we'll obviously celebrate again on his actual birthday and then again on Friday with Gail and then next week with Grammy... 4 celebrations for 2 years... seems reasonable for such a delicious little monkey.) And birthday party #1 was a great success! I made a carrot cake from scratch (super yummy if I may say) and Radar absolutely soaked up the attention. It was also fun because Radar now loves opening presents (the ripping the paper off anyway - he's not too interested in the present itself).

So I'm not going to feel bad about signing off now since I'll be back in another day or two to post more birthday party pictures. For today I'll post a few from last night... not sure what the whole tongue curling thing was all about, but it was cute, so who cares... I'll just assume it had to do with Mama's yummy cake!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

The patience of a toddler

2010-12-08T08:15:00.005-05:00

I should really cut Radar some slack. It's true that he doesn't have any patience. He's a toddler. I've read in books about different tactics you can start to use to help toddler's build patience... like when he wants something, you hold up a finger and say, "wait one minute", then let him see you do something else and then give him what he's asking for. It's a way for him to see that I'm not ignoring his request and that he just has to wait a little bit and he'll get what he wants. Then you stretch that time out slowly... a few seconds at a time, until he's waiting a minute or two or three. Learning patience. Well - sounds good, but we're sort of stuck at the 5 to 10 second mark. He especially gets really pissed if he goes to the trouble of using his sweet little "pees" (please) and doesn't get what he wants immediately... I mean, why bother with 'please' if you just have to wait!

But honestly - I should cut him some slack. He's a toddler. How can I expect his raging emotional toddler brain to practice patience when I know plenty of adults that don't have any more patience than a toddler. Like this one lady I know... she' s 42ish. She has a toddler of her own. Her toddler's 2nd birthday is coming up on December 16th (I know - what a coincidence!) She wanted to make sure that her toddler's birthday was special and separate from Christmas, so she had decided not to decorate for Christmas until after his birthday. That way her little boy wouldn't think that all the hub-bub on the 16th had anything to do with all the candy canes and red and green lights and santas and all that other Christmas stuff. Easy enough to put off getting a tree until the weekend after his birthday...

... except of course that this lady has the patience of a toddler and on this past Sunday morning, she strapped her kid into the car and off they went to get a tree. From my tone you can detect that I'm a little annoyed that this lady didn't wait. So I'm not going to name names because I don't really want her to know that I'm talking about her. And plus, this isn't really about her... it's just making the point that if an adult can't learn patience by 42, then I really should give Radar a break! Don't you think?

Lots of love,

That lady and Radar

Not that I'm in a rush

2010-12-05T22:27:00.002-05:00

It's bedtime for me, but I just wanted to shoot off this quick question.

For those of you with older kids out there, maybe you've got an answer.

And please don't think that I'm in any hurry for Radar to grow up.

I'm not.

I'm hoping the answer is "a long time from now".

But I just thought it was worth asking.

So here it is...

When will every birthday party that we go to

NOT end like this anymore?

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - More on this in tomorrow's post...

Where does the time go?

2010-12-03T21:00:00.006-05:00

It seems like just yesterday I still lived in South Florida and Lali came to Barry University as a college freshman. But I guess it wasn't just yesterday. I suppose it was 7 or so years ago. It was also the first time that Lali and I had ever really lived in the same city. It was the first time I had a sister nearby. And all the time leading up to it, as well as the 16 year age difference between us, was like dust in the wind! We were sisters to the core and it was so much fun!!!

One of the very best parts was the clothes & accessory theft that ensued in a big way. At first it was mostly Lali coming over to my apartment and stealing my clothes, shoes, watches, etc. But it didn't take me long to start reciprocating. I found out that Lali's fashion sense didn't only exist (mine does not), but it was wonderful and colorful and fun. It didn't matter that Lali is 3 feet taller than me or that my boobs (at the time) were substantially smaller than hers... the theft took on a frenzied pace and wardrobes & accessories morphed like mythical shape-shifters!

It's a tradition that has carried on through weight gains & losses (including pregnancy) and dramatic climate changes. In May, Lali confiscated a blue watch of mine (as well as a dress to go with the watch). On this recent trip, I confiscated a purple watch of hers. Seven years of this... where has the time gone?

Well, the truth is that I'm really not sure where the time has gone... or what time it is for that matter. Because it looks like there's a new player in this game.

That's right - Radar has now confiscated the purple watch...

and he won't give it back...

when I ask him the time, he studies the watch carefully...

but then keeps the answer to himself.

But somehow I don't think Lali's going to mind so much that her wonderful nephew is now stealing her things being as she had no problem giving him whatever he wanted on our recent trip.

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

PS - I honestly don't know where the time has gone... Radar turns 2 in less than 2 weeks!!!!

PSS - My favorite color is green and looking back on recent pictures of Radar, it seems like he's always dressed in green. I'm good with that - just wondering if anyone else noticed?

PSSS - I think that X and Radar look like brothers in these pictures!

Natural beauties and mugshots

2010-11-30T19:13:00.007-05:00

There's simply too much to cover. We're back home and as much as we loved our extended Thanksgiving world tour, we are glad to be back. We are pooped!

I had plans to take lots of pictures on our trip... BIG PLANS! I don't just drag around my huge, fat camera for kicks... I was going to get some awesome pictures of 'the two Christinas and the two Rafaels' and a fabulous family portrait with all 30 of us and loads of pictures of the kids, arm in arm, smiling and laughing together. Those were the plans...

What actually happened was that I waited until nearly the last minute before pulling out the camera and running around the house snapping random, candid shots. That technique isn't really the best when you're aiming for 'keepers'.

You end up getting a bunch of pictures like this...

There were plenty of pretty bad pictures in the bunch and then there were the sickening people who look good no matter how hard you try to get a lousy shot! So for those of you out there that are in the mood for another contest, I've decided to put up two categories for a vote; "Mugshot madness" and "Naturalest beauty".

And for those of you that didn't make the finalist list, please don't feel slighted... I promise that you were a serious contender for either the mugshot or beauty list (many more mugshots than beauties, by the way)!

Here we go...

The Naturalest beauty finalists

#1 - the purple girlies

#2 - mama & christina

#3 - so darn cute

#4 - cheek to cheek

And the next category was far harder to narrow down, but the finalists for Mugshot madness are:

#1 - clearly insane

#2 - the angry drunk dude

#3 - the sleeping drunk baby

#4 - not really sure what to make of this

And there you have it! Please register your votes and we will declare the winner in a few days...

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Thankfuller than ever

2010-11-25T14:57:00.003-05:00

I know that I've mentioned before that vacations afford me far less time than my day to day home life - especially for blogging. Any semblance of a schedule is crumpled up and tossed into the trash as soon as we take off. Since last Friday, we've flown to Ft Lauderdale, driven to Tampa with Grammy, gone to zoos, museums and parks galore, driven back from Tampa, flown to Philadelphia and so, so much more. And it ain't nearly over... today we're enjoying two turkey dinners, play-time with a 9 year old boy and a similarly aged toddler boy, then tomorrow we're back in the car to Maryland to see the Marco-Franko gang, before diving eyeball deep into Pazos on Saturday in Virginia! And as per my usual m.o., I barely blog on vacations.

But it would be very, very wrong for me to not blog today. This is Radar's blog. And since I'm not nearly organized enough to keep baby books or organize photo albums or any such thing, this then becomes all those things... And how could I let a day meant for expressing thanks go empty when the truth is that it's so very, very full of thanks... fuller than ever.

At round one of turkey pig-out today, I spoke first. We are spending Thanksgiving with my dear friend Andrea and her son Michael - and I'm thankful for their friendship and their invitation. I expressed thanks for our health, for our friends and for our families. Those rank right at the top of my long, long list of things. Those are some of the big things and there's also a million little things. I'm thankful for silly things, like the few people who still bother to read my slacking blog! I'm even thankful that it snowed big, fat flakes for us on this Thanksgiving!

But for the third year running, there is a #1 that trumps all the others by miles. A #1 that spills onto all my other list items and makes them brighter. A #1 that makes me look at the world again with renewed wonder. A #1 that let's me put aside any bashfulness about getting all lovely-dovey and emotionally mooshy-wooshy. A #1 that is my moon and my sun... my night and my day... my food and my air... my world and my joy.

For the third year out of however many years I have in front of me, my #1 is you, Radar.

Lots of Love,

Titi and Radar

Self-feeding issues

2010-11-19T07:56:00.005-05:00

Radar turns 2 next month

and yet he still prefers to be spoon fed

by Maria

so on weekends, he barely eats for me

every Monday he's skinnier than he was on Friday

(how I wish I shared this particular problem with him)

on vacations he drops lots of weight

so I have been asking Maria

to please let him do more self-feeding

she says she will

but she doesn't

she confesses that it's so much easier

and faster

and neater

to feed him

but I keep insisting

and starting today we're going on a 10 day vacation

so finally this week she's agreed to really make an effort

and this morning

Radar was given a bowl of blueberries

and a spoon

Maria let him self-feed

and it occurred to me that with a pug as his mentor

the whole self-feeding thing is trickier

and although I still think it's neccessary

I have to confess

that I do see her point

but we'll keep trying anyway

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

A winner and a confession

2010-11-17T15:31:00.006-05:00

Ok, so back to Halloween... last year we had lots more entries, so I set up a bunch of different categories (scariest, cutest, etc) and put it to a vote. This year I still had several entries, but not enough for the multi-category, voting approach. Plus, Halloween was ages ago and even before the ads and sales start ad-nauseam, this blog has already gone Christmas!

So I'm just going to get this over with quickly... I'll rip the band-aide off. But there's also that bit about the confession which I should also just blurt out... I shouldn't draw it out. It's embarrassing and I know that putting it off longer doesn't make it any better. Well - maybe I'll wait at least until the end of this post...

Now - back to the winner.

I want to point out that trying to sway my vote by dressing in "Bahamian" costumes, doesn't work.

Dad and Angela... you don't win...

...and neither do you Jason...

...or you Caro!

Enough with the freakin' pirates already!

We had a Pirate winner last year!

Oh - and although I didn't mention Lali's rainbow costume, she never stood a chance standing next to a Piratess!

I also want to say that dressing up like this and inviting friends over to drink beer, is not Halloween...

...it's just a freakin' toga party! You don't win Kimberdoo!

And you might have thought that the old "father/son, Peter Pan/Robin Hood combo" would garner you some points?

Nope... Sorry Frank and X!

Moving on... I can't possibly give an award to a ghost who looks so unhappy to be a ghost (sorry Nolan)...

... or to Sebastian, who dared to cover his gorgeous face with a Darth Vader mask...

... and Carly...

I love you, but even dressing up like Radar won't win you points in this contest!

So what then?

Who wins?

Does it go to the cute kid dressed up like a pumpkin?

Indeed not little Mattia - so sorry!

Instead - let me briefly segue to my confession so that you can better understand the frame of mind I was in when making this important decision.

See - I am not a reader of sappy romances.

I also don't conform to trends that "everybody's" doing!

I have never read a Harry Potter book or seen a Harry Potter film.

I did not read The Da Vinci Code (well, I started but I thought it was dumb and didn't finish).

I have also NEVER read a stupid vampire book.

I saw the first Twilight movie on cable and thought it was stupid.

UNTIL...

That's right... I don't know how it happened... I was just looking for an easy read... for some brain candy... and a friend leant me the first one! 500+ pages of teenage love story, sappy, ridiculous, cliche writing...

... and I couldn't put it down...

... and then I bought the second one (New Moon) and I've lost sleep this week needing to finish it...

... then I downloaded the second movie on iTunes ($14.99) and stayed up late watching it...

... then I bought the third one (Eclipse) and I'll continue losing sleep this week needing to finish it...

... and I can't buy the movie until it comes out on DVD...

... and now I follow any stupid gossip link I see on Robert Pattinson or Kristen Stewart!!!

Yes - I am sooooo embarrassed to confess that I'm totally hooked on this stupid Twilight Saga and that was the frame of mind I was in when I saw this entry...

...and what went through my mind was, "even if he's not supposed to be a vampire, he sure would make one very cute and convincing little vampire... maybe Bella and Edward will make a vampire baby and maybe he'll look like Luca! That would even be a good name for their vampire baby!!!!"

So congratulations LUCA! Even though you meant to dress up as Skeletor, you won as a Twilight Vampire Baby! I will hand deliver your prize when I see you in person in 10 days!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Caught green handed

2010-11-13T06:56:00.003-05:00

As a follow-up to yesterday's post about expressions, I just want to clear something up. Although Radar is a mimic and many of his new expressions seem to be just the faces of a young actor, that isn't always the case. Sometimes his expressions reflect just what's going on in that little brain of his.

I was in the kitchen about a half hour ago, preparing my much needed morning coffee (much needed since Radar thought that 5am was a good wake-up time today - on a Saturday!) Radar was in the living room and I guess I was too tired to notice that he was quiet for too long - never a good sign.

Then he joined me in the kitchen and gave me this look... so out came the camera.

Granted, the marker marks on his face were a clue that something was amiss, but the expression alone would have been telling enough.

So I asked, "Radar. What did you do?"

Oh my - that just can't be good!

Then the expression quickly slipped back into pure innocence and I knew there was trouble in the living room.

A quick peek at his hands was the final clue!!!

And sure enough, this is what I found in the living room!!!

So yes, sometimes his expressions are just acting...

but sometimes...

like when he's caught green handed...

sometimes they mean just what they seem to mean...

such as...

"BUSTED!"

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Expressions

2010-11-12T08:00:00.002-05:00

Well, well, well... this has indeed been a long hiatus! Sorry about that. But we've been busy... babies have been born, countries have been visited and toddlers have been getting into as much trouble as they can possibly manage!

But we're back now and as you can see, our blog is confused. The baby blue background with teddy bears and hearts does not match the still spooky green Halloween header. I'll get to that... hopefully this weekend. And I still haven't posted our Halloween winners, so there is still time to send in your pictures. I'll get to that too.

Today though, I thought I'd give you all a quick fix (happy Marco?) of the star of this show. His personality gets funnier every day. He is a HUGE mimic and lately he's really been practicing mimicing expressions. I can't even name all the expressions that he uses. By way of example, this morning I pulled out the camera (for the first time in 12 days - yikes!) and in a one minute span, Radar went through a dozen different expressions. I caught most on film and maybe you can help name them for me!

#10

Best answer wins a turkey!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Nothing spooky about this!!!!

2010-11-03T02:37:00.002-04:00

Late last night

another Christina Pazos

came screaming into this world

so much prettier than this Christena Pazos

but I can't begrudge her that

because I'm way too smitten!!!

Congratulations Vivi, Rafa, Pepe and little Vivi

and

Welcome to the world and to our family Christina Elisa!!!!!

Love,

Titi and Radar

A Spooktacular Event!

2010-11-02T08:31:00.002-04:00

Sorry for not posting sooner, but Halloween was a non-stop event that went from 6am to 10pm, after which I felt as dead as our friend Skeletor. But it all went off without a hitch (once I'd conceded to Radar's refusal to don the pug costume). With creepy music seeping from the kitchen window, green and red lights illuminating the house, tiki torches, jack-o-lanterns, witches, graveyards, severed finger cookies, rats, deviled egg eyeballs, a mad scientist, puppy blood wine and tons of candy, we welcomed nearly 400 guests! There was lots of picture taking and when I went down the street to take Radar trick-or-treating to a few houses, it did my heart and ego good to hear people talking about the really cool haunted house at the end of the street.

Unfortunately it's impossible to capture with my camera and I spent most of the night chasing Radar, so dragging my big fat camera around became a bit burdensome. But even Radar had a blast repeatedly running into the street to chase the ghosts and goblins and princesses and witches and super heroes and space troopers! It was a blast!!!!

And now that it's over, it's time for our annual Radar Love Halloween Costume Contest.

Today I head to Florida and tomorrow to Costa Rica for a 6 day business trip. This will be the longest I've ever been apart from Radar!!! But while I'm down in CR, I will find some appropriately spooky and horrible prize to bring back for the winner of our contest.

Please submit your entries to me by e-mail (either my yahoo or Radar's e-mail shown on the sidebar) by Saturday, November 6th and when I get back, I will announce our winner.

Good luck!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Meet pumpkin #3

2010-10-30T10:21:00.001-04:00

Can't write much now because we're off to go get some last minute 'boo' supplies for tomorrow, but I thought I'd leave you with Mr. Pumpkin #3 and his little friend!

Lots of Boo,

Titi and Radar

Backfire...

2010-10-29T19:34:00.003-04:00

I should have already learned this, but tonight I learned again that making plans for a toddler holds a high probability of backfiring. I've been having so much fun planning for Halloween thinking that it would also somehow be fun for Radar. Other than coloring his pumpkin though, he's been pretty disinterested.

But what I wasn't really anticipating was that one of my bigger plans that very much relied on Radar as its literal core, would present a problem.

I figured that since this is really the only year when Radar and Fanny will be about the same size, they could switch roles for Halloween. I know I won't have an issue dressing Fanny in some Radar pajamas... I also thought that dressing Radar in a pug costume would be a cinch. Afterall, he had zero issues with the Superman outfit and he's never fussed about any outfit I've chosen - he's even cool with his Batman pajamas. What could go wrong?

And with that confidence, I spent a few precious hours turning this...

into this...

Other than the color which was much darker than advertised, I was pretty pleased with the finished product and couldn't wait to get it on Radar and take some pictures to show all of you.

And that's where my great toddler plan unexpectedly and with great thrust - BACKFIRED!!!

Radar HATES his pug costume! He was miserable and kept trying to rip it off. I tried to show him how cute he was in the mirror... nothing doing! He HATES it!

Well, I suppose I can try to brainwash him or hope that he somehow developes a liking for it in the next two days. If not, then I guess it'll be Superman for Hallween and I'll wait to see if Vivi's new baby wants to be a pug for Halloween in a couple of years (Vivi's about 39 weeks pregnant and we are anxiously awaiting the happy news of a new arrival!)

Love,

Titi and Radar

PS - This whole pug costume experiment has drained my Halloween energy for the evening and I think Pumpkin #3 will have to go on hold until tomorrow morning. But please check back because I promise my Spooky energy will be back in full force by morning!

Meet pumpkin #2

2010-10-28T19:40:00.002-04:00

Ok, so we're getting pretty darn giddy around here... Grammy gets in tomorrow morning and then as soon as I'm done with work, we'll no doubt be pulling a late night creating, brainstorming, planning and decorating.

But for now, I've only got time to do my nightly pumpkin carving.

Meet pumpkin #2! Can you guess who this is?

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Meet pumpkin #1

2010-10-27T18:50:00.002-04:00

I have 4 pumpkins to accompany my witches and ghosts and skeletons and goblins. I carved the first this evening and will carve one each night through Saturday night. This was the easiest, so we'll see how my ambitious plans pan out!

Anyway - meet pumpkin #1!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Nuthin' to do with nuthin'

2010-10-27T10:49:00.002-04:00

Every now and then it's fun to just post something that's got nuthin' to do with nuthin'! Today is one of those days!

Love,
Titi and Radar

Clouds and scribbles

2010-10-24T16:51:00.006-04:00

Over the past month, Radar has taken on a new love of drawing with Crayons (replacing his previous love of eating Crayons). At some point every day he comes to me with his fingers in a Crayon-grip pose and he waves his hand back and forth in a scribble motion while he says "bu, bu, bu" (ie, "dibujar" ie, "draw").

A month ago his art pretty much all looked like this...

...but over the past week he's adopted a new technique where he makes more defined scribbles with just one or two Crayons before moving onto the next page.

Now, maybe to your novice eyes you just see more scribbles like above...

...but with the keen eye of a proud mother, I'm seeing some pretty incredible genius popping up from the pages like someone sees images in the clouds...

I don't know - what do you think?

And speaking of the full moon and reading the clouds, too bad that the full moon was last night and not a week from now... it would have made a great Halloween Night!!!!!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar

Beautiful

2010-10-19T18:38:00.005-04:00

I have been remiss and have not given proper credit where credit is due. In this post I had put forward a challenge to name the cast of characters starring in the Monster Mash Jib Jab video... mind you, it was really just a challenge for family since no one else could possibly know the different players... and for family it shouldn't have been any kind of challenge at all since we all know each other really well and no werewolf outfit or bride of Frankenstein wig would be able to fool any of us!

With that said, let me shout out a big congratulatory

to Marco who guessed the line-up correctly!

And now let me shout out an even bigger defamatory

to the Science Pundit who didn't recognize his own sister...

... and the biggest

of them all for Tia Sara who didn't recognize her own grandson!

Ok - enough of that. This post is titled beautiful, so let's get back to that. I named it that and started writing this post just as Radar was finishing up dinner this evening. I had my camera in hand and as I walked past his high chair he looked so serious... so I stuck out my tongue. He smirked at that, so I made googly eyes and burping noises. And that sent him into a mouth- filled-with-food giggle attack!!! Naturally I snapped a picture of each stage and when I scrolled through the pictures, that's the word that struck me.

He is beautiful!

If ever my whining about the challenges of living with a toddler leads you to doubt it, let me reassure you that I am overcome with what I feel for my son. I stare at him when he's awake and especially when he's asleep... every day... every night. I am overjoyed with his joy, I am in love with his blooming personality and I am totally overcome by how beautiful he is. So I named this post "Beautiful" before the sun set tonight.

And as I was typing the first couple of lines of this post, the room filled with pink light. I looked out the window and the setting sun was painting the sky and our whole world in pink and yellow. So I grabbed the camera and Radar and I and Fanny all ran outside.

Turns out that "Beautiful" was indeed a good word for today!

Lots of love,

Titi and Radar