First Day of School

leaving home

discovering the kitchen with "nene" in tow

Her cubbie

Somehow the day arrived. Mini is in Nursery School! Last night I put together her snacks, packed her extra clothes, printed pictures for her family collage and got mentally prepared for what was to come. This morning I woke up at 7:15, C at 7:45... we left the house at 8:15 with Papa, school supplies, daily supplies, and oh yes...our favorite 21 month old. She was READY to go! When we got to the school we walked up and she was immediately interested in where we were. We walked into her class and there were her teacher Ms. M and the assistant teachers Ms. R and Ms. N and about 6 other toddlers. She was greeted with a warm "Good morning Cecilia!" and she immediately looked up at me, hugged my leg and said, "Mama?" I told her that this was her classroom, these were her new friends and teachers. She then gave me another, "Mama?" and I picked her up, repeated, and introduced her to the teachers again. "Will speaking in Spanish make her feel more comfortable?" asked Ms. M..."yes"...so we sat on the floor and began to play, one of the other teachers immediately brought her a baby in a stroller and she ran with that heading over to the play kitchen. She handed me a spatula and before we knew it one of her classmates came over to see what we were up to. That was my cue (D it's time to go)...so I called her over for a kiss (which she gave me) and then D asked for the same with a hug (which she gave him), "Te vemos en la tarde amor, te amo" I told her, and she smiled giving me the "It's OK mom, I've got this!" ... but I didn't. I quickly had to leave the room, because I could feel them coming...the tears. My baby...my sweet girl didn't put up a fight, she welcomed the experience.

 All day I found myself wondering, "what's she doing?", "is she having fun?" , "is she eating well?", "is she napping?"... at 5:30pm, I picked her up... she was sitting quietly with the other after care kids singing songs ...and then I saw her "daily report"... Mini was right, she's got this!

Golden Slumbers

Recently C has started singing along to a few songs we sing. For example...London Bridge (what she sings will be in bold)

London Bridge is falling down
Falling down
Falling down

or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...she sings...

Twinkle twinkle little agua
ow I wonda where you agua
uppa uppa wor high
....diamon sky


Tonight was the coolest one...I have four songs I sing to her to go to sleep, and I normally sing them in the same order...
1. I Will, The Beatles
2. Goodnight, The Beatles
3. Nothing Comes from Nothing, Sound of Music
4. Golden Slumbers, The Beatles

well...tonight I skipped #3 and went to #4 (which we don't sing every night at all)...and let me tell you I almost cried when this happened...

Golden slumbers fill your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise
Sleep little darling do not cry
and I will sing a lullaby

It was amazing. I could tell she really likes the song. That's my girl. Ceci, 21 months and 6 days away from Nido 1.

Hair Baby, Hair Mama, Everywhere Daddy Daddy Hair!

After nearly 2 years of "should've, would've, could've" this past Saturday, we finally did it. C got a haircut. When she was a teeny tiny wee one, I considered shaving her hair off (like mine was a number of times as a baby)...but I didn't do it. Then those curls can in, and they kept me from cutting her hair....but I'm the first to say I like little girls with short hair. So practice what you preach went into effect and C got a trim. Here is the during and after. Not sure how I feel about the bangs...but at the end of the day, it's hair and it will grow!

July in Miami: C at 20 months

July was an incredibly fun and jam packed month for us! Sure it was hot, but we found lots of ways to beat the heat and humidity of Miami. IN her 20th month, C continues to show us she can pretend play and spend lots of time feeding her babies, she also is thrilled to have her "primas" just 5 short blocks away. July also marked her last full month with "Tia Raquel" as in August she will begin Nido 1! She sings, she dances, she likes lemonade, broccoli, yogurt and still favors daddy's eggs on weekend mornings and his mac n' cheese is the best thing in the world. She also remembers so much...we'll drive or walk by something and she will point out either who lives there or what she does there. She also went up a foot size and is comfortably wearing 2T...our baby girl is just 4 months away from her 2nd birthday! 

Enjoying potato sticks at St. P

Don making his famous hot dogs for coffee hour after church on July 4th weekend

coordinating outfits at our friends the Knights 4th of July BBQ

Dressed up for Olivia's 6th birthday sock hop!

Sock Hop ready!

Hard to believe Oli is 6!

Los Slesnick

Enjoying a pony ride at her friend Alessandra's 1st birthday party!

Bastille Day dinner with family and friends! An annual tradition! every July 14th.

"Merisa y Miles"

Our first time at the beach beach with our primos Palazio

toes in the Key Biscayne sand

A hug for her primo Mateo (6 months her senior)

C feet

Play time with our friend Dan-o-mite!

Splish splash fun with our friend Peyton

Dinner, bath and a movie with prima Julia

playing a duet after church with Dale (3 weeks her senior)

cooling off in her new splashy pool

Getting in the Olympic spirit for opening ceremonies and running with our torch .

London Olympics opening ceremonies watching party

We hope you had a great month, we hope your summer is memorable so far and most of all we hope the month of August is fantastic!

XOXO