Two year check up

Yesterday we took Elisa to her belated two year check up in Manhattan, and I'm happy to report all is well. She measured an incredible 39 1/4 inches tall and weighs 31 1/2 lbs. now. No wonder she's wearing all 3Ts! This kid keeps amazing me with her physical development, whether it's the jumping or the dancing or just the fact that she's walking blocks now. She's a real preschooler and I'm so happy to see her thriving. There was a questionnaire to fill out in the waiting room asking all kinds of things. Did we have any concerns with her speech or movements or lack of understanding? Well, no. Not really. We joked that of course compliance is another thing all together, but we're pretty sure that Elisa understands us these days. And she's definitely putting words together and making herself understood with more and more clarity. It's all just as the books predict, but still so cool to watch. The practice is near Madison Square Park so we used this as an excuse (like we need it) to visit the Shake Shack afterwards and grab an early lunch. Elisa nibbled on my burger and ate almost an entire order of fries while chasing the sparrows out from under our table. Nacho asked if I thought we could do this with two in tow, and I gulped a little harder, but said yes. I think so.

It feels like the decision to try for another baby at this point is well timed. If for no other reason than dealing with Elisa is getting easier. It's still challenging at times, but there's definitely an ease to our days and nights that wasn't always apparent early on. So for now we're making the most of our time with just her, and looking forward to whatever happens next. She's such a little person with so many simple requests and who delights in the smallest gestures. Today I remembered to buy rice cakes at the store and her face just lit up when she saw them. How easy was that? And last night while we ate out with a friend visiting from out of town, Elisa kept herself busy trying to use her kids chopsticks and ate more rice than I've ever seen her eat. It's these little discoveries that I find so amazing lately. When she cried "roto! roto!" today at her baby stroller, I had to laugh because she now knows the Spanish for broken. Where did she learn that? And she implored me to try the "otro" shoe this morning because she didn't want to start with the left one. Whatever, weirdo. But my favorite new expression is what Papa whispers in her ear. "Te quiero mucho." She may not know what she's repeating, but it still does a mama's heart good to hear it.

EDITED TO ADD: Okay, today I measured this girl myself and I'd be hard pressed to say she's much over 37 inches. I mean still that's pretty tall for her age, but the 39 in. yesterday really threw me off. So for now, we're going with my tape measure and we'll let the doctor keep on believin'.

NY Hall of Science

As the fall season officially begins, I've made a little pledge with myself to try out a few of the museums and attractions that we've been hearing about for a while. So when we woke up to yet another rainy day, I thought maybe a little trip into Corona, Queens was in order. The NY Hall of Science is there just next to the Queens Zoo and the neighborhood has lots of great Mexican eateries. So first up, the museum...

Elisa enjoyed the preschool area, especially the market place where she could unload the basket and then crank the produce off the conveyor belt. She did this about 10 times before we redirected her to the kitchen area. You can only watch the food fall on the floor and laugh uncontrollably so many times.

Nacho took a turn showing Elisa some of the great toys in the play area.

This photo turned out just about as well as it looked--freakish! I love that Elisa's head has disappeared. Spooky.

This projection wall thingy was fun. Elisa was all about the dancing and not so much into the shadows. But we got her to stop for a minute and look.

The giant bubble table was fun except that it was nearly impossible to get the bubbles off the wands. Oh well. Elisa ended up "washing" her hands in the table which was about as much fun as the bubble making.

And finally...the food at Tulcingo Restaurant was amazing. So cheap and delicious that I think we'll be heading back there for another round really soon. Our lunch included a spicy chili verde soup with beef, the above-pictured cemita al pastor (my fave), a carnitas taco, and a tostada with carne asada. I tried the horchata which was creamy and so good at calming down the spice, while Nacho had a strawberry shake. The total for all this was $23. Seriously. A great deal which left me with just enough cash to run across the street and try their bakery. We picked up three pastries for $2.25! I love this place. And considering that the waitress brought Elisa some free guac because she couldn't eat the spicy salsa, I think she liked it too. The kid likes her guacamole. So yeah, the museum was a fun day, but for sure we'll be back to Tulcingo soon.

Havin' a good time at the fair

On Sunday we woke up without much of a plan. After a lazy Saturday, I was itching to get out of the house, but didn't know what sounded good. There were a few ideas floating around in my head, but nothing grabbed me until I remembered hearing about a local fair in Queens. A few minutes looking it up online and I had the event info and directions. It wasn't too far, so we could make it before Elisa's mid-day nap. Perfect. We scrambled to get dressed and out the door with snacks and away we drove towards the Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park. The parking was free which is always a good sign and the adult tickets were $7 each which seemed pretty reasonable. Even my cheapskate husband was pleased. Of course, I wasn't sure what to expect of the venue since it's been a good 25 years since I've been to a state fair of any kind. But the place looked big and had lots of animals on exhibit so I figured we could entertain Elisa for a couple of hours at least.

After making our way through the pens and pens of animals (cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, etc). where Elisa got up close and personal with the farm sights and smells, we ventured over to the Bavarian Oktoberfest Pavilion where "BEER" was advertised in big, bold letters. Now we were on to something. We grabbed a few cold ones and some wurst mit sauerkraut and apple strudel and settled in to watch the old time polka band play. Elisa and a few other kids were starting to dance and jump around and it was so nice and relaxing to watch. She danced and danced and danced some more for over an hour. Without stopping. She was all over the floor, laughing, shrieking, chasing her new best friend on the dance floor and having a great time. And I was pinching myself that outings like this exist--that Nacho and I got to sit and eat and have a drink while Elisa played and occupied herself without any crazy tantrums or constant oversight. We even ran into our friends Monica and Humphrey with their son Bix who also enjoyed some dancey dance time. It was shaping up to be a pretty awesome day and then I saw the funnel cakes. Now this is what a fair is all about. I'm pretty sure that Elisa agreed since she dug right into the hot little morsels, saying "mas, mas!" She stayed awake for another hour or so as we toured the rest of the farm and exhibits, but by the time we hit the car around 2 p.m., she was done. Within minutes, she was fast asleep and she surprisingly stayed down another 2 hours once we made it home. I got a nap. Nacho got to watch an entire Spanish futbol match in peace. It was a perfect ending to a very enjoyable day.

And in case you want to see what a whole lotta energy looks like, here's some footage of the dancing. Oh yeah.

The wheels on the bus...

Nacho made it home today after a long 4 day trip so we decided to take off in the early evening and head into Manhattan for a little strolling around. There are two convenient bus lines that run from our neighborhood--about a block away--straight into the city. It only takes about 15 minutes and you're steps from Central Park, Madison and Fifth Avenues and all the shopping you can stand. We had planned to hit the park, but the lure of Crate & Barrel pulled us in and then it was all about retail therapy. Elisa does pretty good on these little adventures but having snacks and letting her up periodically to walk and dance around helps a lot. In one store she was jamming to the music while looking at herself in the mirror trying on a hat. Even though the purchases today were all Papa's, she was definitely in the groove.

Elisa, Elisa, Elisa Tortajada...

We've been singing a little song to Elisa since she was a baby. Today she sang it back to me. I couldn't get enough.

Personality Plus

Sometimes more than being a member of a neighborhood moms group, I feel I am a member of a big family. Within the Sunnymoms, I am a part of a playgroup that has a good two dozen members, all with kids born in the summer and fall of 2008. It's a wonderful bunch of women and they have been my support through so much of this motherhood stuff. I still remember my first meetup with them when the kids were all about 4-5 months old and how we all sat on the floor and on couches and chairs holding and cajoling the babies on our laps. And in some way, those little faces are still frozen in my mind which is why it's incredible to look around and recognize the little boys and girls they've become.

The cooing and crying have been (mostly) replaced with giggles and shrieks. And oh, the shrieks! Elisa was running and chasing Juliet today, up the steps and down the slide and around again. Then there was a pile up with Maya at the bottom of the slide. And a big hug from Bix. Ah, such fun. The sandbox is now home to all sorts of adventures and their imaginations are keen to invent stories and games for the sharing. A game of catch turns into a silly roll in the sand where gibberish is the only language spoken. It's truly heartwarming to watch. These little personalities are bursting out and I'm so thrilled to be with friends to watch.

Papa Nacho

Leave it to Elisa to call Papa by his first name. Yes, "Papa" is now more often "Nacho" or sometimes "Papa Nacho" if she's feeling especially excited. This started creeping in during our vacation when there were many more family members around calling Nacho by his first name. Since Elisa seems to be imitating everything these days, it didn't take long before she was calling out "Naaaacho" instead of "Papa." We've told her repeatedly that Papa's name is "Nacho" but she should call him "Papa." Just like "Mama" is "Ann." Then she will repeat my name and go right back to using "Mama" while we've not been so successful with switching off of "Nacho." Something about that name, huh?

But luckily, Nacho is taking this all in stride and doesn't seem to be too perturbed. I think some of this started because she would be calling him "Papa" and didn't get an immediate answer from him for whatever crazy thing she wanted to tell him or show him. So like kids do, she switched tactics and started sounding more like the adults he listens to, calling him "Nacho." That usually got some attention which is why we are having this silly problem to contend with. On a further note, she has started to repeat her last name "Tortajada" which is an even bigger mouthful. It's funny how she just latched onto that recently and seems to say it at the most random of times. Ah, this kid...

After the storm...

Last night New York City had what most Midwesterners take for granted: a tornado. Yes, the sky looked dark and maybe a slight greenish hue. And there was a nice line of rain heading into the city, but Nacho and I didn't think much of it. We ventured out with Elisa around 5 p.m. to collect our weekly CSA share from the community center and then to drop into the pharmacy about 10 blocks away. A nice stroll. And it was. We got to the pharmacy just before the rain started and by the time I got my flu shot, the rain and lightning was over and the winds were calming down. We headed home at a leisurely pace only to see all the subway trains stopped along the 7 line and tons of people pouring out and waiting for buses that were already crammed full. It was one of those nights you are glad to be close to home and with the people you love.

After dinner, we decided that we should try to take advantage of Nacho's Friday off during these last few weeks of sun and warmth and head to a beach in nearby Long Island. So this morning we were off to Robert Moses State Park which takes about an hour to reach. It was an easy drive in the light of day and the only signs of last night's storm were the many downed trees and broken branches along the highway. The causeway to the island was a really beautiful drive and the waves were crashing nicely by the time we pulled up. Elisa got very excited to see the ocean and then promptly fell face first in the shallow water which put a bit of a damper on her mood. So unfortunately, it wasn't a long beach visit. But we did hang around the paved area and have a snack while the seagulls circled. And she loved the boardwalk enough to walk it both ways. All was going so well until it wasn't. Elisa took a nasty tumble just before we made it back to the car and so dramatic were the tears that I thought we would never hear the end of it. Not to say I didn't feel bad or wish I could wipe the pain away, but the kid was totally, completely milking it. Like really. This continued on and off during the car ride to lunch, during lunch and for a good while after we made it to the outlet mall on our way home. I think partly, she was reminded by looking at it, but also there was a funny way she would hold her leg and later tip toe around. Finally, we got her walking normally and once she started playing, you could tell that she wasn't badly injured. But my God, the wailing that she produced was Academy worthy. After some much needed retail therapy, I'm happy to say we are home again tonight. Fixing dinner, tucking Elisa into bed, and kissing the boo boos of the day. The calm after the storm wasn't entirely uneventful after all.

So many words...

September 2009:

September 2010:

So many things are different when you compare our lives to last fall. The walking and gentle babbling that were only then taking off are both now at a full speed gallop. Elisa is speaking in small phrases now which makes me smile so much. When we are playing catch, if she misses throwing it well, she will say "sorry, I don't know" as she walks around retrieving the ball. And when she gets frustrated with something, it's usually followed by "I can't do it, mama" accompanied by a big grunt. She is singing and doing her own little hand signals when no one is watching. It's the little stuff like that which makes her seem so much bigger these days. Of course, she has also fallen in love with the word "stop" which makes me laugh. Do you want some banana, Elisa? "No, banana. STOP!" This is often in addition to starting sentences with "no." As in, "no, sleepy." Meaning, I'm not going to bed without a fight. Or "no, sit, mama." Meaning, please keep sitting and playing with me. And in a sign that might just give me hope for the future, the tantrums have become remarkably more subdued of late. There's plenty of wailing and flailing, but it's much less dramatic and usually Elisa will opt to lie down on her stomach and hide her face. She doesn't flip and thrash as much and the kicking and hitting me have eased up. So I'll take it. For now.

Catching up

Between Elisa's tummy troubles this weekend, my struggle to get anything productive done and the departure of our Spanish guests, this has been a very blah time. I'm hoping that after a good 48 hours of rest and relaxation, we'll be back on track. Already after a good nap this afternoon (mine!), I feel better. Groggy, but better. Elisa too has been sleeping better and getting back to some of her normal routines. She's waking up usually around 6am and then staying down until 7ish with a bit of milk. Bedtime has also gotten back to a more consistent 8-8:30pm. And the baths are getting easier, thank God! I guess it's only been two weeks since we got back from Spain, made our dash to NC and back, so I shouldn't really discount how tired that made us all. When you are in the middle of all that activity, it's easier to stay in a trance and just go, go, go. We managed to trek all over Manhattan with Abuela and Diego, and get some last minute shopping done despite Elisa's sickness and my general malaise. The one wrong turn was mistakenly hitting SoHo last Friday during Fashion's Night Out--silly me, I thought it would be less crowded on a Friday evening. Oh, well. But thank goodness for cooler weather and the possibility of doing nothing tomorrow. Aw, sweet nothing. Now who's ready for bed?

Making the most of it

Like most couples who live far from their parents, both Nacho and I really enjoy spending time with them and sharing Elisa every chance we get. For me, it's probably one of the biggest things to change since having a baby--that sense of fulfillment that comes from seeing your parents with your child. And while I don't get to do it as often with my mother-in-law Mercedes, I feel like the times we have spent together with Elisa have been very intense and enriching. She is a natural with kids of all ages. Having worked for years in a daycare in Madrid, Mercedes doesn't seem fazed by anything Elisa throws at her. Tantrums? Seen 'em. Doesn't want to eat? Okay, fine. It's a kind of wisdom that comes only from facing the gauntlet and it inspires a certain calm that everything with this girl is going to be okay.

So it was a great help to have her around this summer as we experience the highs and lows of toddlerdom. Elisa can still be finicky when it comes to letting Abuela do things for her if I'm around (i.e. taking the bottle back, putting her in the swing), but in general the two get on pretty well. And although Abuela has a bit of trouble understanding some of Elisa's requests, there is a definite twinkle in her eye that I think Elisa may have inherited. After a rough start this morning, Elisa spent most of the day laying low around the house. But when it came time for bed tonight, she was more than ready. As she turned off the TV (yes, willingly!!) and started to leave the living room, I asked Elisa to go give Abuela a kiss goodnight. And what do you know, she did! It was a beautiful moment seeing that unexpected embrace. And from the look on her face, I'd say Abuela was glad she didn't miss it.

Da Bronx!

You know it's been a while since you've blogged when the 9 year old staying with you says it's been like two WHOLE weeks since I've written. Okay, it hasn't been that long, but we've been busy. Between outings with the Spanish visitors, running a few errands, hitting the parks, seeing a few friends here and there, catching up on laundry and grocery buying and a very impressive meal out alone with my husband, it's been a full week. Now I'm actually feeling a bit more rested and the weather turning cooler has helped a ton. God, I love the fall. Jeans AND sweaters? I can't wait. In that spirit, we ventured to the Bronx Zoo yesterday for the first time ever and I have to say it was well worth the wait. Now that Elisa is just a bit older, I feel like she has the stamina for such an all day adventure. We weren't trying to get out of the house super early, but we aimed for around 10am and made it to the zoo by car within about 30 minutes. The sky was just a bit overcast and the wind cool so luckily we all had our jackets and long sleeves to keep us warm until that afternoon sun poked through. What a day...

There was a lot of running. As we like to say, Elisa does not walk. She runs. You turn that kid loose and it's off she goes.

The tigers might have slowed her down, but at that point, she was sleepy and didn't really care. They were so cute rubbing their noses together.

Can you tell she has the patience of a saint? Yes, Abuela is the perfect compliment to Diego's 9 year old precociousness.

The ibex (what's the plural of that??) were Elisa's favorite animals. She LOVED them. She loved that they were headbutting each other and seemed to frolic as much as she does. We loved how much she laughed and whirled and imitated them, saying they were wearing "hats." Right. Horns, but to her they were hats, so I guess she knows something we don't. Do they take them off inside? ;)

The zoo was much bigger than I'd imagined and pretty well laid out. We opted for just the general admission and not all the bells and whistles, and it was still a lot to do. I especially enjoyed that there were some great viewing areas for little kids. We didn't even make it to the extra Children's Zoo because Elisa was napping, but still she had plenty of places to stand and see the animals. And right now she is all about doing things on her own. So it was nice that she could grab the railings and be just like the big kids. For some reason, I remember her being way too small to do this at the Queen's Zoo. But in da Bronx, she was acting very grown up. And we had a great day.

Go, Go, Diego!

So far our New York outings with cousin Diego have been way more successful than our ill-fated trip to North Carolina earlier in the week. We've hit Central Park twice, Times Square, Bryant Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, City Hall, Ground Zero and the remaining World Trade Centers, Battery Park City, Riverside Park, the Upper West Side and a bit of Sunnyside as well. It's a lot for a 9 year old to take in, but I think Diego is up to the challenge. He loves taking photos, and he keeps Elisa entertained quite well. I have Abuela to thank for a lot of extra help as well, but mostly, we've been able weave the days together around lots of kid-friendly sites and some pit stops for food and exercise. Having Nacho around today (and through Thursday, thank God) means we can break apart into groups now if need be. Being the tour guide and Elisa's momma can sometimes be a bit much to handle, but for three days it wasn't too bad. She's complied with mostly hour long naps in the stroller, and except for a 5 minute screaming spree yesterday, hasn't been too crazy out and about all day. And really, when family comes to town, you just have to bend the rules for a bit. You wanna get down while we eat lunch? Sure. Another sucker? Why not. Kind of like our journey to Spain this summer, I think the ability to stay mentally limber and adapt is the hardest part of parenting. But I'm getting a lot of practice. And after this visit, I think I can say I have done it all in Spanish. For as much as we want Diego to learn English, it's true that Spanish is the first language of our household right now. Which means that just like our friend Dora, we have a cousin Diego to whom Elisa can say "Vamonos!" And believe me, she does.

A lot of fuss...

So as most of my loyal readers know (hi mom, hi Stace!) we had to evacuate our beach house this week because of the approaching hurricane named Earl. It was a bit of a let down because we were planning to be in NC until Sunday but had to fly home early Thursday instead. Of course, after the return from Spain, the flying there and then barely catching up on sleep, I was kind of in zombie mode anyway. So I suppose it was the enforced return home that I needed. I slept like a log last night and Elisa did too. Unfortunately, what we didn't get was one more night with our family, especially my sister and her husband and kids who are moving to California as we speak. I know already that visiting NC in the future won't be the same. Elisa without her "Mimi" and "Jodo" will not be a happy girl.

But hopefully we can check out their new digs later this fall. California is only a 5-6 hour plane ride away, right? :) I think what I felt most this week is that there are times you just have to go and be where you are needed. And even though my mom had only been out of the hospital (another story for another day) a few days by the time we got there, I just felt like we were so lucky to be all together. It was hectic, but it was so, so worth it. Getting chased away by Earl was yet another adventure and it all went pretty smoothly catching our flight back to NYC. Fortunately, there were only mild winds and very little rain, but the mandatory evacuation made sure we weren't there to see it. Now resting up here and keeping our Spanish guests busy (abuela and cousin Diego are in town) is plenty for us for now. So goodbye to summer and to the beach and to our family who will be missed. It was quite a ride and I'm glad we took it!