¿que dice?

"¿Que dice el perro? Bow wow wow."

"¿Que dice el pato? Quack quack quack."

"¿Que dicen los pollitos? Pío pío pío."

"¿Que dice el elefante?" Hmmm... I have no idea how to make an elephant noise. "Muah ha ha ha ha."

And that's how parents screw up their children.

Sucker!!!

So. Yes. It's true. She likes to suck on her toes and occasionally the entire front part of her foot. It's one of those "Seriously, this is MY child?!" kind of moments for me. I don't love feet. I just don't. At the same time, her foot in her mouth is, like everything she does, one of those extraordinarily cute things that you can't imagine are cute before the kid comes then all of a sudden, you're a mom and the only thing you REALLY want to talk about is how cute your baby is.

One day my mom was talking about how cute it was when my brother would put his feet in his mouth. So during Animalia's diaper changes, she'd encourage the foot toward mouth thing. Funny thing is, when she was telling the story about my brother, I was assuming it was when he was an infant. And then my mom says something like "yeah, that was when he was 4 or 5." Sorry, Tío. I had to tell.

One of those moments

A couple of weeks ago my uncle stopped by my parents house. I was there with the Animalia and she'd fallen asleep in the uncomfortable looking way that she does, nestled against my chest. I was leaning back a little but really I was as contorted as she was but still comfortable. My uncle told me that I looked uncomfortable and asked if my back hurt. I was fine but before I could respond, my dad said, "She's fine. Moms have strong backs."

It made me a little teary. That I was a mom. That my dad made mention of my strength. That my dad was a grandfather. It felt like the most incredible compliment.

Holy, holy

So the Animalia is now a bonafide Catholic girl. Yay!

I actually didn't think it would be so exciting, but it was. We were running around like crazy the morning of: getting ready, making food, throwing the last few things in closets. Chairs and tables were borrowed, the cake was picked up. I spent late afternoon with my dress unzipped, just in case she had to eat again. Lots of craziness, like Jimmy going to get PC who ended up being dropped off by his latest um... "girlfriend." He made it back, they went to buy a ridiculous amount of beer. PC wore a cowboy suit. Nice. Boymagnet was lovely in a dress with a plunging neckline and one of my black cardigans. I wore a red sweater over a dress that was cut up to here on the sides. I actually didn't realize that part til it was a little too late to change but black tights made it not so obvious. Animalia was excited too. When boymagnet and I were putting her into her outfit (slip, lovely gown and matching bib to catch her ever present drool, socks with embroidered crosses, nurse shoes) she laughed and laughed. She wore a cross and chain from boymagnet and a bracelet from the tías grandes.

We got to the church ok and just a little later than we'd wanted to. Another baby was being baptized at the same time. Her parents were tall. TALL. Her mother was so tall, as tall as Jimmy I think, and her father was tall too, but not tall enough not to seem short next to the mother. Priest ran down the ceremony for us. Mass started. The whole ritual was really touching. We stated her name. We asked for her to be baptized. We crossed her tiny forhead with our thumbs. She stared. More mass. Then came the water pouring over her head and the oil. I thought she'd panic but she was fine. The priest said something like "I wish you could all see this baby's face." I was proud and the Animalia just stared some more. PC lit a candle. More mass. Then at the end of mass we took her to the front of the church and the priest introduced the "two newest Catholics in the world." Mass over. I have to admit a part of me did it more for tradition's sake than for the spirituality of it all but it all turned out to be very touching.

Then the party. About 70 people showed up. We had barbacoa, courtesy of an aunt, beans (mine), pasta salad (mine), guacamole (my dad), tortillas, salsa (one of my godmothers) and lots of other munchies. The cake from Le Caves was, as usual, the best cake ever. There were presents. I honestly expected a couple of religious things but mostly she got clothes and a few pairs of shoes. Her closet is full. Also, she now needs a jewelry box. In addition to the previously mentioned necklace and bracelet, she is now the proud owner of a teeny tiny diamond ring from one of Jimmy's aunts. Crazy.

The last guests left around 12:30am. Not too shabby for a party that started a full six hours before, not including mass. The Animalia was fast asleep. She was so exhausted.

I wish she knew how to give a teeny tiny high five because I have to give her loads of credit. She was just SO GOOD all day. She fussed a little in the evening but it was really nothing. She was nice and cute like she knew it was her day. Or like my mom says, "They baptized the devil out of her."

And now...

She's scared of people walking toward her and Oprah.

The nana and big potato took her for a walk yesterday and everytime someone was walking toward her stroller she'd do her crying thing.

Today, my mom was watching Oprah and everytime my dad walked her into the room she'd crane her head toward the TV and cry.

Note: she's not allowed to actually watch TV.

Teeny people

Yesterday my cousin's little boy's (yes, that makes him my cousin) daycare was closed and he stayed with my mom. Animalia and I went over to visit. She was so interested in him. Everything he did, everytime he talked, she'd just stare and stare. She hardly chatted at all, just stared. And he was so helpful. She'd fuss and he'd go get one of her toys or her pacifier. He decided that she's a very cute baby.


Between the staring and her "stranger danger" sense, I wonder if she's not too sheltered. We have a huge family but she doesn't see everyone all the time. The only people she sees regularly are my parents and us-- me and Jimmy. She's fascinated by teeny people. Anytime she sees little kids she just stops doing whatever she's doing and stares. And anytime (lately) she's in the arms of an adult besides the four she knows she frowns, pauses, and then lets out a heartbreaking wail. I know she'll get over it but it's disconcerting sometimes, especially since there are so many people who are interested in her. As my aunt frequently says, "[Animalia] has brought so much joy to so many people." She can't keep bringing joy if she won't stop crying though. Poor baby.

Reassurance

I know I've written about the Animalia getting happy to see me during my lunch breaks but she's added a new thing to her excitement in the last few days. After she sees me and giggles and wiggles and stretches out her arms, after I have her in my arms, she touches both of my cheeks. It's almost as if she's checking to see that I'm really there.

Today, she's with her Da all day while I'm at work. She's driving him nuts and crying and crying. I don't think she's had a nap all day either. Can't wait to get home and get my face touched.

In other news:
We're getting the house ready for her first party. She's been to a few celebrations, but this one is all her own. It's in honor of her baptism. We're expecting 60 people or so. Exciting. Let's hope her new sense of stranger danger isn't completely overwhelmed.