Piano Lessons

When you leave The Phi alone with a keyboard and she finds the tempo music this is bound to happen....

Waves

Lou is starting to learn stuff! No longer is she a little blob of cuteness. Now she is babbling and trying to figure out how to crawl. Of course she is just as cute as ever. And since she is not even close to being coordinated enough to throw the rock hands, I am trying to teach her how to wave hello. You know got to teach them how to be polite early. If there is one thing I want my kids to be (for the record there are a lot of things I want my kids to be) it's polite. Manners are super important.

Whoa I was getting a bit sidetracked there. Back to waving. When Joey saw how I was teaching Lou how to wave he laughed at me. Not at my technique, but how I was waving. See I was going with the standard open and close wave. Let me let The Phi demonstrate for you......



Joey laughed at this wave and I told him that I had considered a few other options. For example, there was the super eager excited wave (we call this the Randall)....



There is the big wide one swipe kind of wave....



Of course I even considered the cool ass Chicano head tilt....



And the infamous Princess/Beauty Queen wave....



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(Please a round of applause for my lovely assistant The Phi. Thanks Dude)

So what do you think? Since Joey and I are not in agreement we leave it to you inter-web. Which wave should we be teaching Lou?

Pathetic?

We had an incredibly warm and beautiful day. The kids had been stuck in the house for a few days so we headed to a local park. It was a Monday holiday so the park was filled with families. One family had a baby about a year old or so. They had him in this contraption that looked like a bouncer with straps. I had never seen anything like it before, but I thought it was a great invention. As I sat on a bench there was a Mom and Dad at the table next to me. I overheard her tell him "Did you see that baby in the walking thing. Pathetic. If your baby isn't ready to walk don't force them." Not ready to walk? The baby was at the stage where all he wants to do it try to walk. I remember months of my back hurting from holding The Phi's hands while she took little wobbly steps. Don't babies need to LEARN how to walk. This invention would have saved my back. I wondered what these parents did. Did they just let their kids sit there until the kid stood up and walked on their own? Then a few minutes later their son rode by on a bike with training wheels. He waved to his parent and they waved to him. Once he was gone the Mom says to the Dad "Finally it took that wimp forever to even get on a bike.". So maybe they didn't lovingly walk their baby around so I guess an invention like this would be pathetic to someone like that.

How her mind works.

It is always so interesting to Joey and I how The Phi's mind works. Some of the craziest things come out of that kid's mouth.

While in Santa Barbara recently my parents and I were talking about the artist Carmen Lomas Garza. I brought up a few of her art pieces to show The Phi. I showed her this one here called "Cake Walk" She looked it over and after awhile she asks me.."Mom are those people like us?" I was taken aback and I asked her "what do you mean like us?" And she said "you know Mom like me and you." So I said "Do you mean Mexican?" and she said "yes!". My mind thought, she recognized skin color and part of me was a bit sad about that. So I asked her how she knew that the people in the picture were Mexican. She matter-of-factly stated "Because of the shape of the  houses and the pretty dresses."

 I recently had my Pops burn me a copy of a Los Lobos cd. They have always been one of my favorite bands and we have been listening to it in the car. Talking about Los Lobos lead to talking about La Bamba which lead to talking about Ritchie Valens. I gave The Phi a quick run down of Richie Valens and she became obsessed. She would ask me everyday. "Mom can you tell me about Ricky again?" I told her the story about 4 times when I told her, "You know they made a movie about him."  So it was set, the following weekend we had a movie night and one of the flicks was La Bamba. We watched it, we danced, we sang, we both yelled "RITCHIE" like Easi Morales does. After the movie was over I asked The Phi what she thought. She said she really liked it, she loved the music but she was disappointed that they didn't show the plane crash. I thought watching the movie would satisfy her obsession with Ritchie Valens, but as I put her to bed that night she said "Mom will you tell me the story about Ritchie Valens tomorrow?"

We have a Netflix membership, and it is set up that we get one cd and The Phi gets one cd. She usually watches the dvd in the car on long trips. For the last few weeks she has been watching The Princess and the Frog. She had probably seen it about 5 times when she said "Mom there is something I don't understand about this movie." I asked her what was confusing. She then began to tell me that at the beginning Tiana is a little girl and she goes to bed. Then when the sun comes up she is all "growned-up". The Phi couldn't understand how it happened. Joey and I then tried to explain time-lapse to a 5 year old. We tried several different approaches and at the end I am still not sure if she understood.

Watching The Phi grow up and learn is such an amazing thing. And to have Lou in the house at only 7 months old and not being able feed herself or even speak, it is a reminder of just how far The Phi has come in just 5 years. I love standing back and watching her figure out the world around her.

Project 365-2010 December

Project 365-2010 December from Elissa Lerma on Vimeo.



*music: Count on Me-Bruno Mars

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Project 365-2010 November

*music: Raise your Glass-Pink


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2

We celebrated Baby Eli's (we know he's not a baby anymore but the nickname has stuck around here) 2nd birthday at his Kermit the Frog themed Pizza Party! My BFF Sam searched high and low for Kermit decorations. Thanks to the power of ebay she found some! And not just any old decorations, but vintage ones from the 80's! Very cool and very retro.

 

Lou with her Nani. She enjoyed her very first pizza party!

These 2 have been friends since they were about 4 years old. Oh how they have grown!

A very cute ice cream Muppets cake. I even got the piece with Animal's face!

Beautiful Boy

A new trike!

Happy Birthday Little Man. I am really loving watching you grow up. Next time we hang out we are watching The Muppet Movie together!

Kiss & Go

From what other parents tell me it never gets easier. The other day I was dropping off The Phi at school. We stopped in the drop-off car line and she hopped out. I put her backpack on her back, handed her her lunch box, buttoned her jacket, gave her a kiss and she was off. She gave me one last wave of her hand without even looking back and she skipped off with her pony tail bouncing wildly behind her. I got into the car and watched her go into the school and my eyes started tearing up. Even after 3 years of school drop offs, once in awhile it will hit me. This time it's not worry about how she will do in school, or if she will miss me too much. Now it's because she is so grown up and independent and because I will miss her too much.

I love my kids all the time, but there are moments like these that are overwhelming. When you are completely consumed with love for your child. Loving your kids is one of the true unconditional loves out there. I hope that these waves of love that sometimes crash over me will never end. I hope that The Phi will be 30 and I will see her do something or say something that will overwhelm me with love for her and bring tears to my eyes. Just like it did when she was 5 years old and skipping off to Kindergarten.

..you belong in the zoo...

We spent the last weekend in Santa Barbara. The Phi really wanted to hit up the zoo. See the last few times we have gone the river otters were not on display. They had just had babies and were taking some time off. Maternity leave I guess. Those otters must be union. Anyways we heard that the otters were back and The Phi really wanted to meet the new babies.

Of course they were adorable, but not as adorable as my babies.

The day was a blast. The Phi was so stoked to be at the zoo. She was excited about everything and let's face it. This kids excitement is damn contagious.

Showing Schmonkey the Monkeys

The Thinker

Phi and Schmonks and their family tree.

Took this one for my Pops. He calls us all his gorillas!

Okay, every single time I have been to the SB Zoo, and I have been many many times. I have never ever ever seen this animal. Ever. I am convinced it escaped like 15 years ago

Me and my #!

She was zooming to exhibits all day.

Ribbit

I think the birds were the only thing Lou looked at.

Lou starting at the fake animals.

Phi and giraffe

We had just read a book on Meerkats, so this guys was a favorite of the day.

A view from the Zoo

When I saw this pic I couldn't get over her hair color!

cardboard sledding

Phi in an egg

I love flamingos!

My favorite picture of the day.

Shots!

This year we opted for the girls to have flu shots. Since this was the first time for each of them they had to take the vaccine in 2 doses. Today Lou had to get the second shot.

My poor baby.

Tuesday Confessional: Big Time (c)Rush

This is my confession.....

For Christmas Santa gave The Phi the Big Time Rush CD. Who are Big Time Rush you ask? Well they are 4 guys who are on a Nickelodeon show about a boy band trying to make it in Hollywood. The show follows the standard boy band TV show formula. You know funny antics, with screaming girls chasing them around, with a song thrown in here and there. Of course the show lead to a concert tour and the release of a CD.

The Phi loves her some Big Time Rush. And I am here to confess to you all....So do I. That thing that tween girls have where they can fall head or heel for a boy band just never left me. I will always have a soft spot for boy bands. The young cute one mixed with the bad boy mixed with the heartthrob, with sometimes an ugly one thrown in. (sorry Danny Wood). The super sugary Pop music with repetitive beats and ridiculous lyrics. (oh oh oh she's my cover girl). I just can't get enough.

After dropping off The Phi at school I find my 33 year old self not only leaving the Big Time Rush CD on, but turning it up and singing along.

Caregiver

I just got an email from my Mom about a meeting her and her sister are having. My cousin Erika has volunteered to become the full-time caregiver for my Nana and Tata. The email immediately brought me to tears. Erika is a beautiful, bright young woman in the prime of her life. She has always been there for Nana and Tata, running everyday errands like grocery shopping, banking, and anything else they may need. Over the last 10 years my grandparents health has declined and knowing that Erika (as well as many other of my cousins and Tia's) were there checking in on them was comforting. Recently my Nana fell off a step stool. These little accidents are very scary now and letting them live alone was not going to be an option for much longer. Now thanks to Erika, something has been done. My Nana and Tata will have a full-time caregiver. Not some stranger, but their grand-daughter who loves them very much.

I sent my cousin a text message to tell her how thankful I was for her. See there are about 30+ of us grandkids. The eldest being 33 and the youngest 16. We all have our own lives and many of us our own little families. The grandkids that live near Nana and Tata do what they can to help them. I am part of the bunch who has moved away and can't help. Of course I am thankful for all my family who is there when I can't be. I live with a lot of guilt because my Nana and Tata are our "reason". The whole reason we are all here and I wish I could be there to take them to doctors appointments, cook them a meal or even visit more often.

Now my beautiful wonderful generous cousin Erika is going to give up her job to take care of Nana and Tata full-time. She is sacrificing to do what we all should be doing, but can't. This family is beyond blessed to have Erika. Her big heart and genuine kindness and beauty make her an amazing woman.

Erika, Darling, Like I said, I can't even find the words to thank you. To know that our Nana and Tata will be in your care puts my mind at ease. I love you more than you can imagine. I believe that good things happen to good people. You are one of the best and I know you will have a blessed life filled with love and happiness because you deserve nothing less. Your big cousin- Elissa

Lucky #7

 On New Years Day you turned 7 months old. Lucky #7. You are so darn cute it's sometimes just too much.

 You have also started with this separation anxiety from me. Even if I walk out of your sight you will cry until you can see me again. I am flattered and all, but really it's kind of tough. This time around I have to be Mom to you and to your sister. You both need me and there are times when you just have to wait. If it makes you feel better there are times when your sister and Daddy have to wait too.

 

You are starting to laugh here and there, but there is no doubt that your favorite person is your sister. When I pick you up out of bed in the morning the first thing your do is look over at your sisters bed to make sure she is there. When she looks over at you, you immediately smile. 

Everyday you are starting to learn to sit up better, or play with a new toy a little longer. You are eating like a champ and so far have enjoyed everything you have tried. Your favorite is banana yogurt.

 I have a feeling that you may not be as easy to raise as your sister has been. You have found your voice and by that I mean you scream. In fact you main form of communication is screaming. When I go to wipe your face or nose you scream. When I take something out of your hands you scream. I am really hoping that once you have a few words in your vocab the screaming will stop. Also I have already had to take out a plastic piece of toy packaging and a laptop cable from your mouth. These kinds of things never happened with your sister. I'm just saying.

I love you Louie. I love your face and everything about you. I love you when you are happy and I love you when you are crying/screaming.
-Momma 

Welcome 2011

I am no exception to the rule.I usually make resolutions, that I usually do not follow through on. Just like most people. It is like the start of a new school semester. They first day I am so hyped. I look over the syllabus and not only think"I am going to stay on top of this" but I think "I am going to be one week ahead because I am that awesome". Usually about a month in I am behind and skimming chapters 5 minutes before class. But at the beginning I have every intentions of being the model student. Just like at the beginning of every year. I have every intention of being the model "me".

So this year my resolutions are simple:

• start running. I have never ever been a runner. In fact I hate running. But I would really like to give it a try. At the least I need to get back to walking daily.
• cook more. We are the worst when it comes to eating fast food. Well Joey is the worst but we are pretty bad about it. It's just damn convenient. We need to get back to home cooked meals. Try to get Sophia to venture out a bit in the food department.
• read more. Now that Louella is a bit older and I get a few 5 minutes gaps here and there where she is entertaining herself I would like to start reading more. I got a Kindle for my birthday and I have yet to read a full book on it. I would love to get any book recommendations!
• take better care of Roo. Not that he's neglected but he could stand to have more baths and get his hair cut and even combed once in awhile.
• blog more deeply. This blog has become a photo album of the places we go, which is awesome. But I have moved away from the writing side of this. I want to get into deeper topics. 
• take more pictures. having a newborn put a cramp in my photography. Having a child who wants to be in Mom's arms 24/7 really has put a cramp in my photography. I need to pick up the camera more and get to really seeing the world around me. All the beautiful and ugly of the world around me. 

So that's about it. Realistic?