Month Seventeen

Sweetie-Pie-Boogie-Boo!

Okay, so I'm late, I know. But the day you turned seventeen months, we were getting on a plane to fly to Paraguay for your first international expedition! And I was thinking I'd have time to write your letter in the air, seeing as it was 18 hours of flying, but in the 24 hours it took us to get to your Tata Lina and Ebo's house, you slept all of 4 hours.

But you did fantastic. No crying. Not even very fussy, though you didn't seem to like to airline food and preferred cookies, milk, and dried fruit. But I can't blame you for that.

So Paraguay. Since I'm late, I may as well tell you, you had a great time. Your cousin Melissa is only a couple months older than you, and she was at the house almost every day to play. You guys had these sandals that squeaked every time you took a step, and when Papa and I were trying to nap during the 100 degree afternoon heat, you two would be running around the house squeak-squeak-sqeaksqeaksqueak ... for hours. Normally one of us had to sleep on the couch in the living room, because you were freaking out when we weren't in sight. And you only let people hold you if we were right next to them, or you were too tired to protest.

But you played coy with everyone, you'd run up and hand them something, then get shy and run back to hide behind my legs. Or you'd say "up" and hold you hands out, then wiggle away a second after they picked you up. And everyone was so impressed that you didn't cry much. You'd run around, trip and fall, then brush off your knees or your hands, and keep playing. Running into chairs, bumping your head on the tile floors, nothing made you cry, except when your hands and legs got covered in ants and they started biting you. That was partly my fault for letting you walk on the grass, but I had no idea it would hurt you so bad, but even then, a few minutes after you calmed down, you were ready to play some more.

We did have some problems, mainly your refusing to eat when you got sick, except for the liquid yogurt and mini-me bananas they have. And you didn't sleep too well, so you ended up in the bed with Papa and I every night, but it was so amazing for me to wake up in the morning and see your little face a few inches from mine. Your binkie would be gone by the morning, and a little puddle of drool soaked the sheets under your mouth, just like your Papa. When you got the 104 temperature, we were so worried for you, and you refused to take the medicine, made yourself vomit every time we gave it to you. And the diarrhea was awful, you lost 1/2 pound in 1 week, and were so tired and cranky. You didn't want to play as much that last week, just wanted me to carry you around, and nurse. And really, I loved that I was the one you came to for comfort, and I treasured the hours we spent sitting in the sun, reading books and snuggling.

You also were baptized on December 2, 2007. You didn't really enjoy sitting quietly through the service, and really freaked out when they poured the water over your head. You fought the priest like he was trying to put the Devil in you, instead of trying to keep it out. And you were so tired by the end of the service that the photos we have show you slumped in my arms, no shoes, no smile, not even looking at the camera. But your Baptism breakfast afterwards at Jojo's Mama's house was nice, and you got tons of hugs from your cousin Facundo. Everyone admired how beautiful you were in your little dress, and you danced to the music from cars passing by the front of the house. Your Godparents, Tata Lina and Ebo, were so happy to be with you, and are honored to have that distinction.

You really started talking a lot more when we were there. I was amazed when I asked you "Quieres mas?" and you made the sign for more. Or when I asked you if you wanted to go home (to California) and you nodded your head yes and pointed somewhere in the distance. You have an incredible vocabulary for such a small person, and can say all kids of things, and you mimic what we say perfectly. It seems like you can pick up a word in a second, know how to pronounce it, what it means, and actually use it too. And everyone was super-impressed that you understand English, Spanish and Guarani too. My tri-lingual Angel. My wish for you this month is that you retain your knowledge of languages and are able to be fluently multiligual as an adult. It will be a necessity for your generation, not a choice as it is for mine.

So Darling, I have to go now to wake you up, feed you some more and we're going to get our Christmas tree. Your Papa decided to stay 2 more weeks, so it's just you and me Kiddo, until he gets back. We went grocrty shopping at 7am today, in our PJs, and I'm having so much fun spending my every waking moment with you.

I love you.

Mama.