Photos are up from the Daisy 5k

Mommy and Nico are is the poster models for the Daisy 5k. Check out the ARC website.

This was the race we did on May 16 th, a couple weekends ago (the day after Nico turned 4 months).

Nico is almost 4 1/2 months

Today was our last Mommy and Me Baby Class at Sarah's house. These here are Nico's new baby friends and my new mommy friends. Anderson, the little boy sitting to Nico's left is actually just 4 days younger than NICO! The baby's in the back row were the smallest, at 7 weeks old. The baby to Nico's right is just a little older than those, 9 weeks. These moms where a lot of fun to get to know. They were outgoing, funny, and open about things they were experiencing. I had something in common with each of them. One of my new mommy friends' husband actually works at NI, isn't that crazy. What a small world.

For our last class today, we had Sally teach us all about infant massages. She remembered Nico from last group. He was such a great model today for the class. I was able to give him a nice long massage.

I love my little pumpkin head!

Everyday I love him more and more. I wish we were all more like babies in that we had the power to change the mood in a room just by being in it, laughing hysterically at the simplest things (like Starbucks cup with ice), and take everyday as a new mystical adventure.

Why is it that as we get older we lose our sense of wonder? I'm so happy that Nico is here to remind about the things that really matter in life, food, clean diaper, and LOVE!!

Vivi's Birthday

Happy Birthday Vivi

I left Nico with your card one second....and this is what i found when I got back:

Hope you have a great day! We will see you soon =)

SUNDAY FUNDAY...again

Sundays have become VERY FUN DAYS for us...

Yesterday we went to Monica's house for BBQ/ Baby Pool Party!

Monica, Dylan, Nico and Me in the Jacuzzi (Don't worry, it wasn't HOT, what do you think...we're bad moms?!?! It was luke warm so our poopy heads would like being in there.

We had a great time and Nico was quite the little fishy already!

Daddy PRs

Congrats Daddy!

Peter ran a PR (personal record) today at

NI's Spring 5k Run:

19:48

4 months old already!

Nico's 4 month Dr.'s appointment went wonderfully!

Nico is 13 pounds, 13 ounces and 25 inches long.

He got a couple shots too on his legs.

There are a couple things that we we told to do now that he is 4 months old:

• Nutrition:we can give him 1-2 ounces of water, main source should be breast milk, supplement formula as needed.
• Sun Safety: he can wear sunscreen---a special baby one; he shouldn't be out in the sun between 10-4pm; Reflected light from the water can burn Nico even in the shade.
• Bug safety: He can wear repellent that has 30 % DEET
• Boat Safety: We can't leave him alone for one second, and he has to wear an approved flotation device that's designed for his size and weight.
• Sleep info: his naps have to be in his bed, he shouldn't be awake for more than 2 hours between naps. He can't be on high surfaces that he can fall off of, like bed or changing table unattended, he may fall.

Sunday Fun-Day =)

We are all winners!

Yesterday was the Daisy 5k. Peter, Nico, and I competed as well as our friends Ashish, Kelly, and Monica/Dylan.

The race was great! Especially because we got to start 3 minutes in front of the guys. I ran with Nico is the stroller. Ashish caught us a little after the mile. Peter caught us a little after the two mile. Nico was a little unhappy at the beginning but after getting his chupo, he admired the scenery and then went to sleep.

Ashish came in 1st place overall, Peter and Kelly came in 1st place for their divisions (20-24), and Nico and I came in 1st place for the stroller division!

We then went to IHOP for breakfast!

The panqueques were scrumptious!

After a mini cat-nap, we got ready for the Austin Aztecs (soccer) game. Where they beat Baltimore 2-1. Nico enjoyed the game but not the goooooooooolllllllsssssss.

Things that make you think...

Nico helped me organize and rearrange our apartment today!

I also got my mother's day gift from Veronica and mother's day cards from friends, far(NYC) and even further (PR)!

But today I saw a very impacting documentary, "Lord, Save Us from your Followers". In this documentary, Dan Merchant talked about the importance of DOING WHAT'S RIGHT instead of BEING RIGHT.

I was raised Catholic, went to private Catholic elementary, middle, and high school. But when I got to college was when "my religion" was challenged. In High School I started noticing something that in college was confirmed, just because you go to mass, doesn't mean that you are a better person than someone who doesn't. I'm not one to talk a lot about religion (especially cause it's such a sore subject for so many people....but luckily this is my blog...and it's where I can express myself...hopefully without hurting anyone's feelings) but this documentary pointed out something that I have never understood about religion and religious people around the world: If people claim they are so CHRIST-LIKE, why do they discriminate, alienate, talk bad, insult, and think they are better than other people? (im not saying every religious person is like that, but those who are...make themselves seen and heard.)

While I was in Panama, in the Peace Corps, Panamanians would ask me what religion I wanted them to convert to. They thought I was a missionary. I would tell them that I was not there to "convert" them to any religion, which would surprise them. The question that always followed was, what do you get out of this? I would tell them that I would get a whole $3 a day and they would laugh. It was hard for them to think that I was just there to learn and work with them without another agenda. I can't blame them though. Even at my middle school, homilies are cut short just to make sure that there is time for fundraising announcements and reminders about the "debt" that our church was in and how we could contribute.

I don't claim that i'm doing things right, cause I know I judge, I don't like some people, and I get mad. But I want to be a better person....Not for religious reasons...but for Nico. I want him to learn values from seeing those around him in action. I guess Nico's probably the reason this documentary impacted me so much. I've been looking around more and more at the world that he is going to grow up in, and it scares me; religious zealots ranting on campuses with signs, corrupt priests, people screaming"get out of my way- I'm late for mass", violence, war, and chaos. I know that I can't keep him away from it forever, but I want to prepare him as best I can. I want him to be NICE and CARE about people...is that too much to hope for? I want him to know that God loves him...not because he hasn't missed mass but because he's my little angel.

Check out the documentary if you get a chance:

Lord, Save Us from Your Followers

2008PG-13101 minutes

In the spirit of wondering why we all can't just get along, filmmaker Dan Merchant takes to the streets to ask average folks about religious faith and why it seems to be such a divisive force in America's so-called "culture wars." In addition to man-on-the-street perspectives, the thought-provoking (and refreshingly civil) conversation includes input from activists on both sides of the ideological spectrum.

Happy Mother's Day!

Yay! Thanks to Nico I can celebrate this special day. When I woke up to feed him at 5am this morning and I started to think about this entry. I wanted to think of something that cold help explain motherhood.

Then it came to me, it's like a ride at Islands of Adventure.

While you wait in line, you sweat, you're nervous, you ask people getting off the ride how it felt...and you get a variety of answers that ease or freak you out even more. Standing there what seems like forever you slowly move up to the yellow tape.

When the moment of truth comes, and its your turn, you sit and get strapped into this ride. Slowly you take off...ta ....ta ....ta ...ta... ta.... every second that goes by you know you are getting closer to the top of this crazy ride, when it feels like you're heart is going to beat out of your chest and your stomach sinks to your heels...the cart rolls down. You try to open your eyes but you barely separate your eyelashes. The ups and downs are unannounced and jerk you around but before you know it, your cart comes to a slow stop, and you look around at your friends and say....that wasn't that bad...let's get on again.

The first couple weeks were all up hill....there were times were I wondered what I had gotten myself into, but time has gone by, the ride is getting more and more fun. I've overcome that initial fear and am beginning to enjoy the little ups, downs, and random unexpected turns we have been living.

I'm so happy that both Peter and I have these adventurous spirits and together have been able to embark on this RIDE OF A LIFETIME!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!!!

Thank you all for your calls and thoughts today.

Bumbo!!!

Our little man got his first BIG BOY Toy, a Bumbo! He loves it so far.

Life in our shoes...

Sorry, I have been neglecting our blog in the last couple weeks. I have been busy writing articles to submit to the Examiner and teaching Spanish and English classes in the evenings a couple days a week at Berlitz.

2 Weekends ago, we ran the Texas round-up in 27:45. Our friend Ashish ran the 10k in 34 minutes and won! It earned him a sponsorship with Mizuno!!!!!

From 1004 Urban Roots and Racing

After the race we went on a very refreshing hike with Ashish, Christine, and Lola.

From 1004 Urban Roots and Racing

From 1004 Urban Roots and Racing

We also went to The Oasis for dinner. It is a really funky interesting Austiny restaurant on Lake Travis.

From 1004 Oasis

We ate dinner and saw the sunset.

From 1004 Oasis

Last week Nico and I did some Vitamin D tanning out by our pool. We were out for a couple minutes enjoying our "backyard".

From 1005 Pool and Painting

Then we worked on a project for the Abuelitas (for Mother's/ abuela's day), we can't show you just yet but I can tell you that we had a blast.

From 1005 Pool and Painting

This past Sunday I ran the Bun Run in 24:30. I was really happy with my time because I felt great and I'm starting to feel like I'm starting to run a little more normally. It was also a 3 minute improvement in 1 week. We'll see how we do this next weekend in Chuey's Hot to Trot 5k.

This week Nico and I are starting a Mommy and Me class on Wednesday where we will meet 3 other new mommies and babies! We are very excited.

In other news, my mom just arrived in Barcelona! She is visiting my cousin, Gabriela, who is due in the next couple weeks! She is going to be there to welcome Manolo to this world! She'll be back in Miami when Nico, Peter, and I arrive.

Remember to check out my examiner page:

Austin Running Fitness Examiner

Have a great week!