Nico today is wearing:

A warm hat, a turtle neck onesie, a sweater, Jeans, a BELT!, and Shoes!!!

He looks like such a big boy!!! He's ready to go--somewhere...lol, I don't know where!

__________________________________________________________

This is just a picture of where I did my ab workout this morning:

Happy THURSDAY everyone!

Bye 2010

The new year is getting closer every minute....and so I'd like to reflect a little now that I have a chance (cause Nico is taking a nap). I'm parked 1 blocked from my new apartment in LA infront of the Marina del Rey canal...with the Pacific Ocean crashing to my right, there is a huge flock of white birds (they're a little far so I can't tell if they're seagulls or not) sitting in the middle of the canal...just floating and soaking up some rays. To my immediate left there is a row of palm trees--in the backdrop there are some mountains...with a greyish/purple hue and beautiful white tips...almost like melted frosting. The blue in the sky is that same blue that you see in Miami on those rare cool days---where there is not a cloud in the sky, which makes you wonder of God used Photoshop of his work sometimes...lol.

Behind in the back seat is the most amazing view of all...NICO,especially now that he just woke up. He has a grin from cheek to cheek with those tiny pearly whites sneaking out...with his hair all over the place, and those greenish brown eyes just staring at me as he tells me (without moving his lips) what else I should include in this note.

Gretchen and Myles,Peace Corps Panama friends who were home for Christmas-Myles is from LA, came over last night for dinner. We were taking about the differences in lifestyles here in the US and in Panama. One of the things we all agreed upon was that in the US, we are all too busy, too flustered, too focused on our agendas and schedules, to STOP and look around, sit, enjoy meals together, talk about the weather (lol), or just sit in silence.

Everything happens for a reason...and I really think that I needed the Peace Corps Experience more than my community ever needed me. My short PC experience slowed my life down....in preparation of all the changes that were to come. This past year...would have been a lot more difficult without the patience that I was forced to adapt to in Panama. I learned there that it was OKAY to just do 2 things a day...like with Nico this year...sometimes just going to the grocery store was an accomplishment.

I also learned of the self-fulfillment that comes from helping others....that is very difficult to find when you are just trying to get promoted, get a raise,or beat out a co-worker.

I could see how happy Myles and Gretchen are as they near the end of their service....and how nervous they are to return to the states...a place where we take for granted all the LUXURIES that we have...HEATERS, AIR-CONDITIONING, Carpet, INDOOR SHOWERS, RUNNING WATER, NON-MOLDY CLOTHING, DOCTORS NEARBY, CARS TO GO WHERE WE PLEASE-WHEN WE PLEASE, grocery stores with bonless/skinless chicken breasts, vegetables all year around, IKEA (lol) ----------this is only to name a few things that come to mind right now.

I want to conclude by saying that I feel TOO LUCKY right now...it makes me nervous. I have amazing friends that we left in Austin and miss so much,and all around the US and world (shout out PC group 63, Hungary, Colombia, Hawaii, G-ville, New Orleans, NYC, Malaysia, Barcelona, Puerto Rico, Arizona, Miami!!!) I have a family that loves me so much that there love reaches all they way across the country to here, I live in a place that most people work and save up most their lives to get a chance to retire at, AND------ I have the coolest, cutest, most amazing little family that I can call MY OWN!

This year will be hard to top! Good Bye 2010. Thank you for all the adventures!

No pressure 2011! No Pressure at all, lol!

OUR Apartment.

For those of you who have been curious...here are some pictures of our complex!

We LOVE it here!!! I must caution ya'll...you might get the urge to MOVE HERE!!!

Come visit!!!

Our Apartment is still in no condition to be photographed, but when the boxes move out, I will show you what our place looks like =) Now I gotta go help people build stuff!!

Nico's First Christmas!!!

Nico's First Christmas!

From 1012 Nico's First Christmas

Each gift took FOREVER to open, lol! Here are some pictures of the MANY things that NICO got for Christmas from Mommy,Daddy, Abuelos, and Santa!!:

From 1012 Nico's First Christmas

From 1012 Nico's First Christmas

From 1012 Nico's First Christmas

From 1012 Nico's First Christmas

From 1012 Nico's First Christmas

From 1012 Nico's First Christmas

It was awesome! He loved the wrapping paper, boxes, and garbage more than some of the gifts....BUT WE LOVE HIM ANYWAY!!!

Santa even brought mommy and daddy some cool things too!

I got a huge horse picture, 5 finger shoes, a Garmin running watch, .

Peter got 5 finger shoes, Shirt/tie, sunglasses, cologne.

And we all got an APARTMENT NEAR THE BEACH IN LA!!!

From 1012 Nico's First Christmas

We went for a run along the beach to Skype our families from the Venice Pier!!!

Here is a slide show of Christmas Morning!

Noche Buena

GOOD MORNING!!! Merry Christmas from the WEST COAST!

It's 7:30am and we are still waiting for Nico to GET UP!! The past couple nights (even in Miami) he has been getting up at 4 and 5 am...so I was excited that he was going to be up early. BUT ON CHRISTMAS he decided to adjust he's sleep schedule...lol. Peter doesn't mind. He's still sleeping.

This Christmas I've already gotten so many gifts that I'm a little nervous to see if Santa even came by last night to drop ANYTHING ELSE off. In Colombia we had a great time with our families, in Miami we saw more family and got LOTS of gifts--some that i've repacked to put under our tree but SHHHH don't tell anyone, lol.

God and Santa--via their assistant/elf,Peter, gave me the greatest gift of all this Christmas: NICO SAMUEL FLORES! I really can't wait for him to wake up. I'm so in love with him! His faces, muecas, laugh, coughs, inquisitivity-just made it up i think, little/big clothes, all his tricks-hahaha, like i he's a well-trained puppy, and everything else about him too!

Peter also gave me this UNWRAPABLE GIFT---the opportunity to come live here in LA...in this BEAUIFUL -paradise-like location that I am amazing that we even LIVE HERE!

Like a lot of you predicted...we made friends already! For Noche Buena we were invited to a friend of a friend's house in Encino. And guess what----there were two mommies!! A new mommy- (mother of 1 month-old baby girl), and a 8 month old mommy to be of ANOTHER BABY GIRL! They invited us over for a PARTY- that started at 8pm!!! Us feeling super crazy we said yes....and it worked out great. This is how the evening went down.

We went for a little walk at 5pm--to our beach...

From 1012 Noche Buena

From 1012 Noche Buena

From 1012 Noche Buena

Nico ate dinner while we were talking to Peter's family on Skype from our complex community area.

Then he drank his milk on the walk to the apartment (1 minute) and he FELL ASLEEP.

Peter and I both fell asleep when we got to the apartment too, only to wake up 1 1/2 hours later realizing that we were going to be super late to the Noche Buena dinner we had been invited to.

We got ready with the clothes we could find...that wasn't still packed.

We transfered Nico from the stroller to the car seat, packed up the play pen and went to pick Charlie up ( Peter's co-worker, and our friend from Austin).

We arrived 1 hour late to the party...how weird right, lol.

We met ALL THESE SUPER FUN, HAPPY, Venezuelens- 3 of which live in LA, 2 live in San Fran, 2 lived in New York, 1 in Nice, France, and 1 in Caracas, Venezuela.

Nico went directly upstairs to a quiet room...we set up the baby monitor and went down stairs to the party...SO FUN! The food was delicious and the company was very entertaining!

From 1012 Noche Buena

From 1012 Noche Buena

From 1012 Noche Buena

When we were leaving, Nico woke up for a little just to show off his cuteness to our new friends... Then fell right to sleep on the way home when I told him that if he sees the gifts santa left for him, the gifts would DISAPPEAR...lol I didn't say that. I don't want to traumatize Nico like my parents did to me---Mentira....no estoy traumatizada. Me encanta como nos celebraban la Navidad y todas las cosas que nos explicaban de Santa y como entraba a la casa sin chimenea...hahaha- Gracias por hacer la Navidad una occasion tan especial todos los anos!

When we got home, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (thank God!) Nico went straight to bed and SO DID WE for the BIG MORNING!!! TODAY!

OHhhhh...what perfect timing, I hear Nico Roaring like a little dino in his room!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Feliz Navidad!!!!!

Here is a slide show:

FIRST NIGHT in LA....

Good Morning FROM LOS ANGELES!!!!!

Yesterday I felt like a busy beee all day. Luckily I had a great lunch at Sushi Maki because dinner was BLAAAA. My sister and dad took us to the Fort Lauderdale Airport--we said our good byes and I confidently walked through security with Nico in the car seat on the stroller, my bookbag diaper bag and a rolly carry-on....thinking that I was a big girl-FLYING with all this stuff and Nico wasn't going to be that hard. It is our like 15th flight---I WAS WRONG.

I got through security with a little help from the guy behind me in line who helped me push my stuff through...since I had no hands.

Then I got to my gate. Instead of going in first, I waited a little so as to shorten the amount of time that Nico was in the aircraft. I decided to put his PJs on (elmo ones that vivi gave him). I changed him right there at the gate on a seat next to me, while charging my phone on the column next to the stroller. I finished and was quite proud that I did it myself...but then a little old lady tapped me on the shoulder and said...I can't believe you left that diaper on the chair right there. I swear I wasn't going to...I really would have checked my surrounding before leaving...but I was embarrased that she thought I would leave it there...what kind of person, mom, did she think I was!!!

So I gathered my stuff...and headed into the flight. Once I left the stroller at the gate entance...things got a little complicated. Getting through the plane aisle with Nico in the carseat in one hand infront of me and pulling the rolly bag behind me was much more difficult that anticipated. Fortunately at about row 18 a man stood up from his seat and asked if he could help me with my bag...till then people were just staring at me.

I was sitting in row 23...surrounded by jerks. I'm not throughing myself a Pitty party...for real, they were mean. When the flight crew said to leave comments on how to improve their service and the guy across the aisle said--yea...no babies! I was shocked but that was just the beginning. People all around (headed by this captain jerk) started talking about how there should be a baby section, how flights should show where children are seated just like child predators are shown on websites...so that they know where we are sitting.

That was the last straw...I had to say something. I told them.... You guys do realize I'M right here and what your saying in really rude. FLiying with a child is not easy...and people like you make it worse--a tear even came out.

The lady right next to me said...I bet it is hard...and your so young...and alone. Everyone else kinda mummbled under their breath but fortunately that was the end of it.

I wondered how much of an AS*HO*E you need to be to think that saying stuff like that is OKAY. I focused on getting Nico fed and comfortable and tried to put what happend aside.

Unfortunately, Nico started feeling worse. His cough escalated to a really weird sounding bark. He fought really hard to go to sleep but finally did. He was GREAT most of the flight.

I can't say the same for the 11 month old a couple rows ahead who had a really hard time....crying and coughing the whole flight. I felt really bad for those parents (whom I became friends with at the end of the flight by baggage claim). Andrea--the mom, told me that LA is really big...which means that there are A LOT MORE JERKS like the people on the flight...but there are A lot of NICE people too! She then welcomed me to LA with a big hug!

I MADE A NEW MOMMY FRIEND!!!

Nico slept through the exit off the flight out until we met up with Peter. I was so excited, relieved, and happy to see him! He of course looked and smelled great!

We got our stuff and headed to our hotel....However that wasn't the end of the night.

Nico's barking cough was getting worse. After debating whether we should do something about it or not...we ended up going to visit UCLA Santa Monica Hospital at 1am...mainly because I was really worried about his breathing--or inabilty to breathe.

The staff was really nice and we were in and out relatively fast I think. Nico was diagnosed with Croup: is characterized by a "barking" cough, stridor, hoarseness, and difficult breathing which usually worsens at night.^[1] The "barking" cough is often described as resembling the call of a seal or sea lion.^[2] The stridor is worsened by agitation or crying, and if it can be heard at rest, it may indicate critical narrowing of the airways. As croup worsens, stridor may decrease considerably.^{[1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croup)}

He was given a steroid and we were indicated to use a humidifier (which arrives today in the shipment) and tylenol as needed.

At around 2:30ish we went to bed...

What a first Night in LA!

This morning Nico woke up at 6:30am---9:30am Miami time! He's already adjusted and DOING A LOT BETTER. My little pumpkin head is a CHAMP!

We are heading out in a couple minutes to walk around our BEACH!!! and then check out our NEW PLACE!!!!!!

We miss our Austin, Miami, and international friends and family already! MUAHHHHH

11 months old- IN COLOMBIA!

Nico turned 11 months the day of his Baptism.

We were in Manizales, Colombia with all 4 abuelos, both tia and tio, Mommy, Daddy and other family members.

Eating habits: He is eating little chunks of fruits, sometimes chicken

Motor Skills: He's getting good at imitating! He's clapping again, he "snapped" his fingers when my cousins in Colombia snapped their fingers. He learned how to stick out his tongue out, and get on and off toy trucks and horses.

He continues to like standing (not alone yet), walking along furniture, carefully plopping to the ground, reaching for things.

Emotional changes: He continues to be really happy and fun to be around. He has a little less MOM-ITIS....it only gets bad right when he wakes up from a nap or when he was sick last week.

Sleeping habits: He has gotten pretty regular with his night sleeping....However---HIS NAPS have been all over the place---everything but ROUTINE, hopefully in LA we can get into a rhythm!

Speech: There are world of new compound sounds coming out of his little mouth. He also has an extremely high pitched screech!

Other: He is not only wearing shoes....BUT OUT GROWN most of his shoes!!

NICO: Te amo mi corazoncito! Gracias por ser tan alegre, feliz, lindo, y amoroso!!!!! No sigas creciendo tan rapidoooooooo!!!

25 years....reflection

Yesterday was my birthday...25!

I celebrated with some friends at Lolita in Brickell (Annie,Ricky, Juan, Kenn, and Alan weren't in the picture-But were there too). I felt very special...with all the calls, emails, Facebook messages, and gifts...Thank you all!!!

A whole quarter century!

Some things I've learned:

• God has a sense of humor---he's actually HYSTERICAL!
• You have to believe that you can do things, be better, and handle whatever life throws your way! Montalvo always used to say: If you believe 1/10th of 1% of what I believe in you, you'd be amazed at what you can do.....and it's true--a little self confidence can go a LONG way.
• Adaptation is one of the most important skills to have when trying to lead a HAPPY life.
• Friendships need tune ups and attention .
• Your parents seem a lot more reasonable, smart, and self-less as you get older--and ACTUALLY start realizing some of the sacrifices that they have made over the years for US.
• The fairy tales that we heard, saw, and read about growing up--DO EXIST...except we have slightly different plots, and characters in ours.
• You don't always get what you want...If you're lucky you get what you didn't even know you wanted and SOOOO MANY MORE AWESOME THINGS!
• The joy that comes from loving my beautiful pumpkin head and my amazing husband doesn't compare to any other feeling in the world!

I love my family, friends, and LIFE!! Thank you all for being a part of my life.

I hope the next 25 years are as amazing as these first 25!

Happy Birthday!

Valeria, you forgot something else that happened recently... TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!

Especially on this day, I wanted to thank you for being my best friend, a fantastic mother to our Nico, a caring wife, and awesome travel partner.



Te amo, and I miss you today. See you soon on the West Coast!!!!!!!!!

Colombia TRIP!!!--Finally Posted

I don't know where to begin discussing our Colombia TRIP! This entry will be kinda of long, but what do I exclude pictures can I exclude from this trip?!?!

Saturday- December 11,2010

We flew out of Austin and arrived in Miami. We hung out with some friends at Peter's house, where we slept for a couple of hours.

From 2010-12 Nicos Baptism Colombia

Sunday- 12/12/10At 3:45am the driver arrived at the house to drive us to the Airport for our 7am flight to COLOMBIA!!! We arrived in Bogota at 10ish am and were greeted by my grandma, aunt, and cousin. IT WAS PERFECT!!!! They got to see Nico, hang out with us for about 2 hours before we had to board our flight to Pereira.

Bis-Abuelita y Nico-por primera vez juntos!

Arriving at the Farm!

Monday- 12/13/10 We went horse-back riding, Got the horse, HUNG OUT at LA FONDA.

We all had our first AMAZING colombian breakfast! Then we walked around the farm to find HOMERO, the cow.

After breakfast, Nico got on his first HORSE, after practicing on a plastic one first!

We all went horse-back riding around Santagueda. We stopped at the church where Nico was going to be baptized at and at a friend's parents' former farm...Naranjuelo.

My mom hung out with her brothers at the farm while we went for that ride!

Tuesday- 12/14/10 Manizales: Cathedral, walk around, SkyWALK, futile search for WINE! We played soccer that night.

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

We took "el teleferico"---ski-lift type contraption, to Manizales. Pete was a little UNCOMFORTABLE on the ride but it was a smooth ride...and Nico loved it!

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 2010-12 Nicos Baptism Colombia

We came back from Manizales straight to the SUBASTA:

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

Wednesday-12/15/10 The day of Nico's 11 month Birthday!

The morning of Nico's Baptism, Peter and I went on a run. When we got back, Nico was DRIVING my uncle's Willis.

Then we went riding to El salto del Casique...a waterfall. When we got back, we had a scrumptious bandeja Paisa awaits us!!!

Unfortunately, after that comma inducing lunch, I had to run to the Confamiliares Doctor because Nico had a really High Fever of 102.3. We were able to keep the fever from getting higher by giving him COLD water baths....which he hated!

Later that evening was Nico's Baptism, at 5:15pm. Luz Mila, my godmother, showed up at a SURPRISE!!! When we got to the church, a lot of family members were waiting there! It was so nice!!!!

Nico's GodparentsMe and my godparents with Nico!

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

My mom with her two brothers and all their spouses!

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

Nico didn't get to hang out at his own Party!! because of his high fever and cough. He finally went to Bed and I went out to say HI to all the family members who came from near and far to see Nico!

Baptism Dinner

From 10-12 Colombia Trip-LUIS

Thursday- 12/16/10We went to Los Termales de Santa Rosa....INCREDIBLE! Sang Happy Birthday to ME!! Hung out at DECADA...a bumpin club

Our new Hammocks

After breakfast we drove to Santa Rosa to Visit los termales, hot water natural springs.

It was beautiful!

On the way home we stopped at a million places, for snacks, bathroom, and artesanias;

Hammacks- Hand made

we also stopped at the Juan Valez coffee factory

Home from the termales

Friday- 12/17/10 Peter left at 2:45am. He left early because we was a groomsmen at Patrick Khoury's wedding...which was the next evening.

We went to Arauca. Horse-back riding with NEW FRIENDS, played soccer. Nico was up most of the night coughing. He was awake from 12:30 to 1:55am. My mom came in 5 minuets later to help me start packing up our stuff to get going to the Airport! I wanted to cry of exhaustion!!!

Arauca day



We hung out at the farm in the morning and then took a willis to ARAUCA.

ARAUCA's transit system
Framer's Market

Saturday- Left at 2:45am to Perreira, Got the 7am flight to Cartagena. Stayed on the flight for 1 hour and 1/2 in Cartagena on the tarmac. Then took off to Miami. WE MADE IT BACK SAFE AND SOUND...AND EXHAUSTED!!!!Upon arriving in Miami we drove home for a quick shower and shortly after left for Patrick Khoury's wedding to meet up with Peter who I hadn't seen since 2:45am Friday morning. The wedding was beautiful.

The Trip was amazing! There were times that is was difficult to do things quickly with so many people to move and coordinate, but I must say we did A LOT in one week. Nico got to meet my Abuelita, meet my family in Manizales, RIDE A HORSE, and a CALF!!! I got to eat all the yummy food that I've missed so much, horse-back ride, hangout with Peter, and Peter's family got to see where I grew up! It was a great experience!