STAGE FRIGHT...=(

 Nico's daycare set up an end of the year school presentation which I actually didn't find out about until the day before when my dad told me that Nico's teacher had reminded him that Nico needed to wear black pants and a white shirt. Since it was my last day working at STA, I was able to duck out for 20 mins and catch Nico's first show. Unfortunately I didn't catch much. Shortly after I got there, Nico and his "waiter" looking friends came through the door.

 As soon as Nico caught sight of me...it was over. He ran toward me and clung to my neck! All his classmates went up on stage to "take their positions".

 ....But not Nico...He stood right next to me singing.. MAMAMMMAAMAMAMAMAAAAA.

 The song his friends were singing was super cute about a Cow- La Vaca Lola. Then they sang the wheels on the bus and La Vaca Lola again. It was a short and sweet presentation. But I couldn't' even get Nico to hum the songs for me =(

 I even sat at the base of the stage and tried to sneakily slide him onto the stage without him noticing---epic failure.

 He even started getting upset when his classmates started coming up to me to give me hugs after the show (for no reason- I guess kids are just loving like that). Nico would say--NO, My Mama--Only child syndrome is starting to kick in I guess.

The teacher told me: NEXT TIME, hide until after the show. I guess it works because during the show there were maybe 10 moms/dads/abuelos, and after the show there were like 20ish. ( I wonder where they were all hiding?1?)

After the show I went to his class and played with play-dough and his classmates until-- I had to go back to work.

I know Nico loves singing and I can't wait for his next presentation. I will hide next time so that I can catch my little star in action!

Figuring out a career path...

So I don't know what took me so long to realize that my calling was teaching?? A couple years ago I got a taste for it and I've been doing it ever since. 

Here are some pictures from one of my first teaching jobs a couple years ago:

Art Class --who needs coloring books anyway..lol

Computer Class

My First Chalk Board =)

Loved this opportunity and am excited about the new teaching opportunities that I have now!

STA Endangered Species Day

On Thursday May 17th, I was able to get the school on board to celebrate it's First Endangered Species Day. 

It was a little more work than I (and these boys) had initially thought it would be, but then again, i'm a poor judge when it comes to those things. It ended up turning out GREAT!!! Fortunately I had Joel, Steve, and Mike who calm, cool, and collectively MADE IT HAPPEN...and made it the BIG DEAL that I wanted it to be...Thanks/Gracias.

I was excited that the students were going to have the unique opportunity to come face to face with a West African Crowned Crane, Orinoco Goose, the extremely rare red-breasted goose, and a Nene Goose-- a couple of the endangered species that call STA their home. 

West-African Crowned Crane

We gave students some endangered species activity books, and talked about ways in which they can make BETTER DECISIONS about the way they use their resources. The students' favorite part, however, was getting to interact with the animals in the Petting Zoo as well as with their friend "Loco", the iguana.  

We also gave Animal Facility Tours to a few of the parents that read the memo! They were in for a surprise, especially because they received a beautiful brochure of the STA grounds with a small list of animals of interest found in each of the different areas....which i'm very proud of =)! Most of the parents had never seen those parts of the school before!

 Here are some pictures of the STA grounds, and a minimal snapshot of their beautiful animals....
Have I not been working in a slice of paradise??

2 years 4 months

Happy 28 Months Mi Rey!!
Weight: 31lbs
Height: 37 inches tall--3ft 1 inch Tall

Language Development:

So close to babbling away! He loves putting lots of words together in a LONG CHAIN....often I have to remind him to breathe.
For Example:

In Nico Language: "Nico a Parque com mama, com buelo, com snoopy, en bicileta, com mama, con nico, com buelo, ahora."
translation: "I want to go to the park with Snoopy, mama, and abuelo on my bicycle!"

Sebastian (the 10 year old neighbor) biking ahead of Nico
Nico: "Sebastian, wait! Espera Ico, biciceta!"
"Sebastian...stop sign, para, wait Nico."
Identity Crisis: Since our arrival in Miami, my dad has been practicing with Nico "introductions". What I mean is that he's been saying "hola mucho gusto, Yo soy el Abuelo Luis" and Nico has been answering "hola, yo soy ...ICO". However, since starting daycare a couple weeks ago, he all of a sudden came home saying..."YO SOY NICOLAS".Of course it's understandable that people and teachers think his real name is NICOLAS since NICO is a very common nickname for Nicolas'---but I've tried explaining that his name is --JUST NICO.  My dad's new project is having Nico introduce himself as NICO SAMUEL. Hopefully he'll come out of the name crisis in one piece...lol.

Ready to have his own Pedi-cab in Austin!

Physical Development:
He is growing very TALL. I often get remarks about how he "acts, and looks" so much older. He definitly plays better with older kids too. He is now running FULL SPEED, he can bike around the neighborhood a couple times without having to stop and has those gross and fine motor skills going

We tried potty training this month and it started going very well, but then STOPPED all of a sudden. We've had a couple things get in the way of the training so we've backed off from asking and insisting...however today he grabbed abuelo's hand and said....Buelo, Bathroom, poop-poo. And just like that he poo-pooed in the potty! Not sure if it will continue, but we'll take it!!!

He learned to whistle (using a whistle)--as opposed to the spitting with sound, like he used to do.

My dad has gotten lots of colors and markers into Nico's hands....at least 1 drawing a day. My dad's most recent project is getting Nico to grab the pencil correctly!

He has started EATING A LOT more but the variety has decreased. I am proud to say that at least now he grabs carrots and CHEWS them because they are "crunchy"---as step in the right direction!!

Cognative Development: I've been arroached by a couple people about how smart he is....which makes me happy! Of couse I think so but when teachers say it---it feels a little more reassuring.
He is SO AWARE of things and really has the curiosity and patience (at times) to figure things out!
He understands simple commands,  looks like he listens to explanations of WHY things are the way they are, and loves repeating COMPLETE sentences.

Social Development: Along with moving, comes making NEW FRIENDS. Because I've been working, I haven't had the opportunity to really mingle too much with new moms. But I have met a couple and now that we are starting to get a lot more settled in, I'm excited to set up some more play dates soon! We already have 2 birthday parties on the schedule for JUNE!!

Watching him ABSORB the world around him has been the most amazing gift anyone could ever ask for. I love being your mommy buggahead! TE AMOOOOOOOO

Momma: "Quien es el baby mas lindo de la mama??"
Nico: "ICO ICO ICO!!!!!"