Just wanted to mention two little things today that my little man did that melted my heart. First, I was trying to put on his shorts and I leaned over to put his feet in the holes (he was standing up, holding on to me) and I guess my face was right next to his and he turned his head and planted this big ole' kiss right on my cheek. Then hugged my neck as hard as he could and kissed me on the mouth. Of course after that I had to smother him with kisses and tell him how much I loved him. So sweet!!!
Then, he found his traning potty in my closet that I've been meaning to get out to the storage area but haven't and he started taking everything out to get to it. When he did, I said that he doesn't use that anymore and that it was going to be for his new baby brother in the future. He took it out and took it to the living room where he originally "trained" and I said, "but you're a big boy and you use the big boy potty now, that's for the other baby in the future". He said, "Este (this)......bebé (baby)" as he pointed to the potty. Meaning "this is for the baby" and I said, "is that for your baby brother?" and he said, "si". And then he told me to "wait". I told him we would have to wait a long time and he told me to "wait" again, lol. I know he won't be this positive about his baby brother once he gets here but it sure is fun for now when Matthew points out stuff that is for the baby with no prompting at all!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
A Name?
I think we might have a name.....we're pretty sure but, of course, anything could change. We're pretty sure it'll be Christian Thomas. We want something that sounds good in both languages and since it looks like we will be living most of our lives in this country, it especially has to work in Spanish too. Of course it's important that my US family can pronounce it, lol! So, as many of you know, Dani's name is Christian Daniel so it looks as though Dani will get his name on both of his sons :) (Matthew Daniel and Christian Thomas). Thomas is a name from my Mom's side of the family.
We are still thinking about spelling since here they usually spell Christian as CRISTHIAN and Thomas, would be TOMÁS. Also, most likely he'll go by Christian, although Dani says he will probably call him Thomas or Tommy. Poor kid, he won't know what his name is. This is 99% set in stone. We had kind of thought about this before but today when we were talking, I got a special feeling about it....just started smiling as I said it and felt all warm and fuzzy inside so we're thinking this could be it! Hope everyone else likes it too :)
We are still thinking about spelling since here they usually spell Christian as CRISTHIAN and Thomas, would be TOMÁS. Also, most likely he'll go by Christian, although Dani says he will probably call him Thomas or Tommy. Poor kid, he won't know what his name is. This is 99% set in stone. We had kind of thought about this before but today when we were talking, I got a special feeling about it....just started smiling as I said it and felt all warm and fuzzy inside so we're thinking this could be it! Hope everyone else likes it too :)
Monday, September 26, 2011
The Home Stretch
This week I'm starting my third trimester of pregnancy, whoa! I really can't believe it as I've mentioned before and I know we all know how time flies, it's just getting pretty real. I was thinking the other day that in about two months, I should go ahead and get my hospital bag packed because it could happen anytime in the last three weeks or so of the trimester....that makes it kinda real. I'm feeling pretty good but am noticing my belly getting in the way at different times. Like I can't stand as close to the sink to wash dishes anymore, or when I try to "squeeze" by somewhere that I used to be able to, I can't anymore. Matthew has hit his head walking by my belly a few times, good thing it's soft. Here is a baby bump picture that we took a few days ago. It truly depends on the kind of clothes that I wear that can make the bump hardly noticeable or much more noticeable. This one I just look kind of in between.
Today was Matthew's first day back at preschool after a little over a week off and he was pretty excited to go. I always worry after a little vacation how he'll be going back but he was quite happy. He actually came to me back in the bedroom to get his hair "done" (you know, throw some water on it, get the curls rejuvenated:) and then asked for his toothbrush which he has never ASKED for either one of these things in the past. He was walking out the door almost 10 minutes before we really had to leave so we took our time getting in the car and got there a few minutes early. We can take him as early as 7:45am (class starts at 8am) but I always feel bad taking him if there's hardly any kids in there when I drop him off.
I saw Matthew get a little embarrassed for the first time by me telling a story to his teacher of something funny he did this weekend. I've seen him get shy and embarrassed a couple other times but it was usually for something he did wrong and got reprimanded. This time I told the teacher about being with Matthew's 15 year old cousin this weekend who has a little belly and he went up to her and patted her belly and said "baby, baby" as if she were pregnant because of her belly. When he first learned that a bigger belly could mean it had a baby in it, he was saying that about everyone who had any kind of belly at all. He even said it about himself, but since then he's learned that men don't have babies. After I told this story to the teacher, Matthew seemed to have understood everything and started clinging to my leg and hiding his face. I felt so bad after that because he had been so excited about school today and after that, he felt insecure and kind of bad. I'm sure he got over it quickly but I guess I have to watch what I say....poor thing.
I saw Matthew get a little embarrassed for the first time by me telling a story to his teacher of something funny he did this weekend. I've seen him get shy and embarrassed a couple other times but it was usually for something he did wrong and got reprimanded. This time I told the teacher about being with Matthew's 15 year old cousin this weekend who has a little belly and he went up to her and patted her belly and said "baby, baby" as if she were pregnant because of her belly. When he first learned that a bigger belly could mean it had a baby in it, he was saying that about everyone who had any kind of belly at all. He even said it about himself, but since then he's learned that men don't have babies. After I told this story to the teacher, Matthew seemed to have understood everything and started clinging to my leg and hiding his face. I felt so bad after that because he had been so excited about school today and after that, he felt insecure and kind of bad. I'm sure he got over it quickly but I guess I have to watch what I say....poor thing.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
YIPPEE!
Ahhhhhhhh! For the first time in I don't know how long (maybe not in the whole 3 years that Matthew has been alive) I actually got to stay in bed until 8:45am this morning. Granted, he missed his nap yesterday (another story for another time) because of taking a 40 minute powernap in the car but he went to bed an hour early last night and slept until around 8:15 this morning. He just talked in his crib until I went to finally get him at almost 9am. That was something special.......I just had to share :)
I've thought about stopping the naps and just putting him to bed earlier (he currently goes to sleep at night at 9:30pm) but first, I'm pregnant and LOVE/NEED my 2 1/2 hour break in the afternoons and second, he has school and we have to be up by 7am either way. I think it's best we keep the naps for now.....there will be a time that all this nap stuff goes away so I think I need to enjoy it while I can!
BTW, I'm getting ready to get my Costa Rican driver's license finally for the first time in the almost 10 years I've been here (the US license is legal as an international license, but it's probably not good that I've been here so long and still don't have one). It's already been quite an adventure. If you've ever spent much time in CR, you will know that efficiency in government agencies especially is just ridiculous. I don't even know why I'm shocked. I know better. I know how it is here but yet, I'm still shocked at the miscommunication and inefficiency. I will tell the story soon. It's ongoing and hopefully will have a happy ending where I don't have to take the written and driving test again. I mean, taking it when you're 16 is one thing but I really don't want to have to do it again at age 37.
I've thought about stopping the naps and just putting him to bed earlier (he currently goes to sleep at night at 9:30pm) but first, I'm pregnant and LOVE/NEED my 2 1/2 hour break in the afternoons and second, he has school and we have to be up by 7am either way. I think it's best we keep the naps for now.....there will be a time that all this nap stuff goes away so I think I need to enjoy it while I can!
BTW, I'm getting ready to get my Costa Rican driver's license finally for the first time in the almost 10 years I've been here (the US license is legal as an international license, but it's probably not good that I've been here so long and still don't have one). It's already been quite an adventure. If you've ever spent much time in CR, you will know that efficiency in government agencies especially is just ridiculous. I don't even know why I'm shocked. I know better. I know how it is here but yet, I'm still shocked at the miscommunication and inefficiency. I will tell the story soon. It's ongoing and hopefully will have a happy ending where I don't have to take the written and driving test again. I mean, taking it when you're 16 is one thing but I really don't want to have to do it again at age 37.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
I hide, I hide!
A few days ago it was thundering really loud and it was almost time for Matthew to get up from his nap. Right as I was about to go in his room, there was a HUGE clap of thunder and the power went out. As I walked into his room, I saw him face down in the corner of his bed holding his stuffed Bunny and Ducky but he was moving around a little. When he heard me come in, he looked up with a kinda shocked, blank look on his face. I said, "wow, sweetie that was LOUD thunder, wasn't it?" and he said, "Si Mama, I hide, I hide!" and then he proceeded to show me how he was hiding in the corner of his bed with his two stuffed animals. It was just so adorable. I just loved on him for a little bit so he would feel safer. I'm surprised he didn't call for me and he stayed quiet and was "hiding". My little sweet man.......
Btw, we have the Spanglish thing going on so he usually says a mix of Spanish and English. He might say "sit down....aquí Mama" or "Agua please". Sometimes the phrase is completely in Spanish and sometimes it´s in English. He seems to still count more and say the colors in English but now that he´s in pre-K, there´s a lot more Spanish coming out. The family here is adjusting accordingly and his grandmother here knows that after his nap when he says "Más juice" that he wants more juice (jugo), ha, ha ha! Even his 76 year old grandfather is counting to five in English now:) It's so amazing how he learns both languages and doesn't even know he's doing it. Sometimes he says moon and sometimes he says luna. One time his grandfather (Tito) was pointing out the window telling him to look at the "luna" and Matthew kept yelling in his face "MOON, MOON, MOON" and of course Tito didn't have a clue what he was yelling. Finally I walked in and saw what had been going on for the last few minutes and explained to Tito that moon, was "luna" in English. Ahhhhhh, I'm sure we're going to have so many interesting situations like that with the two languages.
Btw, we have the Spanglish thing going on so he usually says a mix of Spanish and English. He might say "sit down....aquí Mama" or "Agua please". Sometimes the phrase is completely in Spanish and sometimes it´s in English. He seems to still count more and say the colors in English but now that he´s in pre-K, there´s a lot more Spanish coming out. The family here is adjusting accordingly and his grandmother here knows that after his nap when he says "Más juice" that he wants more juice (jugo), ha, ha ha! Even his 76 year old grandfather is counting to five in English now:) It's so amazing how he learns both languages and doesn't even know he's doing it. Sometimes he says moon and sometimes he says luna. One time his grandfather (Tito) was pointing out the window telling him to look at the "luna" and Matthew kept yelling in his face "MOON, MOON, MOON" and of course Tito didn't have a clue what he was yelling. Finally I walked in and saw what had been going on for the last few minutes and explained to Tito that moon, was "luna" in English. Ahhhhhh, I'm sure we're going to have so many interesting situations like that with the two languages.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Starting Off
So, I've decided to try blogging. Not necessarily so tons of people can sit around and read what's going on with me and my two children (two, once the second one is born in December:) and husband but to document what's going on, when, where and with whom. Mainly for my two boys in the future but also for me to be able to read back on in the future when I feel like reminiscing. Since we live in Costa Rica, it will also be nice for my friends and family in the US to be able to read it and somewhat keep up with things too!
To start off, the title of this entire blog is "My Gringo Ticos" and for those of you that don't know, Gringo is what most Latin American countries use to refer to Americans or English speakers instead of just calling us Americans or North Americans. It actually comes from wartimes between the US and Mexico when they would say "Green Go" since our soldiers were wearing green uniforms and they wanted us to GO. The term ended up being Gringo. This is the story that I've heard but if someone knows a different one, I'd like to hear it! Tico is the name that Latin Americans call Costa Ricans and it originates from many years ago when Costa Ricans used to put an ending on a word which was "tico" instead of the typical "ito" on the end of it to mean "little". For examble, un momentito would be un momentico which means give me just a little moment or second. Instead of saying a baby is chiquitito (very small), it would be chiquitico. You still hear this around town and I've even said it a bit myself. So to make a long story short (or longer), "My Gringo Ticos" would be "My American Costa Ricans" referring to my two boys who are both American and Costa Rican. Since this blog will be mostly about them, I thought it was appropriate.
Just a little update for those of you that already know, I'm 6 months pregnant with my second son and he's been moving all around lately. I'm starting to feel some of those jabbing feelings when an elbow or knee or something is trying to poke out or getting up close to my ribs. So far, I'm all belly (and not really all THAT big in that area) like last time and also like last time I'm feeling plenty of heartburn. Thank goodness for Zantac, that's all I can say. Besides that negative side effect, I feel pretty great except I'm definitely more tired than last time. I think it might have something to do with chasing around a toddler and plus, I'm not getting any younger, ha, ha, ha!
It just dawned on me the other day that this baby will be here in about 3 months....wow. Time is FLYING by. My first son Matthew will be 3 years old next month? How is that possible? Didn't I just bring him home from the hospital like YESTERDAY? Amazing. I was sorting through his clothes the other day to give some away since someone gave me a bunch more boy clothes and I remember it all like it was yestesrday. I remember him wearing this newborn stuff and who gave it to us. It just wasn't all that long ago, yet it was 3 years ago. I also can't believe that this will be my last time doing this pregnancy thing. Not that I'm dying for a bunch of kids (really two is enough and it's all I've ever wanted) but the whole experience is just so amazing. I really love it. Even the tough parts, labor and delivery, middle of the night feedings and all kinds of other "strange and uncomfortable" things that come with having a baby that I won't go into for the sake of the men in my family that may be reading this. So it's kinda sad (not boo-hoo, crying sad, but sad) that this chapter in my life is ending but I guess that's just part of life. I haven't had that many "chapters" in my life close where I said ok, I will definitely never be doing that again. Especially something that I loved. It's a weird feeling.
Surprisingly, I still have stuff to say (this is something that I worried about that I wouldn't have much to say) but it's 3:15pm and my son will be up from his nap at 4:30pm and I should go rest up while I can. I'm really trying to rest when he naps to be able to keep up with him during his second part of the day. All too soon, he'll give up these afternoon naps and when this baby comes in December, Lord only knows when I'll get to rest again.
To start off, the title of this entire blog is "My Gringo Ticos" and for those of you that don't know, Gringo is what most Latin American countries use to refer to Americans or English speakers instead of just calling us Americans or North Americans. It actually comes from wartimes between the US and Mexico when they would say "Green Go" since our soldiers were wearing green uniforms and they wanted us to GO. The term ended up being Gringo. This is the story that I've heard but if someone knows a different one, I'd like to hear it! Tico is the name that Latin Americans call Costa Ricans and it originates from many years ago when Costa Ricans used to put an ending on a word which was "tico" instead of the typical "ito" on the end of it to mean "little". For examble, un momentito would be un momentico which means give me just a little moment or second. Instead of saying a baby is chiquitito (very small), it would be chiquitico. You still hear this around town and I've even said it a bit myself. So to make a long story short (or longer), "My Gringo Ticos" would be "My American Costa Ricans" referring to my two boys who are both American and Costa Rican. Since this blog will be mostly about them, I thought it was appropriate.
Just a little update for those of you that already know, I'm 6 months pregnant with my second son and he's been moving all around lately. I'm starting to feel some of those jabbing feelings when an elbow or knee or something is trying to poke out or getting up close to my ribs. So far, I'm all belly (and not really all THAT big in that area) like last time and also like last time I'm feeling plenty of heartburn. Thank goodness for Zantac, that's all I can say. Besides that negative side effect, I feel pretty great except I'm definitely more tired than last time. I think it might have something to do with chasing around a toddler and plus, I'm not getting any younger, ha, ha, ha!
It just dawned on me the other day that this baby will be here in about 3 months....wow. Time is FLYING by. My first son Matthew will be 3 years old next month? How is that possible? Didn't I just bring him home from the hospital like YESTERDAY? Amazing. I was sorting through his clothes the other day to give some away since someone gave me a bunch more boy clothes and I remember it all like it was yestesrday. I remember him wearing this newborn stuff and who gave it to us. It just wasn't all that long ago, yet it was 3 years ago. I also can't believe that this will be my last time doing this pregnancy thing. Not that I'm dying for a bunch of kids (really two is enough and it's all I've ever wanted) but the whole experience is just so amazing. I really love it. Even the tough parts, labor and delivery, middle of the night feedings and all kinds of other "strange and uncomfortable" things that come with having a baby that I won't go into for the sake of the men in my family that may be reading this. So it's kinda sad (not boo-hoo, crying sad, but sad) that this chapter in my life is ending but I guess that's just part of life. I haven't had that many "chapters" in my life close where I said ok, I will definitely never be doing that again. Especially something that I loved. It's a weird feeling.
Surprisingly, I still have stuff to say (this is something that I worried about that I wouldn't have much to say) but it's 3:15pm and my son will be up from his nap at 4:30pm and I should go rest up while I can. I'm really trying to rest when he naps to be able to keep up with him during his second part of the day. All too soon, he'll give up these afternoon naps and when this baby comes in December, Lord only knows when I'll get to rest again.
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