Sarek's Electric Slide

Another funny video from the afternoon with the magician. Can you imagine what their first garage rock band will be like?

Movin' On Up

Today was Sarek's last day at Ana's Daycare. He has been going there twice a week since he was 7 months old. I was less teary this time and Sarek is definitely ready to move on, but it was nonetheless a bittersweet milestone. I remembered a lot of firsts....incredulous and despondent new mom on her first day back at work, first practice run at Ana's with me refusing to leave after the door had closed...Ana shooing me away through the window... me walking the 1/2 block back home in a daze. There was also the first time he was so eager to get there, he broke into a run. First time he charged back into my arms at the end of a day. First time he didn't want to go home. First time he didn't want to go at all. First time he rode his bike there. First time he said to me, "Aye yie yie, Mama, te vas a la cuna." First art piece he brought back. Our tradition of going to the corner to watch the buses pass after a pick up (me super pregnant with Nola).

Sarek starts preschool on Monday morning. Certainly gallons of tears will be shed by this very tired but very grateful Mama. Stay tuned!

Sarek's friends.

Erica, Veronica, and Ana with Nola and Sarek at the ninth hour. Countless times at the door, saying, "Quien Es??" Mil gracias to Papa for the drop offs and pick ups this year! Family and friends.

Magician

We spent Saturday afternoon at the annual picnic put on by the kids' family daycare. It was near a lake with all the lake stuff....ducks, moss, turtles, and a platform to sit or lay on for a better view of the fish. A magician-clown stole the day, though, with tricks, games and a boom box which churned out cheesy but catchy tunes. Sarek is wearing the cow head....consistent with his reputation of having four stomachs! Don't miss the videos at the end. Hilarious, so Sarek and Dex.

Stormfront

A bunch of beginnings and endings this week: 1)Banu's last day Thursday 2)Nola's first time at Ana's tomorrow (actually, 3 hours from now) and 3) 24 hour call this weekend, my first since November. I hope I fare better emotionally about taking Nola to Ana's in the morning. Although I've been back at work since August, I trust Ana completely, and it's only twice a week, Ana's is a big reality check that my babies are being raised by other people. Very hard to swallow. Painful inventory of the impact of my choices. At least Nola is 10 months on the eve of her first daycare day and had Banu until now. I remember the day I dropped Sarek off for a trial run when he was 6 months old. I will never forget him in Ana's arms as she shut the door, his little Robeezed feet at her waistline, chubby hands full of her shirt, uncomprehending. I walked home in tears, sat in his room without a plan or any idea what to do with my few hours of freedom. I ached for him and worried. He was fine. But I felt like I'd let him down. Now, all I can do is pump, pump, pump for my dear baby Nola to get her through during this bumpy week. Which is why I'm up at the moment. Me and the pump. Good times!