Mia Juliet and Nicolas

Sharing

2009-03-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

My brother, Nicolas, and I have a special relationship.

He's always sleeping. So, I look forward to playing with him when he's awake.

Here I am, sharing my old baby toys with him. I don't need them any more because I'm a big girl, now. I'm four.

Here I am sharing my special Daddy story-time with Nicolas. Some day, my baby brother will learn the alphabet and know how to rhyme and talk like a big kid, like I do.

When my brother is big enough, I want a bunk bed. For now, I let him try to sleep with me on my bed. Mommy doesn't let him stay there, though. She always puts him in his bassinet.

Big sister

2009-03-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

As the big sister, I have a big job to do.

I help Mommy and Daddy when they change Nicolas's diapers.

I stand by, ready to help, when it's his bath-time.

I teach my brother the ways of the world. Here I am, teaching him about Korea and Japan, which are right next to each other in Asia.

I watch him and talk to him all the time, too.

Mia and Nicolas

2009-03-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

Many people ask my mother whether Nicolas and I are getting along. Some people -- relatives with negative attitudes who shall remain nameless -- expect me to be jealous and angry about my brother joining the family. But, the truth is, I've been wanting a sibling for a long time. And I am happy.

Nicolas turned two months this week

2009-03-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

His two-month birthday involved a visit to the doctor's office, where he was weighed and measured and given vaccinations.

Nicolas weighed in at 12 pounds, 8 ounces on his two-month birthday. That puts him in the 75th percentile for weight. He also, at 24 1/4 inches in length, measured in at the 75th percentile for height. Interestingly, unlike his sister, whose head consistently measured in the 90th percentile, his head measured in at 39 1/2 centimeters, putting him in the 45th percentile.

Dr. Rizo poked.

And she prodded.

She even took off my son's diaper to check out his boy business. Ultimately she declared him a healthy, strong and chatty big-eater.

One Month Old Already

2009-02-09T15:37:00.000-08:00

This is Nicolas on his one-month birthday.

Mia's Fourth Birthday Party

2009-02-09T15:35:00.000-08:00

I had a fun sports party for my birthday. Lots of my friends and my cousins from Austin came for the party.

First, I had fun bouncing in the bouncehouse. That's my good friend, Mia G, bouncing with me.

After the sporting part of the party, we had a medal ceremony. Here I am giving my good friend, Gavin, a medal.

Then we busted the basketball pinata.

And on top of that, we had my cake! It was a yummy tres leches cake. Now that Nicolas is with us, we need to start getting cuatro leches cakes.

Lola's visit

2009-02-09T15:27:00.000-08:00

My Lola came to visit during my birthday. We started celebrating my birthday, which was on a Saturday, on Friday. And we kept celebrating during my party on Sunday!

Here we are, getting ready to try the new restaurant, Osaka. I had been wanting to try it ever since they put the sign up on Broadway.

Here we are at Osaka. Lola and I both had the children's chicken meal.

I had an ice cream birthday treat at the 410 Diner on my actual birthday.

Mommy made me some cupcakes for my birthday. I got to blow the candles for my cupcake on my actual birthday.

My friends

2009-02-09T15:18:00.000-08:00

Some of my friends have come to visit me and visit my brother. Their mommies and daddies brought our family yummy food, too.

This is my friend, Hannah. Her mommy brought us a tasty pasta and chicken dinner. Yummm....

This is my friend, Olivia. Her mommy and daddy came with Thai food! Yummy yummy in my tummy pad wun sen.

This is Murray. Her mommy brought us lasagna and salad. It was the first time I ever tried lasagna. I liked it.

Company

2009-02-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

Since Nicolas was born, a lot of people have been coming to visit. Here are just some of the grown-ups who've come to see me and my brother.

Miss Becca -- our neighbor two houses down -- came to visit. She came with fresh orange juice! Yum!

Here are Tio Robert and Tia Rosi.

And Grandma Juliet and Aunt Martha came by recently.

First week

2009-02-09T15:02:00.000-08:00

During the first week, Abi and Abo stayed at our house and played with me and Nicolas a lot.

Here's Abo holding Nicolas on his second day of life at the hospital.

Here's Abi playing with Nicolas.

Having Abi and Abo the first week was a lot of fun, and it helped me while I got acquainted with my new brother. Mommy had a big owie and she couldn't play with me much. Daddy was helping Mommy with Nicolas because of the big owie, so he was really busy, too.

I'm really glad that Abi and Abo were there to play with me. It was so new having a baby brother.

First Mamarazzi Photo Session

2009-01-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

After my first week of life, Mommy decided to do a photo session similar to the one she did for my big sister, Mia, after her first week.

So young, so bored. Wait... please stop talking.

Maybe I'll be a guitarist when I grow up.

Don't I look really different from when I was born?

Maybe I'll be a tough guy when I grow up.

Mia meets her brother

2009-01-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Mia Juliet came later in the day with her abuelitos, who had been staying with her as her mother labored to bring out Nicolas.

Their first meeting went really well.

Mia was very tender and sweet and has been since his birthday.

Mia and Nicolas's abuelitos have been helping since Friday, Jan. 2. Thank you so much.

The team

2009-01-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

Here are the birth coach and the birther with the birthed.

Here's the amazing doctor, Gail Van Wingerden, who patiently waited out five hours of "transition" and three and a half hours of pushing.

And here's the wonderful nurse, Jacqui Duncan, who was there all throughout the experience.

Our doula, Julie Walker is not pictured here because she is taking the pictures.

The stats

2009-01-08T11:00:00.001-08:00

Nicolas Luis was born weighing 8 lbs., 4 oz., measured 21 inches in length and 14 inches in head circumference. He was a big boy, but not as big as his sister, who was born a couple weeks late four years ago, weighing 8 lbs., 14 oz.

Nicolas Luis's Birth

2009-01-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

Nicolas Luis was born on Jan. 3, 2009 at 4:24 a.m., after 23 hours of labor.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody! First, Merry Christmas! Second, my apologies for not having posted in months. Mommy has been busy with work and with taking care of Cutie Pie before he comes into this world. And I've been busy learning, growing and helping my Mommy.

I'm updating my blog today because Mommy says that Cutie Pie is going to come soon and we need to update the blog before he comes.

So, Merry Christmas!

We had dinner Christmas Eve at Tia Rosi's house. Yum! She always cooks great food. And she gave me a great gift, as well!

Here we are in front of Tia Rosi and Tio Robert's Christmas tree.

On Christmas Day, I opened a lot of great gifts from my friends and family. I'm such a lucky girl!

After opening gifts, we went to the Phoenix Chinese Cafe with Tios Robert and Rosi and Grandmama. We had a great time!

Christmas season celebrating with friends

2008-12-25T17:15:00.000-08:00

Before the actual day, I celebrated Christmas with my friends. My friends, Rita and Stella had a cookie decorating party. My friend Azzyniah took me to a Kwanzaa dance celebration at the Carver Cultural Center. And I attended my cousin, Diana's Christmas piano recital in Austin. Merry Christmas!

Happy 65th Birthday, Lola

2008-12-25T16:55:00.000-08:00

This past November, we traveled to California to help my Lola celebrate her 65th birthday. Mommy, Daddy and Tita Lola Tere did a lot of work. I think my Lola had a great time.

See, she's smiling.

This is my Tita Lola Tere.

I also got to play with my cousin Emma during this visit. I'm so glad!

Here are some photos from the big event.

California Trip

2008-12-25T16:20:00.000-08:00

I also got to visit my Lolo, who died three years ago.

It was very windy and cold when we visited.

Wherever I go, I always find a way to have fun.

I enjoy playing games with my Lola and hearing her laugh out loud. She has the funniest laugh.
Here's the rest of my trip.

Halloween

2008-12-25T15:45:00.000-08:00

Halloween was so much fun! I participated in BooTanica at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, doing the fun activities and the parade near my house. At school, we had a big party where my friends and I did a lot of jumping and dancing and throwing of confetti. We also had a great parade on the actual day. Also, my Mommy and Daddy held a party at our house and I invited some friends. I wanted to invite more, but they couldn't all fit in my little house. I had so much fun! I want to do it all again.

Here is a video I made honoring one of my favorite fun days of the year.

Fall is birthday season

2008-12-25T15:42:00.001-08:00

Fall has been a busy season of birthday parties. I went to an art party, a ballet party, Widget's party in California, a train party, and a bunch of other parties for my friends at preschool and my cousins.

Birthday Season

2008-12-25T14:57:00.000-08:00

I've gone to so many birthday parties, I decided to make a video about it. After editing, I realized I missed photos from a few of the parties. Oh well! Enjoy the video!

Visiting with Widget and Her Family

2008-08-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

Late June, my friend Widget and her mommy, Ms. Aunt Tammy, and daddy, Mr. Uncle Dale traveled to Texas to visit her grandmama, Ms. Aunt Rosemary, and grandpapa, Mr. Uncle Milton, in Manor, Texas. So, we went up (it's near Austin) to play a bit and to say "Hi" to everybody.

Mia in Chicago

2008-08-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody! It's been a hectic few months. We've been traveling. I've been going to summer school. And Mommy's been doing a lot of work.

Last month, we traveled to Chicago. Mommy worked at the UNITY conference, while Daddy and I met with my Uncle Shahid and Rafi. I had a lot of fun! Here are the highlights.

Father's Day

2008-07-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

So... I'm a little late with these pictures. Again, I sheepishly offer my most sincere apologies. Life gets busy. But, I did want to share my great day with Daddy. On Father's Day, Daddy and I hung out all day together.

His guitar strings broke a long time ago, ending our weekly jam sessions together. For Father's Day, I fixed that by getting him some new strings. And so, we're back to our weekly jam sessions now!

Also for Father's Day, Mommy got these cool matching shirts... er rather... corresponding shirts. Look closely. Though they are different colors, they go together.

Father's Day was really hot. So, Daddy decided to spend the day splish-splashing outside. He looks happy, no?

I'm happy, too.