Category Archives: Family

Toddler Speak

Posted in Isabella/Munchkin by

Having been a mom now for 14 months, and seeing my daughter interact with other babies/toddlers, I’ve determined a few things.

  1. The “gibberish” that baby’s speak is really their own secret language.
  2. Even though none of us know what they are saying, they can all understand each other.
  3. I’m also pretty sure that it’s a combination of Chinese and German.

I have 2 stories to back this up too:

1. Famous Footwear

One Saturday afternoon in August, CJ and I went shoe shopping and brought Munchkin with us. He needed new volleyball shoes and I needed both vb and running shoes. He tried his on first while I entertained Munch. Then we switched. While I was wandering the aisles, Munchkin suddenly  yelled out some gibberish. Another toddler in the store, that was a couple of aisles away, answered her! We laughed and the other girl’s dad even came over and said, “Wow, they’re talking to each other – and I think they know what they’re saying!”

My guess –

Munchkin: “Hey! Let’s ditch these parental units and go get some booze.”
Other Girl: “Right on! I’ll create a diversion and then we both run!”

2. Cousins

My sister has 3 kids – a girl and 2 boys. The youngest boy, Ben, is just 7 months older than Munchkin. On Thanksgiving, they were really getting in to playing with each other. They jibber-jabbered all day and no one thought much of it. Then towards the end of the day, as we were cleaning up, Munchkin wandered in to the kids’ play room at my mom/dad’s house and grabbed a book. She brought it out and placed it on the bench in the  kitchen. Ben took an immediate interest in it and they started looking at it together.

As they were flipping pages, they were “chatting”. We laughed at how much they were talking to each other and wondered if they understand what was being said. Just then, the book got knocked over behind the bench. Ben pointed to it and said something along the lines of, “Moosh eak ah suh tay!” Munchkin replied with, “ook” and immediately walked around to the back of the bench and tried to get the book! It was like he had just commanded her to do something in Baby-ease and she did it!

So there you go. My theory has been proven. Babies talk to each other in Chi-man and are plotting to take over the world, one mommy and daddy at a time.

That’s the way the cookie crumbles

Posted in Family, Holidays and Seasons by

Again I start a post by saying that I am exhausted. Baking cookies is hard work. I have a new appreciation for those who work in bakeries. I’m a wimp who sits in a chair at work all day. But, it’s fun too.

The Annual Atencio Women Christmas Cookie Baking Extravaganza commenced at 10 a.m. My mom, sister and I each had a handful of recipes we had chosen to bake and had 7 hours to do it (which was when we were meeting up with the rest of the fam for pizza). No problem, right? Well logistics tends to slow things down. There are only so many cookie sheets, pans, measuring cups, and spoons. Not to mention there is only one oven. So…there were times when we had a line of 5 cookies waiting to be baked and at a stand still until they could get in the oven.

We made a total of 11 today (6 of which were mine). My sis and mom are going to do more during the week but I wanted to get all mine done today because I knew I wouldn’t have much time otherwise. Here is a sampling of some that we did:

Chocolate chip cookie cups filled with M&M’s. The cool thing about these is you can fill them with anything you want, to correspond with the season. Aren’t they pretty?

Biscochitos, which are a traditional Spanish cookie (my dad’s family is from Spain). There are a few cookies we have to do each year and these are one of them. My dad’s mom used to make and ship ’em to us from Colorado. No one makes ’em like her, but we sure try.  

Dark chocolate cookie kisses. A new take on a traditional recipe. My sister also make the traditional ones, which are a peanut butter cookie with regular Hershey’s kisses on them.

Sugar cookies (well, at least a picture of the cookie cutters). Another old standby!

Salted Nut Roll Bars. These are my dad’s favorite so we have to do them. They’re quickly becoming my fav too which is odd because usually I go for anything chocolate. These are a perfect blend of salty and sweet, with marshmallows, peanut butter, peanuts, and rice krispies mixed together on a cake base. Mmmmm…..

The three of us exhausted after all the baking. We always have a lot of fun and I love that we have this tradition. It’s something that both my sister’s daughter and my daughter will join in someday. Just another reason to love the holidays!!

Productivity

Posted in Family, Goals by

I love being productive and I hate having “to do” lists where things don’t get done. Today I crossed a lot off my list so it was a good day.

I was up this morning around 7 a.m. and decided to hop on the computer and do some work on my digital scrapbook for 2010. Every year I make one not only for us to have but also has gifts for my parents and CJ’s dad. But, it takes a lot of work because it chronicles the whole entire year in pictures. I try to start it right away in January and then work periodically throughout the year. This year, however, I really haven’t done much because I’ve just been too busy. With Christmas right around the corner, I was feeling the pressure so I came down to try to do even one page. I actually got a lot done! Felt great!

Then Munchkin awoke so I got her up and fed and started on the day. My Sunday then becomes a game of “what can I get done in between playing, changing diapers, feeding, reading stories, and putting the baby down for a nap”. I’m actually pretty good at juggling and am able to do a little bit here and a little bit there which by the end of the day adds up to a lot. My main focus though is always Munchkin and trying to play with her or be with her as much as possible. She likes to be my helper so that works out well too. She will “help” me put away laundry or cook or dust or whatever.

Here’s my list for today along with what I’ve gotten done so far:

  1. laundry
  2. mop floors
  3. vacuum
  4. put away junk that has accumulated in the kitchen and on the dining room table
  5. work on digital scrapbook
  6. finish conference evals
  7. dust
  8. make grocery list for T-giving food
  9. make Xmas list
  10. start newsletter (for an organization that I’m the tech master for)

The evals I’ll work on tonight while I watch Desperate Housewives so that will be crossed off by the end of the day. The vacuuming will happen as soon as Munchkin wakes up from her nap. The grocery and Xmas lists will probably be done throughout the week.

All in all, I’m feeling really good about this day. I can go to bed tonight knowing that I worked my butt off and got a ton done. And as an added bonus, the Steelers totally stomped on the Raiders! Yeah baby!

A Day in the Life of Samson

Posted in Samson by

My day starts when mom comes in to wake me. Some mornings I am up and ready to go. Other days I need some loving and lie back hoping mom will rub my tummy. She always complies.

As soon as I get out of the kennel, I take a moment for a long stretch and then shake my body to get the sleep off. I try to do that right outside the little hairless one’s room and make as much noise as possible.

Now it’s hunting time! I have to find dad right away! I cannot do anything else until I find him! Most of the time he’s in the Alpha’s room, getting out of bed. But sometimes he’s not! I must find him! He might have food! When I do, I rub my nose and body against his legs until he pets me. If he ignores me, I jump up on him. Sometimes I aim for his daddy parts to drive my point home. Hey, they took away my daddy parts so it’s only fair for me to punish his once in a while.

Then it’s time to go outside. Mom opens the door and lets me out. I will only go out in the following conditions:

  1. It must be light out.
  2. It must be dry.

If it is anything different, I will not go. I can hold it. I’m a big dog.

When I come in, it’s time to help mom get ready for work. I go in and sit in the bathroom like a good boy while she gets ready to shower. Before she steps in the shower, she gives me a treat! Oh boy! A treat! I will do anything for a treat! When mom is finished with her shower, I go lay in the bedroom while she gets ready. Every so often she throws me a treat and tells me how cute I am. Well, duh. I mean, have you seen me? But hey, it’s a treat!! I love treats!

Now it’s time for breakfast. Mom feeds me and then gets her own food. I scarf mine down as fast as possible so that I can then go over and get some of mom’s. Then it’s time for mom to brush her teeth. I love when mom brushes her teeth because then I get more treats! I love treats!!

Mom leaves and it’s me, dad and the little hairless one for the rest of the day. I spend most of the day sleeping and prowling for food. When dad gives the little one snacks, I try to snatch them from her hand. Isn’t that a fun game! I also love when the little one eats because she drops a lot of food on the floor. Score! My head is at the perfect height to dig my nose right in her crotch while she’s in the tall chair and get out any crumbs. Hey, I need food! I’m practically starving here!

I like to look out the window and keep an eye on the neighborhood. I have a few friends that walk by on occasion and when I see them I run from the front window to the back door and jump and bark. I have to see my friend! Hurry! Life as we know it will end if I don’t see my friend!!!

When mom comes home, I run to greet her. She might have food! If she doesn’t, I go about my business. If she does, I dig my nose in her bags until I find it. She really likes that.

My evenings revolve around food. The family has dinner and I repeat my process of stalking the little one in case she drops something. I also beg from mom and dad. Dad gets really annoyed with me but mom gives me stuff. It’s totally worth it if I get food!

When I’m bored, I randomly grab one of the little one’s toys and run around the house with it. I usually do this when dad is gone. Mom yells at me but I think it’s a fun game. Mom puts me in my kennel when I do this but i don’t mind. I like my kennel.

Most nights they give the little one a bath. I hate baths. I hate water. When I hear the water running I go and hide. No way they’re going to pull me in to that tub. Unless they  have food. In that case I might reconsider.

Once the little one goes to bed, it’s all about me once again. Some nights I get a Kong. Sometimes I get to go for a car ride with dad to the store.  Most nights I get to lay on the couch next to mom. She snuggles with me and pets me. I pretend I don’t like it but secretly I do.

Then it’s time for bed. I sleep in my kennel. It’s my safe place. One time mom let me stay out while dad was away and I didn’t like it. I went to my kennel anyway.

There you go! That’s my day! Tomorrow we start all over. Hopefully I will score some more food. I love food!

5 Things

Posted in Family, Health and Weightloss by

Well being home this week with a concussion wasn’t all bad. Ok, so it wasn’t all good either. But, in the spirit of looking at the glass as half full, here are a few positive things that have come out of this week:

1. We saved on gas. My car was parked down at The Mall for the better part of 4 days and therefore didn’t get driven (drove? Whatever). Hey, if we can save a few pennies out of this whole ordeal, I’ll take it!

2. Speaking of pennies, we have now met our insurance deductible. We were about $1000 dollars away as of Monday morning. Considering Monday afternoon contained a trip to the ER, various doctor charges, a CT Scan, an MRI and blood work, I’d say we’ve more than covered that one grand. Not to mention they’ll probably charge me for the scrubs they “gave me” to wear home.

3. We know that I do in fact have a brain. Hey, some people questioned it but now I have the MRI results to prove it! And, not only do I have a brain, I have a big one. One of the biggest the radiologists have ever seen! Neener, neener, neener! Ok, maybe I’m making that up. Or maybe not. Guess only me and the radiologists will ever know…

4. I got caught up on sleep. Ever since being relocated to The Mall, sleep has been more and more fleeting. I get up earlier and go to bed later and do a whole lot more in between. But this week, I’ve been to bed by 9pm every night and had at least 1 nap every day. Awesome!

5. And the most important thing – I got to spend more time with Munchkin, CJ and Samson. While I would rather have another reason to be at home with them, I’ll take anytime I can get. Munchkin is such a joy and every minute we have together is precious. While I am getting stir crazy and am ready to get back to work, I will very much miss being at home with my family during the day.