Octavio wishes you a Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 31, 2008
17 Months: Taking a deep breath
So,
Our T FA (Tea ch For Ame rica) interviews have come and gone and I can't tell you how much more relaxing life is without the pressure of meeting the expectations of an organization that lets a computer decide on whether you should be accepted into their "corps" to help others by teaching. Isn't that funny, how competitive it is to get into T F A? It's seems like it's gotten to the point where people (students) think of it as the next logical stepping stone after college before going to grad school, and a good resume filler. Well, I guess I shouldn't sound upset, because frankly we need more energetic bright teachers in schools, and if it takes the prestige of getting into a program like T FA that so be it. Besides, looking in the mirror, why did I apply?
Which leads me to my next point...do I really want to be a teacher? You know I've thought about teaching for sometime O, actually since I was 20 when I applied and got into a teaching program at UMass, Boston and then did the same at UMass, Amherst a year ago. But I always envisioned myself teaching students that wanted to learn and never with a son that would not allow me to put 100% of my energy into lesson plans and what not. Now, especially after hearing the stories of TF A alumni, I'm not so sure it's the right thing for me, now.
Well, in other news, it's Halloween today, and your mother and I still don't know if you'll be trick or treating tonight. Your mother took you to an event all dressed up the other night at the library, apparently your outfit was a hit (a little dragon). I must say you look so cute in your costume, one that we got for only $5 at Old Navy where it was originally priced over $20! Like your mother said, I guess procrastinating can sometimes have its benefits.
You know I was doing dishes last night while you were playing in your room and I couldn't help but think there just isn't enough hours in the day for me. Never has been. I get home and can't wait to spend time with you and your mother, only to have split my time doing dishes, cleaning, doing laundry, picking out clothes for the next work day, and so on and so forth. I think I'm going to make more of an effort to play with you whenever I can, however tired I am. And when you finally go to sleep, instead of having down time will do house chores then.
We're four days away from potentially having the first African American President in history, and hopefully I didn't jinx him by saying this but I am getting more excited. This political season has been so dragged out and nasty that I can't help but not be as excited as I was just a few short months ago. But, I thin come Tuesday night, if everything goes as I want, I'll be happy, and happy for you as much as for me, since what the next president does will affect you every bit as much as me. I love you so much O, and when I look at you and kiss your sweaty head I can't help but think how lucky I am to have you in my world. Thank you little guy, and hope I don't let you down ever.
Love,
Pa
Our T FA (Tea ch For Ame rica) interviews have come and gone and I can't tell you how much more relaxing life is without the pressure of meeting the expectations of an organization that lets a computer decide on whether you should be accepted into their "corps" to help others by teaching. Isn't that funny, how competitive it is to get into T F A? It's seems like it's gotten to the point where people (students) think of it as the next logical stepping stone after college before going to grad school, and a good resume filler. Well, I guess I shouldn't sound upset, because frankly we need more energetic bright teachers in schools, and if it takes the prestige of getting into a program like T FA that so be it. Besides, looking in the mirror, why did I apply?
Which leads me to my next point...do I really want to be a teacher? You know I've thought about teaching for sometime O, actually since I was 20 when I applied and got into a teaching program at UMass, Boston and then did the same at UMass, Amherst a year ago. But I always envisioned myself teaching students that wanted to learn and never with a son that would not allow me to put 100% of my energy into lesson plans and what not. Now, especially after hearing the stories of TF A alumni, I'm not so sure it's the right thing for me, now.
Well, in other news, it's Halloween today, and your mother and I still don't know if you'll be trick or treating tonight. Your mother took you to an event all dressed up the other night at the library, apparently your outfit was a hit (a little dragon). I must say you look so cute in your costume, one that we got for only $5 at Old Navy where it was originally priced over $20! Like your mother said, I guess procrastinating can sometimes have its benefits.
You know I was doing dishes last night while you were playing in your room and I couldn't help but think there just isn't enough hours in the day for me. Never has been. I get home and can't wait to spend time with you and your mother, only to have split my time doing dishes, cleaning, doing laundry, picking out clothes for the next work day, and so on and so forth. I think I'm going to make more of an effort to play with you whenever I can, however tired I am. And when you finally go to sleep, instead of having down time will do house chores then.
We're four days away from potentially having the first African American President in history, and hopefully I didn't jinx him by saying this but I am getting more excited. This political season has been so dragged out and nasty that I can't help but not be as excited as I was just a few short months ago. But, I thin come Tuesday night, if everything goes as I want, I'll be happy, and happy for you as much as for me, since what the next president does will affect you every bit as much as me. I love you so much O, and when I look at you and kiss your sweaty head I can't help but think how lucky I am to have you in my world. Thank you little guy, and hope I don't let you down ever.
Love,
Pa
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
17 months: O's Photos
Unbeknownst to me, you have been taking my camera and taking beautiful photos. Here are some from today:
17 months: Picture post
What you've been up to...
You like crawling into your little wagon
You're a little too big for it
But that doesn't stop you
Crazy baby
The hologram exhibit was back up at the Children's Museum
You really liked it
Everyone together at Tio Toti's birthday dinner!
Lela got to hang out with you
Your cute little cousin
Eating yummie Chinese food
Mama kisses are the best
Happy birthday Tio Toti!
Lela & Titi Krysten got to you a Costa Rica shirt...you look so cute in it!
Hanging out with Raul Jr.
Awww...
Gentle, gentle, Mister O
There you go
Cousin hugs
Not sure what you're doing here
Kisses?
Dancing around
Tickles from Lela
Free hot dog courtesy of the Knights of Columbus at a rest stop
Look at the pretty foliage
Sneaky, sneaky
We went to go see Spongebob at a furniture store of all places
Spongebob didn't run away from us like he did at the Nickelodeon Hotel
Huggies for Spongebob
This was your favorite part...getting a Spongebob balloon
You've been playing with it for the last 3 days
You like crawling into your little wagon
You're a little too big for it
But that doesn't stop you
Crazy baby
The hologram exhibit was back up at the Children's Museum
You really liked it
Everyone together at Tio Toti's birthday dinner!
Lela got to hang out with you
Your cute little cousin
Eating yummie Chinese food
Mama kisses are the best
Happy birthday Tio Toti!
Lela & Titi Krysten got to you a Costa Rica shirt...you look so cute in it!
Hanging out with Raul Jr.
Awww...
Gentle, gentle, Mister O
There you go
Cousin hugs
Not sure what you're doing here
Kisses?
Dancing around
Tickles from Lela
Free hot dog courtesy of the Knights of Columbus at a rest stop
Look at the pretty foliage
Sneaky, sneaky
We went to go see Spongebob at a furniture store of all places
Spongebob didn't run away from us like he did at the Nickelodeon Hotel
Huggies for Spongebob
This was your favorite part...getting a Spongebob balloon
You've been playing with it for the last 3 days
Friday, October 17, 2008
17 months: Sickie
Hi sweetie pie :)
You're sick. You have a cold and are coughing and sneezing. Poor baby. Hope you feel better soon my lovie.
You're sick. You have a cold and are coughing and sneezing. Poor baby. Hope you feel better soon my lovie.
Friday, October 10, 2008
16 months: Same sex marriage
Hi little O! :)
Same sex couples won the right to get married in Connecticut today. Yay! That makes CT the third state after Massachusetts and California to allow same sex marriages. I hope that if you want to get married you'll be able to marry anyone you choose. But then again, I hope you don't get married and live with us for the rest of your life. :)
Love you sweetie pie and much love to the CT Supreme Court Justices (4 of them anyway).
-Mama
Same sex couples won the right to get married in Connecticut today. Yay! That makes CT the third state after Massachusetts and California to allow same sex marriages. I hope that if you want to get married you'll be able to marry anyone you choose. But then again, I hope you don't get married and live with us for the rest of your life. :)
Love you sweetie pie and much love to the CT Supreme Court Justices (4 of them anyway).
-Mama
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
16 months: Library
We went to the library last night and there was no one in the children's department. You had the little pre-school area all to yourself. It was actually a little creepy because usually that place is packed. As I was telling our neighbor downstairs, "people in this town love them some library!" Case in point, the library is hosting 3 different halloween parties for pre-schoolers at the end of the month. Everyone attending must have a free ticket which are available at the library. You could start picking up tickets on Monday but I thought nothing of it and when I went in last night (Tuesday) they were already "sold out" for the one I wanted to bring you to. Crazy! Anyhoo, I don't think you knew what to do with yourself without millions of children around you so just kept running back and forth but then you calmed down a little once kids started showing up.
Standing on the puppet theatre (you're not supposed to stand on it).
Standing on the puppet theatre (you're not supposed to stand on it).
16 months: Parenting class
Hi Mister O :)
We just got back a little while ago from our Nurturing Parenting class. It's held at a hospital nearby and it's for new parents to learn parenting skills. First we all eat lunch together and then the parents go to one room while the babies stay in another room playing. I didn't think you'd go for that since you're very into your separation anxiety phase at the moment but you did just fine. I think it helped that there were about 6 adults smiling and playing with you for the whole time but you know. You kept saying backa-backa-backa like you had tourette's syndrome so I had to explain what that was to everyone. Anyhoo, there were 3 other mommies but their babies are teeny tiny. One has a 6 week old and the other two have 8 week olds. They were so little and cute. I couldn't believe you had been that little. I mean look at you when you were that age...
Crazy! The mommies kept talking about how sleep deprived they were and I just shook my head not wanting to remember how exhausted I was those first few months. It's torture, Mister O!
Anyhoo, in other news, I saw a flyer in our local library about The Birth Survey. If you've given birth in the last 3 years go fill it out! It's a long survey and they ask you a bunch of questions about your doctor/midwife, and how you were treated at the hospital (if you birthed outside of the home), and also how you were treated post-partum. It's very comprehensive. Anyhoo, one of the reason they're doing it is so that mommies-to-be can be informed about their provider's practices. Filling out the survey made me realize again how lucky we were in our birth experience. I have no doubt that in most American hospitals I would have gotten a c-section or been induced or who knows what else especially since you were past full-term. My water broke spotaneously as they say in the shower at home around 4:30pm on Sunday (Mother's Day) and you didn't pop out into the world until 21 hours later on Monday at 11:21am. Many ob/gyns don't like to see a woman in labor for more than 12 hours after her water has broken before suggesting a c-section. I also wasn't forced to be induced or get an epidural. In many hospitals both would have probably been suggested and/or forced. They also completely respected our birth plan and respected the place of our doula and let me labor or birth in any position I wanted although for some reason all I wanted to do was lay in bed. We were very very lucky Mister O! We also had good health insurance that let us all stay in the hospital for 5 days while you were treated for jaundice. I didn't get discharged like a lot of mommies do. Crazyness! Hopefully this survey will make policies better though.
Oh and I also wanted to tell you that Daddy & I both applied for Teac h for Ame rica. It's a program where college grads without an education background are sent to teach in low income schools across the country. Daddy applied because he's been interested in teaching for a bit (along with 1 million other things) and actually got into a teaching certification program at UMass a few months before you were born. I applied as well but I didn't think I would have any chance since they get so many applications but we both filled out our applications which included a few essays and a bunch of questions and then were both selected for a phone interview which we did and then now we have been invited for a final interview on October 28th. We have to do a five minute lesson, a group interview, a problem solving activity, and then a one-on-one interview. It's an all day thing so Lela Mayela is graciously going to take care of you that day. Thank you Lela Mayela! Before the interview though we have to select our top regions where we would like to teach. There are 29 regions all over the country from Hawaii to Misssissippi so we're trying to narrow those down at the moment. Here are the choices:
If we were accepted, where would you like to live, Mister O? We've been thinking of a rural area but we'll see. Anyhoo, it's time to go pick up Daddy so I'll write to you later. I love you my little snookie wookie.
-Mama
We just got back a little while ago from our Nurturing Parenting class. It's held at a hospital nearby and it's for new parents to learn parenting skills. First we all eat lunch together and then the parents go to one room while the babies stay in another room playing. I didn't think you'd go for that since you're very into your separation anxiety phase at the moment but you did just fine. I think it helped that there were about 6 adults smiling and playing with you for the whole time but you know. You kept saying backa-backa-backa like you had tourette's syndrome so I had to explain what that was to everyone. Anyhoo, there were 3 other mommies but their babies are teeny tiny. One has a 6 week old and the other two have 8 week olds. They were so little and cute. I couldn't believe you had been that little. I mean look at you when you were that age...
Crazy! The mommies kept talking about how sleep deprived they were and I just shook my head not wanting to remember how exhausted I was those first few months. It's torture, Mister O!
Anyhoo, in other news, I saw a flyer in our local library about The Birth Survey. If you've given birth in the last 3 years go fill it out! It's a long survey and they ask you a bunch of questions about your doctor/midwife, and how you were treated at the hospital (if you birthed outside of the home), and also how you were treated post-partum. It's very comprehensive. Anyhoo, one of the reason they're doing it is so that mommies-to-be can be informed about their provider's practices. Filling out the survey made me realize again how lucky we were in our birth experience. I have no doubt that in most American hospitals I would have gotten a c-section or been induced or who knows what else especially since you were past full-term. My water broke spotaneously as they say in the shower at home around 4:30pm on Sunday (Mother's Day) and you didn't pop out into the world until 21 hours later on Monday at 11:21am. Many ob/gyns don't like to see a woman in labor for more than 12 hours after her water has broken before suggesting a c-section. I also wasn't forced to be induced or get an epidural. In many hospitals both would have probably been suggested and/or forced. They also completely respected our birth plan and respected the place of our doula and let me labor or birth in any position I wanted although for some reason all I wanted to do was lay in bed. We were very very lucky Mister O! We also had good health insurance that let us all stay in the hospital for 5 days while you were treated for jaundice. I didn't get discharged like a lot of mommies do. Crazyness! Hopefully this survey will make policies better though.
Oh and I also wanted to tell you that Daddy & I both applied for Teac h for Ame rica. It's a program where college grads without an education background are sent to teach in low income schools across the country. Daddy applied because he's been interested in teaching for a bit (along with 1 million other things) and actually got into a teaching certification program at UMass a few months before you were born. I applied as well but I didn't think I would have any chance since they get so many applications but we both filled out our applications which included a few essays and a bunch of questions and then were both selected for a phone interview which we did and then now we have been invited for a final interview on October 28th. We have to do a five minute lesson, a group interview, a problem solving activity, and then a one-on-one interview. It's an all day thing so Lela Mayela is graciously going to take care of you that day. Thank you Lela Mayela! Before the interview though we have to select our top regions where we would like to teach. There are 29 regions all over the country from Hawaii to Misssissippi so we're trying to narrow those down at the moment. Here are the choices:
- Atlanta
- Baltimore
- Bay Area, California
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Connecticut
- DC
- Denver
- Eastern North Carolina
- New Orleans
- Philadelphia-Camden
- Hawaii
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Jacksonville
- Kansas City
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Memphis
- Miami-Dade
- Mississippi Delta
- New Mexico
- New York City
- Newark
- Phoenix
- Rio Grande Valley, Texas
- South Dakota
- South Louisiana
- St. Louis
If we were accepted, where would you like to live, Mister O? We've been thinking of a rural area but we'll see. Anyhoo, it's time to go pick up Daddy so I'll write to you later. I love you my little snookie wookie.
-Mama
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
16 months: More!
You have now learned the word "more", God help us all.
Daddy making funny faces at you? More! More!
Mama giving you backa-backa for what seems like an eternity? More! More!
Looking through your Corduroy book and finding all the Corduroys a million times? More! More!
More, more, more, more, more!
Daddy making funny faces at you? More! More!
Mama giving you backa-backa for what seems like an eternity? More! More!
Looking through your Corduroy book and finding all the Corduroys a million times? More! More!
More, more, more, more, more!
16 months: Picture Post
Hi Mister O!
One of your favorite things to do is to go into the fridge and rearrange all the stuff in there
This was new though. You took your favorite stool that you push all over our apartment and then started stacking your favorite containers.
You were very serious about it
Very good my sweetie pie!
It got really cold all of a sudden so we went out to try to find you a winter hat and gloves since the ones from last year don't fit you anymore. I really wanted to get this one for you
But it's white and will get dirty in about 2 seconds (you're eating a chicken tender...I always travel with food when I'm with you)
Look how cute you look...if only it was a different color.
One of your favorite things to do is to go into the fridge and rearrange all the stuff in there
This was new though. You took your favorite stool that you push all over our apartment and then started stacking your favorite containers.
You were very serious about it
Very good my sweetie pie!
It got really cold all of a sudden so we went out to try to find you a winter hat and gloves since the ones from last year don't fit you anymore. I really wanted to get this one for you
But it's white and will get dirty in about 2 seconds (you're eating a chicken tender...I always travel with food when I'm with you)
Look how cute you look...if only it was a different color.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
16 months: Brown's Harvest
On Saturday we headed out to Brown's Harvest to get you a pumpkin. Only we ended up not getting you a pumpkin but that's another story. Your cousins were over Papa Cesar & Lela Carmen's house so we they came along as well.
Here you are in the play area going up a big slide
You went down the slide so fast that we thought you might have broken something...you were just fine though
You look so happy to be with mama
Corn Maze! You had to hold Daddy's hand in the maze because crazy children were running around everywhere.
Your silly cousin
Look at all those teeth! You were so happy
Jalil running around
Jalil in the fire truck
Fire truck for Mister O
You start driving right away
Getting ready for our hayride
Your cousins
You love hugs from Daddy
And we're off!
Your cousins making you laugh by throwing hay around
In the woods
At the pumpkin patch
You always have an apple slice in your hand
Aww :)
Family hug
Mister O wanting to get off
My lovie is so serious
I have a hard time taking a picture of all of us
There we go
Your cousins acting crazy
You loved being pulled around in this wagon
So many toys for you to play with
Eating an apple cider donut!
Here you are in the play area going up a big slide
You went down the slide so fast that we thought you might have broken something...you were just fine though
You look so happy to be with mama
Corn Maze! You had to hold Daddy's hand in the maze because crazy children were running around everywhere.
Your silly cousin
Look at all those teeth! You were so happy
Jalil running around
Jalil in the fire truck
Fire truck for Mister O
You start driving right away
Getting ready for our hayride
Your cousins
You love hugs from Daddy
And we're off!
Your cousins making you laugh by throwing hay around
In the woods
At the pumpkin patch
You always have an apple slice in your hand
Aww :)
Family hug
Mister O wanting to get off
My lovie is so serious
I have a hard time taking a picture of all of us
There we go
Your cousins acting crazy
You loved being pulled around in this wagon
So many toys for you to play with
Eating an apple cider donut!
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