My birthday - belated

Hi all,

Now, I don't want you to think this post title means my parents forgot my birthday because they didn't. Heck, I know you all celebrated my Bday in your own special ways. What is belated is only this update. One of many belated updates I need to post.

Anyway, here in Peru we celebrated in style, with lots of amigos and their parents over to my casa for a rocking party. Unfortunately, my parents nixed the idea of vodka-infused cake. What can I say, they are super square. This photo here is a small slice of my guests, all roaming and playing and having a merry time. Really, December 27 is truly a day for celebration.

But wait, there's more (and I am not talking about a second set of steak knives, free... though you can help yourselves to my parents' set if you really want some). Most importantly, there's me doing my happy dance while the gang sang Happy Birthday. Now, just because I hadn't had a birthday before doesn't mean I didn't know the song. I am a very popular guest at toddler birthdays, I'll have you know.

Now, the cake was pretty good. It was a carrot cake and both sweet, yummy, and comparatively healthy. However, I need to tell you about a much more important, and tasty, discovery. They're called "cookies". Specifically, "chocolate chip cookies". Now that may be a silly name, and definitely way too long. But, you can call them whatever you want so long as I can have an endless supply of them. I demand these treats on a regular basis. Again, let me state that these things are awesome and you should definitely try them. You won't be disappointed.

Anyway, more photos and cute dialogue. Here's what every parent wants -- a cute photo with their child on their birthday. I've got a big smile b/c I am still thinking about those cookies.

Meanwhile, every child wants a super cool trike on their birthday! Thanks Abuelitos Pablo and Olga!

Well, thanks for checking in! My birthday was awesome. Best one I've had so far. Of course, it woulda been better had all my friends from around the globe been able to join me. Maybe next year. For now, I say ADIOS. And, please, do not forget to try cookies. They are really, really good!



XOXO,

The 1 year old Sea Bass

July update?!

Hola amigos,

Now, you may be thinking… has Baby Sebastian found the fountain of youth? This photo makes him look so young. I thought he was older. Well, first let me thank you for the compliment. I know I have beautifully soft and supple skin, with no wrinkles or smile lines to speak of. How do I do it, you ask? I stick to a daily regimen of Aveeno baby moisturizer mixed with copious amounts of rice cereal, baby yoghurt, blended sweet potato, carrots, apples and pears all spread over my face at meal time. It really does the trick.

However, in this case, I am also including photos from waaaay back in July, during my 7th month. You see, I have been remiss in updating this blog, so I need to inform you of significant past events. Anyway, back in July, Tio Luis and Tia Renata (these are actual family members now, not that my other “tios” aren’t close to my heart too) came to Lima to meet me. (There's the three of us there on the right.) And who wouldn’t want to do that? Anyway, we had a great time, telling stories, drinking ‘til dawn, carousing, and generally having a good time while Mommy and Daddy slept.

They came to visit from Brazil, so you can imagine their surprise when they realized I didn’t wear speedo diapers. But we are more modest here in Peru. But I look forward to streaking down Corcovado beach some day soon.

This is me with Tio Luis sharing a moment. I was reading his palm - yes, I have many talents. Turns out his younger brother will actually get even better looking with age. Don't know exactly why that info was hidden in his palm though...

This is a lovely photo of me with Daddy and Tio Luis. (What you can’t see is the plate I am levitating with my mind.) It really is amazing they are brothers, considering how much better looking Daddy is. Oh well, at least he found Tia Renata. Otherwise, he would probably be living under a bridge somewhere eating billy goats.

Here’s me with Tia Renata. I do believe we make a cute couple. She’s just a little too tall for me. Gotta keep eating those blended carrots and sweet potatoes…

This is when I had to teach Tio Luis a lesson about respecting my authority. I can’t quite remember what he said, but I assumed it was a smart-ass remark and promptly decided to tackle him. This shot captures the event perfectly… his surprise at how quickly I leapt from my chair and dropped the hammer right on his head. I hit him with such force that his chair tipped over and it took my parents and a couple of wait staff to pull me off him as I pounded him with my tiny fists. That’s how I remember it, anyway. We’re good friends now, though.

How did this get in here?! Damn paparazzi won’t leave me alone – I can’t even eat a meal in peace. Now I know exactly how Brad Pitt feels, except that I’m better looking.

Honestly, I’m gonna have to talk to my crack team of lawyers. This is just a massive invasion of privacy.

Missing: Super Cute Baby

Hey all,

Now I know I shouldn't be laughing about this, because Mommy and Daddy were quite scared... but I hid so well that they couldn't find me anywhere. I tried to contain my laughter, but failed miserably... much like Abuelito Pablo fails to drink just one Jack Daniels. Anyway, once I started seeing my face on milk cartons here (ultrapasteurized by the way... the stuff lasts years, and tastes like liquid cardboard), I felt bad and came out of hiding.

I think a future as a superspy awaits...

XOXO,
Baby S

And the number one reason that it is good not to be French....

...is that I get to do this....

And for all of you concerned readers, don't worry, this bidet has NEVER, EVER been used in its official capacity.

It also attracts some of the local fauna, as shown in the following video.

Until next time,

Baby Sebastian

Watch out Scalia...

Hi Everyone: I just wanted to take a moment away from my very, busy social schedule to send a big round of applause for my Uncle Jamie. Recently he found out that he passed both the New York and the Massachusetts Baaaahr Exam. What? No! My spelling skills are fine...acute really. That's just how they spell Bar in Massachusetts. Geez.

Anyhow, for those of you not in the know, Uncle Jamie makes up one third of the AU SIS Terrible Trio (Tia Meri and Mommy being the other two thirds). They all met in Professor Doug Little's Econ class their first semester in grad school. They've been inseparable ever since...or at least were until Mommy moved to Peru. They have all sorts of geeky inside jokes about diminishing marginal returns about the world's oldest profession. But I digress...after Mommy and Tia Meri finished school, Uncle Jamie decided that one graduate degree just wasn't enough and decided to postpone entering the real world for awhile by signing up for Law School! He graduated in May and is now clerking for some hot shot judge on the Massachusettes Appeals Court.


Here is a picture of him with Tia Meri at her wedding last month.











Way to go Uncle Jamie! We are all so proud of you. You are an inspiration to babies everywhere!

Another One Bites the Dust

I would just like to give a shout out to my Tios Mike and Merideth, who got married yesterday. I really wanted to go to the wedding, mostly to object since Tia Meri is one hot mama (though not my mama) but Mommy and Daddy don't give me enough allowance to pay for a ticket and, suspecting what I was up to, took away my credit card.


To refresh your memory (since they visited me a few months back), here is a picture of the happy couple, who should be ensconced in a honeymoon villa in the Dominican Republic, pina coladas in hand, by now.

Congrats Tia Meri and Tio Mike! Mommy, Daddy and I send you all of our best wishes for a long and happy life together.

Besitos (especially to Tia Meri), Baby Sebastian

Dragon Spotted in Peru

Know, I know what you are thinking: "There are no such things as dragons. They are mythical creatures, the stuff of dreams and J.R.R. Tolkien novels." But believe you me, I am no hobbit (keep all your short jokes to yourself, I'll grow!) and a real live, fire breathing dragon terrorized a function at the U.S. Embassy on Friday. I managed to snap a few pictures of it and am giving you, the reader, a first look before selling the pictures to the AP or, better yet, People magazine. Be forewarned, however, that these pictures are seriously scary. So if you scare easily, you may want to avert your eyes.

First up is a picture of my mommy with the dragon sitting on her lap. Doesn't she know how dangerous they are! Fortunately, I was there to save her.

Next is a picture of my daddy with the dragon. As you can see, he is fending it off with his magic work badge. But boy does that dragon look mean and hungry. It's a good thing that there were no small children or animals around.



Now, it is a little known fact that the only other animal that a dragon gets along with is the giraffe. In fact, giraffes have a calming power over dragons. So, if you are ever being chased by a dragon, make a beeline for the nearest zoo. Here is a picture of Caleb the Giraffe, a.k.a. The Dragon Tamer.




And just so you see how scary the dragon really is in his full glory, I have included this picture of him rearing up on his hind legs.










The scariest part of the whole day (well, for my parents but not for me) was when he followed us home and tried to eat my Tio Nilo (that's our neighbor for those of you not in the know). Despite the fact that he is responsible for the security of Peace Corps volunteers in all of South America and should be immune to dragons, he was terrified.

And finally, I managed to capture the dragon on video. As you will see, Godzilla has nothing on him.

That's all for know, dear reader. Until next time, keep your heads up and be on the lookout for dragons and tigers and bears, oh my!