Photo of the Day #5: The Maiden Voyage

Near our apartment here in Mexico City is a huge park, complete with two very dirty ponds, a state of the (play)art playground, an aviary and a large statue of Abraham Lincoln (a gift from the American people to the Mexican people). It is a fairly quiet place during the week but is filled with all manner of people on the weekends: prepared food vendors, fruit and vegetable vendors, craftsmen, young guys hawking cell phone and blackberry covers, balloon vendors, people walking their dogs, people walking their kids, young couples with no other place to go making out on every park bench, little kids in motorized cars terrorizing the people walking their dogs and kids, people floating remote-controlled boats in the filthy ponds...the list goes on and on. And while I love the balloons and ask my parents to let me get behind the wheel of one of the motorized cars, the thing that I love the most is watching the boats. In fact, I've been pestering Mama and Dada for one ever since our first day here back in August. Well, apparently they have an in with Papa Noel (that's Santa Claus to those of you North of the Border), because a fully motorized, remote control boat showed up under our Christmas tree this year. It's a good thing that Santa was able to obtain our forwarding address!

And she's off! I really wanted to break a bottle of champagne on her hull but it mysteriously disappeared.

My first mate and I

I think that Joaquin had something to do with the bottle of champagne going missing. He is clearly drunk.

So happy!

Mama and Joaquin enjoying the cruise

Photo of the Day #4: Machu Picchu

This is a post that is long overdue...about 15 months overdue that is. One of the best things about living in Peru was the opportunity to travel. And although we didn't travel as much as Mama would have liked, we did go twice to the Sacred Valley. For those of you not in the know, the Sacred Valley is the region of Peru that houses Cusco and Machu Picchu. In September 2008, Mama, Dada, our friends Kiren and Alyssa, and yours truly headed on down to MP to see what all the hype was about. And let me tell you, it truly does deserve to be one of the Wonders of the World. Set atop a mountain ridge that would make you dizzy and with the emerald green Andes as its backdrop, Machu Picchu is spectacular and everyone should see it at least once (maybe even twice!) in their lifetime. I know that I'll go back...and next time I'm hiking the Inca Trail! Who's game? Shall we say 2028?

Here I am with Dada on the grounds of the bed and breakfast where we stayed in the Sacred Valley. When (notice that I did not say if?) you go, you must stay at the Hosteria Rumichaca.

Tia Alyssa and I on the train to Machu Picchu. Look! You can see my reflection in the window.

Mama, Dada and I at MP

I wanted to climb to the top of Huayna Picchu (the mountain in the background) but Mama and Dada wouldn't let me. So I had to settle for climbing to the top of this rock.

Tia Kiren and I- she loves me.

Taking a well-deserved nap- it isn't easy carrying your pregnant mother up and down the steep terraces of Machu Picchu.

Photo of the Day: Day 3

For Christmas, Mama, Dada, Joaquin and I headed to Morgantown, WV to celebrate with Dada's entire immediate family. It was the first time that everyone was together since 2007...and really, not everyone was present then since my cousin Kiara and Joaquin weren't even born yet. I also saw snow for the first time! 10 days with 8 adults and 5 children in a house together passed without major incident! I'm not sure that it even qualifies as a traditional family holiday without a bit of dysfunction but we all got along swimmingly, though some lessons in sharing were learned the hard way. But hey, that's bound to happen with 3 kids under the age of three hanging out with each other.

I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season and that 2010 is treating you right so far!

Yours truly at Santa's Village...in Mexico.

Hitting the pinata at my school's Christmas party

My first time in the snow. Right after this picture I threw a snowball at Dada.

Joaquin's first Christmas!

The third generation: Alejandro, Kiara, Joaquin, Alicia and I

Photo of the Day: Day 2

And speaking of birthdays, I just had one a few days ago! I turned 3 years old on December 27th. Only 13 more years until I can drive, 15 more years until I can vote, 18 more years until I can drink and 62 more years until I can retire. Woo hoo!

As we were in Morgantown, WV for the holidays, we celebrated with Abu and Abuelita, my Tios Luis and Juan, Tias Kitty and Renata, and my cousins Alicia, Alejandro and Kiara. And of course, Mama, Dada and Joaquin. It was a low-key affair with balloons, streamers, ice cream and two cakes! Yes, two cakes!

Cake #1: I helped Mama make this cake.

Cake #2: I love Diego and Dora!

Just doing a little taste test.

The birthday boy with my cousins (Kiara, Alejandro and Alicia), Joaquin and Abu

With Dada, Mama and Joaquin

With Abu and Abuelita- enough with the picture taking. I must have cake!

Photo of the Day: Day 1

Dear Fans:

Happy New Year! In keeping with tradition, I've made a few resolutions for 2010. I'm going to be cuter, wittier and more fun than ever before...which will be pretty tough to do since I already excel in all those areas. But more important for you, my readers, is that I've promised to blog more regularly. Tougher than losing those last 10 pounds but much easier than kicking cigarettes!

In order to jump start 2010, I am borrowing an idea from my Tia Linsey's blog: Photo of the Day. She posted a picture with a brief description every day in December and I am going to do the same for January. We'll see if my little brother can pick up the slack in February.

And it is fitting that the first photo (or photos as it were) on this first day of of the new year should be of my mama (and yours truly of course). For you see, today is her birthday! Happy birthday Mama! You are just as beautiful as the day we met. Dada taught me that line...he's smooth.

Here I am with Mama when I was just three weeks old. Doesn't she look happy?

And this is a picture of the two of us from just last month.

Another picture of the two of us last month. Don't I look happy?

And now a word from our guest editor

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Summer Greetings from the Northern Hemisphere

Dear friends, family and fans:

Yes, I know that it has been awhile since you last heard from me but in between raising a new little brother, not to mention mama and dada, and making a major intercontinental move, I've been hard pressed to find the time to write. I haven't even had time to finish potty training myself! That's how bad it is. I've also been teaching Joaquin the ins and outs of blogging so that he can be a guest editor from time to time...though you'll have to be patient with him since I am sure that he won't be nearly as witty as yours truly...at least in the beginning. I do have about 2 years and 2 months on him you know.

I have plenty of fodder for future blogs, including: my summer in West Virginia with Abu and Ita, a week spent in Alpine Lake with mama's family, and my last few weeks in Lima (not to mention all of the trips that I took while living in Peru...woe is me, I'm dreadfully behind). In the meantime, however, I hope that a few pictures will tide you over until I can clear a bit of room in my schedule!

Besos,

Sebastian

Joaquin recently mastered the art of sticking out his tongue. What I want to know is why it is so cute at 5 months but later it is considered rude!

Mama and Joaquin. If she looks tired, it is because she hasn't slept in 2.5 years! Please take note of the Inca Kola shirt.

I got some ice cream and you don't have none....

Joaquin and I on our last day in Peru

And finally, Dada, Joaquin and I...aren't we just about the most handsome trio you've ever laid eyes on!