Did you miss me?

Amigos,

It has been far too long since I wrote, and for that I apologize. But I know you forgive me after viewing this ultra-cute picture of me trying to crawl. (By the way, I still haven't figured it out.) However, you will be interested to know that I wasn't just wasting all this time drooling and sleeping (though I do sleep regularly... who doesn't take 3 naps a day, right?). I was busy seeing the world (3 weeks in USA) and sprouting teeth (and I am not afraid to use them). But now it is time to catch you up on recent events, like Grandpa Ed's visit in April and the shorter, but no less sweet, visit of Tios Mike and Merideth.

Later still, I will fill you in on my trip to the Motherland, my Tio Eddie's wedding, my 6 month birthday (thanks for all the well wishes), and my foray into the world of rice cereal. And Tio Luis and Tia Renata were just here this weekend. But on to April...

Grandpa Ed came for a nice long visit to hang out and meet me (as well as peruse the local chicas). At first, I figured he rode a motorcycle down here because he looked so rugged. Turns out I was half right... he is a motorcycle man after all, but he actually flew a plane down here. I should say, flew on a plane. Had he been flying the plane himself, it never woulda made it. (Unlike my Tio Eddie, who actually is a pilot... or so he says. I'll believe him for now.) Anyway, this first shot is of me and Grandpa at a nice restaurant. I was so hungry I was actually considering eating my fist. And there we are at a weekend cookout. I got all spiffed out in my hoodie, while Grandpa did his best to challenge speed eater's Kobayashi's hot dog eating record. (He ate one... barely.)

Overall, Grandpa Ed enjoyed the Peruvian cuisine, though I think he's still chewing on some gum to get rid of the taste of that hot dog. (We're still trying to ascertain if it actually was made with real dog.) However, he did get lots of good fish and "lomo saltado", a Peruvian classic. I would assume it's more flavorful than rice cereal or stewed carrots. I hope it is, anyway. Anyway, here we are recreating a scene from Crocodile Dundee, where he's the Aussie protagonist and I am the adorable baby sidekick. Maybe they haven't made this movie yet, but I guarantee it would be better than "Cop and a Half".

Tios Mike and Merideth also visited in April, and overlapped with Grandpa. My apologies again for not writing this sooner... it is already July (egads!). So, we all hung out and got completely drunk (well, perhaps I exaggerate), reminisced about Daddy's Uno prowess, and watched Daddy crush Tio Mike in Halo (no scope!). But Mike was a good sport and only cried a little.

Finally, I will leave you with super cute photos of me with Mommy and Daddy. Arrivaderci, and I will write again soon...

Catching up on past events

OK amigos,

Back to the task of updating you on my exciting life... Last you knew, my abuelitos visited, which was a rocking good time. In fact, it was so much fun that I decided to book a flight to Colombia during Semana Santa (that's Holy Week to my gringo friends). Also, note that it is spelled with an "o" instead of a "u" like in Columbia University. Speaking of, let's give a round of applause to my 1st cousin, once removed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin), Lulu who just graduated this week with an M.A. from Columbia!

That's me at abuelito's house and I swear it looks like you are seeing double. But, when you've got the dough and the space on your wall, no better way to satisfy your vanity than to commission a portrait. Me, I satisfy it with this blog and all you good people who read it...

Anyway, Colombia was lots o' fun. We flew to Medellin and I got to flash my diplomatic passport. I'd like to claim that I got additional respect because of it, but that would be untrue. However, I did get some serious preferential treatment for being a baby, and even got upgraded to first class. Anyway, after a few days in Medellin we all (my abuelita's extended family) went to my great aunt's finca (kinda like a summer farm house) and kicked it the wealthy Colombian way. There I am with my other FCORs, Sean and Patrick. (Please note that Sean is proudly wearing a Pat White jersey. For those who don't know, he's the star QB at West Virginia.)


Basically, we ate aplenty, played pool, drank cervezas, and swam in the pool. I say we, but I mostly stuck to my routine of just drinking milk and hanging out and being cute. But seeing everyone else happy made me pretty happy. Oh yeah... and I met my second cousin Daniel too - see photo on your left. (You can check the wikipedia post to figure out what that means too...) He's actually my "little" cousin, since I was born 3 days earlier.

Anyway, on to a few photos...

There's me with my FCOR Polly, her son (my 2nd cousin) Daniel, my awesome daddy, and my Great Grandmother. Still trying to teach her how to rap like the granny in "The Wedding Singer", but so far no luck. She doesn't even know old schoolers like the Sugar Hill Gang or Grandmaster Flash. Maybe it's a lost cause...




There's me and mommy swimming. She was scared at first, but I kept her head above water until she calmed down a bit.




Finally, here's me and daddy. Look at the composition of this picture. The colors. Just beautiful...

Happy Momma's Day!

OK, I apologize for not writing any updates... I will catch you up on my latest months soon. But, in my defense, being a baby is a full-time job. Not like you 9 to 5ers out there. I do this 24-7. But I digress...

Just wanted to send a shout out to all the mommies out there - particularly mine - and even one to the foxy ladies who aren't yet mommies. Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day. I made sure that my mommy's was wonderful! After all, every day with me is wonderful.

But anyway, on to my actual message...

News Flash!!!

OK all,

I am temporarily pausing my update of the past 4 months to pass along a very important piece of information. Today I actually played with my rattle and passed it back and forth between my hands. Suffice it to say that mommy and daddy were quite proud, though they were unable to get it on video. What can I say... I wow them so quickly that they're never prepared. Will have to give them a heads up when I decide I want to start walking.

Anyway, since you all are likely music buffs, I thought I would add this little video clip of me playing with the rattle (shortly after switching it from one hand to the other).

Enjoy, and big sloppy kisses from Lima. XOXO,
Sebastian

More updates on the semi-recent past

Hi amigos,

Sorry for not writing this past week, but Daddy was in Ecuador. Now, don't you all start claiming that he wrote the previous entries... he is not that witty. It's just that I missed him and, well, I lost my muse. He's back now, and so am I!

Last I wrote, I cheered for West Virginia (can't do that enough... darkhorses for winning the next college football championship, in case you were wondering), told you about my December arrival, and introduced you to Lima.

Now onto my second month... (By the way, I turned four months old on Friday... thanks for all the well wishes.) The big news was that my abuelitos came to visit me from Colombia. And they loved every minute of it. (Other folks have also visited since... there will be future blog entries detailing their lovely visits.) Probably makes you wonder whether you should come visit too... Well, you should. Besides seeing me -- and I am as wonderful as advertised -- you can pig out at all the fine dining establishments like my parents. They just looove Peruvian cuisine. Personally, I try to maintain my physique with a very strict liquid diet.

Then you can travel around to the jungle, the beach, the mountains, and some ruins called Machu Picchu. I'm not sure about that last place though - it sounds made up to me. I mean, "Machu Picchu"! C'mon, I am four months old (another chance to remind you that my "birthday" was this past Friday) and I could make up a better name than that. Would you believe there were some ruins called "Ga ga goo goo" as well? Well, would you?!

Anyway, month two was pretty significant. I started picking my head up more so people could see how handsome I was. I also started eating and sleeping better, which made my parents happy. And my overall routines started to become established. But this bores you all... because I know you just want to see more of me. So on to the photos...

First, there's me and Daddy hanging out at Starbucks. Pretty happening place, and I asked Mommy to take it easy on the caffeine.

Then there's me out on the balcony with abuelita. She and abuelito took me out there a couple of times a day to breathe in the fresh air and spend quality time together.

That's me and abuelito sitting out on the balcony shooting the breeze. My chair is way cooler than his.




This next one is just me. And Olan Mills couldn't have done any better. Then again, I'm so good looking that I can make anyone with a digital camera look like Annie Leibovitz.



This is me helping abuelita read a book. (Her eyesight isn't so good... but she does get AARP benefits!)

Finally, there's me just plain lookin fashionable. All I need is Paddington Bear and I am ready to go off to the dark jungles of Peru (pretty close already!). This here is just a nearby park, though.

Housekeeping

Ignore this post. Just need to add it to add a photo to my profile... But thanks for visiting the site.

Welcome to my blog

Hi everyone, and greetings from Lima...

You may be asking what took me so long to start a blog, but keep in mind that I am not yet 4 months old. All the rest of you were doing at 4 months was soiling yourselves. Not to be mean or anything...

Anyway, I should start with a few photos from my earliest times. None pre-December 27 (do NOT forget my birthday... it is very significant to me and it should be to you too). If you are wondering about that earliest time, think of a more claustrophobic Waterworld in a tropical climate during a 9-month solar eclipse. And a more interesting plot and better acting...





OK... I will include 2 photos of my parents on the way and at the hospital. That's mommy on the left.





Daddy may have a hard time explaining this picture, but I believe him for now.







Anyway, I was born in Peru and had a full head of hair. I was also surprised to see how handsome my parents were. You can see too (right)

Next is Daddy... he's holding me (I'm the little football) the day after I was born. If you look close, you can see one of Daddy's soccer battle scars on his right cheek. Peruvians like to play a bit rough (or dirty).


I was so comfortable at the hospital, in fact, that I really did not want to leave. You can see how unhappy I was when they told me we had to check out and go home. Also note how small my head is - tons of space inside the head rest - believe you me... I've got a big melon now.

Life is good and Mommy and Daddy always stick a camera in my face. I haven't gotten out too much (until recently), but I promise to give any visitors a grand tour of Lima.

By the way, don't let Peruvian immigration officials fool you... I really am an American regardless of their bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo. For those who don't know the story, Peruvian officials did not want to let me leave and go to visit my family in Colombia because I only had a U.S. passport. They demanded that I have a Peruvian passport because they claimed me as a citizen. I know I am handsome and all, but geez... Get your own citizens!

Anyway, I've grown up a bit since these early shots, so I want to share a few more shots of me as I mature. Believe it or not, I am already more mature than my Tio Luis!






That's me yawning... it is tiring to be a baby.









There I have Daddy's nose. I still haven't given it back.



That's me when the cops busted me for being too cute. I was so scared I pooped myself.





And here is me and Mommy on a fun day out. Mommy is particularly pleased. (She wasn't getting out much.)



Also, in case you didn't know. I like to sleep (see above). In a myriad of bizarre positions. While I don't curl up like a tree frog anymore, it is nice to reminisce...



One more thing... just want to give a shout out to that fine West Virginia University basketball team. 2007 NIT Champions! I burned my diapers in celebration.

Finally, allow me to add one little video to greet you. More videos will become available in the future. This is just a quick hi! Check back for more updates.