Time to change the blog title...

OK... it gives me great pleasure, a mild amount of sadness, and a fair amount of jealousy to announce the re-titling of my blog. I guess I should also take this moment to announce the arrival of my baby brother - Joaquin Mayta Gonzalez Layton, born on Monday, February 23, 2009. But he is a baby in name only. I will never forget the sight of that poor stork flying in through the window carrying Baby Joaquin. It must have really crossed somebody to be stuck carrying such a heavy load! 10 pounds, 2 ounces plus he was 20.5 inches long too! I better start challenging him to basketball games now, because he could start crushing me by his third birthday. Heck, when I walked in on him today he was doing one-handed pushups! (Since what you really want are photos of the new guy, I will appease you below.)

A nice first shot. See? He's smiling!


Here he is in a color close up.


Above you can see one of the early pics of Joaquin. And my goodness, who is that amazing hand model?! Why, it's me!!!


He'll outgrow that worm soon. I still remember back in the day when it used to try to bully me too...


There's Mama and Baby Joaquin just hanging out. Since they'd just recently met, they were getting to know one another and sharing basic info - where are you from, any brothers or sisters, where did you go to school, etc.

Here's Dada with Baby J. He's so boring he'll put anyone to sleep!

Just to clear things up, Joaquin and I are actually good buddies (though I do most of the talking). For example, I give him loads of kisses throughout the day. Even though he hasn't given me one. But I don't hold a grudge. At least not against him.

There's me and Baby Joaquin. Oh, and Dada and Abuelita too.


Here you can see what a wonderful big bro I am. What am I doing? Why, I am sharing stickers (sticks, I call 'em) with my little brother.


And this is one for the ages. How cute are we?!


When they said, "time to go home", I didn't realize that they were talking to both of us!


Overheard conversation:
Me: Do you like see food?
Baby J: audible grunts
Toddler Sea Bass then opens wide to show mouthful of jello


Chillin' at home.


Our games of tag are less exciting than you'd think.

Anyway, I gotta make this post short. Someone's got to change Joaquin's diapers, and it isn't Mama and Dada. Sometimes I feel just like Cinderella...

Yours in servitude,
Big Bro Sebastian

Thought I would save the best shot for last!

Yes, I do bar mitzvahs!

Amigos, I won't lie to you. I am pretty busy, and apologizing for not posting regularly is a bit tedious. Plus it really hurts my self esteem. You know what makes me feel good about myself? Singing. Lots and lots of singing. I am actually thinking of making it a career. So, time to start broadcasting my skills... For your viewing and listening pleasure, let me present "Estrellita". I'll post "Twinkle, Twinkle" at a later date, but you get the picture.

Oh, and let me introduce my band... On maracas, Abuelita! Backing Vocals, Abuelita and Mama! Lead vocals, percussion, and musical arrangement, Sebastian! How 'bout a round of applause?! On to the show!



XOXO, Toddler (and soon to be big brother) Sebastian

Cool Hand... Sebastian?

Hola Amigos,

And Happy New Year! Heck, Merry Christmas. And, of course, Happy Birthday to me! (December 27, in case you were wondering... I'll blog about that in detail later.)

Anyway, I'm writing you all to let you know that I did a great Paul Newman impersonation today. Obviously, that's a big deal. Inspired by the movie, I decided to start training to challenge ol' Luke someday. What challenge might that be, you ask? Why, the most important one there is! (See below, if you don't know.)

Anyway, my parents were surprised by my amazing skills, as I ate almost 5 eggs this morning for breakfast (see below to see how I like 'em). In addition, I figured I would have 1 and 1/2 bowls of cereal with milk, and 3-4 servings of craisins to top it off. A regular morning, no? Apparently, I am not expected to eat this much, since I am hovering at the 20th weight percentile for my age group. This seems to have pleased my parents, though they seemed quite worried as to what to eat for breakfast tomorrow since the eggs are gone.

Anyway, for those of you who know my stressed out parents (Mama and Dada to me), I figured I would share the good news. Who knows... maybe I'll be hitting that 25th percentile soon?!

XOXO,

2 year old Sebastian

Memories of summer... for those of you mired in winter

Amigos,

I know it's been a while since I wrote. And that you've been longing for a new posting. So, especially for you poor saps freezing in the U.S.A., I present this video to remind you that weather is seasonal and that summer will indeed return. Also, please note that I am older (I'll be 2 in less than a week!) and cuter (hard to believe!). This video is from late July on the Oregon coast...



And, if you listen closely, you may find out why they call me Mr. Squeakers!

Lots of love,
Toddler Sebas

Happy (belated) 'Ween!

That's how all the cool kids are saying it, anyway. And guess who came up with that clever name? That's right... yours truly.

Anyway, I apologize for having taken so long to write about my Halloween, but I just finally came down from that sugar high. And let me tell you, was I grumpy! Let's just say that if you want to give me a lollipop (my favorite -- see above) or some other piece of candy (my other favorite), you better have extra. Toddler Sebas does not appreciate a finite amount of candy. And with money growing on trees, there really is no excuse for not buying me lots. Speaking of... Thanksgiving is coming up. Have you thought of what presents you might send me?

Anyway, as you can see in these photos, I was definitely embracing the spirit of 'Ween. I even wore two different outfits. (Ha, fooled you! I actually wore the orange shirt earlier in 'Ween week.) Anyway, you don't have to tell me how handsome I looked in my Brazilian soccer uniform (thanks Tio Luis and Tia Renata - Happy 'Ween! And a shout out to my prima Kiara!). However, I trust I will still get many comments about my good looks.

This here's a great shot. It's me with my "boys" at school . You wouldn't know it to look at him, but Spiderman really likes to give good hugs.

A close up of me and Dominick on the trampoline at the Embassy. We're super bad!

And lest you believe I don't like the members of the opposite sex, check me out with this chick-y baby! God... I just fell out of my chair laughing at my own pun! I am clever!

Well, seems that the sugar is wearing off again, so I've got to go eat more. Hope you enjoyed the post. And, of course, the 'Ween holiday.

XOXO,
Little Pele (aka Toddler Sebastian)


PS - Here I am with a soccer ball. How cute am I? Very.

A Public Service Announcement

Dear Readers:

On this most American of days, I would like to encourage those of you who have not done so already to get to your local polling station and vote. And the first of you lucky ladies to send in your proof of voting wins a special prize:



If exercising your right to democratic participation isn't enough incentive in its own right, I certainly should be.

Ok- have to go take a nap so that I can stay up all night watching the election coverage while Mama and Dada drool on the couch.

XXOO

Sebastian (for President in 2044)

Where have I been?!

Hola amigos!

I know it has been forever, and I apologize. Truth is someone in my household - I'm not naming names - kept repeatedly turning the computer on and off until it would no longer work. Mama and Dada are hiring someone to fix it, but my last few months of photos are stuck on that inaccessible (big word, right?) hard drive. However, since that unfortunate event, I have had the opportunity to enjoy some fun events that I can share with you, my adoring public.

Most important was my enrollment in school. That's right, I'm a big boy now. (Though I still soil myself.) I started on September 1, and did not know what to expect. In fact, I thought we were just going to the park. Mama and Dada tricked me good that day. I was wondering why they were taking so many pictures. I assumed it was because I am so good looking. Like here:

And here I am driving myself to school. Dada was somehow able to keep up. He must be quite the marathon runner!

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Finally, a little video to show off my driving skills. Had I known I was going to school instead of the park, as I had been led to believe, you might have seen me demonstrate some of my evasive maneuvers.

And, lastly, there I am again. Already a teacher's pet!

I will write more soon. I promise!

XOXO,

Toddler Sebastian