Fun in the sun

2 things Mariana's said lately that made me have to post again.
Normally when she's in the bath she's much more interested in her rubber ducky than in bathing. She also loves running water from the tap. She has a little cup and likes to fill it up, put some in her mouth and let it dribble out like blood from Gene Simmons mouth. Then she laughs and does it all over again. Anyway, I rudely interrupted her to ask her to stand up so I could wash the rest of her (the bits and pieces). She refused. I said "Don't you want to get clean?" To which she replied "No, I want to stay dirty and stinky". Well alright then.

Although still a little peanut and the shortest kid in her class Mariana is getting taller. She can now wash her hands by standing on her potty (it has to be good for something right?!) She can also stand on it to flip the light switches on and off. This morning she stood on it and turned the lights out. It was a bright sunny morning so you could barely tell anything happened. So she asked me "Where's the dark switch Daddy?" Do you want to vomit with how cute that is?

Really, she's lucky she's so derned cute because she seems to enjoy testing us. She still likes to play with her food and I know she'll grow out of it but it makes me nuts to see her "washing her hands" with salami or tomatoes or any number of gooshy things that I'll have to clean up after. It's part of the learning process, blah, blah, friggin blah.

this video features Maña walking in Grandpa's shoes in Florida. oh yeah, and an appearance by her Nemo gloves, hat and scarf made for her by her Mommy. One doesn't normally wear a hat, gloves and a scarf with a tank top in 75 degree weather but hey, she's a trailblazer.

Yaaawwwwn, what's for dinner?

Ah the life of the unemployed... I'm sitting here this afternoon killing time on the computer and thinking about what sides to make with the flank steak I have marinating since last night. I'm not sure what's more disturbing; the shrinking bank account or the fact that I don't even feel like looking for work. I've been home for 2 weeks now and I've realized something: working sucks. For the first time since 1993 I don't have any work on the horizon and it feels oddly good. I've made a few calls and there may be some work happening in December but for now I'm sort of a house Dad. Hilary has a couple of projects going so I've been doing the bulk of Maña duty. For the most part it's been great but I wonder how long the current peaceful state of mind will last. Mariana has days where she's a complete angel. It usually coincides with a day when I'm chill and happy. Then when I have a short temper she's difficult to handle. Hmmm, no kidding right? You mean, she feeds off what I do?! Duh- but not always possible to chill out and be the good/happy-guy/fun Dad. Sometimes I'm the "fly off the handle Spaz Dad" who screams at her for running away when I say "go wash your hands please" or slams the table in anger when she throws her fork with the ravioli on the carpet. Then I have to chill out and apologize for freaking out and try to make her understand that I don't like it when she does that shit. Overall it's been an interesting and transitional time for us these past few months. What it's transitioning to I have no idea. All I know is that I've had a lot more time with Mariana and that's a good thing.

In the photo you may notice a slight distraction on Maña's face. That's because Sesame Street is on over my shoulder. Also the glistening thumb that was just in her mouth - a requirement when holding Teddy but that Pain in the ass Dad made her take out for the photo.

Two, please be over soon, thank you

Here's Mariana in her full glory making her "cheese face". Halloween was really uneventful this year. She's still too little to really get it. But boy is it fun for us to dress her up in humiliating costumes!

M is in the full blown "terrible two" stage and we're in the full blown "oh shit, what if our kid is becoming a brat" stage. She can have a hair trigger temper some days and some days she's fine and dandy. It can be incredibly aggravating. It can make you want to smack her. It can change to a big smile and loviness in an instant though and make you remember that people say it's just a phase that will pass. In the moment it can be so difficult to realize that. Hilary and I are constantly having to check each other. Some days it's obvious- one of us keeps getting mad while the other one is chill and steps in to diffuse the situation. Other days.... not so much, and that's when things get ugly. I've found myself yelling at M and getting petty over the dumbest things. "Sit in your chair until we all finish eating!!" Why does it matter? And really...who cares? She'll learn table manners eventually so why wig out over it now? Parenthood has revealed some ugly things within me but hopefully I'll learn a few things along the way and be a better man for it.

Mariana is a pretty cool chick. She ain't afraid of no creepy crawlies. Here she is in Sweden with some little crabs Andres caught. She had a ball playing with them. Her mother is determined to have her not freak out about bugs and other bug-like critters. She went so far as to buy her some plastic bugs. Then today we went to my friends house where she went right up to his 2 rottweilers like it was no big deal. The male weighs roughly 3 times her and was eager to play. She kept running around near him and he would chase her. He knocked her down a couple times but she kept going back. She's a tough chick.

Mariana and I were thumbing through the latest Sports Illustrated when we happened upon this photo by Danish Siddiqui. Pretty incredible huh? I paused on the page and Mariana says " Oh... my... God". Ha!

growing up

Mariana started preschool this week at the Co-op School in Brooklyn. We're very excited about this development. We dropped her off on the first day and she walked right in like she owned the place with nary a glance back to see if we were still around. It left us happy but maybe a little sad that she could ditch us that easily. Oh well, get used to it Papa, right?

Here's a belated picture from her birthday - a new (ghetto) twist on the birthday crown.

We did manage to squeeze in some fun over Labor Day weekend. Here Mariana paints Mommy's legs, nice. She also painted all over herself and generally had a blast at our friends house in upstate NY.

beach beauty

This chick keeps us going in times like these.

Welcome back! Now go home

There were 100 great moments from our vacation but tonight I must digress into my own wallowing for a moment. Today after 9 years at my place of employment, I was laid off. The only other time I've been let go from a job was when I was 16 yrs old. So on my 1st day back from our wonderful trip I lost my job. It was a tumultuous day and I'm still numb from it all. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that as I sit here I don't have a job. I don't have a place that I have to get up and go to tomorrow. I wish I could feel the liberation in that but at this moment I feel more ...well... blank. I'm trying to fight off panic, worry, and doubt. How about excitement, opportunity and enthusiasm? I guess I'm somewhere in between. Mariana, Hilary and I will have to make some changes in the coming months- maybe some huge changes- and that has me a bit spooked.