Happy 5th Birthday!

Today my little T turns 5!!!!

He was born on Tuesday, November 25th, 2003, 8:17 am, 9 lbs 3.2 oz (4,170kg) and 21 1/2 inches (55 cm). Yes, it was a c-section :P

I can't believe how big he has gotten. He's not my baby anymore, by the time he's 6 he'll be as tall as his Mommy!

I have a ton of photos. It was really hard to narrow it down, but here's a bit of his life in images (please click to enlarge).



First Photo!















He was even shifting gears. That's my boy!!!!

A bit of hope

I have been avoiding my Grandma's subject for a while. Yes, I know, I am in denial, just not trying to suffer.

During my last visit to Brazil, I found my Grandmother bedridden and not moving much. She had had 2 seizures a month before (triggered by blood pressure spikes). Those were scary times, but nobody prepared me to see her like that. It was quite a shock to me. But I put on a brave face and pretended everything was okay.

She was not doing well at all. She had always been the happiest person ever, always in a good mood, cracking jokes. But she was just there, lying quietly. Every time someone tried to move her, or sit her up, her blood pressure would spike again.

The day we left, I wept silently in the car, thinking that was the last time I was ever going to see my Grandma alive.

Today, out of the blue, my aunt called my Mom (who's here) and said Grandma wanted to speak to her. Plus she said Grandma had been standing in the bedroom today, with the help of the physical therapist, and even attempted a couple of steps. In which Grandma yells in the background: "that's a lie!" and everybody starts to laugh (my Grandma is the queen of deadpan humor, she would give Steve Carrell a run for his money).

Mom said she hates when people tell on her, especially if she's making progress. She doesn't think that's considered walking, since she didn't go anywhere, like the bakery or the grocery store.

So, in a nutshell, I'm happy! I feel good, and hope I can see my Grandma once again.

Wedding Photos - Rena's challenge

Rena posted her wedding photo and is inviting everyone to go ahead and post theirs.

We got married @ the courthouse on 06/22/2001. Nearly a year later we had our church wedding in Rio, on 03/23/2002.

Note that my husband is one foot taller than I am. I am wearing platform shoes so I don't look too short. Seriously, he can rest his head on top of mine and laugh at how short I am compared to him. Easy to say that when you were 6 feet tall by the time you were 12!!!!!

I found these two photos of us leaving the church (I'm at work and don't have all my photos with me now). I may post more photos later.

I like to... MOVE IT!

T had been doing a countdown for this movie for the past month. The first Madagascar is one of his favorite flicks. Finally on Thursday he came to me and said: Mommy, Madagascar II opens tomorrow!

So we just had to go see it on Saturday. And guess what? The penguins stole the movie, again! Plus there is the return of Ninja Old Lady! All the characters are pretty much back along with the original voices, and some new ones are added. It was nice they gave King Julian a bit more of screen time, Sacha Baron Cohen is really funny!

The story is, the penguins fix up the old plane we see in the first movie and take off towards NYC. But they run out of fuel and crash somewhere in continental Africa. This time, though, the 4 main characters find other animals like their own.

BTW, there is a great reference to a Twilight Zone classic episode in the film. If you're as much as a geek as I am, you will know it!!! There is also a reference to "Roots", and a subtle one to "West Side Story".

I admit I got a bit choked up when I heard Bernie Mac's voice for the first time. He was so young, such a tragic loss. During the credits, you will see the movie was dedicated to him.

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

As in http://carriestuckmann.blogspot.com

The Colors of the Fall

Fall is the most beautiful season out there. Just not my favorite. It reminds me it's getting cooler everyday, soon the leaves will fall and the white poop will come.

These are some of the photos I took in my neghborhood. It was good that I did, because last night was very windy and most of the leaves are now covering the ground.

Click on the images to enlarge. Enjoy!

This tree is in my front yard and it's now bare


My street


Multicolored leaves in neighbor's tree


Close-up of a leaf (I wish I had macro lenses!)

I sure hope he can fix it...

I was going to play with the idea, but someone already did. I found it online somewhere...

I already voted!

Okay, I still owe a Halloween post. But I've been really really busy - and tired - to post. Have I mentioned my parents are here too?

I voted, today, for the first time since becoming an American citizen, back in February. Got to the polling place @ 6:15. Had a book in tow. It was chilly and about to rain. There were about 30-35 people ahead of me. But it was no big deal and I was out of there by 7:20. All done.

If you're out there, I suggest you head to your polling place ASAP. It's going to be a zoo tonight!

BTW, why don't they do this on a weekend? It would be so much easier to vote! People work, you know? My employer sent us an email yesterday saying we had a laughable 30-minute grace period to get to work.

P.S. I will not discuss who I voted for. I loathe politics and radical partisans. Plus I think that people who voice publicly their options to get their "fans" to join in are ridiculous, but to each its own. But I think as citizens, we have the right and duty to vote.

Memorable quotes from an almost 5-year old - part III

In the car, listening to the election ads on the radio:
- Mommy, what's "burrackomama"?


We were watching Tv and there was a glimpse of the movie "Where the heart is". Wal-Mart is mentioned in the conversation:
-Wal-Mart? Oh, I love the Wal-mart. They have the best prices!


Upon hearing the word Subway:
- Subway, eat fresh! (LMBO)

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

As in http://carriestuckmann.blogspot.com.

This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It's our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween

"This is Halloween" from "The Nightmare before Christmas" Soundtrack

More Pumpkins

These are the pumpkins we carved last weekend. My friend carved the Yoda and I helped her towards the end. I carved all the other 3. The kids helped, as much as we allowed them to (it's not too safe to play around with saws!). If I have a chance and find decent pumpkins, I will carve a couple more. I think we may even have a contest next week @ work.

Enjoy!


Yoda


Spongebob


Pirate Ship


Mickey Mouse

Bring Sean Home

I'm not sure if you've seen this case on the news. It was covered by the Today Show and a few other media outlets.

This story is breaking my heart.

This man, David Goldman, drove his then wife Bruna, his 4 year old Sean and then in-laws to Newark Airport in 2004. Once Bruna arrived in Brazil, she called him to tell him she was no longer going back with their kid and if he wanted to see his again, he'd have to go to Brazil and sign a bunch of paperwork.

Fast forward 4 years and multiple court hearings, this man is still not allowed to have any contact with his son. Bruna has re-married (she divorced him without his knowledge, WTF?) an attorney from a powerful and wealthy family (ironically, specialized in family law and international child kidnapping cases). On a dark twist, Bruna recently died a few hours after giving birth to a baby girl.

Now, you'd think the Dad would get his son back. Noooooo! The family of the new husband is very influential, and they're pulling all strings possible. They filed a court order so the Brazilian newspapers could not publish anything on it, plus filed a lawsuit for the new husband to replace the dad's name in the birth certificate!!!!

David is in Brazil with a court order for visitation, but the stepfather vanished with the kid just the day before the visitation was supposed to take place.

The Brazilian court system is a joke and this whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.