Mini Me!

I just loved this picture. Ethan is just a miniature Jairo, all the way down to the pleasant, people-loving personality. Of course, as mentioned in previous blogs, he does carry some very fine traits from his mom. Also, check out our new video "Tummy Tickler". Ethan just goes crazy when Jairo tickles his tummy during diaper changes. I think the facial scruff is particularly ticklish. As you can see, Ethan loves blowing raspberries and making funny little noises that always crack us up. Also, while playing these days, he enjoys letting out these high pitched squeals. When I go over to help him quiet down so I don't loose my hearing, he just laughs at me. He's already learned how to tease me!

Lil' Brown Bear is 4 months!

Boy, he can act like a little bear too! He may seem so gentle, cute, and cuddly, but man, if he's hungry or tired watch out! Grrrrrr! I know, I know, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. :)

Really, I can't complain though. For the most part he's a very easy going kid who prefers to stick to his little schedule. Not a bad thing. At least I know what to expect and when.

He now weighs in at 16 lbs 1 oz and is 26 inches long with a giant noggin. His head is in the 95th percentile for growth. We take this to mean that he is a very intelligent child. Speaking of hunger ... he's begining to growl.

Tagged

My ol’ English friend Lena tagged me on her blog and I’m finally getting around to doing my part and tagging others. Also, thanks to Lena, I was reminded of a few somewhat interesting facts about myself.

Here are the rules (lifted from Lena’s site):
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, as we all want to know them. (I'm sure you are all DYING to know these, but please read them anyway so I feel like you do.)

• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. (If I tag you, just do it and don't complain.)

• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Here we go …

1. As a child I was hit in the head with the back of an axe. (I can hear the echoes now … “Ahh, that explains so much!”)

2. I’ve been deported from a foreign country. I wish it was some glamorous tale of espionage, but it was simply because we (my sister and I) failed to secure the proper documentation to enter Brazil. So, we spent 20 lovely hours in the Sao Paulo, Brazil airport (after 14 total travel hours to get there), just to be sent back to Cali (another 14 hours). We arrived at LAX on Christmas Eve with no family in town to pick us up because everyone had left the state to spend the holiday with extended family. Oh, a Christmas to remember!

3. I played the base guitar in a jazz band in junior high.

4. My nickname in college was Maddog.

5. I once had a 2 week stint as a car detailer for a guy who owned classic Mercedes Benz’.

6. With a great college pal, I snuck back stage during a Dave Mathew’s concert. Unfortunately we didn’t get autographs, but we got pretty close before we were kindly shown the way out.

7. During a high school trip through Europe, a friend and I got lost late a night (I guess it was really early morning) in the outskirts of Paris. We missed the last train back into the city and could not convince a cab driver to give us a ride (snobby Parisian!). So, we hitch hiked our way back. Luckily I’m still alive to tell about it.

So, for those that would like to play, you've been tagged: Jenn, Kristi, Kedra, Shelley, Kristen, & Melissa.

Otro año mas...

Primero que todo, muchas gracias a todos los que de una manera u otra se acordaron de mi cumpleaños y por todas sus llamadas. A veces es dificil el poder mantenerme al tanto de todo lo que pasa con todos, pero espero que aunque sea aqui tengan un lugar para ver que esta pasando con nosotros.

Este año pasamos mi cumpleaños yendo de un lado para el otro con Mel, Ethan y Lena (una amiga de Mel). Este dia fuimos a un restaurante latino para el almuerzo que se llama "La casa del Mojito"... la comida fue deliciosa. De cena tuvimos una de mis comidas favoritas... PIZZA!!! y vimos una pelicula en la casa que no me acuerdo como se llama. En el mismo fin de semana fuimos a un restaurante Brasilero que se llama "Ipanema Grill" donde uno come toda la carne que uno pueda. Le dan a uno una tarjeta de color rojo por un lado y verde por el otro. Cuando uno pone el lado verde significa que uno quiere que le sigan trayendo toda clase de carne a la mesa, y cuando uno quiere tomar un descansito de tanto comer voltea la tarjeta al lado rojo. Entre todos los tipos de carne nos dieron a probar carne de bufalo y de jabali. Al final de la comida el ombligo ya se me estaba saliendo... Carne, pizza y comida latina en el mismo fin de semana yo me senti en un paraiso.

Parte del dia estuvimos en el centro de Seattle como de guias de turismo, mostrandole a Lena las diferentes atracciones turisticas y lugares para ir de compras (el hobbie favorito de toda mujer)... yo lo unico que queria era seguir encontrando lugares de buena comida y tratar de robarle un besito a mi esposita.

En la noche mientras me dejaron encargado de Ethan, Mel y su complice Lena fueron a la cocina y trajeron un ponquesito de chocolate (mi favorito) con una mano de velas que casi crean un incendio. Me cantaron Feliz cumpleaños, nos comimos el ponquesito y luego nos tomamos un par de pastillas para el dolor de estomago despues de haber comido tanto en un fin de semana. Bueno estos son lujos que solo pasan una vez al año, asi que hay que disfrutarlos lo mas que se pueda.

Ibamos a crear otra pagina entera en Español para poder mostrarles fotos y mantenerlos al tanto de todo lo que pasa por estas tierras, pero no creo que mi pagina hubiera sido tan buena como la que Melanie hizo, asi que para mi es mas facil compartir la pagina que ella hizo.

Bueno familia, parceros, y a sumercedes, ya son las 11 de la noche y estoy que me duermo, asi que les dejo.
Espero que disfruten la pagina de los Vanegas que Melanie creo, mis comentarios y las fotos que hemos colocado.

Un abrazo pa todos.

Beautiful Seattle

Now, I have to admit, I do my fair share of complaining about the gray days here in Seattle, but give me a beautiful sunny day and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! I have to say, Seattle is one of the most beautiful cities. Last weekend, with my bud Lena in town, we enjoyed some rare sunny weather and got out to see the sites. Although we've lived here almost three years now, there are still many things to see.
We visited the Olympic Sculpture Park in downtown Seattle -a great thing to do on a sunny Sunday afternoon. For those who haven't done so, I highly recommend it. One goal of mine this year (a full list of my new year to do's coming soon) is to see some of the great sites here in the Pacific Northwest. A few sites on my short list this year ...
1. Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
2. Victoria & Butchart Gardens
3. Olympic National Park
4. San Juan Islands
5. Mt. Rainier National Park - Jairo has been here, but I have not.
Even with just these few, I think we'll find ourselves quite busy. If you have a favorite place in the Pacific Northwest that you would recommend we visit, please let us know. As we hit our sites, we'll be sure to share photos.