HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

PUMPKIN, PUMPKINPumpkin, Pumpkin,
Sitting on the wall.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Tip and fall.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Rolling down the street.
Pumpkin, Pumpkin,
Good to eat!

FINISHED!! I made these shoes today/last night. The pattern was so simple and I'm absolutely in love with the results. I can't wait to actually pick out specific fabric and make another pair of shoes for Mack. For this pair I cut up an old blanket I "borrowed" (I know! I'm sorry!) from an unnamed airline, and used some rick-rack scraps, buttons and embroidery floss I had lying around. Mack meets his shoes. He never wears shoes, so this was kinda a big deal for him. "Say hello to my little friend."The fuzzy fleeciness of the shoes didn't make this activity fun for very long (Yes, fleeciness is a word).They even look good when he's standing up! AMAZING! How many pictures of these shoes can I post? A lot, that's how many.

Nap time. He's so peaceful when he sleeps. I love nap time. That's when the screaming stops. For the past week he's been experimenting with different volume levels.Did I mention I MADE these? I guess you could say I'm a little proud...

Beautiful baby Mack asleep, taking a nap like a good little boy should.

Here is how we regularly find beautiful baby Mack. Not napping, not even trying to nap. Just playing with two of his best friends, Binky and Bunny.

Yes folks I've finally done it. I have single-handedly created the world's most terrifying baby toy. Introducing...Mr. Freaky Fish. I'd been holding onto an old t-shirt with a fish on it that I just couldn't bear to part with. So I did what anyone would do, and made it into a prized family heirloom, which Mack is sure to enjoy for days, nay weeks, to come.

OF NOTE:
On this day, in 1861, the first transcontinental telegram was sent.
The discontinuation of the Pony Express was announced two days later.

Interesting. Here I am, 145 years latter, blogging to the WORLD (alright, maybe not the whole world, but some of the world). WOW. Communication my friends, communication. To learn a little bit more today then you'd originally planned CLICK HERE. Isn't history fascinating? You don't have to answer that, unless of course you agree with me....

Lately I've been sewing more and more...and really enjoying it. Last week I made a really simple Thanksgiving/Fall table runner (I know--crafty--but it looks better than it sounds). Then, on Sunday, I made a little pouch out of two cheapish stained receiving blankets. It holds about 4 diapers and wipes. Yesterday I finished a little **surprise** Santa helped me with for Mack. I can't tell you what it is because that would ruin the **surprise**. I also just found a pattern online for soft soled baby shoes. YES! Bottom line? Before Christmas I still have the following items to sew:

• shopping cart cover
• Christmas stockings
• 3 pairs of pajamas
• a handle for the car seat bag I made in August
  
• 2 or 3 pairs of shoes
• several bibs
  

It is very likely I won't get everything done, but no one can say I didn't try. Sewing for Mack is similar to knitting scarves. Quick, not very complicated and very satisfying.

Wanted to share this Photo: It seems like these "Quince Años" girls are everywhere. I've never seen one wearing white. Instead they're usually dressed in varying shades of sherbet colors, bright lime green is very popular right now. Naturally each young lady is accompanied by a well dressed young man and the two of them are followed around by group of girls with a disproportionate number of boys. It's funny, but the girl's friends wear the DARKEST (skimpiest/tightest) dresses they can find, while the image of the "Quince" conquers up visions of a light and fluffy, sweet cupcake.

On of the best things about having a visitor (I say 'a' because we'll probably only get one the entire time we live here), is that it gives you the chance to finally take pictures of everyday moments. These types of photos typically become my favorite when I look back because they have so many more memories attached to them. Since all of you reading this (excluding my mom, dad and sister Karly) will probably never get the chance to come to Monterrey, I'm putting up these photos so you can get an idea of what our life looks like here...


This is the view of mountains near the Monterrey Temple, on the road to Santiago, where the market is. You follow?

Mack and my mom at the top of Obispado Hill.

Rain on our way to Zona Rosa. It's like this every time it rains, and it usually rains a couple times a week.

Here I am, nursing mack at Las Monjitas. It's this little restaurant in Zona Rosa where the servers and the cooks dress as nuns, and the menu has a papal theme. The food is both very delicious and very cheap.

Tyler on his way to the corner store.

Tyler inside the corner store, our preferred tortilla purchasing location.

Downtown Monterrey.
Don't fret, there's still more to come, but right now--I've got to run myself!

To Market, To Market

These are some of the pictures my mom took while she was here. Tyler had the presence of mind to download them before she left, thank goodness. The first picture is of some children at the market we caught licking the sugar off their wax Dia de Muertos skulls. Next, is a picture of Mack and the nice woman from Oaxaca. We bought Mack a traditional Mexican outfit from her, and my mom bought an embroidered dress (you know the kind!). I thought that perhaps the sight of Mack might entice her to give us a discount and it worked! We've had to start covering Mack with the stroller canopy or making him wear a hat when we're in public because of all the attention he was getting. Apparently there is a tradition/superstition here that if you see a baby you think is cute and don't touch their head, the baby will get sick. The woman at the market LOVED Mack! In this picture she is tying a good luck trinket (black with a Mexican man and woman on each end) she gave him onto his wrist. In the last two pictures Mack is wearing the outfit we got him with and without the poncho. It's a size two (children are much shorter here) so it's still too big, but should fit him perfectly by Christmas.

I don't have ANY time right now, but I L.O.V.E. this picture and wanted to get it up on our blog. It's a picture of Tyler, Mack and I at el mercado on the road to Santiago, you have to click it to get the whole effect. I think it is so beautiful, plus we had so much fun browsing all the stalls. Prepare yourselves for a picture explosion as soon as I get the time (probably sometime later tonight).

"Chévere" no significa nada en México

We finally feel that we have moved into our apartment. A visit by the missionaries for dinner pretty much sealed the deal. We had Elder Simmons from Winston-Salem, NC and Elder Alvarez from Mexico City over for dinner. I had to slave over a hot stove for hours....actually that's not true at all; I ordered pizza from Domino's. There's nothing more Mexican than pizza. Well at least the American missionary enjoyed it.
In other news Mack is now a celebrity. Fern submitted an idea to RookieMoms.com and they loved it so much that they included a picture of Mack and the brilliant idea on their website. Go to RookieMoms.com Let's hope Mack doesn't decide to be a male supermodel now. I don't know how I'd feel about that.
School has hit full stride now which means that I have no life. I have to actually use a daily planner...which is kinda girly I know but I have no choice. Between meetings, classes, projects and homework I am left with just enough time to eat, sleep and hang out with Mack. Poor Fern, she supports me despite my frequent absence. Also I am still trying to pump out the resumes. My new goal is to apply to a different company each day...this may sound easy to the untrained ear but each company has separate requirements. The Amsterdam Monitor office even wanted my high school transcripts. I can hardly even remember that far back. Today I filled out two applications for strategic consultant positions with IBM. The jobs are in NYC and DC. At this point (tired of school) I am willing to live just about anywhere that is close to an ocean and a major sports franchise. But the company and Fern may have something different in mind. Lo que yo quisiera hacer de verdad es empezar mi carrera fuera de los E.E.U.U. tal vez en Europa o Asia pero siento que la decision cae totalmente sobre las empresas. Ellas indicaran el lugar donde nos tocara vivir. Escucho que para un recien egregado de la escuela de negocios es muy provechoso comenzar el empleo en una compania de consultas. De esta manera se puede ser capacitado en muchas industrias no solo en una. Algunos dicen que el trabajar en una consulteria es la mejor forma de aplicar lo que se habia aprendido en durante los estudios de la maestria. Bueno escribo en espanol solo para practicarlo no para que la mayoria de los lectores no puedan entenderlo. Les agradezco su paciencia y disculpen la falta de acentos, no tengo como ponerlos.
Oh yeah, Fern's mom is en route to beautiful Monterrey, Mexico. I have a sneaking suspicion that she is coming with the sole purpose of seeing Mack. But I'm still excited to she her.

Mack is out for the count, and Tyler is at school. By way of an update, Mack sleeping habits have improved dramatically since I last mentioned them. We took a modified cry-it-out approach to night time and nap time and it worked very well for him. He goes to sleep around 7:30-8pm and only eats once around 3:30-4am, then wakes up for good sometime between 6 and 7am. Good Boy! Naps are right on track too. Sleep really does beget sleep. I sewed up Mack's Halloween costume yesterday (he's going to be a big round pumpkin). He was so patient every time I tried it on him and he really seemed to enjoy the bright color. Fabric seems relatively inexpensive here; the entire costume cost just under 50 pesos. Plus I've got fabric left over to do who knows what with. Maybe I'll make myself a pumpkin pin cushion (I'm crazy and unpredictable like that!). I also FINALLY made Tyler this 'towel apron' yesterday. The idea for the apron was in my head for weeks, but I was lacking focus. It always feels so good to bust out quick projects. It's not going to get me on Project Runway any time soon, but it was easy and fast. Here is a picture of Tyler wearing said apron, giving his best "hot, hot model" pose, bellow that is Mack wearing the onesie he helped me make for Ty. And the last one is Mack looking like such a big-kid. Sometimes he looks so old! I can't get over it.

While Tyler was away at a meeting this morning, Mack and I made him a little welcome home present. Those of you who know me (which should be everyone reading this) know that my art skills --or anything involving markers for that matter-- are limited. So I am very proud of this little production. First shot, I promise. There is no 'scrap onesie' hiding in the garbage somewhere.

Mack's gotten pretty good at sitting up this past week. ANNOUNCEMENT: We are ready to officially announce that he is willing and able to sit up on his own! He just needs a little help getting there. These pictures were taken earlier this evening, after Mack's evening meal as evidenced by the green beans smeared on his clothes. He's so perfect.

After a good days work (and a trip to the fabric store) Mack was a little beat and decided to take a well deserved break . THE END.

Post Script: This pose is a Baby Mack original. He's never done this before. Learns something new every day. Sometimes several somethings.

Hot Potato, Hot Potato

I might apologize for the picture explosion I'm putting up on here.... Nah. Don't think I'm going to after all.
The first two pictures are of Mack just being cute earlier today. I know, I know, he does that all the time. But it's not his fault--he gets it from his dad. The rest of the pictures are from this afternoon. We had mashed potatoes with our dinner tonight, and I gave Mack a spoonful of them on his tray to see what he'd do. First, he stuck his hand right in the middle of the pile of potatoes and just left it there for a couple of minutes. Then he smeared it over to the side of the tray. From there he tried to get it into his mouth by sucking it into the tray. It was hilarious! Do they come any cuter? I think not!



By the way, did you notice he's five months old today!! He's growing so fast.

It's late and I should be in bed, but instead I'm up. Surprise. I'm putting my Drive Time Spanish Cd's on the computer so that it'll be easier to listen to them at home. Fun.
Here are some pictures from a week (or two) ago when we went to Cola de Caballo (Horsetail Falls).
The goal for tomorrow is to get Mack and I out of the house for a significant period of time, while Tyler is at school. Good Luck.