Pre-Christmas update

December 2nd was my second wedding anniversary (K8’s, too, of course). Because of our busy schedules, it was low key, but memorable. We started the celebration early, thanks to the in-laws (who were in for Thanksgiving). They gladly watched Javi for an evening so that we could go catch a movie (Quantum of Solace, more on that later), followed by dinner at Sushi Hana (very nice, btw). That was our first “date” since the summer, when my parents watched Javi & we saw the worst Indiana Jones film ever.

A few days later, my (little) sister got married. Sam & I weren’t able to make it, but Andy made sure the Centellas brothers were represented back in Saginaw. I’m happy for her, of course. And the pictures look great (especially the one where Kelly’s showing off her combat boots under her wedding dress). I can’t wait to see everyone over the holidays in Chicago & South Bend.

It seems like we’ve found a cat sitter in our building. And perhaps also a babysitter! That will be good news next semester, when K8 & I will need some breaks.

That said, Javi is doing great. He’s been walking for about two weeks now. He still crawls, of course, but he can walk about 10 yards at a time, and seems to prefer standing up & walking whenever possible. He still falls & hits his head every other day or so, but I repeat “he’s OK, that’s what babies do” before scooping him up (besides, he calms down after a minute or so). What else is new? He has learned to wave hello (sort of), to clap, and (this one is worrisome) to use objects as stepping stools to climb higher (last week he had moved a cloth storage crate in front of his playpen in order to try to climb in to fetch a stuffed cow before I could stop him).

He’s also closer to speaking, though we don’t know what to think about the fact that his first clear effort at repeating a word was “carretera” (Spanish for “highway”). It’s also interesting to note that Javi is currently more comfortable w/ Spanish. If you ask “donde esta …?” (where is …?) & name an object he knows (e.g. “Watson” the cat, “pelota,” “sheepy sheep” the stuffed sheep, etc.) he will instantly turn to face it and/or go fetch it (or, if it’s not in line of sight, he’ll go find it). He also knows what we mean if we say “baño” (bath time), “pañales” (change diapers), “comer” (dinner time), or “sleepy sleep.”

It’s also fun watching him “read” to himself. I’ve long since given up & let him play w/ my books (although I’m slowly transferring them in batches to my office). But he also now gravitates more towards his own board books, which he has gotten better at turning the pages. He will sit (cross-legged, not sure where he learned that), leafing through his books, engrossed in the pictures (especially the “flip” books).

I’m very excited for my parents to see him (it’s been about half a year). I’m sure they’ll say he looks just like me at that age (it’s uncanny!). He’s also now mature enough to “play” w/ his cousins, which will fascinate them, of course.

And that’s about it, I guess. Wrapping up my first semester at Mount St. Mary’s has been interesting. The school’s going through some major changes, including a reorganization into four “schools.” I’m getting used to the commute, though it still makes for long weeks. But I think some better time-management skills will help next semester. In the meantime, I’m going to relish the holiday break.