Married and Deported

feliz ano nuevo

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:34:00 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It does not feel much different (yet). We spent New Years Eve eating at my favorite Greek restaurant, Greekfest with Leo and grandma and grandpa. The appetizers were awesome. I could eat some now, yum.

December 30 was our 4th wedding anniversary. Congrats to us! Maximo and I went to Las Vegas over Christmas weekend (sans Leo). Thank you mom and dad! We drove along Route 66 and Maximo got to play with snow.

We stopped at this off beat diner and ate the MOST DELICIOUS CHEESEBURGER ever! The french fries were also pretty good. Then onto to Las Vegas. We stayed at MGM Grand. It was great being alone as a couple but I missed Leo. We ate our anniversary meal at CRAFTSTEAK. If you are a Top Chef fan like me you will recognize this restaurant.

In Las Vegas more is more. There was too much food. I could barely finish my steak. There were also really good french fries too. I was exhausted (probably one of the only people to sleep in LV). Maximo ventured out to the strip and rode the roller coaster at NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

Now, its January and Maximo and I are sorting through papers and receipts to get ready for our tax returns. I know sooo glamorous. Its a necessary evil. My Miami Beach condo is also on the market. Its been 5 years and due to circumstances beyond my control (mainly Maximo being deported, etc.) I lived in it for less then 1 year. I know the market is terrible, etc. Its a 1 bedroom which I bought before Leo was even an idea. Well, I will let you all know how it develops. If you know anybody looking to buy a 1 bedroom on Miami Beach please send them my way.

El primero dia de escuela

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Yesterday, was Leo's first day at school. It sounds so grown up. He is going 2x a week from 9-1 to Tempel Solel pre-school. He is in the toddler class with 9 other children. I walked into the classroom and first thing i saw was a little girl crying her eyes out. MAMA GUILT. I brought everything Leo needed, diapers, wipes, extra clothes and his lunch. It was labeled with his name. I kissed Leo goodbye and he went to the window to watch me walk out.

At 12:50 pm, I went to pick him up. The teacher advised me it took Leo awhile for him to realize I was not coming back. He also started crying for awhile and stopped when they went outside. poor guy. It broke my heart to hear he was crying. . I came into the classroom and he was playing with toys. He caught my eye and started crying. I picked him up and took him to the car. The teacher gave me a "report" on his diaper changes and how much food he ate. We got home after a snack, he took a 3 hour nap. In all, a successful day.

the cousins are here!

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:33:00 +0000

All of the cousins arrived for Thanksgiving. It was the first time since 2005 that all of my siblings, spouses and children were here.

TOP TEN HIGHLIGHTS OF NOVEMBER

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:29:00 +0000

TOP TEN LIST FOR NOVEMBER

1. Leo can do " how big is Leo."

2. I came home from Argentina

3. Leo is 31 inches tall (97% percentile) and 25 lbs.

4. Leo and I got to chill out together.

5. The cousins from Washington, DC arrived (and Aunts Unice and Samantha, Uncles Mike and Stephen)

6. Leo know uses a fork when he eats

7. He shakes his head "NO" more then i would like

8. Leo waves bye-bye

9. Estela, our beloved babysitter is leaving to finish college. (weep, weep)

10. I signed Leo up for pre-school.

November is national blog month

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:25:00 +0000

Well, better late then never. i took a peak at my friend Manda's blog only to see its national blog month. I had no idea. What with being in Argentina and flying back to beautiful Arizona, i have been fairly mocus (mostly out of focus).

I missed Halloween with Leo this year. This is Leo as a monkey. I think he looks like Winnie the Pooh licking the top of the honey pot.

Maximo carved the pumpkin. (He is a virgin pumpkincarver no more)

The Thrills of Buying a Cell Phone in Argentina

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:32:00 +0000

Hola. Yes, I am in Buenos Aires again by myself. It is so hard to be away from Leo, my heart hurts when I think about it. I arrived last Tuesday. I took care of setting myself up. I checked into the apartment, the land line had no answering machine and I was without computer (as well as Leo).

My friend, Chris offered to buy the phone from me once I finished using it. I just had to do the leg work. Now, if you have never been to Argentina and only know American customer service you MUST lower your expectations about the service here.

I walked over to the trendy and very overstimulating Alto Palermo mall. I went to Personal's kiosco (one of the cell phone companies here) and bought the "mas barato" phone. It meant a basic phone, no camera or any other tricks and gadgets. I was advised by the sales chica that within 24 hours I would get a message with my new phone number. Ok, I thought thats cool.

As this is Argentina the story does not end yet. On Tuesday, no service. On Wednesday, I made the dreaded trip back to Alto Palermo and to the Personal kiosco. In my best Spanish, I advised the chica I had no service. She assured me that in another 24 hours I would have service and if not I could call her. I was skeptical but also hopeful. No service on Thursday, Friday. I really did not want to go back to the kiosco.

Today, I met my friend Richard and his zexy boyfriend Carlos ("Charlie") at Alto Palermo to see a terrible Bruce Willis movie. Anyways, Richard said Charlie would help me with fixing the no cell phone problem. We got to the kiosco and the spanish flying between Charlie and the sales guy was so fast I just mentally blacked out. The sales guy was a jerk, he told me to go to the main office. The main office is usually packed with 100 people waiting to be seen (not unlike the DMV).

We went around the shopping center to another Personal kiosco. The chica was very helpful and called the woman I had spoken to the other day and said she would be there in 15 minutes. We waited (although I was certain she would not show). I saw Mickey Mouse on Ave Santa Fe giving out balloons which only made me homesick. Anyways, the woman showed up said it was a bad chip and changed it. All that drama for a "bad" chip. Now, I have cell phone and I am plugged in.

More Photos from Argentina

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:46:00 +0000

I tried posting more photos from Argentina in the post about our trip. However, my computer skills did not allow me to do it. I am posting more under this post. I only have a minute as Maximo does not know how long to microwave a chicken nugget.
ENJOY!

I prefer dirty laundry

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:09:00 +0000

A friend of mine, another mom made a posting on her blog that really got me thinking. She discussed an interaction with another mom about why she has a maid and does not cook all of her family's meals. It sounded like envy to me.

However, posting made me really think about my life. At times, I am guilty not working full time. Its insane. Women can be mean to one other and even interactions with other moms (ADULT WOMEN)can be high school all over again with cliques and jealousy and gossip. I dont know when this "mean" cycle ends. I can only try not to engage in it.

I remember an incident when I was pregnant and new to Phoenix. I figured I would meet some cool women at pre-natal yoga. In my experience, I have gotten along with other yogis. The teacher said we would all become one anothers best friends. I felt hopeful. A few pregnant moms were having lunch, did not extend the invitation so I invited myself. I felt like a fish out of water.

I think I never wrote about because I was in shock. At every pre-natal class rarely did anybody give me a smile or say hello let alone invite me to lunch. I tried to "turn the other cheek" but I got tired of reaching into an empty well. At the end of my pregnancy, I was on modified bed rest so I stopped going to pre-natal yoga.

After I had Leo, I was surprised to receive emails from other moms in the class about their childbirth and newborn experiences. One of the women suggested we all meet with babies for coffee. Today, I can say these women are good friends and very supportive. We have a weekly playgroup. Many of the moms stay at home or have flexible working schedules.

Anyways, back to my friends blog posting. She discussed a Maureen Dowd article about how Americans are less happier then ever. In general, I am much happier now that I am a mom. I would not return to single life and/or exchange it for my baby. My son is precious to me. I am so grateful to have him in my life. I had 25 years of working in jobs I did not always like. I have a greater purpose being a mom and being happy. I am trying to figure out what is my passion.

It is unfortunate that other women are so critical of one another. I have definitely met judgmental moms and some not so much. It sounds like the woman was envious of you! I see you and you are happy. We only have 2 hands and 1 heart-its impossible to do it all. I would rather have dirty laundry and left overs then give up my time with my child.

LOVE AND ILLNESS IN BUENOS AIRES

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:14:00 +0000

Its been quite a trip to Buenos Aires. Our "return" with Leo. There has been so much going on I have just been too tired to sit down and write about it. I am going to cheat and list the highlights. The photos will follow upon return to the USA.

1. 10 hours flying from Dallas to Buenos Aires

2. I slept, Leo slept a bit and Max barely slept.

3. We met Valentina! That is Ambi and Hugh's 10 month old daughter.

4. We saw Cousin Rachel and 7 of her 9 children. She graciously lent us a pack and play.

5 We bought eggs in the grocery store. Eggs are kept on shelves as opposed to a refrigerator.

6 We ate at 647 and caught up with the "gang"; Terry, Chris and Ana.

7 In the middle of the night, I threw up, followed by Leo and ultimately Maximo.

8. Luckily, Ambi had provided me in advance with a pediatrician's phone number.

9. Maximo called this doctor we had never met at 4 am on doctor's cell phone. He instructed us what to do and he would see in the morning. I cannot imagine that same scenario in the USA! Calling my doctor or a pediatrician on his cellphone and at 4 am!

10.I took Leo along with Ana and Terry (my personal translators) to see Dr. Guzman. A liquid diet was prescribed.

11.More sickness. Hugh sends over this babysitter Rosa to watch Leo. Finally, we all get some sleep. Rosa makes us a feast of jello, white rice and pureed carrots.

12. Eventually the sickness passed and we explored BA. Max and I decided to only do things we had never done while living here.

Mas adelante.................

Leo is walking

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:26:00 +0000

Well, it happened Leo is walking. He took his first steps on July 4, ironicallly Independence Day. He started pushing a shopping cart (which Maximo weighed down with a box toys) around the house by himself. I am truly amazed at how he performs these (to me) miracles.
Please see more with the attached photos and videos.

The Wedding Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:54:00 +0000

I just uncovered this picture and scanned it. The cake is from our actual civil wedding in the Pompano Beach Detention Center on December 30, 2005. It was a lemon cake from Publix supermarket.

Max and I never got a chance to pick out our wedding bands before the ceremony. I am wearing my grandmother's ring and he is wearing my mother's wedding band. Once we were in Argentina we bought real bonds. The "wedding" in a detention center (sounds like the title of a Johnny Cash song) was sudden. We only knew the day before that DHS granted us permission to marry. They also signed off on deporting Maximo to Argentina that same day.

At the time, I thought it was the biggest tragedy. That ceremony was so beautiful. A notary public I never met performed it (the Rabbi had a funeral to attend) and all of the words were so magical. My family and Maximo and I were crying happy-sad tears.

Uncle Bob's Defensive Driving

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:28:00 +0000

I am no poster child for safe driving. Arizona is overloaded with these traffic cameras that take your photo when you are speeding. I received such a ticket and enrolled in a defensive driving class. The word is a bit of a misnomer. Tonight, I attended my 4 hour and (1) 15 minute course with "Uncle Bob."

Yes, the instructor calls himself the "Uncle Bob of Defensive Driving." He advised us to google him and alas, he is the "real deal." He admits to being passionate about teaching defensive driving. In all of my 20 years of driving and few times at traffic school I have never heard anybody admit to "feeling passionate about defensive driving."

He dolled out some good advice, tips , etc with his own style, one part bartender and another performance artist (that is a stretch), and a touch of lecherous older teacher with mid-western charm. He shuns the National Safety Council's teachings as his are "better." He does have a web site with "Uncle Bob's 70 rules of safe driving." I will post the web site if anybody reads this blog and is interested.

Feliz Cumple, Maximo

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:33:00 +0000

Argentine friends come to visit

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:24:00 +0000

Last week, i had among other things back surgery-to remove a very enlarged and herniated/protruding disk. Its a long story. It was very painful and nothing was working. I was overnight in the hospital, my first time away from Leo for 2 nights. I am happy to say the surgery was successful but it is a long road to recovery

On top of it, our friends Mulu, Massimo and their daughter Guilia were coming in from Houston. Mulu and I became fast friends in Buenos Aires after attending a horrid ex-pat meeting where everybody complained about Argentina. That was 4 years ago and we have been friends since. I digress. Massimo, originally from Italy a geological engineer was transferred from Buenos Aires to Houston, Texas. It is quite the culture shock.

We took them to the Desert Botanical Garden where there is the Chiluluy glass exhibit. Its fantastic and blends in with the desert scenery. We also discovered an Ethiopian resurant. Mulu was in 7th heaven. I was happy to find some ethnic food!

On Sunday, it was Maximo's birthday. We had 3 Italian/Argentines on the barbeque cooking up chirrasco steak "the right way." We topped off the celebration with a tres leches cake.

Spring Things and Argentine Visitors

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:05:00 +0000

This was taken at the train park in Chandler, AZ. It was Stori's 3rd birthday and also 106 degrees. Leo went through the sprinkler to cool down.
Max and Sebas (Stori's dad) barbequed for the kiddies. The birthday princess glowed over her beautifully designed cupcake tower cake.

Leo vamos el manzana grande

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:12:00 +0000

We spent the past weekend in NYC. We came in for my first cousin's daughter bat mitzvah. Is that my second cousin, once removed? Anyway, we had the privilege of connecting with so many friends and it was amazing to be in NYC.

We stayed with our friends, Marnie and Jon and their groovey kids (simone, ariel and Ben)in tribeca. I am adding an aside that I introduced Marnie and Jon to one another and they have been together over 15 years. (matchmaker, matchmaker) Also, Arielle is a gifted tap dancer.

We were really there for the bat mitzvah, I swear but we got in a couple of visits with some old friends. We saw Karen Wolfe all the way from Brooklyn bearing bagels, lox and whitefish salad. Louise who we met in Argentina came from the Lower East Side.
We lunched with Anna and Kelli at Odeon where the waitress pointed out that our tuna burgers came with french fries. Anna and Kelli in their awesome sense of humor advised waitress "we are not dieting." I am paraphrasing.

The Homewood Suites where we had a pre-paid reservation decided to cancel our reservation as we did not stay on thursday night. The hotel said we could pay for another night. We chose not to stay in the fashionable Long Island town of Melville and stay at Chez Berk-silvan. As of this morning, I am busy calling Hilton and writing letters to get the charges reversed and its not going too well.

Laterr in the evening, Max and I got to have Marnie's babysitter watch Leo while we had dinner in a restaurant. That was a treat. We met Lisa and Kelli at Nobu next door. I guess its the "cheaper" Nobu?

On Saturday we woke up and hustled out to Huntington Jewish Center where we missed only 90 mins of a four hour bat mitzvah service. Leo did get to hang with his cousins, a highlight. There was a great deal of pushing and grabbing for appetizers. As it was Shabbat, no musical instruments could be used. Thus, the music was performed acapella. It was beautiful singing.

The noise, all the people, etc put Leo into overdrive so we left early. My well meaning Aunt Dorothy advised me Leo's socks were too small and they were cutting off his circulation. She also asked Maximo to take care of me and to write her.

We were pooped after 2 days of being in NYC so we had a family night at chez Berk Silvan. We ordered in some pizzas from Gigino which were excellent. Leo's tias Sarah, Kelli and Lisa all showed up for fun and games. Tio Sergio and Tia Sarah came in from Brooklyn.

We got back last night and we are all off our schedule. It was hotel reservation snafu and all a great trip.

Sombrero de Leo

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:29:00 +0000

TENES HAMBRE

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:02:00 +0000

I am starving! Its a feeling I have experienced for at least 18 months. I am also nursing and that could be part of the continual feeling of hunger. In October, I started doing a "mommy boot camp." Its rigourous exercise. The instructor, Joe is a navy veteran but not a rigid drill sergeant.

Joe created a "diet" (i hate the word, notice it says "die) for me. Its basically alot of protein, some carbs, and low in calories. I just ate lunch which was good. However, it was over an hour ago and I am starving. I want to eat a handful of nuts. I am going to take it one meal at a time. I have to run out to Whole Foods for flax oil.

P.S. Happy V-Day

LEO's NEW BFF

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 04:49:00 +0000

Leo and I just returned from a week in Washington, DC. We went to see Aunt Unice
and Leo's big cousins David and Louis. We also had a drop in session at The Cheesecake Factory from Uncle Mike, Aunt Samantha and bigger cousins Grant and Brooke.

Maximo got to stay at home and go to work. He also did some make bonding with Abuelo Abe. Max as an Argentine is a huge fan of steak and chimichurri sauce. Foco do Chao, a Brazilian steakhouse opened up in Scottsdale. On Thursday night, Maximo, Abuelo Abe and Maximo's new bff, Muhammad Ali all had dinner together at said restaurant. Muhammad drew a picture for Leo and signed the back. (to be posted).

Leo and Muhammad are having a playdate soon, will keep you all posted.

LEO's OFFICE

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 04:40:00 +0000

Leo in January

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:19:00 +0000

January summary

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:00:00 +0000

It has been along time since my last post. What have we been up to? We took Leo on his first flight. He did very well slept the whole way from Phoenix to Washington, DC. We went to my nephew David's pizza "dinner." David has a phobia about birthday parties. Its some kind of sensory-affective thing. I think he is growing out of it. As he told his father "he didnt want the party to end."

Maximo had a dental crisis. We luckily have friends who are also dentists. Max went to see our pal, Dr. Mark S. Davis. Max had all of his wisdom teeth pulled out. His face is not all puffed out like a chipmunk. He has been taking ibuprofen and prescribed pain killer so it explains why he sleeps through Leo's crying.

Leo is recovering from a cold. I never realized how much a child's illness can affect your own life. We had to miss the parenting class reunion, cancel a playdate and postpone another playgroup. He is using the vaporizer, and I am using the nasal aspirator which he hates.

We hired a new babysitter, Maximina. She is from Cuba and is married to an Argentine, a porteno! As a result, we found out there are actually other Argentines in Phoenix. There are a group of Argentines who work at ASU. Maximina also told us about an Argentine restaurant in Phoenix. Maximina speaks Spanish to Leo and feeds him, diapers him, etc. I am hoping to follow through my New Year's resolution to speak Spanish everyday. Practicar es necessito!

I am still struggling to lose the pregnancy weight gain. More then half came off from the birth and breastfeeding. The remainder is not budging. I am still wearing half maternity tops and pre-preggo jeans which are tight. Its very frustrating. I was told by other moms it takes a year for the weight to come off.

Lastly, Leo is eating food! I am making it at home. First, he had carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, string beans, spinach and now chicken. He is lifitng his head up and rolling over from his back to his stomach. I know soon he will be walking.

Chrismakkah

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:24:00 +0000

Its less then 2 weeks shopping time for Chrismakkah. Yesterday, Leo and I went to our playgroup where hostess Nicole made some delicious treats. It was amazing to see how much the babies have grown. We laid the babies on blankets and watched as the babies grabbed each others hands.

This year, my siblings and I have decided to forgo exchanging gifts to one another. We are giving gifts to the kids. Its been a different holiday experience in Arizona. Yes, there is all of the commercialism in stores and malls. I remembered last year in Buenos Aires how it seemed how Christmas was getting more commercialized. I guess with their economy on the upswing (last year) there was more money to spend.

This time of year has always been somewhat melancolic for me. My family does not celebrate Christmas and Chanukkah is not much of a spectacle. We lit our menorahs and exchanged a few gifts. I am really missing my siblings and nephews and niece as well as my friends scattered in the north and south hemispheres. I know Maximo misses his family too.

Dia de Gracias

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:15:00 +0000

It has been quite awhile since my last blog entry. Thanksgiving brings alot of discussion about gratitude. I am grateful that Maximo and I spent our first Thanksgiving together with Leo as a family unit. That we are altogether with my family in the USA is a bonus. This year, my brother Usher and his wife Jenny and their boys, Pierce, Kelsey and Reese came to us in Phoenix.

On Thanksgiving morning, I made some of the side dishes. I took some time to enjoy a film classic the original "Willy Wonka and the Choclate Factory" with Maximo (who had never seen it growing up in Argentina) and Leo. My 8 year old nephew commented he liked the "Johnny Depp version" better.

Our turkey dinner together. We began the meal by each of us saying what we were grateful for. We cooked 2 turkeys however, it turns out the bottom oven does not work so one turkey was inedible. It was a glutonous meal with too much food. It was a leisurely meal and we all began the

The holiday season makes me reflective. I thought back on how last years Thanksgiving in Buenos Aires was remarkably different. We had over 20 friends, guests and visitors in our small apartment. We had a pot luck style dinner with my friend Katie's dad visiting from California doing a majority of cooking. It was a special dinner. I could not imagine the next year would be very different.

Its not only different because we are bank in the USA but having a child makes all of my thinking different. We are planning on seeing my friend Kelli in San Diego for the holidays in December. How I will fit a pack and play, bottles, clothing, diapers, stroller and breast pump into our car? How will we maintain Leo's bedtime routine? What happens if we run out of diapers? I have become of those "women with baby gear." I finally understand why when I was single and my friends who became moms were suddenly unavailable. I thought these moms had fallen off the face of the earth when they had a baby. I get it now! My life has changed so much for the better and I am grateful about it.

The Little Boy Who Would not Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Dulce de Wendy) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:44:00 +0000

Leo is 14 weeks. He is supposedly passed being "colichy." He is talking alot. Yesterday, I made a rolling "r" sound with my tongue touching the roof my mouth. Leo imitated the noise. It was the sweetest noise I ever heard. WHAT A GENUIS!

After his amazing sound imitation he fell asleep in the car ride to Tempe Town Lakes. We had a "playdate" with Jennifer and Stori. I met Jennifer through mutual friend in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a conicidence (or are there really coincidences?) that she was from Phoenix, AZ. She returned back to the states shortly after we arrived. I consider Stori a sort of "older" sister to Leo. She is 2 years older then him.

Leo slept through the entire playdate. I did not have to take him out of the car seat as he slept through everything. We met a friend for our lunch. At lunch, he woke up and fussed but went back to sleep. We got home and he woke up. Maximo arrived home and took him away so I could get out of the house alone. I realized that
a journey outside of the house alone is a gift.

I returned home only to have Leo asleep again. I knew he would be up in a few hours as he did not have any boob or formula. (I supplement as formula is fattier and tends to put Leo out quicker then breast milk) I know there are purists out there, the anti-formulistas but when you are sleep deprived you got to go with what works!
He woke up at 9:30 got fed,4:30 am stared at his dad and lay in the crib, 5:15 am up and fed. I knew something was wrong when he fussed with his food at 9:00 am. It took 45 minutes to get him to sleep in the bouncer. However, when he was up he was up!

Leo has been awake since 10:15 am. I did everything that I know to get to him sleep again. I even "let him cry" but it did not work. As I started writing this post and nursed him (I have to multi task) he got quiet and eventually started to fall asleep. I suppose just giving him a boob and white noise (typing on key pad) was the trick.