cousins.

Being the only granddaughter, the idea of cousins is a foreign concept to me.

Also, I was spoiled.

But seeing our Jellybean with her cousins gave me "cousin envy".

She loved them so much, we really wish we lived closer...

And these two... so funny together.
If only I knew what was going through their minds...

"what on earth is happening with these legs?"

"chubby chubby chubby chubby..."

"I can't even comprehend this chubbiness!"

"hey, there's a bald spot back here..."

"lets try to take a nice picture together..."

"here, let me fix that collar for you"

"it's ok cousin, don't be mad."

"ok I'm ready now... hey? where're you going?"

Those cousins, they're going to help keep the "bad boys" (or any and all boys) away, 

so that papa doesn't have to bring out the shotgun.

We miss you!

not so fun in the sun.

As previously mentioned, we spent most of our holiday at home, but on the very last day of 2012,

we finally made it out to the beach.

The momentous occasion deserved a post of its own.

As you can see, she was initially pretty excited about this whole "beach thing".

And then she tested out the waters...

What. Is. Happening.

Horrible.

Terrible.

 Isn't this fun?

Well, at least someone is having fun.  Such a good aunty she is...

And here are some awesome parents, laughing at their poor child's misery.

All in all, a very memorable very first beach day.

hello 2013.

After an unintentional extra extra long holiday break from the blog, 

happy one week into 2013!

We spent Christmas in Trinidad.  Yes, we are one of those lucky people who "going home for the holidays" means sunny, warm (or sweltering hot), and beaches.

We hung out at home for 95% of the time.

I got bitten by mosquitos about 40 times (which was not as many as previous times).

I tried to eat my body weight in pasteles.
I also ate way too much ice cream.

We didn't get to see our friends nearly enough times (sorry friends).

But we got to enjoy so much quality time with the family, and Bean thrived on the "liveliness" (4 dogs, cousins, lots of visitors, and lots of family).  2 weeks was hardly long enough.

It's a tough adjustment, coming back to our little family of three... and the cold.

So to overcompensate, please enjoy a copious amount of photographs from our time down south.

highchair and corn dogs.

Two completely unrelated things, but the former enabled me to do the latter... kind of.

We opened the big box that was under beside our little tree since it was a practical gift.

The Boon highchair - I'd say she approves.

So she happily ate played with Sophie for a little bit while I made corn dog muffins
for a potluck Christmas party.
You may or may not know that my artery-clogging-guilty-addiction is corn dogs (& funnel cake).
I will without a doubt get one if I see it at the carnival, amusement park, restaurant... really anywhere, but I draw the line at making deep-fried-dough-covered-hotdog-on-a-stick at home.
So the "healthier" alternative were these muffins.
I used a corn bread recipe and added hotdogs (all natural).
And cheese.
Cause cheese is delicious on everything.
And jalapeños in a few of them as well.

Ok, who am I kidding (especially not myself...) they are definitely not as delicious as the real thing, but they were pretty good.
Even if they came out a little bit dry because a certain supervisor decided that she did not want to supervise anymore, and was demanding that she be entertained.

Ketchup is mandatory. 

holly jolly.

Our big little girl (as confirmed by the paediatrician once again at her 6 month visit), sitting on top of her very big gift, beside out little tree.

More interested in Santa though.

Happy weekend! 

Hope you're done your holiday shopping.  The mall is a scary place right now...

We finished our Christmas shopping in an extremely timely fashion this year. 

(thank you internet)

Since becoming a parent, tragedies involving children have become infinitely more emotional. 

Tonight, I am indescribably thankful as we hug our healthy happy girl extra tightly, and put her 

safely to sleep in her bed.

My thoughts are with the community of Newtown CT.

"Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment.  We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear"

~Nelson Mandela~

the fifth.

And just like that, she is 6 months old.

The craziest

busiest

most exhausting

most sleep deprived

most exciting

happiest 

6 months of our life.

Sitting like a big lady.

Mama likes that big fluffy butt and she cannot lie.

Roll on to tummy.

Hang out there until I get tired.

Yell at mama to fix the situation (cause I don't quite know how to roll on to my back).

Roll right back on to tummy.

*repeat all day

Pretty soon she's going to be crawling and we're going to have to Bean proof everything.

such is life.

Trying to fix Bean's sleep schedule,

missing my mama's cooking,

keeping SP quarantined due to some unknown stomach bug,

and running on 3-4hrs sleep/night.

Yup, back to reality and our family of three.

Three weeks with jiji and baba went by too fast and Bean learned a lot of new "tricks" while we were away.

Rolling over (occasionally if she feels like it).

Sitting by herself and loving it (even though she slowly starts to topple forward - that big head of hers,
full of brains).

A new high pitched giggle that doesn't come out very often, but we all go crazy over it when it does.

And generally a lot more chatty.

Some highlights from the fun times.

Learning to roll over with jiji.

Doesn't always work though.

Trying out the exersaucer.

"Whatcha doin' in that little thing papa...?"

Sitting like a big lady.

Filling papa in on all of the fun things she'd been up to.

Being musical with baba.

(just realized that she's in the same jammies in all of the pictures expect for the last - she wore more than 2 pjs... in fact, half of the large suitcase coming home was filled with her new clothes)

And then she flew home like a champ.