Exciting news...

From my friend Joanna today who just had her second scan and now knows she's having a girl. I'm so pleased for her as I think she really wanted one!

Time is marching on at a hurried pace and before you know it, it will be xmas again. Time is also running out on our final appeal for the 2500 euro baby bonus that we are STILL fighting for... I honestly pretty much have given up as they just won't budge... they are still convinced that I have not lived here for 2 years prior to Sienna's birth... Even though I have so much documentation to prove that I have... they are being really really difficult about it. I'm sure its just part of the whole fiscal frugality that is surely in place during these hard times. Needless to say, we would be VERY greatful for this but as now it looks unlikely I'm trying to come to terms with it. Sigh... sometimes the good guys loose.

Life goes on and yea you've got to see the good things right? Miss S is now crawling (well sort of as she drags one leg behind kind of but she's moving alright and at a great pace!) and she is standing and pulling herself up as often as she can which means a lot of bumps an bruises for her as she finds her balance and then looses it....


New trick... one of many.

Lilli and I have been jogging in the park in the evenings lately... people look at me strangely jogging next to a small dog but what they don't know is that she is quite the little runner and often is the one urging me to pick up the pace... Its a feable attempt at draining her energy so she is not so hyper... its a tough task. Lets hope at least my fitness levels will increase and we can both make some progress...

Wee one is changing so quickly and in some pictures you can really start to see her looking like me... but in other she looks sooooooooo much like Alfredo. I swear if you look at these pics you would think they were two different babies!?!?!


Looking quite like mum!?!?!?


More like dad?!?!

Good things happen in threes...

Based on this principle then we've had lots of bad things in multiples of threes too so surely we can hope for the same with good things yes?

We received two really sweet packages today for wee Sea... some cool english/spanish speaking toys from Sureshee and a lovely CD from Jackie. Very nice indeed.

The third good thing I'm not going to talk about because I don't want to jinx it... then it would become a bad thing and that is not a good thing. Ha!

I may find it kind of hard to walk or type for the next few days with my fingers and toes all crossed like they are right now....

Its Friday!!!!!!!!!

And its Fredu and Joey's birthdays today... in the goofy spirit of the festivities Sienna brings you her inspired pose of the day:

We are a long long way away from Yankee Doodle Land...

but much to my surprise I've been noticing lately a lot of presidential paraphernalia floating about the 'cuidad comptal'. I really have to admit staring down the people wearing the hats and shirts... All supporting Obama of course... not that I know much about American politics but I can't quite envision McCain supporters travelling to a city so far far away... The thing that astounds me most is quite honestly the garrish design of said hats and T shirts. I mean I think that's why I always find myself turning around to catch more of a look when i see someone sporting one walk by. The hats and T shirts are black and have huge text and I swear they've taken a design sheet straight from the Wrestling federation styleguide. I swear to god one of the T-shirts I saw this large bellied gentleman wearing featured a huge portrait of Obama on it... words can not describe... I really had the impression when I first saw one that someone was wearing one to be ironic but with further inspection of the wearer's footwear it was quickly confirmed that he was indeed American and that, yes - he wanted to be wearing it to show his support. I don't get it. Fashion is not an option people - and don't forget please that it is an obligation - regardless if its politics or not. I checked the Obama site to see if I could find the examples that I've seen but sadly they don't seem to be part of the 'official obama merchandise'... sigh... however I did find this little jem... I'm sure Sienna would just love to wear it!



*steps down off soap box*

Now who says I'm not political?

There are some things that are essential in this part of the world...

In Barcelona in specific, one of those things is 'Pan con Tomate' which is bread with tomato and olive oil. They prepare most sandwiches here with this as standard... no butter or marg... its oil and tomato! The Tomato they use is special its called 'tomate de rama' because the tomato comes off a vine that is like a branch... You can use a single one of these tomatoes to spread accross lots of sandwiches.

Sienna will show you how to eat this... please take note of my breakdown just before the end of the video... 'dear lord I need to wipe her hands!'



Because its friday and lets face it... we've been busy here today... I present to you a few other oscar contenders...

Sienna giggling with autie Becks (which finally uploaded to youtube)



Sienna clapping with me looking like a doofus sitting behind her... but thats what mums do no?



Sienna playing this morning in her crib before we went out for walkies

There is a very dark cloud...

Looming over the normally bright skies of Barcelona lately. I'm speaking factually and metaphorically. I swear I'm going to scream if one more news person mentions the word 'crisis'. I am convinced that its probably that but combined in some way with strange planetary alignment or the moon or something. So many people, not excluding myself are in really rough times right now for a foray of reasons... Some are lamenting lack of jobs, disillusionment, struggling marriages, trust issues, depression... all the heavies are there. My biggest fear is that I'm going to run out of steam soon trying to do whatever I can to help keep people positive... Me, I'm always last in that list of course, but its easier that way...

I guess as an interim measure I should aim to note a few things every day that should be observed as they are definitely not gloomy....

so lets give this a try

1) Seestor finally has a new fancy phone and her ankle is on the mend and the cast has been removed! (ooh that was like a hat trick)

2) Sienna's giggle fits (nuff said)

3) In a stupid attempt to distract myself today I tried on a size 29 pair of jeans. They fit! Not saying I would concede to wearing them but damn it if I wasn't so accustomed to everything hanging off me, I could in theory wear them... LOL... guess it does't count when the bellies cascade over the top eh? (just kidding i'm not quite at that point yet)

There, did that help?

Giggles with jo jo and becks

Ahh it was so nice to have the girls here for a visit... Fredu is back with his camera and thus the release of the pics that were stored on the camera he had with him...



Fredu also made this cute video of miss Sienna with the giggles... Becks was the source of the giggles of course... hmm its taken all day and the video is not cooperating... perhaps we can add it up later.

She sleeps like an angel (of course the sun beam helps the effect too!)

This morning walkies required hats and blankies. Barcelona is much chillier now but mostly only at 8h30 in the morning. Avoiding the muddy park we walked down to the Marina and stopped off to get a well deserved Soya latte for moi. While walking there I sneezed as I do a million times a day and bang. My old circus school neck injury jolted into action. So I went the rest of the way very delicately trying to steer the pram and handle the dog while trying desperately not to turn my neck. Not easy... the pain killers I took when I got home didn't help much so I'm now even more anxiously awaiting Fredu's return so he can help me function!

Outside right now a band of kids are belting their hearts out in a drum group. I guess you could describe it as like a brazillian marching band. Really nice and very uplifting but no so good for sleeping babies! I think its amazing that the kids here are so constructive. They've got the day off of school today and this bunch has chosen to do something so cool with it! We should ship some of my sister's little hellians here for an exchange program. Might do them the world of good!

Speaking of sleeping angels...


how beautiful is the tiny ray of sunlight on her face beaming in from the interior patio?


She's in her play pen and just drifted off... guess it was just all too exciting...

Photos of the guests before jojo and becks

Hon and Naoko were in town for their first trip ever to Barcelona just before the girls. They snapped a ton of pics and here are a few...


Me and my 'little brother', Hon


A stoic pose from my first baby...


Cuddles with the furry one

Time flies

and soon its time for jojo and becks to jet back to London... but someone got lots of playtime in!

I guess its for a number of reasons...

but I've just not been able to write much lately. Fredu is out of town for work until the end of the week thus fullt-time baby duty is tiring me out... Jo jo and Becks are here visiting which has been fabulous. They are both so good with the bub and have helped out tons. I'm blessed to know such wonderful people.

The job search continues but we're a long way from being out of the woods. I'm looking and looking but not a single interview yet. All in due time I supposed but I think time may be starting to be the biggest enemy (that and the bills of course). I think I falsely convinced myself a few weeks ago that it would all be sorted by now... finding that this was clearly not the case is a bit hard. I'm praying for some divine direction. We stopped into Santa Maria del Mar today to ask for help with just that.

So here I sit with a sad dog mourning the absence of her dad curled up in my lap and the tiny one fast asleep in her bed punching in the words to try and push through this. Its mad really as much as I crave financial infusion I also cringe at the thought of having to say good bye to this precious time with the girls... life gets tougher... why don't they tel you this?

We've been busy here at bcn headquarters these days...

Sienna is battling her first cold with chesty cough and Lilli is on the other side of a bought of stomach upset. Thus far (thank god) Fredu and I have been the ones tending to the girls and not participating in the illing. Lilli is on a special diet to return her stomach to how it should be and Sienna is now not so congested thus allowing her to sleep and sleep to fight the virus!

I think, however that the dog is the one who is suffering the most. After an entire day of eating nothing without vomiting immediately afterward she's even more ravenously hungry than ever... Tonight as I sat tucking into a yummy dish of bean dip she was completely fixated. The reason being is that the beans we used for this naughty dish were black pinto beans (re-fried) they bore a terrible resemblance to the pricy 2,50 E tin of dog food that is part of Lilli's re-hab diet. She stared at me incredulously as I devoured (as what she thought) was her plate of fancy food. I almost spat beans through my nose as the way she was looking at me was so hilarious. I am a cruel woman.

Everything is slowly getting back to normal here and I'm hoping that one of the four jobs that are still pending comes through with an interview! In other productive news I posted off little giftie packages to Yvonne and my Seestor today... I'm now convinced that the Spanish postal system is as corrupt as the rest of this country. Ah well, I'm excited to send gifts as truly, it gives me such pleasure. I'm now just really curious as to how longt they will take to arrive to their said destinations.

Back to my wine... I must enjoy it as tomorrow when I'm running along the beach at half seven with eric... lets see if we make it...

Routine is just so very important...

for small dogs, babies and mummies that have yet to find a new job and get back to work. Ours are all about the morning walkies in the park. The autumn overtures are drifting in and the once very sticky early morning walks have now cooled and call for warmer attire for babies... Handy for us that her Pj's seem to accessorize well!


With dadeeeeeeeeeeee!


Pinkie up close


Even my shoes match! Mum has clearly gone overboard this morning... we hope she finds a job soon!

Friday night with Oprah

Yes, strangely so... I'm not at all certain why, but one of the Catalan channels here broadcasts recent episodes of Oprah here (without commercials) and in English!??! So here I sit, watching and wondering and feeling a bit strange as it mildly feels like I'm home... I've never been a big Opera fan but hey, sometimes its nice to bite into a slice of Americana.

I've been really missing my London girlies lately. I know they are all so busy with their jobs and other travel plans thus no visits to me are lined up... I wish I could pop over to visit them but thats not on the cards either as paying the rent and bills and such are a much bigger priority... sigh

Back to catch the last of Oprah as Alfredo has just arrived and can't stand it!

Ridiculous baby schedules and - Walkies with Penelope and Alberto

Yesterday I was sent a link by my lovely sister to one of those baby sites that detail the developmental process for wee ones. Indeed they are handy sometimes when you are curious as to what is coming up next... this entry was however the funniest thing. It detailed the 'daily routine of the mother of a 6 month baby. It was by far the most pretentious thing I've ever read. I actually laughed out loud at what this woman had wrote! Go on, give it a read you know you want a good laugh don't you? My heart kind of breaks for this poor child as if the mother truly rolls like this with her I hate to think what will become of her! Just for fun I'll jot down our 'daily routine''... You make the comparison....

8am - Sienna awakes (in her own crib in her own room) and I go get her and breast feed her in bed with us and slowly try to awake from my slumber. We play around there for a while all together and of course do a technical nappy change.

9am- We're up and out the door with dog on the way to the park to 'try'and play fetch with Lilli... ha that deserves a medal all in its self as its more like I throw the ball- the dog runs for it and on a rare occasion will pick it up and bring it back. Sienna sits very patiently in her pram throughout this excersise in futility.

10am - Just as we turn the corner to arrive back to the flat, Sienna falls asleep. Sometimes if I'm lucky I can carry her up the 120 steps up to our flat and get her into her crib before she wakes up again. This is sometimes a window to check emails and apply for jobs and of course read my favorite blogs and terribly addictive gossip sites. Oh yea around now we tend to change her again...

Noon - The wee one has a bottle (halleluja she takes a bottle!) They eats/smears her rice pablum and fruits and vegetables all over herself and the dog who is waiting by her side attentively for any accidental spillage of foods (there are lots so she is content).

13h- Bathe said filthy baby (dog is suspicously abscent from this activity for fear that she may one day be subject to being bathed too). Nappy changing at this point is a given.

14h- Eat lunch- Alfredo normally cooks something divine or I prepare something not so healthy and eat it quickly so as to return to attend to the small child sitting in her bouncy chair complaining that she is not getting any more food just yet... Sometimes for fun we give her a rice cake and try and keep the dog from taking it away from her as she flings her arms around with glee! Its kind of like an adventure sport.

15h- Watch the news (yup it airs at 15h... its siesta time people) and play with baby and dog and sometimes get some domestic duties done inbetween like picking up wet bath towels from the bed... put out washing or if I'm really lucky I may just clean the toilet!

16h- Bottle feed (or sometimes breast feed) said child... a lot of the time I will ring mum as she will be awake by then and I will no doubt entertain her with all the excitement that was my morning. Sometimes the baby will fall asleep around now and nap for a wee while.

17h-20h- I'm not too clear as what we normally do around this time as I guess my mind stops working by then... but sometimes there are outings or such things as poopie nappies but one this is certain that sometime between 19h and 20h the wee one is breast fed, changed into her jammies and is ready for bed.

20h-22h- More likely than not the bub is asleep these days around 20h and will sleep through the night in her own bed... We do whatever inane things parents do when the bubs are sleeping..

And that's basically it. So what about that comparison with Piper's mum? I'm the mother of the year right? Ha! Not! Just wait till I'm back at work... this will change pretty dramatically (for me mostly).

Oh yea, those walkies with Penelope and Alberto... that happened this morning as instead of going to the park we walked along the port. Just at the very top of the port we ran into this old man and his chubby chihuahua named Penelope. He latched on to us and joined us for our walk. He did most of the talking (much to my amazement as I'm usally the chatty one... but honestly I couldn't get a word in edge-wise). He told me about his life, his family, his money, his pets and most importantly how he calls all his dogs Penelope. If one dies he gets another one and gives it the same name! He was prety cool. He gave me the skinny on all the hippies that are camping on the beach this summer, the stories of what the beach was like when it was still just a little fishing neighborhood... lots and lots of information. Cool little man. Amazing stories... And all of this happened of course before 9am. See what happens when wee ones arise extra early? I tell you! I'm wondering when Piper's mum fits this type of stuff in? HA! LOL!

Its suspiciously quiet here this morning...

Normally this is not the case at quarter past eleven on a Saturday morning. Fredu is lightly snoring the dog is buried under the duvet and the bub is in her bed sleeping like an angel. I of course have been clever and used the time to sweep and mop the floor. How exotic, yes! Nah but its so much easier to do when everyone is sleeping!

The heat has definitely subsided and after walking the pooch last evening we stopped at a hidden little terrace behind our flat to have a drink before heading home. I was down right chilly. good thing I had an extra little baby blanket to cover my legs with! I guess the whispers of autumn are drifting in. Today is overcast and grey but its good sometimes as it helps get stuff done during the day.

I think we are surely in the queue for the worst parents ever awards as 6 months into her life and we've only just installed some decorations for her room. Bad enough that we still catch ourselves calling it the 'spare room' instead of 'Sienna's room'... terrible terrible, I mean we don't even have any paintings or photos on her walls for decoration! I shall hopefully remedy this today in some way. Poor little sausage!

Hon and Naoko arrive next week for their first visit to Barcelona. It will be such a treat to see them as its been a long long time since I've seen my 'little brother'and his lovely wife. She is apparently very excited to meet Lilli dog... I'm just hoping she manages to behave herself. Being a teenager is making things a bit hairy (literally) as she is quite the little madam and of course it goes without saying quite a little bitch (literally).

The city right now is pretty much empty of my friends right now. Mele and Nico are the only remainders but I do believe they are soon off to Paris for a wedding therefore soon there will be none! It really is true about the city clearing out of locals at this time of the year. Vero is still in France and Joanna has returned to London to be with her parents for a short spell. Eric of course is or was here but is busy with an insane work schedule and blossoming new romance...

Jo Jo and her lovely girlfriend, Becks are set to roll in for a visit early Sept. Jo jo is anxiously awaiting a thrice-daily visit to her favorite gelato shop while here. I just love them they are so cool. Again it will be a great treat to have them in town for a couple of days and for them to meet Sienna of course!

Best get moving and get some more life-admin done while its still quiet here... it surely will not last long!

Today...

Instead of walking the girls in the park, I was escorted to the gym where I was told that I must get in there and do some swimming... I've been so slack lately in my gym regime its terrible! I managed to do about 30 minutes of sploshing about and then climbed out and lumbered home. I can't remember the last time my energy was so low... oh wait, that was when I was pregnant... and no, I am not pregnant again... but I'm just saying...

I came home and stumbled across a really really exciting job posting. I can honestly say its been a very long time since I've seen something so interesting and its client-side not agency side which is what I'm really aiming for! Now lets just see if the fates have the same ideas as I do with this one...

On the other side of the coin, my head is teeming with new ideas and goodness if I only had some cash we could do some really cool projects! That will come, if you build it, they will come?

Amongst all the other clever things I did this morning... I managed to scald 3 fingers on my right hand while anxiously opening the bottle sterilizer... I'm so smart... and so so so sore!

Things are nearly back to normal...

in our mini technical world anyway... we've still no photo editing software but we're making do... we've of course not stopped taking pictures but its been a bit slower to re-size them with the limited software we do have...


Boob or frap? I think the choice is clear...


Smiling with our hair clipped back


Finally sleeping in my own bed


Not long till I can wear all her shoes!


I'm eating an olive as I'm born in the med so I surely must like them right?


Cuddles... featuring the lovely scarf auntie mele brought us from Puerto Rico!


I got to try chocolate mousse!

Of course Lilli had to help clean up...


Give me all your money!

Well I'm all finished...

Sitting in the corner with my dunce cap on. I'm brewing up creative ideas to try and get us out of this no-job rut that we seem to be in. Again, its August here and no doubt there will be no climbing out of this hole until at least mid-sept but hey, we like a challenge no?

The heat here has been monumental but it seems to have subsided a bit today which is nice. We went to the park last night to listen to some jazz and chat with our frenchie friends. Some friends of Mele and Nico had the most adorable little boys who just doted over Sienna. They just wanted to cuddle her. It was the sweetest thing. She is truly a little flirt. She ended up falling asleep in Alfredo's arms while watching the band from up close. She did of course awake again once we returned home as the heat was just still too much and she was so sticky... T'was however a nice night. There are of course pictures but they are in a long back-log as the 2nd re-build of the computer has just been completed... re-installing everything again for a second time was not fun nor was it clever.

So yes if you're sitting there and you're wondering what you can do today... you can always send me along a job okay? Thanks!

Yes I am a doofus

so thank you commenter for the kind correction of my terrible mistake in my posting yesterday... I should have cited...

'it was the best of times it was the worst of times' is Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities

If you're looking for me I'm in the corner sitting there wearing my dunce cap.

Now its not only clear that I'm in a rut but also that I've never read the book...

A book that I have just however read which I finished in the wee hours of last night was the 'Book Thief' what a brilliant book. Of course I cried at the end but that's not much a surprise is it? Thank you again to the lovely Andrea for sending it over to me. To say I devoured it would be an understatement.

Back to job searching I'm afraid... crossing this many fingers and toes is quite challenging especially when one is trying to type.