Getting to Know You...

Your first week in Maracaibo was made up of a chain of visits as everyone wanted to welcome you.

Monday night was quiet. Grandpa went out with his "viejitos" and we settled in. Some things were familiar - like your little bassinet on the travel crib, the same one you slept in in Savanna. You and your Mom began the process of organizing her old room to make it comfortable for you both. It developed slowly as we didn't get the suitcases from Tia China and Tio Luis until Wednesday nor the one from Lluba until Thursday. We had things that Hilda had brought down to go through as well as all we had been accumulating here since February.

Your first visitors were Fernando and Mayo, along with Maria de los Angeles. Marcia came by with Marcela and then later in the week with both Marcela and Juan Ignacio. Your padrino, Enrique, was here more than once. Jacqueline and Eduardo, Ilse and Leo, Francois, and Israel came by with Teo. On Friday Jim and Irunu were here. Sofia came on Saturday with her grandmother, Velvet, and her Tia Monica.

You spent Wednesday at Nina's while our air conditioner was reinstalled and the ducts cleaned. On Thursday you and your Mom went to visit Enrique's office. On Saturday afternoon we visited Tito and Baby's house. Then on Sunday we had lunch at Nina's and your Grandpa baked bread in the afternoon. Jim and Irunu and Fafa helped evaluate his efforts.

Irunu brought you a basket of books to start off your library. You received several new outfits, earrings, a bib from the Carribean, and your "Angel de la Guarda" which Monica brought from Italy.

All in all it was a busy but happy week.

You seem to thrive on all the attention and are becoming more and more sociable each day.

We heard that the ship bringing your furniture had arrived on Friday, but we won't see the boxes until next week. We did get your little green rocking chair set up, so you have a familiar place to nap. Things are slowly taking shape.

July 20-26

Goodbye to Savanna -

It's taken me a while to get to this post, Our last days in Savanna were a blur of activity and then the trip and then... but that will come later. For now a few words about our last days in Florida.
Amanda and Katie left on Tuesday morning. On Wednesday you had an "appointment" to get your passport. Appointment meaning that they would see you some time that day. The 11:30 time that they gave your Mom over the phone meant nothing. Your Mom and Dad spent all day with you in lines, walking you around the waiting room, slipping out to the car to feed you...until finally you were inspected, processed and your passport was in the works. Uncle Randy and I spent the day with Lluba and then met you all at Bayside around 5:00. You were a real trooper.
Thursday and Friday were a madness of last minute shopping and errands. Again, as a rule you behaved very well. You seem to be quite accustomed to your car seat now.
On Saturday Uncle Randy went off for his last day with Israel. Tia China and Tio Luis arrived from Venezuela and swept off a carload of things - two large suitcases which they eventualy carried back to Maracaibo for us and many other things which would stay in the house in Orlando. We had already sent a suitcase back to Maracaibo with Hernan. Saturday night Israel and Maria and Juan and Andreina came over for a last supper of pizzas and cokes. We were deep into marathon packing.
Sunday we tried to finish up, but didn't really. We left piles of things behind. So many things for Maria to donate to a church group, things that didn't fit anywhere which Israel brought down later, your Mom's car, boxes to be returned to storage - and the rocking chair. How I miss not having it with us.
We left for the airport in two cars - well one large truck and one car. Israel and Maria and Hilda were our faithful companions. We met up with Lluba in the airport and she carried another suitcase back for us. So we had 8 bags all together to check, plus your stroller, diaper bag, two computers and Uncle Randy's backpack filled with almonds for your baptism and M&Ms with your name on them.
Actually, after all the craziness of getting ready, things couldn't have gone much better on the trip. You behaved like a seasoned traveller, nursed during takeoff and landing and slept most of the rest of the time. Grandpa and Jim Sylvester were at the airport to meet us and get all our luggage to the house.
We set up your travel crib first thing and got you settled in.
Welcome to Maracaibo, Emma.

A Visit from Big Sister -

Your 5th week, our next to last week in Savanna, was a sort of calm before the storm of packing and preparations for travel. Life went on quietly and you continued to grow. The highlight, in the last days, was a visit from your half-sister, Amanda. She had been longing to meet you, keeping up with your progress and always asking for pictures. She and her Mom came down on Sunday and stayed until Tuesday morning.

Amanda fell right into the role of Big Sister, always keeping an eye on you, holding you whenever possible, and even sitting and watching you when you were asleep. She marvelled at the difference in size between the two of you - comparing her hand to your foot. Everything was new and fascinating.

We took some time out to visit Maria and Israel's house so that she could see the aquarium, meet the birds and animals and take a swim in the pool. Even then she was always aware of where you were and whether you were asleep or awake.

For two nights she bedded down on the floor in your room to be near you all night, but she was so worn out by her busy days that she never really woke up when you did during the night.

On Monday afternoon we took you to have pictures taken for your passport - and came away with a beautiful keepsake of your time together.

It was hard for her to leave you after becoming so close so quickly, but we promised to keep her up to date and to send lots of pictures until she is able to see you in person again.

July 07-14

1 Month Old!!

On July 5th we not only celebrated Venezuelan Independence Day - with "arepas Cabimeras" at Maria and Israel's house - but also your first month. It hardly seems possible that a month has passed, but then we have to realize how you have grown. Each outfit - and you changed like a movie star - was new today. You've definitely left the smaller sizes behind.

The morning was spent around the house in various sleepers. Later you dressed up in a party dress your Tia Hilda had given you, just long enough to make the rounds, greet all the guests and have your picture taken with the cake. But that dress was not made for an outdoor Florida afternoon in July, so you soon changed into a sun suit. You had pictures taken with everyone, and especially with your future godparents - Israel and Maria, and Tia Hilda, whom you will soon be able to call Madrina. Only Enrique was missing - but he declared his excitement about godfatherhood on Facebook.

You met Tia Lluba y Tio Hernan for the first time and fell asleep quietly in Lluba's arms.

After a nicely timed nap, which gave your Mom a chance to eat, we sang Happy Birthday and cut the cake. Sophia graciously offered to blow out the candles for you so you could see how it's done and what will be expected of you at future celebrations.

We have been so fortunate to have had this month to dedicate to you. It has made it so easy for us to appreciated the miracles that can happen in one short month. You sleep better, eat better, travel better. You stretch out to your full length and wave your arms and legs around when you are awake, which you are for longer, more alert periods. (But I'm glad you still like to curl up to sleep - there's no rush to get too grown up.)You follow your Mom with your eyes when she leaves you. You have gotten used to the car seat and settle down to sleep almost as soon as the car starts.

Even the weather has changed. The almost constant rain since the night of your birth has let up a bit, permitting the sun to shine for hours at a time. Your Uncle Randy took full advantage and enjoyed another afternoon in the pool, with Sophia.

On Monday we returned to see Dr. DeDiego for your one month visit and found that you now weigh 10 lbs. 7 oz. You are two pounds and one inch larger than when you started out on June 5th. Good job Emma and Mom!All was not joyful, of course, you received your 2nd hepatitis vaccine, which caused brief tears from you and high anxiety for your Mom. And ask your Mom about her spectacular fall off the doctor's stool.

Looking back over your first month we are proud and happy. You are developing beautifully, and your Mom is doing an excellent job of caring for you despite all her worries to the contrary. At least the worry about whether you are getting enough milk or not has been laid to rest now. We are also looking forward to the many months to come - thinking about travels and making plans.

Oh,yes - your Social Security papers arrived on Monday. So, you are now one little bit more advanced in your public life as well.

Happy 1 month birthday, Emma. We love you!!

1 Month Old

Your 1st 4th

You were well prepared for your first 4th of July. You had a special outfit ready, completed by a bib and socks sent by your Aunt Amy.

We spent the day quietly at home, then went over to Israel and Maria's for hamburgers and hotdogs on the patio. Lili brought a beautiful flag cake - which we all enjoyed even though you weren't ready for such treats yet. Your Uncle Randy swam in the pool for the longest time, coming out only for dinner.

We could see multiple fireworks displays from the backyard. You will probably enjoy this type of celebration more in years to come. After visiting with everyone and showing off your new outfit you retired to the master bedroom to eat and try to sleep. Between the sounds of the fireworks and the conversations, you managed to nod off and we carried you home snuggly swaddled.

Happy 4th of July, Emma!

July 4

The last days of your first month were spent between cloudiness, showers and downpours. On many days we never got out of the house. At least once we had you all strapped into the stroller only to open the door and find it raining again. Another day your walk was cut short by mosquitoes and other flying menaces. A typical Florida June.

We also found that you did better just staying home. Our few outings usually brought on fussiness. But then we never did get down to a firm schedule. Your Mom said several times that she thought someone came in and changed babies on her every night. What you did, or seemed to enjoy, one day didn't work out the next. We all needed this time to get to know each other and work on our relationship skills.

We did have visitors, thank goodness. My sister, your great Aunt Marjie, came down from NJ for four days to meet you. We spent our time around the house -except for one not soon to be repeated attempt to lunch out - just visiting and trying to adjust ourselves to your rhythms. Aunt Marjie brought you a pearl bracelet, pearls being your birthstone for the month of June. She shares that with you as her birthday is also in June, just two days after yours.

Guido and Carmen Briceño stopped by one evening with their daughter Paula, and Sophia came to spend a day and night with us.

We did get out to pick up your birth certificate, but all in all it was a time for nesting and studying your moods and watching you grow. And grow you did. You left behind your newborn outfits - on to 0-3 and beyond.

June 23-July 2

Tia Belén

Almost anywhere you may go in Maracaibo - and even in Florida - with your Tia Belén, you will have to stop and greet students, ex-students or parents of students. Belén has been teaching at San Vicente de Paúl in Maracaibo for over 50 years. This may be her last year as a 2nd grade teacher, but then she's said that before.

Belén was born as Ana Ismery Salas on January 16, 1934 in the Santa Lucia parrish of Maracaibo. She studied in the Colegio Zarragoza, which was located where the Costa Verde shopping mall is now, until 5th grade. Then she attended 6th grade and the Commercial program at the Colegio Sucre. She later took courses to be a "normalista", taking the education credits needed to be an elementary teacher. She has been teaching in San Vicente since 1956.

Belén has been a part of the Soto - and later the Morillo - family since she was a young girl. She has always travelled with the groups from Miami Travel and chaparoned groups to Europe and Orlando.

Even though she has other nieces and grandnieces, Belén was anxious to meet you, and so took a few days off from her teaching to come up and visit us here in Savanna. You first met on June 22, 2009, and had an extended conversation. She will certainly be waiting to continue that relationship, hear more of your stories and tell you a few of her own, when we return to Maracaibo.