I am the eggman... they are the eggmen...

It has come to my attention that I never reported that we are, in fact, having a boy. It's a boy! I'm excited about it some days more than others, generally depending on how I'm feeling. Last night, for example, I cooked a big meal for some fancy guests (Jonny, Hana, and my cousin Melissa) , followed by a nail-biting game of Settlers of Catan (which I won) and, by the time the night was over, my feet felt so swollen and stiff that it hurt to bend my toes. (I say that they felt swollen and not that they were swollen because I could still make out my foot bones). Check out this gross-a-mundo picture from my last summer-pregnancy:


I shudder just looking at it. Don't have a baby in Florida in late summer if you can help it.

Sometimes it's swollen feet. Sometimes it's general uneasiness in the digestive tract or the baby's somersaults are giving my inner organs a sound beating. And when nothing feels wrong with me, I generally overexert myself trying to make it up to Danny- picking up the week's groceries, scrubbing the carpet, or baking something extraordinary; within a few hours I am an exhausted mass on the couch, warily monitoring my heart rate, wincing as my children's elbows dig into my belly-blob as they try to scramble upon me so I will read them a book. I resemble a beached walrus. (Not quite elegant enough to be a whale and still mobile should someone bait me with Girl Scout cookies.) So, in answer to the perennial question, "how do you feel?" the answer is, most of the time, "really pregnant" by which I mean, "kinda gross." It's hard to feel excited about something when you feel this way. My third trimester must be here.

When we were pregnant with Dominic, and then again with Noemie, we conducted a survey to see which names people liked best from those we were considering. Our friends must know it's that time again- this week, multiple people have asked when they could expect their ballots. Danny and I have been working hard to come up with a list that we can agree on and so far, we are still meditating on it. We have certain requirements for names that make "the cut."

- They have to sound good with "Espinosa." As far as I'm concerned, this means they are more than one syllable, and that they don't end in a soft vowel sound (like Elijah). I've also found that some English names sound a little awkward. Like Howard Espinosa. Or Reginald Espinosa. I don't feel it.

- They have to mean something awesome... not so much "crooked nose" (Cameron) or "hill covered in broom" (Brandon)

-They can not have been ranked higher than 80th place in the preceding year's Social Security baby names database. (The #1 name in 2008? Jacob)

Then we try to discern the baby's personality based on fetal movement and my general mood. Dominic's name means "of the Lord" and reminds me of the Biblical command to give of one's firstfruits to the Lord. We expected Dominic to be very athletic and somewhat mysterious. Danny also thought he looked like a "Nico" when he was born. So it stuck. Since I was unusually cheerful when I was pregnant with Noemie, I felt that "pleasantness" was an appropriate name for her. She has certainly lived up to it. This baby feels like more of a Noemie personality- personable and outgoing, and also athletic like Dominic. Danny was impressed by his quads as seen in the ultrasound. He kicks the fetal heart-rate detector mic repeatedly whenever we go to the OB. I know what I'm talking about. So we are hard at work to find a selection of names that could fit.

Danny celebrated his birthday with a game of Settlers of Catan, known affectionately around here as "the German, homeschoolers" game. Ironically, homeschooling is considered a subversive, "parallel society" in Germany and is not permitted there.

Dominic dances in excitement at the height of his tower


Noemie does a celebratory fist-pump at the fall of hers

________________________

As part of my homeschooling prep, I performed an assessment of Dominic's skills at the three-year mark so that I could monitor his progress. For all y'all homeschool-mom-wannabes out there, here is a synopsis of my report so that you can perform a similar one for fun, if you want to. So you know, it took me 2 full days to conduct, considering that Dominic's attention span wouldn't last for more than 3 minutes. Also, I only gave Dominic one chance to answer. You either know something or you don't and this was simply an assessment, not a contest. (Also, if you are doing this test with a 3 year old, know that Dominic is somewhat accelerated in some of his cognitive skills. 3 year olds aren't supposed to be able to quantify. I attribute this to his personality and not that either of us are geniuses. I don't believe that kids that learn more, earlier, are any smarter than those who learn later. For more on this, look into Ruth Beechick or Raymond Moore at your local library. If you're not boycotting it like I am... long story.)

Dominic’s Year 3 Assessment #1

October 7-8, 2009

Self Awareness

When interviewed in English, Dominic can tell you his name, his sister’s name and that he is three years old. When I asked him where he lived, he said “with Buzz.” In Spanish, he was also able to answer his parents' names, and where he lived (en Miami). Tia Amy “lives in Disney.” He does not yet know his “apellido,” although he’s familiar with the name “Espinosa.”

Knows how to say how and where he hurt himself.

Body parts he can identify: Pelo, cara, boca, lengua, ojos, orejas, nariz, codo, manos, dedos, cuello, ombligo, barriga, rodillas, piés. He also knows where his corazón is. (Does not know cejas, cachetes, hombros, pecho…)

Identifies landmarks when we drive from place to place (Target, bank, mall) and can predict our destination accordingly

Favorite books: Cars (from Spanish storybook collection)

Favorite music: B-I-N-G-O, Daniel Beddingfield, Manu Chau, music with strong rhythm

Developing interests: Drums and beats, cars, stories

Behavioral

Strengths: Dominic is observant, intuitive, and creative. He likes to feel independent and capable. He shares well, is forward and friendly with new people, and occasionally uses “please” and “thank you” without prompting

Weaknesses: He is still learning boundaries- such as personal space (occasionally bumps into people or accidentally or purposefully pushes them without acknowledging it or excusing himself); respecting Noemie’s wishes to stop playing; and how many times he can ignore mom or dad’s commands.

Cognitive

Reading

Letters he can identify: ABCFOPQUWXZ (Spanish)

Letters he confuses: EILT, MNVWX, SZ

Other: No lowercase attempted; can also recognize commas, periods, and question marks; sings the alphabet song in English and Spanish.

Arithmetic

Numbers he can identify: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10

Numbers he confuses: 5, 6

Can count up to 20

Social

Speaks in sentences, listens attentively to short stories.

Most comfortable speaking Spanish, but knows to speak to strangers in English. With a Spanish accent.

Asks ¿Quién?, ¿Qué?, and ¿Dónde? questions

Can give directional instructions: ex. debajo de la cama

Makes jokes, laughs at jokes

Other developments

Colors he recognizes: Rojo, Naranja, Amarillo, Verde, Azul, Blanco, Negro, Rosado

Shapes he can identify: Circulo, Ovalo, Luna, Cuadro, Estrella, Corazón

Can draw ovals and “caracoles” (spirals)

Can play pretend- cooking, playing with cars, imitating others

Enjoys singing and can carry a tune (Burrito Sabanero, BINGO, Sol Solecito)

Can keep a beat

Physical

Sleeps 10-11 hours at night

Can put on his own shorts

Can stack 4-6 blocks

Understands how simple tools work and how to use them- hammer, screwdriver, key

Feeds himself with a fork, knife and spoon

Can catch, throw and kick a ball (with impressive accuracy)

Can stand on one leg, walk on tip toes, pedal a tricycle

Uses a potty during the day, and has about 50% success with nap times and night times

Afraid of swimming

I guess I'll have to add "can self-portrait" to his 3-and-a-half year report :o)