Firsts

Just about everything so far, of course, is a first for LS. But lately there have been some fun firsts.

A couple weeks ago LS had her first time in the pool, at Avó and Grandpa's house. She didn't seem as impressed with it as we were. We caught here her first moments getting in the water. So far we just got her used to the idea of being in some water. It'll have to be at least next time before we're swimming underwater with her...



After this first minute or so with Papai, LS spent a good amount of time playing in the water, mostly with Mamãe.

The week after that, LS had some more firsts. We went to the Cape for a couple days and she got to have (1) her first time away from home more than one night, and (2) her first time at the beach and ocean. Dad was also happy to have a first - having donuts for breakfast ON the beach. Mmmm.

Sometime in these last few weeks she also crossed the line of being on the outside longer than the inside. She must be getting used to it by now, no?

Pretty soon LS will be seeing the ocean from the other side of the Atlantic. She's curious if the waves start at the beaches there, since they seem to end at the beach here. In this picture she might be pondering just that:



Here we all are enjoying getting our feet in the water:



And finally, it seemed appropriate to strike a pose together:



Oh! Almost forgot another first. LS's first nap taken in Papai's arms while he walked up and down the beach... But at least she slept! And we didn't have to go home...

It won't be long before there are some more important firsts, and we'll try to update with some of it if we can. Among these:

• First time going through security at the airport


• First time waiting in line for a rental car at the Lisbon airport


• First taste of Pasteís de Nata in the Old Country

And tomorrow yet another - first day as a 9-month-old.

A minute of time

These pictures were taken a couple weeks back over the course of a little under a minute. Thought it might be fun to recreate a sort of photobooth feel like days of old. Ironic of course that a digital camera and software was used to that effect. I don't imagine those photobooths are in much demand these days, given that almost everyone always has a camera on them - even if only on their phone.

There's probably a pile of those photobooths somewhere next to the pile of buggy whips and VCRs.

Lingua Doida

This post is more about Dad (Papai) then about LS. It just speaks to what LS is up against.

Speaking Portguese to LS is generally pretty easy. I like to say that I can speak well enough to fool an infant. Though sometimes I wonder. Mostly it isn't too bad, as you generally are saying a lot of the same things over and over again. Should I ever have occassion to say to someone in Portugal that it is time to change their diaper, they'll be impressed how authentic it sounds.

What I dislike the most is speaking too slowly, so sometimes I risk inaccuracy for speaking a little faster. Sometimes it doesn't work out.

Today there was a funny exchange. I took a bike ride during lunch, which takes me a little less than an hour. This was during the time that LS was being fed by Mamãe.

Upon my return I said to Mamãe, in Portuguese:

"She you ate well?"

I realized as soon as I said it that I mispoke, so I quickly corrected it:

"She I ate well?"

Gah! I realized right away that I had incorrectly corrected myself. Finally:

"She ate well?"

After which I muttered under my breath, in English. My consolation is that at least I didn't invoke any of the plural conjugations. Hitting all the singular cases is bad enough...

Oh, LS. How long before you are the one correcting me?

(For the record, she did eat well)

LS sees the Vet

We took LS to the veterinarian this past Friday. Ok, well, she was along for the ride. We were really bringing the cat (gato), and since we both wanted to be there, LS was dragged along as well. LS is glad she gets a car seat and not put in a pet carrier.

The reaction to the "cute baby" at the vet's may be similar to the reaction you'd get bringing a cute puppy into the pediatricians office I imagine. Except for the part where they wouldn't let you bring the puppy past the front door...

When gato (Nicky) had her turn come mom, dad, gato, and LS all went into the exam room together. LS was pretty well behaved taking in the new surroundings. The vet tech was able to get gato's weight, take some information about her recent behaviors, etc. Then she left the room to fetch the vet.

As soon as the door to the exam room closed, mom and dad exchanged a knowing glance; both thinking the exact same thing.

The scale. The one moments earlier they used to weigh the cat. The scale that carried the marking: "Baby Scale".

Not that there was much time for mulling it over - but how could we not? Mom hit the "on" button and in a few seconds the scale set to zero. Dad moved quickly across the room to let LS lay in her momentary cradle, seeing visions of the odd moment it would be if the vet came in right then. Come on - settle, settle. There! we've got it.

LS was whisked away back in Papai's arm, successfully measured and content.

And so...

Stat Check: 16 pounds, 13 ounces. Wow! Given the presence of light clothing and a slightly more bulky diaper than she dons for her official weighings, we'll call it 16.5 pounds (7.5 kilos for LS's Eurofans).

A particularly successful visit to the vet's office.

And the cat's doing OK too. For those wondering, she's hangin' in there well for an 18 year-old (she can vote!). She lost a slight amount of weight compared to last year, and we may increase her fluid supplement to more than twice a week.

Cheerios

Just about a week ago, LS hit the 8 month mark. She just takes it in stride at this point.

She heard from a friend of hers that he had started Cheerios, so she demanded we do the same. No teeth? No matter. A little chewing with the gums and they mush right up. Keep 'em coming.

Stat check: 16, and 25.75. Pounds and inches, respectively. "Nossa grande pequena" indeed.

Now, brash as she is, LS still knows she has to tackle these new things with care. So, she decided that as a first step she would practice picking up Cheerios and dropping them in her lap. Genius. That's Ok - keep it going; we've got a big box here.



LS then pulled the ol' "swat the Cheerio out of Mom's hand" gag. No matter how many times she told us this time she would really grab it, we kept falling for it.



It's hard to make out at normal speed, but seen here at 4X normal speed, parts of this are actually an intricate secret handshake.