Five Little Pumpkins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAn-g4qkp30

Pufferbilly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGMB762EJVA

Flirting -- It's Hardwired

Santiago and Mom were enjoying an afternoon at the swimming pool when Mom noticed Santiago was fixated on one of the life guards. This isn't so strange; Santiago often stares at life guards trying to figure out what their deal is. Yet, this soon proved to be a little different. When Mom moved Santiago in the water or spoke to him he would strain his neck to keep his focus on the life guard.

Turning around Mom found that the life guard was a very cute young lady with big sunglasses and blond hair. Santiago waved and said, "I'm waving at her, Mom." His waving got more emphatic and wild as the life guard waved back. Santiago waved again when he and Mom passed by the life guard again. However, on the fourth pass Santiago turned his head away from her stand and said, "I'm turning my head this way, Mom."

Let the games begin!

4th of July

Santiago rode in the neighborhood's 4th of July parade in his red wagon with his friend Annabelle. Santiago enjoyed waving to the folks along the parade route and telling stories to Annabelle. The fire truck was a big hit. Power to the people.

Santiago & Lucy

Santiago takes care of Baby Lucy (Annabelle's sister). He is so smitten with Lucy that he was willing to repeatedly kiss her while Mom tried to get a good shot. In the end all the kisssing photos looked like Santiago had fallen into Lucy's car seat.

Imagine

Santiago gives Dad a ride.

Santiago has recently taken to doing a lot of imaginary play. One favorite game is ordering fish at the grocery store (tilapia, of course). This includes ordering, putting "meat and fish" into a baggy, weighing it and asking if you would like anything more. Another is acting out life-guarding. This requires an adult to swim around (be sure to wave while passing the life-guard) and blowing a "whistle" so that swimmers have to get out of and into the pool. A repeat favorite is train. The couch is the train and the game inlcudes buying tickets from the ticket window ("two little and one big"), cleaning the train and calling out "All aboard!"

Fathers' Day 2007

Here comes the train!!

And check out this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzVKyvgrOPc

End of New York Trip...Visiting Friends

Here is a photo of Santiago with Arcadia and Meridian. These are the daughters of Nicole who is Mom's friend from her Newman years. We had a good time visiting the "suburbs" after a week in The City. The best part, we took a train to get there.

For more photos, check out Dad's pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/emelendez/May2007

New York, part one

Santiago has been a good traveler though he doesn't like long walks through the city. Who blames him. Imagine Mid-town Manhattan at stroller (knee level). What a seemingly dangerous ride -- that's the level of briefcases, light cigarettes, bus exhaust.

"What is your favorite thing about New York, Santiago?"
"The subway."
What is your next favorite thing?"
"Um...another subway."

Besides the subway, Santiago has enjoyed laughing at the "teeny-weeny" buses seen from the observation deck of the Empire State Building, the carousels in Central and Bryant Parks, the bus at the Manhattan children's museum, the polar bear and puffins at the zoo in Central Park.