Happy 3rd Birthday Mateo

Today is Mateo's 3rd Birthday. This past year has been a big growth year for him he started "school," his language skills improved tremendously, he made his own friends, he took his first soccer class and he is really showing us more of his personality which I would describe as silly, sensitive, hyper, curious, loving, smart and quirky. He really is beautiful (I am allowed to say that because he is my son) and I can't wait to learn what type of big brother he will be. Knowing him, he will surprise us all.

Birthday morning started with "chocolate Cheerios" (which are really Honey Nut Cheerios, but we had to tell him they were chocolate to convince him to put down the box of Coco Puffs at the grocery store) and Gummy Dinosoars

We gave him his first gift of the day - a Backyardigans Lunchbox -"oooh ahhh"

Our initial plan was to take him to Sesame Place, but we woke up to a very rainy day, so Plan B was to take him to an indoor entertainment center called Jeepers. His new favorite game is Skee Ball which combines two of his favorite things - balls, and throwing/rolling balls. Papi helped him figure out the objective of the game and Mateo took it from there.

This is 20 minutes later when he was really getting the hang of the game. He ended up winning 63 tickets

Mateo takes a trip on the Flying Banana Ride

"WHEEEE!"

Yes I know this image is blurry, but it captures the speed and excitement of riding in the Spinning Tea Cups with Papi. Mateo left the ride wanting more and Papi left the ride feeling nauseous

Mateo playing in the jungle gym

"Hi Mommy"

Surprise, surprise - pizza for lunch. We have been eating a lot of pizza with all of these birthday parties

Mateo reaching for another one of his gifts - a bag full of water squirting balls

Today was also Mateo's first day of his drop-off summer class at Romparoo. The teacher made him a birthday crown to celebrate

Mommy (looking very pregnant at 2 days shy of 38 weeks) with Mateo and Papi

Grandma smiles with the Birthday King

Mateo enjoying his birthday cupcake

"Yummy Icing"

Looking for any sprinkles that may have escaped from his grasp

Feeling the sugar rush

Losing interest in the cupcake now that it

is void of icing - doesn't he look like a cute, but sad cupcake clown

Luca's Birthday & My Surprise Shower

Today was an extremely busy and tiring day based on a few reasons- 1) the night before Eddie and I had been out late for a friend's (Ferri) NYC baby shower where I got to see a lot of old CBS friends and 2) not only did we have Luca's 3rd birthday party to attend, but there was also my surprise baby shower for BG (which is what my mom calls the baby girl in my stomach since we haven't decided on a name yet).

Luca (the birthday boy) playing with a balloon. You can see under foot -literally- is Mateo playing with a balloon of his own

"GO LUCA!" All of the kids got pom poms to play with and Mateo decided he also had to carry around a huge beach ball the whole time we were there

There was also a puppet show which kept the kids' interest (for a little while)

Luca and Mateo scarfing down pizza. If you look closely you can spot the beach ball under his left arm

Caterina and John, Luca's parents, help him blow out his birthday cake

Now on to the shower - I was very happy to have my Uncle Aston, Mom, Auntie Joan and Uncle John all at attendance for the shower

My "little sis" Gaia and me cheesing it up for the cameras

Gaia and me with Uncle Aston

3 Ladies & a Baby (in utero) - Cousin Narda, Me, and Grandma

The Cake

Tia Rocky & Mateo investigate the cake

The booty - By the way, Mateo got some gifts of his own

Uncle Aston and Mateo share a moment after his naptime

All of the kids dancing to the Freeze song - Mateo is an expert

Pool Time

I think Mateo looks very dorky and cute at the same time. He is getting better and better at swimming each week with the help of Papi and the teaching instructor Joe.

Yummy Tomatoes

Mateo tasting the "fruits" of his labor. A few months ago he and Papi planted tomatoes, cilantro and mint in a little herb garden on our balcony. Today he finally got to reap the rewards.

Ayden & Antonio's 3rd and 6th Birthday

So today we had another summer birthday to attend. This time it was a party for two of Mateo's cousins - Ayden who turned 3 and Antonio who turned 6 (actually Antonio's b-day is July 23rd, so he hasn't officially turned 6 yet). Of course most of the day was sunny and not only was it time for partying, but it was also Mateo's 1st day of his next session of swimming

Mateo has been practicing a new skill in the bathtub which he debuted at today's swimming class - blowing bubbles while his eyes are in the water. We are so proud.

The birthday boys - Antonio and Ayden with Mateo impatiently eye the pirate-themed birthday cake while someone goes to look for a knife to cut the cake

Apparently Ayden really enjoyed the cake

Mateo learning how to shoot a water gun

Ayden and Mateo having a very private conversation under the slide

Mima and Mateo share a moment while playing with the remote control plane

Pinata time - Mateo takes the first swing with the help of Aba

Ayden swings next with no luck

Mima gives it a try, but still no candy

Antonio gives it a try

Finally, Aba takes her shoe to it and gets the job done

"ARRRRGH...Hello Matees!"

Along with the eye patch the goody bags also had tattoos which Mateo is sporting on his arm

Mateo and Ayden enjoying the "fruits" of their hard pinata-swinging labor

SLIP N SLIDE TIME!

Mima and Erich get lovey-dovey

Bis-Abuelo Julio and Tio Cesar enjoy a little father-son time

Summer - Meeting Aiden and Playtime

Today was beautiful in many ways. The weather has appeared to stabilize a bit offering us not one, but two warm sunny days in a row. What better way to celebrate than to have some playtime outside, meet a wonderfully, special addition to the Kender clan and spend some with the multi-generational Gonzalez family .

In the morning we went to the "purple park" which Mateo claims is bigger than the "blue park" (next to our apartment). I think he likes it because it is less crowded.

Meet Aiden Thomas Kender. It was so nice to see a sweet innocent newborn all curled up in his mother's arm.

New dad, Ant, taking a break with Uncle Will

Not to be out done - Uncle Greg also enjoyed some break time on the couch

Up next, we went to Pier A Park down by the water where Mateo spent some time with Aba- and in the background-Abu, Abuelo Julio and Papi

After a sweltering day in the park, Mateo cooled off in the fountain

4th of July 2009

Today is the 4th of July and the very first time Mateo will truly view and somewhat understand the concept of fireworks. Luckily, his BFF Luca lives in a building right off the Hudson River and lucky for us this year Macy's decided to hold their famous fireworks display on the Hudson instead of the East River. Soooo...Luca's parents invited us over for a BBQ on their roof deck and it was a gorgeous day filled with good friends, good eats and a marvelous view.

Mateo looking a little disturbed at the thought of all of this food (Notice the awesome NYC skyline in the background)

He decided to choose fries and chicken nuggets, which was later followed by apple juice, 4 handfuls of chips, 3 cupcakes, 6 slices of watermelon, and a scoop of ice cream

Luca and Mateo playing blocks

NYC Skyline in the afternoon...the Macy's barges are setting up

Start of the fireworks display

Mateo on Papi's lap, Mommy and Luca on his grandpa's lap