Wow, what a party!

Luka's Birthday Party was a big success! Thank you to Milhoro (Mozambican Dance Group). You did an amazing job and everyone enjoyed it. The most important thing is that Luka and all his friends had a great time dancing and singing.

Thank you also to everyone that brought items for Luka's orphanage. He had asked his friends that instead of bringing presents to bring diapers, formula or food for the babies at Primeiro do Maio Orphanage. We collected tons of food and close to 500 diapers. Luka and I went yesterday to deliver the donation and they were truly grateful. There are so many babies at the moment. They really need our help.

For all the photos from the party please click here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKA!

Luka, 

Happy Birthday Luki! I am so proud of you. Your "baby" days are definitely over and for the record they went way too fast! That day that we brought you home in November of 2007 I really thought you were going to stay a baby forever...well maybe not forever. But I never could imagined that less than 18 months later you would be the big boy you are today. And I mean big..today you weigh 33 pounds (compared to the 8 you were when you came home!!!)

I know we didn't meet you the day you were born, but I think that is the day you started to grow in our hearts. That is the only explanation I have because the day we met you, you already had a big chunk of our hearts and we fell in love with you instantly. Even though you were very tiny that smile of yours was there and your eyes had that spark that still gets everyone today.

Today at two years old you love MUSIC. I think that if you hear a song once you can sing it back to us. You speak four languages. I am still amazed at that. Please can you give me some hints on how you manage that. I am still struggling with my Portuguese and let's not even mention Dutch, but you and daddy can have great conversations in Dutch and keep mommy completely out of the loop. I know you guys really enjoy that. But please Luka can you please stop laughing histerically everytime I try and read you one of your Dutch books.

At the moment your obessions seem to be Barney, Nijntje (Dutch Cartoon) and anything Little People. You also love to draw or as you say "pintar, Luka pintar" and your favorite things to color or draw are fishes and dolphins. Oh, let's not forget how much you love the beach, pool and really any body of water, to the point that you will jump in head first (that freaks me out). 

Okay, so you are my son so I am a little biased, but you are so freaking smart. I mentioned you speak four languages, but you always know who to say what to. And you remember everyone's names. I mean everyone and before you go to sleep you like to say everyone's names that you played with that day. Sometimes you say names that I didn't even remember.

And I have to say that at this moment the thing I enjoy most about you is your smile and that laugh of yours...it is truly infectious! You are the happiest little person I have ever met! No matter how bad things are you can always make me laugh. 

Luka, I love you and want to wish you a very special day today!

Besitos,

Mami

PS Today we are making you a very special chocolate cake (thank you tia susana for the recipe). I really hope you have a piece...but if not more chocolate cake for us!

Luka is almost two...

To celebrate Luka's 2nd Birthday (he turns two on Thursday) we took him on a little photo shoot last week. Isn't he the cutest? I really think he might have a modeling career. Okay, so I might be a little biased. You can also see the photos here.

Luka & His Toys

Luka loves his new toys. He is learning how to cook and he can't get enough of climbing up and down his slide. Doesn't he look like such a big boy!

Ouch...Knee Surgery HURTS

Okay, so I didn't realize what an essential part of my body my right knee was until now that I have temporarily lost use of it. I apparently had a pretty messed up knee cap so friendly Dr. Kuhn had to go on there and clean it up. In a couple of weeks I should be as good as new and be back to doing toe touches and hurkies (cheerleading jumps) like I did in high school....okay so they were never really that great in high school either. But at this point I would love to be able to bend down and reach for Luka and not feel like that old lady from the commercial that says, "I have fallen and I can't get up."

That is how I was feeling the last couple of months...this surgery is long overdue. But man recovery is a b*tch...not to mention the one I become when I can't move around...my poor husband. Today I yelled at him because my peanut butter and jelly sandwich didn't have enough peanut butter and it was on wheat bread. Come on isn't is so much better on white bread! But seriously honey I am sorry....but my knee really hurts. Right now it sort of feels like I have a rubber band around my knee so tight that it could burst at any moment....all this will pass and I will be running around the block with Luka in no time...I hope.

In the meantime I can't sleep since I sleep like 20 hours yesterday after the surgery. Right now I am confined to the top of the stairs since it is 1:36 am and there is no one to help me down the stairs...what is a girl to do...

Well, here I am on my blog driving all of you nuts...I wish I had some really cool photo of Luka to post or a funny video....but no...just the rantings of a woman who is really missing the mobility of her knee...my whole right leg for that matter.

Oh, wait I forgot to post this before....this week my photography group....Kupfula had another opening. This exhibition is entitled Maputo in Black & White. I unfortunately had to miss it since I had to be in South Africa for surgery at the crack of dawn the next day, but I heard it went well. I will post my photos that were in the show for fun...much more fun than hearing about the pain I have in my knee right now.

Here you go...

Maputo @ Night

Cat Nap

Realidade

Luka Plays American Football on the Beach

Recently we stayed in Bilene when JJ's mom came to visit. I decided to take the American football that someone had given him for Christmas in Miami. I don't think I have seen an American football in Mozambique since I arrived. There are tons of soccer balls, basketballs and rugby balls...but not one football. I never thought about that until I saw these photos....hmmmm. Anyway this is a video that shows Luka and JJ's first attempt at playing American football...I might have a little quarterback on my hands...but from the size of his legs he might be more of an offensive lineman!

Luka's First Trip to Miami

This book documents Luka's 1st trip to Miami in February - March 2008 when he met his Cuban side of the family. The trip was filled with many firsts. Hit play and enjoy!

View Project at Shutterfly

Tender Moment with Luka & JJ

I took this photo while we were in Swaziland. We were tired from a day of driving and Luka was trying to wake up his daddy.