Today was a pretty rad day. I remember thinking "wow, can I have like, 15 more of these?" then, a few hours later thinking "MOM PLS COME HELP ME NAOZ!". I love the dichotomy of my days and how chaos can easily follow hilariousness.  

Boaz has started to wrestle Gideon (and vice-versa) and I love watching them. It warms my heart to see them grow together and play together and I couldn't imagine having them further apart. I am sad that any future Nelsons will not be as close in age as these two.

I started taking pictures today and just didn't stop. Pretty much everything they did was Most Awesome. All of the pictures are under the cut!

Boaz will henceforth eat at the adult table.

The transition went ultimately unnoticed.

I'm a give everyone that doesn't know, a little bit more of this man, cause he's doin his thizz.

Boaz - Latenite Studio Freestyle

Shot outs: Boaz, and the whole Gov', Brick down at Timebomb, Dj Shef and the whole Point Blank Crew, and can't forget shotout to my man CJ for the dope a$$ video.

Note the picture in David Boaz's office.  See the picture that says "Men Should Vote LIBERAL."  The one time I was in his office, I couldn't stop looking at this poster.  Its a pro-free trade, pro-British Liberal Party poster from (I'm guessing) the 1900s or 1910s.  I need to find out where he got it.  I've searched the web and come up with nothing.

Pittsburgh's Boaz drops his official street video. Eagles > Steelers, though. All day, eh day.

My boys are getting to be very old.

I find myself saying that often. Looking back, I remember how slowly pregnancy went (especially the last month!) and how time magically went on fast-forward after their arrivals.

Gideon is a beast. He is a hefty man of valour who is frequently rolling around on the floor. He scoots himself from one end of the living room to the other, mightily determined to get to his destination.

Gideon is also a-freakin-dorable. He has these most heart-melting smile I've ever seen. While Boaz is the silent-sensitive type, Gideon is the crowd pleaser and center of attention. Mike and I will watch them interact with one another as well as with other kids and just have visions of them in fifteen years. We can imagine Boaz will be the introverted song-writer/musician and Gideon on the football or basketball team.

Gideon has two, very very small bottom teeth, barely scratching the surface of his gum. I would not have noticed had he not tried to devourer my finger which led me letting out a gasp of pain, in shock of those little hidden buggars. It was nice to have had such a long break from teething. Boaz finished up his incredibly-painful-teething-marathon that lasted almost seven months straight almost six months ago and Gideon hasn't really started yet. By this point in Boaz' short life, he already had four teeth and was working on the other 16. Although I will say, everyone who kept reminding me how nice it would be to get all the teething done with so early on - were right. It is nice now. Of course at the time, I just really wanted a break from the hell that is teething.

As far as weight goes, Gideon wears 18 mos pants snugly (2T pants fit well but are terribly long!) and 12-18 mos onsies. I haven't checked poundage since last month, but I would guestimate around 22 or so.  

Boaz is toddling well. This past week he has picked up over a dozen new words, my favorite being 'tattoo'. He has also started saying short sentences like "I agree" and "You think?". He seems to know pronouns well though I hadn't taught him them. He uses 'you', 'me', and 'I' correctly.

There are times now that I feel as if we are having a real conversation. For instance, when he was getting disciplined yesterday, I said to him "Who am I?" "Mama?"  "Mama loves you very much!" "MUUUAH" (he blew me a kiss) "Does God love you?" "DADA!"  "And you know we want things to go well for you?" (he nods his head very vigorously), "So you need to obey mama and dada Jesus" "Jeeesssus". This utterly adorable display of verbiage was followed by equally adorable displays of affection. Nothing is better than a slobbery toddler kiss and a hug.

He is also quite the confrontation master. We had friends over today and one of the older boys took Boaz' toy away from him. Boaz just looked at him and said "Thank you?". I only pray he continues to take children's rivalry well.

His love of hats has lead to head confusion. Now he will point to someones head and say 'hat'. He could be implying that said person needs a hat, but I am probably assuming too much. We do snicker when he points to Gideon's bald spot and says hat though.

Boaz has finally out grown his 2T pants (that he has been wearing since he was 9 mos) and now needs 3T. They are a bit long but we are used to that by now. He still wears 18 mos shirts and onsies however.

Right now all the Nelson men are sick and it's panfully endearing. I hate seeing everyone so ill but there is something fabulous about a pathetic clingy infant with green goo coming out of his nose. Or maybe that's just me.

Será? Sinto falta de um baú do tesouro, uma estrela do mar, uma alguinha, não?

Tire a prova no You Tube

Humo por bombas

Texto y Fotos Alonso Vera Cantú

La historia de algunos nos platica que hace 2,006 años al presente mes nació de María, por intercesión divina, el Hijo de Dios. Tuvo a bien hacerlo en la humilde Belén, ciudad que hoy día forma parte del territorio que se dice representa la faceta más compleja del conflicto Árabe-Israelí por su relevancia religiosa para los palestinos, israelíes y jordanos, sin mencionar a los cristianos: el Banco Oeste.

Además del nacimiento pastoral de Jesús, Belén y sus alrededores han espectado eventos como el amor de Ruth y Boaz y la revelación de David, pastor, poeta y rey. Pero más allá de éstos sucesos solemnes para las religiones mayores, sus puestos callejeros con figurillas pías que brillan de noche y las hordas de turistas que se dan cita en su Basílica de la Natividad erigida en el año 326 por órdenes de Elena, madre de Constantino, y que sobrevivió a la invasión Persa gracias a los mosaicos que decoran su piso con la imagen de tres hombres sabios de origen persa, Belén denota lo que un poco de resolución y humo pueden lograr.

Danza con el viento

El humo siempre ha sido parte fundamental de mi vida. No encuentro nada más placentero que reflexionar observando los trazos efímeros de un incienso a la luz de las velas. Creo que el humo acarrea las plegarias al cielo y esparce bendiciones, además de purificar al complejo sistema energético que nos compone como seres vivos, y que por lo general resulta imperceptible a la vista.

Pero hay más, ya que siempre que viajo el humo me llama; a las fogatas tribales en torno a las cuales se danza y platica hasta el alba, a las chimeneas en una fría noche en las montañas, a los cuerpos calcinándose en las piras, a las ofrendas en los templos y a un comal o caldero a la hora de comer. Pero sobre todo a las historias de las personas que fraguan bocanadas luego de un suspiro o reflexión.

Recuerdo a Kipling, que inmortalizó con su poesía a una “Burma girl a-settin´, a-smokin´ of a whackin´ white cheroot”. Los cheroots tienen tabaco, aserrín y pulpa de tamarindo, y están envueltos en hojas de betel con olotes como filtro. Son originarios de los Tamil de Sri Lanka que los llaman curuttu o “enrollado” y lo heredaron a los indios y, por derramamiento cultural, a las más antiguas tribus de Asia. Éste dispositivo de desfogue es empleado por los hombres, mujeres e inclusive niños de un inspirador destino donde mucha de su gente medita desde la infancia, ofrenda incienso sin utilidad por el bien de todos los seres sensibles y pasa la vida fumando, recapacitando así su acontecer.

Alivio de bocanada

Viajando por las humaredas aprendí también que desde hace más de tres mil años se emplea en la medicina ayurvédica de la India una pipa de agua llamada Dhoom Netra que se carga con hierbas aromáticas y medicinales, similar a la que empleaban en la tribu Khokhoin del Sur de África para fumar cáñamo y así curarse de achaques como la epilepsia.

Otro buen ejemplo de humo y humanidad es el de civilizaciones precolombinas que habitaron, y habitan, la América actual. Mucho se habla del tabaco como un producto de origen americano, aunque la transmisión de sus modos de uso sea europea. Sin embargo, es bien sabido que los chamanes de ahora y entonces buscaron alivios y respuestas a través del consumo de alucinógenos, muchos de las cuales se siguen empleando a bocanadas como puerta al mundo de los dioses, enlace con la Madre Tierra o enlace con las realidades ocultas existentes en uno mismo. Ya lo dijo alguien sabio, “morir sin haber tenido una experiencia alucinógena es como morir sin haber vivido un orgasmo”.

Su dulce aroma

Recuerdo mi última travesía cuando, caída la tarde y luego del penúltimo llamado del muecín al rezo, desde las costas de Cartago hasta las calles del Banco Oeste, pasando por las riveras del Nilo y los desiertos de Jordania, los hombres comienzan su peregrinación a las cafeterías. El día al fin refresca e inicia el canto de la narguile acompañado su burbujeo con risas y discusiones de arte, deporte, política y demás materias que dignifican la vida. Cualquier desvelo se disuelve en humaredas y copas de café o té acompañadas con hojaldres y juegos de mesa. Los artistas orientalista del siglo XIX describieron ésta costumbre de origen árabe con similitudes históricas internacionales como el “verdadero arte de vivir”.

Allí todo gira en torno a la narguile, un “objeto elegante” en boca de Honoré de Balzac. Una pipa de agua tradicional que se utiliza en Asia, el Norte de África y el Medio Oriente para fumar tabaco con frutas y especias, en boca de la wikipedia. Es un terapia grupal, donde cada uno toma su turno para fumar y decir sin prisa lo que tiene que decir, y luego desprender una cortina aromática para alistarse a escuchar, preparándose para un día más tolerable sólo por su afable final.

Frente a la creciente desintegración de los lazos sociales y culturales, el alarmante número de muertes derivadas del estrés y las “guerras de origen religioso”, el humo en sus diversos empleos, con su índole pacífica y poética, se muestra como una herramienta para mejorar nuestra sociabilidad. ¿Qué sería del mundo si en vez de pelear nos sentásemos en torno a la narguile a platicar y, en caso de no llegar a nada, prepararla de nueva hasta comprender nuestras similitudes y diferencias? ¿Qué pasaría si cada noche antes de dormir reflexionásemos mirando el humo del incienso y emitiésemos un buen deseo para con el otro?

Reflexionar y asimilar así cada día y problema, solos o en compañía, es una forma más humana y barata que el Prozac o la guerra. Un viaje algo ingenuo, claro está, cuando las guerras, a pesar de lo dicho, no han sido causadas por la raza o religión. De las Guerras Púnicas a las de los Balcanes, y de las Cruzadas a la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la esencia del conflicto humano se resume en intereses económicos.

No sé si es o no la cuna del Mecías, pero algo nació en Belén aquel 1995 en que se celebró la Natividad por primera ocasión gracias a la costumbre palestina de sentarse a fumar, platicar y resolver las diferencias a diario, dado nueva vida al sitio que por su tolerancia ahora da posada también a turistas y ayuda humanitaria internacional. Muchas han sido las experiencias en el mundo. Ya serán suyas. Mientras tanto gracias, y hasta la próxima.

Are you not overwhelmed with cuteness???

Right now, Mr. Rock and Roll Star is in his high chair saying "bread". Actually it's more like "bread-bread-bread-bread. Bread-bread. BRRREEAAAD".  As a rare treat he is eating some whole-wheat cinnamon bread and thinks it's The Best Thing Ever.

Last night, in a very scary and horrifying situation, we found out he was allergic to shrimp. Both Mike and I thought he had it before so very casually gave him some szechwan shrimp I had made. Apparently he hadn't had it before. If he had we would have noticed the hives all over his face/throat/chest and how half his face swelled up like a watermelon. We quickly called the ER and ran to Albertsons to get some Benedryl Allergy. Within in about a half hour all his symptoms disappeared and he was just left with some marks on his face where he scratched too hard.

The scariest part is - he didn't even swallow the shrimp! He only chewed it a little then put it in a pile on his rice. I would hate to see what would happen if he ate the whole thing!

We are going to go get him tested to find out all his allergies later this month. We already know a few things (sesame seeds, peanut butter, soy milk and raisins) but I have a feeling there are many more.

This past week he has started uttering every word he knows when he is getting disciplined. For instance, when he gets too rough with Gideon we talk him through what he did wrong and wait until he reconciles (kiss and a hug to the offended). But, this week before he reconciles he starts jabbering on "water, poo poo, night night, bottle, rock, woof, wet, hot, water, ow, num num, thank you, daddy, hat, nine, baby, all done, water..." This goes on until he runs out of words then he just starts over.

Our discipling sessions went from a quick 30 seconds to 10 minuets each over  night!

He knows just over 40 words. We counted all the ones he uses regularly because he is getting very frustrated when he can't articulate what he wants and we wanted to make sure he is verbally on track (although we don't really "believe" in tracks, a baby will do what he do). Moreso, we counted just to get an inventory of what we need to be focusing on. Consensus is that he doesn't know any "feeling" words (other than ow) so I have been trying to sign them to him. I didn't realize how hard it was to get feeling words across!

Lately he has been asking me to put him on the big potty when he has to poo. It's been fairly consistent but nothing I would set my watch to. I checked out several potty training books a few weeks about but determined I wasn't ready for that.

He is still wearing his hats (although lately it's just the one). I actually just put him down for a nap with it on. Don't mess with the dudes accessories. He has started sharing though and will put hats on Mike and I when we are not fashionable enough. I do appreciate it.

He also painted for the first time a few weeks ago. He did a masterpiece that is gracing our fridge door. Leonardo eat your heart out.

Lastly, he is still one of the most talented musicians we know of. He will spend copious amounts of time with his piano, guitar (or 2 guitars, one for each hand!) and drum sets. I am fairly certain he has already found his calling in life.

Pittsburgh stand up! Boaz goes in on this one. Thanks to Artie for the link.

Boaz -  Hustle Freestyle

In this photo I tried to present the happy faces of the couple

BOAZ goes in on B.G.'s "Hustle" joint...

BOAZ - "Hustle" Freestyle

Impressive stuff.

Peace, Love & BOAZ

Speeakz

Props to Artie for sending this over!

Boaz goes over Robin Thicke's "Magic". A must have.

Listen/Get: Boaz - Magic Freestyle

Sementara itu di tribun penonton, meskipun pertandingan telah usai sebagian suporter masih meneriakkan yel-yel, agar pelatih Persipura Raja Isa yang dipecat Manajemen agar ditarik kembali.

Seperti diketahui, setelah Persipura ditahan seri Persijappelatih Persipura Jayapura, Raja Isa dipukul seorang oknum panitia pelaksana. Diduga, oknum itu adalah anak buah dari Ketua Umum Persipura, Drs. MR Kambu, Msi, yang juga menjabat sebagai Walikota Jayapura.

Hal itu dikuatkan karena saat Persipura tertinggal 1-0 dari Persijap yang dicetak Pablo Alejandro Frances, MR Kambu mendekati Raja Isa dan terlihat mereka berdua terlibat argumen. Tak lama kemudian, datang seorang oknum yang langsung memukul pelatih berdarah Bugis itu. Pertandingan sempat terhenti dan oknum itu langsung diamankan aparat keamanan. Untungnya, striker Ernest Jeremiah menyelamatkan timnya dari kekalahan ketika golnya di masa akhir pertandingan membuat skor berubah menjadi 1-1.

Setelah usai pertandingan, para suporter di Stadion Mandala itupun meluapkan kemarahannya dengan melempari MR Kambu yang membuat manajer itu di evakuasi aparat. Penonton marah karena mereka dengar kabar kalau pelatih kesayangan mereka itu dipukul orang dekat MR Kambu. (diolah dari berbagai sumber)