Christmas and New Years in Brazil

For the holdays the entire Radimsky-Bonato clan came together in Sao Paulo. I was going to be able to see not only my grandparents, auntie Marie and Marcio but my uncle Mauritio who I had never met and who is my Daddy's twin. The flight over I was sooooo good, I slept, ate, pooped, and smiled my way into the hearts of every last passenger and flight attendant. "Oh he's so good", "Didn't even know that there was a baby on board" "Handsome young boy" "So charming" were phrases we often heard and so my reign as golden child was solid especially since I was suffering from an ear infection and a cold. We landed and we were greated by Mauritio, Ana flavia, his wife (who's also expecting!!!), My grandpa Sergio, his girlfriend and her son. Everyone clamoured to get me in their arms but I had one goal and that was to see Mauritio, as I love Daddy I knew I'd love Mauritio. My uncle Maurition is a sportscaster for TV and Radio and he's FUNNY, we never stopped laughing....lucky me. We headed directly to grandma's where we stayed for the first week before Aunti Marie was to arrive. I was fed rice, beans and manioc to my hearts content, so much so that in one month I gained 1.5 kilos....brazil is good for babies. My auntie arrived and yet another set of wonderful arms for me to play in....we spent Christmas at Mauritio's with Ana's family. We had a special guest, Tropical Santa claus and his trusted reindeer (who resembled a small white dog) dressed in appropraite attire. It was a very special Christmas and again I found myself surrounded by presents, presents, presents....I could very well get used to this. We ate a lovely dinner and I had an entire play area for me to try out my new toys. The reindeer/dog was terribly suspicious of me and thus he proceeded to pee on my playmat, bad doggie!!! Grandma and Grandpa California arrived the following day and that's when we really started to gain momentum, as we were whisked every which way top parks and museums, wined and dined in the most amazing restaurants and I even had my own "shoe"man, grandpa - every morning I'd bring my shoes to him and he'd kindly put them on. Oh to be young, adorable and dependent....New Year's was spent again around a big table in an Italian resto - Auntie Marie was already off to California but we enjoyed a lovely evening and I developed a real appreciation for "cheering" everyone with my plastic sippee cup. 2011 was officially here and it was so very special to have my family there to share it with me. Happy New Year to one and all!

365 Days later ...

I've officially arrived at my first anniversary of life. The day started out a little shaky as I had a little intestinal difficulties....but that wouldn't stop me from enjoying my party that my parents had kindly organized for me. Every guest donned a party hat and a smile.

As luck would have it I was surrounded by my amazing family and my parents' dear friends in our little nest in the sky. We offered our guests brazilian specialities and cupcakes which were a hit - although as usual mom ordered far too much food - made our building very happy as she did a tour de force handing out food after the party was done.....

I was spoiled by every last person and I felt so very special and unfortunately a little woozy which led me to sleep through most of my party but I came to just in time to blow out my candle and to open my presents.

Did I happen to mention that I'm walking? Yes sireee bob, since 11.5 months I've taken to two steppin' it throughout the house. At my party however, no one saw as I was swung from one set of arms to the next which was fine by me as I was a little needy that day.

Here's to my family and friends, thank you for making me feel so special.

(P.S Three days later I ended up in the ER do to dehydration, it seems that I caught a serious case of the gastro and nothing wanted to stay in me - and it was coming out both ends faster than mom and dad could clean change and pray that it would all be over soo. Thanks to Hospital Neckar I was up and about in no time.)