Disney 10K Pictures

Here are pictures from Rebecca and my Dad running the Disney's Race for the Taste 10K:

Rebecca
Dad

Mom and Joe were missing, as of today.

I Scared Madelyn

Here is my cute Madelyn story of the week:

Perla, Madelyn, and I went to Sam, Stephanie, and Sonia's house in celebration of Sam's 31st birthday. Madelyn and Sonia are great playmates, as they are only 6 months apart (Sonia being the elder), so she enjoys going over there. However, last time we were over, Madelyn had an "accident" and peed in her bloomers, a more common occurrance as of late as she has slight regressions in a way (we think associated with the impending birth of her sister). So, this time, before we stepped into the house, I look into Madelyn's eyes and said,

Madelyn, listen to me, if you pee in your bloomers, we will leave. Understand?
Yes, Papi. I won't pee in my bloomers."

and she understood, and for good measure, I threw in

And no saying "I want", okay?
Okay, Papi.

And so we entered the house. Madelyn did great as the Cowboys vs. Eagles game went on, as we took her to the bathroom every time it looked like she need to go. But, finally after 4 hours, she pulls me aside:

(whispering) Papi, I peed in my bloomers. Just a little bit.
Madelyn, we are leaving.
No, Papi! I didn't pee in my bloomers.
Let's go to the bathroom.

Sure enough she had peed in her bloomers, enough that she couldn't wear them anymore

I am going to tell Mommy.
No, don't tell Mami.
Madelyn, you said if you peed in your bloomers we could go, so we're leaving.
Noooooooooooo!

And so, when she finished up Perla and I started talking to her and let her realize why we were leaving, and then she started with her "wanting".

I want to stay. I don't want to leave.

So, as we're leaving (Perla and I are both exhausted, her from being pregnant and me from running 15 miles that morning) we get Madelyn in the car and she is still crying and crying with her wanting. So, I raise my voice:

Madelyn, please stop crying. There is no need to cry. We are going to Ian's house.
I don't want to go to Ian's. I want to go to Sonia's house. I want Ama (grandmother).

And she continued, almost causing me to run a stop sign. So, I pulled the car aside with her crying and turned around,

Madelyn, you need to stop crying. Now.

and here came the cutest, genuine statement out of her since her birth,

I can't, Papi, you're scaring me...

as tears were bursting out of her eyes. It was so cute, yet so real. My raised voice (something I rarely do) really scared her. She was just tired, as she had not napped all day and when she gets tired she gets emotional (hmm, note: all women), so she was just crying and crying, asking for her grandmother.

Perla and I were just smiling at how cute she was. Within seconds Madelyn was asleep, completely physically and emotionally drained. But I have with me an everlasting cute, yet powerful memory.

Needless to say, I spent some time, like every night, whispering in her ear while she slept that Papi loves her...

A1A Marathon Advertisement

I am being featured in the slideshow advertisement on the front page of Running Times Magazine. See if you can find me (be patient - middle right of page).

Looking out at the million dollar homes of Tuscan Lakes...
The view of our lot, unframed next to our future neighbors on Umbria Lane.
Overlooking the front of our house, which will be built-out by 2008.
Madelyn, wanting more backyard for her and Victoria, pushes back the easement..

Texans vs. Dolphins

And Other Updates

I apologize for the lack of posting, but life has been quite busy, sick, stressful, and tired. For the relatively good news, it seems like we have a buyer for our home. I say relatively, because the offer is not good and we will be out $3500, but at least we'll be out of the house and the stress of an unsold house while our new home is being built will dissipate. The housing market in Houston is not great. We purchased our home for $106,000 in 2003 and are now-reselling a much more finely remodeled home with tile and wood floorings for $107,500 in 2006 (would have been $106, but I countered... great dealmaking skills).

Anyhow, this Sunday I was fortunate enough to be invited by Tito Quinones to the Texans vs. Dolphins game at Reliant Stadium. We had the most amazing seats possible. We were in Row 1 on the 45-yard line. I spent the entire game pretty much talking to Daunte Culpepper and Ronnie Brown of the Dolphins. I had not been to a pro game since my days at FIU working Dolphin Stadium as a lemonade seller. The game was quick and the players were, in my opinion, so thick and "fat" in a way. Ronnie Brown had some thick legs and a huge butt, while Culpepper was just huge. The linemen were beasts. Pretty awesome seeing them so up close. Anyhow, a good game as the Texans pulled off a much-needed victory.

Otherwise, I am still sick, though improving. I have concluded it is allergies. I remember being like this when I first moved to Houston. Perhaps I lost all my anti-bodies when I moved back to Miami, and now my body has to rebuild its defenses. Oh well.

Running is going well. I'm up to 48' daily and this week I will really be challenging myself and my body. Perla is doing well, although she is all aches and pains. No one complains more than a pregnant wife. Seriously. Madelyn is doing great, although she can be quite demanding at times, but she loves us so much. Perla cut her bangs way too short and she looks quite grown up and funny. Think a Jenny Gomez hairstyle.

That's it for now. If all goes good with the house, we'll be out of it by Oct. 18th, which is really quick, but it'll allow us to save some much needed money for the new house, which we are a couple weeks away from the pouring the slab. Exciting stuff and more to come..