I almost forgot to tell you that the other day when I asked Rio who her grandmothers are she said, "Ummm, possibly... maybe... Grandmaman and possibly... maybe... Obaachan?" Possibly, maybe?! ha ha ha

I just called Kano and Rio answered his phone. "Hi Mummy!" she said. We chatted for a while and then when I asked her what she did at the magazine store (where she was with her father) she replied, "I ran all over the place." ahahahaah

A naked Rio just went out into the garden with a shopping bag saying, "I'm going to a cafe to buy some cherry yogurt. See you Monday!" 
Now she's back, asking me to open the gate for her. ha ha

Is it really so bad if I let Rio believe that a piece of thread is called a noodle? It's just too cute.

Getting ready to go to the beach today, I was looking for my bathing suit when Rio said, "Mama, I want to wear my baby suit to the beach, too." ha ha haa

Oh no, here we go. Rio just woke up in the dark and said, "Mama, I'm afraid of monsters."
Sigh. Time to break out Monsters, Inc.

I gave Rio a piece of toast with rolled oats along the edge. She hands it back to me and says, "Mama, please take the birdseed off." Well, at least she said please.

I am grateful for the glittering sea that dazzles my eyes.

The olive trees shower stars onto the ground before me and I tread regally upon them, Queen of the Forest.

I have weaned Rio and managed to get through the first nurseless bedtime. She turned two yesterday and I love her more by the minute. I can't get over my good fortune.

It's SO good to be home. As I type this I am looking out my window over the blue bay of Palma, watching the scores of sailboats leaning to and fro. Rio is napping and the puppy that showed up on our doorstep last night (literally) is out in the garden with Kano as he prepares the flowerbeds to be sown with grass. In a few weeks we will have two strips of velvety green lawn!

I hear voices in the other room: a grandmother talking to her beloved granddaughter; the politesse of a potential son-in-law. I am grateful for the love that will wave goodbye to us at the airport this afternoon -- and the love that will wave hello at another airport tomorrow.

I just made plans with Fi to meet her and Ismene in the park on Friday. It's not just a dream anymore!
I am so excited to go HOME!!!

OUR VISAS HAVE JUST BEEN PUT IN OUR PASSPORTS. WE CAN GO HOME NEXT WEEK!!!!! JOY OF JOYS!!!!!!!

My dad just referred to Makka Pakka as Tumbly-balls. LOL!!!

Not only did I night-wean Rio last night (I can't believe I forgot to shout this miracle from the rooftops), but I had the (brilliant, if I do say so myself) idea of asking (my excessively drooly) Rio to suck up her saliva - and she did! And continues to do it every time I ask her to! Why didn't I think of this sooner????

Thank you, The Count of Monte Cristo, for being long to download; for you have led me, in my waiting, to Brenda Ueland and some beautiful revelations and inspiration.

To date, Rio always calls eyebrows "rainbows" before quickly correcting herself. I catch it every time and cherish the moment for it may never happen again.

Everything's really coming up roses. Rio and I officially have our NIEs and I found out that I'll be allowed to work in Spain, should the opportunity arise!
Gracias.

This is an incredible day. Our visas were approved and I am feeling ALIVE as my grey skies turn blue...

High school girls come out of their classrooms to help me catch Rio (charging down the hall, grinning and squealing, not watching where she's running) and tell me how much she looks like the little girl from Monsters, Inc. This is especially wondrous as she has recently begun telling me there are monsters in the kitchen.

Today I turned off the tv when normally I would have left it on.

Rio now allows me to put ponytails in her hair. The results are breathtaking.

I just found out it's been a record winter for high temperatures.
Thank you, Canada. Your mercy has not gone unnoticed.
xo

Yet another post about sleep. But this one's good news! Last night, Rio and I slept six hours in a row, woke up and nursed, and slept another four straight. True, melatonin was involved. But we both so desperately needed the rest and reset.

After a terrible night of sleepless teething and inconsolability, I find Rio snuggled on my lap, my chin on her downy head; she watching Diego in one window, I writing this in another. After submitting to her one Diego video ad nauseum I, in exasperation, downloaded an entire season from iTunes, not knowing it couldn't be burned to dvd to be played on the tv so I could veg out on my laptop. But upon the discovery of this fact, instead of being frustrated, I swiftly found a way to bring a little bit of peace to both of us: And the split-screen was born. The beauty of it is that had I been able to burn the disc, Rio and I would be sitting apart, in separate worlds, as we so often are. Like this, thanks to a small nudge from the Universe, we are in communion as we should be. Ain't life funny.

In the middle of the night and trembling under a mantle of fever, Rio woke up and said "Knock, knock," "Who's there?" I replied. "Who." "Who, who?" "Owl! ha ha ha."
I did not teach her this joke. She made it up somewhere in the dark of night. What a clever, brave and resilient little person. I am in awe of her and so very blessed to be a part of her journey in this world. I wouldn't give up this co-sleeping (and co-creating!) experience for anything.

As Rio was falling asleep beside me, her hand brushed over my chin like cool silk. The kinesthetic memory of it lasted for minutes.

My father was storming around the house, cursing about something to do with his lawyer and when he came into the kitchen, where I was, instead of being infected by his mood (which normally I would be - and would spit fire back at him), I asked him calmly and lovingly if a hard-boiled egg would make him feel better. He looked up in surprise and said No thank you, but secretly, I think my offer did make him feel better.

I am making progress and it feels wonderful. Today, I appreciate my father for giving me the opportunity to appreciate myself.

A fresh, bright morning with sparkling snowflakes falling slowly from a blue sky as if by magic and everywhere the glittering of diamonds like the earrings I'm going to have next year. And I said I didn't like winter?

The body I live in is the perfect place to start training my focus.

My muscles don't hurt after yesterday's workout. I am stronger today and appreciative of the resilience of my body. It's amazing how it seems eager to improve and support my spiritual growth. Pure proof of their inextricable intertwinement and oneness. I'm sure I'll say it a thousand times again but my excellent health is a beautiful gift and I am both proud of it and thankful for it. Perfect health - and the acknowledgement of it - is the foundation for a happy life.