Ramen and Rioja

It's just one of those nights.

My mom left some Top Ramen here over the holidays and my lack of culinary inspiration has led to my first bowl since sophomore year at Pacific!  My roommate and I used to buy huge costco packs of Ramen--your cooking options are limited when you've only got a hot pot to work with; don't judge.  It was a perfect late night study snack, right up there with peanut m&m's... (And I wonder why/how I gained so much weight in college!)  Of course, back in the day, a wine pairing wasn't legal, and honestly maybe it shouldn't be (!); but tonight it feels right to be sipping a good Rioja with my bowl of chicken flavored Ramen.  I've spruced it up a bit with carrots, onion and green pepper.  This is getting downright gourmet!  ;)

When I was a kid the super-long noodles in ramen soup were something that enchanted me!  Emily and I loved to play with them: we laughed at each other's noodle beards, slurpped up them up like Lady and the Tramp, we even swallowed them halfway and then pulled them back up our throats (extra points if the noodle didn't break in the process!).  I'm tempted to give it a try right now, but those things just aren't as much fun withough an audience.

Anyway, Angelines is at work and my baby's down for the count.  I have work to do, but I couldn't miss the chance to reminisce a bit over my hot soup before digging into reading for my capstone project--reading and Ramen...just like the good ol' days.

Cheers!  Hope your dinners are healthier!! ;)

A Crazy Week

Semana Santa is here again!  

Starting Wednesday, Angelines has been working from the early evening (4:30ish) through the wee hours, so Em and I have been on our own.  Although, as many of you who have visited me this time of year know, the number one tradition during Easter Week is to be out and about.  Staying at home is hardly an option. 

Things began on Palm Sunday when we met up with tita Toñi at the procession and then headed to the bar to see Mama.  Of course, we ran into friends and ended up staying for a drink.  Even Emiy joined in and fell asleep on the breast!

We had a little respit at the beginning of the week, but it's been go,go,go since then.  We got dressed up and went out Thursday, visited Mama again and then had dinner over at a friend's house.  Emily is a true little champ about all this being dragged all over kingdom come with me.  Of course, as long as her teta is handy, she's pretty much set.  She was getting tired (read cranky) by the time we arrived for dinner around 9:30, but we settled down on my friend's couch and nursed and things were fine.  She fell alseep and until around 11:30 we didn't head home.  

Keep in mind she's used to being put to bed when she falls asleep between 8-9 every night and then wakes up to nurse between 12 and one at which point she climbs in bed with me and there she stays eating and sleeping until around 7am.  Being out and about hasn't really changed her "schedule" (if you can say she HAS a schedule) per se, but it's true that she has been noticeably more tired in these past two days.  It's a lot of noise and a lot of stimuli for a little one.

We went out for a mid-day beer yesterday and my poor baby just broke down when we were about halfway in to our first round.  I offered her the breast and she nursed some, but the racket and the music and all the people were just suddenly too much to take.  We threw back our drinks and headed for home in a hurry; but there are those who say, that's not the right thing to do: "she needs to get used to the noise!"...  Excuse me??  

(Aside: I have found that EVERYONE, regardless of whether or not they have children of their own, is an expert in child-rearing and will gladly share their wisdom unsolicited.)

I agree that she needs to be well-adjusted and ready for anything.  She certainly needs to get used to noise if she's going to live in this country!  But I also think she needs to feel safe and secure and know that her mothers are looking out for her well-being above all.  If she cries, it's not because she's trying to ruin our fun or because she's "not used to" the noise or being out and about; it's because she's scared or she's tired, or she's hungry or she just wants a little peace and quite.  Don't we all sometimes?  

You or I can pick up and leave when we get sick of being with people, and if we leave it's not beause we're not "used to" people; but my poor little girl is dependant on us to get her out of uncomfortable situations.  I'm not about to let her cry.  A baby gets accostumed to being out and about and in the middle of the noise and hubbub of life when she feels comfortable and safe, not when you leave her crying in the stroller while you have another beer.

This morning we met up with my sister-in-law and Angeline's cousin who's in town for a pre-lunch beer and tapas.  Little Emmy started rubbing her eyes--tell-tale sign that she's tired and on the verge--I whipped out her booby (they must think I only feed her when we're out!) and she was asleep in about 15 minutes.  She continued to suck and sleep until we were just about ready to leave; but she was happy and safe in the midst of loud Spanish voices, children running to and fro, parents calling after the kids, loud orders for more beer being called, strangers oggling her... In my opinon, THAT is how you get a baby used to being out and about.  When she woke up she sat contented for a while observing everything and then we picked up and came home for lunch.  Not asingle peep from her!  She's a trooper.

Today is the last procession here in town and I was originally planning to just stay home and not interrupt my little girl's habbits again, but we've been invited to dinner at another friend's house and I think unless she gets really sleepy/crabby right about the time we need to leave, I'll plan to feed her there and let her take her first few hours of sleep "in the street," so to speak.  So it looks like Emily's first Semana Santa will be celebrated to the bitter end. ;)

And now the part you all REALLY care about: pictures! 

Thursday we stopped by to see Mama at work.

The cutest nazarena in La Roda!!

Those of you who have visited will recognize her outfit: she's a little penitent!  Her Auntie Toñi couldn't resist making the tiny robe and cape for her so she could dress up for Friday's procession.  She made quite the spalsh when we went out.  Everyone was duly impressed, and when we met up with la tita I just had to say goodbye to my baby for a bit because Toñi was bursting at the seems with pride and I was practically running behind them to keep up as she whisked my baby off to be shown off! ;)

A very proud Auntie was showing her off to anyone who'd look!

As the evening wore on, Emmy got more and more tired, and as is the case for all of us, it's just harder to put on a good face for people when you want to go to sleep!  She will cry at the smallest thing when she gets so tired and it's no time to be passing her from person to person.  Baby holding was limited to her very small circle of intimate family--Mommy, tita and abuela.  They couldn't have been happier knowing that she was comfortable enough with them not to cry despite her sleepy state.

Grandma looks like she's about to burst with happiness. ;)

Jesús Nazareno practically knocking at the door...