Tavo el Taco

Here is Tavo in his Tummy Time mat. He usually lies on the mat on his stomach and holds his head up like a turtle. He likes to stare at the fish as well. Thanks to Aunties Melanie and Michelle for such a fun toy!

Los Dos Borrachos

We had friends Margarita, Neza and Roberto over for dinner and got these hilarious shots of the boys together.

Hammock Time!

We just put up a hammock from Mexico in our bedroom and everyone is enjoying it. Here's Anjali and Tavo swinging away.

Trip to Texas

In early July, we traveled to Texas for my brother Jason's wedding. It was also an opportunity for Tavo to meet more of his family. On his mother's side: Aunt Dedra, Uncle Brad, Uncle Jason, Aunt Amy, Aunt Nikki, Uncle Woody, Aunt Meme, Uncle Don and cousins Creslyn, Nathaniel, Gretchen, Maria and Harry. On his dad's side: Tia Chris, Uncle Dave, Tia Cynthia and cousins Alex and Davey. He also got to see his Uncle Ricardo and primo Galo again. All of his cousins wanted to hold him, kiss him and play with him. Maria kept asking "Can I pet him?"

Tavo was alert but quiet at Uncle Jason's wedding, which was held in the romantic setting of a cave. He then got passed around to more relatives from the McDonald side...Aunt Molly, Uncle Arthur, Andy and Bethany. Bethany and Dedra are pregnant and due in early August, so Tavo will always have kids his age to play with at future family gatherings.

Tavo and friends

Nino and I took a child birth education class, 2 hours a week for 8 weeks. The class armed Nino with the information that he needed to battle the nurse during my labor (She was insisting on constant monitoring and wanted me to stay lying in bed when I wanted desperately to be able to move around freely...I got my way in the end, thanks to Nino). In addition, we made lasting friendships with the other couples in the class. Here are the babies all lined up. It is unbelievably cute to see babies lie next to each other and grab for each other's hands. Pictured from left to right are Evangeline, Jackson, Tiba and Tavo.

Tavo's first swim

When pregnant, i often commented that i was glad that i wouldn't be pregnant during the hot summer in New Orleans. What i forgot was that having a newborn during those hot days would be difficult as well. Here we are cooling off in Anjali's pool. The girls all wanted to hold him...he's already got girls fighting over him!

Visits from the Acuna and Cardenas family

Tavo's great grandmother and Tia Rosie drove all the way from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico to meet the newest Nino in the family. There are currently 4 Ninos in the family. A few weeks later, his abuela drove even further, from Brownsville, picking up his Tio Ricardo and primo Galo along the way in San Antonio. Tavo really enjoyed having all this attention. Thanks to his abuela, his parents got to leave Tavo at home for the first time to see Manu Chao concert at Tipitina's (lots of fun). We look forward to more visits (hint, hint).

Tavo's first Second Line parade

Living in the Treme in New Orleans, second lines often pass by our house. Tavo's first second line was a Zulu one, when he was 10 days old. Our friend Stephy threw him tons of fancy beads from her float. He slept through it all, as you can see.

Out and About

Since his mother had a quick recovery, Tavo was taken on walks after just a few days of birth. Then to restaurants, then to the farmer's market, then to the lakefront...and now he has even been to Bourbon Street! We found the wrap to be a convenient way to carry him, at least when he is sleeping. Here's some photos of the cutie in his wrap.

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa McDonald

Over the first 5 weeks of Tavo's life, many relatives came to New Orleans to get to know the newest addition to the family. First he charmed Grandpa and Grandma McDonald. They spent a week with us, playing with Tavo and helping the new parents out around the house. We are grateful for Grandpa for making shelves for all of Tavo's clothes, toys and books (otherwise i don't know where all of his things would fit in our apartment!)

The Happiest Baby on the Block

Tavo did finally start having some fussy moments. And we swear by Dr. Karp's 5 S's. His theory is that babies are born too early and really need a 4th trimester. By imitating the womb, you can cause a baby's calming reflex to kick in. Here is Nino swaddling and shshing Tavo. Works like a charm.

Tavo's first weeks

Tavo was an amazingly good baby the first two weeks. He was a natural breast feeder and hardly fussed. We considered ourselves lucky to have such an easy-going baby with a sweet disposition. He mostly slept of course. The photos are a few of his alert moments. Anjali, his "Big sister" from upstairs, wanted to make sure he wasn't "lonely" and surrounded Tavo with her stuffed animals.

Home from the Hospital

On Saturday morning the 14th of May, the doctor on call said we could leave that morning. But what we came to call "the tyranny of the nurses" continued....the nurses would not let us leave until Tavo was 48 hours old. Finally 3 pm ticked around and the nurse wheeled Tavo and me downstairs. Nino went to get the car. He came back on foot. The car would not start! Our friends Ravi and Caroline came to pick us up, and we finally reached our home around 530 that evening. Here Tavo is with the neighbors on the porch, being held by Kamal.

At Hospital

Nino Octavio Acuna is already 9 weeks. It is really true that kids grow fast. Before Tavo's first few months become a blur, i'm starting this blog. I will backtrack and begin at the hospital. Nino Octavio was born on his due date, Mexican Mother's Day, May 10, 2007. He weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long.
I had a fairly short, but very intense natural birth. After contracting, pushing and screaming I was not sure if I could continue. Tavo's hairy little head (which is now nearly bald except for his charlie brown patch at top) was the first thing Nino saw. His telling me that he could see his brown hair encouraged me to keep on pushing. Tavo (finally) came out with his umbilical cord wrapped twice around his neck. After a few brief moments on Mama's chest, the nurses whisked him away because of his fast breathing. We impatiently waited more than 2 hours for them to bring him back to us. Once he was with us, we were really happy, at peace and in awe. I remember this as a time of bonding and resting as a family in our small hospital room that for us was the world.