Raindrop Races



























The shower had passed leaving behind a steamy and uncomfortable humidity. The rain had drowned the clover that was growing under the tree and the rolly-polly bugs were busy unfolding and crawling around. Lunamia was at the window watching the raindrops race each other down the glass. Some drops were so stubborn they would not move, not even when she tapped the window. These were her favorites because they lingered on the glass long enough for her to name them. She would keep her eye on these drops because they would suddenly run down the glass, faster than the rest, so fast. She'd  cheer them on, hoping they would make it to the bottom of the window and not collide with other drops and slow down or stray off to the side.

She spotted the puddle of water under the tree, ran to her room, slipped on her sandals and gathered her small, tin pots and cake pans, before running outside. Lunamia crouched near the tree. The puddle greeted her by flowing quickly towards her feet and became trapped between her feet and sandals. Her fingers sunk deep into the mud where they would squirm for awhile before drawing out small handfuls of loam mixed with bugs and clover to fill her pots with. She then picked the wet clover and carefully coated the bottom of her two cake pans with it. It was hard to keep the clover from sticking to her fingers.

She could feel her hair sticking to her neck and the water between her toes was now muddy but she wanted to finish. She took the clay from the other side of the tree. It was not as easy to gather and her finger nails began to ache as she scratched the earth, forcing the soil out. It began to sprinkle and thunder cracked in the distance before rolling above her. Lunamia became frightened and hopped up, her wet feet slipping back and forth in her sandals as she ran back inside. She stepped into the house leaving muddy water behind her as she walked towards the window. She wanted to continue the races.

A song for August































Monkey, Tiger and Me

You're a lil monkey,

Sitting in a tree,
Swinging to and fro,
Letting yourself be.

Then comes a lil tiger,

He just wants to know,
What is that thing,
That makes you go:
Ooo ooo ooo ooo
Ah ah ah
Ooo ooo ooo ooo
Ah ah ah.

Now you're a lil tiger,

Strolling through the jungle,
Walking straight and tall,
Trying not to bungle.

Then comes a lil monkey,

He just wants to know,
What is that thing,
That makes you go:
Rawr rawr rawr rawr
Rawr rawr rawr
Rawr rawr rawr rawr
Rawr rawr rawr

Now you're just a lil girl,

Pretending to have tea,
I see your toy tiger,
And your stuffed monkey.
   
                         ~ Momee for August

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September 1st and Firsts


















On Saturday we took August to her first birthday party, it was also her first time in a bathing suit and in a kiddie pool. She sat in the warm water with my help for all of 15 minutes then it was time to sing to the birthday girl.

I watched the birthday girl, sitting at her high chair, take her two tiny hands into the pile of frosting then into her mouth. Seemed to be her first time eating cake. Only a year old and still looked every bit a baby. I don't know what I expected.  I seem to always be surprised at how teenie one year olds are.

Today we realized our four  month old is sill a "baby-baby". Everyone keeps saying she is so big, growing fast, already getting teeth, ready to crawl, ready for solid foods... We even attempted to sit her in a high chair! The truth is: she can't get her legs up to crawl, she can only wobble, clutching, white fisted, for dear life onto our fingers. All that drooling still pours from a very toothless mouth. High chairs are on hold until she can sit upright, by herself.

These last four months have felt like a year already and I love that. It has been slow. I've been warned it all goes too fast. So, I take it all in, linger over her smiles, gurgles and laughs. I stare at her and can see her Papi's gestures and expressions. I swoon. I'll make funny noises and sing songs for who knows how long, I am not watching the time. Everything else just has to wait, housework is slow going.

All will come in time. My grandmother is the only one who keeps telling me, "Mija, she is a baby, baby, let her rest, she is in a new world."

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