the blankie your great grandma made you

Dear Chicken Nugget,


As you get older, day by day, we've been noticing that you seem to like some objects more than others.  And, with your new ability to grab things, you are loving stuff that's tiny-hand friendly.

One of those objects you adore is great grandma's blankie.

It's colorful (white, blue, purple, pink, yellow) and it's got holes.  Holes!  You love those holes because it allows you to grab at it and bring it to your face and mouth.


Your great grandma Lorene made it just for you before you were born.  We didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl so she added pink and blue, just in case.


By the way, the bib you're wearing in the photo above is awesome.  Over the last couple of weeks you've become a drool-monster and it's our way of keeping your clothes dry.

You should thank great grandma Lorene for making you this wonderful blankie and all our friends and relatives who have bought you great toys and clothes for you to grab and drool over.




Yours eternally,


Tu papa

Santiago Romeo is born

your mom, Wendy, and you, Santiago Romeo, our chicken nugget

Dear Chicken Nugget,

So, it turns out you look nothing like a chicken nugget!  We finally met you in person when you were born at home at 12:33pm on September 6th, 2010 - Labor Day (you have a great sense of humor, apparently).

We were six days over our due date but most first babies are a week and a day late.  Still, we tried everything that they say you should try to induce labor - walking, spicy foods, etc.  But, I'm happy to report that a family secret came through! 

Your great gradndma Lorene had rhubarb pie the day before your grandpa Dale was born.  Your grandma Sue had rhubarb pie the day before your Aunt Sara was born.  And, your Aunt Sara had rhubarb pie the day before your cousin Timothy was born.

We got lucky and our friends Kim and Jordan found a strawberry rhubarb pie at a farm in NJ and brought it over for us on Sunday.  Whoa!

Your mom's Braxton Hicks contractions became more regular throughout the day, coming as frequently as four in an hour, and then transitioned into "real" contractions at around 10pm Sunday night.  It was a little scary at first, trying to get my bearings, figuring out who to call, timing contractions, etc, but talking to our incredible midwife, Miriam Schwarzschild, put me at ease.  She told us to try and get some sleep and keep her updated. 

We "slept" as best we could but contractions were coming every five to thirteen minutes throughout the night.  Your mom slept through a series of them but mostly found herself nodding off in between contractions.  I slept when your mom slept and was awake when your mom was awake. 

When we finally got out of bed at 6:30am, contractions came on hard and fast - every four minutes.  By 7:30am when one of our doulas Dahlyt dropped by, the contractions were coming every two minutes. 

We got your mom into the birth tub and that seemed to slow things down for a bit.  Our second doula Paola came in to help.  Miriam, our midwife, came to assess the situation and she saw that your mom was in active labor. 

Your mom labored for five hours in the birth tub.  By 11:45am or so she started to push and by 12:33pm you came up from the water and looked into your mom's eyes.  You seemed confused about the eviction from your cozy studio apartment.  You weighed in at 5lbs15oz, measured 19.5 inches, and had a head full of dark hair.

We definitely could not have done this without the amazing support of our doulas, Dahlyt and Paola.  Whenever I needed to step away for whatever reason, they were there.  They knew so many comfort measures that your mom loved and were able to take lots of pictures for us.  They helped clean up, made us lunch, and made sure that your mom was all settled before they left. 

Miriam Schwarzschild, our midwife, was a rock.  Whenever I had any doubts I looked at Miriam and I knew that everything was under control and, even more, that things were going great.

Being a part of your birth was surreal, intense, and beautiful.  It's the hardest thing your mom has ever done and the hardest thing I've ever experienced with someone.  But, everything went incredibly well, you're healthy, and you're beautiful.

Of course, my hero forever is your mom.  She worked so hard for you.  She is the strongest person I know.  And I love her.  I know you do too.

Welcome to our world, nugget!  I love you!


Watching you nap,

Tu papa

Some sing, some dance

Dear Chicken Nugget,

Your mom and I just got back from Bloomington, Illinois where we celebrated your great grandparents' 70th anniversary.  Yes, 70th anniversary!  Louis and Lorene Miller have been married for 70 years. 

The whole Miller clan showed up in Bloomington to celebrate the occasion, including your grandparents, Sue and Dale, your tia Sara and tio Jerry and your primo Timothy.  Overall there must have been over 30 people celebrating this weekend.

Something you'll learn as you get to know your families (mine and your mom's) is that they celebrate differently.  They do some things the same like eat.  Both families do a good job of gathering over meals and eating well.  You'll always be well-fed, Chicky.

But, the Millers are musical - they sing and play instruments.  The Escuderos (my family) dance.  So this weekend, the Millers pulled out song sheets and sang around a piano.  And, they sang beautifully.  They sang songs from the 1940s when your great grandparents got married and they sang songs of praise.

I pretended to join in during rehearsals, mouthing words and turning pages in the song book for your mom.  But really, I've been blessed with many great things, Nugget, and a good singing voice just isn't one of them.

The Miller Family Choir put on three performances at the Senior Homes where your great grandparents live.  They were wonderful!

I hope, dear Chicky, that you inherit a good singing voice so you can join them in song.  If marriage longevity is genetic, your mom and I are in it for the long haul and we'd sure love to hear some songs of celebration.

You are getting half of your genes from me though, so good luck with that voice.


Eternally yours,

Tu papa