Monday, January 19, 2009

Even though we went to bed around 1 am, Nate was up by 8. I really wanted to sleep more. We have a room with two twin beds but Nate insists on sleeping with me. I barely slept. Sabine did not sleep at all. The night before Clemente and Salvador went to bed early. We were sitting outside for a few minutes when all of a sudden I see this big grey rat. I screamed and we all ran inside. Rodrigo just jumped up on a chair and checked out the situation as we watched from inside. Apparently this is not common and freak Sabine out to the point that she could not sleep all night. Today, the exterminators arrived.
We had a pretty late start. Breakfast was around 11 am and with lack of sleep and trying to entertain four children, it was a chore. Finally we went to the pool and that was by far more relaxing. They have a trellis by the pool with hammocks. At one point Nate was really cold from swimming so he hopped in the hammock with me to warm up. I was chatting with Sabine when I noticed Colomba had a long face as was hanging out really close to the hammock I was in. I finally asked her if she wanted to climb in with Nate and I and she just lit up as she climbed in. And that’s how we spent the afternoon either in the pool or in the hammock.
Around 5, Nicole arrived with torta mil hoja. (thousand layer cake). This is a pastry of what looks like lots of layers filled with manjar (dulce de leche) and either dusted with powdered sugar or an icing of chocolate. Sweet and delicious. At first Nate was apprehensive but then he decided to take a bite. Then he wanted another. I guess he liked it. And as he lay there in the hammock taking bites of the pastry I noticed he was falling asleep. I grabbed him and took him inside, gave him a bath, fed him and by 7 he was in bed, He fought me to go to sleep but he lost and was out as was I.
I forced myself to get up since I did not want to end the night without saying goodbye to Nicole. I went downstairs and we chatted for a while. Then it was time for Nicole to go. I don’t know how Sabine does it. This is Rodrigo’s busy season and works long hours. He leaves by 7 am and at times he does not get home until 10:30 pm. Sabine is pregnant, her children are ages 2, 3 and 5 and she does this by herself. I have one child and sometimes feel like that’s too much. Maybe this is just another reminder on how good I have it. Rodrigo came home and saw him with only enough time to say goodnight and off to bed.