Five Months Old! Cinco meses de idade!

Nicky and his daddy

Dear Nicholas,

Can you believe you are already five months old?? We can't! It's amazing to see you developing so well-- with your two teeth, your beguiling smile, and your "manhoso" cough, laugh and cries. You have two passports, you eat bananas, potatoes, apples, and cereal, you like to stand up tall, you love "serra, serra, serrador", and your favorite songs are the ones we make up....

Will you remember your recent trip to New York City to the Brazilian consulate? It was quite the ordeal getting there, especially to organize the paperwork and your jailbird passport photo-- and then, they still weren't satisfied with Mommy's birth certificate! But you saved the day, Moleque de Lata! You were sooooo cute, that everyone in the consulate went nuts over you! Viviane, the agent, picked you up and carried you into the back to show the other agents! We're fairly convinced that it was only because of your chubby cheeks that we got any paperwork filed at all that day. And will you remember our lunch at the Brazilian restaurant? All the waiters, big tough guys, were making googly faces at you!

Then you, lucky boy, got a jumperoo from Grandma and Grandpa as an early Christmas present! Even though your legs are still a bit short for it (and your weight is approaching its 25 pound limit), you seem to love the freedom of standing on your own. You truly enjoy the "rainforest"!

Your first Thanksgiving was a bit frustrating for you-- you would have liked to join in the feast! But, alas, you're just a few months shy of eating turkey, rice, and-- mmmm---gravy! Grandma's meal was wonderful, and all the more so for having you at the table with us, even though you were a bit mad about being left out of the eating. Still, you managed to smile and have fun!

You and Grandpa enjoyed watching some cartoons together. You guys kind of look alike, and have a similar passion for eating... It was so nice you had some time to hang out together!

Even though you are missing your Brazilian family, you were happy to spend time with your New York grandparents. And it sure was exciting to see the four white dogs again!

Happy five months Nicholas! We love you lots!

Love, Daddy, Mommy, Inca, Manny, and all your family and friends!