A Good Night

I put my son to bed most nights by reading him 2 bedtime books. This is a special moment for me, as being a father in the first year of a baby's life can often feel like you are second fiddle to the always awesome and important Mom. It is easy to be a bit jealous of this amazing connection your son has with his Mother, and no matter how much you know, read, understand, it just kinda hurts some times. Thus, these precious 20 minutes every night are pretty special. Tonight they got even better.

My Son started talking a few weeks ago with the word "Doggie". Super awesome, fun, and great to see him connect word to thing. He has been flirting with sounds that seem to be "mamamama" and a mix of what could be a "daddy + doggie" combo. Tonight, as we opened the first bedtime book, he made his little giggle of excitment, I started to read... and he turned his little head up towards me, put his hand on my face, smiled and said "Daddy".

Tonight is a good night.

Family picture of the week

Don't you judge me. I live in Mexico. It is quite normal for me to 1) take my son to my fave local bar 2) said bar to have a high seat especially for him up at the bar 3) for him to sip his water out of shot glass. I mean, it's perfect baby size, all babies should use shot glasses! This is my life, love it or leave it.

Travel through time Ad of the week


"Because one is enough, when it's you. Show where you're headed in the ultimate fashion climax. Fits so tight it shows all you've got. Your a walking turn-on, and it treats your body as well as she does. Easy on, Easy off, quick as a flick of her tongue...comes in rust, blue or black....and short sleeved....are you man enough to fill it? $45." - I want one.

Eternal Idol Worship of the week



the lady who's wise words will forever remind Andrea and I that "...It's all the same fucking' day..."

"I mean, if you, say, say, maybe you want a cat for 365 days, right — You ain't got him for 365 days, you got him for one day, man. Well I tell you that one day, man, better be your life. Because, you know, you can say, oh man, you can cry about the other 364, man, but you're gonna lose that one day, man, and that's all you've got. You gotta call that love, man. That's what it is, man. If you got it today you don't want it tomorrow, man, 'cause you don't need it, 'cause as a matter of fact, as we discovered on the train, tomorrow never happens, man. It's all the same fucking day, man." - Janis Joplin

First Rain of the season

The first rains are here! Fuck yes. I love rain, and Sayulita is a great place to dig it in... expansive views, muddy roads, hot days...a rain really makes you take stock of your situation around here. The last 2 years I kept talking about the rains coming early and all the locals kept sayin "later! later!". Not this year. You can just tell things are starting early, rains, winds, tremendous mind-altering heat...oh lord... things may be different this year, and Summer may really put the screws to ya... but I am ok with that! Lets go.

My son is just 9 months old, and today was the kind of day where he did nothing but sweat, and I and his mother did nothing but sweat...so we are all just a big ball of moisture...sound shitty? Well, it takes some getting used to, but that is life in Paradise. Nothing comes for free kids, never forget that.

Picture: Maxxi and I on a rainy day in Sayulita, May 2009

My First Mexican Tattoo (a story about True Romance)

my heart will never be the same

Today I was gently applied my first tattoo acquired in my beloved Mexico. I have many tattoos but I have not gotten one in Mexico...till today. So stoked.

Have YOU ever stood in a Mexican tattoo shop with out a shirt on??

Word on the street among the tattooed of Sayulita and Mexico is that there are not that many great tattoo artists out there. There are plenty of shops it seems, in Vallarta you may find one every corner of old town - but none that stand out in the right way. I did some late night, drunken research, and luckily I found a shop with some good art, a good vibe from their page, and more importantly, some good pics to judge from. After a hearty "Fuck it!", there we went.

On the table, with my gang in the background, cheering me on

The shop was called Mystique Tattoo, and the owner and artist was a young man named Miguel. His shop has been in old town for 6 years, this by his look and my opinion would have made him 12 when the shop opened it seemed. Mexicans look young like black don't crack, if you catch my meaning. Anyway, they are blessed with the visage of youth.

My gang... THE Andrea in question and Maximo Lobo

After a long morning heading into Vallarta (about an hour from Sayulita) and a solid 20 minutes of circling, with Maximo in arm and wife by my side, I went off to bleed.The shop was super clean, Miguel very nice, and things moved along quickly. I love getting tattoos, so there weren't too many nerves, just lots of excitement to get started. We did, he drew, I barely bled, and we were done! Watching someone get tattooed can be boring to a 8 month old, so Mom and boy went for a walk before the piece was done. A 20 min tattoo is a joy, while it brings you right back into the old familiar feelings, and as anyone who has knows, it makes you want more! Definitely plans in the works for the next one, both Andrea and I...

As I know it was forever meant to be...

For me, this is something that was on my "Life-to-Do" list for some time so naturally it was a big day. I love Andrea so much. That should say it all, and it does in my mind...but...Even though I do have "Gabrea", our joint name tattooed on me, Its not the same as having her name. I have been talking about and meaning to get her name tattooed on my chest for over a year, so it's overdue. I honestly don't know how to make it clear enough to whoever is watching from above and below that I love her this much. Forever. Endlessly. With this upcoming Saturday being our 5 year anniversary of getting married, I had to do it. I don't think it could have been stopped, by forces of good or evil. It wasn't. I feel an amazing energy off this action, reaction, pro action...and that energy is LOVE. As new parents, we are currently in a time of exhaustion, with our child just working out movement and want, sleeping, not sleeping, etc... plus our second floor being built with Mexicans on our house and in our house all day... let's say we are rarely without commotion. For me, this branding, this personal pain, loss of blood, is a quiet salute to my love, my woman, my True Romance that will never go away, without me going as well...and even then...

Mothers Day 2009

Mom and Son, in the sun, Sayulita Beach 5.10.09

Yesterday was Mother's Day, and not just any Mother's day, it was our (really, Andrea's...) first. I feel like it was mine, since it was such an awesome love filled day and I took so much away from it. We (the boy and I) started with letting Mom sleep in as late as she wanted, getting coffee ready and awaiting the rise of the queen. We had gotten together a little bit of Mom's day booty for Andrea - Maximo and I wrote her a wonderful card dedicating our eternal love and dedication, Maxxi got her a picture frame with an awesome pic of him and his mommy, we printed out a pic to frame later, I got her a little piece of jewelry, and lastly commissioned a great watercolor and pen piece of art (see below) by my good friend Ed Schwartz. After calling our Moms and telling them how amazing they are, and what incredible role models they have been (they rule), we had a great breakfast out at our local beach restaurant Don Pedros, and then spent an amazingly relaxing day playing with Maximo, napping, watching movies (City of Lost Children, y'all) and ended the night with drinks and more relaxing. I loved being part of this holiday from an even more intimate position, loving yet another opportunity to celebrate motherhood and to thank Andrea for being such an amazing partner and mother to Maximo.

Mermaid and son 5x7, watercolor + ink on paper (c) Ed Schwartz 09

Swine Flu 2009

Life has been quite a ride around here recently, thanks to a few dirty pigs, maybe a romantic pig farmer, or who knows what...but our beloved Mexico has been the host and creator of the now famous Swine Flu '09. If you have been living in a hole the last few weeks, Swine flu is a new strain of Influenza, that started as being contagious only via Swine to Human infection, and then took the important and scary mutated step of being contagious between Human to Human. Not good. Everyone who calls and writes to see how we are (thank you!) wants to know what is the deal down here, in pandemic-central. Well, we have a few day to day changes due to the flu - for the last few weeks all schools have been closed (more kids in the street and in the surf - awesome), for 6 days all restaurants, malls, theatres, etc were closed, and remain in some parts of the country, and no one wants to shake hands, naturally. Since there have been little to no cases in our area, its easy to not worry much, as we try not to. We had a few stressful days at the start, but having a baby makes things different than Andrea and I toughing it through a sickness. For the time being, things are safe and (in)sane in Sayulita, and we are happy and healthy. There is a bad case of the Dog Flu in our house, but we really just made that up to keep Dulce in line.

With Mexico city being the epicenter of this chaos, here is a great article about not only the Mexican love of masks (for health reasons or otherwise), but their view on this epidemic, and on published "facts" in general.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/05/06/swine_flu_masks/index.html

Here is another great article for those of us who believe in conspiracy theories that are not conspiracies, but hidden truths.
Mothering Article here


the 3Vs - dressed up and hanging out, prime Swine time '09

Deluxe apartment in the sky


Construction is jamming! The beginning of any job here always goes very quick. It's called the "Obra Negra" or "black work"... Mexico is funny that way. Anyhoo, they just jam through it. Here are some photos from today, just at the start of our 3rd week of construction. Roof part 1 is up, Archways are about to start, stairs are halfway done, and they are starting our super cool new foyer. Also, it seems Maximo has taken up tagging. Great, now I gotta hide the spraypaint from him as well. Life with child, always exciting.

A Portrait of Mother and Son

Life with Maximo

Maximo first thing in thing in the morning

Maximo turned 8 months recently and is just flying through all sorts of fun developmental crossroads. This crazyness truly makes me really realize that I am now really entering father-land, and this is only the beginning! It's not that I did not know this before or that I wasn't a Dad already, mind you, but when your kid is an infant, there is something a little more black and white to the whole thing. Now, as he starts to do new things, and react to your every action and facial adjust, ones role in the entire love-fiasco becomes more solid. Fatherhood grows as your child grows. Ah, the child. This little nut is up to all sorts of good things, one of them is not-sleeping through the night. We have been without schedule through most of his infancy, as is usually the case, and more so with us due to the fact that we all share a bedroom. Now, this must change, and we have started to implement daytime nap schedules and set bed-times - this is helping a ton! Thanks Sleep Lady! I long to look back at the sleeping aspect of these days fondly, glad that they have passed - and hope that looking back is soon! Yawn!

Maximo on his throne

Since very early in his short life, we have been showing Maxxi the good times that can be had on a toilet. As I learned from my wonderful wife who spearheaded this movement, this is not really potty training, but "elimination communication". You get to know your babies signals, and you eventually can "catch" his pees and poos before me makes them, and he learns its way cooler to not have shit in your diaper. Everyone wins. We put him on his potty every time we change him, and we know this is going to make big boy potty training a smooth sail for all.

Maximo at the Dinner Table

Maximo has been eating for a month and a half, and food time is good times. Its one of those awesome things to see a little creature such as he do anything for the first time, and eating is just that thing. You never think about when you first tried something you didnt like in life, but we all did, and babies really let you know. We know he does not like avocado due to the absolute face of disgust he makes, while he likes carrots, chayote and banana, shown by his skill in getting it anywhere but his pie-hole (see photo). He still drinks tons of boob, and will continue to so for some time, but his diet and menu are expanding, which is awesome for a mom like Andrea. A whiz in the kitchen, she has been making all his food at home from fruits and veggies, and recently, some chicken stock. She rules.


Where he was once in our arms most the day, he is now on the floor, movin' and explorin' his new world. He now has a toy box , finding much joy in tipping it over, and re-discovering the same old toys over and over again. Re-discovery and study are key words to describe my son. He is always studying, whether its us, or some other new thing to look at and taste. We now can see that his eyes are going to stay the lovely brown they look like to me now - pure Andrea. A dream come true to be able to look into her eyes in our son as well.

I am lucky to be a father, to feel up to the challenge and to have such an amazing partner to go this through with, for the good, the bad and the exhausting - I know I have the best back up in the world, and Andrea and I always love a good adventure. And shit, we are lucky to have such an awesome kid, sleep all nite or not! He is my boy, we are a family and life never stops teaching you, though sometimes I wish it would. I hate tests, but at least I usually do pretty good at them.

my son, Maximo Lobo, learning to sneak up on his parents

Maximo, tu eres lo maximo!*

My kid is awesome. The best, you might say in this or another language. He is just about 8 months old, crawls like a crab, moves as quick as a mongoose, and is the happiest little creature you may well find in my house (a house full of happy people and dogs, no less). If you are reading this, you have probably met him. If you haven't I can't wait till you do, and he meets you. *translated from spanish "you are the best!"

Construction is a state of mind

We started construction on the second level of our beloved Casa Loteria last Monday. We are stoked to be well on our way to a new floor and more room for our little devil, but you are quickly and rudely reminded what living with construction is like. Lack of sleep : We have a good crew, so they are there with the sun rising, and leave when the sun sets. Pretty awesome on a schedule front (which as a manager, I appreciate), but pretty shitty on a sleeping in late, and not having strangers close to your bed as you sleep front. Since they are there all day, you feel a total disconnection to this house you are putting all this time and money into. That, and the banging. But the good is so gooood... bricks going up, rooms taking shape, a house that you can imagine hanging out in becoming itself... it is awesome. I can already see this new house, with it's stairs, new rooms, new views... I have never had the pleasure of building a house anywhere before, but building a house in Mexico for me is like no other experience - there is something very simple about the bricks and mortar, the small crew putting up the walls, such a complicated process brought down to it's basic steps - and you can be a part of it! Carry some bricks! Make some mortar! Drink beer with the crew (my favorite and most accomplished task)! Construction is great.

I can't wait for it to be over.

"el bebe" Villarrubia acrylic on Tequila (lots of it), circa early-mid-late 2009

Look what I can do!

I have been painting lately. I have no technical skills, or know-how. I used to draw for hours and hours (and days and days) under the influence of all sorts of good-timey hocus pocus - but today, I enjoy doing it semi-sober. It takes longer, but that's ok.

Holy holy-week, Batman!

I wrote about Semana Santa, or "Holy week" way back in '06, 2 weeks after our arrival to Sayulita. http://gabrea.blogspot.com/2006_04_09_archive.html . We are currently in the middle of that same holiday as I write. Nothing to crazy too report this year, but there do seem to be alot of Mexicans in Sayulita all the sudden. haha. We have such a mixed culture in our town, that a big mexican holiday really changes the tone of the town, and everyone will say the same...best to stay home? I can't say that, but I can suggest it best to wander on foot, because driving anywhere this week blows...Jesus your co-pilot or not. Speaking of Satan, today is Easter, and being the good-fearing Pagan I am, I spent Easter morning with some wonderful people, far from sacrificing goats or any living thing (though the alter to the high Queen of Bloody Marys was soaked and running red). Whatever our group's designation, it was devine, If you catch my drift. As we enter our 3rd year of living here, we feel blessed by the Dark Ones to have those we have around us these days... a great group of friends, wonderful humans and families - all a true community.

The Villarrubia, the Koch and the Sherman Clans - easter 2009

3 years over the line...

We just celebrated on March 27th, our 3 year anniversary of arriving to our beloved Sayulita. Looking back, It was an amazing time - feeling scared yet amazingly confident in the steps, actions and decisions we had taken up to that point. In retrospect, it was all by the seat of our pants, 2 dream-slackers wanting nothing more than some freedom and a place to start a family... and in this picture all I see is unstoppable partnership and love. Amazing..... reminds me of this Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song I always fuck up the lyrics to....

"I hear they buried lover's lane In a sea of tears and blame,
It's you and me go up in flames Baby, one step over the line...
They're drawin' boxes on the ground Just to make us look on down,
All we gotta do is look around And take it one step over the line -
one step over the line (sweet Jesus...) Come on baby, one step over the line..."

Today, we make sure we never forget those days of wonder, when some days being in paradise all but feels just like regular ol' life.... Never forget where ya come from, what you did to get where you are, and which line you want to cross next...

3 years later... older but wiser, and happier...
Gab, Andrea and our prize, little Maximo (Diablo) Lobo - March 2009

Spring time for the semi-leisure class

It's nearly the end of March in Sayulita, Spring break heavily upon us, and life is finally starting to settle down just a little bit. The last few months have brought upon us a variety of wonder, opportunities, adventures and down-right great times. It's hard to believe it's almost summer, when it seems just yesterday I was talking about Christmas, and all its glory. We had just taken on more houses in our management business, Weddings were in full swing, and it seemed so long before Spring. And now...Maximo is 6+ months old, all the grandparents have come and gone, Andrea is a year older, and holy fuck, I am a god damned American! Ex-pat, but American all the same. I feel exhausted writing it, but am far from complaining. I feel like this is the best time to reflect, and look forward to the awesome summer ahead.

Family is just awesome. I am latino, and cherish family on all fronts, but nothing beats having a kid, and sharing that experience with your best friend, parnter, lover and wife. Ideally, all those are the same people - haha - and in my case they are - sweet sweet Andrea Leigh! Not only have we shared in tons of crazy, nuts, deep darks in the last 8+ years, but we have bore a son together. If there is ever a bonding moment, its kids, and then hanging with them till they...what, move out!? Jeez. He is gonna be around forever. I guess that is ok. Whatever, its so cool to share with Andrea. My Wifey turned 35 last weekend, and the coolest thing about her birthday - ok, one of the coolest, is looking at her and seeing her as that awsome chick she was when she was 27 and I just kinda knew her. So crazy...man, I love that gal. She was so cute then, and now...the cutest mom ever. Hot.
Maximo is totally a different little fella than last I wrote. Shit, he crawls! He turns over! He eats semi-solid foods! His poop are little turds, not just .... mush. He is almost 7 months old, and is a little boy. Not a baby, but a little boy. We just had a flash flood of grandparents over for the last 4+ weeks, and if you ever want to ponder stoney-like into your past, present and future - have a baby, and invite your parents over (best if you are high during some part of this, but acceptable if you are not - gab). Satan only knows why we dont we realize this earlier, when we are being dicks to our parents? It is awesome to see your dad, your son, and you all together - all the expressions, facial ticks, hair twirls, all the the things you all share. Damn, genetics are super cool. It was my Parents 46 anniversarry of meeting during their stay here - Friday the 13th no less - and we surprised them during a party at our house with Mariachis playing some traditional and romantic Mexican classics - it was classic itself. A night to remember forever. Maximo honestly to me looks more like Grandpa Billy (Andrea's Dad) more than anyone, and the thought that Maximo's son may look more like me than him is a nice bit of history to know you may leave behind, besides all the bad repuations and possible criminal records.
I am now a US Citizen. As most know, its been a long lame process getting here, but here I am, and the ceremony was on March 18th in Sacramento California. Sacramento known purely earlier in my life as a bastion for good speed, now it became in one morning the gateway to American. Ha! That's a funny one to write. Anyway, I was blessed with some good friends joining me, since my family was all in Mexico at the time (no irony there...haha?). Jason Heapy, my long time partner in crime, and Ed and Bambi Schwartz (friends, family and Maximo's 3rd grandparents) drove far, stayed long and waved flags for me that morning. 3 hour long waits, the public announcement that I was the only Argentine being naturalized out of 840 citizens, and stiff seats led to an honestly beautiful ceremony, near-tears, and joy when it was all over. I was moved, Stoked to be accepted in a country I had lived in for so long, and glad it was all over....or just starting? Ed and Bambi gave me some beautiful Mexican Devil art as a gift (as is their habit) and Jason spent the day in Sac with me. We went and saw Watchmen (a geek dream for me, and a movie he worked on), drank $40 Tequila out of his trunk at the movie theatre, and I left that night on the 1am red eye. I am still tired. But American.

Talk about tired. I am going to bed. Went to the Grupo Pro Sayulita fundraiser tonight in Sayulita. All for the good of our great little town. Y'know what I did good? I drank a bunch of Tequila and hung with some awesome friends. Bought some art, and loved my town. Seriously, we have a great community, and I cant wait for summer to come and me to get to hang with some of me new friends after the work slows.... and on the work topic, i have some new work! The best kind... where I get to drink. I hang out at the new local Tequila bar, the S.F.T. Tequila Bar. S.F.T. stands for Sayulita Fish Taco, a famous local restuarant. Mark Albert Holt, the propieter, had the wisdom to open a Tequiila bar - not just any Tequila Bar, but a top shelf, 200+ bottle Tequila bar - next to his restaurant. So, I hang there, and I get to write about my adventures there, review Tequilas, and just talk talk talk about all things related to Tequila, the Bar, it's team and patrons. Good times. Check it out! It's called the Sayulita Tequila Journal - www.sayulitatequilajournal.blogspot.com

Buenas Noches Amigos...

Sweet Sweet Tequila, the blood of Christ

or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bottle(s)

I have had a long and fruitful love affair with alcohol. I often want to write about it , but hesitate, full of worry that my loved ones will see my affection for this bottled elixir in a wrong light. I don't worry much, as a man of 39 years, well schooled in hard knocks as much as private school blues, I have been the kind of fella that can walk the line, without falling in the ring of fire (thanks Johnny). But enough of the trappings of worry and concern, lets move on the carelessness that got us into this fabulous situation! Love! Alcohol! Life! Their now everlasting connection. I live in Mexico, and our spirit of choice here is Tequila. The world has really gotten to know Tequila in the last 10 years, at that point exiting the era where Tequila was purely discussed in terms of the worm and Cuervo Gold. Luckily for us, the magic and long time crafted art of Tequila distilling has hit the world by storm, and most anywhere in the world you can find unique and awe inspiring Tequila (and Tequila highs...). Here in Mexico you can go a long time before running out of new bottles to empty, and recently, my friend Mark Alberto Holt has opened Sayulita's first Tequila bar, the S.F.T. Tequila bar - making it even harder to not have something new to savor. Mark is a local legend, known in the surf community and world wide as the proprietor of Sayulita Fish Taco - tasty for its food and wave riders. Since it opened, I love stopping by for a sipper or 4 (shooting tequila is for the slop, or for those in a hurry), and discussing with tourists or locals (but mostly with Mark) the intracacies of the most recent glass to touch our lips. We track our drinks, rating them on a handy 1-5 scale in a great guide Mark has whipped up, and discuss the good and bad. Mostly good, as stated by my often repeated mangled quote from Will Rogers -"I never met a Tequila I didn't like". Tonight my friend Ed Schwartz, Sayulita local, all around wine king, and writer of all things alcohol, asked me to join him at the Tequila bar to write an article for one of the magazines he writes for. My challenging job? Sharing in the extra tequila, casually making comments about my likes and rare dislikes, and just generally drinking and discussing Tequila for a few hours. We really dove into the deep end, Mark treating us like kings, tasting all sorts of delights. From the simple Blancos, barely aged, to the spicy Reposados, rested for a while in wood, but not too long. Then came the kings, the warn and m apley Anejos, starting to bring to mind the the flavors of Whiskey and spice. Lastly, yet right on time, came the Ultra Anejos... Oh my. Amazing depth, warmth, and an earthy flavor that you would not expect from Tequila. And I end with that, the simplicity of this love affair. Tequila is not what you think it is, not even close to it. If you fall in love with it, the goal is to always search for what you think it is, but never find it. Its just like love.

Back in the U.S. Groove


Holy fuck, life is totally bizarre right now. It's not, but it kind of is, in small ways. Life is awesome for all the great reasons...my best friend and wife Andrea, my dynamic and always changing son, Maximo, my family and our home. But the last few months have been odd. I have been looking forward to getting some of my thoughts down for some time, for reasons to be discussed immediately, I have kept a low online presence for a while. Keeping a long story short, here is my nationality story...I have been trying to become a US citizen for a while, totally deserve it, and was almost across the finish line... but suddenly my last few years in Mexico gave the old U.S.Gov't pause, and they said no to me being a citizen... and then they made me jump through a few hoops. Fuck 'em. Look, the whole thing is over, I am going to be an American Citizen on March 18, and I deserve it. All the little details be damned, I have been a legal resident of the US for 35(!) years, and deserve this, no matter where I hang my Sombrero these days. So there. I am back, not hiding and stoked to be not only free...but American, Argentine American that is...

So let's get back to writing about the things that matter to me most...

My Crew

My wolf Pack

Our Hideout!

This was the best Christmas ever

Andrea, Maximo Lobo Reindeer, and Dad Gab

Holidaze in my mind

Christmas is here again, and I love it, need it, so glad to be in it. It sneaks up on me every year... even with the shopping, the planning, the constant eating... suddenly its the weekend before the big dayze. This is not necessarily a complaint, but my stoney mind can't help but do a private but sincere Keanu "wooooooow....christmas....dude" and think on it all, as I am fond of doing. It goes without saying (though I am going to say it, watch me) - this whole Holiday-magic-fiasco thing has a whole different flavor now that we have a child in our lives. That child, our own little fat ball of Christmas ham, my amazing little boy, Maximo Lobo! Just saying his name fills me full of awesome-ness. Christmas has always been very special for Andrea and I , both fans of the basic trappings of the holiday, both big fans of giving each other gifts, and I am in particular always happy to have another reason to celebrate our lives (drink) and reflect on days past (smoke). Holiday 2008, now with 100% more joy in easy to love and care for baby form. As a child, growing up a poor immigrant in California, times were simple but always very happy. I seemed to have believed in Santa longer than most, even when I knew it was one of the Dads in costume sneaking around outside the house. I guess I just thought they were agents of Santa or something,... I don't know, but the prospect of presents in just a few hours put all questions aside, much like as an adult the prospect of good times, money, drugs or sex makes rationality take a back seat. God bless the magic of presents, in their myriad forms.

Maximo is almost 4 months old

Maximo, as mentioned above, is just awesome. Lucky to have created our most recent version of Real-Life 2.0 in a way that we spend all day with him, we have gotten to watch all the slight and sudden changes in our son. Maximo has recently gone from just smiling to now laughing, and laughing without physical provocation (i.e. tickling, shoving face in his belly, etc). You can just look at him the right way, and off he goes. A human's early laughter is beyond primal, it's new and heartfelt. Everything he does is so new, so first time, so brutally honest...and I already miss this era. He has recently found his hands, and clearly decided that they are not only functional for grabbing things like hair, skin, toys, but are also absolutely delicious. Those fingers spend more time in his mouth than I do with a drink in my hand! All in all, pretty cool little developments. Maximo also has an even coat of hair on his head, leaving behind the funny but not so fancy 2 month era of rocking the Danny Devito - comb over - baby pattern baldness. Good laughs not-surprisingly low on fashion power. We recently took him to a new doctor who like alot, and she told us he is the 90% percentile for weight, and a few months ahead in his development, mostly shown by his hand fetish discussed above. All in all, a healthy little boy with the world ahead of him. I can't wait to show it to him. Andrea got to show him the magic of Santa last week...Mexican Santa that is. At the mall in Vallarta, Andrea took Maxxi to start a long standing tradition of sitting on Santa's lap. It seems Mexican Santas don't Ho Ho Ho as much as "He he he..." - a bit creepier to hear it told. Maximo was his usual calm, cool and collected self, sitting casually on the creepy red-dressed man's lap, pretty happy just...being. That's my boy. We Villarrubia men ain't afraid of no-one, even creepy costumed mexican men, no matter how scary that sounds.

Sunny Sayulita Christmas

We are now in high season here in our lovely Sayulita, and the weather is just a great thing for us. We get to spend free days on the beach, watching our Son enjoy his first experiences with sand, sun, salt water, etc... I can't wait for him to be able to walk and enjoy the beach in a different way, but for now this is one of the best presents ever.

This has been an amazing year for me. My wonderful wife and I have made a life for ourselves in our dream-land, our Son is happy and healthy and all I can say is that I can't wait to write about the days to come, and to share in the joy ahead with all our loved ones, and with anyone who wanders into this wordy web.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or joyous whatever it is you celebrate at year's end...may all your dreams come true this year ahead.

Happy New Year!

Grandma Jeannette rest in peace

Andrea's Grandma Jeannette passed away recently - we miss her and think of her with love and affection. To her fiery spirit we raise our glasses and toast this holiday season.

This could be the Best Christmas ever


There are three stages of a man's life: He believes in Santa Claus, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus. ~ Author Unknown (but highly appreciated)

Much to give thanks for...

I wake up every day thanking the universe for such a wonderful wife and partner, the best friend a man could hope for, my super hot gal Andrea - so much thanks for a beautiful, healthy, amazingly good looking son Maximo, and for us all to have a home of our own in this stunning country of Mexico. Thanksgiving indeed.

Maximo's first time in the Ocean