A Typical Day in Argentina

We're getting into a nice comfy groove. To say it's a routine would be a stretch. We stay up late, sometimes til close to 2am. (For those singletons this is not a big deal, but for those other smug marrieds or harried parents of young children you KNOW this is unusual, especially for a school night.) Carter still falls asleep pretty much whenever he feels like it, as we have decided that HE must adjust to our schedule, rather than the other way around. His days and nights are finally on track though. He stays awake much longer now during the day, goes a little longer between feedings - 2 - 3hrs usually - with small naps in between. By about 10pm he starts to sleep for longer periods - 3 - 4hrs, usually waking up about 2am and then again at 6am or even later to eat. We go back to sleep again until about 10:30am. Oh, and he sleeps in his crib (suitcase) very well. We usually feed him in bed and let him fall asleep between us and then move him but he stays asleep once moved. Victory!

Then until about 4pm we hang out at the apartment, taking turns using the laptop to check email, surf the net, write a post. We take turns taking care of Carter's few needs - diaper, feed, play, put to sleep. We read, we watch tv - there are a surprising amount of english programs on but they are always on different channels so it's always a crap shoot, we nap, and we talk about endless subjects. Matt's latest interest is theology and has started an email debate with Michael (his mom's husband) over certain points in the bible - his of the always questioning mind.

I have decided that when I get home I will be back on the wagon to get in shape. I bought a book at the airport called 'Skinny Bitch' which was supposed to be the 'no nonsense, tough love approach to finally getting and staying skinny.' Well, it turned out to be a hard lined vegan/organic/no alchohol/no sweeteners/no reason for living type of lifestyle that involved 'going as long as you can stand it between meals...you'll eventually love the headaches and feeling light headed as you'll finally feel IN CONTROL...and then have a piece of fruit' way of eating. Thanks, but no thanks. So, Weight Watchers here I come...as well as bootcamp and any other exercise I can fit into my new mommy life.

Anyway, at about 4pm we are showered, dressed and have a fed and happy baby in tow and we venture out. Today it was to buy some things for the apartment at an Argentinian dollar store that we felt would improve our dispositions: bigger pillows, butter knives, larger glasses for our whisky and Coke Light, big coffee mugs for our cafe leche... We then went to the supermicado (grocery store) to buy bread, yogurt with trailmix, coffee filters...Then we went to a sidewalk shop to buy fruit and veggies...Then it was to the farmacia (pharmacy) for diapers and wipes...On to a bakery for tomorrow morning's pastries...Finally we stopped for lunch. Today it was McDonalds, just to see what it was like, but that's the only time we've eaten at anything resembling a restaurant back home. It's the only 'fast' food place in our neighbourhood. We don't think we'll go back as the food was all pretty stale and overcooked. The standards may not be as high here for that restaurant - not that it's any gourmet experience back home but there was a difference.

Anyway, we did all of this walking around our neighbourhood with baby in the stroller and were home by about 5:30pm. Now we'll resume reading, napping, watching tv, talking - and at about 9pm we'll go out for supper. Restaurants here don't actually open until 8pm and don't start filling up until after 9. Bars don't seem to open until after midnight. Not that we'd know, lol. Wow, how times have changed!

I've posted a few pics of our apartment to give you an idea of where we're staying now. We spent the first few days at a dodgy hotel so this feels like paradise!