Babies and the Bioferia

As most of you know, I often make reference to the number of women who are pregnant or have just had babies at my school. I really do worry that there is something in the water here that makes women incredibly fertile. The elementary principal got up at our all school faculty meeting on Thursday and announced that for the first time in years, there were no elementary staff out on maternity leave at the beginning of the semester - it is VERY rare!! My friends here have all had their babies and now it is fun to be able to watch them grow up. Last night we had a baby shower for little Maximo, who was born almost 3 months premature and spent a month in the NICU. You would never believe it to see him now at 5 months - he is a chunky little monkey and very cute. There were 4 babies under the age of 1 at the shower yesterday and I enjoyed snuggling a bit with all of them. Here I am with little Lucia Belle, just 2 and 1/2 weeks old. I love holding all these little babies, but I'm also very happy to hand them back to their moms and not have to take them home with me. :)

Now, to change topics completely, I finally went to the Bioferia this morning. The Bioferia is the organic market that happens every Saturday morning in Miraflores. My friend Judy goes every week and has invited me a million times, but I've never made it. After reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver while I was home (you HAVE to read it - it is the best book I've read in a long time) and thinking about eating locally, I decided I really needed to check out the Bioferia. After being there, I can't believe it took me so long. It is great!!! It isn't very big, but there are stands with organic produce, grains, ready made vegetarian foods, and little gifts. I bought some amazing cheese, a loaf of yummy wheat bread, some all natural granola, and some empanadas. Everything is so good, and so inexpensive. I can't wait to go back next week! I think it is going to become my Saturday morning routine.