There's a new gordo in town.

My little brother, Ani, is home for a week before he heads off to Atlanta to finish up his undergraduate degree at Georgia Tech. He spent this summer in Boston interning for Raytheon and only came home once before -- for his nephew's birthday. A few days before his arrival, Big E began preparing industrial sized quantities of his favorite foods because, "last time your brother was here we were so caught up with Luki's birth, that I hardly paid any attention to him!" Big E is convinced that when Ani is not home eating her food, he is simply not eating anything at all.

Like any good Cuban mother, Big E has a special kind of love for her only male offspring, her little boy, her gordo (even though he is tall and lean). A love so special that, when I was pregnant, she actually admitted to me that one of the reasons she wanted Belly to be a girl was so that el gordo's place in her heart and our family would not be compromised. Well...I'm sorry everybody, but Luki is here to steal the show!

Now, as much as Big E tries to keep her gordo center stage, she cannot help herself; Luki is just too darn cute! Plus, we've already established that he has magical powers. This is a basic snapshot of what this week has been like so far:

Big E (to Ani): So, you are applying to grad school at MIT and Stanf...DID YOU SEE THAT? DID YOU SEE? LUKI JUST SMILED AT ME! HE KNOWS WHO I AM!

Big E (to Ani): ...do you think you'll take Raytheon's offer? Well if they are willing to pay for your grad...LUKI IS TRYING TO TALK TO ME! LOOK AT THAT, HE IS TRYING TO SAY ABUELITA!

Big E (to Ani): Are you ready for the GRE? What time is...WHY IS LUKI CRYING? NO, NO, GIVE ME THAT BABY, YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW HOW TO COMFORT HIM...

Big E (to Luki): YOU ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, MOST PERFECT LITTLE BOY I'VE EVER SEEN! ABUELITA LOVES YOU SO MUCH! (to Ani): gordo, I love you too.