Week 16

So if we are going by 4 weeks in a month, my little stinker is exactly 4 months old now! Craziness I know!

This past week was a big one in Aria's life. She was Baptized on Sunday! She did so well. As long as I bounced her she wouldn't cry. She almost started to cry when I leaned her over to have the water poured on her hear but then she got very peaceful looking and just gazed into Fr Larry's eyes as he Baptized her. My arms felt like they were going to fall off by the time mass was over. My little baby isn't so little anymore and the constant need to bounce takes a toll on my "mom arms".

40 people came to see Aria's big day. Mike and Lauren came in from LA. Stefani drove down from Tahoe where she's on a 6 week rotation. Robert flew in from LA to be her Godfather. The day was filled with family and friends and everyone who will be there to support her now and for always. Her Godmother is Auntie Gabby and I'm sure she's going to be overjoyed growing up that she got the best Godmother in the whole world. She is going to be so spoiled.

My Aunt Amy, Aria's I don't know great Aunt?, got Aria an absolutely gorgeous Venetian lace gown from Italy. It's from the Island of Barona, famous for lace. When Aria was born Aunt Amy was in Italy with Tom and they just couldn't resist getting the beautiful gown for my little princess. She looks so cute and so darn spoiled in it. It has a little bonnet but Sister Rosheen made me take it off as soon as we entered the church. I'm not stupid, I was planning on taking it off when it was time for the water, but I didn't make a scene. I took it off and she only got to wear it at the reception.

For the reception Yaya made egg casserole, one of Marmar's famous recipes. I made potato salad and spinach dip. Aunt Sure brought a fruit salas. We had sausages cut up on toothpicks and Grammy brought KKD. Dessert was carrot cake from Draeger's. So delicious. I hadn't eaten sweets since my birthday so it really did taste like heaven to me. There was also festive drinks such as mimosas and sangria. The tables were adorned with lovely bouquets of lilies and white roses.

Kevin and I felt so grown up hosting a reception for our daughter's Baptism. Sometimes we are still shocked that we have her. Thankful everyday that she's in our lives.

The whole event went wonderfully til the very end, when Ben decided to tell Gabby that he wanted a break. Not cool. But even though everyone shed a few tears, we didn't let it ruin the day.

Yesterday I bought a Bumbo for Aria. I found one on Craig's List for $15. I drove to the woman's house in Los Altos to pick it up. Stinker looks really cute sitting in it like a big girl. I'm going to fish around Craigslist whenever I need baby supplies now. It's painless and saves money! Win win.

Aria is stil not sleeping, she only wants to be held all night long. Hopefully I'll have a positive update on this matter one of these days.

She is getting stronger and stronger though, she can almost pull her legs under her during tummy time, which incidentally she still hates.

Well I am off to dinner with Gabby, tending to the broken hearted is what I do best.

Week 15

Today Aria went with her Daddy and me to visit his friends who were working at the Apple store in Los Gatos. Kevin had a day off and wanted to show off his little princess to his buddies. They all were very impressed with how chunky she's gotten since her last visit. Jeff and Danny were working and it was nice to see them. One of the girl said Aria had beautiful eyes, which I was happy about since there's all this glory placed on having blue eyes (her eyes are still brownish/bluish/greenish…not sure where they'll end up, probably not blue though).

After we left the Apple store we went to our favorite Teriyaki Chicken rice bowl place, it's called Sushi Kazoo and it's right near Kevin's mom's apartment in San Jose. We haven't been there since our 6 year anniversary on March 30th! It was so very tasty! I ate way to much for a post-preggo mom trying to lose baby weight, but oh well. Kevin's mom met us there and it was nice to hang out with her. We stopped by her apartment after and visited Kevin's old kitties, Evil and Kitty. Kevin's mom loves them to pieces it's so cute.

Today also marks a change soon to come in our lives. We officially signed the form saying we are moving out of our apartment. I knew this was coming for weeks but couldn't bear to go sign the form without Kevin by my side. It's a scary thing change is. But without change there is no progress or movement. It was a very very hard decision to make but hopefully it will lead to something greater. It will, I know it will. I didn't get that sickened sense of dread after signing the notice, I had feared that I would. I feel that this is because I know it's the right thing to do for us and for our family and future to come. To the pool house we go October 21st! May we make the best of the time we have now and the best of the situation we will be in. Life is too short to be anything but happy and I fully intend on being happy no matter where we live or what path we find ourselves on. I will miss our apartment though. The first year of our marriage was spent in this little place. We found out our beautiful Aria would be joining our family almost a year ago here. I spend many a night laying on the couch trying to ease morning sickness here. It was while lying on the couch in this apartment, feeling ill as all get out, that I watched my beloved SF Giants will the 2010 World Series. So many memories. I love it here and I am sad to leave. But I will always have those memories and Evelyn Gardens will always be remember as the first home of the Houses :)

Let's see, what can I tell you about Aria this week. Well she has discovered that she has a voice! She "talks" to herself in the cutest baby way. It's different that the sounds she made before. It's using her voice more for longer increments. She also has started to laugh more. She's so funny. She loves the song "When the Saints Go Marching On". She has laughed for both me and Kevin while we sing the song to her while simultaneously moving her arms of legs about.

Aria's Baptism is this coming Sunday! So excited to show her off to everyone. I'm hoping to get everything ready for the party tomorrow so I don't have to stress out too much Saturday when Mike and Lauren are here. Either way, Lauren said they will be happy to help if there is work to be done so it should work out. I'm still trying to finalize my shmancy breakfast/brush menu.

Laughing at Saints video (only watch the first 30 seconds).

Baptism Invitation, new and improved

Added a few flourishes to make is more vintage in appearance. Faded out a cute picture of Aria in her Baptismal gown and bonnet, thought it added to the feel of the card.

Movie star baby ;-)

Who me?

Little love

Clothes are tasty!

Yes, I was correct in my first assertion: clothes are in fact delicious to lick.

I'm a little nugget

With a little nuggy face and kissy lips

Beau-coup add? hehe

Week 14

Well hello again, I have a free moment (Aria is napping in her swing) so I thought I'd give you an update on our little life here.

Let me start with a picture of my little beauty smiling in her bath. She loves to smile!

After returning home from the beach on Friday, after a long walk at Pajara Dunes Aria reverted once again to her Mr. Hyde side. Yes, since Friday night she has only slept in 2 hour increments at night, sometimes just 1 hour. She's been super cranky all day long and will only nap if I am holding her. I think this is her "three month growth spurt" according to the forums and advice columns I frequent. It seems too much of a coincidence that all the other mothers of June babies are having the same issues. Catering to my needy little princess has left me walking around like the living dead all week. Until yesterday, I literally just woke up (if I can even put it like that, since I was already up all night nearly) cared for Aria and tried to get sleep when I could. I didn't leave the apartment. Thankfully the night before last the cycle of doom was broken and she slept for 5 hours leaving mer feeling like a new mommy. I even went for a 6 mile hike with my mama at Rancho yesterday. On a side note, Aria has gotten so big and heavy that yesterday after our walk my knee hurt so bad I could hardly walk (she was in my front pack). Strolled next time I guess.

Actually I lied, on Wednesday, Kevin took a personal day, so that I could rest a bit. He was afraid that I was beginning to resent our daughter. This is not the case at all. I was simply exhausted and the crying and fussing 24 hours a day for a week was taking a toll on me. So yes on Wednesday, I escaped out for a bit with Gabby in the evening. We met up in downtown Mountain View and got some pearl mike tea. So good. Especially good since my tired thoughts forgot to think that pearl "milk" tea just might have milk in it!! Yes I drank some milk and it was good indeed. I didn't even have any guilt since this sin had no forethought or devious contemplation. I just remember thinking why WHY have I not have bubble tea sooner! hehe…oh yeah, that was it. After our lovely tea we wandered Castro street and stopped in a few shops and book stores. There was a hilarious book on the counter top at the bookstore called "Go the *** to Sleep". So baad, but too funny! It's modeled after a kids book but eloquently states what no parent is allowed to say: what they are actually thinking when they lovingly bond with their child before bedtime through the act of reading. Some parent must have just had it, and let our their steam in this lovely parody. I bet they felt much better after penning the devious text. It's funny that it says on the back, "not recommended for children". Because it looks like a kids book, I bet some parents have had a cow over it being in a prominent display. After the bookstore we at a "Pasta?" a tasty Italian style restaurant. Well we mainly ate bread and drank white wine. But our shared raviolis were well received into my tummy nontheless. I really did need some wine, chilling, and girltime with out my littlest girly. I think this is the first time, besides hiking at Rancho that I have hung out with Gabby without my bebe since she was born! Crazy and needed. Thanks Daddy Kevin for taking care of Aria and giving Mommy a break.

I'm still on awe of how fast Aria is growing. She fits well in 3-6 month clothes and I miss many of the newborn outfits that she used to wear. She becomes prettier and prettier everyday. She still can't roll over and hates tummy time. But I know she will get there eventually I'm just going to enjoy her being small and immobile for now.

Let's see what else is going on (I'm not used to having this much time to myself! She is still sleeping!). Kevin and I watched Warehouse 13 together, funny show, kind of like Eureka, another sci fi show. Now we are watching Battlestar Galactica, mainly because Gabby, Billy and Raph all watched it and I felt left out, plus it's free on Gabby's Netflix, which I have access to on our Apple TV. We finished season 1 already. It's pretty good, but not nearly at funny and lighthearted and Warehouse 13.

I really want to do a photo shoot with Aria. She is so cute and I want to document it. I need to borrow Billy or Gabby's SLR cameras. My digital point and shoot camera does not do her justice!

Next Sunday is Aria's long awaited Baptism. I'm still trying to decide if I should invite lots of people of just have a "small" family gathering. The reception is at my parents' house so I don't want to stress them with too many people. Hopefully we can get some cute picture of her in her Vinician Baptismal Gown.

13 weeks

Well I am a few days late because my family was at the beach last week, including Thursday my usual update day. We returned home on Friday and I was too tired to post then on Saturday I had friends over for my birthday so no time. Literally I was running around half naked like a mad hatter 10 minutes before people showed up, I need to work on my time management skills. It's always been an issue and having a newborn has magnified it exponentially. I haven't even had time to play with my new Wacom tablet that I got for my birthday, see it's bad!

Anyways, a quick rundown of Aria's skills and talents. Drooling: on everything, all the time. Hands: Grabbing hair, opening hands much more than before, will hold a rattle if I place it in her hands. Hair: coming in very slowly, for every hair she grows, she for sure losing twice as many, she loves to turn her head back and forth and this in turn has created a bald line on the back of her head. She now looks like those poor babies that are never held even though she is hardly put down. Holding: all the time and everywhere, she hates to be set down, and you can't just hold her while sitting on the couch watching TV, no, it must be while walking around being interesting, otherwise she will cry. Crying: a lot lately, maybe it's a 3 month growth spurt (YES MY BABY IS 3 MONTHS, OMG). Sleeping: hardly, she has reverted once again to waking every 2 hours. Funny story, I must digress… While we were at the beach my mom saw fit to give Aria a bottle of formula one night to ease her poor mother's exhaustion (yes I mean me). We low and behold she slept from 9pm to 630am! Turns out my mom didn't dilute the liquid Enfamil and the 3 ounces she drank were really the caloric intake of twice that. I guess it was the infant equivalent of a food comma. Amazing, yet seeming so distantly in the past right now after her 3 nights of 2 hours blocks. I am tempted to try it again. What could it hurt? She wasn't any worse for the wear. Not any more gassy or constipated, just a wonderfully rested baby and mama!… Swing: still having trouble, will swing a bit then when I put Aria in it it stops completely, very sad. Weight: chunky as ever. Eyes: cross between blue and green with brown speckles, ultimately leading to their inevitable fate, to be exactly like her Daddy's :)

Today Grandma Carol game over and hung out. She took me to a birthday pedicure as a wonderful little surprise after b-day gift. We drover over to Loyola Beauty Salon and she took care of Aria while I was pampered. Aria slept in her carrier most the time, but when she did awake the little Asian ladies flipped out. I mean they went crazy over her. They kept yelling to each other in Chinese for the others to come see. The owner there is very nice and I have been going there since before my wedding. They saw me the day of my rehearsal and the week before giving birth, I guess this makes them feel a certain beatifying bond with my baby. One even insisted on holding her while three of the ladies made high pitch squeaks and silly faces to evoke that precious little smile. And Aria complied. She laid those smiles on much to their giddy pleasure. It was really a pretty hilarious scene. I was just glad she didn't poop on any of them. I finally had to take her from the one woman when she started saying she was going to take her home and that her daughter would love a sister. I think she was joking…

Crying, needy baby is calling. Until next time.

12 Weeks

I can't believe it's September already -one of my personal favorite months. This past week Aria went from being a little angel to being up every two hours again. This time it wasn't really her fault though, because she did have a bit of a fever and seemed to be feeling under the weather. Today she is doing better, no more rejecting of the boobies (they have worked out their differences).

Tomorrow is my birthday! Kevin is taking me and Aria to Monterey for the night tonight. It should be a nice get-a-way. We contemplated leaving Aria with my mom for the night. But I just feel that she is too young. I would feel so bad if she was miserable all night without me. Plus she's been feeling sick so she is extra needy. Hopefully we will still be able to relax with her in tote. I also kind of wanted to spend my first birthday as a mommy with my baby, crying and all.

Yesterday despite not feeling well, Aria laughed for the first time. I was sitting on the couch with Gabby and we were imitating the noises that she makes; ooo, oo, aah, oo and them wammy, her noises turned into a giggle. It was so cute! I can't wait for more laughs.

One thing I forgot to mention last week that is really cute is how Aria communicates with us. Whenever she's bored in her swing she starts making what we have dubbed her "complaining cry". It's just a kind of an elongated first cry/cooing noise, like eeaaaahhh. After she makes the noise once she waits patiently for someone to come over and talk to her. Usually when I look at her, she makes a big ol smile. So adorable. Of course if I don't come fast enough, she will continue to make the noise a little louder and closer together, and yes some rare times when I am otherwise engaged it does turn into a full on cry. I try not to let it get that far though.

Well we need to get ready to go. Kevin is currently shaving for the first time since Aria's birth. Shocking I know.

Until later,

Rosie