Week 29

Well, we made it! Our very first Christmas with our wonderful baby girl Aria has come and past. What a joyful day is was. I feel so incredibly blessed to have her this year. So blessed to have a family so full of love and joy in our hearts. So blessed that togetherness is all we need to truly have a home, no matter where we are currently resting our tired heads at night. It truly doesn't matter as long as we are together.

So this year, of 2011, my beautiful little family celebrated with my larger family and extended family here on Clinton road. We opened gifts in the morning. Santa was very good to us this year. When Kevin came out and saw all the presents, he said,"Weren't we supposed to be having an off year this year?". Well yes, but we all worked together very hard to pull of just as fine a spread as ever. It was very helpful that Santa's especially dutiful elf (Auntie Gabby), had a little extra pocket money to spoil us all with (benefit of slaving at three jobs). And spoil each and everyone of us she did! I got Uggs! So comfy and snuggle heaven for my footseses. Also a beautiful down blanket and duvet cover. Sentimental items came up this year as well. Gabby got my a matching vintage pearl necklace to the one I got her for her birthday this year. It has a an extra ring on it that says "if i didn't have you". A reference to our favorite childhood movie Quest for Camelot" and the two headed dragon that perfectly represented our very special relationship. I love it! Kevin got me an iPhone 4s! How excited/lucky/surprised/overjoyed am it! Yayness to the 10th degree!! I got Kevin a Buck knife Vantage Force Pro (he asked for it to increase his manly status with his Apple gang). I got Gabby a cookbook that I made the cover of. It's going to be a cookbook scrapbook of all our delicious and favorite recipes. I also got her cooking paraphernalia. I got Dad a cup that says "Pops Rocks". We got mom and dad stockings that say "Yaya" and"Pops". Th boys got shirts, Sonic for Billy because it reminded me of being young and playing with him and Johnny Cash for Raph cuz well it's Johnny Cash and Raph likes music. Mom also got a german bird ornament and a vintage pearl necklace that has my childhood poem on it "upside down or right side up, we will love you to the top" and "yaya" in the middle. Gabby finally got the baby doll mom had started making for her years ago. She finished it! So cute :) Billy got all the "cooks" a mini burger maker and "santa" got Billy a mini burger maker. It was pretty funny. Well now that I've rambled about our loot for a good 10 minutes, I will move on :P After the presents, there was a mad scurry to get the house ready for guests. They arrived promptly at 530pm. Aunt Lucy brought a gorgeous white fur coat for Aria (which we immediately tried on her). Mom aka Yaya made a glorious feast for everyone to share in. Sweet potatoes, roast, bacon beans… Everyone else pitched in as well. It was a great night of family and fun.

Today I fed Aria some left over Christmas sweet potatoes. I got her little Gerber spoon and we had a grand time. She loved them! She kept opening her mouth for more! I think my little baby is ready to start some solids. I will of course keep nursing her but it will be fun to make her baby food and feed her. I intend to make all her baby food in the future (mark my words).

Aria can pretty much sit up like a pro now. She can even almost bring herself to a sitting position for laying down. It's amazing how much stronger she's gotten.

She continues to use her "Donald Duck" voice to communicate. It's hilarious to listen to her. She grumbles on about everything and anything.

Oh how could I leave it out. Aria got a Jumperoo for Christmas from Santa. She LOVES it! She jumped and jumped in it on Christmas day until she fell asleep. It was the cutest thing I'd ever seen. I'm so glad to find something can can tire her out enough to nap.

Which brings me to her sleep schedule. She's still an absolutely horrid sleeper. Last night she slept in her crib a total of 2 hours and I held her the rest of the night as she squirmed and grunted. She finally got out a "present" for me in the morning and I think she felt better. Most nights she wakes up at least 3 times.

Aria has mastered her pinched grasp. It's so fun to see her see something she wants to hold and then go for it with her little fingers. She loves to just move her pointer finger back and forth on anything, feeling it.

Aria also now sucks on her 2 middle fingers with her palm facing out. It's so cute!

Baby's First Christmas! 2011

Today is Christmas, mt sweet baby Aria's very first. Yesterday our neighbors stopped by with a gift for her (who can resist buying baby presents). It was an adorable red dress by firtimpressions from Macy's. I had to have her wear it to church. We went to 4pm mass at St. Nicks. Even though we got there at 3:45pm, there was no room at the inn fir us so to say. The church was PACKED! The hall was packed! We ended up standing outside the hall in the freezing cold (seriously icy cold for CA). I forgot Aria's blanket, so I took off my coat and wrapped her in it. She fell asleep on her daddy during her 1st Xmas Mass. After mass we walked back to the car half froze, with Bo feelings in our toes. Raph went to to feed James so Auntie Gabbt came with us. Off to Grammy's annual Xmas Eve party we went. At this point I was becoming seriously tired because I had been finishing my craft projects all morning. Almost killed me. Everyone at Grammy's was happy to see Aria. They all lover her so very much. Grammy's eyes just light up when she sees her abs she drops everything to hold her. Dinner was yummy and the Xmas program started shortly after. My cousin Chris did a fabulous job hosting. Billy and Grandfatger had grand musical accompaniment as well. Chris set it up for max singing participation by having a challenge before each song. The winner fit to...not sing. The loser had to pick 2 victims from the croud to join him leading the carol in front. It was awesome. There was "santa's village" pictionary, Xmas tree tearing behind the back, present wrapping with oven mits on, minute to win it style Oreo on the face to mouth, and spelling "JC" with m&ms with just a straw and your mouth. After the fun Santa came out and we exchanged secret Santa gifts. Aria got a Sophie the giraffe from Aunt Sue. Ive been seriously yearning for one of these most popular baby toys, so I was extatic! I got a 2 year subscription to Parents magazine which is great! When we got home Santa had come and left PJ's in front of the fire just like when we weee little. It was magical (I think Auntie Gabby knows Santa!). I, genius that I be, saved all my wrapping til after we got hone. Again almost took the life from me wrapping til 12am!

Bur today is Christmas morning at 7am and I have the very best Christmas present I could hope for in my arms. Aria is lightly snoring (maybe dreaming of reigndeer, probably boobies though). So happy :)

Until next time, xo Rosie

Week 26! My baby is 6 months old!!!!

Well hello again. Today is the day! Aria Rose is 6 months old! Happy half birthday to the best little princess in the world!

Today I was out with Holly at Trudy's Brides. She is getting married!! It was so fun looking at her trying on all those gorgeous dresses. The appointment was at 10am so Aria stayed at home with Daddy because he didn't work til 1pm. After the dress fittings we went out to eat at Hobbee's. I missed my baby but she was in good hands and it was really very nice to get out. I hardly ever leave the house! After brunch I checked in with Kev and since Stinky was doing so well, I decided to drop by some flowers and candy to Kevin's mom. She hurt her knee at work yesterday so was taking it easy today and I thought it would be a nice surprise to brighten her day. I stopped at Whole Foods and got some Shooting Star Hydrangeas and See's Candies for a box of assorted chocolates. Her apartment was only 2 miles from Trudy's. I dropped off the gift and left a note inside since she wasn't there, though her big kitty Evil did come out and say hello. I think he likes me know that I took care of him and his sister one day last week while Carol was in Oregon. Or he might of just been bored. When I got back home here it was 1pm and it felt absolutely fabulous to have been out and about int he morning time and still have lots of day left. Aria and I have been snuggling and napping since I arrived back home. We are going to go shopping with Auntie Gabby later today I think. (yaya is watching her now so I can get in a quick update!)

On Sunday we went to dinner at Emily and Josh's new house. It's a beautiful craftsman style home in Willow Glen, right near Carol's place. It was so much fun hanging out with another marries couple who also had a baby. Their little Carlo is just 5 weeks younger than Aria. When we got there Emily was giving us the grand tour and when we finished viewing the cute upstairs we were walking back to the kitchen and Kevin stepped right in a heap of dog poop. Poor Emily, it was quite comical. Kevin's a good sport and dog poop don't phase him. It was kind of a funny ice breaker for him I think, hehehe. Their dogs are super cute and friendly. They are Italian Greyhounds so definitely not snuggly like our pouches but I loved them anyways. I'm just a dog person I guess. Aria forgot her shoes at their home (more like I forgot them) so we must go back and retrieve them at some point. Yay for new friends!

Well miss Aria has been up to a few tricks this week. She seems more and more aware of how the noises she makes affect the people around her. I think she has learned a little pro baby manipulation. She will give out the saddest wail if I lay her in her pac n play and act like I'm walking away. She is fine if I stay and play with her though. The little stinker. She now gets a huge smile and laugh/squeals when she sees someone she loves like Daddy or Auntie Gabby. It's the cutest thing. She is getting better at sitting. She is not completely face down on her knees anymore and actually tottering up a bit and then to the side and they she falls over. Still no teeth in sight, though she drools like no other.

Well it's time, my 20 minutes are up! If I think of more I will update more later. But who knows when that will be.

Until next time xo. Rosie

Week 24-25

Well hello there. It's December! Can't believe it. I'm lying on the floor in Gabby's room and Stinky is taking nap in her big bed. My cat Zoey just strolled in! They are getting more and more forward. Last night Kevin couldn't find Xander so we ended up just leaving the door open to the little living room so he could come home if he so desired. I got new collars and tags for them the other day at Petco so I tried to assure Kevin that he would be fine. Low and behold he was in the room when we woke up this morning. Anyways that was another cat detour tangent, lol, it happens.

So yes, it's December! Last week was Thanksgiving and it was busy as heck. The holidays are officially here. Kevin, Aria and I had THREE Thanksgiving parties to go to. Of course there was Grammy's on the Sunday before, then ours, hosted here and Yaya and Pops' house on Thursday and then Kevin's Uncle Paul had one as well on the Sunday after.

Aria is not quite used to big crowds yet. Everyone in my family wanted to come and love on her and she just wasn't quite sure if she liked it or not. She wouldn't crack a smile. I kept having to tell people that she is usually more friendly but she's just a little nervous. It could be in part due to the fact that my mom's side of the family, when they get together, reaches deafening decibels even for a normal person. So I can imagine it's a bit to take in for a little tiny baby face. We attempted to take a family photo after the festivities died down but it was a little too much too late for Aria, she wasn't a fan of the photo shoot. I still want to go through the photos and hopefully make one work for a Christmas card. She looked adorable in her outfit, her attitude was just a little less than cheery. The food was delicious. My mom made the Turkey with a new recipe in which she stuffed the breast meat outer sides with sausage meat and covered the Turkey in bacon. This helped keep it very moist. All the family brought yummy food and we have been eating Thanksgiving feasts for a week straight (since we kept all the leftovers!).

On Saturday I went to Theresa's birthday party in SF. It was at an Italian restaurant. Holly and I drove together. We made it with plenty of time to spare but then proceeded to take 45 minites ot find a parking spot! Argh, the frustration of driving around in the city  looking for a spot to wedge my car coupled with the knowledge of our soon to be late appearance at the party gave me a pounding headache. We ended up parking a mile away and walking to the place. The dinner was good and Theresa is always happy person to see so it got better once we arrived. I was worrying about Aria while there though because she still refuses to drink out of a bottle. I pumped 4 ounces for her and left if with Yaya. But when we tried to practice the day before she just cried and cried like the nipple of the bottle was burning her lips every time it can near. Needless to say when I arrived home 5 hours later, she had gone on a hunger strike, completely refusing the "nasty" bottle. Sigh, my poor little spoiled babe.

On Sunday, we decided at the last minute to go to Kevin's Uncle Paul's for Thanksgiving. We hadn't been to a family Thanksgiving since the first year we started dating (6 years ago). They have a new house in Scotts Valley that is amazingly big and beautiful. They were all very nice and so excited to see us and Aria (hadn't seen them since our wedding). Kevin's cousins have 4 little kids, so it was cute seeing them running around and playing, reminded me of when I was a kid. I hope that Aria will have other kids to play with someday :( I need to find spouses for my siblings and get this party started! ;)

Since Sunday we have been dealing with a plumbing disaster here on the home front. Our toilet in our little house stopped working and we realized that there was a cesspool of sewage gathering in the yard behind the house. Gross! It's been a wreck here trying to fix it, but it's finally fixed as of yesterday. Only cost $3000 *tears*. At least we don't have to pee in a bucket at night anymore!

Well, I am in charge of feeding Kevin's mom's kitties today. I forgot to get Kevin's key to his mom's place so I'm going to have to like drive to Los Gatos and get it from him so I can go feed them.

I have a list of Aria's accomplishments from this past week on my iPhone, but it's not with me so I wll update more in a bit.

List from iPhone:
Feeling everything and I mean everything with her fingers then opening and closer them on whatever she is feeling.
Talking more- lots of dadadada, and even some mmmammmaammm
Very good eye contact, will look right at you when you say her name and smile. She started to do the "bashful baby" thing, where she looks at you then turns in to the shoulder of whoever is holding her. It's SO cute.
She sits up while leaning very far forward if I set her in a sitting position.
She wraps her legs around me when I carry her. I love it!
She likes to lean her head upside down, especially if you are trying to hold her "like a baby".
Auntie Buhbabuhbee thinks her face looks older, more like a toddler and less like a little baby.
She now likes her car-seat!!! She doesn't protest at all when I put her in and she usually goes right to sleep before we even get to the end of the street.
She still has a soft spot on her head, getting smaller though.
She started sleeping through the night for a whole week! (of course now she is back to being up every 2 hours, but hey I'll take it.)
She loves her bubbly bath-time and she officially can't take baths in her tub on the counter anymore- way too much splashing. I now put her little pink princess tub in the big tup so she can splash away without soaking the kitchen ;)

Love our little family <3

Yaya and her delicious Turkey!

She loves Uncle Raphy time :)

Just a litte nuggy nug.

Sucking thumbs is for babies. I suck toes!