Double Digits!

You are officially 10 months old, my love. We spent the day over at your great-grandma Vera's house. You loved exploring a new place, and even crawled through her cat door to get into her room! We had to put all her trinkets and delicate décor out of your reach.

At 10 months, you

love: exploring, reading, babbling, Sesame Street, papa's skateboard, mama's iphone, the playground and Saturday morning cartoons (starting at 5:30am)

don't love: being changed! You cry every time I try changing your diaper or getting you dressed...sigh...

should know: we love you more than all the fish in the sea, the stars in the sky. We love you more than the air we breath. And just when I think it's not possible to love you more, I do. You are a true blessing in all of our lives.

Here are some pictures from your 10-month photoshoot:

Ten Minus One

You are turning ten months tomorrow, and I have to say, I really really like you. I know that sounds so odd coming from your mama, but it's true. Over the last ten months, I've come to realize you are an individual, and not just an extension of me, which is I guess how I thought of you when you were a newborn. You are this curious, smiley, silly, determined, strong and complicated individual. You are wild, yet calm. You are loud, yet quiet. You are active, yet still. I genuinely like being around you, and I believe most people feel that way about you.

As I take you out into the world, you have the ability to alter a stranger's day by your mere existence. At the market, an elderly couple, a middle-aged gentleman, the teenage cashier and a woman standing behind us in line who misses her family (she told me) all brighten at your energy, exuberance and unadulterated joy. I can't help but wonder if this will somehow be your role in the universe--reminding people to stop and simply smile. Or perhaps everyone loves a jolly baby...who knows.

Milestones have been many and include: successfully navigating the playground (with mama following closely behind you), climbing downstairs (not just up), picking up and eating cheerios or puffs (although most end up on the floor for Pi and Muffin, grandma's dogs) and standing by yourself for a whole ten seconds. Also, babbling is at an all time high, which is adorable and hilarious as sometimes you don't stop for a really long time. You are also bored with me feeding you, so you reach for the spoon to feed yourself. On the rare occasion, when there is just a tiny bit left I will let you, which always causes a big mess but you are happy, so I am too.

   

Behind the Lense

As you look at your photos, there is something you should know: although you may not see me, I am in every one; I am behind the camera.

Here are photos of you from today at the park. You were fixated on watching papi skateboarding, and I was watching you, my handsome son. 

Driving

As I mentioned below, one of your favorite things to do is pretend to drive. Whenever we are on the road and make any kind of stop, we'll get you out of your carseat and let you take the wheel! It's kind of scarry that you seem to already know what you are doing.

A Reader Lives a Thousand Lives

Your papi and I are avid readers. I can often be found reading modern-day fiction and papi is usually reading the news or informational books. I read to escape and for entertainment, and papi reads to learn new things. No matter what you enjoy, read about it. And if you don't like reading, or don't think you are good at it, keep trying, that is all I ask.

One of my favorite things to do is read to you right before bed. It amazes me that you will transition from actively crawling all over the place to relaxed and engaged the instant I open a book. We sit on the floor together, you on my lap, as you flip the pages (sometimes the wrong way, but you'll sort it out), listen to me speak and look at the colorful illustrations. I am not sure what you are thinking, but I do know you like books and you like being read to.

Your favorite right now is Goodnight Moon. I know

this because any time I reach for another book you swat it away, pick up Goodnight Moon and hand it to me. I kid you not, at just 9 months old, you know what you like. You also like the story of Noah's Ark. These two books are our regulars, even though I try to sneak in another one from time to time. You know the difference, however, and are happy with just these stories for now. I'll happily read them to you as long as you would like.

You have a plethora of bright, colorful, loud, flashy toys scattered across the living room. I enjoy watching you pick up a toy, play with it until you get bored; and then abandon it and quickly move on to another. I've caught you several times, pausing from the commotion and picking up one of your little Sesame Street books. Papi bought you about 12 very small cardboard books, each one containing a story with a different Sesame Street character and some sort of learning activity, like shapes, colors or numbers. There is really nothing that pleases me more than seeing you, sitting in the middle of the crazy clutter of your toys, flipping through a book. I hope that as you grow, you'll always take time to pause and get lost in a good read.

 

9 Months, Swim Lessons and a New Tooth

I haven't updated in a while, so thought I would take this opportunity (while you are napping) to write about our latest shenanigans. Today is Sunday, one of my favorite days of the week, as we usually have no obligations and can be as lazy as we want and stay in our jammies for as long as we want.

So, what have we been up to? Well, you turned 9 months old...can you believe it? 9 months! You are becoming such a big boy, changing and growing and learning new things every day.

You love: Papi, Elmo, baths, crawling, climbing, Mama, music, Goodnight Moon, pretending to drive my car and being tickled

You dislike: Avocado (see below), diaper changes, getting dressed and getting in your car seat

Here are some pics from your 9-month photoshoot:

We enrolled you in swim lessons and have just finished your second class. Papi gets in the water with you and you learn how to hold your breath, kick your little legs and float on your back (all with papi's help, of course). I watch on the sidelines, taking pictures and beaming with pride. I even got a little teary-eyed the first time you went under the water. I can't really explain why, other than that I was just so proud of you. Maybe as you grow older, you'll often see me get choked up at your big accomplishments and you'll say, "aw, mom!" You did so well and love the pool. I can see you being a natural water baby, just like your papi, who already wants to take you surfing!

And lastly, you finally (finally!) got your first tooth. About a quarter of your bottom tooth is popping out from your gums. It's not much, but we were beginning to wonder if you would need dentures soon! During your recent visit with Dr. DeFreitas, she told us that you are ready for more solid foods. We have been giving you baby food for a while, but are starting to introduce more textured foods. I have to say, you aren't impressed...at all. Here is your second go at trying avocado:

Speechless

I always thought that when I had a baby, I would have an abundance of writing material. I am wrong; you have rendered me speechless. More often than not, there are just no words to match what's in my heart.

5 Things On This Monday

I love you every day. But some days I love you so much I think I could burst. Today was one of those days.

You are very ticklish on your feet. When I clean you up with a washcloth before bed, you always fuss at first. Then you give me little smiles as I clean your hands and giggles when I get to your ticklish feet.

Your papi and I check on you about 10 times a night. Each time we walk out of your room, we always say something along the lines of: Can you believe we have the most perfect child?

You are the most excited when your papi comes home from work and walks through the door. You've even almost jumped out of my arms before. If you could walk, I think you would run to him. It is one of the sweetest moments.

I always give you your last bottle of the day while you sit on my lap watching cartoons. You rest your head on my chest and your body is just as relaxed as can be. This is one of my favorite things. Today, I had the hiccups, which you found absolutely hysterical. You had to stop drinking from your bottle because you were laughing so hard. Of course, your reaction made me laugh just as much. We took extra long getting through your bottle because we had a bad case of the giggles.   

Summer

We had such a fun weekend. Here were a few highlights:

I take you to Target with me a lot, but we always have fun.

Starbucks stop - Saturday morning ritual.

Your new sunnies that you would rather eat than wear.

Let's go surfing papi!

Taking a break in the shade.

So tired at the end of the day.

Still sleepy on Monday too.

Baby Yogi

The days I cherish most are our weekends, and weekdays when I don't have to go into work, like today. We

get to be as lazy as we want, play as much as we want and spent plenty of quality mommy-baby time together, just us two. After a slow morning (we didn't get up until 11!), we did something new for both of us: Mommy and Me Yoga for Crawlers. I have always adored yoga, and was so excited to include my favorite person in my routine today. The best part of the whole experience was your giggles. You, Giovanni, have the best laugh in all the world, and I am not just saying that because I am your mommy. As I was moving through my yoga poses, you watched, and laughed and laughed and laughed, of course making everyone else laugh too. You crawled around the room meeting the other babies, sharing toys and basically sticking anything you could in your mouth. I bounced you on my legs and had you sit on my belly during certain exercises, all of which just cracked you up! We even sang a little song, the yoga version of the hokie pokie, which you also found hysterical. Afterwards, we went to the market and then came home and just relaxed and played until daddy came home from work. As you explored your toys and kept yourself entertained, you always made your way back to the sofa to check in with me. Of course I couldn't help showering you with kisses and tickling you just to get more of those glorious laughs. Days like today make me think, "how lucky I am to be Giovanni's mom." 
One of your favorite things to do when we are home, is just stand at the back door, enjoying the view.

You are my wild...

Today is your very first Fourth of July, Giovanni. It was a hot, muggy day, so we spent some time at the

beach. We have gone to the beach plenty of times before, but each time you grow more aware of your surroundings. You are perplexed by the feel of the warm grainy sand in your hands and intrigued by the cool, moving ocean water as we dip your little feet. Today you crawled right up to a chubby little boy, who, unfortunately liked to throw sand. We didn't play with him for long, but I was pleased to learn that you are confident and social with other little ones.You also crawled right toward the ocean as if you were ready to just dive right in. I love these little glimpses of your personality, and I learned today that you are fearless!

I also bought you a new book this morning called, "You are My I Love You." I adored this book from the moment I opened it and read the first page, which said this:

I am your parent; you are my child.
I am your quiet place; you are my wild.

This is so true, Giovanni, and here is why. I will always be your safe haven, your calm, your home, your comfort. God gave me shoulders for you to rest your head on; a lap for you to sit on; legs to chase after you; and arms to carry you. And you will always be my fun, adventure, excitement and utter happiness. You have brought chaos to our lives in the most perfect way. You are my wild.

We ended the day at Grandma Janet's. You were so exhausted we left shortly after dinner and you fell fast asleep in the car on our way home. Maybe next year you will be able to see the fireworks, and I can't wait to introduce you to such a beautiful thing. For now, you are sound asleep upstairs as I hear the pops of fireworks and cheers from the crowds outside in the distance.

I hope...

I hope, Giovanni, that you are always sweet. I hope you choose to do something you love as a profession. I hope that you help people, even when it’s not the popular thing to do. I hope you also know that you don't have to be a hero and when to ask for help. I hope you make smart decisions. I hope you stay young and innocent for as long as possible. I hope that your smile is always as infectious as it is today. I hope I can always make you laugh with your whole belly. When you are hurt, I hope that I can ease your pain as easily as I do now. I hope you have a desire to travel and see the world. I hope you have compassion and empathy. I hope you are grateful. I hope you admire and appreciate nature, and see the beauty of the world as clearly as you do now, with wonder and delight. I hope you know that I will always be your biggest fan. I hope you know that your safety and happiness are my priorities. I hope you know that I will always stand up for you. I hope you know that I will never make you do anything that you don't want to. I hope you know that it's okay to be afraid and that it's okay to cry. I hope you know that I respect your life decisions. I hope you know that my love for you is immeasurable and unconditional. I hope you know that you make me so very happy, my dear Giovanni.  

 

And The Adventure Continues

In my previous blog, Andrea's In Italy, I wrote about the many travel adventures that my now husband and I experienced over the course of a year. Looking back, I think: "I can't believe we actually did that!" We walked away from our comfortable lives in Southern California and moved to Italy and then Spain, and visited every other country in between. What an incredible journey it was, and I wouldn't trade it for all the cupcakes in the world. Several years have passed since we returned, reluctantly, to the U.S. I am happy to say that there is still no shortage of adventure in our lives today. Upon returning, we got married and were given the greatest gift known to man: a smiley little baby boy named Giovanni. Since his birth, time seems to be moving at a rapid speed. He is now eight months old, and all I can think about is how desperately I want to preserve every moment of his life. I never want to forget his sweet disposition or all the new milestones that are reached daily. As a professional writer, it finally occurred to me that the best way to do that is to start another blog—all about Giovanni and our beautiful life as a family. I am not starting this blog to gain an audience and become famous; I simply want to create something that I can read with Giovanni in the future, and remember some of the happiest times of our lives.        

Giovanni Nicolo
October 21, 2012, 9:39 PM
6  lbs. 11 oz.



Then

 

And Now