Our Year in 25-Minutes or Less

Can't believe it will be 2009 tomorrow!! To celebrate, we'll likely enjoy some ice cream and ice skating, too, if Daddy gets the things he wants done around the house all fixed up. If you have the time, here's a rather substantial look at our year through pictures and video:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A San Francisco Holiday

Well, Grandpa and Sherry's airplane is grounded in SEA so, along with 3-other days worth of flights, they are going back home instead of down here as intended. It will be a blue Christmas without them. However, Aunt Ainsley did make it down from the snow just before having to go back to work and we managed some fun - San Francisco style.

We started out with Christmas decoration gazing while listening to carols in the car. We saw the trees at Pier 39, Ghiradelli Square and Union Square. We then went in for a hot fudge sundae at Ghiradelli and took pictures on the cable car at the Hyde Street turn around. Oh, what fun it is to ride and eat chocolate at the same time!!

And, although we won't be able to host Dad and Sherry, we will still probably go down to Fishermans' Wharf to get fresh cracked Dungeness crab for Christmas Eve's dinner. Paul's mom and younger sister and family will come for the "traditional" ravioli Christmas Day feast, which we will host. Christmas with my Dad and Paul's older sister will have to wait until 2009.

Alessandro - 6 Months

Well, he doesn't have teeth yet, but is obviously teething. Naps are shortened by teething pain and drool as well as shoving anything in his mouth is constant. He's also biting me while nursing (Grrr!).

Here are his healthy stats at the beginning of his 6th month:
Height: 26 3/4 inches - 75%
Weight: 16 lbs 12 oz - 50%
Head Circumfrance: 43 cm - 25%

His silver-plated rattle is still his favorite toy. His god-parents gave him a new crinkle-teething book which he also likes. He rolls from one side of the room to the other with ease. Unwrapping presents this Christmas might be a fun activity for him!!

Care to Elf Yourself?

I love this site!! You've got to check out our annual elf dance, gratis a Jib Jab... Click here to watch a jingle-jangle.

Having a Holly Jolly Christmas

Well, Ava and Bettina are ramping up to have a hilarious Christmas. Here's a little "play" with Ava as Santa Claus and Bettina as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer..... and, Merry Christmas!

Alessandro's Baptism

With God-parents Ralph & Tiffany and Rev. Judy. Also gathered with the family and his sisters, also wearing their crosses, gifts from Grandma on their Christening Day when they were just over 4-weeks old.

It was a rainy day, but not quite the freezing torrential storm that was expected. In the white heirloom gown I bought from Feltman Brothers (called the 'Roosevelt') that Grandma gifted for the occasion, we went to church - this time on time - to baptize our child. If you've been reading this blog for awhile - or are just familiar to our funny family stories, you will remember that we almost missed the girls' baptism we were running so late. On top of that, while Paul was hurriedly changing Bettina into her christening gown, she had one of those giant explosive poops that sprayed "mustard" all over the car as well as Daddy's pants. For some beautiful Godly reason, it completely missed her gown. I was laughing too hard to either help him or hold Ava properly. Poor Paul threatened to boycott the christening because there was no time to clean his pants. Oh, the things the congregation didn't know that day....
Not nearly an occasion for such a story today. Alex's baptism was cute and happy. We got many compliments on him - even today as I dropped the kids off at school. However, two of his cousins had complaints: Antonio couldn't figure out why the minister kept calling him "Alex" ("His name's not Alex!" he said in not-so-hushed tones as his mother tries to shush him). And Jacob, my cousin's 12-year old, wanted to know why he had to wear a dress! Well, we know who will keep him straight from now on!
Now our baby is christened - even if they couldn't pronounce his Christian name.

Alessandro - 5-Months

Does this cowboy thing ever really get old for me? Ah, no.

weight - 16 pounds (50%)
height - 26.5 inches (75%)
head - *forgot* (25%)

So, now we're 5-months and so many changes: we've outgrown the infant car seat (at 26.5 inches, 1/2 inch too tall) and had to change to the monster convertible one. Still backwards facing - at least until 20lbs and 1-year. We're grabbing absolutely everything and can even transfer from one hand to the other. He is rolling (both ways) all around, across the floor and under the Christmas tree to pull on some of the ornaments there (note to self: move the ornaments up one more notch). He is still a happy giggler and goes with the flow. Today, he had to wait until 11:15am for his 9:30am nap because we had to take Bettina, with a suspected ear infection, to the doctor (good call - bulging ear drum for sure! Antibiotics and these great drops that topically numb the drum to ease her pain). He is eating solids (only rice cereal, bananas - which he LOVES - and sweet potatoes), so I have to remember to pack a bowl and a spoon, as well as break out the old baby food processor from the cupboard. Oh, the memories. I still have some of the old jars from the girls, too. How nice! We need to put Nonna on baby food alert. She did such a great job making all kinds of food for the girls, and they both became great eaters (even compliments from the pre-school teachers about how un-picky they are), we have to set Alessandro up for the same plan. Making food never seems to be a problem for her - nice Italian heritage. Things to look forward to this month: celebrating his baptism this Sunday and buying a new Christmas stocking. Also, we will probably be out of the 3-6 month clothes and breaking into the next level. This is always fun as you feel as if you just went shopping! Nice feeling.

An Evening to Remember

OK - Wedding number 4 for Alessandro and just days after he turned 5-months old. Here he is with bride (and my good friend) Tina and her new husband Neil. This ceremony was all-the-more significant as Tina and Neil got married at The Harvest Inn, just like Paul and I. Tina came to that ceremony and got the idea (one of many she researched) there. We were thrilled that we could watch Tina and Neil while remembering and recounting our own ceremony, this time, with one of the kids with us.