Summer Fun 1

We have been having a super fun summer. Our biggest accomplishment is that Veronica is completely potty trained. She has been out of diapers for about a month now, 2 years and 8 months. I am so proud of her. She uses her portable potty when we are out and about without a clean restroom but I love the fact she does not fight me when it is time to 'try' to use the toilet. She is super agreeable and gets with the program before we head out of the house and every 2 hours or so. I could not have asked for a more cooperative child. I thank my lucky stars. I hope Lorenzo get the hang of it just as quick when the time comes for him.

Speaking of Lorenzo, he is growing really quickly. His shoe size is already 6.5 and his is about 30 pounds. His speech is coming along really nicely and we understand him more and more each day: (a short list of what he can say)

hi/bye mamma/papi
ciao
more
cacca
cracker
mint
water
ice
nanna
nai nai=milk
auntie
ball
milk
eat
fork/spoon/knife
brush

Soon he will be speaking in full sentences and we cannot wait. I am really excited to hear what this little guy has on his mind. Both kids love their auntie Tia and adore the fact she is a human pillow, chew toy and punching bag. I think they are going to have the best summer of their lives this year, esp. b/c their nonna is coming from Italy to see them.

The kids love playing at auntie Kentra's house. The pick the blueberries, strawberries and get naked in the backyard with the sprinkler.

Veronica got a new scooter from her papi, she is getting the hang of it and riding slowly but I bet she will speed it up soon.

Doesn't she look like a 4 year old in this photo. She has been loving the warm weather and all the play dates she has with her friends.

Veronica is a baby chick in this photo. We're at the zoo and she is getting ready to hatch out of the egg.

Summer means lots of ice cream for the kids and lots of Popsicles to keep cool. It's a fun treat but super messy. I have had to spray the stroller off with a hose twice already.

Veronica is a sweaty kid, she overheats easily and when that happens all her clothes come off.

Lorenzo is very skilled at using a spoon, fork and knife but no so skilled in getting a Popsicle into his mouth before it melts.

A Husband's Agony is a Wife's Wish Fulfilled

Demetrio snores like a MACK truck cruising down the highway. 6 months ago after having woken up tired for months, he decided, ( I had to bug him a bit) to go to a sleep clinic, spend the night and have his sleep reviewed. The gave him a sleep machine and said he had sleep apnea. The sleep machine did not help me sleep any better at all. The cool, oxygenating mist was loud and annoying. Upon further nasal investigation, his doctor found out he had a deviated septum, (we knew this) and needed surgery. I hope after having had the surgery, he sleeps more soundly and quietly, for both our sakes.

Deme dons a gown and waits for the doctor to look him over. He seemed a bit nervous but all in all the surgery center was very comfortable and nice to us.

1 day after surgery. His nostrils are still packed with cotton and we had them taken out today. Last night was horrible for me since his nose was plugged and all night he had to breathe out of his mouth. Lound, loud, loud. I slept on the couch. There was not much pain at all, the doctor was skilled and we got great care. After a week he should be almost 100 percent. The Doc says he may resume scuba diving in 2 weeks, yay!

Lorenzo and His Mamma

When I loaded the photos from my camera card to my machine today, I was flabbergasted when I saw this photo of Lorenzo. I ran down to the basement to look for an old photo of myself that I believe he resembles. It is great to see myself in Lorenzo.

Lorenzo 6/21/09

Gina 1975

Father's Day 2009

For three years in a row now, we have taken Deme to a special Father's Day brunch to celebrate. This year we went to a kid-friendly hotel restaurant called Toscano in Bellevue. Although this place was a bit fancy (glass art everywhere, valet, chefs in tall white hats etc...), they treated the kids really well and did not complain at all when the kids banged cutlery on the table, looked under the table cloth, spit food out onto the table and did other things kids love to do.

Veronica is enjoying her meal, notice we use super bibs whenever we sit down to eat. We cannot live without them.

Today she was a pro at eating with a fork and not spilling any of her food. What a cute little princess. Her favorite food of the day was the dessert.

Lorenzo ate very well with a fork as well today. He did spit out a few food items but I quickly swept them on to a used plate. His favorite food of the day was the scrambled eggs, fruit and french toast.

Veronica gave her daddy a giant kiss for Father's Day!

Ditto for Lorenzo.

I cannot wait for Father's Day next year when Lorenzo will be 2.5 yrs old. I think both kid will be able to eat expertly at the table.

Caught in the Act!

I did mention in another post somewhere that the kids love shoes right? Video to follow.

This guy can multi task, he can brush his hair and walk in high heels at the same time. What a ham!

May Madness

It really feels like summer in Seattle. Nice and warm, on some days downright HOT. The kids and I have been trying to hang out with as many friends as possible, we have tons of play dates set up every week. It is really nice to see the kids sharing and mentioning their friends names when we are out and about. Their social life is really taking off and so is mine.

We have been jumping in the bath almost everyday since summer started. both kids get sticky from sno-cones, juicy, ripe fruit from the farmers markets and gelato, gelato, gelato. also we all get grimy and sandy from playing at the beach every time we get a chance.

Veronica just loves her elmo sunglasses and her elmo flip flops.

both the kids like shoes and vero looks great in my lime green keds.

our friend BJ had a 3rd birthday party last week and the kids attended. it was at a cool art studio where they got to play with musical instruments, all manner of toys and paint an art project.

Lorenzo is looking very serious as he paints the tarp not his little toy car (which is what he is supposed to be painting. oh hell, fun was had by all.)

Boy/Girl?

This cute video goes with the photos below. Deme hates when he asks for hair clips and rubber bands but he goes along with it.

Little Boy?

These are hilarious photos of Lorenzo wanting to wear Veronica's hair clips and his dad's shoes.

Scimmia della Casa II

Everytime we leave the door to his room open, he is up on the changing table. Deme promises to strap it to the wall this weekend.

May Update

May has been a busy month. Lorenzo is now 18 months old. He's a little man in his own right with a developing vocabulary that consists of a dozen words: mamma, papa, dada, car, dog, didi, wah wah, poop, cracker, cacca, please, spoon, fork, milk, parco and a few other things no one understands. He is doing well, 34 inches tall (86 cm) and 27 pounds (12.2 kilos).

Veronica is doing well too. We took the kids to a little kid's concert and a week later she saw a cello and said 'cello.' She has an incredible memory for brands, stores, streets, restaurants, songs, all the important things in life. She sings well and knows more and more numbers and letters everyday. She begins preschool 2 times a week, for 3 hours in September. I am a bit nervous about it but think she will be fine. Potty training is going well, #1 is well under control but we are still really working on #2. Wish us luck!

We went to the zoo today with friends and after we got an ice cream treat. I really did not want to give Lorenzo his own ice cream cone but there was no compromising with him. He feels he is entitled to everything that Veronica gets. Discussing it with him is futile and usually ends up with a string of grunts as well as a lot of hand waving on his part. Here he is eating some raspberry gelato and she is having a chocolate cone.

In Kirkland, the crosswalks have signal flags that help folks cross the street. Both kids are in love with the flags and want to grab one whenever they can. Lorenzo grunts and grunts when he sees them until I get him one to hold.

Veronica looks frightened but she loved this carousal at the zoo. She used to be afraid of horses but now likes them quite a lot.

Lorenzo loved this horsey too. He was a bit afraid to hop on but once the merry-go-round started he was just fine.

I saw this cute double tricycle at a community center. Veronica was great at pedaling, even with a heavier and larger kid in the back. Maybe Babbo Natale will send one to the kids this Christmas.

Veronica instructs her brother on how to operate all the blinking lights on this little car. I must say both kids are really great at sharing. I have been implementing 'time outs' for both kids if they hit and grab. I think it is working b/c they actually share.