Hey everybody! I am so sorry for my delinquency in updating you on my life. Papi and Daddy have been keeping me so busy that I haven't had any time to sit down and get typing! Since I last wrote, here are some of the things that we've been up to!

We had brunch with Tio Dave and Aunt Dona -- they've babysat me a few times too -- you'll be hearing more about that soon.

We also celebrated Mother's Day with Papi's family. Here's me with Papi's cousin, Vanessa. She is going to bring me another cousin this fall -- I am very excited about this!! :)And this is Papi and my cousin and playmate, Sofia. She just turned 2 last week! Happy Birthday, Sofia!

The next weekend I went to my second 1st Birthday party. It was for sweet Greta. She was a great host and we had a splendid time together! She's cool!

Later that day I had a sleepover with Kai and Sisi -- they were so good to me and we really had a nice time together. A few weeks later, we had a sleepover again - this time at their house! Later that week I helped Tia Jessica celebrate her Birthday. It was a lot of fun and some of my favorite people were there. Here's me with Tia Jessica (her finger tastes like mojito, I swear!), Tio Danny, and Uncle Monroe (who, by the way, is not talking to me right now -- but Daddy says that's because he's on a Silent Retreat! I hope he's doing okay!). Tio Danny drove in from Philly -- he says it was to be with Tia Jessica, but I think I had something to do with it! :)

On the way home, Daddy took me through Times Square -- wow! Have you seen this place? Pretty cool - I was in awe!

We went to Nana and Papa's for Memorial Day Wkd and had a great time! I got to meet Aunt Barb and Uncle Bill for the first time and we went to the wineries on the Finger Lakes.

Nana and Papa also put up the swing for me, which I loved. Nana also taught me to clap while I was there and I am so good at it now!

On Memorial Day, Daddy's friend Sam came to visit. She has a little boy too, but he wasn't feeling well so I didn't get to meet him. But I liked her a lot and her and Papi and Daddy laughed together all day, which was fun. And Daddy wants me to tell Sam that the blanket I'm sitting on in the picture above (at the wineries) is from MEXICO! :) Maybe you can get one some day too!
I'm really getting to like my baths now -- and let's face it, I just look so cute when I'm all sudsed up!

We went on a picnic at Brooklyn Bridge Park and I sported my new hat. I'm hoping the weather improves so I can be outside a bunch more this summer.

I can stay standing on my own now! This is a picture of the first time I did it. I need a little help getting on my feet and I need some support -- but I LOVE standing! I can take a few steps too, if someone holds my hands.

I can also sit on my car by myself now. I can finally understand why Sofia has been enjoying it so much for the past few months

Finally, this past weekend we drove down to North Carolina for Rhonda's wedding. Rhonda is Daddy's friend from high school. It was a great time and I was SO good in the car, Daddy and Papi could hardly believe it. I do love to travel! I had a new outfit for the wedding and really enjoyed myself. Rhonda looked so pretty and I was so excited to finally meet her!

There was a pool at the hotel we stayed at so I had my first swim while I was there! IT WAS SO FUN! I absolutely LOVE the water and tried to swim away as soon as Daddy laid me on my belly. He thinks I'm part fish. Check out this video - my cousin Riley wanted to see for himself. What do you think Riley - am I like a fish or what?

On the way back to NYC we stopped in DC for a day and I got to meet yet another friend, Richard. He was so nice - and he let me play with his pearls which were way too cool! We also stopped along the way to stretch our legs and take a few more pictures.

Before we left DC Daddy and Papi took me to the National Zoo -- it was my first zoo. I didn't really think too much of it this time around -- but I did notice these huge animals. But then I got distracted. I did wear a zoo-appropriate shirt at least!

I hope you enjoyed this post -- sorry it was so long and delayed! Also, it should be easier to leave comments now, if you want. I'd love to hear from you!

6 month wrap-up

As I lay in my crib nearby and dictate to Daddy what to write, I must first apoligize for the lapse of time since my last post -- we've been busy!

At the beginning of April, I spent a night with Mimi Carol and Papi Carlo. It was a lot of fun, as always. When Papi and Daddy came to get me, we went with Mimi Carol to the playground and I had my first swing!! It was a nice warm day and I loved it!

The following weekend, Nana and Papa came to visit and we had a great time! I showed off all my new tricks - and my teeth! My two bottom teeth have continued to grow in and I'm looking pretty dapper! Our weekend was short, but I'll get to see them again in just a few more weeks. While they were here, Papa and Daddy built a really cool plant box out on the deck. Papi has been planting away and it's looking really great out there. When the weather is nice, Sofia and I love to play out there with each other.

I turned 6 months old on April 14, which is also Aunt Dona's birthday. Her and Tio Dave came over a few days before that and we had a nice dinner together (okay, so I was asleep - it was still nice!). I look forward to sharing this special day with her every year. On my actual 6 month-birthday, Daddy made chocolate cake and we all loved it - well I was actually asleep again, but he and Papi gobbled it up!

I had my 6 month doctor's appointment and it was confirmed that I am GROWING! I weighed 19lbs. 1oz. (75th percentile), and I'm 28" LONG (91st percentile!!). My head circumference is 48cm -- which come in as a "High" percentile - meaning that it's so big they don't give it an actual ranked percentile, just 'high'!! Luckily, I am growing into my head! I had three more shots too, but I did pretty well.

I've started eating more complex foods and I'm really good at opening my mouth when the spoon is coming - which has certainly helped things out. I'm rolling around and getting much better at sitting up on my own. I still need a little supervision in case I lean, but I'm getting there! I really enjoy this block toy - I'm able to move some of the pieces around and it's just fascinating to look at. I'm also starting to grab two separate things with each hand - which Daddy thinks must be a milestone. We have finally been having some beautiful weather here - which means that Papi has creatively covered my head some days when we're out on the deck - I think I look cute, so that's all that matters! We've had a few cookouts on the deck with some of my favorite people too. Papi and I went for a walk this week and the nice woman at the florist gave my my first balloon! I loved the string especially! You can see I also wore my cool handmade poncho -- thanks Sinje! And Aunt Dona and Tio Dave babysat me yesterday -- there will be a special blog coming soon about that.

For now, I'll leave you with a video of a silly time Daddy and I had a few weeks ago - he makes the silliest sounds sometimes that just CRACK me up! See you soon!

Two Weeks of Beauty and Progress

Spring is finally here and I've been doing lots of new things - and experiencing several 'firsts'. Two weeks ago, in celebration of me turning 5 months old, Papi gave me my first haircut. My curls were getting a little out of control and I was looking like a puff-head. Of course, Papi did a great job and I've been getting lots of compliments. I'm already looking forward to my next haircut with Papi (and several hundred more to come!)

A few days later I joined Papi in his salon and got my first pedicure as well! This was a lot of fun and I thought Nicole was so cool! (Okay so it was really just Papi getting a pedicure, but I enjoyed it nonetheless!)

I've enjoyed my first card game and I've been eating more fruits and vegetables. I wasn't too crazy about avocado -- but I'm liking everything else I've tried.

My new pasttime is pressing my lips together and blowing spit. It makes a really cool noise. Although it keep my chest permanently wet, I just can't stop doing it.

My big news is that I'm getting teeth! I'm so excited about this. It hasn't been bothering me, I just chew on everything I can. But Papi and Daddy have confirmed that my bottom two teeth have started to poke out! I've also gotten a lot better at sitting on my own -- not perfect yet, but getting there.

Thanks for checking out what's up with me! I'm keeping active and am still happy nearly every minute of the day! Oh - and Papi promises to try to take more pictures of me and Daddy for the next update! :)

Rolling around and eating real food!

Hi there! Sorry, I haven't posted in a few weeks -- I have been so busy, though. When I last left you, Mama Vonne (Papi's mami) was visiting. We had a great time together and I can't wait to see her again. We all had a nice Valentine's dinner together and she was nice enough to babysit me a few times while she was here too! While she was here I also had my 4 month check up with the doctor. I weighed 16lbs 11oz and everything looked great. I got two shots and I have to say I handled it pretty well. Okay yes, I cried - but only for a few minutes and then I was good to go. I told the doctor I was ready to expand my menu and she agreed so I started eating bananas. They were pretty good. But then I moved on to carrots -- YUM! I absolutely LOVE carrots! I've now had pears, peas, sweet potatoes and apples too. I gobble them all up without a problem!I also decided that I was tired of always laying on my back. Papi and Daddy didn't realize it but I had been planning my big rollover for a few days. I really surprised them with it -- and I have to say I continue to be pretty proud of myself. I always smile really big when I rollover. I've only perfected rolling over to my left - but just today I started making some progress to the right. But it looks like I'm already leaning to the left - which I hear is a good thing!


Soon after I got that under my belt, we were off to Montauk (the eastern end of Long Island) to celebrate Daddy's Birthday. Uncle Monroe, Aunt Cara, Titi Jess, and Tio Danny all came along as well. They were great playmates all weekend (you can see in some of these pictures that they really tuckered me out!) and I'm already missing them already. While we were there, we experienced my first big snowstorm as well!

I'm getting really good at standing now too. Not that I can do it on my own, but if you stand me up and hold my hands, I can keep steady for a bit -- it's pretty fun! On Monday I also drank from a sippy cup for the first time. More than anything, Papi just wanted to see if I could do it -- I held it all by myself and drank my juice .... I think I'll try it again. I'm getting good at holding some of my stuffed animals and some of my little toys -- they all end up in my mouth as soon as I have a grip on them. I'll leave you with a few more pictures -- Papi, Daddy, and me and me on the floor being all proud -- and also a video of Papi making me laugh SO hard -- good thing I had my diaper on!