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| Mario Pics August 29th |
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Monday, August 6, 2007
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
Updates: July 6th - 6 months old now!!!
Mario had his 6 month birthday a few days ago, on July 2nd. It's hard to believe how big he is getting. By our measurements, he's a little over 15 pounds and 24 and 3/8 inches tall. Time sure does fly!
Let's see, what have we been up to lately. The weekend of June 23rd we went to Davis Trains to check out the train store and Dom bought a few new train cars. We also went and picked out things to remodel our master bathroom vanity area (new counter, sinks, cabinets, etc). That is now on order and had a 3 week lead time, so now we need to pick up all of the accessories (faucets, mirror/medicine cabinets, lighting, etc). Mario was very good as we ran our errands. It's nice to be able to do stuff like that again (before it was always one of us running errands and one of us staying home with the little man, now we can all go).
Mario got to go visit with Bridget and Julianna for a few hours on the 26th, so I could go in for a big project meeting at work. Kurt also got to play with him for a bit, because he got home before I got there. I think Julianna really enjoys when "Mro-ro" visits (Mario is still a little hard for her to pronounce, but she does a great job for a 16 month old!).
One of my co-workers had a party and bonfire on the 30th, and of course we all went. His house is very kid friendly (he has 4, the youngest being 2 year old twins) and they usually have family friendly parties. I think Mario is going to love going there when he gets a bit older and can enjoy the swing set, go cart, baby pools, waterslide, etc. We didn't stay too late, because Mario was getting a little cranky and ready for bed. He's definitely getting into a routine with that now (most nights at least), and we try not to keep him up past his bedtime.
Also on the 30th, I gave Mario his first taste of baby rice cereal mixed with breastmilk. I made it pretty soupy and he wasn't too sure about it at first, but did better than I expected. Of course Dom took still pictures and video of the feeding! We've been doing cereal once a day every day now and last night he gobbled it right up. He seems to like it so it's less soupy, which is fine with me.
On Sunday, July 1st, Dom met my mom and Mick halfway between Salem and here to pick up my sister, Brynn, so she could spend the week with us. We always enjoy having her here and try to have her stay with us whenever she wants. She hung out at the house with Lauren and Mario while Dom and I worked Monday and Tuesday, but we both took the rest of the week off to spend with her. Brynn and Lauren got along well and Brynn said she really likes her. Mario even broke Brynn in. While she was giving him a bottle he filled his britches and she didn't realize it (thought it could have just been gas) until she picked him up and he had leaked a little on her shorts. Now, Brynn has been officially christened by Mario!
The four of us just hung out at the house on the 4th. Dom built a fire in the fire bowl that evening and we roasted hot dogs and made s'mores (both traditional and with Reese cups) between rain showers and thunderstorms. The neighbors were setting off fireworks, so we got to see a little show. Mario did pretty well with them, but got a bit overwhelmed with sensory overload after a while, so I took him inside until they were done. It didn't last too long, so it wasn't a big deal at all. I'm glad we didn't attempt to take him somewhere though. I figured it would be too much with the fireworks, the crowds, etc. And, the weather wasn't the greatest either!
Yesterday, we went to the Newport Aquarium, just across the river, in Kentucky. We weren't aware that they don't allow strollers until after 4:30pm (when the crowds usually thin) and we got there late morning. But, they had a place to check the stroller and then gave you your choice of a Snugli front carrier or a back pack carrier to use. We chose the front carrier and loved it. It worked out very well and both Mario and I enjoyed using it. He even fell asleep and took a snooze for close to an hour. And, when he was sleepy, I turned him so he was facing in and could snuggle against me while we continued walking around. Mario loved watching everything and we all had a great time. In fact, Dom, Brynn and I all have season passes, so we might go back again before she goes home. Check out the pictures and the video links.
Today we are going to run errands and then hang out in the evening. We're really enjoying spending time with Brynn and I think she's having fun too!
Let's see, what have we been up to lately. The weekend of June 23rd we went to Davis Trains to check out the train store and Dom bought a few new train cars. We also went and picked out things to remodel our master bathroom vanity area (new counter, sinks, cabinets, etc). That is now on order and had a 3 week lead time, so now we need to pick up all of the accessories (faucets, mirror/medicine cabinets, lighting, etc). Mario was very good as we ran our errands. It's nice to be able to do stuff like that again (before it was always one of us running errands and one of us staying home with the little man, now we can all go).
Mario got to go visit with Bridget and Julianna for a few hours on the 26th, so I could go in for a big project meeting at work. Kurt also got to play with him for a bit, because he got home before I got there. I think Julianna really enjoys when "Mro-ro" visits (Mario is still a little hard for her to pronounce, but she does a great job for a 16 month old!).
One of my co-workers had a party and bonfire on the 30th, and of course we all went. His house is very kid friendly (he has 4, the youngest being 2 year old twins) and they usually have family friendly parties. I think Mario is going to love going there when he gets a bit older and can enjoy the swing set, go cart, baby pools, waterslide, etc. We didn't stay too late, because Mario was getting a little cranky and ready for bed. He's definitely getting into a routine with that now (most nights at least), and we try not to keep him up past his bedtime.
Also on the 30th, I gave Mario his first taste of baby rice cereal mixed with breastmilk. I made it pretty soupy and he wasn't too sure about it at first, but did better than I expected. Of course Dom took still pictures and video of the feeding! We've been doing cereal once a day every day now and last night he gobbled it right up. He seems to like it so it's less soupy, which is fine with me.
On Sunday, July 1st, Dom met my mom and Mick halfway between Salem and here to pick up my sister, Brynn, so she could spend the week with us. We always enjoy having her here and try to have her stay with us whenever she wants. She hung out at the house with Lauren and Mario while Dom and I worked Monday and Tuesday, but we both took the rest of the week off to spend with her. Brynn and Lauren got along well and Brynn said she really likes her. Mario even broke Brynn in. While she was giving him a bottle he filled his britches and she didn't realize it (thought it could have just been gas) until she picked him up and he had leaked a little on her shorts. Now, Brynn has been officially christened by Mario!
The four of us just hung out at the house on the 4th. Dom built a fire in the fire bowl that evening and we roasted hot dogs and made s'mores (both traditional and with Reese cups) between rain showers and thunderstorms. The neighbors were setting off fireworks, so we got to see a little show. Mario did pretty well with them, but got a bit overwhelmed with sensory overload after a while, so I took him inside until they were done. It didn't last too long, so it wasn't a big deal at all. I'm glad we didn't attempt to take him somewhere though. I figured it would be too much with the fireworks, the crowds, etc. And, the weather wasn't the greatest either!
Yesterday, we went to the Newport Aquarium, just across the river, in Kentucky. We weren't aware that they don't allow strollers until after 4:30pm (when the crowds usually thin) and we got there late morning. But, they had a place to check the stroller and then gave you your choice of a Snugli front carrier or a back pack carrier to use. We chose the front carrier and loved it. It worked out very well and both Mario and I enjoyed using it. He even fell asleep and took a snooze for close to an hour. And, when he was sleepy, I turned him so he was facing in and could snuggle against me while we continued walking around. Mario loved watching everything and we all had a great time. In fact, Dom, Brynn and I all have season passes, so we might go back again before she goes home. Check out the pictures and the video links.
Today we are going to run errands and then hang out in the evening. We're really enjoying spending time with Brynn and I think she's having fun too!
Video - Newport Aquarium
Mario's first trip to the Aquarium! (This is about a 17 Meg file, so it might take a few minutes to download) Click Here.
You will need Windows Media Player 11 to watch the video. Click here to upgrade if you have an older version.
You will need Windows Media Player 11 to watch the video. Click here to upgrade if you have an older version.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Updates: June 22, 2007
It's been a busy couple of weeks in the Ferreri house. Mario continues to grow like a weed and seems to change every day. He's looking more and more like a little boy now and is so much fun!
On Friday, June 8th, we had dinner at my Aunt Jean's and Uncle Fred's house. My cousin, Amir, graduated that weekend and my grandparents were in town from NC. Mario thought his great grandpa was very amusing and gave him lots of smiles, and he liked to cuddle with is great grandma. The following day was Amir's graduation party so Mario was passed around to several different family members. He was very well behaved that whole day and didn't seem to mind all of the new voices and faces too much. Of course, everyone enjoyed seeing him and how much he's grown.
Sunday, June 10th, we had Kurt, Bridget and Julianna over for dinner. Julianna seems to really enjoy spending time with "Ro Ro", as she calls him (she's 16 months old, so Mario is a tough one to pronouce yet) and is such sweetie. Dom made a wonderful dinner, of course, and we all enjoyed the evening together.
Lauren, our nanny, started on Monday, June 11th. She is coming three days a week (I still work two days a week from home) and she and Mario get along wonderfully. Dom and I really like her and feel very fortunate to have found her (thanks for the referral, Kristin!). She and Mario are busy all day and she gives us progress reports each evening. They go for walks, play, listen to music, and have a good time. And the dogs like her too (I think the cats could care less as long as they get their cat naps in) :)
My first birthday as a mommy was the 13th. Dom got me a beautiful heart shaped locket with a mother and child on it. He then printed pictures to put inside it so on one side of the heart I have Mario's face and on the other side I have Dom's face. He also picked out a delicious Tiramissu cake from Freddissimo Gelato & Dolci (an Italian bakery in the mall). I brought leftovers in to work and it was a hit there too!
Last weekend we celebrated Dom's first Father's Day. Dom got part one of his present early, on Saturday, before we went to Canton. Mario and I got him a new G scale train car for his train. We got him a Disney Railroad car (see pictures) Dom and Mario like to play trains and Mario loves to watch it go around the track. We then packed up and drove up to Canton to see Ryan, Corissa and Owen. We stopped in Mansfield on the way to quickly say hi to Aunt Ginny and Uncle Fred. In Canton, we hung out with everyone and helped get things ready for Owen's baptism the next day. On Sunday morning Corissa and I were crafty and made shirts for the big boys. We put baby handprints on polo's and wrote Owen and Mario's name on the respective dad's shirt. We then gave the dads their presents. In addition to the shirt, Dom got some books to read with Mario (Daddy Hugs, Daddy Kisses, Daddy Cuddles) and a couple for himself (Fatherhood is Not For Sissies). Owen's baptism was later that day and Mario was an angel throughout the service. He didn't make a peep and let Owen be the center of attention. Dom and I are very honored to be our nephew's Godparents. After the service we went back to the house for a little party before heading back to Cincinnati.
This week Mario figured out how to roll over from his tummy to his back. He did it Wednesday when Lauren was here and again today for her. He hasn't done it yet for me, but I'm sure he will because he's done it several times for Lauren. I don't think it will be too long before he rolls from back to tummy, because he rocks from side to side now. He's also figured out how to rotate himself to change his position and the way he is facing. You can put him on his tummy and he'll turn himself a full 360 degrees until he's back where he started. He'll do the same on his back. Tonight he started digging his heals in the floor and arching his back when he was on his tummy. He also got to visit with Bridget and Juliana for a few hours yesterday because I had to go in to work for a meeting.
Mario is still drooling up a storm (hence the bib in all his pictures) and gnawing on everything he can get into his mouth (which is everything in his reach). But, no teeth are poking through yet. His hand-eye coordination is really developing well and he grabs things with both hands now and brings them to his mouth. He can also hold on to his toys very well. Mario loves his Bumbo and his Exersaucer as well as the old favorites, his swing and bouncy seat. Floor time is also an enjoyed activity, both tummy time and back time.
He is up to 15 lbs now and 24 inches tall, based on our measurements here at home (his next pediatrician appointment isn't until July 17th). We've also been taking him out a lot more and he's gone to the mall, Target, Old Navy, Costco, Babies R Us and out to dinner with us. He seems to really like getting out and seeing new things and is generally an easy baby to take places. Mario is becoming very observant. He's always looking around and noticing things. Now the cats and dogs have his attention and he likes to check them out. I don't think they know what's coming when he figures out how to move around on his own (i.e., crawling, walking).
We have lots of green tomatoes in our garden now and flowers on the pepper and squash plants. The pickles, zucchini, sugar snap peas, scallions, lettuce and basil are all doing well too. I can't wait to have fresh veggies for us and to make baby food with!
That does it for the updates for now.
On Friday, June 8th, we had dinner at my Aunt Jean's and Uncle Fred's house. My cousin, Amir, graduated that weekend and my grandparents were in town from NC. Mario thought his great grandpa was very amusing and gave him lots of smiles, and he liked to cuddle with is great grandma. The following day was Amir's graduation party so Mario was passed around to several different family members. He was very well behaved that whole day and didn't seem to mind all of the new voices and faces too much. Of course, everyone enjoyed seeing him and how much he's grown.
Sunday, June 10th, we had Kurt, Bridget and Julianna over for dinner. Julianna seems to really enjoy spending time with "Ro Ro", as she calls him (she's 16 months old, so Mario is a tough one to pronouce yet) and is such sweetie. Dom made a wonderful dinner, of course, and we all enjoyed the evening together.
Lauren, our nanny, started on Monday, June 11th. She is coming three days a week (I still work two days a week from home) and she and Mario get along wonderfully. Dom and I really like her and feel very fortunate to have found her (thanks for the referral, Kristin!). She and Mario are busy all day and she gives us progress reports each evening. They go for walks, play, listen to music, and have a good time. And the dogs like her too (I think the cats could care less as long as they get their cat naps in) :)
My first birthday as a mommy was the 13th. Dom got me a beautiful heart shaped locket with a mother and child on it. He then printed pictures to put inside it so on one side of the heart I have Mario's face and on the other side I have Dom's face. He also picked out a delicious Tiramissu cake from Freddissimo Gelato & Dolci (an Italian bakery in the mall). I brought leftovers in to work and it was a hit there too!
Last weekend we celebrated Dom's first Father's Day. Dom got part one of his present early, on Saturday, before we went to Canton. Mario and I got him a new G scale train car for his train. We got him a Disney Railroad car (see pictures) Dom and Mario like to play trains and Mario loves to watch it go around the track. We then packed up and drove up to Canton to see Ryan, Corissa and Owen. We stopped in Mansfield on the way to quickly say hi to Aunt Ginny and Uncle Fred. In Canton, we hung out with everyone and helped get things ready for Owen's baptism the next day. On Sunday morning Corissa and I were crafty and made shirts for the big boys. We put baby handprints on polo's and wrote Owen and Mario's name on the respective dad's shirt. We then gave the dads their presents. In addition to the shirt, Dom got some books to read with Mario (Daddy Hugs, Daddy Kisses, Daddy Cuddles) and a couple for himself (Fatherhood is Not For Sissies). Owen's baptism was later that day and Mario was an angel throughout the service. He didn't make a peep and let Owen be the center of attention. Dom and I are very honored to be our nephew's Godparents. After the service we went back to the house for a little party before heading back to Cincinnati.
This week Mario figured out how to roll over from his tummy to his back. He did it Wednesday when Lauren was here and again today for her. He hasn't done it yet for me, but I'm sure he will because he's done it several times for Lauren. I don't think it will be too long before he rolls from back to tummy, because he rocks from side to side now. He's also figured out how to rotate himself to change his position and the way he is facing. You can put him on his tummy and he'll turn himself a full 360 degrees until he's back where he started. He'll do the same on his back. Tonight he started digging his heals in the floor and arching his back when he was on his tummy. He also got to visit with Bridget and Juliana for a few hours yesterday because I had to go in to work for a meeting.
Mario is still drooling up a storm (hence the bib in all his pictures) and gnawing on everything he can get into his mouth (which is everything in his reach). But, no teeth are poking through yet. His hand-eye coordination is really developing well and he grabs things with both hands now and brings them to his mouth. He can also hold on to his toys very well. Mario loves his Bumbo and his Exersaucer as well as the old favorites, his swing and bouncy seat. Floor time is also an enjoyed activity, both tummy time and back time.
He is up to 15 lbs now and 24 inches tall, based on our measurements here at home (his next pediatrician appointment isn't until July 17th). We've also been taking him out a lot more and he's gone to the mall, Target, Old Navy, Costco, Babies R Us and out to dinner with us. He seems to really like getting out and seeing new things and is generally an easy baby to take places. Mario is becoming very observant. He's always looking around and noticing things. Now the cats and dogs have his attention and he likes to check them out. I don't think they know what's coming when he figures out how to move around on his own (i.e., crawling, walking).
We have lots of green tomatoes in our garden now and flowers on the pepper and squash plants. The pickles, zucchini, sugar snap peas, scallions, lettuce and basil are all doing well too. I can't wait to have fresh veggies for us and to make baby food with!
That does it for the updates for now.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Updates: June 2, 2007 - 5 months old!!!
I know, I know, it's been a month since the last update and everyone has been bugging us for updates. So, here it is. Warning, this may be a long one!
In early May, I dealt with a nasty eye infection that had me going to the eye doctor every couple of days for almost 2 weeks. Of course, Mario went with me and won the hearts of everyone in the office. In fact, each time we'd walk in they'd ask if I brought their boyfriend for a visit. He's quite the little flirt I tell ya.
We also made some visits to Dom at work, so Mario could meet even more of his co-workers and let Daddy show him off. No doubt, Dom is a proud daddy and had a grin from ear to ear as we paraded around with the little man. Of course, now we have to find time to take him in again.
I also got to celebrate my first mommy's day on May 13th:) Dom surprised me with breakfast in bed (chocolate chip pancakes, my favorite) and gave me a cool photo keychain (it's a digital picture frame on a keychain so I can always have Mario pictures with me) and a very nice, homemade card from himself and Mario. Then, we just spent the day together as a family, exactly what I wanted.
Mario and I also enjoyed our first trip to the mall together on May 17th. We met Stephanie and Trieg for lunch and then walked around for a while. I will say, the mall by us (Kenwood Towne Center) has great family facilities. Nice, clean family restrooms, lounges, and private nursing rooms. That Sunday, May 20th, the three of us (Dom, Mario and I) went to the mall to have lunch, shop, and just walk around. I've also taken Mario to Kohls with me to shop and he's done very well as my shopping buddy. He seems to really like being pushed around in his stroller while I do my shopping. And I like that his car seat easily fits in the stroller, makes it easy on everyone!
I returned to work on May 16th and am currently working in the office three days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri) and from home the other two days. Right now, I take Mario to Bridget's on Wed and Fri to hang out with her and Julianna and Dom stays home with him on Mon. We've hired a full-time nanny, Lauren, who will start on June 11th. She'll come here to watch him and we have all clicked very well. After she gets settled in, I'll up my hours to 4 days/week in the office and then go to 5 days/week. In fact, Lauren came over this afternoon so we could get schedules aligned and work on the details. We're all looking forward to working together. I enjoy being back to work, seeing coworkers and friends and getting back into projects, but I also miss my days with the little guy!
Memorial Day weekend meant it was time to take a road trip. So, we packed up the car, including the roof carrier, with the dogs, Mario, Dom, myself and all of our stuff and headed to Canton on Friday, May 25th to spend the night with Ryan, Corissa and Owen. We enjoyed visiting with them that night and most of the day Saturday. The boys have both really grown and it was so cool to watch them interact even more. All of us then headed to Salem for a cookout at the Ferreri's with the family and the Coverts (neighbors and close friends). Of course, everyone was very happy to see the babies :) We stayed at the Ferreri's Saturday and Sunday nights and enjoyed visiting with Grandma and Grandpa. Though, I think Mario was the star of this visit. Sunday we visited with my dad and Brynn for a few hours and then headed over to Granny's for dinner with her, Brynn, Mom and Mick. We enjoyed a nice visit and an after dinner walk around the condo development. Granny also gave Dom and I our first Mother's/Father's day gift, a cool blanket with a picture of Mario woven into it (we'll have to take a picture to post soon). Monday we repacked the car, this time including vegetable plants for our garden, and headed to Mansfield. In Mansfield we enjoyed a cookout and visit with my Aunt Ginny and Uncle Fred, cousin Adrienne and her hubby, Brad, and their 2.5 year old son, Braeden, and the neighbor Suzie. So, it was a busy, but very nice weekend.
Tuesday, May 29th, Mario had an appointment with the audiologist at Good Samaritan Hospital for his follow-up hearing exam. This was simply a follow-up because he was on antibiotics his first few days of life (preventive measure until they got the all clear from his blood cultures that he didn't have any infections) and he passed it with flying colors. Since I was already at the hospital I stopped by the NICU and was able to see a couple of Mario's former nurses. Sarah H, his day primary nurse, and Sharon were there and they both really enjoyed seeing Mario and how much he's grown. It was great to see them again and we plan to visit again soon.
The past month has meant lots of outdoor projects. Dom redid all of the landscaping in the front and has started work on the vegetable garden in the back. Unfortunately, Dom is in the middle of some plumbing projects now. We discovered that the pipe leading to the outdoor faucet in the back burst and caused a leak in the basement (we discovered this when he tried to hook up the sprinkers). So, he is now replacing that and adding a few more outdoor faucets so we won't have to string hoses all around the house. It's a good thing he's so handy!
That brings us to today. Can you believe the little man is 5 months old today?!?!? We can't believe how the time has flown. We measured him today, and added a new line to the inside of the pantry door to mark his growth. He's now 23.75 inches! I would say he's probably 13.5 pounds, give or take, now. He's also into the 3-6 month sized clothing and size 2 diapers. He hasn't figured out how to roll over yet, but has come close several times during his tummy time sessions, so it won't be long now, at least for the tummy to back rolling. Mario is also very observant and interested in everything around him. He loves his baths and has figured out how to splash. He loves looking at the baby in the mirror, standing up, cooing and babbling at us, blowing spit bubbles (he now wears a bib most of the time to catch the drool), and buzzing his lips (motorboating, blowing raspberries, etc). He grabs onto things and is reaching the "everything goes in my mouth" stage, especially his fist. And, for the first time tonight, we put him in bed (his pack n play in our room) awake and he went to sleep on his own.
Our little man is looking, and acting, more and more like a little boy. We are really enjoying him and watching him grow and discover things. Each day is an adventure and full of laughs, smiles, and surprises.
I'll make sure to update more often this month. Now, go look at those pictures. . .the good stuff is there!
In early May, I dealt with a nasty eye infection that had me going to the eye doctor every couple of days for almost 2 weeks. Of course, Mario went with me and won the hearts of everyone in the office. In fact, each time we'd walk in they'd ask if I brought their boyfriend for a visit. He's quite the little flirt I tell ya.
We also made some visits to Dom at work, so Mario could meet even more of his co-workers and let Daddy show him off. No doubt, Dom is a proud daddy and had a grin from ear to ear as we paraded around with the little man. Of course, now we have to find time to take him in again.
I also got to celebrate my first mommy's day on May 13th:) Dom surprised me with breakfast in bed (chocolate chip pancakes, my favorite) and gave me a cool photo keychain (it's a digital picture frame on a keychain so I can always have Mario pictures with me) and a very nice, homemade card from himself and Mario. Then, we just spent the day together as a family, exactly what I wanted.
Mario and I also enjoyed our first trip to the mall together on May 17th. We met Stephanie and Trieg for lunch and then walked around for a while. I will say, the mall by us (Kenwood Towne Center) has great family facilities. Nice, clean family restrooms, lounges, and private nursing rooms. That Sunday, May 20th, the three of us (Dom, Mario and I) went to the mall to have lunch, shop, and just walk around. I've also taken Mario to Kohls with me to shop and he's done very well as my shopping buddy. He seems to really like being pushed around in his stroller while I do my shopping. And I like that his car seat easily fits in the stroller, makes it easy on everyone!
I returned to work on May 16th and am currently working in the office three days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri) and from home the other two days. Right now, I take Mario to Bridget's on Wed and Fri to hang out with her and Julianna and Dom stays home with him on Mon. We've hired a full-time nanny, Lauren, who will start on June 11th. She'll come here to watch him and we have all clicked very well. After she gets settled in, I'll up my hours to 4 days/week in the office and then go to 5 days/week. In fact, Lauren came over this afternoon so we could get schedules aligned and work on the details. We're all looking forward to working together. I enjoy being back to work, seeing coworkers and friends and getting back into projects, but I also miss my days with the little guy!
Memorial Day weekend meant it was time to take a road trip. So, we packed up the car, including the roof carrier, with the dogs, Mario, Dom, myself and all of our stuff and headed to Canton on Friday, May 25th to spend the night with Ryan, Corissa and Owen. We enjoyed visiting with them that night and most of the day Saturday. The boys have both really grown and it was so cool to watch them interact even more. All of us then headed to Salem for a cookout at the Ferreri's with the family and the Coverts (neighbors and close friends). Of course, everyone was very happy to see the babies :) We stayed at the Ferreri's Saturday and Sunday nights and enjoyed visiting with Grandma and Grandpa. Though, I think Mario was the star of this visit. Sunday we visited with my dad and Brynn for a few hours and then headed over to Granny's for dinner with her, Brynn, Mom and Mick. We enjoyed a nice visit and an after dinner walk around the condo development. Granny also gave Dom and I our first Mother's/Father's day gift, a cool blanket with a picture of Mario woven into it (we'll have to take a picture to post soon). Monday we repacked the car, this time including vegetable plants for our garden, and headed to Mansfield. In Mansfield we enjoyed a cookout and visit with my Aunt Ginny and Uncle Fred, cousin Adrienne and her hubby, Brad, and their 2.5 year old son, Braeden, and the neighbor Suzie. So, it was a busy, but very nice weekend.
Tuesday, May 29th, Mario had an appointment with the audiologist at Good Samaritan Hospital for his follow-up hearing exam. This was simply a follow-up because he was on antibiotics his first few days of life (preventive measure until they got the all clear from his blood cultures that he didn't have any infections) and he passed it with flying colors. Since I was already at the hospital I stopped by the NICU and was able to see a couple of Mario's former nurses. Sarah H, his day primary nurse, and Sharon were there and they both really enjoyed seeing Mario and how much he's grown. It was great to see them again and we plan to visit again soon.
The past month has meant lots of outdoor projects. Dom redid all of the landscaping in the front and has started work on the vegetable garden in the back. Unfortunately, Dom is in the middle of some plumbing projects now. We discovered that the pipe leading to the outdoor faucet in the back burst and caused a leak in the basement (we discovered this when he tried to hook up the sprinkers). So, he is now replacing that and adding a few more outdoor faucets so we won't have to string hoses all around the house. It's a good thing he's so handy!
That brings us to today. Can you believe the little man is 5 months old today?!?!? We can't believe how the time has flown. We measured him today, and added a new line to the inside of the pantry door to mark his growth. He's now 23.75 inches! I would say he's probably 13.5 pounds, give or take, now. He's also into the 3-6 month sized clothing and size 2 diapers. He hasn't figured out how to roll over yet, but has come close several times during his tummy time sessions, so it won't be long now, at least for the tummy to back rolling. Mario is also very observant and interested in everything around him. He loves his baths and has figured out how to splash. He loves looking at the baby in the mirror, standing up, cooing and babbling at us, blowing spit bubbles (he now wears a bib most of the time to catch the drool), and buzzing his lips (motorboating, blowing raspberries, etc). He grabs onto things and is reaching the "everything goes in my mouth" stage, especially his fist. And, for the first time tonight, we put him in bed (his pack n play in our room) awake and he went to sleep on his own.
Our little man is looking, and acting, more and more like a little boy. We are really enjoying him and watching him grow and discover things. Each day is an adventure and full of laughs, smiles, and surprises.
I'll make sure to update more often this month. Now, go look at those pictures. . .the good stuff is there!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Updates: May 3rd
Well, it's been a while since my last post and we've been busy doing lots of neat things. On April 25th, we took Mario out to dinner for the first time. Some friends of ours are moving to San Diego and this was a farewell dinner with the group. We went to Bravo!, an Italian restaurant and were there for about three hours. Mario was great and worked his charm on everyone. The next day, April 26th, Mario and I met my friend and co-worker, Tanya, for lunch and then I took Mario into work for a few hours to show him off and get my laptop fixed (network issues). On April 27th, Mario spent a few hours with Bridget and her daughter, Julianna, while I ran some errands. Bridget will be watching Mario part-time initially when I go back to work. On April 28th, we took Mario to some friends' house and enjoyed an evening with some of our friends who hadn't yet seen him. Yesterday, May 2nd, was his 4 month birthday! He spent a few hours with Bridget and Julianna in the afternoon and then we hung out at home.
Today, Mario had his 4 month check-up with his doctor. She is very pleased with how he is doing and we don't have to go back until his next regular check-up at 6 months (in July)! According to all of the developmental questions they asked me for a normal (term-baby) 4 month old, he is caught up! He is also continuing to make gains in his physical measurements to catch up to term babies as well. His length is now 23 inches and he's just below the 5th percentile for 4 month olds. His head circumference is now 40.5 cm and is at the 10th percentile for 4 month olds. His weight is now 12 lbs 0.5 oz and is right at the 5th percentile for 4 month olds. Of course, if you look at all of those for his corrected/adjusted age (time since his due date), he's right in the middle. Mario's least favorite part of the visit was the shots :( He had to get 4 shots (the second dose of DTaP, second dose of Hib, second dose of Polio, and second dose of PNU cn) as well as an oral vaccine (second dose of Rotovirus). But, all was better when mommy nursed him after his shots :) He fell asleep in his car seat on the ride home and has now been sleeping for just under 2 hours and mommy is letting him sleep as long as he wants (I brought his car seat in and set it on the coffee table and have disturbed him).
Dom has been busy doing work outside now. With the spring weather comes outdoor chores such as mowing the lawn and doing string trimming. He's also been getting the flower beds ready to plant. The rose garden is all mulched and finished and we just got a delivery of mulch today to do the other two beds. Now we just have to decide what flowers we want to plant in them this year. We're hoping to take pictures and a description to a garden center/nursery and get some suggestions.
Dom and I have been printing pictures and have framed several 8x10's of Mario from birth to recent pictures and put them on the wall going up the steps. I bought several more frames of various sizes that we need to fill and hange.
We have also been looking into full-time nannies for when I go back to work. We met with/interviewed one last night and are meeting with another tonight. I have to sit down with my boss next week to come up with the plan for my return the week after. I'm hoping to ease back into it, starting with 3 days a week, then 4, then 5. I'm looking forward to going back on one hand, but will sure miss my days with Mario.
Well, that's the latest and greatest news with our family. We're happy spring is here and as busy as ever.
Today, Mario had his 4 month check-up with his doctor. She is very pleased with how he is doing and we don't have to go back until his next regular check-up at 6 months (in July)! According to all of the developmental questions they asked me for a normal (term-baby) 4 month old, he is caught up! He is also continuing to make gains in his physical measurements to catch up to term babies as well. His length is now 23 inches and he's just below the 5th percentile for 4 month olds. His head circumference is now 40.5 cm and is at the 10th percentile for 4 month olds. His weight is now 12 lbs 0.5 oz and is right at the 5th percentile for 4 month olds. Of course, if you look at all of those for his corrected/adjusted age (time since his due date), he's right in the middle. Mario's least favorite part of the visit was the shots :( He had to get 4 shots (the second dose of DTaP, second dose of Hib, second dose of Polio, and second dose of PNU cn) as well as an oral vaccine (second dose of Rotovirus). But, all was better when mommy nursed him after his shots :) He fell asleep in his car seat on the ride home and has now been sleeping for just under 2 hours and mommy is letting him sleep as long as he wants (I brought his car seat in and set it on the coffee table and have disturbed him).
Dom has been busy doing work outside now. With the spring weather comes outdoor chores such as mowing the lawn and doing string trimming. He's also been getting the flower beds ready to plant. The rose garden is all mulched and finished and we just got a delivery of mulch today to do the other two beds. Now we just have to decide what flowers we want to plant in them this year. We're hoping to take pictures and a description to a garden center/nursery and get some suggestions.
Dom and I have been printing pictures and have framed several 8x10's of Mario from birth to recent pictures and put them on the wall going up the steps. I bought several more frames of various sizes that we need to fill and hange.
We have also been looking into full-time nannies for when I go back to work. We met with/interviewed one last night and are meeting with another tonight. I have to sit down with my boss next week to come up with the plan for my return the week after. I'm hoping to ease back into it, starting with 3 days a week, then 4, then 5. I'm looking forward to going back on one hand, but will sure miss my days with Mario.
Well, that's the latest and greatest news with our family. We're happy spring is here and as busy as ever.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Updates: April 22nd
Another week or so has passed in the life of Mario. We haven't done many eventful things this past week. But, I'll catch you up on what has been going on.
Sunday, April 15th, we had some good friends of ours, Kurt and Bridget, and their 1 year old daughter, Julianna, over for dinner. We enjoyed catching up in person and seeing how much the kids have grown. Bridget and I plan to get together several times in the upcoming weeks, because, if it all works out, she will be watching Mario for at least a few days a week when I go back to work the middle of May.
This week Mario and I were back to being on our own all five days, as it was a normal work week for Dom. So, we enjoyed getting back into our routine and having some quality Mommy/baby time. He is really getting expressive and we love to laugh and play together.
The weather is back to being nice and spring-like so Dom got a lot of work done outside this weekend, including tractor preventative maintenance, string trimming, and lawn cutting. He also got some wiring done in his workshop in the basement. We started talking about what we'll put in the gardens this year, both flower and vegetable, and coming up with the game plan for getting them prepped. I took some time and ran errands while the boys hung out together. So, we had a great weekend.
While I was at Costco today, I got a new stroller. Dom had seen it there last weekend and wanted me to go look at it to see if I agreed we should get it. It is a dual purpose jogging stroller/bike trailer and is very nice. It can hold either one or two kids and has lots of storage room. It also has a nice mesh flap that can keep the bugs out and a clear plastic flap to keep weather out. We took it for a walk this evening and you can see pictures of it on our Picasa site (liked in the picture update post). It's very nice and I'm know we'll get lots of use out of it. Now we have to find a bike helmet for little Mario so we can hook it up to the bike and hit the bike trail. I need to do some research as to when it's acceptable to do that with him.
Mario also has a nice case of cradle cap going on now. So, Friday night, I got out the baby oil and put some on his head to let it set for a while. Then we gently combed it with the baby come and washed his hair in a bath. It's not a really bad case, and hopefully it won't get to be. But, for now, we'll just periodically do the baby oil thing.
I think that about does it for family updates for now. Time for me to go to bed, the boys are already there and sleeping soundly (of course, I had to sneak out after putting little man to sleep ;) ).
Sunday, April 15th, we had some good friends of ours, Kurt and Bridget, and their 1 year old daughter, Julianna, over for dinner. We enjoyed catching up in person and seeing how much the kids have grown. Bridget and I plan to get together several times in the upcoming weeks, because, if it all works out, she will be watching Mario for at least a few days a week when I go back to work the middle of May.
This week Mario and I were back to being on our own all five days, as it was a normal work week for Dom. So, we enjoyed getting back into our routine and having some quality Mommy/baby time. He is really getting expressive and we love to laugh and play together.
The weather is back to being nice and spring-like so Dom got a lot of work done outside this weekend, including tractor preventative maintenance, string trimming, and lawn cutting. He also got some wiring done in his workshop in the basement. We started talking about what we'll put in the gardens this year, both flower and vegetable, and coming up with the game plan for getting them prepped. I took some time and ran errands while the boys hung out together. So, we had a great weekend.
While I was at Costco today, I got a new stroller. Dom had seen it there last weekend and wanted me to go look at it to see if I agreed we should get it. It is a dual purpose jogging stroller/bike trailer and is very nice. It can hold either one or two kids and has lots of storage room. It also has a nice mesh flap that can keep the bugs out and a clear plastic flap to keep weather out. We took it for a walk this evening and you can see pictures of it on our Picasa site (liked in the picture update post). It's very nice and I'm know we'll get lots of use out of it. Now we have to find a bike helmet for little Mario so we can hook it up to the bike and hit the bike trail. I need to do some research as to when it's acceptable to do that with him.
Mario also has a nice case of cradle cap going on now. So, Friday night, I got out the baby oil and put some on his head to let it set for a while. Then we gently combed it with the baby come and washed his hair in a bath. It's not a really bad case, and hopefully it won't get to be. But, for now, we'll just periodically do the baby oil thing.
I think that about does it for family updates for now. Time for me to go to bed, the boys are already there and sleeping soundly (of course, I had to sneak out after putting little man to sleep ;) ).
Friday, April 13, 2007
Updates: April 13th
Little Mario has been a busy guy the past couple of weeks. So, I will try to catch you up on what's been going on.
On April 3rd, we went to one of my co-worker's/friend's houses to have lunch and spend the afternoon with Stephanie and her little guy Trieg. Trieg and Mario were due on the same day, so Stephanie and I often compared notes of our pregnancies and doctor's visits. As you know, Mario didn't make it to his due date and neither did Trieg, he was born on February 21st. We had a great afternoon together and Stephanie and I enjoyed catching up and comparing new baby notes. We plan to continue to get together and let the boys have playdates as they grow. Unfortunately, this day was the end of our warm, sunny, spring weather. After that it turned cold and icky. Would you believe we had snow over Easter??? Ewwww. . .
On April 6th, Dom, Mario, myself and the dogs loaded up the Pilot and headed to NE Ohio for Easter weekend. Mario was pretty good in the car on the way up. We did stop once at a rest stop outside of Columbus so I could nurse him, but he slept a large percentage of the trip. Our first scheduled stop was in Massillon at The Breastfeeding Center, where my sister-in-law, Corissa, goes for breastfeeding help and support. Corissa met us there with Owen, of course. Dom dropped me and Mario off and then took the dogs over to visit with Ryan and their house. It was nice to talk with Betsy there and get some tips and advice. I also got a long overdue bra sizing and bought some new, better fitting, nursing bras. After our time at the center, we went to Canton to Ryan and Corissas to visit with them and friends Craig and Christine. We enjoyed good company and good food before heading to my dad's house, where we were staying for the long weekend. At dad's we visited with him and Priscilla, as well as Judd, before retiring to bed for the night.
On April 7th, we headed over Granny's to visit with her, my Uncle Jim and Aunt Jill, Brynn, mom and Mick. We enjoyed a nice afternoon and evening together with more good food and great company. Dom even set Granny up with some new phones and prints of Mario pictures. The only unfortunate thing was that Jill broke her finger. She didn't find out it was broken until the next day, when they went to the ER to get it x-rayed, though. It was a pretty uncommon break, called a Jersey finger. She just had surgery on it yesterday (April 12th) to fix it and will be in a cast for about 6 weeks.
On April 8th, Easter Sunday, we went over to the Ferreri's for some visiting time with them and Easter dinner, and, of course, lots of pictures. Mario and Owen looked all spiffy in their Easter outfits and everyone loved the double baby time. Nick and Alana got each of the boys stuffed bunnies, that sang songs/made noises. Mario also got Easter baskets from Grandma and Grandpa Ferreri as well as Ryan, Corissa and Owen. We also gave Grandma and Grandpa some Mario pictures. After a great Easter dinner we welcomed the neighbors and family friends(Tom and Velma as well as Jennifer and Sharon) for some visiting and dessert. We even got a picture with the expanded Ferreri family. After that we headed back over to Granny's for some more visiting and Mario got another Easter basket from Grandma Scipione. In turn, we gave Grandma some Mario pictures. Finally, we went back over to dads (Grandpa's) and visited more with him, Priscilla, and Ashley. He also got Mario pictures.
On April 9th, we visited with Grandpa in the morning and then packed up to start the journey back home. We stopped in Mansfield to visit with my Uncle Fred and Aunt Ginny for a while and stayed for dinner with them. Finally, we made it back home. We enjoyed seeing everyone, but I think all of us were glad to be home.
This past week I had some sort of bug and was under the weather for Tuesday and Wednesday, Dom then got it Thursday and Friday. So far, Mario hasn't gotten anything, or if he did it was really mild and he was just extra clingy. That could have just been him reacting to the commotion of the weekend though, who knows. Mario also got his Easter stuff from the Easter Bunny, as you can see in the pictures. So far, he's played on his playmat gym thing a few times and really seems to like that.
Thursday, Mario had another weight check with his pediatrician. He is now up to 10 lbs, 10 oz and is 22 inches long. She is very happy with how he is doing and our next appointment is a regularly scheduled one for his 4 month check up on May 3rd. That's another big shot appointment, so I'm sure he won't be too happy about it, but we've got a few weeks before that!
I think that about does it for updates. Have you gotten your taxes done yet? Remember the deadline is in a few days. Don't worry, ours have already been done and our refund is in the bank :) I think this weekend will be spent enjoying some quiet family time and staying warm. It's supposed to be a wet (rain/snow/mix), cold, windy, dreary weekend. We want our spring weather back! I miss walks with the family. Take care and "talk" to you soon.
On April 3rd, we went to one of my co-worker's/friend's houses to have lunch and spend the afternoon with Stephanie and her little guy Trieg. Trieg and Mario were due on the same day, so Stephanie and I often compared notes of our pregnancies and doctor's visits. As you know, Mario didn't make it to his due date and neither did Trieg, he was born on February 21st. We had a great afternoon together and Stephanie and I enjoyed catching up and comparing new baby notes. We plan to continue to get together and let the boys have playdates as they grow. Unfortunately, this day was the end of our warm, sunny, spring weather. After that it turned cold and icky. Would you believe we had snow over Easter??? Ewwww. . .
On April 6th, Dom, Mario, myself and the dogs loaded up the Pilot and headed to NE Ohio for Easter weekend. Mario was pretty good in the car on the way up. We did stop once at a rest stop outside of Columbus so I could nurse him, but he slept a large percentage of the trip. Our first scheduled stop was in Massillon at The Breastfeeding Center, where my sister-in-law, Corissa, goes for breastfeeding help and support. Corissa met us there with Owen, of course. Dom dropped me and Mario off and then took the dogs over to visit with Ryan and their house. It was nice to talk with Betsy there and get some tips and advice. I also got a long overdue bra sizing and bought some new, better fitting, nursing bras. After our time at the center, we went to Canton to Ryan and Corissas to visit with them and friends Craig and Christine. We enjoyed good company and good food before heading to my dad's house, where we were staying for the long weekend. At dad's we visited with him and Priscilla, as well as Judd, before retiring to bed for the night.
On April 7th, we headed over Granny's to visit with her, my Uncle Jim and Aunt Jill, Brynn, mom and Mick. We enjoyed a nice afternoon and evening together with more good food and great company. Dom even set Granny up with some new phones and prints of Mario pictures. The only unfortunate thing was that Jill broke her finger. She didn't find out it was broken until the next day, when they went to the ER to get it x-rayed, though. It was a pretty uncommon break, called a Jersey finger. She just had surgery on it yesterday (April 12th) to fix it and will be in a cast for about 6 weeks.
On April 8th, Easter Sunday, we went over to the Ferreri's for some visiting time with them and Easter dinner, and, of course, lots of pictures. Mario and Owen looked all spiffy in their Easter outfits and everyone loved the double baby time. Nick and Alana got each of the boys stuffed bunnies, that sang songs/made noises. Mario also got Easter baskets from Grandma and Grandpa Ferreri as well as Ryan, Corissa and Owen. We also gave Grandma and Grandpa some Mario pictures. After a great Easter dinner we welcomed the neighbors and family friends(Tom and Velma as well as Jennifer and Sharon) for some visiting and dessert. We even got a picture with the expanded Ferreri family. After that we headed back over to Granny's for some more visiting and Mario got another Easter basket from Grandma Scipione. In turn, we gave Grandma some Mario pictures. Finally, we went back over to dads (Grandpa's) and visited more with him, Priscilla, and Ashley. He also got Mario pictures.
On April 9th, we visited with Grandpa in the morning and then packed up to start the journey back home. We stopped in Mansfield to visit with my Uncle Fred and Aunt Ginny for a while and stayed for dinner with them. Finally, we made it back home. We enjoyed seeing everyone, but I think all of us were glad to be home.
This past week I had some sort of bug and was under the weather for Tuesday and Wednesday, Dom then got it Thursday and Friday. So far, Mario hasn't gotten anything, or if he did it was really mild and he was just extra clingy. That could have just been him reacting to the commotion of the weekend though, who knows. Mario also got his Easter stuff from the Easter Bunny, as you can see in the pictures. So far, he's played on his playmat gym thing a few times and really seems to like that.
Thursday, Mario had another weight check with his pediatrician. He is now up to 10 lbs, 10 oz and is 22 inches long. She is very happy with how he is doing and our next appointment is a regularly scheduled one for his 4 month check up on May 3rd. That's another big shot appointment, so I'm sure he won't be too happy about it, but we've got a few weeks before that!
I think that about does it for updates. Have you gotten your taxes done yet? Remember the deadline is in a few days. Don't worry, ours have already been done and our refund is in the bank :) I think this weekend will be spent enjoying some quiet family time and staying warm. It's supposed to be a wet (rain/snow/mix), cold, windy, dreary weekend. We want our spring weather back! I miss walks with the family. Take care and "talk" to you soon.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Updates: April 1st
It's no April Fool's joke, Mario's getting to be a little man (as opposed to the wee man he was when he was born). He weighed in at 9 lbs, 14 oz this past Thursday. His doctor is very happy with how he's doing and said we can skip a week and go back in 2 weeks for the next weight check. She's just monitoring his progress, not concerned about anything. He has been doing well with the straight breastfeeding and I've been working on getting my supply in sync with his demand. I'm pumping less often and only when I really need too for my own comfort. Dom's happy about that too, because the breast milk bags have really taken over the big freezer in the basement, leaving little room for grown-up food! Now Mario just has to improve his efficiency and we'll be golden. Of course, that will come with time, as it does with every baby.
After his doctor's appointment on Thursday, we met up with my co-worker, Tanya, for lunch. Mario was very good and slept in his carrier the whole time. He woke up for a brief period, but went right back to sleep.
He got another dose of the Synagis vaccine on Friday. He wasn't too happy with getting a shot, but he's a tough little guy and only cried for a little bit. He has one more dose of it to go this year, the end of April.
This weekend we had lots of company. Friday night, Aunt Corissa, Uncle Ryan and cousin Owen came down and we hung out. Then, on Saturday, Uncle Nick and Alana joined us. We all enjoyed each other's company and some good food, courtesy of Dom. We're looking forward to lots of similar get-togethers so the boys can play with each other as they get older.
After his doctor's appointment on Thursday, we met up with my co-worker, Tanya, for lunch. Mario was very good and slept in his carrier the whole time. He woke up for a brief period, but went right back to sleep.
He got another dose of the Synagis vaccine on Friday. He wasn't too happy with getting a shot, but he's a tough little guy and only cried for a little bit. He has one more dose of it to go this year, the end of April.
This weekend we had lots of company. Friday night, Aunt Corissa, Uncle Ryan and cousin Owen came down and we hung out. Then, on Saturday, Uncle Nick and Alana joined us. We all enjoyed each other's company and some good food, courtesy of Dom. We're looking forward to lots of similar get-togethers so the boys can play with each other as they get older.
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