V Rolls Over

I am a self proclaimed Dog Nazi and but maybe I am turning in a Baby Nazi too.

6 1/2 Months Old

We love Craigslist and the chance to get some gently used baby things for dirt cheap. This exersaucer keeps her busy when I have to take a shower.

Some quality time with papa, he is still practicing not dropping her whilst she is lathered up and soapy.

High Style

Every other night Veronica gets a warm bath and a blow dry hair style.


As hard as we try to change her hair style by blow drying in a different direction...


The result is always the same; her hair goes straight up in the air and it looks as it she just auditioned for the Stray Cats.

Teething and Sitting-Up

According to the pediatrician Veronica should be able to roll over both back and forth by now but she can't. So this week we have been working on it three times a day and she seems to be getting the hang of it. We've also been placing her in the bebe pod several times a day since she needs to improve her torso control. Look at the photos below. She has gotten stronger and is great at sitting up nice and straight with support.

She is also teething and drooling a lot. A few nights ago she woke up several times and cried but quickly settles back down if we give her a pacifier. I cannot wait for the day she sleeps through the night!


We're still working on the rolling back and forth. She does love to spend time on her tummy though.


This girl has great posture.

6 Month Wellness Check-Up

Today Veronica went in for her 6 month check up. She was chatting with the doctor and carrying on and on. The doctor called her bossy as she grabbed the stethoscope and tried to chew on it.

Veronica is practically perfect. She still has no teeth but it's not a problem, she can bear weight on her legs as she likes to stand on my lap a lot. She still is not sitting on her own but tries daily. The doctor kept telling us how lucky we were to have her be so close to the norm even though she was born at 35 weeks and 4 days, more than a month early. She sees children born a month early with continuing respiratory and digestive problems. We feel blessed to have such a healthy and happy child.

Veronica got 4 shots, 2 in each thigh. She did not enjoy it. She cried hard but stopped when we picked her up. She is in off the charts for height 28 inches (71 centimeters) and in the 75 percentile for weight 8 kilos (17 pounds) and in the 75 percentile for head circumference. She is growing well, she balanced and I could not be more pleased. We have to make an appointment with a dermatologist to get two hemangiomas looked at, one in her ear and one near her right ankle. All in all, the visit went well and we go back in 3 months.

A quick note on the difference between pediatricians in Italy vs. Seattle

In Italy and in Seattle:

-We could only call and talk to the Italian doctor and make appts. from 9-10 am. Here in Seattle, the consulting nurse is available for advice 24 hours a day and we can call 7 days a week from 7:30-6:00 pm.

-In Seattle the doctors are more hands on than in Italy. They spend much more time touching, examining, taking to and interacting with Veronica.

I must say both Deme and I liked our American pediatrician better than our Italian one.

Old Favorites

These photos are too cute. When I sent them to Dagne, my friend, she said her son Indie and Veronica looked like they were sending out engagement or prom photos. See for yourself.

6 Months Old

This Easter Veronica turned six months old. Our first week in Seattle has been busy and eventful. We've spent many mornings and afternoons settling in and making ourselves comfortable in our temporary accommodations. My darling daughter has adapted quite well to eating solid foods, changing to her American brand formula, to the cooler and windier, much wetter weather and sleeping in her new bed. She actually enjoys it so much, her bedtime and nap time soothing lasts all of five minutes before she's begging to be placed in bed.

Her nighttime schedule has normalized somewhat and she's going to bed between 6:30 and 7:30 at night and waking up between 6:30 and 7:30 in the morning with only one awakening for food between 2 and 4 a.m. To see her happy and smiling in the morning really reinforces the positive aspects of sleep training.

After a week of taking care of Veronica all by myself, we've developed a schedule that works for both of us. She is a true joy to be with and when I look at her sometimes my heart swells and flutters. She is a wonderful baby and I could not love her more. Part of me tries not to put too much pressure on myself because I want to be the perfect mother. I want to provide Veronica with all love and attention but I know she deserves. My childhood was sweet and sour, wrought with struggle, hard work but also a lot of joy. Part of me wants to raise all the sour, mean, painful, annoying things for the world for Veronica that I know I can't. I want to protect her the way that every parent wants to protect their child.

Pictures taken today, she is getting cuter than ever!

Foot Fetish

No Zavier is not biting Veronica's toes. He is just licking those "hard to reach" under the toes area.

I think Veronica is looking at me with those big brown eyes and pleading for me to do something. Instead I just keep snapping away.

Now that he has licked one foot clean, he concentrates on the other one as well.

I think V has just given up and is resigned to the fact she can do nothing about it. A few swift kicks in the face did not deter him either.

Veronica in her BeBe Pod

Veronica just loves sitting up by herself. I used to Bebe pod to help her learn to sit as and as a baby chair when I am feeding her. So far she has eaten: apples, bananas, squash, pears, sweet potatoes, rice cereal, oatmeal, and carrots. We won't start the wheat and meats until after 8 months or so.


Once in a while when she is not paying attention she slumps over to one side of the chair but has not wiggled out of it yet.


We cannot keep socks in this girl! She is obsessed with her feet and they are the latest and great plaything in her book.

Veronica in Temporary Housing

Veronica and I have been walking and running errands with her in her baby Bjorn. I try to get her home for naps on a regular schedule and she is doing great. Still her happy, smiley self. She is in fact talking to herself in bed as I type this. I feel so much more independent here and on my own. My spoiled life in Torino has come to an end as my mom has headed home and Deme is gone 9-6 everyday.


She loves to pay be herself and after having my mom around all the time. I am trying to get her to love being independent again. So far so good. She enjoys taking her socks on and off and then chomping on her feet.


After our second day in temporary housing I ran out and bought a used crib off Craigslist (only $50) and then a new mattress and bedding for Veronica's new bed. I wanted her to start sleeping by herself again right away. I made it cozy and cute and she seems to be taking to it well.