Veronica Almost Shares with Zavier

Tia and I shared some baby back ribs at lunch yesterday. Veronica had a taste of a rib today and she loved gnawing on it. Zavier is her new best friend and he almost takes it out of her hands but he knew better since I was watching.

Baby Name #2

I like the name Lorenzo and I think that is what I am leaning towards even though Deme loves Federico and thinks it would be a more culturally important Italian name. I really hope this kid is really a boy.

Poll

If we named the new baby Federico, do you think he would end up being called Freddie?
Please chime in on this!

Some Deep Thoughts

Lately I just have not had the time for many engaging and thoughtful blog posts. Weeks have gone by and I have been thinking that I really need to set some time aside to post about the new baby, future family plans and our moved back to Seattle. Here goes:

1. The New Baby

I can express our ecstatic I am and that Sprog 2 is a boy. I was hoping an praying for one of each! I thought my parents would be more excited but they both seemed lukewarm. I think my dad has had a Chinese boy name ready for the past 35 years. Anyway, everyone is happy for us, and I think a boy and a girl will complete our family. Demetrio Is still hoping that I will agree to pop out one more later on down the line but I sincerely doubt it. All I am thinking about now is having a healthy baby and taking two or more years off from being pregnant. I want to enjoy the kids and watch them grow up without the burden of another expanding belly.

We are trying very hard to have Veronica grow up as fast as she can. So she is independent when the new one arrives. She is nine and a half months old and sleeping through the night most of the time. We’re working on having her feed herself and weaned off a bottle by the time she is a year old (doctor’s orders). Our next major hurdle is teaching her to walk. I would love for her to walk at 12 or 13 months so I won’t have to carry two babies at once. She is learning quickly and is an adorable and happy baby. Rarely crying, she fusses is only when she is tired. Being greeted by her toothy smile really makes my day. I think every parent is in love with his or her child; we are no different.

2. Future Family Plans

Two babies and I’m done. My sister Tia is planning to move to the states for high school (in three years). We hope to have her move sooner as this summer’s experience here in Seattle has proven to be quite positive for her. Giordano has the same plan for things might be expedited if he does not do well in his second year of high school in Italy. Negotiations are still going on between Giordano, Demetrio and Demetrio’s mom. I feel somewhat out of the loop, as I know I will be the primary caregiver for all the children in the family. I might have 5 kids (Giordano has a sister named Ginevra but she is a real grandma's girl so who knows when she will come over.)in the next 2-3 years. Yikes! My jobs as mother, sister, aunt and all the other things in between might keep me as a stay-at-home mom forever. Can you say 5+ bedroom, 3+ bathroom house?

3. Being Back in Seattle

I must say I love being back in Seattle. I love being around my friends and my sister. I can do more, say more and be more of myself here. I can open a bank account on my own. I can apply for a credit card independent of Demetrio. I could go to a doctor or dental appointment without worrying about misunderstandings. I feel freer and therefore happier. I said it, I got it off my chest I love my life in America and would not trade it for anything.

Veronica Loves Computers

Veronica and her dad have quite a few things in common. An obsession they both share is for electronics and computers.

Garden Treasures

When we got back from Reno we found my garden really overgrown. I had invited friends from all over to come a pick all the produce they wanted but things still went haywire. I ended up picking what I could and serving it to Deme and the kids.

A zuchinni just about a tall as Veronica. The kids ate zuchinni for two days straight.

Believe it or not these are cucumbers called "lemon cucumbers."

A not so ready to pick carrot.

V in Tahoe

The weather was great, the water was refreshing and Veronica played in the sand and waded in Lake Tahoe for the first time.


Anna buries Veronica in the sand. She tried and tried to get handfuls of sand in her mouth but we caught her before she did.


This girl loves the water and wants to dive head first into it no matter how deep it is.

***New Happenings: V now has three teeth and she is self-feeding with an wonderfully precise pincher grasp, all thanks to Anna and a week of training. I have a lot more to say about the new baby but with both kids here I just do not have the time to sit down and reflect right now, so more later...

Veronica in Reno

We had a great time with Anna, Adam, and their dog Stimpy. Anna taught Veronica to self feed in a week. She is also trying very hard to stand up on her own. They treated us wonderfully and we can't wait to see them again next year. (More photos of Veronica and the kids in Tahoe coming soon.)


Veronica on Adam's lap.


Anna got V some cute hair clips and she looks like a proper girl now.


Le Cordon Bleu here she comes, this girl is at home in the kitchen.


Our little baby is turning into a little girl.

The Latest!

We are headed off to Reno for a week, to spend time with Tia(who left last week), my sister Anna and her boyfriend. Anna claims we will be camping in Northern California, where there are no fires. Here are the latest photos of Veronica. She's getting around quite well and getting curiouser and curiouser. So far she's gotten away with just banging her head here and there with no other major mishaps, I know they're coming though I have to be more vigilant.


Veronica seems to really like lemonade and played iced tea. She shuns the sippy cup and a regular adult cup but loves to drink from a straw. On this day we drove out to Bow, Washington for lunch at the Rhododendron Café.


Here she looks positively giant as she sits in an over sized Costco shopping cart. She's sitting up perfectly and loves to watch the comings and goings of those around her.


Curiousier and curiousier....


She is now getting into everything, including the dog's food.


Our darling daughter loves to go out to eat, just like her parents. Last night she sampled coconut fried rice, duck, tom yum soup, fried noodles and other spicy things.

Sprog 2 is a Boy!

The spell is broken. The La and Parsons Family will have a male in it in approxiamtely 4 months. We could not be more thrilled. More thoughts when all my guests leave and I have more time.


The little thing that looks like a cross between a turtle and a pea is supposed to be Sprog 2's penis.


The appendage that lookes like it is supposed to be the actual penis is really an arm.

A Terrible Check-Up

My poor little baby...Today we went in for her 9 month check-up. Veronica is 30 inches long (76 cm). Yippee! The pediatrician tells us that she is the same height as a 15 month old and who would have guessed she was born a preemie at 35 weeks and 4 days. She is in the 100th percentile for height and he weighs exactly 10 kilos, which is in the 90th percentile. She is a giantess!

After the physical exam she got a shot for Hepatitis B right on the fleshy part of her thigh. Next, she was given a routine iron check. After the nurse pricked her thumb she collected three capillary tubes of blood from Veronica. Thirdly, she had to be catheterized for a urine sample. I was worried she might have a UTI and so they wanted to check for sure. It was a horrible experience for her and for me. Deme walked in right when I was holding her down and had her legs spread. His faced dropped and he looked super worried. They tried twice to get a urine sample, the first time they missed and they got a drop or two of blood. When I saw the blood I freaked out and told her to stop. She stopped and assured me she would get it the second time. Reluctant as I was, I said "yes". She quickly inserted the catheter and it was all over in about 10-20 seconds. Deme then scooped her up in his arms and comforted her.

In Veronica's young life holding her down was one of the hardest things I have had to do. Part of me wanted to cry and part of me wanted to smack the nurse in the face but she was as gentle as she could be. After it was all over, my little babe got a dose of baby Tylenol and took a 1.5 hour nap. She was a bit cranky and tired for the rest of the day and took an extra nap but all in all she managed quite well, much better than I did.

This Kid Could Be in the Movies

She has so many funny faces and laughs constantly. Maybe we should sign her up as a baby model. Veronica goes in for her 9 month check up on Monday. All I know is that she is growing at an amazing pace. She is almost too long for her changing table! I cannot wait to hear what the pediatrician has to say about her and her progress.


"I just wanna get out of this stroller!"


"I'm cool and loving my new girlie baseball cap."


"This is my shy puppy dog look."


"I don't think I am supposed to be playing with papa's sunglasses."

Veronica at 9 Months Old

This girl is amazing. Do all parents say that about their babies? Veronica has really started crawling and is very curious. Anything atop the coffee table is fair play. Everything goes into her mouth, esp. anything electronic, for some reason she gets bored of her toys in an instant. She has learned to say "mum mum" when she sees food that she wants to eat. Baby food (even the homemade stuff I make) is losing its appeal. She also says "nai nai" when she see or wants milk. (It's Chinese.) Once in a while she sleeps through the night, we are hoping she makes a better effort in the future.

She is mild mannered and sweet and often wakes up standing in her crib and rattling the railing. Most of the time she has a smile on her face and I think that is what I appreciate most about her, she is a happy baby.


She looks like a big girl with her linen cap on and a giant piece of pizza crust in her hands.

4 out of 6

Gia (not me, the other one) came up from San Fran this weekend to see Veronica and Tia. She took a break from her job and culinary school to have dim sum with us. We of course took the obligatory family photos (everyone will be getting copies in the mail) before she headed back to the Bay Area. It would have been great to have all 6 of us sister together for a family photo like 4 years ago, who know maybe sometime in the future.


Gia, Tia, Kentra


Gia, Tia, Zavier, Kentra


The four of us-Part 1


The four of us-Part 2

Foto di Flavio

This is Veronica's cousin Flavio. (The son of Deme's sister Valeria.) He is about a year and a half but is quite tall and strapping. On our next trip to Rome I bet they will have a great time torturing each other.