Music to get you in the mood: Glee Christmas Album

Last year, I wrote about the Andrea Bocelli CD that I absolutely love.  This year, I somehow was lacking Christmas cheer even though I had my music. My decorations were up.. and we even got a tree this year.  However, in my procrastination to put up the tree by the time I went to the store to buy my ornaments and lights, there wasn't much left.  It looks nice but also plain.  I couldn't find enough white lights and I didn't want multi-colored lights.  So, maybe that's why I'm feeling less Christmasy this year.

I should be excited.. it's Valentina's 1st Christmas!  She's got plenty of gifts under the tree.. but I still wasn't ready.  Then... something hit me.  I hadn't followed my own tradition.  Whenever I decorate my tree, I ALWAYS play Brenda Lee and sing along.  This year, I decorated in silence (Valentina was sleeping and I was trying to be quiet).  So, now I've been making sure to Rock around my Christmas Tree every chance I get but I wanted an extra boost of Christmas glee.

A few days ago, a friend of mine posted on Facebook that she had bought the Glee Christmas Album.  Now, I am a HUGE Glee fan but I wasn't too sure about buying the Christmas Album.  I had heard the songs when it was released but didn't buy it.  This time around, I bought it anyway and I'm glad I did.  It was just what I needed.  Instant Holiday Cheer!  I love how they take classics and make them great again. (or in some cases, even better than the original).

find it on iTunes!!

Wishing you a.....

Merry Christmas 

Buon Natale

Feliz Navidad

Mele Kalikimaka

Joyeux Noel

from our family to yours

TV is a mom's best friend: Bo!

I remember saying that I would not let my kids watch too much TV (who doesn't say that?!?!) and now I'm eating my words... kinda.  I used to watch a TON of TV when I was little and yes.. you can actually learn from it but the downside was that I did not get enough outdoor exercise.

Now that Valentina is bigger and needs more attention, I MUST use the TV as a distraction so that I can get things done.. like washing dishes, making the bed... have lunch.  She's been "watching" TV for a few months now but only certain programs would interest her.  She's watch then turn away if she was tired of it.  Now, it seems she has more favorite shows and get mad if I take her away from them.  Luckily, there all shown in an hour block so I know exactly how much time I have to do things.  Of course I have also memorized the time schedule so if she misses it at 7:40, she can watch it at 10:40 or 13:40 (1:40pm).

Her most favorite show...

Bo on the go!

Carlo and I love this cartoon too!! Bo is the little girl.  She and her dragon (Dezzy) are usually on a search for something.  The wizard helps them with clues so they can find "(fill in the blank)".  She has to go through different levels and lots of crazy weird things to reach a door and find her "(fill in the blank)".  When she needs help she asks for the viewers help by imitating an animal to give her energy.  At the end they always do a little dance.

Valentina's eyes light up every time she hears the theme song.  She smiles and claps her hands.  One time, I actually caught her clapping her hands as Bo said, "clap your hands like a seal".  Unfortunatley, this Canadian program is not available on DVD so we aren't able to buy them for her.  I was hoping to get them as a Christmas or Birthday present for her.  If you get a chance, look at them on YouTube or on the website: Bo On The Go!

Italian version: Il formidable mondo di Bo!

English version

ps... she likes this cartoon sooo much that when she's cranky and won't sleep, Carlo sings the theme song to her and she calms down.

Italians are SMRT!*

Now that Valentina is officially eating solids, it was time to get a high chair.  We had been using her little chair for a while and it started to become really uncomfortable for me and also for the baby.  So, using money that was given to us at a gift, we went to Ciao Bimbo and selected a chair.

With all of the many different chairs we were undecided on which one to go with.  Some had big trays, some were smaller.  Other's were plain, some were ugly, & some were just simple chairs.  We chose one that would match our walker and one that was unisex.  After all, it will be used for the next one too. (hoping the next baby will be a boy!)  Anyway, when the salesgirl asked if we needed help, Carlo told her what we needed and she gave us her recommendation.

He asked what the differences in some of the chairs were and she mentioned that the ones in the back were SECONDARY chairs.. while the ones in front were PRIMARY.  We wondered why she was saying that and then it came.....

Salesgirl: "Is this your first baby?"

Us: "Yes"

Salesgirl: "Oh well, you see the SECONDARY chair is what you need for the grandparents house.  That way they have one too while they babysit or you go over for dinner."

Us: "Ok.. and the other ones"

Salesgirl: "Those are the ones you need at home because they recline.  So after the baby is done eating, they can take a nap there and you don't have to wake them up to take them to bed."

Me to Carlo: "That's actually smart.. because kids do fall asleep a lot while eating."

Full tummy = great nap!

Why oh why have I NEVER seen this before?!?!  Is this something new? Do they even have them in America? (I'm sure they do) Why aren't they on display at Target?  Maybe I'm behind and everyone has one now but I think this is GENIUS!!!

*The title is my Homer Simpson reference.  I say this to Valentina all of the time.

Wednesday Night Fever

Well, it finally happened!  I don't know why I was looking forward to this but I was.  Last Wednesday, Valentina had her first official FEVER!

Tuesday was like any other day.  Normal. Happy. Healthy. Cold.  We had her in a fleece sleeper and and she was sleeping like an angel.  At about 1:15am (on Wednesday), I went to bed.  I had been battling a cold and cough for a few days.  As I was turning off my lamp, I started coughing.  It was dark and I was ready to lay my head on the pillow when a LOUD giggle scared me!  It seriously had me freaking out.  I turned the light back on and Valentina was sound asleep.  I had to cough again and she did it again... she was laughing in her sleep... laughing at my cough!  I grabbed my iPod and recorded her.  The last cough, she opened her eyes, looked right at me... and laughed.  Carlo and I were laughing with her and she started "talking"  I fed her for a while until she was done and we went back to sleep.

An hour later, she woke up again but quickly went to sleep without problems.  At about 3am, she woke up again.  Carlo touched her hand and said he was BOILING!  I touched her head and hands and immediately unbuttoned her pj's.  Her legs were H.O.T!  I felt her back and stomach which were also hot.  I told Carlo I was going to wet a wash cloth.  As I got out of bed, she let out a scream..... She was officially not feeling well.  After a while, her legs and hands were getting cool but her head and body were still quite warm.  I took her temperature and it read 101.5.  I kept the washcloth on her head and occasionally wiped her neck and face.  She continued to wake up a few time... one of which was the result of a cough... that turned into VOMITING... on ME!!!  (as I turned her to pat her back, and I heard a gurgle. I picked her up and as soon as she was in my arms.. she threw up on me)

So of course, the rest of the day was more of the same. Crying. Sleeping. Cuddling.  Wednesday just so happened to be a Holiday here in Italy so the Doctor's office was closed.  With no medicine in the house, I just did what I knew would help her most.  I changed her into light weight cotton clothes and continued with a cool wash cloth.  Knowing she would not eat anything, I breastfed her all day.  I wanted to give her a bath to help cool her down but unfortunately, she kept falling asleep.  Most of the day her fever was down but there were a few times that it went back up.  By night time, it was down to 99.6.  She slept all night and woke up on Thursday morning.. FEVER FREE and back to her usual self.

We had decided to not call the Doctor for several reasons:

1) Her fever was being controlled and was going down.

2) She was NOT dehydrated.  She had wet diapers all day and even 3 dirty diapers (that's more than a regular day)

3) Even with a fever, she was still playing and acting somewhat normal.

On Thursday, we tried to call the Doctor but only got the Voicemail.  We figured she had taken the week off and since Valentin was feeling better, there was really no reason to call.  We just wanted to inform the Doctor of the situation and find out what medication we needed for the next time.

During this time, Valentina realized that Daddy was also good for cuddle/nap times.  She finally let Carlo rock her to sleep and now... she just wants him.... which is good for me because now I can get things done!

Like I mentioned earlier, I have been waiting for this day.  I think it's because it would be something I KNOW I could do.  As I told Carlo, "This is the one time I don't have to call a Doctor or consult a book.  I know what I need to do.  I didn't spend all of that time going to school, working in Doctor's offices & ER's and not know what to do.... I've got this"

December 8, 2010- First Fever.  101.5 F

7 months

Another month is passing and the little monkey is getting bigger.  This month we won't have a check up at the doctor but I wanted to mark her progress anyway.  I haven't weighed her but I'm sure she's tipping the scales at about 20lbs now.  She sure does weight a lot for someone who doesn't always want to eat.

Well, I should say.. for someone who doesn't want to eat her PASTA!  I think she might be more Mexican than Italian right now.  We've tried everything we can think of and I can't figure it out.  She either doesn't like pasta at all or the chewing is making her gums hurt even more.  I have no idea.  I have noticed that she doesn't like foods with any kind of texture (ie. mashed= having to chew).  She'll eat a couple of spoons and then turn her head, but if I give her some fruit... then she'll eat it up.  We've been trying this for about a month now and we aren't getting any kind of progress.

Today, we gave her some Rabbit for dinner and she didn't care for it much.  She made the same faces as she did with the Turkey.  It took us 3 different attempts to get her to eat Turkey so I think we'll have to try Rabbit again.  So far, she had LOVED all of her fruits and veggies.  She can't get enough of them... especially bananas and pears.  My mom sent us a Sassy Teething Feeder and Valentina loves it!  I just have to get more replacement bags so that we can take it everywhere.

She finally stopped being lazy and is finally sitting.  We've been propping her up with pillows since she was 3 months old and just last week, she realized that if she sits up... she can play better.  I had noticed that she tries to push herself back up with she falls but she's not quite there yet.

She's getting really good at clapping her hands and giving High-Fives!

Valentina Jade

7 months