TV is a mom's best friend: Peppa Pig

Last month, Carlo did the

most unspeakable thing. 

 He took our television in for repair! 

Normally this wouldn't have bothered me a bit BUT I came to realize that in those 18 days that we were without TV....

I NEEDED IT!  

I had to have it so that Valentina could be entertained just so that I could keep up with housework.  I never knew how much I depended on it until she screamed her head off because I put in her a playpen while I made the bed.  I couldn't keep her happy but more importantly, she would NOT play in her crib or playpen for more than 10 minutes.

I put her on two most favorite cartoons but unfortunately, YouTube doesn't have many episodes. So, it's not fun having to put on the same 3 shows over and over again.  Finally I remembered another cartoon and lucky for us.. there were LOTS of episodes.

Peppa Pig is a British children's cartoon that focuses on the main character Peppa, her brother George and her parents, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig.  Valentina LOVES this cartoon. She sees it and her face just lights up and she'll clap when she hears the theme song.  I think she just likes the fact that they snort when they talk.  Peppa's friends all have names that correspond to their species or last names.

For example there's Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog, Rebecca Rabbit and Zoe Zebra.  Of course with Italian translations, it doesn't always work out. While Zoe Zebra is the same, Suzy's last names changes to Pecora (sheep).

I am SO grateful for YouTube and the person who uploaded countless episodes... my daughter and I appreciate it.

Baby food... Italian Style

Now that Valentina is completely off the baby food, except for some fruits/snacks, I have sometime to reflect on her experience... or should I say MY experience with Italian baby food. I never actually noticed baby food until V was nearing 4 months.  Since I was nursing her, I only worried about diapers, wipes and the occasional box of formula.

As the fourth month started, she hit a growth spurt and wanted to eat EVERY 1.5 hours!! When the doctor said we could start with Apples and Pears, I was so happy! I envisioned my little girl making yummy noises while she enjoyed her fruit.  What I didn't envision was me in the kitchen making my own baby food.  I had been told that most Italian mothers make their own baby food. The blender is an Italian mother's best friend.  I, however, am NOT Italian.... or so I thought.

Once I saw the prices of those tiny little jars, I changed my tune and found the site that would be my go-to for EVERYTHING.  Wholesome Baby food has all of the information that guided me on the journey of making my little one plump and happy.  As I have mentioned before (here) Italians have a whole different view when it comes to solids. While I'm sure their methods are mostly because of thousands of years of tradition, I am an American. We do things differently.  I want to give my baby veggies and fruits one at a time.

I don't care to give them EVOO  and Rice cereal in the same spoon!

but I did it anyway.

"Trout for babies!.... GROSS"

but I did it anyway.

"Veal and Ham? In the same jar? Really???"

but I did it anyway.

(Valentina's favorite!!)

"What do you mean she's too young for a sippy cup?"

"She's 6 months old... look how well she can drink from it!"

"I'm her mother, I don't care what anyone says. I will give her gelato!!"

"Sure, let her try your dessert.. but just a taste"

"Yes, we'll take a small pizza for Valentina. Thanks!"

"Um.. we said SMALL!"

(this pizza was custom made for V by the chef of the restaurant)

"Yes, you're Italian!"

can you see the fear in my eyes?

"please don't choke!!"

"Cookies for bottles? Really? .. Cookies & Milk???"

"HECK YES!!"

11 months... 1 more to go!

I feel like this month has had the biggest changes yet, there are only a few minor things to report.  This past month, V learned how to drink from a straw.  We've been searching for replacement no-leak/spill proof sippy cups since she keeps playing with them.. and thus no longer spill proof.  I found one with a straw and after a couple of days, she got the hang of it. She's pretty fancy.

One of her favorite things to do is to wake up right as Carlo is leaving for work and beg to be carried.  She loves knowing that EVERY MORNING, Daddy will take her to the balcony to see the doggies. We've actually got her panting like a dog when we say the words "doggy" and "puppy".

Probably the biggest change is her eating. I know it's normal but Carlo seems to think otherwise. Since she's having to chew a lot more and deal with texture, she's not eating as much as she used to. During the day, she eats her food.... in fact she eats most if not all of it. By the time Carlo gets home and feeds her dinner, she's kinda fussy and only eats a little bit.  He says that she's not eating and that she's losing weight.  I say, she eats just fine and look at her.... she's chunky! She's NOT losing weight.

Tell me..

Is this the face of a starving child?

Valentina Jade

11 months

8 teeth (almost 9)

Let the planning begin!

In just a few short weeks, V will be turning the big

  O-N-E!  

While this is a huge momentous occasion, I am on the fence whether or not to have a party.

Growing up, I had parties. I had big parties. To be honest, I don't remember much of them.  My earlier memory is my 3rd birthday. I vaguely remember someone tying a Strawberry Shortcake ribbon in my hair. Since my only memories are photos, I didn't think it would be a big deal NOT to have a huge celebration for V's birthday.  I didn't always feel this way.

I'm pretty sure the fact that we no longer live in Texas made me change my mind.  If we were still in Dallas, then of course I would have the BIGGEST birthday bash in the history of my family gatherings. We have A LOT of cousins. Really... a lot.  At Christmas we usually have 50+ people in one house... and that's just my mom's side of the family... with the cousins we see most often!

But now, we're in Italy. Most people picture Italians to be large, loud and always eating. Well, what you see on The Sopranos or Jersey Shore isn't REAL Italian.  (That's American-Italian.. there's a difference).  While Italian are loud, always have family meals on Sundays, they are as large as they once were.  My MIL (& deceased FIL) both came from family that had 9 children. Now, the common family has 1 kid.. maybe 2. So, it's no surprise that Carlo's family while big, is still considered small when you compare it to mine.

When I refer to "the family", it's only 2 people. My MIL & SIL. V has very few cousins that are close in age.  So, why have a party?  We'll just celebrate with a regular dinner.

Then, the other day, I read a blog that made me change my mind.  One of the blogs I'm reading now is Love³.  Her little boy just turned One and she had a great birthday party for him. (You can see it here) this is where I changed my mind about having a party.

Looking at the pictures of her smiling baby and their family and friends made me want that too.  I don't have to have the huge elaborate shindig but i do want the cutesy decor and yummy finger foods.

It's V's FIRST BIRTHDAY!

I AM HER MOTHER! 

IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE IT SPECIAL!

... and that I will!

Her birthday will be the Friday before Easter which means I get to plan lots of fun things like an Easter Egg hunt and make confetti eggs!!

It's gonna be AWESOME!!

Going to Eataly just got easier!

A couple of weeks ago, Carlo, Valentina and I were apart of HISTORY!  On March 6th, Torino opened up 6 new metro stations.  Now, normally this wouldn't be that big of a deal but these new stations take you to the "not so great part of town" and into EATALY!!  My first and sadly, last post about Eataly was in 2009. It's not that I don't want to go but, we have to take the metro into town and then hop on a bus to get there.  If we didn't have the baby it would be easier but, taking a stroller on a bus isn't always fun.

BUT NOW... we don't have to worry about that!!!  We decided to be a part of history and ride the metro on it's inauguration day.. all the way down to the last NEW stop!

Since the inauguration day was a BIG deal, the city opened up the metro it was FREE to ride from 1pm until the close of the day!  That's really the main reason why we went! 

Anyone who's been to Torino and ridden the metro has seen these stickers.  This is BearTO... the metro mascot!

It was so great to ride the metro all the way to Lingotto! This new addition has made it possible to get from one end of the city to another in a little over 20 MINUTES!  The metro is only 5 years old so, before then it would take 2 hours to cover this same area.  It's amazing how much things can change in 5 years right?!?

The opening of the new stops coincide with the unification celebrations so, there were Italian flags everywhere.  Like a mom... I told Carlo to please stand in front of the flag so I could get a picture of him and Valentina..... after all, it's history! I must document!!

On the path to self feeding

At 10 months, I do realize that V can chew and eat quite well. After eating pizza, bananas, oranges, bread, prosciutto and potatoes I feel better knowing she ate and didn't choke.  More importantly, she has decided she's had enough of baby food... PERIOD.

While she had (in the past) happily eaten her food, it never once bothered her that she wasn't chewing and that made me feel better. As I mentioned before, she did have some problems with texture and she didn't care to eat any pasta. Now she wants to eat exactly what you're eating and she wants to eat it NOW!

I noticed it on the day she turned 10 months.  While she was congested she rejected everything.  At first I thought it was because of her fever and while that may be true, three days later, she was still rejecting most things.  I gave her some fruit in her teething feeder and it was at that point that I realized she was done with baby food. She wants regular food.  So now, we're focusing on self feeding.

I love that when she does feed herself, she claps as if it's a major accomplishment.... which it is! She thought she was quite the big girl the other day when she ate her Frittata (egg yolk, pasta & grated parmigiano).  She was clapping after every piece of egg she put in her mouth.  This of course meant that we also had to stop every minute and clap along with her.

Because she is now feeding herself, she takes FOREVER! It's not a problem for me but Carlo doesn't like it.  He feels like she's not eating enough and is losing weight.  I keep telling him that it's ok because it's normal and she'll eat more when she's ready.....

he just wants her to be a "chunky monkey"

Feeling Patriotic

With the Unification celebrations, I've been feeling a bit patriotic to my new country. I've been getting excited to see the exhibitions, attend the concerts and eat the food!  I think it's also to show Valentina (through photos) what it means to be a part of such a great celebration.

Before we moved here to Torino, I had saw a video on YouTube. It was the introduction that NBC aired before the start of the 2006 Winter Olympic games.  I remember seeing it for the first time and thinking, "Wow... I'm going to live there. That's my new home."  I still get goosebumps every time I watch that video.  Now that I've been here for over 2 years, I've settled into my home, I have a part time job, I have friends, I gave birth to an Italian-Tex-Mex baby.... I have a life. I am grateful for this country that has adopted me and allowed me to build a new life here. I feel blessed to have my life change for the better. My life is very different than what it used to be and I love it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an American first and forever. However, the feelings that I have for Italy are now the same as they are for America. When I listen to our National Anthem, I always sing along and cry. I cry because I'm proud to be an American. I'm proud of our men and women who fight for our freedom.  That same emotion is now bleeding through to the Italian side of my life. Last night, Carlo and I were watching one of his political programs. At the beginning of the program, Jazz musician Paolo Fresu played one of the most beautiful renditions (in my opinion) of the Italian National Anthem. It gave me the chills and Valentina and I both clapped at the end.

Have a listen... What do you think?

Happy Birthday ITALIA!

That seems like such a strange thing to say but yes.. it's true.  March 17, 1861, Italy became a unified country.  Up until that time, the country was made up of small states with their own currency, language and government. At that time, Italy (although not yet complete) was a monarchy with Kings, Queens and a royal family.  Then during WWII, the King fled his country and went into hiding. After the American liberated Italy, it was then voted that Italy would become a Republic that would vote in a President and Prime Minister.

With more than 3,000 years of history, Italy still has many stories to tell and this year, we get to be a part of it.  We've bought our flag and will hang it on our balcony... as soon as it stops raining.  I will make Valentina a patriotic tutu (one that will interchange and can be used for other seasons/countries!!), and we'll celebrate in the best way we know how! You can rest assured that I will have TONS of photos!

Tanti Auguri Italia!

It happened!!!

The other day, we were eating pizza and Valentina was doing just great.  Carlo had put a slice in her mouth and she bit down and started to chew... then.. it happened.

She coughed.... I patted her back (she was sitting on my lap), she coughed again, I patted her back a little harder.  I put my finger in her mouth to get the piece of pizza she was spitting out.  She coughed once more and then I heard... "Watch out.. don't step on anything. Where are the napkins?"

Since she was on my lap, I turned her towards me and she had food/mucous/gunk on her chin. I wiped her mouth, gave her some juice and asked if she was ok. I hugged and kissed her.  Carlo came back with paper towels and he held her while I cleaned up.

She wanted more pizza, Carlo said no.. "she needs her food because she eats too slow"... I said, "Hey.. that wasn't so bad.. I can't believe I handled it so well!"

Yea Me!!

Daddy's Girl pt 2

Somethings..

will never change...

Daddy's girl pt 1 

Texas Independence Day

March 2nd was Texas Independence Day which marks the day Texas signed it's declaration, freeing them from the control of Mexico.  We Texans are a proud bunch.. incase you didn't know.

The best way to celebrate in true Texas style would be to have some seriously good barbecue.  I had planned to make a really good meal to celebrate but I have been so busy with V and school that I had forgotten about TID.  I had wanted to browse through the index of Homesick Texan but.... it never happened.

I had to settle for hamburgers instead. 

*sigh*

I miss Tex-Mex food!

Have you seen.....

this...

One of my HS friends posted this on another friends comment.  I LOVE this new site.  I am an Amateur. I am not in any way trained in the art of Photography. I wish I was because I SO want to be good at taking pictures... but I'm not.

I have a nice camera but that doesn't make me a PRO. The "About" section reads as follows:

Have you noticed how 50 girls you went to school with have set up shop as a "professional" photographer? Having a DSLR does not make you a professional photographer. We're outing these no talents with daily pictures from the worst of the web. We only post pictures that were from a photography "business," and we use that term lightly. Maybe you are one of those photographers. Have a good laugh at yourself. You submit the photos, and we provide the snark.

I know people who fit into this category.  I actually read a "mommy blog" who I think falls into this category.... but I would never submit their photos to this site.  I'll let someone else do it!!  

Just wrong!

Click here for more!!

International Women's Day

To All of the Women

in every city

in every state

in every country

around the world

these are for you....

flickr: user - rofi

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

The Sunday Meal

Today's Sunday meal was a quick and easy favorite.  Since we had a big day ahead, we wanted something that didn't take a lot of prep work.

So we settled for: "Da Bomb" Sandwiches.  I remember the first time I made these for Carlo he liked them so much that he just kept calling them "da bomb" and so now.. that's what we call them.

"Da Bomb" Sandwiches

(sorry for the blurry photo)

I actually have two versions of this sandwich only because there are some ingredients I can't get here in Italy.

U.S. Version

Potato Bread

Mayo

Turkey

Colby Jack cheese

Avocado

Roma tomatoes

Lettuce (of your choice)

*garlic salt to season tomatoes

Italian Version

Sandwich bread/ awesome crusty roll from your bakery

Mayo

Prosciutto or Turkey

Avocado

Fresh Mozzarella

Tomatoes (hot house/on the vine)

Lettuce

*salt and Olive oil to season tomatoes

10 months... & 2 more until the big day!

My sweet monkey is now 10 months (as of Feb. 22).  I feel like these past few weeks  have just flown by much faster because she seems to be getting bigger every day and changing in every way.

She's constantly on her feet. She refuses to sit and watch TV, she has to stand and try to peek over the crib/playpen to see the TV.  When she's actually sitting on our lap, she'll slide off, stand and take a couple of steps.  Of course, we better follow along or she'll throw a big fit!!   Since she's standing more and starting to take some steps, I bought her some "real" shoes with a good hard sole.  She loves these Pumas. She threw a fit at the store when I bought them because she wanted to play with them right away.

One the day she turned 10 months, her 7th tooth came through and I was sure #8 was about to show as well, but we're still waiting for it.  The next day, she woke up with some nasal congestion and no fever so, we kept our appointment for her vaccinations.  She did great and only cried during the actual injection.  However, that night she did run a fever, congestion was worse and she had a BIG loss of appetite. While the fever lasted until 2 days later, we're still battling the congestion and her appetite came back.. but only for textured foods.  (more on that subject next week)

We went to the doctor this week for her check up. She had her weight and measurements done along with the general stuff.  The doctor was really impressed that she had grown so much since her last visit.  In fact, she made a comment about V's chubby belly!  V is usually a good girl at the doctor's but this time she was fussy and actually kicked the doctor while she was getting her teeth checked.

This past week, we also reached another milestone. Valentina said her first Italian words! My MIL comes to babysit and often take V to the balcony or a door, knocks and says, "chi e'" which means, "who is it?" She had repeated it once but as I was skyping with my mom, V kept talking and talking but very clearly said "chi e'" several times.

At 10 months, she's just a joy to be with and I can't to see what changes come in the next few weeks!

Valentina Jade

10 months

weight: 9,660kg (21lbs!!)

height 72 cm (28 inches)

words spoken:

mamma 

dada

chi e'

words she understands:

clap your hands/batti le manine

give me a kiss/blow a kiss/dammi un bacio

say hi/fai ciao

No!

TV is a mom's best friend: Boom and Reds

Ok to be honest, I have to put this down as one of my favorite V programs.  Carlo and I usually end up watching it more than she does.  I don't know if it's because of the little mushroom guys or the lovable ogre but, there's just something so cute about Boom and Reds!

Boom and Reds is produced by the same Spanish company that produces Zumbers

The Sunday Meal

... that wasn't on Sunday.  We had a last minute invitation to have Sunday lunch with one of Carlo's aunts so had to move our meal to today. Unfortunately, the weather was absolutely yucky considering that Sunday was really nice so, our menu seems a little off.... but it was still very tasty!

Saturday night, we had dinner at MIL's house and we brought back some Tortellini to have as our first course.

Tortellini in Brodo is super easy and delish!

6 cups of water

1.5 veggie bouillon cubes

season to taste with:

oregano

basil

salt and pepper

Bring to a boil and then cook tortellini according to directions on package.

Add freshly grated parmigiano 

 This weeks experimental meal was a spin on the classic BLT.  I got this from a recipe book that we made in church.  One of my dearest, darling, gal pals submitted this and it was Y-U-M!  Carlo was a bit skeptical at first but once he tasted it, he was hooked!

The California BLT

*an ode to Whitlows in Clarendon, Virginia

8 slices of sourdough bread

1/4 cup pesto

2 balls fresh mozzarella

12 strips of bacon (I used pancetta)

2 tomatoes

1 egg

1 cup bread crumbs

Beat egg and add salt and pepper to taste.

Dip tomato slices in egg and dredge with bread crumbs.

Cook tomatoes in skillet coated with pam, turning only once.

Toast bread and spread one side of each slice with pesto.

Layer tomato, mozzarella and bacon.

Slice in half and serve.

Since I don't have a toaster, I put the bread in the oven which made it too toasted. Next time, we'll try it untoasted and see how that goes.  I also made Carlo's sandwich with prosciutto and mine with pancetta.  The pancetta made it too salty but the prosciutto was perfect!

This is perfect for a summer evening and is going in our permanent collection!