daycare

Aiden started day care full-time last week. Although he gets a little anxious when he is first dropped off, he really enjoys himself at daycare. Today when I was picking him up at the end of the day his teacher said, you know "Aiden is very very excited about every activity". I said oh great! I'm glad he is taking part in activities. What activity does he like best? "He enjoys building bridges out of just about anything". Guess it runs in the family....

right on schedule

This week we had Sky's two month check up. I cannot believe it has already been two months. She is doing very well. She is 15 lbs 12 oz (yes, almost 16 lbs at two months). By way of comparison, Aiden was 15 lbs at four months! She is also tall - 24 inches which is the same height as Aiden at two months.

I'm also very proud to have Sky on a sustainable schedule. This little girl has a very good internal clock! Here's her schedule:

8 am - Wake-up
9 am - First feeding

...nap, wake, feed, nap, wake, feed, nap...

6 pm - Bath
6:30 pm- dinner
7:00 - down for the night

2 am - night feeding
5 am - early morning feeding

Aiden still goes to bed at 8 pm. He is really getting a lot better about following directions, listening, and just generally "behaving himself". Life is good!

sky blue eyes forever?

Both Aiden and Sky were born with slate blue eyes but right around eight months Aiden's eyes changed to hazel. Sky's eyes on the other hand have lightened over the past two months.
I'm wondering if this means she'll keep her blue eyes. I've heard that a baby's eye color can change in the first year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for blue eyes. How appropriate would it be for a girl named Sky to have blue eyes?!

Now that you've seen a close up of her eyes at two months, please take my poll and tell me what color eyes you think Sky will end up with.

Gone fishing with Gramps

Aiden, Nora and Gramps (Rossi) went fishing under the bay bridge in Virginia Beach. Here's one of the fish they caught making a plea to Aiden for his help to get back in the ocean.

best cousins - best friends

Aiden and Sky spent the weekend in Virginia Beach with their cousin Nora. Aiden and Nora had a great time playing in the sand, fishing, chasing each other, sharing toys, finger painting, eating ice cream, and riding the marry-go-round. Here they are sharing a beach towel after rinsing off in the outdoor shower.

I have lots of great memories from my childhood but the ones that stand out the most in my mind are all those great weekends and summers with my cousins. I hope Aiden, Nora, and Sky make lots of memories of their own.

i swing my beat at the playgound

...you know?

Nothing like some one on one time with my Daddy! Aiden loves to answer any question with "Daddy!!".

Me: Aiden who made you breakfast this morning?
Aiden: Daddy!!!

Me: Aiden who gave you that new police car?
Aiden: Daddy!!!

Me: Aiden who's shirt is this?
Aiden: Daddy!!!

Me: Aiden who took you to school this morning?
Aiden: Daddy!!!

The cutest part about it is that he knows he's lying! He gives you a little smirk and loves to see you look shocked at his answer.

fun in the sun

We spent the weekend at Virginia Beach -- now that the dust has settled from moving our home and our offices, we're trying to pack in as much fun as possible before the end of the summer. This past weekend we went to the beach with my parents which is really nice because we get some help with the kids and real home cooked meals.

Although it was as hot (97 degrees) and humid as could be - Aiden spent almost every waking minute outside. It was so hot we had to take turns taking him outside because none of us could stand it out there as long as he could.

bad hair day

Sky is changing everyday - getting bigger, longer, more alert, hair is getting lighter and is generally looking less like a new born. One thing that hasn't changed much however, is her hair that stands straight up at the top of her head. Here she is praying...."please god, don't let my hair stick up like this."

Sky is a month old

Today Sky is exactly four weeks old and here are her baby stats: 11 lb 05 oz and 22 inches tall. She is a great baby. She eats well, sleeps well, poops and pees well. Even with Aiden pulling her feet, touching her face, rubbing her head she sits calmly sucking on her pacifier. The only thing that upset this baby is hunger….but, when she's hungry, she's shy about letting us know. She goes from cool, calm, content baby to pissed off, head banging, red faced, angry baby in 30 seconds…I guess she is already taking after her mom... ; )

the playground

Today we had a playground installed in our backyard for Aiden and Sky. When Aiden woke up from his afternoon nap, he noticed two men building playground in the backyard. WHAAA?? How could this be? A playground? In our backyard? NO WAY!!! The rest of the afternoon he was glued to the window saying "oh oh oohhh!!!" with a HUGE smile on his face.

our family of four

Aiden gently touching Sky's little head. He is so gentle with her it's amazing. A couple of times I saw him pick up her fallen binky and put it back in her mouth to sooth her. I can already tell these two will be very close.


Daddy holding baby girl.


This little Sky baby is super sweet. I don't know if I'm just imagining it but she already seems so feminine to me.

its the begining of a beautiful relationship

I can't help but wonder what they'll be like when they grow up. I really hope they are close...really close. I hope the stay geographically close to each other or if they can't be that they visit each other often. I hope they attend each others events - graduations, birthdays, holidays, etc. I hope they always have a specially place in each other's heart. I hope they always give each other the benefit of the doubt. I hope they always stick up for each other. I hope they always check in on each other. I hope they always trust each other. I hope they confide in each other. I hope they cheer for each other. I hope they always have inside jokes. I hope they tease each other. I hope they hug and kiss each other. I hope they have funny pet names for each other. I hope they talk about the great times they had together when they were little. I hope they remember that they both made their parents very very happy just by being born.

we got him a sandbox

I set up a sand box (using a kiddie pool) for Aiden on the back deck. The idea is that he can play on the porch in the sandbox and I can watch him from the kitchen window. While catch up with chores. Seemed like a good idea but he insists that I watch him play in the sand and that can't be through the kitchen window....i have to be right there cheering him on. Kind of defeats the purpose. Anyway, he likes it and has fun playing in it.

Thank you Nana Beth

Nana Beth came up to stay with us for a week right after Sky was born. It was wonderful having her help. She not only helped with Aiden and Sky, she also help us finish unpacking and got us organized after the big move. I am just amazed at how much "stuff" we've accumulated over the years. I used to be such minimalist...what happened???

We've had a busy summer but its only going to get busier. Seems that we're destined to do big things on the eleventh of each month.

June 11th - moved from Centreville to Oakton
July 11th - little SKY was born
August 11th - we're moving our office from Discover Square, Reston to Plaza America, Reston. I wonder what September and October 11th have in store for us....

*August 9th was our 10 year wedding anniversary... : )

sleepy head

Sky is sleeping a lot more than I remember Aiden sleeping the first week. But then again, she was born (c-section) 14 days before her "due date" and Aiden was born 10 days after his "due date."


When she is awake she loves to look all around.


She loves it when I talk or sign to her...so sweet.

sweet perfection

Sky is sooooooo sweet. These are some of my favorite pictures of her because I love her pose. To get to this perfect little sleeping bunny pose, I feed her and let her fall asleep and then I gentle hold her up to see her hold this position. Aiden use did the EXACT same thing. Too bad I don't have a picture of him in the same position.

she feels so good

I love holding this little girl. I can't seem to put her down. She is so warm and soft and smells like heaven. She sleeps on my chest A LOT. Everyone says I shouldn't get her too used to be held....but I think this time will not last forever.

Little Sky, I hope you dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

- Lee Ann Womack

Live your life to the fullest, baby girl. I love you, Sky.

- Mommy

on the green

Maybe he'll be a professional golfer...

I love this picture of Aiden. He looks so calm and cool. Not a care in the world. He loves this little toy. He carries it around everywhere.

brothers and cousins

Aiden and Nora had a great time playing in the yard, eating blackberries from our blackberry bushes, playing with cups in the pool, and sharing Popsicles.

When I look at this picture, I can't believe that when I first met Ben, I thought he and Adam were twins...maybe not identical twins but very similar fraternal twins. I actually asked Adam if he and Ben were twins. Looking at them now, they look almost nothing alike.

Nora came to visit baby Sky

Nora, Uncle Ben, Uncle Jo Ann came up to visit Sky this weekend. Everyone had a great time playing in the backyard and in the pool. Aiden and Nora are really getting to that age where they are more interactive with one another. It was cool to see both of them so intrigued with the baby. They both took turns holding Sky.

my muscle man

Check him out! This little boy is all lean muscle.

the BIG brother

Aiden and Sky

Aiden is doing well with Sky.

He generally is very sweet with her.The only problem can be when Aiden tries to grab Sky, especially on the face. He can be a bit too eager to grab her, so we have to be careful. He is always smiling at her and will give her a hug and kiss if you suggest it. I can tell he is going to be a great big brother. The picture above was taken at the hospital when Aiden came for his second visit.

Sky leaving the hospital

Grandma (along with Adam and Bobba) came to pick up me and Sky up at the hospital today. Seems I'm getting out of the hospital a whole day earlier than expected...you know what they say about the squeeky wheel. : )

The nurses at Fair Oaks Hospital are great. One nurse name "Sue" (a very nice Korean lady) is one that I will never forget. She is super charged all the time, she cares very much for her patients, she is totally on top of everything, she has a great attitude and everything else that a top notch nurse would be. I remember Sue from when I was here when Aiden was born. I remember I liked her then too. As a matter of fact, I had even sent her a thank you cared and gift. She blew our socks off so much.

Here's Grandma holding Sky while I was getting my self ready to leave the hospital. Adam was in the car installing Sky's new car seat.

big brother at the hospital

A few hours after Sky was born, Aiden came to visit at the hospital. He arrived with Grandma, Bobba, Dullah and Natalie around 4 pm. As he came down the hall, I could hear his foot steps and chatter. I so looked forward to seeing the expression on this face at first encounter. He had no idea where I had dissappeared to that day. All he knew was that he woke up and Grandma came to get him from his crib, not Mommy or Daddy.
As he walked down the hall, I called his name (he almost walked right past the door). Then suddenly he stopped in his tracks and ran into our hospital room excited and sort of confused like "what are you doing here?" and "why are you in a bed" and "what are you wearing?". Without any hesitation he jumped up on the bed with me. I hugged him -- you'd be amazed at how much I missed him in just a few hours. I then introduced him to Sky "Aiden, here's your baby Sky". I really wanted him to know she was his and he was hers...perhaps that would hedge off any jealous feelings. Well, guess what? It worked. He loved her from the first minute he saw her. He was super sweet to her. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life.

the arrival of Sky

The little bundle weighing 7 lbs 11 oz arrived on July 11th, 2007 at 8:25 am...we named her Sky.