eight months old today

Sky turned eight months old today. She is getting over a nasty virus (probably the same one Aiden had ten days ago). Her second tooth (bottom incisor) also cut through today. Now she has TWO whole teeth. Life is good for this little girl and even better for her parents.

So what does she do at eight months?

- Sits really well...so well that even Aiden has a hard time knocking her over
- Bounces in her Exersaucer so loud that you worry that the thing is going to fall apart
- Looks like a baby ballerina pirouetting in her bouncy swing
- Grabs anything she can possibly reach. The other day right before I was left for the office I was holding her in one arm and attempted to take a sip of my tea with the other. Before I could even take a sip, she smacked the cup out of my hand and all over me...and she thought it was funny!
- Eats with her hands although she still doesn't like lumpy foods
- Stands well if she's balanced and supported
- Likes to watch Aiden do just about anything
- Loves to get a break from her diaper
- Sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night, sings and makes really loud raspberry sounds and then goes back to sleep on on her own
- Makes raspberry sounds when she is full -- thereby blowing any additional spoonfuls you give her back all over you
- She says "aaaah tadt tadt tadt tadt tadt " and smile and looks at you in hopes that you'll repeat what she says.
- Wakes up very very very happy....if she could do back flips she'd do them right after waking up from her nap.

Stop Daddy! Aiden coming!

Adam left for a conference in Baton Rouge early this morning. We wanted to be straightforward with Aiden so I told him. Here's how it went:

Aiden: Daddy go?
Me: He went to a meeting in an airplane.
Aiden: Daddy went in airplane??
Me: Yup and he'll be back very soon.

-- 2 or 3 hours later while we're outside he sees airplane fly overhead

Aiden: Stop Daddy! Aiden coming! Stop Daddy! (yelling at the plane)
Me: Daddy will come back after his meeting, okay?
Aiden: Mommy get phone. Call Daddy. Aiden crying. Go airplane with Daddy.

they stick together

Earlier today I caught Aiden helping himself to cookies in the pantry. One cookie was okay but more than that and he'd ruin his lunch so I locked the pantry after I explained to him that it wasn't a good time for a snack. Well, that resulted in a mini-tantrum. No biggie. I ignore the tantrum and he usually chills out after a couple of minutes. Well, now he has an ally - Miss Sky. When Aiden cries Sky gets very upset. While the crying in stereo is a little much, it is heart warming to think that they care so much about each other already. She has a very tender heart!

lip-ice

Aiden has found his new love in life - Chapstick or more endearingly referred to by Aiden as "lip-ice". He walks around the house with his lip-ice in his pocket and stops and applies a little on his lips (and chin) and then goes about his activities. Lets just hope he doesn't get too attached to the lip-ice like his Uncle Dullah.

Nana Beth scored all the points in Aiden's book for introducing him to lip-ice. She came up last week to give us a hand since we were all sick with the cold or flu. Thank you, Nana Beth!

picture of her first tooth

Here's a picture of Sky's first tooth! Do you see it on the bottom?

my love bugs

I have a feeling they will have a very close relationship their entire lives.

Aiden and Sky,

You two are my pride and joy. No matter what happens, no matter how many years go by, no matter how much the world changes - I want you both to keep one promise with me and Daddy and that is to always be there for each other. Stay in daily or at least weekly contact with each other, celebrate your successes is together, overcome your challenges together, confide in each other, listen to each other, advise each other, hold each other, and just be there for one and another - physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually. Remember, you came from the same place and you're both very loved. When you take care of each other, you're taking care of Mommy and Daddy.

I love you both with all my heart for eternity.

- Mommy

sleeping through the night

Sky is now sleeping through the night. We're talking from 7 pm to 7 am! Yahoooo!!! She has a very structured evening routine including bath, play/massage time, milk and a book. Once all of these things are done she will go to bed with a wink and smile...No, really, once we get through her routine, she goes down very easily.

a very long weekend

Over the past week everyone in our house has had a cold or flu with all the trimmings - sore throat, congestion, achy muscles, low grade fever, crankiness, etc. Over the weekend Aiden spiked a high fever and we were really concerned. Against our better judgment and per our pediatrician's advice, we took him to an urgent care clinic. As soon as he said he had a "tummy ache" with a high fever, they concluded that it was appendicitis. We were then transported to Fairfax ER for more test including a CT scan. I felt so sorry for Aiden. He is so active and keeping him still for blood work and an IV was just torturous. Because there was a possibility of an operation, he was not allowed to have any food or drinks. The poor kid just kept saying "mommy, apple juice pleeeeeaaase, apple juice pleeeeeeeeeasse." For hours upon hours it was like wrestling a bear while trying not to alarm the bear. After a 12 hour day of testing and waiting they finally confirmed that it was NOT appendicitis and probably just a stomach virus...UGH!! I was ready to karate chop something. Anyway, another virus he has undoubtedly brought home from day care.

As of today, things are improving. He is slowly getting better. The fever is mostly gone and he is just starting to take a nibble of food here and there. Lets hope he's better soon!

Aiden fix something

Aiden's new thing is to "fix something". He walks around the house with plastic screwdriver and a hammer looking for something to fix. He can fix the knobs on the kitchen cabinets, the legs on the chairs, the door hinge, Sky's crib, he even works on electronics such as the baby monitors, cable boxes, or you name it. If you ask him what he's doing he responds in a very serious and a don't-bother-me-right-now tone "Fixing something, uh, its broken, Aiden fix it."

Sky's first tooth!

Sky's first tooth broke through the surface today. Its her bottom, left, front tooth. I'd post a picture of it but its barely visible. She seems to be on the same schedule as Aiden. His first tooth came at 7 1/2 month and she is now 7 1/2 months. Pretty cool!

an active girl

She's starting to climb and bounce on furniture. She loves it when Aiden jumps off the couch and he is more than willing to entertain her in this capacity. So I'm guessing it won't be long before she jumps off the couch.

a soft spot for Sky

Why does he look so sad here? He was playing with Sky and he got a little rough....she cried and he felt soooo bad. He has a real soft spot for Sky.

a soft spot in his heart for Sky

Sometimes Aiden gets a little too excited and plays a little too rough with Sky. He's never intentionally hurt Sky but a couple of times he's squeezed her too hard or accidentally knocked her over while she was sitting.

Earlier this evening while I was taking pictures of both of them, Aiden knocked Sky when he got a little rough. Sky cried so I spoke sternly to Aiden. I immediately felt terrible reprimanding him because I saw that he felt very bad about what had happened to Sky. He just backed up and leaned against the couch thinking about what had just happened. I could tell he was partly confused and partly disappointed in himself (and probably me). Every time I see this picture, it breaks my heart. He is such a sweet sensitive little boy. Sky is very lucky to have him as her big brother. And I am super lucky to be his Mommy.

Sky gets cold outside

Sky loves being outdoors but because of the cold weather, she doesn't get enough outdoor play time. To appease her, we take her outside for five or ten minutes at a time....long enough for her to get some fresh air and see the sites but short enough that her slobber doesn't freeze her chin off. I guess we've been very concerned about Sky getting cold outside because the other day I asked Aiden if we should take Sky outside and here's how the conversation went:

Me: Lets go outside. Do you want to go outside for a little while?
Aiden: Aiden get jacket from closet.
Me: Great. Can you get a jacket for Sky too?
Aiden: [he stops and thinks for a little while]Sky gets TWO blankets. Sky gets cold. Brrrr. Sky gets cold!

We opened the door to go outside and a burst of cold air hit us in the face.

Aiden: No, Mommy. Too cold for Sky. No outside for Sky.
Me: But she has her TWO blankets on.
Aiden: Brrrr. Too cold for Sky. Brrr. Sky not going outside. Sky hands get cold. No outside.
Me: Then how can I take you outside? I can't leave Sky in the house alone.
Aiden: Daddy coming. Take Aiden outside later.

What a cool kid! I was ready for him to throw a fit if we didn't go outside and instead he was more understanding the me!

seven months old today!

Sky turned seven months old today...where does the time go?! Other than a little cold, she is doing very well. She is active, vocal, and very very happy. Her stats: 28.5 inches long, 23 lbs...yup, she is still off the charts!

favorite food: sweet potatoes
favorite drink: milk, milk and more milk
favorite activity: jumping/bouncing
favorite toy: anything that feels good on the gums
favorite clothing: None - she likes to be in her birthday suit
favorite pastime: watching Aiden

rice cereal rocks

one of the guys

Aiden hanging out with Daddy and Uncle Caleb over the weekend.

that explains it!

While I was brushing Aiden's teeth last night, I noticed he has his second year molars in! I guess that explains the lack of appetite, the crankiness, the middle-of-the-night fussing we've been dealing with the past two weeks. Glad that's behind us!

a hawk! a hawk!

On the ride home from school today Aiden saw a hawk.

Aiden: Mommy, Mommy - a hawk! a hawk!
Me: Really? You saw a hawk? What's he doing?
Aiden: Has mouse in his mouth.
Me: Oh my gosh! He has a mouse in his mouth? What's he going to do with the mouse?
Aiden: Hawk takes mouse home - hawk's home; not Aiden's home
Me: He's going to take the mouse to his home? What will he do there with the mouse?
Aiden: Play
Me: He's going to play with the mouse?
Aiden: (he giggles) No Mommy, he eeeeats the mouse!

baby girl

rolling around together

Sky loves spending time on the floor...


...especially if Aiden is rolling around near her. He is very cautious with her and clearly adores her.

safety patrol

I guess I nag Aiden about being careful a lot. I know this because he is starting to pickup on some of my habits. When I was driving him to school the other morning I hit a pothole. Our conversation went something like this -

Aiden: Happened, Mommy?
Me: Umm. I think there was a pothole and I must have hit it.
Aiden: Careful Mommy. Car breaks. Hole breaks Aiden's car. Careful Mommy!
Me: Ok, I'll be careful Aiden.

-- 5 minutes goes by--

Aiden: Mommy hold with two hands!
Me: Okay, I'll hold the wheel with both hands.
Aiden: Careful Mommy. Hold both hands. No more pothole, Mommy. Hole breaks Aiden's car.

sitting pretty

Sky is sitting totally independently now! She can even remain balanced when Aiden puts a stuffed animal twice her size on top of her. This new position has given her a whole new perspective on things. More than ever before she now monitors Aiden's every move. If you watch her little head from a distance she looks like she's a little radar for Aiden. Where ever he goes her head turns.

see the resemblance?

They even make the same expressions.

patience

You can already tell Aiden and Sky have bonded. He makes her laugh and she indulges him with her undivided attention. He performs for her constantly - jumping off the couch, standing upside down, making funny faces, rubbing food all over his face, singing, dancing and otherwise just being silly. I have to say, when I'm really busy, its nice to have Aiden entertain her (also keeps him out of trouble)...but then sometimes I hear Sky squealing and I know her patience has worn thin.

Little Sky hasn't been feeling well. She has had a very bad cold so she is super congested. She has the hardest time at night because laying flat doesn't let the mucus drain. Last night she and I sat in my closet for a couple of hours so that she could get some time sitting upright without waking up daddy and Aiden.

I really have a hard time with either of the kids are sick. It really just breaks my heart to see them struggle with breathing and not know how to clear their nose or throat. I've been using a bulb syringe and that helps a little (especially if Adam does it because I'm too much of a wimp to really put it up her nose). I could sit up all night watching her and making sure she's breathing comfortably.

Someone sent me the following poem via email and I really think it's right on so I'm posting it here even though, I don't like to post other people's work on my blog but I'll make an exception for this one:

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body...
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .

-- unknown

I LOVE being Aiden and Sky's Mom. I don't know what I've done in my life that was so good that god gave me these two perfect little people to love and take care of...

Sky can sit!

You heard it hear first, people! Little Sky can sit up on her own!


Sky loves sitting independently. From the sitting position she has a much better view of things. I can imagine being held all the time is tiring for babies too.


I like this picture. There is a similar picture of me from when I was six months old...we look a lot alike.


I call her my little Boasin (pronounced Boa Sin). When I'm really feelin' it I call her "Boa-ah-ah-ah-ah-sin". The word come from the French word of boison (drink). She is like a refreshing drink to me.

her bodyguard

I love Sky's expression in this picture. She looks so cool, content, and comfortable as if she is a Hollywood celebrity protected by her personal bodyguard.

we encourage sharing

We encourage Aiden to share his toys, his food, and even attention. Well, he'll be first to remind you that sharing goes both ways. The other day Uncle Dullah was in town for his birthday. He and his friends threw a big party somewhere downtown. On Sunday night we threw uncle Dullah and small birthday dinner and party. Aiden very generously offered to share uncle Dullah's birthday with him. He got to help blow out the candles and we sang happy birthday to Dullah and Aiden (remember Aiden's birthday was two months ago!). Why not? By the way, he sings the song "happy birthday" remarkably well.

angelina lips

Aunt Meghan says Sky has Angelina Jolie lips...in about eighteen years people will be talking about "Sky Rossi lips".


Our little Sky...

I wonder what she's wishing for.



Sky wearing her most comfortable pajamas -- handed down from Aiden. This little girl is growing so fast that I have a very hard time keeping up with her clothes. She has been outgrowing her clothes just about every two months.

beep beep, beep beep

That's Sky's Aiden radar...she's constantly scanning the room for Aiden. She LOVES to watch her brother. I sit her in the middle of the room and watch her turn on her butt 360 degrees following Aiden's every move.

keeping warm after bath

Sky still takes her daily bath in the kitchen sink. Its just a lot easier on my back. I do look forward Aiden and Sky taking a bath together and having fun. Perhaps this summer when Sky turns one I can give it a shot...


Here's Sky after her bath. She loves to be bundled up in a warm towel while I lotion and massage her arms, legs, back, and chest. Like Aiden she really enjoys her infant massage. I love squeezing those sweet little chunky arms and legs.



She is so calm, sweet and delicious after bath...I could just eat her up.

first REAL snow experience

From what I can recall, this is Aiden's first REAL snow experience. Last year he was too little to enjoy the snow and didn't even want to touch it. This year as soon as he saw the white stuff coming down he was begging to go outside.

I dressed him in his snow suite, stocking hat (daddy just picked up at the mall) and boots and he was ready for the winter wonderland. He couldn't believe how the snow covered everything. He was very concerned about the snow covering our cars. He helped me clean my car off.


Adam made a snowball and threw it our house. The snowball happened to hit the window and that concerned Aiden very much. He was talking about it for a long time.



Oh yeah and he was very concerned about his playing ground being covered with snow.


So much to discover in life...your boots leave prints when you walk through the snow..