Another update....

I can'r believe he's 11 months now, and before I can bat an eye, he'll be 1. He's still up tp the same chananagans as he was a month ago; opening cupboards, taking stuff out of drawers, climbing onto furniture. His balance has gotten alot better (although we do still have falls...) although I don't think he'll be walking on his own quite yet.

I realise from looking at pics from a month ago that his hair has grown alot, and he seems to have put on alot of weight too.

Here are some pics from the new, fancypants camera I can't wait to learn how to use (right).

Into week number 3

I can't believe that we've been back for over 2 weeks now, it seems like a long time ago somehow, and somehow not...make sense? We are back into our "normal" life, which consists of waking up, taking baths, eating, changing diapers, and doing new-ish things like going for walks and watching Dario's face light up as he touches an olive tree, or point out different plants and birds to him. Don't know how much of it he's actually taking in, but it's good for me at the same time. Spring is here; sunny days, flowers blooming, and Marco's grass that he worked so hard at getting ready is sprouting.

Haven't taken many pics of Dario, but here are a few which I have managed to take. And as for achievements, he put a play phone to his ear for the first time on Sunday which was pretty cool. He's walking around a lot using an Ikea storage bin as a walker (works great!) and pushing himself into a standing position using the wall and any type of cupboard. And tooth #5 has made its way through (on top next to two front ones). He just keeps getting cuter and cuter!!

Back home....

Well, here we are. I think I'm over the jet lag, but with insomnia I don't think I can exactly decipher between the two. The flight went exceptionally well; on time, connections great with just enough time in between, bags all back safe and sound, and Dario being a sport as always. I don't know if anything phases this kid, such a great traveller and happy too. He must get that from Marco...

So now I've fully unpacked, put the heaps of new Dario clothes away until he can fit into them (which won't be long). And now back to normal life once again. Can you feel the sadness in those words? I want to thank everyone for being so hospitable and generous (as always) but I guess it just means a whole lot more now. You know who you are (that would be ALL of you!).

So here are some pictures of our great stay. Enjoy!!!

March 11, 2008

Pics on Dario's big party and his two top teeth!

9.5 month update

One more tooth on top through and another on its way just marks one of many changes in Dario's busy little life.  No pics as of yet but soon on their way...here's some more instead.

Happy March 1st!

Back in Edmonton, the season seems to have changed into spring bringing with it change and growth. Some new things that Dario is doing:

-sticking his tongue out

-climbs on furniture and releases to see how long he can stand on his own (which is only for a few seconds)

-eating a lot more

and as for me, well so far I've had an apple fritter, and fab sushi with my girls. 

More pics

Pictures

It's futile to even try and limit how many pictures can be taken of this kid because I just take more and more...so enjoy them

Here at last!

After a long day of airports, connecting flights and baby wrapping we finally made it. Dario was the best little traveller imaginable, although the lack of sleep made him especially grumpy when he finally saw his Nonni again. We are now over the jet lag(although I'm writing this in the middle of the night so who knows). All is well in general: the weather, food, company, plan making with friends, and general sense of things. Although 2 people in particular really miss someone special....for pics 

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Eating crackers:


Here's how I found him this morning:

Another achievement!

His favourite toy:

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15 sleeps til Edmonton

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18 sleeps

Lately Dario has been doing new sounds; this bi-labial bbbb sound which just adds to his cute factor as well as more drooling.


And some more pics from the past week:

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Fast as lighting, this kid is really putting all his effort into it:

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Some pictures I had fun with today

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Moments before I raced to get the camcorder, Dario was in full crawling mode; each day sees improvements and increased strength and gusto in his baby sized plump as chicken drumstick legs. So I ran to get the video cam to capture it on film and this is what I got:

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Today's brief walk outside plus some playtime inside:

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31 sleeps til Edmonton

Dario enjoying his bananas:

8 months old today

In his bed!

Here are a couple pics of Dario's new bed and a couple of him playing on ours. The bed has become the focus of many of my thoughts and questions. Questions and articles about the Family Bed, co-sleeping, sleep training etc have had me hunting down many articles about the issue and I have found some comfort in it as a result (as I'm not the only one who does this and my feelings and experiences are actually quite common). Dario, being so used to the breast, never having had the bottle and little need for a soother has found his comfort solely there. Did I somehow nurture this need as well (never having given him a soother as he isn't/wasn't a fussy baby)?

Anyhow, so far his room has been our room. HIS room is now painted and ready to be used, but he just won't have any of it (to sleep that is). So I've put him into his crib to play when he's all smiles in the morning, or to play on his mat in order to convince him what a wonderful place it is (yeah right!). But today for the first time ever, I put him down for a nap (needed some convincing) so hopefully that is a good sign. Although I must say that I am quite happy to have him in the bed since he still feeds (so I don't have to physically get out of bed) and we all seem to get a good night's sleep anyway.
Enjoy the pics!
Any thoughts/comments about co-sleeping cons and pros are welcome!

Video Update

As I am trying to still figure out making a DVD from all the video I have recorded, I can however post some video clips in the meantime. And in the attempt to record and gather and make sense of all the digital pictures and video taken, I have somehow lost/eliminated/recorded over the very first videos taken of Dario from July when I first got the video camera. So as to make ammends, I am trying to make some very cool video, however long it takes me or however much it frustrates me. Some more vids:

Taken Dec 22:


Taken Dec 29:

Ringing in 2008

We had a fun new year's eve at friends' Stefano and Chiara's house, with some other couples and kids. Dario was the main attraction for the other kids and he even managed to stay up past midnight to ring in the new year. A sign of things to come? Late nights? Parties? Girls? Hmm...

And today, being new years day, one which is usually low key, we took advantage of the sun and took a brisk walk around our whereabouts.

Christmas!

This was a Christmas of firsts; first Christmas for Dario, first time putting up a nativity scene (next year's will be bigger!), first time having Christmas lunch at our house, first time I ever made turkey and gravy, and our first Christmas as a family.

Dario Christmas Dancing and Pics

Merry Christmas to everybody from Darietto, Marco and Diana!!!

Re-arranging

We've rearranged the furniture in the living room and suddenly we have more space and a more livable living room. Will show some pics as soon as we finish up.

Dario has been great; still on 2 "meals" of solids a day but he still loves his mamma's milk! He can now sit up on his own with hardly any help at all (before he topples over that is) and...A TEENY TINY TOOTH IS COMING THRU!! A couple days ago it was just a bump in his gums, now it's an actual spot/strip of whiteness. Perhaps in a couple more days it will have surfaced! My baby is growing up!!

Older video

And some 5 month old video:
This is the first day in the incubator. It was hard at the time but now I can see how far he's come and developed completely normally and healthily.


This is one of the first times I changed his diaper. Isn't he tiny?


This is when he was about 4 weeks old. (there is nothing wrong with your computer; there is no audio)

More video!!!

So it's not only Dario, but I've made some of my own small achievements:
1. putting video on the blog
2. selecting and then cutting down some video into smaller chunks to then post

Although I STILL don't know how to make a lovely DVD with all the video I have, complete with menu, music etc. It's only a matter of time...

This video is from Nov 9.07
This is Dario chatting and rolling:


This one is him playing with his feet:


And this one is Nov 25.07 eating and making a mess:

New Video!

Using a digital camera has its advantages: I can take loads of pics and post them so that people far away can stop by and see what's up. Kinda like stopping by for a coffee. We took hundreds of pics at the beginning, which were mainly of the same pose, ten times over,to make choosing which ones to develop a complete chore. Now I don't take as many for a few reasons; its mostly just Dario and myself and I can only take so many pics of Dario in the high chair, Dario on the bed, Dario on the play mat. Another is that there isn't as much daylight and hence, much more darkness which means using a flash and I don't particularly like pics with flash; they just white out the real colours. So, here is a video of Dario laughing at daddy with the cereal box. It is true when they say that the best toys are boxes and containers.

I will promise to take much more video and update regularly on his small but large achievements.

Playing with the cereal box and laughing:

6-6.5 months

Not much to report on from the past 2 weeks. Dario is growing, developing and keeping mommy on her toes. Here is a list of some things he can now do:

-roll over from back to front, finds it harder to roll front to back

-grabs both feet although they haven't reached his mouth yet

-sits on couch unaided although eventually tips to one side

-can laugh and giggle at mommy's funny faces and when remarking on his stinky feet

-grabs everything and puts it all into his mouth

-loves to touch and go for the plates on the table (one of these days I know they'll be going to the floor!)

5-5.5 months & Fall Hike

Here are some more pics since coming back from holiday. We have almost hit the 6 month mark- and as they all say, the time really does fly by. I can't believe it is almost 6 months; we have now started on the baby rice although I don't blame the poor boy for making old-man-without-teeth like faces.

There is one photo that I must warn you about-not for the light of heart or stomach (although anyone else with kids might understand- he's EXPLOSIVE!!)

San Gimignano Oct 14-15 2007

On our way back we stopped for one night in Italy's most famous small town. In fact, there were bus loads of American tourists everywhere. Good for tourism I suppose, but kind of takes away from the romanticism of a medieval walled town in Tuscany. Although we did manage to find the romanticism by wandering through back streets, finding a tiny trattoria where they only serve bruschetta (and a pricey one at that; 2 glasses of wine and 3 bruschettas will set you back 40euro!!), and a great dinner of local pasta and famous tuscan meat, filetto, topped with porcini mushrooms. Buon appetito!

Isola d'Elba Oct 7-14 2007

We are now back from what was a spectacular first family holiday.

We did the usual as always when on holiday; hike, wander about, seek the path less taken (it is difficult as this small island with 145 km of coastline sees over a million tourists in August alone) only this time there was a different feel to it as there was Dario. This slowed us down (mostly me really), which was a good thing. I'm so used to always GO GO GO when on holiday; always have to wake up early in order to see it all and do it all. We had no itinerary, no plans, just went with the wind (literally speaking; there was a lot of it so we had to make sure the beach tent was safely pegged down so that little Dario wouldn't fly away in it like poor ol' Dorothy).

We were not alone in the water, although you could tell by the pastey white flesh that we weren't (really) Italian either, the other sun bathers being predominantly German (Marco wasn't able to work on his tan this summer in order to blend in with the other real Italians). Temperatures were around 23-25C which felt hotter under the blazing rays of the sun, and the water wasn't freezing as feared as the Meditteranean coast is always warmer than the Adriatic.

We packed in 5 days of beach fun, which even included a book! That has not happened in a long time!! Dario seemed to enjoy himself as well, or at least not notice the difference, although he would often act up in the evening right between the first and second course; I think he did this on purpose to be cheeky. Booby was always available so to him the difference was almost nil; we did however feel bad about dragging him around, and constantly taking him in and out of the car, but he didn't seem to mind. In fact, I think he liked having the attention of mommy and daddy the whole day long.

All in all an amazing beach holiday (the first for us). It really does amaze me how many beautiful places this small country has to offer. The car ride took 3 hours and 1 additional hour by ferry ; we were on the beach by mid-afternoon. In such a short distance the landscape cmopletely changes, as does the accent and local cuisine. Some of the wonders of Italy that make foreigners from all over fall in love with it. As will you once you see these pics...

Going away on holiday!!

We're off on our first family holiday. The bags are now FINALLY packed; diapers, baby-wipes, and more changes of clothes than a contestant in a beauty pageant. Off to Elba Island and then one night in San Gimignano (in Tuscany) on our way back. Here's hoping the weather keeps up and that the little guy is cozy and happy.

Will fill you in on all the details when we get back!!

Fall Day

Today went for a walk along the beach, the sun was shining, and Dario was in a very good mood. Next week holiday fun!!

Family Pics 3 1/2 months old

Here a just a few pics of the past month with family, although since I was talking pics with my old camera for my mom , I realise I have far fewer than I would like. More pics to be updated once I get the copies from my sister.

Family Pics

Everyone has finally met little Dario and are just smitten! He's a charmer!! Watch out girlies...

First Outing

Sunday was Dario's first outing to the mounatins; at 1200 meters, and an hour's way to Carpegna to go for what should have been a relaxing day away from it all, and especially away from everyone else. However, what we did not know was that there was also the 12th annual pilgrammage to honour Saint Maria de everyone and everything, and so spent an hour pilgramming, well, mainly just waiting for the bathroom. We did spot (it was hard not to) a well-rounded woman clambering up the hill to attend to "her calling" , with hundreds of faithful below her possibly wondering if it were an apparition or for real...we quickly changed scene and headed for a nearby lake (pond) instead.

Baby Milestones

1) Keep head up for several seconds now before letting it smash onto Mommy's, Daddy's or Nonna's shoulder.

2) Make gurgly, ooh and aah sounds with voice to get people's attention which seems to work!

3) Poop as much and hard as possibly can to see how much of it can escape the diaper ; I get daily practise.

Many more milestones to come, so until then you'll just have to be happy with these pics and this short video.

Vaccination Day

First vaccination and not so much as even a flinch from him, yet now 8 hours later, he is strating to fuss and cry uncontrollably. Not the first one and won't be the last.

More pics!

Now a ten-pounder

More pics from the last couple weeks. He's now more awake during the day, makes little noises with his voice, holds his head up steady for a few seconds with confidance before he head-butts me, and moves his legs and arms like he's cycling (that's my boy).

Short video, unfortunately there is no sound.

Also watch this one to see how much he's changed:

July 16 2007

Here are more pics from the last 2 weeks. He's grown more than corn in the prairies; almost 2 kgs (that's over 4 lbs) in about a month. See if you can tell...

Today is technically his birth date...

but as he is showing to be a feisty and determined boy, he was in no way shape or form going to lull around in my belly for more than he had to. He is growing loads; perhaps he will catch up to his peers in less than a year as according to the books on premie growth. More eye candy!!

One month later...

Daily rountine consists of changing nappies, feeding, trying to cook and clean in between, taking a snooze, and basically observing his expressions and movements. More pics to keep you satisfied.

The first few days with Nonna

Some more pics of the little man, growing always more into his own. Nonna Rosa is absolutely smitten...

June 8th

We've been home for just over a week now and have adjusted nicely. I've attached him solely on the boob now and I think he's getting used to it, although he still seems to fuss at it and go at it like he's getting ready for a boxing match.

Some more pics of little Dario.

http://picasaweb.google.com/domdianagallo/FirstWeekAtHome

Finally he's home!!!

After 15 days in hospital, Dario is finally at home. I love it that he's here, it makes the house feel complete. The emptiness without him, especially the first time I walked through the door after getting back from the hospital, was unbearable and numbing. Now, it's like the past 15 days almost didn't exist.

The last couple days at home have been great and have all revolved around him; his feedings, changings, burpings, nappings, and us trying to manage our daily routine around that. I must say that I think we've done pretty well; I've always managed to cook a meal, and good ones at that (a stir-fry last night, and pancakes, toast and scrambled eggs for our ritual Sunday breakfast) plus water the plants outside and do some washing. It was just the 3 of us for the first 2 days; no interruptions, no phone calls, no-one knocking on our door. That is because I warned family (and Marco overall) that I wanted just the 3 of us for the first couple days, then I would be open to visitors. Unfortunately, none of you can be here in person to visit, but hopefully the pictures will just have to do for now.

Update of Dario

Here are some more pics we've taken. Dario is doing fine and is perfectly healthy but as standard procedure they're keeping him in until 36 weeks, which turns out to be June1/2 if all goes well. I've told Marco that once we get him home, I want to lock myself in for 48 hours; that means no guests, absolutely no-one because I want to be selfish and have him all to ourselves instead of 1 hour a day with nurses around and anti-septic hospital robes. That's not too much to ask is it? The pediatrician said that because he is premature he is more susceptible to bacteria and germs, which means very few guests and always washing your hands. This was great news (not entirely of course) for me as it gives us a valid reason NOT to have people over for the first while. This goes for all children for the first few months, but especially for him, which is the reason why they are keeping him in a safe, protected environment.

Thanks to everyone for the congrats and the words of encouragement.

Welcome Dario Gregory Morosini to the world

It was just as unexpected for me as it was for some of you, but he came into the world at 4:55pm on Tuesday May 15, 2007, at 33 weeks. As he is premature, he is being kept in hospital until next week as standard procedure but he is perfect, doing well and we are slowly getting to know this little boy who makes all kinds of funny little faces.

Pregnant and loving it

Well now that I no longer have my belly, I rather miss it. I've heard the same thing from other women that after they gave birth that they had a sense of losing a part of them that had been there for what seems to be such a long time. For me, it's also that I didn't show until around the fifth month, and I was really loving my big round belly with another month plus to go.

Mantova April 20-22 2007

Here are some pics from our weekend in Mantova and Sirmione on Lago di Garda. We had a fun couple days walking around, eating gelato, and hunting down a pubic toilet once an hour (if you've ever been to Italy, you know how difficult that can be!)

Christmas / New Year's in Edmonton 2006/07

Here are some of our favourite pics from our trip home at Christmas.

Enjoy!!

National Park of Abbruzzo October 2006

We spent 3 days hiking in nearby Abbruzzo at the end of October. The weather and autumn colours were superb, the food divine, and the hikes spectacular. Bad side was that we got into a car accident on the highway on the way home, while the good news was that 2 weeks later I learned that I was pregnant. As you can imagine, I was quite concerned about the start of my pregnancy considering that we had been in a car accident and that I had x-rays done. But everything has turned out exceptionally well.

Holland July 2006

Here are some pics of our road trip to Holland in July. It was a great adventure that I'll never forget.

London Calling

London. Easter 2006. Had an amazing time and were the guests of friends Chris and Nina. We will have to repay you one day!!