16

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:

24

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

25

Some pictures I had fun with today

26

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:

29

Today's brief walk outside plus some playtime inside:

30

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.