We were lucky enough to be able to have some breakfast with Santa today! Grandma and Erin & Brennah (Matteo's future wife) came too!! We had a great time!
Like my ears?!
Matteo got his 2nd haircut the other day! He REALLY needed it! He did great in the chair all by himself! Raisins helped!
Rocker Dude!
Last Saturday was Sean's only Saturday of December off (gotta love retail) so we decided it was the perfect time to go pick out our Christmas Tree.
Now let me tell you this. When we first were married, we lived in an apt. so we couldn't get a real tree. I have always had a real tree so our first year in our house, I was pumped to get a real tree. Sean was a little skeptical, but I talked him into it. The next year, there was some discussion about it, but again, we got a real tree. This year, there was any thought about NOT getting a real tree. I think I've broken him down!
Anyway, we decided to make a day of it! We headed out the door to breakfast and watched some really FAT snowflakes fall, then headed to the Andersons. I love real trees, but I'm not about to go out to a farm in 20 degree weather just to chop down our own tree. Matte helped us find a great one and we loaded onto the Envoy! Once we were home, Matteo was a great helper to dad as they got the tree up. Then we had a slight pause in the action for someone's nap!
Once he got up, and after the TPG Christmas Party (we had a blast but were too busy to get any pics, sorry) we put the lights up and ornaments! I'm actually pretty impressed with Matteo. He really like handing us the bulbs, but does a good job of not yanking too many off the tree.
We also taught him how to turn the lights on the tree on and off with the foot swith we have. I really likes doing this, but I think the neighbors might think we're trying to communicate thru Mores Code!!
Helping with the lights
Over the Thanksgiving Holiday, Matteo and I decided to bundle up and head downtown to catch the Parade. My dad used to take us down there, and I really though Matteo would get a kick out of seeing the clowns and bands!
I was right, he did enjoy himself, but I think the candy may have had something to do with it!
Ok, I know, it's December and I'm just getting around to blogging about Thanksgiving, but, well, life happens. What can I say?!
Grandma helping out Matteo & Jordan
By the way, all these leaves are NOT from any tree in our yard. They are all from the neighbor's trees!
Monkeys and giraffes, oh my!! It was Matteo's 2nd Halloween, and while I don't think he'll remember either one, it was still a good time had by all. Last year, it was dad racing home from work so that he could make it in time to bundle Matteo up and sit on the front porch and pass out candy. This time, it was mom's turn to rush home. Because of my schedule, I wasn't able to make it home until about 7pm, technically on my lunchour, but I was there, none the less.
It was so nice to be greeted by a monkey running up the driveway at me. Matteo looked so cute in his costume and I think he really enjoyed wearing it. After a couple of times over to the neighbors to steal some candy, the monkey boy had had enough.
Fall in the midwest cannot be beat. I know the winters can be cold, drab and downright dull, but boy do we make up with it during the fall! Hot apple cider on a cold day with the sun shining! You can't beat it. And today was one of the most pictuesque Toledo Fall days I can remember in a long time.
Huge cows, which at first, Matteo was afraid of, chickens, bunnies, sheep and of course a dog. He loved looking at the animals but couldn't understand why they would not come up to him and let him touch them. 
We embarked on Matteo's first hayride. He really seemed to like it, and, for the most part, was a great passenger. He got to pick his own pumpkin out, and has no idea what is to come when we carve it. After he chugged down some apple cider (don't think he got the concept that we got it for all of us to share) he crashed in the car on the way home!So, as promised, here are some of the latest pics of Matteo...
Ready for the Beach
I've been inspired. I have been blogging since December of '07 about the kiddo, but know that I have been lacking about updating it since Matteo turned 1. Well, no more. The moms in the Toledo Parents Group I'm a part of have inspired me! I also went thru and re-read all the posts. You forget so much, and it's so cute to see my little man back when he was still a baby.
So here I am today, promising to keep up on the blog, if for no one else but posterity! So Matteo can look back on this and say "Moooommmm!" So I can show his girlfriends when he's a rebellious teenager and embarrass him!
And with that, onto the latest adventures of Matteo-- almost 16 months now...
A walking fool-- and while I didn't have the actual video camera handy, I was able to catch some of his first steps on my cell...
An avid flier-- He's survived his first flight out to NH for Joe & Torie's wedding, which was a blast by the way!!!
Alright, I know...I've been really lacking in the blog dept. But really, I don't think anyone really reads this unless I send out an e-mail, so I bet you didn't notice.
Matteo is learing new things all the time. He's crawling on all four now, but still resorts to the army crawl. He can get himself out of the exersaucer, much to mom & dad's surprise, and quick reactions, and he is taking cues from us!!
Yesterday, Matteo learned to be a little indian!! Too cute!
Just wanted to post a quick update...
Matteo is almost 9 months now...9 months...can you believe it!! Time really does fly by! He cut his SIXTH tooth this past weekend. That makes 5 teeth since Dec. 28th. He's still a trooper.
He's attempting to "really" crawl. He'll actually takes a few "steps" when he's on hardwood, but doesn't bother with it on carpet, and resorts to his army crawl. He can pull himself up on things now, specifically the coffee table. He has no problem taking a few steps to scale the length of it either, which, of course has led to a few falls. He actually had his first bloody lip the other day. He knocked it as he was falling down. He also knocked himself pretty hard on the head yesterday. Poor baby!!
Sean and I have decided that we weren't taking enough pictures of him, so there has been a surge of flash bulbs going off anytime he does something cute. Here's a few...
So, a mere matter of hours after I posted about Matteo's Mama, he started saying Dada! Sean is so proud!
He did it. Matteo said his first word! He's been saying ba ba ba ba for the last few days, but we're not counting that. But on Saturday, his ba ba ba's turned into ma ma ma's!!! It's so cute! The video on here doesn't really do it justice, because he says it a lot clearer and more often, but you'll get the idea.
I feel kind of bad, because typically, da da is supposed to be the first word, and I think Sean was really looking forward to him saying it first. But, I have been saying ma ma ma to him for days, so I think that's where ma ma came from.
I'm sure tomorrow, when it's Matteo and Daddy day again, da da da will definetly be heard around the house, at least from Sean!!
crazy all the little things that kids can pick up. After our ear infection diagnosis last Monday, I figured it was because of the teeth that might be coming in. He didn't have a cold, or runny nose or anything. Well, guess what, a few days later...they made their appearance. I have to say, he's really a trooper b/c you would never know he's sick, but I'm ready to not have to watch him every time he sneezes (b/c you never know what's going to come out of the nose).Poor Matteo. This teething thing is kicking his butt...literally. It all began Saturday when I spoted a white line in his mouth. I felt up there and felt the very tip of a tooth poking thru. He wasn't acting fussy or anything, so I was very excited.
Fast forward to Sunday, still not a lot of fuss, but he had started pullin at his left ear, usually a sure sign of ear infection. Great. To top it off, he also broke out in a horrible case of diaper rash! He was crying every time we changed his diaper. And, I'm not talking about whimpering. No, it's the full on, I'm-in-pain, mom-why-are-you-doing-this-to-me, cry. The kind of cry that bring moms to tears. My poor baby.
Monday we took a quick trip to the doctor, and sure enough it's an ear infection, so back on amoxicycilian he went. They also gave me this concoction of diaper rash stuff for his bottom. It's a combination of Desitan, Mylanta and Aquaphor ointment. It's kind of gross to mix up, but I'm hoping it works. You never feel so helpless until your baby is crying and there's nothing you can do about it!
Keep your fingers crossed...it works!
distracted from the fragile lace. One quick quiz from the priest (does anyone really know when the epiphany really happened?!) and three pours over the head, and Matteo was officially a Catholic.
