Giuseppe - 3 weeks old!

Giuseppe is 3-weeks-old today!

I took this picture with my iPod yesterday, so I know the quality isn't great. It looks like a real smile, doesn't it? But, it was really the beginning of some fussing. We're still waiting for his first real smile :)

Speaking of firsts, Giuseppe rolled over this morning! He was on his tummy on the bed and he rolled over onto his back! Don't grow up too fast, little one :) Another first for the day...Maria changed her first diaper! And we use cloth prefolds and flat diapers, so this is a little more difficult than disposables.




Everyone still enjoys holding their little brother!

Dany went to school on Friday, so we decided to start school on Friday, too. I know, I know...what a mean mommy :) It's only July! But, life is much more pleasant when we follow a schedule and it's always good to get ahead of schedule to give us time off later...like for a trip to Italy sometime this fall!

The day went well for the kids, but no so much for Giuseppe. This boy has taken long (5 - 6 hours!) naps EVERY afternoon since we brought him home from the hospital. I have to wake him to nurse in the middle of the nap. But, of course, when we start school, he decides to take only the shortest naps all day. My arms were SO sore from holding him all day! I'm hoping he'll accept our school schedule a little better this week!

In case you think we just sit around staring at the baby all day, here are some pictures of other things we did this week...

...painting...

Chiara said she was painting a hippopotomus and orange clouds :)

...chess...

...baseball...

...other outdoor games...

...and time in the sprinkler to cool off from the outdoor games :)

We have scheduled Giuseppe's Baptism for Sunday, August 14 after the 10am Mass at our parish. We are looking forward to celebrating this beautiful Sacrament with many friends. Please keep him in your prayers for this special day!

Giuseppe - 2 weeks old!

Giuseppe is 2-weeks-old today! He had a good 2nd week. No big messes this week :)

We enjoyed several yummy meals from friends this week! It was wonderful not to have to cook for a few days, which is a team effort of Dany, Maria, and I these days. Thank you to our thoughtful friends who brought meals this week!!

As I promised last week, I made sure to take pictures of Maria and Giuseppe. She's such a great helper. Giuseppe is very content with her - unless he wants to eat, of course! She takes care of him so I can shower in the mornings and get ready for bed at night. She loves it!





Look at that handsome boy!

Everyone who meets him still comments on his full head of hair :)

Elena is the one who asks to hold him the most - after Maria. She often climbs into a chair or the couch with the Boppy pillow in her lap. Then she holds out her arms and says, "Hug-a-bAAAby!" I wish I could get a video of her saying this. It's priceless!

With 4 older sisters, Giuseppe has to be content with a girly-patterned Boppy pillow :) He doesn't seem to mind :) :)

Look at those chunky cheeks and arms!

Occasionally, Papa gets to hold him, too!

We did it! We got a picture of all the kids after Mass this morning!!

Well, this week it looks like we didn't take any pictures of Matteo and his brother. Oh, well!

Giuseppe's 1st week

Baby Giuseppe is one week old today. He's been such an easy-going baby so far. He never cries unless I can't get to him right away to feed him. He sleeps a good portion of the day, and we have to be sure to wake him a few times per day so that he won't want to be awake at night. He rarely spits up, which is nice since we've had a couple of babies who have had trouble with reflux. This isn't to say that he hasn't made his own share of messes (think opposite end messes). Most of them have only given Dany extra practice with running the washing machine. One particularly memorable mess had him mopping half of the living room :)

Here is Cati's artwork on our chalkboard announcing Giuseppe's arrival.




My parents were here to take care of the other kids for the birth, and they had to go home on Wednesday, but they did get a couple of days to visit with Giuseppe.

Elena always thinks she should be holding the baby :)

2 days old...

3 days old...

On Thursday, Giuseppe went for his first doctor's check-up. He was perfectly healthy and his hips even seem fine! (Remember that 3 of the girls have been under care for hip dysplasia.) He weighed 10 lbs 6 oz, and since he passed his birth weight, he doesn't have to go back until he's one month old!

5 days old...

One week old! He went to Mass for the first time this morning and slept peacefully in the sling the whole time :)

I tried to get a picture of how fluffy his hair was after I washed it this morning :)

We always try to get our babies Baptized as soon as possible, but it seems that it may be a few weeks yet. Our priest announced at Mass this morning that he'll be away on retreat and vacation for the next 3 weekends :(

Somehow I don't have any pictures of Maria with Giuseppe, but this doesn't mean that she hasn't spent a good bit of time with him. She's been a great helper, of course, especially with helping Dany cook supper. I'll try to take some pictures of Maria this week, and I still need to get a picture of all 6 kids together!