Weeks 20, 21 (Dec 17 - 30)

 The 17th was the Miller, Axline & Sawyer dinner party (not pictured).  G'Ma Pat cared for Aldo while I had my first night out without the little guy.  I did quite well, which says much for the food, ambiance, and company I had at the party.  Aldo had a restless night and kept G'Ma on her (tired) toes.  Many thanks!                          But the BIG EVENT of the week was preparing and then flying to Georgia.  G'Pa John had booked us a direct flight; Sac to Atlanta,which is the only way to go!  It took me all day Thursday to pack - seriously, the car was finally loaded at 8 p.m.  The next day was forecasted to have a really good storm beginning early.  When we left the condo, at 4:30 a.m., everything was easy and clear.  We were so early in Sac that we had the opportunity to walk the neices and nephew to school with Uncle John.  Uncle John then drove us to the airport where I snapped this photo of Aldo, still being entertained by his beloved Hippo.

 

Aldo did incredibly well on the plane, both on our way out and on our way home.  He only slept 30 minutes on our flight to Georgia but on the return he slept 3 of the 5 hours.  We took with us Aldo's carrier, it's base, and his (rather large) stroller - all of which we were allowed to check at the gate. 

 

The first day in Georgia was a recovery day.  Aldo fell asleep on G'Ma Kristine for an hour and a half, while I settled our belongings into our temporary home.  A big treat was seeing Kathy and Randy,who came all the way from Indiana to meet Aldo.  We went for pizza and everyone took turns holding Aldo while he gauked at the big screen TV's (which were playing sports; thus Aldo again showing early signs of his boyishness).

 

Keep reading to the end, and you will receive a pleasant update on our Georgia visit from G'Pa John and G'Ma Kristine.

 

 

Aldo and G'Pa enjoying some outdoor time together - an instant pleaser.  They are on the sunny upstairs deck, overlooking the woods below.

Aldo loves to be fed!

 

 

Home again.  Here is Aldo practicing sitting up (with help from the couch arm rest).

 

 

 

While we were away in Georgia, Tahoe received (judging from my backyard at Lake level) 3-4 feet of snow.  So, after a day of recovery, Aldo and I made our way to the Nordic Center (Tahoe XC) for our first ski together.  Kevin, manager of TXC, brought out the new ski gear for us and set it all up (remember, the Chariot had been our bike trailer, now it is the ski trailer).  This was all a great adventure as there were many uncertainties.  How to get the trailer and my skis from the car to the snow; would it be crowded (a weekend and a holiday); would Aldo throw a fit; Did Aldo have enough food, rest, clean diaper; Woud it be too sunny (no kid sunglasses yet) or too cold or too stormy; What would it feel like to tow Aldo and was I up to the exercise......?   It went fine on the way out, but Aldo cried off-and-on on the return, despite my nursing him in the warming hut.  I realized afterward, while I was comfort nursing Aldo in the car, that he wasn't warm enough in his little suit.  I'll do better next time.  All-in-all, given the uncertainties, I'd say we did well.

 

 

 

Aldo is beginning to pick up his toys on his own. 

 

 

The down jacket (below) makes Aldo look bigger than he really is...but still, he's a lot bigger than the last carrier photo.  Aldo was dressed like this for our big trip to the supermarket in Tahoe City today, Sunday, to do some real (versus light) shopping.  I brought my Baby K'Tan so that Aldo could rest on my hip with greater ease.  I was amazed and so thankful that an employee, a woman named Beckie with a grown child of her own, helped us get a cart that rolled nicely, and found us again at the check out stand and completely loaded our groceries from the cart to the conveyor, then packed the groceries and finally walked us to the car and loaded them in.  She made shopping with a 5-month-old feel like a breeze.  I did thank her, profusely.

Another act of kindness, John and Heather came over for a little bit tonight on their way to a dinner party. They relieved me of kid duty so that I could (finally!) shovel my back deck of the 3-4 feet that had accumulted during our absence.  It felt great.  Thanks J&H.

 

 

A NOTE AND PHOTOS FROM G'PA JOHN AND G'MA KRISTINE

 

Kristine and I were delighted to have Nikki and Aldo spend Christmas with us at our home in Suwanee, GA. At five months, this was Aldo’s first Christmas and his first time on an airplane. He experienced other “firsts” while in Georgia including eating his first solid food (peas!) and tasting water for the first time. Both were well received. We all eagerly awaited the passage of his first solid food. A colorful passage it was!

We learned early that Aldo loves to be outdoors. Our Georgia weather wasn’t the best but we nevertheless managed to take several neighborhood walks. We also hiked in two local parks which are near our home. Aldo was definitely in his element when he was outside.

As you can imagine, Aldo’s presence brought quite a change of pace to our household: diapers, feeding, fussing, teething and all the challenges that go with taking care of a child of five months. It was never easy to interpret these challenges: does he want to be held, fed, walked, have his diaper changed….. or maybe just left alone! Oftentimes he was happiest when playing alone on a blanket placed on the floor. At this stage, teething is the main cause of any discontent.

As proud grandparents, we took lots of photos. We are keeping an album of his adventures and this Georgia trip will offer much “fodder”. Totally without prejudice, we must say that Aldo is quite a handsome lad! He has a great disposition and his laugh is infectious. His smile is totally disarming and he is so cuddly!

 

 

 

 

Week 19 - 20 (Dec 3 - 16)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Aldo and I will be spending the Christmas Holiday in Georgia this year.  You won't be receiving a card from me this year so let this note, and post, bring you Holiday Cheer.

Cousin Emily finally met Aldo at a dinner in Roseville.  This was a quick visit with GPa John and GMa Kristine who we will spend more time with soon, in Georgia.

Oh sweet jelly rolls.

I'd like for you all to meet Sally Schultz, Aldo's nanny.  She cares for Aldo here at the condo every Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.  We love her!

Auntie Heather snapped this photo with her new IPad.

With much joy I'd like you all to know that Auntie Heather and Uncle Johnny are also Aldo's Godparents.  There's obviously a lot of emotion that goes with this decision and I couldn't be happier.  Lots of love.

These pictures were all taken at J&H's home.  We manage to have a wonderful potluck every other Sunday.  Not pictured here is last Sunday when the Walton's joined.  The girls, Gracy and Ella, were great entertainment for Aldo.

Aldo's teething continues as does his constant need to be held.  But he's coping better now.  He frequently has his thumb or fingers in his mouth.  No teeth have broken through.  Last night Aldo seemed to have a light cold - his first, probably from our trip to the grocery store.  His doesn"t have a ruuny nose but he does have trouble breething and he has a gurgling sound in his throat.

We should be skiing soon.

Week 18 (Nov 25 - Dec 2)

The big event this week was Aldo's 4 month check up.  He is 25 inches long and weighs 14.5 pounds.  He is in the 50th percentile for everything.  And he got his immunization shots.  I was better prepared (mentally) this time and so I managed to not cry when Aldo was wailing, two times for about 10 minutes each.  His fever has been mild but its taking longer to go away this time.  We stayed indoors for the weekend, including Sunday, my 43rd birthday.

 

Here's how Aldo starts his day, while I drink my coffee and generally wake up.  He's watching a Baby Einstein - "Baby Bach" (thanks Lisa).

 

 

 

Ok, this adorable photograph was actually taken Nov 24 but whose keeping track.  We went for a little hike in the nordic center - which is all dirt and mud I will add.  We need SNOW!

 

 

We all deserve an update to the first bath time photo.  You can really see how much he's grown.  Aldo is still a long and lean guy - but you should see his belly after he eats.  He looks like he swallowed a pear whole.   I won't be able to bathe Aldo in the sink much longer.  I ordered a shower rod today for my tub, to replace the doors, and soon we will have some serious bath fun!

I'm trying to get a good photo of Aldo and his toothless grin, before his teeth come in.  Poor Aldo continues to have teething problems.  At his check up on Friday, Nurse Colleen explained that he won't actually get teeth for another 1-2 months.  So....this pain, and restless sleep, and need to be constantly held...well this is all normal and will continue.  Poor guy.  I still hold out hope that he'll go back to sleeping most of the night through.  Incidentally, this chair Aldo is sitting in is fantastic.  Thank you Lisa!!!!!! 

 

ohhhh, my baby.  So cute.  This is a happy Aldo during Tummy Time.  He still doesn't like it that much but there are some good moments.  He's certainly getting better at arching his back, as you can see.

The next three photos are taken from Gma and Gpa Mitchells.  He is in his portable crib, which is his bed for our two days in Sacramento.  Aldo is right at home.  Hippo always travels with us - he is Aldo's best friend, after all.

Those of you who don't see Aldo often may not realize that he never lost the hair on the back of his head that he was born with, and that it is darker than the hair growing in now.  So that hair, just on the nape of his neck, was much longer and darker than the rest and therefor not attractive (I kept thinking it looked like a mullet).  It also got spit up on it, and frizzed up and out after each nap.  Add to that, Aldo has developed a bald spot, just above these hairs.  So......LeiAnn gave him his first hair cut!!!!  (special thanks to Tara, co-hairdresser, for snapping these photos)  LeiAnn says Aldo was her youngest customer yet.  Despite Aldo shifting - just as LeiAnn was read to snip-snip - the cut came out great and is a huge improvement.

I just couldn't resist.