Happy Halloween

 For Carmella's first Halloween we met up with some friends in Willow Glen to go trick or treating on the Avenue. It was packed but we endured the crowd and had a blast. 

 Siena (2 years) was a cute pumpkin

 

John (8 months) was Winne the Pooh

 And Carmella was a nurse (after her mommy)

We didn't collect any candy this year because mom and dad would have to eat it all, instead we hung out with some friends and enjoyed the costumes

Later that evening we headed over to Nana and Papa's house for some dinner before the trick or treating began.

She got to celebrate with her cousins too

Carmella (RN), Madison (Supergirl), Guiliana (flower) and Gavin (Spiderman)

It was tons of fun and we can't wait til next year 

when Carmella can walk door to door with her cousins.

Carving Pumpkins

In honor of Carmella's first Halloween we decided to carve some pumpkins. Chris and I couldn't remember the last time we carved pumpkins so we were pretty excited.


The pumpkins ready to be made over with new personality.

But first a little pumpkin surprise. She was not too happy about sitting on the pumpkin 

but she is oh so cute with her first Halloween bib.

Chris ready to recreate this pumpkin

Finally our pumpkins

I must include a little story about these pumpkins. Pumpkin Pete (Left) fell to his death the next night due to my mistake of placing him too far back on the ledge. It was a sad moment and I am so thankful that we were able to capture these special moments.
Thanks for the memories Pumpkin Pete.

White Noise

I discovered white noise last week and it has changed my life. A friend of mine had mentioned to me when I was pregnant that white noise helped he boys sleep when they were infants. Well during a crying fit one afternoon I decided to try it, can I just say it's a miracle!!!

I was attempting to put Carmella into her car seat and since she is not the biggest fan of being strapped in, I couldn't quite get her to calm down so I pulled out my phone and turned on the white noise. Thank goodness I had down loaded the app a few days earlier. It was like someone flipped a switch she quieted down and closed her eyes. So I loaded her into the car and removed my phone, promptly her eye shot open and she was again aware that she was in her car seat so the tears started. As a turned the white noise back on she closed her eyes and was silent. WOW this is like a drug, ok hopefully not that serious.

The real problem lies in the fact that I couldn't use my phone if the white noise was on and it quickly drains the battery.  As I was telling Chris about my newest discovery and how great white noise is he reminded me that we received a giraffe (from my dear friend Vanessa) that plays different sounds. Ah ha white noise to the rescue!

So when we're at home you can find Carmella with George her Giraffe. She actually enjoys all the sounds and in the middle of the night I love George the Giraffe, white noise!


Sleep tight Carmella! 

First bath

Since Carmella's umbilical cord fell off a few days ago we have finally graduated from a sponge bath to a big girl bath. We pulled out her aquarium bath tub and suited up for her first bath.

At first she wasn't so sure what was happening but after a few seconds she stopped crying and realized that it was much better than the sponge bath. Being in a tub of water was much warmed then a few wet washcloths. So hopefully bath time experiences will continue to get better. Oh and don't worry mommy warms this princess's towel in the dryer so when she gets out she is nice and warm (a little trick my mom used to do for me).

All dressed in her Halloween pj's ready for some cuddle time with dad after a her bath.

3 Weeks old

Someone is three weeks old!

Wow time flies when your having fun!

New Dad 2011

I think it is so cute to watch Chris interact with his daughter. He is so in love with her and sometimes can't wait for her to wake up. It has been such a blessing to watch him become an amazing father and shower her with so much love. This father daughter relationship is already blossoming.

A month before Carmella arrived he received a new dad 2011 shirt and ever since she was born he is so proud to sport his new shirt. 

I think it is the cutest thing.

Here he is in the hospital

 And then again this week.

I have to say that I am so in love with my daughter and watching my husband be a daddy makes me fall more in love with him.

Pumpkin Patch

For several years now we have had the tradition of going to the Uesugi Farm pumpkin patch in Morgan Hill. This year we brought along grandma Lu Lu and picked up a few pumpkins.

But not these funky looking pumpkins

The weather was warm and the place was packed but we made sure that Carmella got to experience her first pumpkin patch.


 Awe our sweet pumpkin in her first Halloween onesie

Mommy and Carmella enjoying the sunshine and the festivities

Our family portrait at the pumpkin patch

Grandma Lulu and her girls

 Our traditional photo in front of the pumpkin pyramid


And now with our newest addition

Daddy and his baby girl

Thanks Uesugi Pumpkin patch, we can't wait til next year
when Carmella can ride the pony and merry go round

Daddy and Baby Carmella

Carmella's 2nd week was definitely filled with more visitors
and some outings with new friends.

But some of my favorite moments this week were those she spent close to her daddy. 

There is something so special about a dad and his little girl 

and I can already see this relationship growing.

 Hanging out with daddy in the bjorn

Snuggling with dad.

It's moments like these that makes my heart smile!

Pregnancy Video

I took a picture every week that I was pregnant and now I have created a slide show of my growing baby.

As I look back I am so happy that we took these pictures because as she was growing inside my belly my relationship and bond was growing out here.  Maybe some day she will want to know what her mommy looked like with her in my tummy.

The Swing

A big thank you to my brother in law Gary and Kari for sharing the baby swing with us.

Carmella loves it!

We just discovered the aquarium swing and it has become a great place for Carmella to take a nap. And it gives mommy and daddy a chance to get some things done, hands free of course. 

Oh to be little again that we could fall asleep in a swing.

I think I will move this into our bedroom and maybe she will sleep through the night? 

Oh I know your not supposed to operate the swing without supervision, but sometimes you do what you have to do. 

P.S she hasn't spent the night in the swing yet, just lots of little naps.

Little girl, big bed!

As I was changing the sheets the other day I realized just how little our baby girl was....

Awe these are so precious and make me smile!

I am beginning to realize that my sweet baby will never be this little again so I am trying to capture all her special moments!!

Weekend of Fun

Another weekend of visitors and this time it was Grandpa C and Grandma J.

We were so excited to have baby Carmella meet another set of grandparents and they were pretty excited to meet her too. 

It was a weekend filled with doting on Carmella and also some catching up time for the adults. 

Grandpa C spent some quality time with his grand daughter

And Grandma J loved holding baby Carmella and was a big help to her mommy (me)

 Dad and his girls! 

We even found some time to have a little fun..

Alayna turned 18 over the weekend and had a luau themed party! 

The Grandparents got dressed up for the party. He he

Alayna was so excited that we came to help her celebrate, but really just excited to see and hold Carmella again

And auntie got to hold and cuddle with baby C for quite some time

Happy 18th Birthday Alayna! 

We love you and can't believe you're so grown up! Oh and we are looking forward to having you babysit Carmella soon ;)

Another special introduction was made over the weekend. 

Great Grandma Lena got to meet her 4th great grand daughter 

(yes that is right she has 4 great grand daughter)

 Such a sweet picture and another great memory made

It was a wonderful weekend filled with new introductions and great memories! 

Can't wait to do it again.

 Thanks Grandpa C and Grandma J for coming to visit! 

We love you!

Favorite Carmella Photos

 We have taken so many pictures since the arrival of our sweet baby girl. It is so hard to post them all so I have chosen a few of my favorite from week one of her life. 

 Dad and his baby girl. 

Lots of studying for school and still finding time to love on his little girl

 Some time spent with Auntie Jenn and cousin Sophia

 Our precious baby girl taking a nap

 And those little pink booties

Dad and Carmella having a special heart to heart moment

 

Carmella at one week old! 

Someone once told me to 

Remember to stop and make a memory because they will be grown in a blink of an eye.