Next Stop: Hawaii

We've been in Hawaii for a week now, I've been enjoying the sites too much to find time to post pictures. The first week we spent in Waikiki at the Hilton Hawaiian Village while Mike attended his conference. Vince and I spent time exploring the shops and walking along the beach path while my mom spent time recovering from a back spasm. She feels a lot better now.

Breakfast with a view

Grandma and Vince hanging out on the lanai

Strolling down the boardwalk

Thanks to Vince's Auntie Lisa, he had the perfect outfit for the Luau that we went to. Vince got to see some pretty talented hula girls shake their hips around... but his favorite part was the Polynesian Fire Dancers.


And thanks to Auntie Suzie, he also had some swim trunks to wear for the pool. They are a bit big for him but he looked smooth, and caught some looks and smiles from the girls at the pool!

Vince looking cool in his Daddy's shades

Baby Shower in LA

The "It's a Boy" Stork

My mother, together with some long time family friends the Garrigans, gave Vince a baby shower and it was a really fun time. They decorated with lots of balloons and even had pictures of me and Mike up as babies. The cake had a great picture of Vince on it, and everyone had fun taking turns holding him. I didn't even hold him once during the whole party. Of course Vince was asleep 90% of the time but that's ok.

Mom and Aunt Ruthie

Family Math: Mike + Lisa = Vince

Vince's picture lookin good on the cake

Vince and his Auntie PJ

Summer Vacation cont'd: Hanging out in California

Vince and I stayed at my mom's house in Glendale for a few days and he got to meet everyone in the neighborhood and part of his California family.

Vince and our neighbor Barbara, she got lots of smiles out of him

Sleeping on the couch after a long day of visiting

Getting a bath in Grandma's sink

Jim, his mommy's Godfather

Vince with Grandpa Marshall

Strolling through Descanso Gardens

Old friends from Buster's Coffee Shop

Summer Vacation Part 1

Just wanting to write a quick note that Vince, my mom, and I made it to LA safe and sound yesterday. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to take any pictures on the plane, somehow getting the camera out and taking a picture would have just been too much for me at the time. Vince was great once we got on the plane though, he pretty much slept the whole time and only fussed when he was hungry or needed to be changed. The other passengers smiled at him and asked how old he was, and it was generally an uneventful flight except that my mom had forgotten the diaper bag back at the gate so she had to fight against the traffic of people getting on the plane (not a pretty site) and go rush to get the bag.

We thought we'd get to the airport super early so we wouldn't have to rush. Well that plan didn't work. JetBlue had only 2 people at their bag drop counter, and there were multiple flights going out so the line was almost an hour long! That marked the beginning of me starting to freak out. Mike stayed in line for me, I took my mom to the curb side check in hoping that would be faster for her... and then I stayed with the baby in the stroller until one of them was done. Luckily my mom did get through the line fast so she was able to stay with the baby while I waited in line for my luggage check, and Mike was able to hop out and get to work by 8am for some meeting.

Getting through security was a small miracle; having the baby (who decided to get fussy), a car seat, stroller, computer, diaper bag, backpacks... and a mother who refused to give up her coffee until that very last minute!

Luckily all the TSA staff had pitty on us and helped us out. They probably just wanted to get us out of the way but it made my life easier so that's fine. I feel ready to take on the next set of flights to Hawaii on Sunday, maybe even relaxed enough to take some pictures with Vince on the plane.

Vince meeting his Nana

Here is a picture from the day we picked up my mom from the airport... she was so happy to meet her first grandchild

Visit to New York

Here are a few pictures from our recent visit to Mamaroneck. Vince was able to meet some of his family and was excited because he has heard so much about everyone.

Vince chilling out on the couch with this Uncle Charlie

He also got to visit the High School where his Daddy went to school

And he got to go to Walters Hotdogs which is a Silvestro Family favorite


And he met Angela, one his mommy's friends from Peace Corps

Melina and Amelia were excited to meet their new little cousin

Melina wanted to hold Vince all morning at breakfast

The Week of Firsts

This week Vince has had a lot of 'first time' experiences. It started out on Saturday last week when we all went to the airport to pick up my mother. It was Vince's first time to meet his Nana from California (he ended up wearing the tuxedo, thanks to all who voted!).

Then on Tuesday I went to put Vince in a onesie and it was the first time it was too small for him! He actually has clothes that are too small for him now!! I couldn't believe it, I stubbornly stretched the onesie out anyway and forced it around his diaper one last time... realizing that this baby is growing so fast I better cherish each day now because I'll blink and he won't be a baby anymore.

Then Wednesday we had a Doctor visit and he received his first set of vaccines.... which was one event neither he nor I ever want to experience again. I don't know if it was more horrifying for me or for Vince. I'll never forget laying him down on the exam table, watching him happily kicking his feet and moving his arms.... he looked over at me and gave me a smile... and then the provider gave the first of three injections and the smile he was giving me turned into a horrified look followed by the saddest face and biggest cry I've ever seen from him. I tell you it was gut wrenching. I never knew how much the cry from your own child can affect you until I became a mother. I've heard babies cry before, even wail like banshees, without thinking too much of it. But when it's your own child it's a whole different story. It grabs like you can't even explain.

The next 'first experience' was going on a road trip to NY to visit Vince's other grandparents Nonna and Pop Pop. He hadn't been in the car that long so we were hoping he'd do ok, which he did. We only had to stop once to feed and change him in the car, during which a storm blew through that pelted the car with hail the size of marbles. We were literally stuck in the car due to the storm so we waited it out. My mom had gotten out to have a cigarette and then got stranded on the gas island because of the flash flood that built up. It was nuts.

Ok, last one: Vince had to graduate from his newborn diapers into size 1 diapers... so here in NY he tried out his first size 1... there's room to grow but they aren't cutting off his circulation like the newborn diapers started doing.

Pictures of the weekend to follow soon! Right now I'm trying to get ready for our airplane trip to LA tomorrow!

Which Outfit Do You Like Better?

Today Vince is very excited because he is going to meet his other Grandmother who is flying in from Los Angeles. He wanted me to try him out in a few different outfits to see which one is the best to meet Grama Irma at the airport. His mommy loves overalls and would put him in them every day, but she thinks the little tuxedo makes him look sharp; especially since Daddy did some hairstyling to make him look hip in his tux. So which outfit do you prefer? You can vote on our pole to the right!

Vince and his Winnie the Pooh Overalls

Vince looking as if he's ready for a Dropkick Murphys Show