Nor Cal

Last week we were able to visit my sister, brother-in-law, and their four girls in California. Mia was, once again, a traveling champion (the direct flights helped) & even slept through the night in her carseat when we were delayed four hours on our red-eye flight back to DC.

We had a great time catching a glimpse of a week in the the life of the Jackson family and were left in awe of Amy's organizational skills. Mia loved spending some quality time with her cousins and made a special bond with Lizzy, in particular. We enjoyed a fun and relaxing trip and ate a LOT of really good food. Taylor even made both savory & dessert crepes for us in addition to all of Amy's culinary masterpieces... We were really spoiled. Thanks for being such great hosts!

Taylor, Charlotte, Mia, & Lizzy reading books together the morning we arrived.

Mia getting ready to hike at Rock City.

McKenna, Sydney, & Lizzy showing off their mountain goat skills.

The Crew... minus Amy who is taking the picture & Charlotte, who is behind Taylor's large head.

The Inzerellos in Rock City.

Sydney, Lizzy, & McKenna - Queens of the Hill

On Saturday, we watched McKenna and Sydney's soccer games & got to see Taylor take on the roles of both official & coach at the respective games. (He didn't do both at the same time, although he is probably very capable... the man can multitask.)

We also got to go to the local Farmers' Market where they had a little bit of everything...hot donuts, tortillas of every flavor, homemade pasta... even karaoke! I was in heaven.

Amy & Lizzy picking out some green beans & eating some juicy pears.

Sydney & McKenna

All the cousins together - this was attempt #23, I think.

Charlotte & Mia are over it.

Amy and Charlotte

Saying our goodbyes...

The fate that awaited us at the airport. Washington - Delayed... Indefinitely... Forever.

We were sad to go...We miss NorCal and the Jacksons already!

Rice Cereal

Mia is now just shy of 5 months old and has taken an interest in our food lately, so we decided it was time to start her on solids. This past weekend we mixed up some very appetizing rice cereal (mmm...), strapped a bib on Mia for the first time, and went for it. We are only 2 days in, but so far so good. She ate in small quantities, but did in fact swallow on occasion.

Getting ready for the big moment

There was a little excitement...

...and a little anxiety...

"Mmmm...doesn't this look good, Mia?"

I don't think she's buying it.

So perhaps it was not her favorite meal... Certainly not as tasty as when Dad gave her a tiny taste of ice cream when I wasn't looking...

...but she didn't cry...

...although she may have left feeling a little disatisfied in the end...

DAY TWO

Lookin' good, baby... lookin' good. Just keep it down, please.

Go Huskers!

Having married a Nebraska boy, I quickly learned that our household would cheer for the Huskers. In fact, I think the first gift I got from my sister-in-law was a Nebraska sweatshirt. The message was clear. Now a few years later, I am truly a Huskers fan. I don't mind wearing my red on game days. Auntie Erin also kindly provided not one, but three Nebraska onesies for Mia to wear this football season. (I believe that was the first thing Erin bought for Mia too...and she has bought a LOT of clothes for Mia.) Unfortunately, there aren't that many Husker fans in Virginia. Last weekend, when Nebraska lost to Virginia Tech by one point in a heart breaking game, Nick was so upset that he made us all change our shirts before we went out to pick up a movie at Blockbuster. But that didn't stop me from giving a dirty look to a guy in a Hokies t-shirt who was blocking my way. Just kidding. I didn't smile though.

Skyping with Grandma & Grandpa Inzerello for a little pre-game analysis.

The smiles are evidence that this picture was taken BEFORE the Virginia Tech game.

On A Roll... (Part II)

Mia is officially a pro at rolling from her back to her tummy. She has done it many times for us on the floor. In fact, it is really hard to get her to stay on her back now. However, the other day was the first time she did it in her crib. Sadly, she seems to have forgotten how to roll from her tummy back to her back, so she just ends up eventually getting tired & frustrated she can't crawl yet. Somehow she still manages to move around a lot & we are sure she will be crawling sooner rather than later. We are a little scared... Time to start baby-proofing everything...

How she starts...

How she ends...

My I-talian Husband

Nick loves pizza. I like pizza a lot, but Nick really loves pizza. We have it often. When we visit places, the pizza place we love the most in that city is generally our first meal there. When we visit my parents, we go to Donato's. When we visit Nick's parents, we get La Casa's. When we are in Chicago, we go to Giordano's. In DC, well, let's just say we haven't found anything amazing just yet, so we frequent Papa John's (or Faccia Luna if we want brick oven style). The other day we decided to make our own pizza. Nick was rolling out the pizza dough and he and the rolling pin weren't getting along. At the risk of losing our dinner and having an embarassing encounter with our neighbors (we live three stories up), I suggested he take it out on the patio & toss it like real Italian men do. I was hoping for some entertainment, but I didn't want flour and dough all over the kitchen. Nick was brave & went for it. Although the photos I snapped make it look like a success, it turns out to be a little more difficult than just tossing and catching. There was a nice hole in the middle when Nick finally gave up. I think it is because he wasn't using his fists like the pros. He should probably give it one more try... next time, babe...next time...

The pizza actually turned out really well in the end. We may have found our DC option after all.

On A Roll...

Mia learned to roll from her stomach to her back at about 9 weeks, but going from back to front has been a little more of a challenge. She is soooo close...! She just has trouble lifting her big ol' head at the end to complete the trick. Nick and I hear ourselves talking to her like we are talking to a dog... "Come on, Mia. Roll over. You can do it. Roll over." We are encouraging this now, but when she can actually do it by herself we are going to wonder what on earth we have done.

Ready, set...

Go!

So close... just bring your arm around & lift that noggin!

Mid-diaper change (as you can see)...

We are going to have to start actually using those buckles we have neglected up to this point.

Ok, the way she contorts her body is funny as it is, but the fact that her little dimpled bottom is exposed while she does it was what made us reach for the camera.

Poor Mia.

Snot & Sneezes

Mia is sick for the first time... coughing, sneezing, stuffy nose...the works. The poor thing is pretty miserable. Serves me right for dragging her onto airplanes & to great-grandpa's nursing home all weekend. It was worth it though. I wonder if Mia feels the same way?

I couldn't help myself. I had to snap a photo of one of her sneezes before wiping. Mmmm...taste good, Mia? I'm such a good mom.