Claudia's Corner

March 2011

2011-03-17T04:41:00.001-07:00

She gets prettier each day, and all I can do is watch in awe, as she grows up.

January 2011

2011-01-22T15:33:00.000-08:00

2010-12-25T07:39:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas has come, we are older and wiser I hope, although that last point could be discussed.
The Traditional family photo was taken yesterday and it took quite a few shots and tears before we got one that was halfway presentable (I would like to pretend that was a exaggeration but I am afraid it was not).

This year we had a real white Christmas with proper snow and ice to keep us all entertained on the roads. Claudia made her first snow angel and learnt that yellow snow is in fact not “special”. I learnt how simple things like fluffy snowflakes can make you feel warm inside.

Merry Christmas.

Claudia December 2010

2010-12-15T04:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday!

2010-09-20T07:22:00.001-07:00

Italy.

2010-09-20T07:18:00.001-07:00

Phoenix Park

2010-07-26T02:43:00.001-07:00

We took Claudia to Phoenix park yesterday, a nice Irish Summer day, which means you have to have a jacket packed and sweater on... But I would rather have that then melting hot weather, heat rashes and sun burns :)

School Time

2010-07-21T04:51:00.000-07:00

July 14

2010-07-14T14:02:00.001-07:00

Christmas time again!

2009-12-26T14:05:00.000-08:00

Mommy and Me!

2009-12-25T13:27:00.000-08:00

A few pics from this last Summer and Autumn.

2009-11-14T14:26:00.001-08:00

Washing the car

2009-08-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

Claudia loves to help clean, she is such a little Virgo!

The four stages of tiredness.

2009-07-16T03:26:00.000-07:00

Claudia on the 4th of July in Denver

2009-07-16T03:13:00.000-07:00

Vacation Photos from June/July

2009-07-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

Being fed by Auntie Anna in Vegas.

Her very first cup cake, resulting in a hispanic moment, complete with mustache and frizzy hair.

Im cute and I KNOW it!

Looking at the crocs in Savannah.

Tree hugger.

On Tybee Island

Valentines video for daddy.

2009-03-20T11:05:00.001-07:00

A bit late but I thought Claudia was so cute I decided to post this.
It is a little video Claudia and I made for Angelo, for Valentines.

Walking the doll...

2009-02-18T15:01:00.001-08:00

Christmas dinner flashbacks...

2009-01-27T09:11:00.001-08:00

Walk in the park

2009-01-27T09:08:00.000-08:00

Update

2009-01-15T14:33:00.000-08:00

I have been pretty preoccupied, with different projects and meetings and I have barely found time to take pictures of my baby, let alone write an update...

But excuses aside, I finally took some time, while Angelo was in a meeting to write a little something about our little rascal.

Claudia has grown into a real heart breaker, and I am about to rave a bit now so beware, you have been warned.

I love the way she is lazy in the mornings, and after a whole nights rest from about 9-8:30 she will wake up and crawl into our bed and just want to cuddle and kiss us. She will scoot her back into me and then turn around grab my head and give me a big kiss, complete with sound affects "Muuuuuuah".

I love the way she calls me Mama when she is hurt or sad, and throws herself into my arms (quite literally)and wants me to just hold her.

She is vain too, this afternoon after her nap as we were cuddling on the bed I caught her looking into the mirror and trying to fix her wild curly hair! She likes putting on mascara (yepp that's right, she sits dead still while Angelo puts it on) and if I put on makeup, she insists on sitting in my lap and doing exactly what I do.

Yesterday we caught her getting her Kiddie Viddie opening the DVD player putting it in and turning it on, and she actually set it all up by herself! She gets very excited once she figures things out, and has a little victory dance (more like shake) that she performs.

She is really too smart for her own good, and knows just how to twist you around her little finger, me and the rest of the inhabitants here.

Every night she wants to sit on the chair with you, drink a bottle and read this book called "childhood memories", but the strange thing is that there aren't really any pictures in the book, there is about one or two per chapter but its just a sketch. However for some reason she really likes being read to, I did try reading another more interesting book, as I figured she wouldn't know the difference as it is just words, but she wouldn't have it!

I am teaching her now, about four days a week and its been so fun to watch her progress through her cards, and see how quickly she learns them. In March I am going to Spain, for a week long educational seminar, so hopefully I will get lots of good tips, and ways to improve.

Well its getting late, and I have been feeling a little under the weather so should sign out now, I will try to get some recent photos posted, but my computer just came back from repairs as the hard drive took a bang, and I still need to do my backups.

I LOVE HER!!!!

2008-09-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

Family Pics

2008-09-14T10:35:00.001-07:00

So Claudia is almost one year old, I haven't been faithful to update this blog, but I will give you a little update of her progress. She now walks around, of course she stumbles abit but she takes a tumble very well, and gets right back up!
She loves talking on the phone, and pushing her stroller. Is crazy about raisins, and singing along with your favorite songs. She adores going through my clothes cupboard, and I have caught her with my skimpy dresses, hanging around her neck! (she knows how to put things over her head.) She also loves makeup, and when she saw me putting some on, she tried to do it herself, so Daddy put some mascara on her, and she sat as still as a statue until he was done! Another favorite pastime of hers is peek-a-boo, she covers her face with her shirt, hands or chair whatever is available and will then quickly peek out and giggle! (she has done this at restaurants and is the life of the party!) She points at stuff she wants, and will copy noises you make, she knows how to growl when she sees a lion, and turns the light switch on every morning, to me and Angelo's great dismay! This Thursday is her first birthday, our little Angel is growing up so fast, and I don't want to miss a second of it! Enjoy the pictures we took yesterday, for our family album!

Brushing her hair

2008-09-12T07:50:00.001-07:00

Claudia was born with lots of hair, so even though she hasn't turned one yet, there is plenty to brush, (I even did her first French braid two days ago!) and she just loves copying me, when I brush mine. Of course its more head banging then hair brushing, for now, but she thinks its great fun!

New earings!

2008-09-12T07:47:00.001-07:00

These are a bit late, but while we were in Italy we decided to pierce her ears on the same day she got her first tooth! Of course Daddy held her as I was a complete emotional wreck...I cried more then she did!

Traveling with baby

2008-09-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some assorted pictures, of traveling with Claudia! She is a patient baby, and always gets us bumped to first class, hehe, she likes to travel in style! So far she has taken five planes, and been to three countries!
Little stowaway
Busses are fun, they have big windows!
Waiting at the trainstation
Cheeky Monkey
A snack on the Train

The many faces of Claudia

2008-08-18T04:14:00.000-07:00

Yes I know its allot of photos but they all show different characters, of my chicho, so l had to post all of them!
Enjoy

Italy!

2008-08-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

We are now in Italy with Claudia, and she is enjoying the sun and water, she got her first heat rash unfortunately, but other then that she loves to crawl around naked. She dosnt crawl normally all the time, she crawls on her hands and feet like Tarzan, its So cute she looks like a little monkey, she started doing that after she started crawling naked and realized that it didn't bother her knees, if she went on her feet!
Here are some pictures of our little Munchkin! All from the past two weeks in Italy, while visiting her Grandparents.
Walking to the Beach.

In the water.

We got a great discount, on babies at the Shopping Center!

A Parrot we saw while at the beach, one evening.

Irelands green summer days

2008-06-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

2008-06-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

whatcha looking at!!!

Me driving

2008-06-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

let's see, a bit more to the left....

hey guys I can drive with one finger......

A Beautiful day to be outside.

2008-06-18T12:10:00.001-07:00

Just me injoying Mom & Dad.

2008-06-18T10:56:00.000-07:00

2008-06-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

peacefully enjoying the view with Dad.

A Weekend alone with Dad!

2008-06-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

Ok I have to be honest the first night was horrible
he gave me 1/4 of a bottle of milk and said that that was
what mom had left for me, I tried telling him that it was
impossible, but you know dad he wouldn't listen......

but other than that I must say he followed instructions quite well....

this can't be it...?!?!?!?

come on there has to be some more in here....!!!!!!

I used my potty three time a day...like Daniel....

2008-06-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

He made me say please every time before he fed me...

We had great get-outs on the trampoline.....

My favorite game was the one where I would crawl
around the trampoline charging my self up, then I would
go to daddy and touch him on the face.
It would make this little crackly noise to which dad would let
out a loud scream, then I would go and charge myself again...I don't
think daddy liked it so much.

I took all my naps, and so did daddy I made sure....

2008-06-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

ahh..Finally a good Bottle of Milk

Every Day is Magical!

2008-05-23T16:13:00.000-07:00

I realized something this evening and that is that today will never happen again, nothing that my beautiful baby learns for the first time, can ever be relived. I will never see her stand up on her own the first time, or take those few bites of a new food ever again. These days can never be replaced, and once gone are lost forever. Each day is magical as each day is different, and I am here to watch her grow, and experience something that nobody else will ever experience.
Claudia is my first baby and we are growing and learning together, every day that goes by is one more that I can smile and say, I spent this day with you.
Nina

Il Leopardo....

2008-05-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

Alex, ciao sono io il Leopardo, grrrrrh!

The only leopard of this kind ever found seems like they've gone extinct..

First time away

2008-05-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to let everyone know of my latest adventure with out my princess.
Angelo took the baby for the weekend so l could pop over to England and spend some time with my friends there. It was tough the first night as l went to bed dreaming about her waking up and missing me or getting sick etc. But apparently she was a little Angel, she behaves much better with her Daddy then me, and they had a great weekend without her worry wart of a Mother!
I kept on remembering things like her teething biscuits that l had put away or the mousetrap hidden under the bed, that I was sure she would get into, ha! But thanks to Angelo l had a great weekend, I got to dance all night without worrying about the baby waking from the noise, and went to my first car-boot! No sleep-in I'm afraid, but hey those things are simply distant memories in the past, I had to get up at 7:00 for the car-boot and went crazy searching for those gems hidden in peoples junk... And yes Rachel Im totally hooked and got loads of goodies...

Some of My Latest Adventures with Dad...

2008-05-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

See guys, she does have my smile :-p "he wishes"

Watching my first Hurling match, and I'm not impressed, these guys play like adults.

...He's never going to score from there..

uh oh..caught! OK I was just having a snack after the game guys..

Are you sure it wont eat me?? Man it's it soo tall.

Happily daydreaming....."what a fun day!"

Ok Back to the Most beautiful Baby....

2008-05-11T07:24:00.001-07:00

Isn't she just adorable.

Ok, one more of Claudias Beautiful Mother then we'll leave Claudias blog for her...

2008-05-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

Everyone please tell her how Beautiful she is, even when she was PG.
Your SO Sexy!!!

a few more of us....

2008-05-11T06:02:00.000-07:00

More pic's, From that Great Vacation!!

2008-05-11T04:58:00.000-07:00

Here is, with my brother in law and my sister,
Thanks guys!

Guy's if you go to Venice you have to go on the gondola!!
....or you'll miss the whole experience...it was Magical!

Remember what used to be?

2008-05-09T03:50:00.001-07:00

I thought l might post a pre Claudia picture, of when she was just a rolling kicking baby inside of me! This is from exactly one year ago, last May, when Angelo and I, went on vacation in Italy. It was a beautiful spring and was the most wonderful time l spent with Angelos family full of lazy afternoon walks, sightseeing, relaxing in a gondola in Venice and eating Pizza in Restaurants!
We were able to see Angelo's adorable little brother win the local football championship with his team, Go Andy! See the cutest nieces and nephews, and even got to push a car with a dead battery! Thanks to Angelo's sister Christina and her husband Terry we got to go to many different places together, and endured broken clutches and flat batteries in the bargain! But l had loads of fun, and will always remember that year as one of the best vacations in my life, even if l did have pregnancy hormones... I had loads of pictures from that trip, but Angelo is away for awhile so l only have this one for now, enjoy!

The view from San Marino five months pregnant

Update on Claudias growth, 7.5 months

2008-05-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

After reading other peoples blogs l realize that besides the pictures, its fun to read about how their kids are growing up! Of course this could have somthing to do with the fact that l am a mother... But for all you mothers out there, this is an update on my little princess!
I am convinced that virgo babies have got to be the smartest around, (even though they can grow up to be very annoying like Claudias dear father...) After only one time on her potty, Claudia got the point right away,and now uses it every couple hours without fail, and almost immediately each time she sits down she does something in it, which she is then very proud of and claps her hands, ha! Oh yes she is clapping her hands now and thinks its great fun, her favorite song is the incy wincy spider, and she tries to mimic the motions and "sings" along. She sleeps most nights from 9:30 to 6:00, and sometimes if feeling extra lazy will go back to sleep in Mommys bed til 8:00, thank God for small favors! She makes the most adorable faces, when she knows shes being naughty she squishes up her nose, purses her lips and gets wrinkles all over her forehead and eyes, my sister calls it the Klingon face, (Star trek fans will know what l mean) and even though l think shes gorgeous she does slightly resemble a Klingon!
One thing l am very happy about is that she eats everything and anything you set before her, for lunch yesterday l blended liver with an avocado, and mixed in cod-liver oil, yuck! But she ate it like it were icecream, and even wanted more afterward ha! So her diet includes such nasty things as beetroots, fish and liver. Unfortunately now that the weather is warmer it also includes grass and little insects...
She is crawling now so when the weather is nice I lay out in the sun with her and she tries to catch the dogs tail as l try to catch some sleep, lm lucky we have a big garden as she loves to eat grass and follow the dog around.
All in all l couldnt have asked for a better baby (or cuter for that matter) she looks like a perfect mixture of me and Angelo, with my blond hair and his curls, I cant wait to see how she grows up!

{Special moments with Mom}

2008-04-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

Mom, these moments remind me of heaven...

Looking at the Path...

2008-04-28T03:34:00.000-07:00

it's so far Dad I don't know if I'll make it...

2008-04-28T03:31:00.000-07:00

....our goal!

2008-04-28T02:31:00.000-07:00

Mom....are you coming too....?

Extreme sports at 6 months...Start early!

2008-04-28T02:15:00.000-07:00

don't worry guys, it's safe Mama & Papa know what they're doing......

2008-04-28T01:38:00.000-07:00

The Bray Cross.

At the Park

2008-04-11T04:09:00.001-07:00

I took Claudia and Lara to the park today and figured I would take some photos of her to post...
Im not half as good a photographer as Angelo so there arent too many from this shoot, Claudia has also learnt to be wary as soon as the camera is pulled out as she knows its hours of sitting while being encouraged to smile and look entertained. So I had to sing energetically as l waved my hands to get her to look at the camera, as she thought the waterfall was more exciting to look at then mommy making a fool of herself!
Ah the things we parents do for that "perfect" picture.
-Nina

First time at Resturant!

2008-04-05T04:38:00.001-07:00

6 months

2008-03-26T16:56:00.000-07:00

Potty training starts early these days...

Mommy and Baby

2008-02-13T13:42:00.001-08:00

Siesta With Daddy

2008-01-22T06:34:00.000-08:00

My blue eyed Angel!

2008-01-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

With my Bears

2008-01-22T05:29:00.000-08:00

Claudias hair is getting curlier every day, especially if its wet, it goes into little tight ringlets!

2008-01-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

Claudia Walking

2008-01-06T14:07:00.001-08:00

At 3 and a half months she stands on her own with a little support of course!

Claudias Mat

2008-01-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

Claudias mat that Dave and Ann bought for her

...and more!

2008-01-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

Here is the Tintin picture...

The baby Jesus picture...

And the I'm too cute to be true picture!

The Red Series

2008-01-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

The many faces of Claudia

Proud Grandma's

2007-10-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

Bath Time!

2007-10-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

View Album

Get your own

9 days old

2007-10-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

2007-10-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

Daddys girl!

2007-10-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

Seven days old

2007-10-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

2007-10-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

seven days old

Claudia's First Day Home

2007-09-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

Claudia: Home at last!

Claudia's First Bath

2007-09-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

Claudia: ahhhhhh this feels so good I could stay here all day, all we're missing is the bubles.

Claudia Praying....

2007-09-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

Claudia: "Lord, is there any chance of coming back?"

Lord: "Ye shall grow up within My bosom near to My heart with great care and great tenderness."
Are you just a tender little seedling or a tiny young sapling just beginning to grow out of the ground? — You may seem only a tiny little bud at first, just a little sprig, just one insignificant little green shoot. — But that's the beginning of the miracle of new life and it will thrive and grow and grow and become great and strong, into a whole new tree, a whole new life, and maybe a whole new world! — "... young saplings which grow unto the Light of My Word that I may shine upon them that they may grow and become mighty in Word and deed as a great forest of trees and shall bear great fruit — and many many shall be called by My Name!" — "So shall I strengthen thee for My service and I shall do a work in thee."
"And though thou be lowliest among the lilies of the field, I have come and plucked thee forth and set thee upon high in the vessel of My usefulness upon the mantle of the Palace of the King, where thou shalt be an adornment unto My Abode and a thing of beauty and usefulness unto Me!" — So be strong and of a good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart! — The greatest works of God take a long time. — "So wait upon the Lord and thou shalt not falter. Fear not, for I the Lord shall do it!"

Claudia Just Born

2007-09-23T03:59:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your prayers, thanks to them Nina didn't have to have a C-section.