La Vanilla Happy, Healthy Baby Search

Name: Giuseppe
Age: 6months
Sex: Male



Name: Vincenzio
Age: 6months
Sex: Male

Vincenzio Headbangs!

How Jazmin came to be, the story of a name.

There my mom was getting an ultrasound done to determine the sex of her second child. Excited, hoping to this time to be carrying a son. After sitting there in much anticipation the ultrasound tech claimed myself to be a boy! My mother was very happy she would have one of each! The months went by with my mom calling me Troy James Ford II, buying boys clothes and accessories as the days went on. On March 6th, she went to the hospital to be induced. This was the day she would meet her darling son, or so she thought. After hours of very hard labor, my mom was greeted with a 8lb 13oz baby girl! I'm sure our first meeting was bitter sweet. She was happy to have yet another beautiful daughter, but also mourned the "loss" of her son. Now she had to think of a new name. My dad also bummed that he would no longer have a son to carry on his family name, wanted me to have his name. He insisted that they still keep the name Troy James Ford II. My mom wholeheartedly disagreed (thank god!), but compromised and I was to be named Troy-Shawnda Moncheel Ford. Can you imagine...

Boy: Hey there.
Me: Hi!
Boy: I'm Bobby. What's your name?
Me: Troy-Shawnda
Boy: *puzzled*
Me: *confused*
Boy: *laughter*
Me: *tears*
Boy: *more laughter*
Me: *swift kick of justice to the groin*
Boy: *tears*
Me: *laughter*
THE END

Countless visitors stood in shock when not only my sex, but my name was revealed. My mom decided then that Troy-Shawnda was too ghetto even for her. Back to the drawing board for the two of them. Although upset, my dad came running back in with a name, "Jasmine". Mom was hesitant at first. Where did he get the name? Maybe from the actress Jasmine Guy ( his celebrity crush) from the TV show "A Different World". My mom agreed, but she had to put her own touch on the name, and that is were the spelling of my name came from. Yes the horrific spelling of my name. I always loathed the spelling of my name as a child. I could never find any personalized things with my name anywhere. I am always correcting people on the spelling.

Person: Your name?
Me: Jazmin
Person: *begins to write*
Me: *Mutters* Um with a "Z" and no "E".

It is quite annoying that people assume that all Jazmin's are spelled with an S and E. Another story for another day I suppose. I for one am just glad I was never named Troy James II, or the wonderfully hyphened, Troy-Shawnda. I have the odd feeling that I just wouldn't quite be the person I am today with either of those names.

Going Green and Getting Crafty With It!

Every time we go grocery shopping we end up with a tons of plastic bags! The bottom of our pantry is full of them! We could open our own grocery store if we wanted. A few months ago on a Martha Stewart episode she was decorating some canvas tote bags, and ever since then I have been wanting to do the same. So finally we went to Jo-annes and bought some canvas bags. While we were there we picked up some more scrapbooking supplies. I have been really bored at home. As I cannot really get out much since 1.) I cannot drive 2.) Dom is at work throughout the week with the only car we have. This week I have made one scrapbook page. I would like to have made more, but the ink in the photo printer Dom got me for xmas has been printing weird. He thinks it's because I barely used it. I'll have to put that on hold until we can buy more ink.

I/we have also decorated two of the tote bags. We decorated one with everyone's hand(and paw) print! Then I decorated the second one. I painted " Groceries" and drew some vegetables and fruit on it. Dom thinks that was silly " I don't think I have ever saw a grocery bag with groceries written on it ". All in all it has been fun. I can't wait to decorate the last one, but I am out of ideas

Blue(Dom) and Yellow(me) makes Green(Vincenzio), and then there is Orange(Poe the dog)

More Avocados Please!

One of Dom's coworkers was nice enough to give us her daughters old high chair, so I though it would be great to let Vincenzio "feed" himself and get to know solid foods on his terms. I got the avocados out squashed them up, and put some in a small bowl for Vincenzio to experiment with. I put him in the high chair and he quickly went for the spoon and then banged it on the bowl. He seemed to be enjoying himself, but had the spoon upside down so I showed him how to hold it and tried to give him a bite. He wasn't having it at all! He made a weird face turned the spoon upside down again and started banging it everywhere. Then he put his hands into the bowl and was squishing the avocados in his hand. I still don't think he cares for the taste of avocados, although he was licking his hands after wards. Oh and after I got him all cleaned up and let him down to play he found a tortilla chip, and he seemed to love that :-/. I guess I really need to go by those eyes to put on the back of my head. It seems like every time I go to clean one of his messes he gets into something. Well without further ado here are some pictures of Vincenzio "feeding" himself!

Recent Maternity Shoot

Last Friday I had a maternity shoot. It was pretty exciting. Where we were at wasn't the best source of lighting so it took me awhile to get the setting just right (yup I shot them all in manual hehehe). I tried to hurry cause it was getting hot (I hate AZ summers), and she was getting uncomfortable. We took a small break I found a fan to put on her, and everything was going smoothly again. When we had first spoken she said she wanted to do nude photo's, and I was a bit nervous. So I asked her if she was still up for it and she said of course, but was a bit nervous. I suggested we start with her in her bra and pants then we would work our way up(or down). After a few minutes of that we tried some topless ones. I really love how those came out they look so beautiful. Then I shot of some of her just in her underwear. She was great to work with, and had a cute little belly too. Here are some of the pictures enjoy!

Vincenzio is 9 months! (written by Domenick aka Dadda)

Well son, 9 months has come and gone. You are so big now and your personality so defined. I love you more and more each day and can't wait to be home with you after work. You just recently started really recognizing me I think. When I come home now you smile really big and crawl up to me excited to see me. It melts my heart. I watched you take your first few steps alone the other day. You stood up next to the door and started off one...two...three...four...five...to the floor. You were so happy and amazed with yourself after. It was so fun to watch and my heart fluttered throughout. Let's give a quick rundown of what else you have been up to:

1. You broke daddy's computer by pulling on the cords. You sure love cords and cables. Any time you can find one you are all over it. While we are on the subject of cables, you also broke daddy's phone adapter by sucking on the end.

2. Speaking of things you broke, you broke in 6th teeth already and it seems that your teething has slowed down a bit (Less drooling all the time).

3. You have been exceptionally mean to Poe and I think he may just be at wit's end with you about it. It seems he doesn't enjoy your wrestling moves as much as you do and he isn't prone to check-ups either and thus doesn't like your poking and proding at his ears, eyes, and mouth. While he hasn't outwardly discussed his disdain for you, I believe it is building as he has had to give you a few warning barks lately and looked to me for help.

4. After some time, I taught you how to get down from the bed successfully feet first. It seems you have some kind of love for banging your head into things and for the longest time you would always get down from things head first. Every time it would end in tears, rug burns, and bruises. I spent like 20 minutes with you turning you around at the edge of the bed and sliding you down feet first. I am proud to say I have seen you do it several times on your own now. Nice job!

5. Your favorite song, that I can tell thus far, seems to be the Itsy Bitsy Spider. At least it always sort of calms you and gets you to pay attention. You always laugh when I do the sun with your arms. Not sure why, I don't think it is particulary funny. But you have loved it since you were a tiny baby.

6. Bathtime is fun. I love watching you just sit and splash in the water playing with your toys.

7. Bathtime is not fun. The other day you peed while we were both in there and I drain the water for sanitary reasons.

8. We tried giving you real food and you didn't take very well to it. You made great faces though which made me laugh. I always tend to laugh at your plight. I know I shouldn't, but you just crack me up kid. You took a little bit of the carrots down and pretty much none of the avocados. Making faces and squirming around the whole time. I swear I have seen you eat dirt and dog hair before though as happily as can be. I don't know, maybe you will be a weird picky eater like your mom (I hope not!).

(trying avocados) (trying carrots)

9. You make tons of noises now when playing with your cars and trucks. I would like to think you got this from me. I played with you a few times and made motor noises. You tried to mimic it but less with your lips and more with your throat. It sounds really close and is hilarious because now you do it all of the time.

10. On the talking front, you seem to sort of say some other things. I swear I have heard you sort of make sounds like mama. You have said Dada forever (of course). Also sometimes I yell "hey" at you and I swear it sort of sounds like you try to mimic it back when you yell.

Likes:

Getting into everything
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Alone time, but not too alone
Being twirled around and bounced down the stairs
Laughing
Spoons and straws
Looking out the patio window
Breaking things
Passing a ball back and forth, though your arm could use some work :p
Pulling momma's hair
Crapping your pants

Dislikes:
Long rides in the carseat
Food from anywhere other than mommy's boobs
Daddy seeing movies in the theater (The Dark Knight and Ironman come to mind, remind me to tell you the story)
Getting a diaper put on
Too much time with daddy (think you get uneasy if it is too long)
Daddy's movies (could go either way, you toss them like you hate them, but you do it so often I think you love them)
Sitting still
Daddy going to work (assuming a little here)

Well, I love you so much. You are amazing to me in every possible way. I love watching you grow up and get bigger, smarter, and stronger. You are the greatest single thing that has ever happened to me (tied with your mom of course). Thank you for everything you have brought to our lives. I hope I can be a great dad and live up to the greatness you have already shown to me. I love you Vincenzio and always will even when we don't necessarily see eye-to-eye. Remember please that I am always here for you and that I love you more than myself.