My Cast...

Hiya, a picture of my cast deserves to be included...As well as some comments on how I coped with it.

In many ways I ignored it, I behave as if it wasn't there at all...without paying too much attention to it or bothering much. On the other hand, many times I wanted to sit on the floor and play, crawl around or walk and they would not let me do it and if I insisted I had to draw back myself 'cause it was too hard to do (or perhaps painful?)

As you can see I did not loose my smile, but I lost the ability of standing on my own and walk around held by one hand as I was already doing...

Also, I had to be carried all the time. Tough life (more so for those looking after me, namely mami and nonna, who were busy with me all the time!)

Just to go back to my cast, see how nicely decorated it is? Merit of my little cousins who wouldn't let me go away without their souvenirs!

Time to say goodbye and FLY!

Sadly, everything comes to an end, even holidays and nice moments...
These last pics of my US trip were taken at the airport, with my uncles, and on the plane (although we know it's forbidden).

I did have another playtime moment with zio Peppe, who I was doing "BATTIAMO LE MANINE" (clap your hands) with...

It was very very sad to say bye to these people that we love deeply...but that's life it seems, full of ups and downs like a roller coaster (that's what they tell me, I wish I knew what roller coasters are!).

Anyway, look at me on the plane: don't I look like a professional flyer?
Papi bought a seat just for me, so that the 5 of us could sit all together and I enjoyed being on my own...

Also, despite mami's worries, I was brilliant during the flight. I did not sleep much, but did not cry either, disregarding my cast. As you can see in the pic, mami masked it with a pair of colorful socks with toes, but you can still see that one leg is much bigger than the other and heavier of course!

Last days in NY

We could not leave the States without going to a proper diner either and without a proper cake of "Bon Voyage" dedicated to myself and nonni...
or
Without a last play session with all my cousins! Finally a pic with all of them, including my elusive girl-cousins!

PS. During this time I developed a penchant for Zia Rosaria. I was always merry with her, not sure if because I could smell milk production and felt safe (ah aha ah!) or for her up-to-date maternal training!

To make it all more fun, I was thrilled when she sang "The wheels on the bus..." to me!
























But I also loved spending time with Zia Enza, I think I managed to get her "fanciulletto" (kid side) out of her! Look at this!

Alex's Christening - What a day...

...Surely to remember for being too god and too bad all at the same time!!!

The beginning was great and sweet. Mami bathed Alex, she dressed him up beautifully in his silk suit, perfumed him and combed his hair. I watched curiously the whole ritual...

Then presents were exchanged between godparents (my mami & papi) and Alex and everything was just perfect, we were even going to be right on time for the Mass - very unusual in the case of the Guttilla family reunited!!!

BUT...the frightening accident happened. As the Sicilians say
"there's no party without a drum"...

And the drum was the sound of daddy slipping down the stairs and bumping on 12 steps, one after the other...The good news? He was still in one piece when he landed.
The bad news? He was holding ME when that happened...and I cried and cried and cried.

Mami checked me all over and I looked fine but very scared. I cried for all the duration of the religious ceremony, I was quiter in the restaurant but could not walk and did not play with the many other children present, very unlike me! I was so unhappy (hence I am not in the above picture) that mami insisted that I was taken to A&E...

Result: I broke my leg. Both tibia and fibula. I was very cheerful and smiley at the hospital that even the doctors could not believe it. Consequence: they put a splint on my leg and I had to go back to see the specialist the day after and my leg was put in a cast!

Shame and pain, but it'll be over in less time than what I imagine...

At Joe's

When mami talked me through the people I would meet in the States, she told me about Joe and Jerry. Her cousins who'd been like brothers to her when she studied in NY.

I did not have the chance to spend much time with Jerry, but I could see Joe on a couple of occasions and I did like him too.

We were invited to his beautiful mansion, I had never seen so much luxury, and I enjoyed the company a lot.

We also had a toast to the creation of Sonora US, zio Pic's new production company.

I had some time playing with little Alex and showing off oneanother's chubbiness...

My shopping experiences!

How could I go to the States and not got for a good shopping spree?
Times worth to remember: the day we all went together (we forgot to take pics of that!); Woodbury commons with my cousins (we actually spent more time playing oputside and did not do any shopping, that's what made it special) and the toys dpt at TJs!!!

Me gusta il parmiggiano!

Despite the fact that mami is intolerant to cheese and many other dairy products I LOVE them all.
I cannot have a proper meal without being aided by a cup of yogurt and I adore pasta with parmesan cheese or parmesan cheese on its own...

Look at me and at my dairy whiskers!

Zio Pic in Love

Look how sweet that is...

Besides the fact that for the first days I couldn't refrain from crying ever
y time I saw him, after that I couldn't resist his charme!

(Sorry for smiling with my finger on my gums, but teething is a hard world!)

The "cacaniri" (youngest) with Nonni

Nonni were really seizing the instant and were sooo delighted to be able to have both Alex and me
at reach... And of course, Alex and I were ever so pleased to be looked after so sweetly!

Although some episodes of jealousy occurred from times to times...and very often I was trying to hug(? catch?) Alex too tightly!

Welcomed @ zii Settimo and Nina's

As zio Settimo and zia Ninetta were the first grand-aunt and uncle that came to see me in Spain, they were even more looking forward to see me again than anyone else...
So a big party was thrown for "Victoria and the gang" and we indulged in delicious food and good company. There I met my little twin-cousins, Liliana and Isabella, who are only two weeks older than me (and sooo cuuute!!!) and mami's US cousins.

I was a bit scared to start with and cried desperately at everybody's face (shame on me!) but when I was reassured I was safe I played and laughed so much that mami had a hell of a job trying to put me to sleep...


I played loads with Zio Pic and zia Enza, and with a basket of broad beans. Shame that little Alex was a bit poorly and we had to take him to the doctor's before going to the party, or else we would have had more fun

and surely more time together.

My first Intercontinental flight- Victoria in the States!

To continue with my adventurous life, my parents took me to the States to visit my uncles and aunties and play with my little cousins...and look at how good it was...
These first pictures were taken at Zio Peppe's, where we stayed for the first week and the last couple of days. That's me playing with my three boy-cousins!

My 10 months

10 months and 10 kilos (more precisely 10 Kg and 700grms), I am becoming a really really CHUBBY baby, but that's okay, I don't mind and mami and papi love me like this!!! But surprisingly enough, I am becoming a very fussy eater...it takes an hour to feed me and I would only have half of what's in the plate, that is a very small portion...Hopefully I'll regain my appetite soon...
What matters is that I do not look as if I needed to be forced to eat, or do I? (the one who needs to eat more is mummy or else she won't be able to lift me up anymore!)

With my friend Itxaso, an afternoon of fun!

I finally got the chance to spend an afternoon with my friend Itxaso, as mami baby-sat her for a couple of hours while her mum went to a meeting...We were a bit anxious in case she would cry , but no! She was very happy to play with me, bullying me a bit, as she's nearly 6 months older...but that's okay. I (actally mami) let her have my toys when she wanted them...and we all played together in harmony!
By the way, don't we look a bit alike? (And funny enough, neither of us has the typical colours-eye and hair- of the typical Spaniard!!!)

My new love: the staircase!

As I wiggle and walk around now, I always end up at the bottom of the staircase and ask for help to go up and down, down an up...I really love it! Looked how pleased I am, in the stairs and with daddy...what more could I ask for???

End of February, yet another fever...

Awfully true, I got my fever number 4.

This is a real flu, I am coughing badly, my nose is runny and stuffy and I am reeeaaalllly miserable.
I lost nearly a Kg in less than a week: I can't even breastfeed properly as I can't breathe...

Shame as it was Nonna Nina's birthday and I couldn't take part to the celebrations...but I loved to see how she blew her candle, I should probably train for when my turn comes!

Chilling out and having fun - 9 MONTHS!!!

What a life! That's how I spent most of my time...playing in the lounge, chilling out and smiling happy. Mami and papi thank God all the time for such a blessing, had I been like my 'weepy' dad in his infancy, I guess mami would have gone mad!!!

But let's be serious, this is my NINE months...how time flies! Mami took me to my 9 months review yesterday and I got great grades: I grabbed everything I was offered very easily, was quite smiley troughout and now weigh 9.820Kg (22 pounds) and I am 74cm long!!! Still not sure where that comes from, but I am a huge baby for my age!

Baby walker!

Walking? Not quite really! That's what I use my baby walker for!!! It keeps nonno fit and me HAPPY!

Swapping mamis?I luv my tios

Although mami loves me unconditionally, she couldn't resist the temptation of holding little Ines, she's soooo sweet that she calls for hugs and kisses. And I was most please with my tia Maria guapa...and under the warm February sunshine of El Campello.

World is a funny thing, in one place it rains and you have to wear coat, hat & scarf to go out...then you fly in a noisy thing...and when you land they let you go out with no coat and it's warm and sunny...

I liked my Spanish aunties and uncles, all of them. Shame I could not spend more time with Tio Vicen, but he had a little accident and hurt his legs...the next time I see him, he'll be wearing a nice suit and will be marrying that auntie of mine that looks like me, as per picture...even more in reality!!!

Baby Lunch!

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For once, I was having lunch with someone of my class, rather than having to sit and watch adults eating weird stuff, with strange cutlery...Inesita was eating just like me, purées and off a spoon!!!
Also, we had a special 'entertainer', abuela Marinieves was singing to us both and I luvd that!!!

Me gustan los abuelos! And the pacifiers???

Still talking about my Spanish week-end, short but intense!!§

One thing I did enjoy was being cuddled, look at my face of satisfaction whilst in my abuelo's arms with Ines...and even more satisfied when I managed to steal Ines's dummie and put it in my mouth - PS. I took a dislike of dummies when I was less than 3 months and refused to take it...even when mami desperately insisted during some of the 'long' nights!!!

Playing with my Spanish friends

Look at me here: I am having so much fun with my little friends!!!Here's a picture of me with the girls and then another one with the lucky boy that happened to spend an afternoon with three beauties!!!He's very cute as well and very very sweet...
Shame I was over-tired and over-excited and (very unusually) I was fretful and fidgety!!! But well, overall it was a good experience...

Trip to Spain - Inesita &Me

After 6 months from my first experience, I was flying again!!!Yes, we went to see my Spanish familia for a day and a half (short but intense)...Inesita is growing by the day and we were craving to see what a cutie she'd become! So up we went! Mami, as usual, was worried that I would misbehave, but I made friends on the way to Alicante and I was entertained all the way through! My friend's name was Richard and he was going to Alicante with a group of friends to have a stag night in Benidorm. Since our flight was delayed by 1 hour, the group of guys had decided to spend this hour at the airport bar and by the time we boarded they were all over-drunk! So Richard asked mami 7 or 8 times how old I was...and he showed us the picture of his baby boy Louis another 7 or 8 times, but I did not care. I found him interesting, he was playing with me, he held me for a while and I was ever so amused...that we got to Alicante without me even realising it!
At the airport they were all waiting and my primita Ines was wearing a beautiful hat -you know I have a passion for hats- and looked absolutely splendid!!!
All was great, but by the time we got home I was starving, and so must have been Inesita, looking at the way she aimed for my shoe and at how we both grabbed the baguette...