Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 1995 and Vito is all dressed up, looking so sharp, ready to go to Scott's parents. Too bad his eyes are closed.

Vito loved Christmas and even at this age (12) he still believes in Santa. When he was born I struggled with the decision to tell him the Santa lie. I remember being told, at the age of five, that there was no Santa and being devastated by that revelation. I should never do that to my child.

But I did...and once Vito started school that dreaded question started coming up, "Mommy, is there really a Santa Claus?". My standard reply was to ask him, "What do you think?". If his answer was yes I would affirm his belief. As he got older I was more and more surprised by that yes answer. This particular Christmas (1995) after his yes answer I asked him why he thought there was a Santa. He replied confidently "Mom, there is no way you can afford all these presents". I was so tickled and thrilled by that.

The following year he didn't let me off the hook so easily but I didn't deny Santa. By then I knew for certain that there is a Santa. His spirit works miracles for children everywhere and puts a little magic in our lives.
Vito on Christmas morning, his eyes not much more open than the night before.

 Vito and I, December 1995

Skater Boy

It's spring 1995 and Vito shows off his roller skating skills. His Aunt works at the local rink so he gets a lot of practice and is pretty good. He literally skates circles around his Mom. I've met a nice guy I feel is worthy of meeting Vito and this picture is taken on our first all together date. We have a great time even if maybe a couple of us really can't skate all that well. I ask Vito what he thinks of my friend Scott and he says "He's nice Mom, but kinda goofy". Yes.

Happy Thanksgiving

Vito's signature drawing he would leave to let people know he'd been there. It was usually found on the classroom chalk board. Have a great holiday.

New specs

It's no surprise that Vito needed glasses since both of his parents are visually challenged. He looks very studious here at school showing off his latest masterpiece. Shown below is one of his computer exercises where he writes about our cat Sasha.

The lovely Sasha, the worlds greatest cat, watching birds visit our feeder.

Last year of grade school

It's October, 1994, Vito is 11 and thankfully in sixth grade getting mostly A's and B's. Fifth grade was tough with lots of homework and therefore lots of drama. Oddly this lead to the teacher suggesting he be placed in the gifted program. It was a nice ego boost for everyone but only temporarily as being gifted means getting more homework. In sixth grade he still struggles with writing and homework and joins the chorus. He wont sing any of his chorus songs for me but we learn the words to a Lisa Loeb song and sing that together alot. He has a very nice voice. His Dad has remarried and in March of 1994 Vito got a baby brother.

The Last Word

This picture reminds me of a time Vito and I went to the Renaissance Fair. We saw the Mud Pitt show and the Witch dunking and I dragged Vito to all the shops while I browsed. At the broom shop the owner graciously gave Vito a long piece of straw used for making brooms. We continued walking around and were delighted to see that there were elephant rides. We got in line, both very excited to have this rare opportunity. Our turn came and Vito was put up in front with me behind and my arms wrapped around him. The trainer then set about leading the elephant around a well worn circle. It was a bounding ride that leaned deeply to one side then deeply to the other and got us giggling. True to form it didn't take long for Vito to find a way to pester the elephant. He took his newly acquired piece of straw and started tapping the elephant on the head with it. I asked him to stop but he ignored my protests and with a mischievous grin continued to torment the poor animal, tapping even faster. Suddenly the elephant's trunk flew up and yanked the piece of straw right out of Vito's hand. After a stunned second we both burst out laughing. That elephant had no problem handling a pest. He leisurely continued walking around the circle chewing on his prize.

In memory of Veterans and 7 years

Vito is excited about the rock tumbler I got him on his tenth birthday(he wanted a 4 wheeler). He did try it once but it took several days to smooth the rocks and was very noisy. Also pictured is Kit Kat's litter of 4 kittens. It was so much fun having kittens in the house and a great experience for Vito. They all looked very different from each other with the one on the right looking very much like her mother. We were able to find homes for all of them but when the lady didn't come to pick up the last one Vito convinced me we should keep her. All you can see is her back foot in the picture. We named her Sasha.

A good year

4th grade is a good year for Vito. He gives the trumpet a try and though he doesn't stick with it his teacher says he has talent. His weakness is in writing but he excels at reading. Homework is still a challenge but the amount is less and so is the drama surrounding it. He gets another certificate for perfect attendance like he did in second grade. In the summer Vito and I take a spur of the moment trip to NY city. We stop at Howe Caverns on the way and he's impressed by the caves and formations and how far underground we go. We spend the night in a hotel on Rte 17 and in the morning head to the Statue of Liberty. I miss the exit and Vito gets a kick out of how the toll booth guy says " 9 north" when redirecting us. The line for the Statue is very long. It's sunny and hot with no place to sit except the ground so Vito is not thrilled and a bit angry with me. After 3 hours we both agree that we don't have the patience to go up to the torch and only go as high as the pedestal. It's still a spectacular view and I'm in awe of it all. Vito's favorite part is the boat ride to Ellis Island. He stands at the front of the boat, the wind blowing through his hair.

Poet in the making

Here's Vito at the school computer possibly creating the very masterpiece you see below. He wrote several poems and I love how honest and insightful they are. They also make me laugh. Read and enjoy!

Wheels, cool!

Vito is a real machine enthusiast. He's most at home playing with, riding, taking apart or tinkering with anything mechanical. Here he is with his Uncle's three wheeler who lives down the road from us. He also has a great love of animals and finally convinces me to get him a kitten. We find an ad for free kittens and I convince him to pick out the most cuddly one. It takes him a while to pick out her name but he finally decides on "Prissy". It's difficult to call her that because she's so loveable and it doesn't fit. I continue to call her kitty cat which eventually shortens to Kit Kat and in the end that's the name that sticks. On the right is the earliest picture I have of her at about 1 year old which is a shame because she was such an adorable kitten.

Looking so grown up!

A beautiful third grade picture but school is not exactly Vito's strong suit. He's very intelligent and does well on tests but has no use for homework. It's no surprise early in the school year that his father and I are called in for a conference. The teacher is rumored to be very good so what comes out of her mouth is shocking to me. She tells us that Vito (our loving, honest and admittedly energetic 8 year old son) has the look of someone who can't be trusted. I ask if he's done anything wrong and she says no but leans in to tell me that even the gym teacher has told her he doesn't trust our son. She goes on to say that Vito isn't doing his assigned homework and is falling behind. She proposes that the problem is our custody arrangement which is joint, 2 days at his fathers house then 2 days at mine. She suggests that 2 weeks at his father's house and then 2 weeks at my house would be better. I'm instantly in tears at the very thought of not seeing my son for two weeks and wonder how any reasonable person could think this is better. I give a definite no to her custody suggestion but we agree to try a communication notebook between homes and school so every homework assignment is accounted for and completed. On the way out I feel so relieved to be leaving. Vito grudgingly completes his assignments on time and soon we are informed that our son "shows promise". On his last report card of the year she writes "Believe it or not I will miss you, Vito!!"

Alex Bay

Here we are on Heart Island visiting Boldt Castle. On the left it's me, Mike, Vito and Mom posing politely for a stranger who offered to take our picture. On the right it's Vito being goofy and Mike who looks like he's probably had enough of goofy. The boys loved the boat ride and the Castle was a great place for them to run around in without too many things they could break. As Vito grows so does his fondness for taking things apart to see how they work . Problem is he can never really get them back together. Most of his toys are in pieces beyond repair. I find some great toys that are clear plastic so you can see the insides and they last a little longer. It's the consensus that he will probably be a mechanical engineer or something related.

Hear no evil?

Vito and I are both enjoying life in the country. We plant some tomato plants and a rosebush in a sunny spot in the yard. There's a bird feeder in our tree that has squirrels, chipmunks, chickadees and blue jays visiting it. Vito is very sweet at this age. He tells me he's going to marry me when he grows up. Sometimes when I go to brush my teeth I find he's placed our toothbrushes together simulating a kiss. Not so hygenic but very endearing.

The ivories are in

Second grade, February, 1991. Vito is seven years old. He does okay in school but doesn't like writing. He loves to help me make pies. I give him the left over pie crust pieces and he fashions his own little tart and fills it. He puts his little pie next to mine in the oven and checks it often. He is very proud of his lopsided masterpiece and can't wait to eat it.

New home

Happy posing in our new Mobile home in 1990. I put it in a park with a good sized lot and plenty of trees. There's a pond across the road in the woods and it has paths all around it. Vito and I enjoy taking nature walks there and checking out plants and polliwogs. Sometimes we make a campfire and roast marshmallows. Vito is begging me for another cat but I refuse. I get him a stuffed one instead that has it's own brush so you can comb its fur. It's not much of a substitute but satisfies him for awhile.

Missing teeth? Not me.

Here's Vito's first grade picture and some of his early art work. He gets in his first fight (that we know of) in this grade and it requires a conference with the teacher. We lose our cat Smokie and I'm struck by how hard he takes it. My Great-Grandfather passes away and Vito is very upset by that also. He seems to know instinctively that they are gone forever without any explanation from me. We must fire a babysitter and Vito's Aunt agrees to watch him instead. We are so lucky to have family available to care for him.

Presents!

This gift in the picture certainly changed our lives. Vito wasn't very good at first but he kept at it. I tried playing too and found it quite addicting. It's 1988 and I got my first Christmas gift from Vito this year. It was a huge box of chocolates. At first I thought his father had picked them out. I was so touched when Vito told me he picked them out himself. I love candy. Vito seems to be enjoying school and brings home adorable hand made cards and ornaments.

First school picture

His Kindergarten picture and Vito looks so adorable. He has become Mommy's little helper and doesn't need to be constantly monitored anymore. I don't let my guard down too much though as he is always thinking and full of surprises. Once, while I was in the kitchen and he was out on the balcony, I heard a blood curdling scream. Fearing the worst I ran out to the balcony to see what was wrong. There was my little angel with his head stuck between the balusters and a captive audience of neighborhood kids. It was wedged in there good and no variation of turning, pushing or pulling could get him out. As a last resort I poured some dish washing soap on his head and out he popped. Never a dull moment when Vito's around.

First day of school

This is fall, 1988 and it's Vito's first day of kindergarten. He catches the bus at his Aunts house to go. He's not a huge fan of school but he does very well without even trying. He's adjusting to our apartment life but there's really no lawn we can call our own. There's a play area with a sandbox but an older boy who likes to bully keeps Vito from playing there much. Occasionally we have a nice view of the sunset. One night we enjoyed a clear view of a lunar eclipse above the tall, beautiful pines behind our building.

Flashback, love the acid washed jeans

It's May, 1988 and Vito is posing in our new apartment. It's a tough time for us because his father and I have just separated. Vito is confused and somewhat angry with me. I try to make the transition as smooth as possible. We both agree that joint custody is best for Vito but my days without him are sad and lonely. The apartment is nice and affordable and Vito adjusts well. He is such a trooper and eventually forgives me.

Let's party

Here Vito is in January 1988 sharing in the New Year celebration. He's four years old and the "terrible twos" are finally starting to wear off. He loves to be tickled and laugh and be silly. Once he gets going it's hard to calm him down. If I lay down on the couch he likes to walk on me. I don't mind because my back is sore from work and he makes it feel better. He's curious about everything. There is literally no stone left unturned in the yard. Every other sentence he speaks is punctuated with a "Why?". It's so much fun to teach him things but it makes me realize how little I know.

Monkey see, monkey do

Now that there's some extra money I'm desperate to go on a trip and show Vito some of the world. Virginia Beach is my choice and Mom agrees to come and pay half of the expenses. Vito's dad doesn't want to go. We drive down in the Firebird with Michael and Vito in the back seat. There's only room for luggage in the trunk so the spare tire is out. It's a little cramped but the boys are reasonably behaved and sleep a lot.

It's late when we arrive and by the time we find a motel Mom and I are very tired. We lay down to sleep but the boys are wide awake because they've slept most of the trip. They begin jumping from my bed to hers, back and forth. Despite our protests they refuse to stop. This seems to go on for hours but we are too exhausted to care. Finally they tire themselves out and go to sleep. In the morning the motel management calls and says we've been kicked out because of the noise. The room is already paid for and I decide we just won't leave. The boys are better the next night and nothing more is said.

The weather is a little cool but we all have fun enjoying the ocean waves and sandy beach. On the day we have to go back it's in the high 80s. We don't want to leave but sadly we must. We get to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and in the middle of nowhere my car gets a flat (remember we have no spare). It's dark and no one is around. After sitting awhile I think it might be a good idea to drive slowly to the next exit in hopes of finding a garage. The boys start laughing hysterically at the fhwap fhwop sound of the flat tire slapping the road as we creep along. Mom and I start laughing too. Suddenly I see a flash of light in my side view mirror. The friction has heated up the rubber and the tire is on fire! I grab Mom's Pepsi, jump out of the car and douse the flames with it. Thankfully the fire goes out. We resign ourselves to waiting on the side of the road. Eventually a turnpike patrol car sees us and sends someone to help. The tire gets replaced and soon we're on our way home. Thank goodness.

No clowning around

I loved this shirt. It made Vito look so grown up. His energy is boundless and he loves to play. Trucks and cars are favorites. Anything that makes noise is a plus. We get a hand-me-down swing set with heavy wooden seats. While playing with a neighbor boy a seat hits Vito and he ends up with a permanent scar over his right eye. Because he has curly red hair I get the idea to dress him up as a clown for Halloween. He cries the whole time and trick or treating is cut short. He develops a strong dislike of clowns. Slowly I learn that there is no point in pushing Vito to do what he doesn't want to do. I get a job at a local factory that pays well. My husband and I work opposite shifts so we don't need a sitter.

Scary Bunny

Vito and the Easter Bunny. I was amazed that this went so well, he's actually smiling. Past attempts at pictures with Santa meant tears and possibly screams. The terrible twos are stretching into the threes. There are daily power struggles between Vito and I. I'm terribly frustrated at my inability to control my young son. I try time outs, sending him to his room, spanking but nothing seems to work. I get Bell's Palsy and feel very ill. The doctor recommends reducing stress. I stop babysitting my friends daughter and try to relax but money is so tight. I take the exam for a postal job and put in an application at a local factory.  In six weeks I've recovered from the Bell's Palsy but my husband loses his job. My Dad and Stepmom help by paying me to clean their house. My husband gets another job but all the financial stress is tough on our marriage.

Happy boy!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Vito. It was taken on Christmas day at his Great Aunt's house.  Look at that big, beautiful smile. He is such a bundle of energy. He climbed up a set of shelves that tipped over and gave him a huge goose egg on his forehead. I absolutely can not let him out of my sight for a second. I painted his room a light yellow and he has a big boy bed now. I love to read him bed time stories and tuck him in at night. My friend's daughter that I'm babysitting is very good but she brings out Vito's green eyed monster.

Beautiful blue eyes

Vito's hair is growing and gorgeous. At the grocery store the little old ladies run their hands through it and say "Oh, what I would pay to have that hair color". He's become a real handful and potty training is a challenge. He filled the toilet with toilet tissue and flooded the bathroom. The ceiling below in the kitchen of our house we just moved into was ruined. His babysitter quit and we found another one. After much thought I decide that hairdressing isn't working out for me. My pay barely covered the babysitter and I missed being with Vito. I babysit for a friends daughter to cushion the financial blow.

Little man and me

Vito is almost 2 here and his hair is starting to grow. It's curly in the back and so adorable. I'm working as a hair dresser now and Vito has another new babysitter. A couple times she's not up when I try to drop Vito off. The door is locked and she doesn't answer my knock. I have to drive to the nearest pay phone and call to wake her up. Cutting hair is okay but it doesn't pay well. Tips are few and far between because the shop isn't that busy. I don't fit in well with the other girls working there. I spend most of my working day wondering if Vito is okay.

Handsome little man

Vito is almost 18 months here and these pictures came out really nice. In the larger prints you can see the cat scratch on his cheek. He got that from Smokie for pulling his tail. We had to work hard at squashing that habit and keep the cat's nails clipped. We've put an offer in on a house and close in a couple months. Our current landlord has informed us her son needs to move in to where we're living so we must find another apartment for just 2 months. Vito's new babysitter has found another job and luckily a relative comes to the rescue. She's very nice and he amazingly adjusts well to all the changes.

Pedals... what pedals?

Vito gets his first bike from his grandparents. Eventually he masters the pedals. At 15 months he is very determined and stubborn. When he wants to get out of his crib he just dives out. It hurts and he cries but he continues to do it. We start leaving the side down so he doesn't get badly injured (need to buy a bed). I love to cuddle with him but it doesn't last long because he's always on the go. When he finally falls asleep he looks like such an angel. Vito's babysitter gets another job so now her friend who we know is watching him while I'm in school. The Corvette has finally sold, bills are paid and there's some money left over. The plan is to buy a house. Shopping is fun.

Nice light

Christmas 1984 and Vito is old enough to realize something exciting is going on. He only opens a few of his presents and mostly plays with the paper but it's still fun for his father and I. We've moved for cheaper rent and between that, school, studying and taking care of Vito I'm totally wiped out. Sometimes dishes don't get done for a few days. Vito has a new babysitter and seems to handle that okay. We got some snow and I took Vito for his first sled ride down the slope near our driveway. Unfortunately the "sled" is a cardboard box that tips over halfway down and he gets a face full of snow. Not happy. Need to buy a sled.

Who is that guy?

Me, Mom, Vito and Mike getting together for some Christmas photos. Not a smile from either of the boys in any of these pictures that I have. The photographer only managed to alarm them. I'm going to hairdressing school at this point and Vito seems to be adjusting well. A nice lady that lives down the road babysits him. She has three young children and a very nice, clean house. School is interesting and the people there are nice. Our house isn't as clean as it use to be but Vito doesn't seem to notice.

Happy Birthday!

Here Vito is opening presents on his first birthday. To further mark the day he walked across the room for the first time. I made a cake decorated with Big Bird, his favorite Sesame Street character, and invited all the family over. His grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all came. Luckily our apartment is huge and there was no problem accommodating everyone. We gave him a piece of cake and he promptly covered his face with it. He got lots of nice clothes and toys and really seemed to enjoy all the attention. I can't believe he is a year old already.

Standing tall

What a big boy! Vito has graduated from the kitchen sink to the tub. At 10 months he can wave bye-bye, get down from the couch and has taken his first step alone. He dances for the first time to the theme song from "The Jeffersons". He also has 5 teeth. This picture is a bit dark because it wasn't developed for 18 years. There is no money for pictures and jobs are scarce. The plan is for me to go to hairdressing school and open my own shop. My friend is a hairdresser and assures me there is good money to be made. I'm determined to succeed.

Summer days

Here are the boys enjoying the outdoors. At 7-8 months Vito can crawl on his hands and knees and stand up while holding on to something. He gets around pretty good and is into everything. Money is still tight so I'm washing dishes at a restaurant at night. It only pays minimum wage but helps us buy formula and diapers. I love playing with the boys but get tired quickly. We all take naps.

We are not in the mood for a picture!

Money is really tight since I quit my job. I start watching my baby brother Michael for my Mom while she works. He's almost eight months older than Vito and such a good boy. Unfortunately the green eyed monster has possessed my son. Because Michael is older he can do things that Vito can't. Michael feeds himself and Vito cries. He walks across the room and Vito screams. It's still a good experience for everyone and I have fun with them.

Toys, toys, toys

When Vito is happy he's soooo happy. In the grocery store people walk by and say "What a happy baby!" At 7 months he's doing the army crawl and has said his first word which is "Da da". It doesn't take him long to go through that big bowl of toys and get bored. Now that he can crawl I have to watch him every minute. I must wait for nap time to take my shower.

Bath time

Vito really started to love his baths at 6 months. The kitchen sink was easiest place to do it. There are new things he can do happening on almost a daily basis now. He can sit up on his own. He's getting teeth. He can hold his own bottle. One thing he doesn't do is stay entertained for very long. I carry him around on my back in a bright red papoose so I can do some housework without hearing him cry. Dinner preparation time is the most difficult for everyone in the house. Vito is fussy and we're too busy to dote on him. He sits in his nip nap on the kitchen table and screams.

Jolly Jumper!

This is a nice idea but it really wasn't Vito's thing. He could only stand being trussed up like a turkey for about 10 minutes tops. He's almost 5 months here and developing quite the personality. He's blown his first rasberry and knows his relatives now. The first time I heard him mock a cough I was in tears from laughing so hard. He can roll over and has discovered he can get across a room by rolling over and over again. Teething has begun and he can get really cranky. His hair hasn't gotten any longer and I actually think he has less than the day he was born. He' the most beautiful baby in the whole, wide world.