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.

Music to my ears

At 10 weeks old Vito laughed out loud for the first time. It was the most beautiful sound I 'd ever heard. Here, at 3 months, I was finally able to get a picture of his smile. He is such a joy. I went back to work but after one week gave my two weeks notice. I couldn't stand to be away from him. We are living hand to mouth but I don't regret it for a minute.

Smile please

Vito is 7 weeks in this picture and probably thinking "What is she doing to me?!" No one is home with me during the day so propping him up for pictures is a frequent occurrence. He's started sleeping thru the night which is great but makes me a little nervous. I check on him often to make sure he's okay. Soon I must go back to work and hate the thought of leaving him. My mother-in-law has graciously offered to babysit. This makes leaving him a little easier just knowing he'll be with family.

Nice Belly!

At 6 weeks Vito still wakes up every 3-4 hours at night to eat. I'm exhausted and frustrated but still having fun being a Mom. Each day is a new photo opportunity because he looks so adorable in every outfit. He's starting to babble and coo and seems to know his parents. We're renting 1/2 of an old farm house that heats with a wood stove. It's quite chilly in the morning so I put the little plastic tub near the stove so he doesn't get a chill during his bath. My mother-in-law recommends putting a tablespoon of cereal in his bottle just before bed. Despite Doctors orders ("Only breast milk for 8 weeks") I try it. He sleeps 6 hours and it's a miracle.

Picture time

This is Vito's first professional photograph. We stood in line for 2 hours at the local department store to get it. He's wearing a cute little knit outfit that my friend Trudy got for him. After much crying and fussing during the wait he fell into a deep sleep just as our turn came up. The poor photographer had to coax him awake for every shot. He's about 6 weeks old and hungry all the time. He doesn't sleep much and spits up a lot but a flash of his smile makes it all worth while.

The day I fell in love

October 1st 1983 Vito was born at 7:40 am. He weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces and was absolutely perfect. His hair was a lovely strawberry blond that sparkled in the sun and was arranged in a neat little man's haircut. I was smitten at first sight. Of course you cried (don't all babies?) and wouldn't stand for being wrapped up tight in the blanket which seemed to comfort all the other babies. I just chalked it up to an independent nature, something to be admired, respected. Once, as I entered the nursery to get you, I overheard a nurse comment to another nurse "Boy is he going to give his mother trouble". Not possible, not my little angel.