Spring is in the air!

We've had a few days of 50 degree weather, so that got me thinking spring.  What better way to celebrate spring than with a new photo shoot with Carmine and....a bunny!

What a cute little bunny!  I think I'll pet it.  So gentle.

 Did I accidentally drop an egg in the basket with the bunny?

 I'm not so sure about this now...I think I liked the bunny better in the basket...but I'll try to smile.

 Nope.  Mommy!!!!!

 This is better.  Blocks to bang together is much more fun than a bunny!

Really, Mom?  Are you trying to recreate my 9 month photo shoot with this hat? 

So, I look like Grandpa Swenson a little, huh?  I'll show you Grandpa Swenson!!!

 How do you do, Miss?

 Mom, I think I'm done with this hat now.

 I know, I know...I'm just too cute for words!!

This is my best politician pose.  Yes, I will lead you.  Where will I lead you?

 "In there"

 Can we leave now?!?!  I'm hungry!

So Many Things...

I haven't posted in such a long time, and so many things have happened since Carmine turned one!  So, rather than do multiple posts, I'm going to try to lay out as much of it here as I have the energy for.

WORDS
Carmine says sooooooo many things right now!  He is repeating things, combining words, and I think making up some of his own.  The current tally is:

1. Ma Ma (had to be #1)
2. Da Da
3. bye bye
4. pa pa (scarpe - which is Italian for shoe)
5. banana - yup the WHOLE word
6. apple/aqua - you always have to guess which one he wants
7. chair
8. pot
9. spoon
10. big (big spoon, big pot)
11. baby (while pointing at other kids, baby spoon, baby pot)
12. meow
13. baaaaaa
14. bow wow
15. round and round (that one surprised me)
16. bambola (Italian for doll - doesn't it seem like saying doll would be easier?!?!)
17. pampa (Thumper - his favorite stuffed animal right now)
18. blue
19. not now (that was the new phrase of the day)
20. shhhhh
21. ni ni (night night)
22. bear
23. powder (well...the "d" sound doesn't come out)
24. up
25. down
26. in there
27. success (thanks to Aunt Tina for that one)
28. all right
29. all done
30. bowl
31. bunny
32. milk
33. cheese
34. belly
35. tickle
36. more (sounds like mooor)
37. home
38. nonna (Grandma in Italian)
39. zi zi (aunt in Italian)
40. hello (only when pretending to answer a phone)
41. ching-ching (you know, the clinking of glasses)
42. ear
43. knee
44. head
45. pane (Italian for bread)
46. beep beep (when he wants you to read "Little Blue Truck"
47. brrrm! (whenever he sees a car)
48. bus

WALKING

So, he's not exactly walking solo often yet...but he really could.  He is cruising along the furniture, walls, behind push toys, holding our hands, etc.  He just needs that comfort of holding something.  He will let go to take one or two steps to one of us, but if it is further than that he will just sit down and crawl (all hands and knees now!).  He will go in between us for up to about 7 steps.  That is always exciting to him and he gets super excited.  I know he will get there eventually, but I think my back is ready for it now!

HAIRCUT

That's right!  The curls are gone.  The long hair curling into his ears is gone.  Now, he just looks like a little boy.  OK, so the curls aren't all gone, but it is close.  How did he get this old already?  He did an amazing job!  He sat so still, and didn't really say anything.  She was even able to do a little with the clippers around his ears and neck!

 I left his hair curly the night before the hair cut and it showed when he woke up in the morning.  Bye-bye to the rooster cowlick in the back!

 Carmine was being so good that we decided to give him his FIRST LOLLYPOP!  He seemed to think it was OK, but didn't finish it.

Thanks to the folks at Studio Central!!  They did an AMAZING JOB!