Antonio's First Birthday

Antonio's First Birthday Party was at the same location as his sister's, Old Country Buffet in Woodbridge, VA, on Saturday, November 11th.  A special treat was Abuela coming home with us from the party for a week :)

About to blow out his candle

Antonio with parents, sister, and godparents.

In this video we hear the birthday song in Polish first, and about halfway the English starts :)

at his bday party

Some candids of the guests. There were 18 of us celebrating Antonio's first bday.  Plus a couple of the employees ;)

bahahaha, something to remember - daddy dropping a big piece of bday cake! lol

                                                     
                                                     

  

with some of his gifts from Babcia

Antonio's actual birthday was two days earlier.  He received the same present as his sister - an anatomically correct baby doll from Germany that drinks and pees on his own little potty.  He took to his new role as daddy quite easily - like father like son :)

Na roczek, wybral kieliszek!

The video here shows Antonio choosing a little glass over a little book and cash money.  The Polish tradition says what a child chooses on their first birthday indicates something about their future.  I think this means that he'll be the life of the party! :)

 Happy first birthday to my little darling Antonio!  We are so glad you are here with us!

September & October

Natalia getting her first allowance: 1 jar each - spend, save, give

We always stop to smell the roses!

Natalia found this Venus Flytrap at the store!

Discovered a pond on our walk.

Can you spot the miniature Virgin Mary?  Trick or Treating at the Shrine of St Anthony.

Swing doing double duty.

Playroom fun.

                                   

"You wittle putemthere!" (Happy bday mommy!  Our gift to you: we love each other!)

"Ummm..."

"... are you serious?"

And they're off...

Finally great weather...

... for daily walks!

Yay for sensory play!

I think they're tying to go somewhere.

Dance party with grandparents.

Cooking up a storm, following in Daddy's footsteps...

... and here following in Uncle Karol's footsteps.

Marching band anyone?

Boy on a mission.

No, mom, don't document this! Just emptying my potty.

Mom says wood chips are yucky.  Let me try it myself.

Nothing like feeling the grass under your bare feet!

Two months before "oficially" becoming a toddler, Antonio started walking :) Here he is on the eve of Papi's birthday, what a gift!

Antonio's First Year

1 month old, 1 mes, 1 miesiac

2mo

3mo

4mo

5mo

6mo

7mo

8mo

9mo

10mo

11mo

1 year old, Roczek, 1 ano

May and June

at the library

nature journaling on a walk

enjoying spring weather

helping daddy cut the grass

swim class with teacher daddy

dental hygiene very important

dolly walking on the wild side

feeding Antonio some avocado

just hanging around

on a walk

I feel like such a mama here

visiting with babcia & dziadek

creative idea: bonfire from pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks

upon closer examination...

storytime on the hammock

watering our herb garden

recycling helper

that's my girl

forming numerals

learning to count

watching caterpillar make its chrysalis

My little darling (the preschooler) is teaching herself to write! No curriculum necessary :)

Can you see our initials? N - Natalia, A - Antonio, T - tata, M - mama

camel

cow

"Jesus on the cross"