Nails and BUMBO!

I cut Romans nails for the first time. I have cut one or two maybe, and I filed them twice a little bit.. but I cut all his nails on his hands and most of his toes. I wanted to do it when he slept so he wouldn't move, but he wouldn't fall asleep and stay asleep when I did it. So today when he was eating he just kept stopping and looking at me wondering what I was doing. He is so curious. I don't think I hurt him at all, but he did pull his hand away once, but he didn't really stop moving the whole time. I just had to hold on tight to his hands and feet.

Today we also got him a Bumbo chair! He cried when I first put him in it.. we needed to change the diaper. Then he was happy and smiles. We took some video and it was pretty funny to us. I will try to post it soon, for all to enjoy. :) ha.

UPDATE! We got his passport in today! Wahoo.. France will so be his first country to visit. I am so ready to go back to Cora.

Easy Meal - Risotto

Pretty simple and delicious risotto. I found a similar recipe and just changed and added a few things to make it my own. I thought we would have left overs, but we didn't. I guess that's a good thing?

Spinach, Shrimp, and Mushroom Risotto

Cook time from start to finish - about 35 minutes (depends on how fast you prep)
Servings - 6 as a side or 2-3 as a main dish.

Ingredients:
2 cans reduced-sodium chicken broth

pepper to taste in broth
Garlic powder to taste in rice

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup uncooked arborio rice

1-1/2 to 2 cups chopped fresh spinach

1/2 cup fresh or frozen mushrooms

1/2 to 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups (or however much you want) Shrimp

Preparation:

1. Bring broth and pepper to boil in small saucepan and reduce heat to keep simmering.

2. Spray large saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until hot. Add rice and stir about 1 minute. Stir 2/3 cup hot chicken broth into saucepan; cook, stirring constantly, until broth is absorbed. Add garlic powder.

3. Add remaining broth 1/2 cup at a time making sure it's is absorbed before adding next. When last 1/2 cup chicken broth is added, stir in spinach, shrimp, and mushrooms. Cook, stirring gently until all broth is absorbed, everything is hot, and rice is done. (Total cooking time for chicken broth absorption is about 20 minutes.)

4. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in cheese and serve.

Recap of December! aka Month 2

Lots of things happened last month for Roman. I have posted a few pictures to recap in a somewhat backward order..

He passed out soon after midnight

He was awake for his first New Years!

He went to a few meals with new friends

He took pictures with his family

He played with Grandma Corona and his New Years pig

He spent time in Grandpa Coronas arms

He turned 8 weeks old and is all smiles!

He celebrated his first Christmas

He got lots and lots of Christmas presents

YAY for Christmas Morning!!!

He met Grandma and Grandpa Corona on Christmas eve morning!

He went to his first change of command

Had lots of Tummy Time

Slept often in my arms

Went to eat with Daddy at work (He served a Christmas meal)

He met friends of mine

Went shopping with us

First holiday photos!

Saw snow for the first time!
He was not very happy about it.

Went to his first Army Navy party!
GO ARMY!

Got our first family tree

Went shopping with just me - and slept most of the time

Took Tonys favorite picture yet

Turned one month old

Smiled and talked A LOT!

2010 Here At Last

I am so excited for this year. We will have so many things happening in the coming months. By next year this time we will have a whole new life in who knows where with a ONE year old. Oh my. My life has already gone by too fast. I guess I should get used to that since I have felt like I was just in high school last year for the past almost 10 years.

A friend posted a year in review with pictures and you would think that would be easy for me, but my pictures have been moved to a removable hard drive and I have to hook it up.. so maybe I will post the pics in a later post. I just am going to try to remember what happened last year!


January- I had just got back from Japan the very end of December and we brought in the New Year at my friend Mindy's house with friends. It was great and German new years are very fun with lots of fireworks!

February - We celebrated Valentines day in Berlin and we went to a GIANT indoor water park and we enjoyed a nude spa! We also took a tour on Segways and it was very very very cold. Tony headed to the field for 2 weeks and right after he left I found out we were going to have a baby! I waited till he got home to tell him in person and boy was that hard!

March - I took an official blood test at the hospital to confirm the pregnancy, filled out tons of paperwork, got our first taste of being parents by babysitting my friends little two year old girl one weekend, got our first sonogram and heard his heart beat, took a trip to the states, told our family and friends about the baby. I saw Britney Spears. It was awesome.

April - I spent a good 3 weeks in Texas visiting with family and friends! It was GREAT! My mom turned 50 too!

May - I flew on a Space Available flight to D.C. for my brother Josh's College/Masters Graduation and got to spend time with family. We celebrated our 2nd anniversary with a trip to Spain we stayed in Malaga and Seville. We visited Gibraltar also! We got to hear the heart beat again too. Tony's mom turned 50 also. Both would become grandmas at 50!

June - We found out its a boy!!! We also got to see the President of the UNITED States, Barack Obama, land at Ramstein Air Base. We also took a big trip to Dubai! It was a very nice trip. It was very hot there I don't know how they do it covered head to toe! I know that might keep some of the heat off them.. but when its all black!?

July - We hosted Tonys cousin and her family for a few days. I turned 26 this month. We celebrated with Thai food and friends. We also took a trip to visit our friend Roisin and the 3 of us went to Munich for a day of fun. I also got my hair cut - only a trim. I hardly ever get my hair cut. The last time was October of 08. Yes - sad I know.

August - We went to Trier with a friend of Tonys from West Point and it turned out to be a VERY VERY HOT day. It was over 100 out and we are no longer used to these hot days. Plus I was pregnant and already always hot. Tony bought a shield for Roman to play with. Oh and I finally did our Taxes..

September - We celebrated Tony's 27th Birthday with a trip to Belgium where he drank lots of beer and I watched. I climbed way too many stairs for being 8 months Pregnant. The giant KMCC also opened and began our many trips to the other side of the world for soap. (Ok so I exaggerate a little bit its 10 more minutes away but you have to add the time it takes to park, walk in, walk from one end to the other, and then stand in line, then walk out again)

October -October was a busy month. I played BUNCO for the first time and it was so much fun. I won two prizes. I think I played BINGO this month too maybe it was last month.. I won a very ugly wallet and I feel guilty about it since I am sure many people would have loved it. I wont twice really but didn't call fast enough and I the thing was cleared that lady was a bad caller.. We also went to the second largest beer fest in Germany held in Stuttgart Germany! It was much better then Oktoberfest according to me. Also my mom flew in to stay with us for almost 6 weeks to help with the baby. I am SO VERY thankful that she was able to do so, it was wonderful to have her. Oh ya and I cut my hair again this month.

November - Nov 3 I gave birth to Roman Anthony Corona. The most beautiful perfect little boy ever. He is such a joy and I love him so much. I swear he has the best smile EVER. EVER.

December - we celebrated our first Christmas Season as a family of 3. Tony's parents visited too.

I think I got all our trips in there?! How lucky am I? A wonderful loving husband, who is the sweetest dad and a healthy baby boy. We have our health and a safe home and anything we could need and a few things we don't. We both have wonderful family and friends that we miss and cant wait to spend time with. I am thankful for everything I have and all that has happened to be. Good and bad it all has made me who I am. Thank you for contributing to my life.

Books on babies.. have you read?

I am interested in seeing if other people have read any of these books and what they think. I have only read one parenting book so far, but I have looked online for short articles here and there. I think its best to go with what feels right for you, but getting some guidance isn't a bad thing either. The first three are more about signals babies send, and the second three are more about how to "train" the baby.

1. What Babies Say Before They Can Talk : The Nine Signals Infants Use to Express Their Feelings

2. The Secret Language of Babies: The Body Language of Little Bodies
This one I could not find much about, but it seems to be the most interesting one.

3. Dunstan Baby Language -- Learn the universal language of newborn babies

4. The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night

5. The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer

6. On Becoming Babywise

The last one I have checked out and started to read. I already have on opinion. But I will wait to see what other have to say. If you haven't read them look up reviews and tell me what you think! Leave a link of its a good one. If you have any thoughts or tips to share please do! About sleeping, feeding or whatever.
ps: I couldnt get the fonts to all be the same... not sure why. sorry about the yelling.

Go Army BEAT Navy!! Maybe next year..

This was Roman's first Army Navy game. Although this is the 8th year in a row Navy Beat Army, we still had a good night and we still went into the game hoping. Good thing we can also clam TCU as our team. *I don't really get into football that much, but I still love TCU, no matter if they win or loose - I am just happy they are good at winning. Here are some pictures and videos (no sound because its broke) from the night.

Roman is not celebrating an Army Touch Down.

Believe it or not.. he is just dancing to the music. See video below.

Tony had to buy him an Army T.. its very large and will fit
him for few games to come. Its a 2T.

Can you find him?

Cute right?!

Roman can go to any college he wants to.
Its just fun to dress him up.

Quick update.. Roman I believe has grown an inch or so.. I tried to measure him and got around/over 22 inches. He was born 21 and 1/4. I wanted to weigh him on our scale and found out its low battery. A few days this past week he has been slept for almost 2 hours in his swing! Okay.. he didnt sleep the entire time, but on and off and he was content. He would open his eyes and then go back to sleep. It is nice to be able to move around without him, when he is not screaming or not holding him. Not that I don't love to hold him! He has also had over 6 hours of sleep a few nights, but I have NO IDEA why!? I would love a repeat though. His "old man" hair is still there, but he is starting to grow some peach fuzz on top. It's so soft and I like to rub his head now. He also smiles and "talks" to us often. He especially likes to talk to me when I change his diaper downstairs. He likes it downstairs because I use a warm washcloth but upstairs we use baby wipes and they are not warm. We will sit in the bathroom "talking" for a long time during the day.

1 Month OLD!

Roman in his bear outfit - notice his ears

his arms were stuck up like that

Pics with Mom and Dad

He has so many cute outfits

I know its silly.. only to remember how tiny his feet are

Cute little butt - Legs are filling out too

Roman is growing so fast. We knew it would happen, but it truly is going by so fast. Its a few days past the big day of one month. He has done so many things this past month besides entering the world. He has already been on his first overnight trip, his umbilical cord fell off, we started to use cloth diapers. He can wear 3-6 month clothes because he is SOOOOOOOO LONG (he will still fit into the others, but they fit better even if the feet are big on him), he rolls over, he doesn't like his car seat that much and cries most of the time in it, We got a bouncer that he likes, still working on getting him to like the swing. He likes to listen to music and dance around, or be bounced around by Tony. He also likes to listen to the hair dryer in the bathroom to calm him down - my mom taught us about this trick. HE LOVES BATH- until it gets too cold. He also now likes the baby ergo carrier. Tony even carried him in it last night. Its a great carrier and will last us till he is a toddler too. He has hung out with just him and daddy too already and they both do great. I started to pump to allow me to be gone and to allow Tony time alone with him to bond. He went with me to a candle party too and he got to meet another baby who is just a week younger then him. They played nice (asleep and all). Then he pooped all over himself in front of everyone and I had to change him out of his dirty clothes. It was a mess.

He has been rolling over since the first week we brought him home. I think it has something to do with his long body. I thought it was a fluke at first, but he has done it many more times, although we are working on doing it on que. He does it best when angry. One day he actually was so calm that, not only did he not roll over, he put himself to sleep!!! That was a first. Most of the time he falls asleep only in my arms after eating and wont stay asleep unless I leave him there. OR Tony moves him. Last night he slept 7 hours in a row, Tony put him down and told him to sleep a long time. Went to bed at 11 then didn't wake up till almost 6 am!! We both woke up at 5 am and Tony asked me what time he had woke up and when I realized he hadn't and it was past 5 I had to check to see if he was still breathing. He usually went maybe 4 hours the first part of the night, then would wake every 1 to 3 hours to eat again. So tonight we cross our fingers but dont hold our breath that he makes it just as long again.

I leave you with a video of my smiling baby