Down on Whitehall farm

Hi bloggers! Not so much to blog now I go to Cheryl's house all day as Cheryl writes it down in my little book but this weekend I did have a special outing to the farm....

I liked the meerkats which were hungry. Mummy was brave and fed them a locust!

 I was given a chick by a nice lady. It was very soft and squidgy but mummy didn't let me squidge it as hard as I would have liked. I wanted to make it go cheap cheap!

 the goats were very friendly. Food seemed to help.

 No idea why thouigh because I tried out the goat feed and honestly it was a bit horrible. But I tried again just in case I got it wrong. But no, it really was horrible. Mummy didn't like me eating it either and made me wash my mouth out. Boo!

 Me and daddy showed the other kids how to reverse a tractor and I made lots of brum brum, noises!

 I found some frisbees and spent some time gathering them up before daddy threw them for me.

 My first bounce on a bouncy castle. Makes a change from Cheryl's sofa!

 The baby lamb really liked me and nuzzled my hand.

 I liked the lambs but the mummy sheep seemed to think I was a bad influence. Especially when a lamb went under the bar to play with me!

 Here's me running through the goat shed away from daddy (hence the smile)

 I also held a very squeaky guinea pig and cried when they took that one away because it was pretty cool although a bit scratchy.

Quick ruuuun! I might be able to stay if I can hide long enough!

Sleigh Ride

Well this week some really weird white stuff has covered all of the outside. I tried eating it, but it doesn't taste of much. It doesn't smell either. It does seem to involve me wearing a lot of clothes  - vest, 'boy tights', top, jumper, wool socks, snow suit, scarf, two hats, mittens and one shoe (mummy couldn't find the other one). We went out in it today and mummy and daddy seemed very excited. To be honest I was happy enough to just have a feed and a sleep in the afternoon but the minute I woke up we were out in the stuff.

Now I thought we were going for a walk to just check out the damage this white stuff had caused, but no, stranger than this....they put me on a little plastic tray with a string attached and daddy pulled me round at breakneck speed. Cheryl had done this to me and Emma the day before so it wasn't a complete surprise. Mummy kept telling daddy to slow down so she could prop me up a bit but daddy seemed to not be able to hear mummy even though she was talking in her high pitched whiney voice.

Anyway I wasn't so keen while I was sat upright because basically it's not that easy to keep balance when you have 4 layers of clothing on and you're already a bit rotund. I kept tipping off the edge and honestly as much as daddy was having fun and I didn't want to spoil it for him, it was a tad cold and wet!

Daddy then tried putting me flat on my tummy. Now this was fun. I felt like I was flying! Mummy had a go but she didn't seem to put in the commitment to speed like Daddy. She did it on the way back to our house though and she did take a corner pretty fast.

When we got back I had a nice warm bath and a cuddle. Another adventure under my belt!

Festive fun

Wow blog fans it has been a very fast month that has gone by since my last blog!

For that reason I'm going to keep it simple with lots of photos and captions.

Before I do that though I have to update you on my new skills. In the last couple of weeks I have learnt to stand up all on my own, I have learnt that trying to take a step (however small) delights mummy and daddy, and yet when I tried to show how clever I am at holding a spoon and eating yogurt they seem less impressed... I have learnt how to clap my hands and I have learnt how to smile at people when they smile at me rather than just staring them out. I am talking very well now with every sound under the sun but frustratingly mummy and daddy can't seem to understand what I'm saying. Although now my vocabularly is quite extensive - I have mama, dada, ne ne ne (no, get off me), wa wa (quack quack), moo (cow), t t t (pretty christmas tree, must not touch but soooo tempting). I can point to my nappy when mummy asks me where it is. I can throw a ball like a pro now and also try to say 'throw it' while I do it. I reject any food I'm not keen on now by throwing it far far away from my high chair (or failing that stuffing it down between my legs).

Today has been another day of firsts. We visited my first Panto and much to mummy and daddy's surprise, I loved it and sat beautifully. I even danced to the music! Before that in prparation I had my very first haircut. Mummy said my fringe was getting in my eyes but daddy was reluctant because he thought it looked cute in a side sweep. Eventually common sense (i.e. Mummy) prevailed and we went to the Barber in Backworth called Mark. Mummy held me in her arms and Mark did a bit of tidying up while daddy feverishly caught hair and put it in my memory bag for my memories box. I found it all a bit weird but it seemed to make the parents happy!

Me and my mates at Jittabugs

A weekend away with Auntie Colette and Uncle Simon at Ribby hall, Preston

Me and my ball, on my 11 month birthday

The Titantic museum in Belfast

Exploring 'art' in Belfast where I stayed with Niall and Claire, who totally spoiled me and let me run riot on their fireplace/sofa/kitchen floor

Heavenly Holly and her Grandma Janet at Busy Bees

Me and Holly learning to share (nosebleed caused by falling off bed the day before. Don't ask)

The lovely Lois and her Grandma Barbara also at Busy bees

Posting my letter to Santa with mummy in Narnia

My first glimpse of snow. I smiled when I touched it! We watched it fall for 15 minutes.

Daddy's birthday and helping him unwrap

New haircut, sporting my new Christmas jumper on the way to my first Panto. What a day!

A short poem by Vittorio Pastorino age 10 months

I like to sleep with Mummy
Mummy likes to sleep alone
Daddy tries to palm me off with him
While my Mummy talks on the phone.

I have an anti tamper device
Buried underneath my skin
If she tries to put me down at night
What a mess she'll find herself in.

Mummy please just hold me tightly
Forget about the big TV
Snuggle up, leave alone daddy
And stay all night in bed with me.

Baby Pastorino's First Halloween

Happy Halloween!!

Now other than lots of parties last week, the weekend marked the start of the Halloween celebrations. Mummy and Daddy celebrated by pumpkin carving with Auntie Colette and Uncle Simon. Grandma and Grandad took me for a walk to the park in the mean time. I was quite impressed by their efforts on my return, although no one would let me touch them which was a shame! Later in the week I went to Jittabugs and we had a Halloween themed dance around and play with some toys. We all dressed up which I found a little confusing if I'm honest but the grown ups seemed to find it cute.

Lots of my spider senses were tingling

Later that day, Grandma and Grandad came up to see us in Newcastle while Daddy was away in Scotland for the night. This was a complete surprise and it took me a minute or two to adjust to the idea that they could be in our house, but it didn't take me long to see this would be good fun!

I have been amazing Grandma and Grandad with my duck impressions 'quack quack quack' in the bath and my cheeky smile. It hasn't all been smiles though this week as mummy was sick, then my top two teeth have been coming through and I have a really bad cold. These three combined make for a pretty miserable baby Vittorio! 

We made the best of it though, going for a walk in the Rising Sun Country Park where Grandma and Grandad bumped into an old friend....

We saw lots of beautiful things, including a stag in the field, horsies, ducks, dogs and....rats! Not so nice but that's nature I guess!

Back at home I made friends again with my old friend Sophie. I have tried gnawing on: teething ring, Sophie's ears, carrot, cucumber, hard plastic zips, metal rings, my own teeth, my finger, and bread. I've tried teething powder, calpol and gel. Nothing works but two little white marks are visible so hopefully I will be cheerful self again soon!

A week of birthdays!

Make a wish Mia!

This week has been a constant party! Having never been to a birthday party before in my life, I managed to cram two into a week. The first was my little firend Mia's first birthday party, so I got to see all my friends. We had a superb time playing with each other, with Mia's toys and generally crawling all the place. The best bit was when they food was brought out as I just crawled all over picking at other people's plates (they're always tastier than my own). The girls - Mia, Erin and Anna were all dressed up beautifully but me and my mate Lucas decided to stay a little more casual. Here is a photo of Mia blowing out her candles, and one of us all scoffing the amazing grub that Mia's mummy Laura had prepared for us all. And check out the homemade birthday cake. Mummy better pull her socks up for two months' time!

Yummy...let's all share saliva

Ball pools rock!

Messy but fun

In the middle of the week I had some more fun at Squiggles n Giggles, where the theme this week was 'The Three Little Pigs'. There was piggy blancmange to play with, hay, bricks and shaving foam, a piggy stew made of veggies and water and my personal favourite - a ball pool! Here I am getting stuck in with the activities. I really would have happily stayed the hour in the ball pool but did also enjoy squelching blancmange between my fingers too. It's funny, mummy didn't seem to mind even though she makes a real fuss when I do that with the banana in my high chair. Grown ups are weird.

I wonder what shaving foam tastes like?

Luke studies his first present

At the end of the week we travelled down to Ossett for my little cousin Luke's 8th Birthday party. I stayed up extra specially late for him and it was definitely worth it because I got given pizza by Ellie which I chewed on for the whole meal, Ebony took mr for a walk and Luke let me share his balloon! There were magic tricks by the restaurant's resident magicians and Luke opened a present or two. Happy birthday Cuz!!

Meet the family...but where am I?

Magic galore

Here I am with Ebony!

Big 8!

10 months today

All on my own!

Now I also hit a landmark at the weekend - my 10 month birthday! During the weekend to celebrate, I thought I'd show off a few new skills. These included standing up for several seconds on my own, trying to do 'so big' by raising my arms, cuddling people by patting them on the back, and making little kissing sounds when people say the word 'kisses'. Here you can see me trying out my two feet!

A feast of grandparents! A tale of two cities and back again.

I have been a jet setting baby this month, spending one week of October with my grandma and grandad and the second with my nonno and nonna.


On the way down to Ossett, I stayed a night at my grandparents house, without the grandparents being there which made the house a little scary but I soon settled in and made myself at home (i.e. displaced all items at my level). The next day was a Friday school inset day so I spent it with my cousin Ellie and we ate chocolate brownies in a cafe. Ellie was good to me and even when mummy cleaned me up she gave me more brownie to make a mess with. There was a little panic when we thought we'd lost my precious monkey puppet but mummy found it on a charity shop table outside. Phew! Close call monkey!! I laughed a lot when Ellie said her name, it was soooo funny! We also picked up Luke from school and Luke played with me too on the piano.

LA ROCHELLE!!!!!!!!

Monkey+activity tale = baby heaven

The next day was up, up and away. Our first week in France, I went with mummy while daddy had to stay at home and work. We arrived to the usual fan fare from grandma and grandad, then made the journey home to La Sigonniere via a cafe or two. Grandma had prepared a set of toys both new and old, but she did treat me to a couple more while I was there! Here I am sporting my super cool wooden table which I played with for ages. That, a plastic bottle and a balloon kept me busy the whole week!

Enough coats and blankets mum?

The first day was thankfully very warm and sunny. We sat in the garden and played on the grass together. Later I was also allowed a play on the gravel on the back porch. I absolutely loved it but I was black by the end after I had pushed half the drive around! The rest of the week in rained almost constantly so not many outdoor photos. I got taken on lots of walks despite the rain. Grandad took me out on a particularly wet one.

Wow, you are so interesting and clever

You really do have so many talents grandad

He also introduced me to the joy of beer. I pulled a face but I also went back for more which Grandad was very impressed about! He had to closely guard his bottle all week otherwise I would help myself to his beer and crisps.

What a pretty pair of smilers

Grandma took me on lots of walks round and round the garden. Here's a great example.
I have become very loquacious and Grandma and Grandad were especially impressed with my mamma's and dadda's! They were less impressed with my new favourite place to poo - the bath - great relaxation for me, not so relaxing for the poor spectators.

We took lots of trips to the supermarket due to the rain and I played with various balloons and caused chaos with sugar packets in as many restaurants as possible!

It was then time to say our goodbyes and move on to Italy!





ALBA!!!!!!!!!!!!

This place is brilliant! Agh!

Saturday was a hectic day. We arrived and then spent the afternoon with all the family and I got to see Alba for the first time. I thoroughly inspected it, despite my initial hesitation and was still as captivated as ever by little cousin Sara.

So many buttons, where to begin...

Uccellino blue, again and again, bets button by far

That night we went for pizza with all mummy and daddy's friends. I was so tired that I fell asleep before the pizza arrived. I just had time to open my present (see photos!) before I was flat out. Christina held me a little while mummy ate pizza and by the dessert I was flat out on a scarf on the table.

Cutting a dash in Italia

Please tell me that's not dinner

The next day after some serious sleep catch up, we went for a stroll around the famous Fiera dell Tartufo. It was massive and beautiful with lots to see, but my favourite part was the water feature in the square and the merry go round. Daddy took me on it with Sara. I was a little tired so unsure but I think the pictures summarize my experience. Daddy said I clung to him like a cat! It slowly dawned on me that he had essentially sat me on a moving plastic horse girating in thin air, several feet from the ground with flashing lights to add to the chaos. As this realisation hit my it's no wonder I clung like a cat!

Hmm this is fun!

....but surely it's not safe, I'll cling on!

Sara seems to think it's safe

Much better. No point taking chances eh?

Sleeping like babies

 The rest of the week we spent eating Nonna's excellent food, enjoying the good weather and having naps. Well, some of us enjoyed the food, while some of us (me) like to have Nonna Assunta make a big portion of pasta and then refuse to even taste it. This caused much consternation for Nonna, especially as I wasn't pooing either, but now and then I ate something just to reassure her. And don't worry, in the end I pooed my little heart out. We also took a trip to daddy'sold paediatrician who checked me out and told me I had a cold in my throat and one ear. Other than that I got a good bill of health, even for my tongue tie (minimal).

Sara donated books

Camera case...yummy!

I spent lots of quality time with Nonno anmd Nonna....

Another cuddle you say? Go on then!

You read, I'll try and pull the book of you.

After two wonderful weeks we eventually came home. I recognized my house but it felt funny to be in such a quiet place after all those people. At the weekend we went to Wallington hall for a look around the food and craft fair. We also walked around the grounds and I had lots of old ladies trying to touch my face (yuk!) but we saw some alpacas, cows and sheep so it wasn't all bad!

Daddy will you ever leave my ears alone?

The Next autumn/winter collection

Cumulus something or other