The D'Angelos are Here!!! From South Bend, IN...

WELCOME Zio Dany & Zia Mari... I was soooo happy you guys came over to meet me... WE LOVE YOU!!! ;o)Zio Dany was playing with me... he even gave me the bottle too... che bravo Zio Danone!!! :o)

Zia Mari and I at our back yard... what a beautiful afternoon that was...


Zia Mari and Mommy in Newport Beach...

Here we look like "i tre Italiani mafiosi" (the 3 mafia Italian guys)....heheh... Daddy, where are your sunglasses?

I love to lounge around on my Daddy's arms... ;o) Where are the 'California Girls', by the way??

If I had an 11th finger I think I could also fit it in my mouth all at once...eehheeh

Mommy and Daddy still at Newport Beach...

It looks like I was waving bye-bye here.... but I wasn't, I was just raising my hand and enjoying the view...

All these pictures here were taken on the last day that Zio Dany and Zia Mari were here.... even though we were smiling, we were sad that they were leaving... we had a great time with them here!! ;o)

Some good moments in July --- Luca is 5 months old!

Mommy & Daddy's bed is soooo comfortable....

On the 3 pictures above we were getting ready to visit The Pestarino's on their new home in Newport Beach...
Here I am with Daddy and Zia Den at their new home.... Congratulations....it's a beauuuuutiful home.... and look at those HUGE lemons they have on their back yard....they are the same size as my head!! ;o) Here Zia Den is already pregnant with baby Isabella...

My first trip to the beach.... Laguna Beach, CA... we did not go in the sand or in the water just yet...
Here I am with Gringo preparing for the 4th of July celebration... even Gringo had a patriotic scarf... What a pair we are... we love each other... ;o)

Yes... Born in the USA and Born in 2008.... what a beautiful year!!! ;o) After this photo we went to celebrate the 4th of July Holiday with the Katouli Family.... I was having a great time until those darn fireworks....boy I did not like all that noise.... my parents had to scape the party as fast as they could while I was crying like a crazy baby...ehehhe... no more fireworks for me for a while ;o)

Another day at the beach...this time we went for a walk at San Juan Capristrano Beach... nice day too...
Playing around in diapers on the top of the blanket that my mom cross-stitched while she was pregnant with me... she is so proud of that blanket... ;o) Thanks Zia Lydia for teaching my mom how to do it and for finishing up the borders for her...

Some "Official" Photos with the D'Amico & Santospirito Families...

Luca (4 1/2 months), Samuele (10) & Andrea (7)... Luca's cousins live in Torino, Italy!

Nonna Pina & her three boys... Samuele, Andrea & Luca...

Samuele & Andrea D'Amico... wow, you boys are SOOOO handsome!!! ;o)

The D'Amico Family.... Angelo, Gabriella, Samuele & Andrea... Gabriella is Gaetano's sister...

The D'Amicos, The Santospiritos & Nonna Pina Rondinella (Gaetano's Mom).... June, 2008

My Baptism... What a Special Day!! I was 4 1/2 months... 15th June, 2008...

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH to all of you that came to celebrate this important date with us... It was also father's day here in the States, so HAPPY 1ST FATHER'S DAY TO MY DADDY!!! And to all the other Dads who were here with us too... I was sad that my grandparents from Brazil and my Zio Kiko & Zia Euri were not here with us but I am sure they were very close to us in spirits... Thank you also for ALL the messages and gifts from those of you that could not come and celebrate with us... we really appreciated all that!!!!

This silly hat was part of the outfit....my parents had to take at least one picture with it...

I was looking like such a big boy with this white outfit...

Nonna Pina (Daddy's Mom) and I... She was so happy to be here with us during this special day!!

Madrina Gabriella (Daddy's sister) and I at home before going to Church...

What a BEAUTIFUL picture of Daddy and I....we were already in Church waiting for the ceremony to begin... It was Daddy's 1st Father's Day too on the same day... soooooo special!!! ;o)

Daddy, Mommy and I at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church right before the ceremony...

Above I am with Madrina Gabriella and Padrino Angelo at the Church... and on this picture here I am looking very serious on this important date...

Here we can see Rev. Father Gerry De Luney's hand with the sacred oil tracing the Sign of the Cross on my forehead... this symbolizes that the community welcomes me and claims me for Christ!

On the above pictures we can see the pouring of water on my head and the moment with the candle... I was such a good boy and I did not even cry... I only cried afterwards because I was getting too hot at the Church...;o) Below is a more detailed explanation about Baptism which was taken from St. Kilian's Parish:

"...The ceremony of Baptism abounds in symbols. Baptism expresses so many things about life, church, family and God that it needs a full range of images, gathering many rituals into one and bringing a child to the waters of new birth. The pouring of water on the head of the child is central in the Rite of Baptism. Baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit brings new birth. It cleanses from sin and gives a share in the death and resurrection of Christ. Baptism is the welcoming of Christ into a child. The white garment is placed on the newly baptized child and the family is presented with a candle, lit from the Easter candle. Both are signs that this child now shares in the risen life of Christ..."

Some happy moments at my Baptism party... too bad I could not eat that cake just yet... but I loved to touch it though... eheheh ;o)

Grace and Pete Came Back!!! THANK YOU GUYS!

Pete (Grace's fiance'), Grace (Gaetano's cousin from Chicago) and Luca... Thank you guys SOOOOO much for coming back all the way from Chicago to see us again and to see Gabriella & her family.... Grace and Gabriella had not seen each other since Grace's parents left Italy when Grace was only 2 years old.... so this time was quite an emotional encounter for the both of them...

Nonna Pina, Grace, Andrea, Gabriella, Samuele & Pete here at the Santospirito's home....

Grace and Pete could not stay for Luca's Baptism so they came for a quick visit the day before and even helped us set up the whole house with decorations, etc.... THANK YOU SO MUCH for coming, for visiting, for helping, for all the gifts and love that you guys brought in your suitcase!!

Here they were at a Mexican restaurant enjoying some food, margaritas and mostly everyone's company since they had a LOT to catch up... ;o)