keep those babies rollin'

Just an update on Ellena. She is nearing 8 months old, and is trying so hard to start crawling. She gets on all fours and rocks back and forth. She can push herself backwards, but can't quite get the forward motion down. I gave her a sippy cup for the first time last week. She mostly rolled it around in her mouth, until something sweet and yummy came out! She has the right idea, but doesn't quite understand it has to be tilted for it to come out.

Ellena loves to watch her Daddy play guitar. She likes the noise she can make with it.


Here is a picture of Saoirse (pronounced Seer-shuh). She is 4 months older than Ellena. We have her over 3 days a week. They are beginning to really interact and play with each other.

September 11th remembrance

The following is a poem I wrote one year after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

OFFICE WORKER, NEW YORK SEPT 11, 2001

She crossed the wide Manhattan street
Like every other day
Into the tower's lobby
For another eight hour stay
The elevator opened, she pushed button 7-5
Never dreaming that this day
Would be the last she'd see alive

She heard the roar, she raised her head
And saw the plane right there
She opened up her mouth to scream
But could draw in no air
Her thoughts were filled with family;
Sweet memories gone by
The impact came, but she was surprised
That it did not hurt to die
(c) 2002 - David L. Bertoglio

My intent was in some impossible way to imagine the horror felt by these innocent folks and hoping that death came so fast for at least some that they may not have had time to suffer. Rest in peace.

sorry for the cleavage shot pops. but there's your daughter looking tough (note the matching red grip tape and tires, hot!)

family photos

Today we took our first official family portrait. Ellena was a doll, but we learned on picture day, she only gets to eat cereal, no veggies. Picture time was cut short by Ellena showing everyone what she had for breakfast. Carrots. Now that's a great picture.
We love our baby girl.