"Sleepover"

We were in a really bad habit of allowing Giana to sleep in our bed and I needed to put a stop to it, especially with a baby on the way. We just couldn't have two kids in our bed! Dominic wasn't on board with this because he couldn't stand to hear her sob and cry for us when she went to bed. While I didn't enjoy it either, I knew that if we stuck with it for a few nights, she would be fine. Dominic agreed that I could start the transition back to her bed while he was away traveling for business. I had three nights to get my mission accomplished and I did a great job. Giana was sleeping in her own bed and life was good. Dominic came home from his travels and this is what I found...


On his first night home, Dominic put Giana to bed and she convinced him to have a "sleepover." After a few minutes, I decided I should check on them since he never came out of her room. He's such a sucker for his little girl.

The good news is that I now have a king size bed all to myself and I just laugh when I hear Dominic complain of a little back pain. Apparently, a floor is not the best place to get a good night's rest...at least not for a 37 year old. Now he's trying to transition himself back to our bed. Good luck, honey...this one's all on you.

Wondering what we've been up to?

Well, hold on tight because you are in for quite a ride. We've been busy. Consider yourself warned...there are a lot of pictures and updates ahead!

We went to Build-A-Bear with my Mom's Club. I was planning to limit Giana on what she could buy because a three year old inside this store can really rack up quite a bill. When we arrived, she told me that she wanted to build a bunny for her brother. So sweet! $40 later we left with a bunny dressed just right for her little brother. She created him from head to toe.






Touch A Truck...wondering what that is? Leave it up to us to find out! A neighboring city hosted a big event where the kids could touch, climb and get up close and personal with all kinds of vehicles including a fire truck, ambulance, school bus, police car, news truck, boat and limo. I only named a few...there were so many and Giana had a great time! The school bus and the limo were her favorite, although I think she enjoyed seeing herself on the news. The limo is called "Party Girls on the Go" and we see it around town all the time. It's bright pink and she has been wanting to take a ride. I couldn't believe it when we arrived and they were there. I had trouble getting her out. It's pink and purple on the inside...what could be better?






Giana's first trip to Chuck E Cheese. Of all the places we've taken Giana in her short life, she has never been to Chuck E Cheese. It's a kids paradise and I'm sure we'll be going back again soon. She and her friend, Sarah, had a great time! Sarah won several tickets to turn in for a prize. Giana didn't do so well but they let her pick out a prize, too. They both chose a lollipop...grape flavored of course. Anything purple is always good.




G's last day of three year old preschool was in mid May. Her school hosted an "End of Year Program" and the parents were able to come for an hour and see the kids show off their singing skills. It was so cute and they all did well. Giana had to go to the bathroom and yawned her way through the Pledge of Allegiance. It was hilarious! After the program, they had little snacks and drinks. Giana really enjoyed this and was the last person eating. I had to rush her along. Yes, she's Italian...great food and fellowship topped off with a cup of juice. Too bad it won't always be juice. She had two great teachers and I'm happy that we are sending her back for the four year old preschool program beginning in the fall.







And then there was the post office tour. Dominic wrote Giana a letter and addressed it to her at our apartment. She took the letter to the post office and was able to see how it all works behind the scenes. The letter arrived the next day and she thought it was so cool. I have to say, it was quite interesting how it all works. I think the adults enjoyed it as much as the kids!





My friend Cindy and I decided to take a trip to the Franklin Park Conservatory to see the butterfly exhibit. What a beautiful place! We had a lot of fun spending the afternoon with the butterflies and fish. Giana wanted to know if her fish, Dorothy, would get as big as the gold fish at the conservatory. I hope not! The girls had fun too. It was a rainy day but we were covered...it was nice to feel like we were outdoors. If you live locally, I recommend that you take a trip down that way. (The last picture is Giana checking herself for any hijacked butterflies.)







Finally, Giana's last Sporties for Shorties class was today. She really enjoyed this class and they had a cute awards ceremony for the kids. She was so proud! I thought for sure she was going to be upset that it was over but she told me it was "OK to take time off for her summer break."




I was happy to hear that Giana is OK with a summer break. It's starting to get hard for me to keep up this busy pace. Don't be fooled...we've got some fun summer plans but I think this baby is going to slow me up a little bit. I just started my seventh month of pregnancy/third trimester. Baby and I are doing well but I'm tired now. I think my days ahead may be shorter and my feet will be up a little more. While this slower pace just kills me (I'm not one to let any grass grow) I know it will be best and I'm hoping to pick up right where we leave off in the fall. With all of that being said, June is BUSY for us. We're off to Myrtle Beach for a week and then it's moving day...more space is needed! July will be quiet and I'll be getting ready for the baby. Can't wait to set up his nursery and Giana's playroom. So much fun!

Yes, those are Underwear...

That's our girl and she knows how to make us proud. Honestly, who would think to do this? This picture makes me laugh and fortunately I had my Blackberry near by to snap a picture. She may not like this in 15 years but I'm OK with that. :)

Six Month Baby Belly

Picture courtesy of Giana. If you are interested in her work, please visit www.gianaphotos.com. Ha! I just had to post this. It's special to me.

Giana took this picture about two weeks ago. I'm feeling good and the pregnancy is going well. Preeclamsia had set in by this point in my pregnancy with Giana and there are no signs of it this time around. I'm thankful for that. Maybe, just maybe, I can get this little guy to full term. He moves a lot and it's so cool to feel him all the time. I don't remember feeling Giana move around like this. His prime time schedule seems to be between 8:00pm and midnight...right after Giana is fast asleep. Please tell me he's not a night owl. I've been wearing maternity clothes now for a few weeks but haven't gained any weight. Actually, I lost 10 pounds in my first trimester and have gained 9 pounds back...so I suppose I've gained weight but in my mind I like to think that I haven't. It's all in the numbers. I start my third trimester in a little over a week. Where did the time go?

We've got a lot going on over the next two months and the best part is that we have found a place to live and will be moving out of our apartment in the middle of June. I'm happy that I can set up a nursery for the baby and get Giana situated with her own space and toy room. There's nothing like packing and moving at 7+ months pregnant but we'll make the best of it. I work well under pressure. :)

Easter 2010

Giana and I both had been sick with a stomach virus just before Easter this year. She had it first and then I came down with it. It was no fun and we were down for the count for a good week and a half. All of the fun Easter activities I had planned were then crammed into three days. Giana didn't seem to mind but there was a lot to do AND we were hosting Easter at our place so I felt like I was scrambling at the last minute to pull everything together. Not a good feeling for this organized, OCD planner. In the end, we had fun coloring eggs, making our second annual PURPLE bunny cake, attending an egg hunt and making crafts for grandma and mom-mom. We stopped by the mall to make a visit to Easter Bunny and Giana was fairly brave. She wouldn't talk to him but she did sit next to him for a picture. Priceless. She made me tell him that she would like a kite with her Easter basket. The night before Easter, she informed us that she asked EB for a purple toothbrush and yo-yo along with some candy. Thanks for the short notice, Giana. But he came through and he hid her basket in her bedroom behind her easel. She's been watching the weather for a good day to fly her kite and has been begging Dominic to take her to the park to test it out. The windy days so far have been too cold but I think we'll be able to get it out soon. Easter day was nice with church (I love Easter mass) and family. My mom and Dominic's family were in town. The weather was beautiful. We took some pictures out by the pool but Giana wasn't cooperating so most didn't turn out. Hoping you all had a blessed and wonderful Easter. He is Risen!

Just something we find funny to point out...the day of the Easter egg hunt, Giana decided she wanted to use her ghost halloween basket to collect the eggs and Easter morning she wanted to wear her favorite Christmas nightgown. I think we covered all of the holidays. :)

All About Sports

We recently joined a country club and every waking moment Dominic and Giana want to be on the course or at the driving range. Giana is getting pretty good...our future retirement package. We like to stay pretty active, so we've spent some time at a local horse farm and enrolled Giana is a class at the Rec Center called "Sporties for Shorties." She's currently learning some soccer techniques and talks about wanting to join a team. She's much too young still but we'll watch her grow and see where it leads. There is a picture above of Giana looking at a magazine. It happens to be a NASCAR magazine and she's totally into NASCAR. She wants to be Danica Patrick... "her favorite driver." NASCAR, really? I think we'll stick with golf...seems like it's a little safer. My Dad loved NASCAR, always taping races and going to see them. It's funny because Dominic and I aren't really into it too much. She's picked this interest up on her own and constantly wants us to set the DVR for upcoming races. My Dad's spirit lives on...and that makes me happy...but she's still not going to race. :)

It's a BOY!

...and we couldn't be happier! This picture is from his 20 week ultra sound. I'm now 24 weeks...a little behind with the news! Baby boy (and Mommy) are doing well. At the time of this ultra sound he was about 8 inches long and weighing in at almost one pound. In just about 3 and a half months we will have another little one joining our family. For us, the pregnancy has gone by so quickly. I'm just trying to get my mind around giving birth again. I'm terrified...maybe more so this time than with Giana. Maybe it's because I know what to expect or maybe it's because of the complications that I experienced with her. Either way, he's got to come out and it looks like I'm the only one that can make that happen. Oh my! One thing that frightens me more then giving birth are the names that Dominic is coming up with. He's stuck on one particular, CRAZY name and I may have to give in as a middle name if I want to choose the first name. The battle rages on...