Mikey's first Field trip

This has been a rough week. I ended up in Urgent care on Sunday to find I had strep throat, and then developed a cold on Monday night and thought OMG.. I am on my last week of this pregnancy, (which I can't believe has gone by so fast) and I Need to have my energy to deliver him! Well the good thing is the antibiotics helped the strep and the prayers of all my friends and family have helped me conquer this cold. I just kept telling the Lord, please take this sickness, and please don't let me go into labor before Thursday afternoon. Well here I sit on Thursday afternoon, still pregnant, and as much as I thought I'd never say it, I am so thankful I am. Michael had his first preschool field trip today to McGrath Pumpkin Patch in Ventura, CA. And as every mom can relate, I in no way wanted to miss out on my little boy's first field trip. Frankie, Giovanni and I, picked up Mikey from school and drove him to the pumpkin patch where we met up with his class. Mikey wasn't too interested in the lesson they gave about how everything was grown, probably b/c we already have a garden growing and Mikey is an expert, or could be the age. (ha ha). But he was sure excited to go on the hay ride! He asked questions the entire time! After the hay ride, his teacher took a family photo of us next to the pumpkins, and then the boys went off to to pick out there pumpkin. After the field trip Frankie, Gio and I took Mikey back to school and sat out on the big soccer field with him and his class for a picnic. It was such an amazing feeling to share this moment with our 3 year old because I know how quickly they grow and I know how much it meant to him to have us there sharing that moment with him. I am so truly blessed to be a stay at home mom, and Frankie is blessed to be able to set his own hours. It's time like these that I feel so overjoyed with the Lord's grace and faithfulness!! We truly serve an awesome God!

Where has time gone?

Wow, I can't believe it's been since June that I've updated my poor family blog. Although I do have to say the summer went by quickly. We had a lot going on. In August I ended up in the hospital with preterm labor. They gave me a shot, and some medication and sent me on my merry way, well, the nurse did inform us that it would probably affect the actual date of when this baby came, and so far, she's right! I am 39 weeks pregnant (as of Sunday) and am only having contractions that are not consistent. This will be the first pregnancy that I have carried the child full term! (If I go until the 12th). Mia was a day early, Ashlee was 7 days early, Mikey was 16 days early, and Giovanni was 12 days early. I trust that the Lord has a reason, and am just wanting His will to be done! The kiddies have started a new school year, Mia is in 7th grade and is overloaded with homework, which of course daddy and I don't mind. Ashlee is in 3rd grade and really likes her teacher. Mikey started preschool this year too, (Oh and the three of them attend the same school. It's a Christian school that goes from Preschool - 12th grade). Frankie and I have seen a huge difference in Mikey's demeanor since he has started school. He's definitely growing right before our eyes, but we are very proud of the little boy he is becoming. His teacher, Mrs. Gonzales, says he is such a pleasure, always polite, and very cautious of others around him. (I wonder if she is really talking about our son, or if she just says that to every parent). :) Needless to say we are very excited to hear he is adapting to the whole school thing very well. (Daddy wasn't very fond of going to school at that age). Daddy has been taking him to school this past week for me since I am sick, and ready to have Cristiano, but I can't wait to get back to taking him. We have great conversations on the way to. Giovanni is enjoying the along Mommy and me time, but is definitely excited when it's time for Mikey to come home. He is always the first to run to Mikey when we get inside his classroom. A lot of times Giovanni will even grab Mikey's backpack for him! As of now, we are all just anxiously awaiting for the arrival of our new son, Cristiano Gianni.

LEGOLAND

Our family braved our first trip ever to a theme park with the boys yesterday, to Legoland, in Carlsbad, Ca.  Being I was 21 weeks pregnant, I was a little nervous about going, only because I know how active our boys are, and knew it was going to be a WILD adventure. Don't get me wrong, I was excited to go and spend that time with my family, just wasn't sure how the day would pan out. All in all, I am so glad we BRAVED the trip! The boys were so excited to see the many statues that were made out of Lego's, and to go on some rides. Giovanni only got to ride on one ride, that was a boat cruise, but the look on his face was absolutely priceless! Mikey was more fortunate, and was able to ride on the rides with his daddy, and his two sissy's. It was a good thing I was pregnant and could not ride the rides, Gio needed a "pal" to hang out with!. :) 

After almost every ride Mikey would go on, he would run back to me, and yell Mama and then he would try to describe what he did on the ride, but he was so excited, and would speak so fast, I could not understand him. It was so cute! 

After Legoland, we stayed at the Courtyard Marriott just a few miles away. We had purchased a big block of Lego's for the boys, and when we got to the room after dinner, the boys played for about an hour with them, TOGETHER!! So cute!!  

The boys did great, and of course the girls had a great time. We are definitely looking forward to going back to Carlsbad for the weekend of Father's Day, but this time we are going to check out the Sea Life Aquarium! I think the boys will definitely love that!! 

We are having a...

We went in yesterday morning for our BIG ultrasound. Frankie and I had been torn for a while with whether or not we were going to find out. But being the impatient woman I am, I was really wanting to find out.  As we were walking in, I asked him again what he thought we were having, and he said "boy".. I asked if he was ready to find out, he said "if it's a girl, yes, and if it's a boy, I'd rather wait to be surprised in the end". But we all know that's completely impossible. As the lady called us back we got up and walked into the room. Frankie stood by my feet and watched the screen as the lady started to do her job. Frankie and I, being the out going socialists that we are, started talking and joking around with her. (she wasn't the friendliest of friendly, but ended up being ok). She had asked if we wanted to have the 3-D picture, and I said jokingly, if it's a girl, yes, and if it's a boy no. She looked at me in a peculiar way, and I said I was joking and that we would buy the picture. She continued on and then asked again, "did you want the picture of him"? I said in a very loud voice "you said boy, oh my gosh, is it a boy "? She gave me a look that was beyond explanation, and said " yes, it is". I started to cry. I wasn't sure if I was crying just because this whole time I thought we were for sure having a girl,  (The heartbeat was always in the 160's, and I just had an intuition) or if it was the way we were told we were having a boy. I got home and still was in disbelief. I did pray and found great comfort in the Lord and just thought how blessed Frankie and I are that we are expecting a new addition to our ever growing family.  We didn't have a name for this little guy, but I think after looking online last night, and sleeping on it we have decided to name our new little man Cristiano Gianni. Cristiano means follower of Christ, and we felt that to be so wonderful, and Gianni means God is gracious, and that is so true! God truly is an AWESOME God!! 

Easter and Mia's Birthday

Frankie and I 
Mikey looking for eggs 
Counting eggs 
Our little Gio
This Easter was a special Easter. It was Mia's 12th Birthday. The last time her birthday fell on Easter was Sunday was April 12, 1998. (Her 1st Bday). We started the weekend off by taking the kiddies to the Camarillo Eggstravaganza. After that we headed over to a friend's house for a bbq. Sunday morning, the boys, of course, woke us up around 6am, and were very excited to see their Easter baskets. Although they had no idea what was going on, it was so fun to see the look on their face when they saw the books and dvd in their basket. (I did give them a candy or two). After we got settled we headed off to church, where our Pastor, Francis Chan, gave an amazing service!  The Lord has definitely blessed Frankie and I with an amazing church!  We then headed to Raerah's house, where the boys and their cousins Nicholas and Anthony did an Easter egg hunt. Giovanni had no idea what he was looking for at first, but he definitely got the hang of it! AFter the hunt, we headed over to La Canada, where my cousin lives and had a blast! My family is so full of love, and Faith! God bless them! The boys played with their 4th cousin, Angelo, and Frankie and I got to catch up with my family. Having a big family is so amazing, and I cannot wait until the boys are older, and will truly get to see how blessed they are! 

Where has the time gone?

I guess I should start off apologizing to my children for not updating this more often. Pregnancy brain? The boys have grown so much, not only physically but mentally within the last few months. Gio is full of words now, such as "no", thank you, please, Auntie, Uncle, papa Raerah, (which is grandma), and the list goes on.  Mia went off to 6th grade camp in March, and came back with a better understanding of what the Lord's true meaning of life for us is. She also just finished basketball, in which she did AWESOME, and just made the team for soccer! Go Mia. We are so proud of her! 

Ashlee just finished Taekwondo that was offered at school, and received a white belt! She broke a board! Very exciting! She is also getting straight A's in school, and we couldn't be more excited! As for Michael, he's definitely growing ,and way too fast! He's slowly potty training himself, and is doing great with color, and shape recognition. His number are still a little off, but he's getting good with counting. He loves playing with his brother, and loves that Giovanni loves to copy every little thing that he does! 

As for Frankie and I, we are doing well. We found out, very unexpectedly, that we are expecting baby #5 in October of 2009. We were very surprised, but also very excited! We had a rough first trimester. I was sick 98% of the time, but am ever so grateful to have made it with thus far, a healthy baby! We also were sent to a specialist because our OB thought there may have been twins! (which we never got a clear answer, because the Xray tech was not allowed to tell us anything).  We go in on the 8th for our 2nd baby check up and cannot wait to hear our baby's heart beat for the first time, and to see if there is only one in there! keeping our fingers crossed! If it is twins, I am definitely hoping one girl, and one boy, and if not twins, then I am really hoping for one more girl, as I think Frankie would agree! 

The Lord has been so gracious to us and I am excited to see what the Lord has in store, even just within the next few months! 

Our Life is always CRAZY

I should have started this sooner, but always figured I didn't have the time. It's 2009, and I'm ready to start this year a whole lot different. Our children are growing so very quickly, and I have finally come to realization, that God will NOT let me stop the time. so here we go.

Giovanni is 17 mos, and started walking, finally on December 18, 2008. A little late, yes, but I think he was afraid that mama wouldn't carry him around anymore if he gave in. (he sure did find that to be false). He is growing up so quickly, and the Lord has given Gio such a wonderful characteristic. He is funny, loving, and very strong willed. He can sit and just roll a ball back and forth with you for hours, and be so content. He is very inquisitive, and oddly is a very good listener. He must see Mikey getting into too much trouble for not listening, and he knows that he doesn't want that to happen to him. He loves to copy his "big" brother, and loves to play with him, even when his brother isn't being very kind. Giovanni has been such a blessing to our family. He is always smiling. 

And then there is Mikey.......

 Mikey is now 2.5 years, and is talking up a storm. Frankie and I could never get him to watch t.v., but that all changed when we discovered The Little Einsteins. His life changed immensely from the first time he watched them. I now cannot go a single without watching them at least 5, yes, I said 5, times. and yes, that is within the same day. Oh, and that has to be back to back. If any of you have watched the show, you will know it's an interactive show, but Mikey choses to "interact" on his own terms. He will only "pat" if his sister Mia says to do so, otherwise when I do it, he says "mama, don't", as he is reaching over to me as if I am going to embarrass him. Imagine that. 

Mikey is a God given gift. I still get teary eyed thinking about him. He is  funny, smart, and very manipulative. He cannot eat dinner, without sitting next to daddy, no wait, without sitting on his daddy. He doesn't eat off his plate, he eats off his daddy's plate. He follows daddy around the house on the weeknights, and on weekends. It's funny because during the day he's mommy's best friend, until daddy gets home, and then I am chopped liver. He is also very attached to his oldest sister, Mia. she could almost anything to him, and he just laughs. He isn't the kissy huggy type, but he does show his love in his own way. He did surprise us last weekend by staying the night away from "his crib", his home, his dad, for the first time. As we were leaving the restaurant with my in laws, he decided he was going to stay the night with his cousins, and his auntie Lori. I thought for sure he'd get into our car when he realized daddy wasn't going with him. But he made us very proud and made it a whole night without us. Needless to say, I cried in the bathroom that night when we got home.