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.