Rest and Relaxtion...here we come!

I am all packed up for our long weekend in Aruba and am so excited! I will be much more excited when we get there since I'm not a fan of planes (which is hysterical to me since I've been flying since I was 4 months old). Nonetheless, I'm anxious to soak in some sun, sip a margarita by the waves and enjoy some fabulous meals. Also, Anthony and I are treating ourselves to some spa time which will be incredible and much-deserved. While it will be fantastic to get to spend some time just as Lisa and Anthony and not "mommy" and "da-da," we are going to miss this little face so much...how could you not?



She will be in good hands with Nonna Lisa and Nonno Nick and I am sure Zio Scott and Zio Antonio will get some Sofia-time in too. She better get used to seeing Zio Antonio since she's going to be with him for almost a month when we're in Italy this summer!

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week and weekend...make sure to check in later next week for some pictures from our trip! Arrivederci!

She loves her Walk'n Ride

At first Sofia was a little apprehensive about this toy, but all it took were a couple of tries and now she goes tearing up and back in the house. She hasn't figured out how to turn herself yet, so once she hits the wall she "tells" either of us to come and turn her around. The best part is that this walkn'ride plays music which we all know Sofia loves since she can dance while walking. Our little multi-tasker, mommy is so proud!

Best of Memorial Day Weekend 2008

Hamburgers, pasta salads and brownies...who could ask for anything more? Our Memorial Day weekend was a lot of fun even taking into consideration that our little princess was feeling under the weather. Even with a runny nose and a slight temperature during the weekend, she still managed to show off her smile and take in some of the festivities. She's feeling much better today, so hopefully she's on the mend. Breaks my heart to see her not feeling well!

Mommy-to-be Zia Paola, Daddy, Sofia and Nonno Mario


Anthony and Sofia hanging out with one of Uncle Dan's nieces


Sofia is SO tall


One of her new favorite things to do...walk while holding our hands


Some quiet time with mommy and a stack of books


Playing with Uncle Dan


Comparing bellies



BTW, we leave for Aruba this weekend...I need to finish packing! Hope you all had a great weekend!!!

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

We're off to a BBQ this afternoon and I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies for our hosts and their guests. I honestly do not think I can go back to the pre-made dough kind after tasting these cookies - Anthony and I agreed that they are so much better!

I love baking and even though I reserve a lot of it for fall and winter when it nicely warms the home, I'm going to try out some new recipes that I found on this site this summer.

Hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
12-oz. package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Beat eggs, butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in flour mixture and then add chocolate chips to the mixture. Using a tablespoon, making little rounded drops about an 1.5 inches apart on non-stick baking sheets. Bake for about 10 minutes. After cookies have cooled on the baking sheet for a couple minutes, remove to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

A trip down memory lane...

I spent a little time this morning organizing some albums and loose pictures I found in my drawers and could not help but share some of the better ones I came across. Actually, I saw a bunch more I could have added to this group but I don't think my family would have really appreciated it...namely Scott. Two words would sum up the reason and they would be "bowl haircut."

My parents at a dinner while we lived in Italy


I think this picture was from our first trip to Kings Dominion in Virginia when we first moved from Italy to Maryland


My mother-in-law with Anthony, probably just under a year old, and he was playing with their pet rabbit


Sonny Crocket wannabe - Scott LOVED Miami Vice


My sister-in-law, father-in-law and Anthony...he looks like he was such a little ham


Outside my nonna's home in Italy, I might have been around 4 years old here


Little Antonio, he used to be so cute...just kidding, you're still cute


Opening presents on Anthony's 1st Christmas


I'd love to have the same picture taken of Sofia and I one day...Mom was this taken in Ostuni?

Look what I caught on tape!!!

David vs. David

In just a few hours we will know who the newest American Idol will be! Being an avid Idol watcher since the beginning, I think this was my favorite group of contestants thus far. Carrie Underwood has been my favorite winner, by far, but I think either of the David's could hold their own in the music industry. You know, because I know so much of that industry to begin with...I can't carry a tune to save my life, ask Sofia.

So, we're going to let DVR do it's thing so that Anthony and I can fast forward through the commercials and boring segments and see who America voted for. Is it going to be the young David Archuletta that, according to Randy, "could sing the phone book" or David Cook, who can turn any song into a rock song?

Little Miss Independent

Downward Dog position...


steadily propping herself up and...


Voila! Sofia is up on her own!

Mommy and Daddy's Little Helper

This is a picture from when we were folding clothes as a family...do we know how to have fun or what?!? Sofia had the best time sifting through the socks and t-shirts and occasionally handing us an article of clothing as opposed to grabbing it and crawling across the bed giggling! Little does she know that when she's older folding clothes is going to be one of her chores...and by older, I mean 2 years old.

Cheerios and a Post Card

She loves her Cheerios!


Lately we've been having our afternoon snack on the side porch since the weather has been decent and Sofia really enjoys it. Of course, as long as it involves food she's pretty content doing just about anything, but she does enjoy being outdoors - thank goodness!


Sofia received a post card in the mail from Zio Scott from his trip to San Diego


Rob Burgundy: "Discovered by the Germans in 1904.... I don't know what it means. I'll be honest, I don't think anyone knows what it means anymore. Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago.
Veronica Corningstone: Doesn't it mean Saint Diego?
Ron Burgundy: No. No.
Veronica Corningstone: No, that's - that's what it means. Really.
Ron Burgundy: Agree to disagree."

I couldn't resist, we love this movie- guaranteed good laughs!

When was the last time you slept like a baby?

I don't know what's cuter about this picture, her chubby little cheeks or her tiny hand holding onto her blanket! How could you not want to jump right in the crib and cuddle up to this perfect baby girl? Buona Notte!

Playroom Fun

Playing with her activity table - she LOVES the music it plays


"Can't this thing go any faster?"


"Oooh, what's that over there?"


Sofia's first car

Happy Feet

Not just a movie about penguins

Flyers fans in the house

Anthony's nervously biting his fingernails



Sofia nervous for Daddy's Flyers


Yay! Flyers win!!

Games we play

Sofia and Zio Antonio came up with a new game this past weekend. Each would be on opposite sides of the recliner and when one of them would look under the chair, the other would be standing up and then they'd switch positions. This happened at least 100 times throughout the weekend and it never got old.

If only I were a little bit taller...

so then I could grab the things mommy puts away from me.

So far the baby-proofing of the home has gone pretty well. We did all the major things...gate on stairs, sockets covered, cabinet door latches have been installed, some furniture has been fixed to the wall and anything harmful that is within Sofia's reach has been put away. Nothing too crazy, we don't want her to feel like she's barred from touching everything or lives in a jail cell, but it is nice to be able to be in the kitchen while she plays in the next room and not have to really worry about anything happening...yet.

I was checking out some products online and found that there are baby proofing companies that come out to your house and do everything for you! How funny would it be if the company was run by a group of grandparents that just come out to your house and hold your child the entire time?!?

Sofia approves of the Smart Car

My father-in-law recently purchased a Smart Car and brought it over to show to his princess. Since the car is just a little bigger than she is, of course she fell in love with it.

Check out the article in Main Line Life and click to view the slide show, you will see a glimpse of Sofia sitting on Nonno Mario's lap in the car. Our little girl is famous! Well, the back of her head is anyway.

Sofia Sandwich

My second Mother's Day was fantastic. We were down in Maryland with my family and had such a nice relaxing weekend and Mother's Day. Sofia even "made" me a card - presents don't get any better than that, right? I'm looking forward to the real homemade cards when she gets older to plaster all over our refrigerator and walls!

A man and his toys - Iron Man

Anthony and I don't get the opportunity to go out to the movies as often as we did before we had Sofia. I'm not complaining since there's always Netflix for us to get our fix anyway. But when we do make plans to see a movie in the theatre, it's a movie we both really want to see and hope that it delivers for us. Well, Saturday night our wishes came true when we saw Iron Man. Not only was it a great action movie, but there were a whole lot of laughs and a little Gywenth Paltrow loving too.

AND who doesn't love Robert Downey Jr.?! I loved Chaplin and watched Only You and Chances Are a thousand times in high school. I'm revealing too much, but I'm ok with that...I couldn't have been the only teenage girl out there that liked sappy movies. So, if you have the time to see a film this spring and love a well-rounded flick, I would definitely make a point to see Iron Man. Or at the very least, let your significant other go enjoy it so they can't say anything when you go see Sex and the City.

First Haircut

Sofia received her first hair trim yesterday and looks so adorable! Our first plan was wrapping her in a salon drape, but she has an issue with having her hands hidden and so that didn't work. So then we decided it would be best for her to sit on Anthony's lap and feel safe. A friend of my mom's came over to supervise me in the "salon" and after a couple snips my 10 seconds of hairstyling were over and I let the professional finish up.



Happy to be on Daddy's lap



"What just happened?"