Passport Photo Shoot

We purchased our tickets for Italy!!! We will be going for 2 weeks as a family and spending 1 week in Puglia and 1 week in Abruzzo. I can't believe we're going to be making the trip with 2 little ones - it's going to be very interesting to say the least!

Now all we need is Olivia's passport to come in. We took the picture for the passport ourselves to save on the photo fee and here are just a few of the shots with her eyes open. Poor thing has to get used to having the camera in her face!

Sleepy-time

Olivia, like most newborns, enjoys sleeping. Also like most newborns, she has her days and nights a bit confused and gets most of her shut-eye during the day, much to mommy and daddy's dismay. The same thing happened with Sofia and it was about a month of trying to figure out how to rearrange her schedule so that we ALL got the sleep we needed. Thankfully, I wasn't sleeping all that much in the last month of pregnancy, so I feel like nothing has really changed in that department. I will be very happy (and rested) once she's on track with us and sleeping more at night and less during the day.

Memorial Day Fun

We spent the long weekend resting and relaxing around the house but we did manage to make it out on Monday for some BBQ goodness at my in-laws. Sofia and I made some cupcakes together over the weekend to take to the cookout and as you can see, she enjoyed hers very much!


Nonno Mario spending some time with his newest grandkid, Olivia Maria


Anthony and Simon enjoying the great weather

A visit from Zio Scott and Aunt Chaela

This is a guest post from Anthony

Zio Scott and Aunt Chaela stopped by this weekend to spend a little time with the girls. Sofia and Olivia had lots of fun playing with them. Sofia even got a chance to show them her favorite ride at the park. It was great to see them.

Getting to know Olivia

This is a guest post from Anthony

Here are a few pics of Olivia from the first week. We are still figuring things out with her but we have established that she likes to eat, sleep and take baths. Here are some pics from the week.

Sleeping like an angel


Getting her first bath


All clean

Giro giro tondo

Sofia singing an Italian childhood favorite song (Ring around the Rosie)- it doesn't get too much cuter than this!!!

"Giro giro tondo
casca il mondo
casca la terra
tutti giù per terra."

Nonna Lisa and the girls

My mom came up this past week for a few days to lend a helping hand around the house with the kids. It's so weird to say "kids" now! It was so good to have her here with us and I know Sofia loved every minute of it! We're sure Olivia did as well, but she can't really convey her feelings all that well yet. Anthony and I were definitely spoiled with all the good food and the extra set of hands when it came to chores and helping with Sofia and Olivia!

Thanks so much Mom - we love you and really appreciated it very much!

A family of four

This is a guest post from Anthony.

Olivia is home now and we are all doing fine. She had her first appointment with Dr. B today and she is gaining weight and on track. Sofia has been adjusting well with her little sister and has been showing lots of affection. Lisa and I are settling in and getting used to Olivia's schedule.

Over the next couple of days I will post some more pics of our new little peanut.

Saying goodnight to Olivia



The happy family of four

One day old

This is a guest post from Anthony

The first day has come and gone with baby Olivia. She has been great so far, sleeping and feeding well. It is incredible how cute newborn babies are and how much we have forgotten since Sofia was this small. We still have not decided who she looks like yet but one thing is for sure, she looks a lot like Sofia. Take a look at the two photos and tell me which is which.

#1


#2


Click on the comment link for the answer.

Benvenuta Olivia Maria

This is a guest post from Anthony

At 10:36 yesterday morning, we welcomed Olivia Maria Palumbi to our family. She came bright eyed and in good spirits. We cannot wait for her to come home with us and start our life as a family of four.

Getting ready to meet her


7lbs 3oz


Our first picture together


Smiling at mommy



Snug as a bug


With Nonna Lisa and Nonno Nicky


With Zio Antonio

Auguri Scott & Chaela!

My little brother and his girlfriend are getting married!!! He proposed yesterday, on her birthday, and we couldn't be happier for them. We have always thought of Chaela as part of the family and now this is just making it completely official. Congrats guys, we love you!!!

Almost a big sister

My little girl is going to be a big sister in just about 24 hours and I can not believe it! Only having just turned 2 and about to start bossing someone other than Anthony and I around.

First and foremost, I can't believe I'm so close to the end of 9 months of pregnancy. The first 8 months went by relatively quickly without much discomfort, but this last month has been never-ending! I don't know if it's the anticipation of having a second and just wanting to get the show on the road as a family of 4 or just being ready to not carry this belly around and instead a baby. Whatever it is, this time tomorrow I should be holding our newborn...will it be a boy or a girl? Can't wait to find out!!!

It's like riding a bike...

unless, of course, you've never been on one before and you don't know how to ride one. Sofia received a tricycle for her 2nd birthday from the Pitocco Family and she's been playing with it in the basement ever since. Now that the weather has finally gotten (and remained) nice, we've taken it outside and let her "ride" it in the driveway. Naturally, she much prefers to be steered around in it by her daddy, but I think once she realizes that she can control it herself, she will be off and riding like a pro!

My girl and I

We had a great day yesterday for Mother's Day! Started off with me sleeping in (always a plus), off to church where Sofia was on her bestest behavior and then home for lunch and a nap. My sister- and brother-in-law came over with baby Simon for a BBQ and we sat outside for awhile enjoying good food, company and weather. Really couldn't ask for anything more!

Hope all you moms had a great Mother's Day as well!!!

Buona Festa della Mamma

I've posted this on Mother's Day before and I think I'm going to make a tradition out of it because of how wonderful and touching it is to me.

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. The child asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”
God replied: “Among the many angels, I chose one for you. Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you. Your angel will sing for you and will smile for you everyday. And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy. Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.
Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”
Then the child asked, “I have heard that on Earth there are bad people. Who will protect me?”
God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life. But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”
God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about me and teach you the way to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you.”
At that moment there was much peace in heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angels’s name.”
“Her name is important…you will simply call her Mom.”

A very happy Mother's Day to all the moms, grandmothers, godmothers and mommies-to-be!

Andiamo

Well, it's that time of year again - planning for our annual trip to Italia! We do have intentions of going over this summer, new baby and all, and tickets will soon be purchased and the car will be rented. It's going to be quite the experience I'm sure, with a toddler (on her 3rd trip over) and a 10-week-old. Some would say we're crazy, but I just say we're dedicated!

Our plans are to spend a week in Puglia with my family and then a week in Abruzzo with Anthony's family.

From Sofia's first trip to Italia at 3 months old:


4 generations, 2007


Watching Zio and the family play cards

Hanging out with Zio Antonio at the festival in Mesagne



Last summer, already an experienced traveler:


Madonna del Carmine Festival


4 generations, 2008


Hanging out at the apartment in Alba Adriatica

Photo Shoot

Once Sofia woke up from her nap yesterday afternoon, we had a little bit of a photo shoot. Maybe I did it because we're so close to it not just being Sofia anymore and soon there will be another little one to occupy the camera. Maybe it was because she was in such a good mood and was being a little ham. Whatever the reason, I had a great time taking the pictures and I think she had fun posing for the camera!