pre-wedding silliness

We went down to Maryland last Wednesday for the wedding and returned just last night. When I say it was an awesome few days, I truly mean every word. IT.WAS.FANTASTIC.

A couple nights before the wedding, Scott was over going over some last minute things and just hanging out with the family. Pre-husband-Scott. Before he left I wanted to get a picture of the siblings and I'm so glad I did. Especially since we didn't get one picture of just the 3 of us at the wedding. Oh well. I like these pictures where we're not dressed up, I have my glasses on and my hair is totally a mess. And we're being super silly.

Let the wedding festivities begin!!!

Today and tomorrow are packed with tons of fun! Bridal luncheon, church rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception...oh my! Don't forget the time spent getting prettied-up, eating, drinking and dancing. Oh and the pictures, pictures and more pictures!

I am just so happy for my brother and Chaela. I love my brother so much and only want the absolute best for him. That wish came true with Chaela. She is perfect for him and I wish them years and years of love and happiness.

Fun with chalk

I think chalk is one of the greatest outdoor toys for kids. Cheap, easy to clean and provides HOURS of fun. The only thing cheaper than chalk that holds a child's attention span as long is water. Sofia likes to combine the two and dip her chalk in water so it gets to be this nice gooey mix, sort of like clay. Then she gets it EVERYWHERE!

peek-a-boo baby

Olivia loves when we're sitting on the couch and she comes crawling alongside and peeks over at us. Her and Sofia play this "boo" game where they just jump up on either sides of the couch and Sofia yells "Boo!" They both think it's pretty hysterical. Anthony and I get a kick out of it as well.

We had Olivia's one-year well visit last week and she did great. Even after having 2 shots! Poor baby. She's growing just perfectly and weighs 23 lbs and is 29 inches long! It's kind of weird for me to think that she only weighs 10 lbs less than Sofia, but I remember with Sofia that after 15 months, her weight and height didn't increase drastically between visits.

Olivia still has no teeth. I will give her mashed baby food from time to time, but she really is interested in everything we're eating. And I do mean everything. Baby girl LOVES to eat. Luckily, she tries everything, but definitely makes it obvious when something didn't taste great. She's not one to hide her feelings.

just a little preview for Saturday

Ok, he won't be the one wearing the white, but he will be wearing a suit. And maybe the sunglasses too. Hopefully not that same hairdo though...

Sorry Scott, I had to post this picture!

the end of an era...or more like 6 years

The time has come. Lost season finale is tonight. Mixed emotions in our home...we're excited to watch one more episode of what's been a favorite weekly ritual, but sad that there will be no more after tonight. No more throwing our hands up in the air at the end of a show and flinging the pillow at the tv with frustration. No more having love/hate relationships with each and every single character. Well, except Hurley. He's always been a favorite. No more questions. Hopefully no more questions. Finally, after tonight's show we'll have all the answers. Or will we?

I didn't do it

Love how a little one-year-old can make such a mess. And then look so innocent about it all too.

The shoe I have been waiting for...

Persistence really does pay off when shopping for shoes. I had been looking around for a couple months now for a shoe for my brother's wedding (it's next weekend!) and finally this morning, with the help of fellow shoppers, Sofia & Olivia, I found it. Cute, comfy and affordable!!!

9 days and counting!!!

Buon Compleanno Olivia!

Olivia is 1. We celebrated yesterday on the most gorgeous of days. Family and friends joined us in the fun as we ate, drank and were very merry. Couldn't have asked for anything more.

A very smiley big sister hours before the party. She had been so patient with me this week as I prepared for the day whenever I found a few minutes.


Playing well together while Anthony and I got things set up around the house




La Famiglia


A cake fit for a princess


We definitely did not run out of desserts!


Not sure what to make of the tu-tu


Definitely not a fan of the cake at all


Birthday girl was still going strong after not taking her normal afternoon nap. In true princess fashion, she "made" Zio Antonio wheel her around in the wagon.


A very partied-out Sofia


This morning we opened gifts with the girls. Olivia enjoyed the tissue paper, bows and bags more than anything.

Olivia's monthly pictures

Well, a blog post title doesn't get more precise than that, right? Stay tuned for her 12 month picture - birthday is this weekend!!!

of course I'm reminiscing

Olivia's 1st birthday is this weekend and naturally I'm going through pictures of her first few days. Totally getting emotional of how tiny she used to be, how she slept ALL the time and those cute little noises newborns make that completely pull at your heart. Those first days with my baby. Well, my second baby. My first baby was at home with her Nonna Lisa while Anthony and I became acquainted to this new little bundle.

Those 4 days in the hospital seemed to take forever when all I wanted to do was return home to get life started with the whole family. What I didn't realize is that life had already begun the second Olivia came into our world, those first few minutes when all she did was scream and cry.

And then I got to hold her.

charmed

Scott and Chaela are just a few weeks from getting married and they thought of me on Mother's Day. Two years ago they bought me a beautiful necklace with a single "L" charm and I wear it often. Yesterday they got me two smaller charms "s" and "o" signifying my two little charmers. It literally brought tears to my eyes at how beautiful the three charms looked together on the chain.

I absolutely love it!

Douglas the Lion

Olivia received her first birthday gift over the weekend from a guest that unfortunately will not be able to attend her upcoming party. He is the cutest, softest, friendliest-looking lion that you will ever meet.

And most importantly, it looks like Olivia really loves him already.

Everyday should be Mother's Day

Love, love, love this. I've posted before and will most likely post it again. Hope all you wonderful mommy's had a fabulous Mother's Day!

***

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.”

three more weeks...

and Scott and Chaela will be Mr. and Mrs. Pitocco. Can't wait for their wedding, it's going to be fantastic!

this time last year...

It's so hard for me to believe that Mother's Day last year I was pregnant. I was browsing through old pictures and came across these two that I just love. And not because that second picture really shows off the double chin I had going, but because of my little girl. My big girl now, I should say. Sometimes I refer to Sofia as "baby" and sometimes she doesn't say anything about it and other times she tells me "I'm not a baby Mommy." She apparently didn't get the memo that she was always going to be MY baby.


Just the best little girl you will ever meet.

Three little fingers and a contest

One of my favorite blogs to check out often is Bleeding Espresso. Michelle lives in Calabria, Italy and I love reading about her daily musings on life there and her posts on some very delicious-sounding recipes. And I love all things Italian, so it just makes sense. Well, she just recently posted about a contest over at She Who Blogs that I thought would be fun to enter. Frances is celebrating her 3rd blog-iversary and she is holding a photo contest as part of the celebrations.

The theme for the contest is "three" and as soon as I read that, I thought of this picture of Sofia. Each year we've taught her "how many" she's going to be on her birthday and "3" this year took some practicing on her part. I had asked her in this picture to show me how old she was going to be on her birthday and her little hands in the air were just so sweet to me.

Definitely check out both blogs when you get a chance. I know I will be adding She Who Blogs to my reader now!

Andiamo!

The countdown has officially begun. Two months from today we will be leaving for Italy!

Piano girls

Sofia entertained Olivia and I this morning on the piano. Every once in awhile Olivia did reach up to play a note or two, but for the most part she just sat back and watched her big sister "play."


I couldn't get enough of their little feet. Olivia kept moving around like she was dancing and Sofia didn't keep her feet still hardly for two seconds the whole time.

home of sisterly love