C.hristmas 2012 was a bust!

Well, this was a C.hristmas for the memory books! 

I don't recall the 12 Days of C.hristmas song lyrics including "3 kids a puking", "2 parents getting their butts kicked" and "an 8 month old still awaaaaaake at 10pm"! 

Unfortunately, those were our lyrics this C.hristmas. 

That’s right. Our house got hit with a nasty stomach virus. It hit Rocco first. He was down and out hard for almost 2 days. It hit Gabby the next day, and she suffered through a tough 4 days. Giuliana started vomiting on the 3rd day. And, Dan was sick by day 4. 

Thankfully, Marco and I took a pass on it. Which also meant, I was a very busy momma! I must have L.ysol’d the entire house twice in one weekend. It’s no easy task taking care of 3 sick babies, while trying to keep the breastfeeding infant healthy and fed and happy. 

And, let’s face it, the stomach bug is just not meant for kids! Rocco has the best aim in the world when puking. He’ll even wakeup in the middle of the night and run to the toilet instead of just using the bowl by the bed. Gabby on the other hand… ugh! She somehow will be standing over the toilet and the puke goes everywhere. And, if she’s by a bowl, but not the toilet… she’ll run through the house to tell us she has to puke and then get there JUST in time to puke ALL over the bathroom. Let’s hope she grows out of this. Pronto! Giuliana on the other hand, I don’t know how she does it. But, my sweet little, delicate 2 year old never misses a bowl or the toilet.

Not only were our heads spinning with all the sickies, but I felt compelled to just sit with my babies and snuggle them on the sofa to help ease their misery and make them feel loved. Their tummies hurt, they didn’t want to eat anything, they needed extra love, and I just wanted it to take away all their pain and make them better.

Luckily, we were able to work in a number of the regular C.hristmas traditions before we got sick, and after. We got a beautiful C.hristmas tree. The E.lf on the Shelf arrived the day after Than.ksgiving. We spent a fun afternoon making gingerbread and butter cut-out cookies, and we visited Santa.  

Thankfully, by December 26th, the kids seemed to finally be feeling better, but just didn’t have their appetites back yet. So, we missed C.hristmas Eve mass, and we didn’t have our usual lasagna for Ch.ristmas Eve dinner. I think we had chicken noodle soup and soda crackers. We ventured out of the house finally on the 28th, and even then, Giuliana ended up getting sick while we were sitting down in Nor.dstrom’s. So, she subsequently got a very expensive replacement purple outfit that she adored and ended up wearing a lot. 

Good bye for now, au pairs!

We just said good bye to our 6th au pair. She came to our home in September and was scheduled to be with us for a year, but it wasn't working out.

I was not particularly happy with the childcare skills of #6. She seemed to have a very difficult time engaging and truly “playing” with the kids. Arts and crafts, playing make believe, doing fun stuff outside, etc., just seemed very unnatural. There was almost an awkwardness. She did a fine job with household tasks--like the kids laundry, making kids school lunches, etc. But, I prefer someone who can actually play and bond with the kids. There were also a few incidents that made me skeptical of her experience. The last straw was when I found her using her smart phone much too often... f.acebooking, texting, etc. I called her out on it and we decided together that it wasn't a good fit.

The timing was also right for us to say goodbye, as my contract work ended at the end of July. And, for the first time since Matteo died, I'm not in "panic" mode at night when I'm home alone with the kids. For the longest time, I always feared the worst at night – like another emergency was going to happen. This fear could almost consume me at times (and yes, I know it sounds crazy). But, the memories and experience of Matteo dying at night… ugh. It’s not something I will ever get past. I still have a great fear of sick kids. Fevers, being the worst of my fears. Especially fevers with itty bitty people. Anyway, since Dan travels a lot for business… having an au pair has always provided me with an extra sense of security. “If there is an emergency, I can rush to the ER with so and so, and the au pair will be there to take care of the other kids.” (Yes, I know…crrrrrrrrraaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzyyyyyy!)

This last experience was somewhat disappointing, as we were fresh off of two of the greatest au pairs ever. Our 4th and 5th au pairs became an extension of our families. We'll keep in touch with them forever, and hopefully see eachother again some day. I could always trust them with the kids. They knew how to get them involved in activities and really PLAY with them. They would spend hours reading and looking at books with the kids, going on walks, finding things in the forest, playing many various make-believe scenarios. And, it was so clear they truly loved the kids.

Our 3rd au pair was also amazing. And, I give her so much credit as she joined our family a mere month and a half after Matteo had died. Looking back... ugh. I almost feel sorry for her, as it was SUCH a dark time in our lives. She probably listened to more crying and saw more sadness than she'll ever hear/see again in her life. She must have thought I was the nuttiest, nut on the planet. She was a great person. She was amazing... never complained, always had a smile and positive attitude, and just came into our home and seemed to know exactly what we needed. Took great care of Gabby and Rocco, developed daily routines with Rocco while Gabby was at school, helped Gabby develop an interest in arts and crafts, etc. While we don't keep in touch with her as much as our 4th and 5th au pairs, I'll always have a great deal of respect for her and appreciate all she did for our family during that year after Matteo died.

Au pairs are a great childcare option if you're looking for flexible, affordable childcare. And, it's an absolute bargain if you have two or more children. I also liked the fact that I got to know the girls well, instead of just hiring some random person who you don't "really" know. The kids love having a sort of older sibling figure in the house and the cultural experience/exchange is fun for everyone.

I am reviewing applications for a replacement au pair... but I'm in no rush to find another. It was nice to have the extra help even when not "working". I got a lot of things checked off my personal to-do lists, and was able to spend so much 1:1 time with Marco that I wouldn't have been able to had we not had an au pair. But, since I am not currently working, or searching for more work... it was somewhat a luxury, and only partly a necessity, as it allowed me to taxi kids around w/o having to bring Marco who HATES driving in the car.

For now, I'm going to enjoy being mommy to the kids w/o a house guest. I am enjoying it right now. Yes, it's a definite juggling act sometimes. Yes, Marco unfortunately has to ride in the car more than he would like to. And, yes, I have to rely on the TV to babysit sometimes so I can nurse Marco in quiet and not worry about a 2 year old getting into mischeif. And, yes, I will lose my sanity in some moments of complete chaos that only 4 kids under the age of 7 can bring. But, it's ok. We're living life and I love being the playmate, the book reader, the best friend, the tooth brusher, helping to pick outfits in the morning and preparing all their little healthy meals.

I'll eventurally look for another job, and at that time we will absolutely need another au pair. But, right now, I'm just focused on being the best momma I can be to my little people. They're so awesome. I love them so much. And, I know everyone says "they grow up so fast"... but wow, do they ever. It's mind-blowing how fast time flies. 

Marco Crawling

Marco has been mobile on all 4's for a while now... but today, he officially started crawling forward on all 4's. And, oddly enough, I was lucky enough to capture the momentous occasion on my iPhon.e.

Now, he can get to whatever he sees and wants. Time to start re-baby proofing!

Back to Pre-Pregnancy/Goal Weight!

Well... it took just over 7 months, but I am back to my pre-pregnancy/goal weight.

"WooooooHooooooo!!!"

I would be the world's biggest liar if I said it was easy. After 4 pregnancies resulting in 5 children, holding down a full-time/part-time job through July, being full-time mommy, managing and keeping a house clean, and playing taxi service to the schedules of 3 active little people... it's definitely a challenge to find windows of time during the day for myself to brush my teeth, much less fit in a half hour or hour long workout.

But, this was something I had to do. Being in good shape physically is something I actually enjoy and take a lot of pride in. And, more importantly, I know how much it impacts my mood, my happiness, my patience, my energy level (honestly - makes me less tired even with 4 hours of sleep at night!), my overall physical and mental health, and my ability to be the best mom and wife I can be.

So, how did I lose the 40lbs of baby weight to get back to my pre-pregnancy/goal weight?

I exercised more.

Yup. It's that simple. I exercised more. Didn't change my eating habits at all... perhaps even began eating a bit more in recent weeks.

I worked my butt off (literally!)! I had been running 6-15 miles per week since the beginning of June. But, I hit a plateau with my weight loss and still needed to lose about 8 pounds. And, I hadn't yet been reunited with my love of running. So, in early September, I started running 20+ miles per week, faithfully. Every single week. By the third week, I was back to LOVING my runs, and experiencing those wonderful "runners high" moments. I found time slots here or there, ran in the rain, ran when I was tired... you name it. I made it my mission to hit 20 miles or more every week. I started out doing five 4 mile runs per week. Two weeks in, I started doing 6 miles every Sunday. My Sunday Six, as I like to call it. Every Sunday. No excuses. And, for the past 10 weeks, I've been running 24+ miles. By

Anyone who knows me, knows I love to run. Running and photography are my two personal hobbies aside from my family. Nothing beats a great run! I do my best thinking when I run. It's like my own personal therapy and brainstorming session. I'm able to connect with Matteo's spirit and just think about and remember him when I run. There is something spiritual about it... I'm sure other runners could relate. I love getting out and breathing the fresh air and always feel so recharged and ready to tackle any problem when I get home.

I feel great about myself again! I fit into my "skinny" clothes! I am more productive, happier, better wife, better mommy, and am once again crazy-addicted to my exercise habits.

Why am I blogging about this?

Because I feel like SO MANY people just need a little inspiration to push them in the direction to lose a few pounds to feel GREAT! I think most people can lose the weight they need to lose by making some simple, but often difficult, decisions.

Yes,  I know not everyone can run--don't run if you have physical limitations. I too have aches and pains from running (but that's an entirely different blog post!). If anything, I hope I've inspired anyone who wants to lose weight to set a health goal today, and stick to it! Whether it's going for a 30 minute walk 5 days a week, changing your portion sizes, choosing to eat more healthy foods that you prepare at home vs. eating out, eating more vegetables, lifting weights while watching TV, drink less alcohol... whatever... just do it!!

Also, I have to note that Dan has also lost about 20lbs in the past 3 months. While he also likes to run for exercise, the biggest factor in his weight loss was just changing his portion sizes, snacking less, and making healthier food choices (eating more greens/vegetables) while on business trips. He looks SO GREAT and I'm SO PROUD of him! He is now the skinniest he's ever been since I've known him, and now he's even lowered his goal weight. He looks younger than ever, he feels great, and is definitely a happier and more productive person. I could not be more proud of him.

Ok... now, if you've been contemplating losing weight... I hope these 2 success stories have inspired you!! Go for it and set your goals. And, don't kick yourself if you have a bad day or don't get your exercise in one day. Just tell yourself to re-focus on your goals the next day. You can do it too!!

Not to be difficult or anything...

"Not to be difficult or anything, but I would like to be referred to as "Gabby/Gabriella". Some days, please call me Gabby. Some days, I would prefer to be called Gabriella. I'll let you know which day I'd like to be called what."

Oy! Because teachers don't already have a challenging job... just add the child who signs her homework this way into the mix! HA!

Santa's joke on us... the train!

Last year, Santa left this nifty little "Holiday Express" train under our Christmas tree on Christmas morning. It's pretty cool, actually.

The train came with a remote control, a sturdy set of tracks and 6 cars. Little elves sit on all the cars and do different activities on most of the cars. The tracks aren't super long, maybe __ feet, but they have been able to withstand the hands of 3 little people who like to arrange, rearrange, and drive the train through its course.

Last January, we put the train away with all of the holiday decorations. We told the kids we'd pull it out again when we decorated for Christmas this year, so we did.

At first - it was pure excitement. Then, the excitement led to TOO much excitement and 3 little people all wanting to control/drive the train or manage where signs were put, or the order the cars were in, and so on.

I kid you not... this darn train must have been THE source of 582 arguments the day Dan set it up. And, 205 arguments the next day. As time passed... so did interest in the train of course. I think by the time Christmas arrived, that poor train was long forgotten and had not been touched in 2 weeks.

While I love the wonder and joy it brings to the house/kids when we first pull it out of storage, along with all the other Christmas decorations.... Dan would argue that the time spent taking it out of storage, managing the arguments on the first few days, and then disassembling and packing it back up for storage make it a torturous Santa gift!

Nana's Nastics on Mondays

Giuliana LOVES gymnastics. She's often heard saying "I got my nastics on Mondays!", as she goes about her day. She just finished her last mommy/parent & me class. In January, she'll start her first class without a parent involved in the class with her and she seems to be very excited about that.

I tried to tell her that her "nastics" might not be on Monday anymore. Rather, it might be on Tuesday or Thursday instead. She gave me a big "Noooooooooo! My nastics on Mondays momma!"

Holy Christmas Tree!

We picked out our Christmas tree on Sunday, December 2nd.

We got lucky, as it was a rain-free day, sandwiched between rainy and cold days. It seems that November and December are very rainy in this part of the country. For the record, I'm not a fan of November and December in the Pacific Northwest. :)

Gabby and Rocco were very excited to pick out the Christmas tree. Giuliana was indifferent. As was Marco.

The tree we chose, first spotted/chosen by Gabby, is enormous. And, I know I tend to exaggerate... but there is no exaggeration going on with the description of this tree. We must have been high on life when we decided to chop this tree down and bring it home because it is truly unreal.

Or, I guess one would also think to re-think the "chosen tree" when their husband tries to chop it down, and literally disappears under the tree, with only his legs sticking out. Or, when the tree takes forever to chop down? I think our eyes have been warped by living here... most trees you see in these parts of the country are SO BIG. Way bigger than trees in Minnesota. Similar to trees you'd see in the Redwood Forest in CA. This Christmas Tree just seemed kinda regular at the time and not obscenely large. :)

It is almost 8' wide, at the widest part (the base of all the branches). And, it measures 13' tall. It took three grown men to load it onto the truck. And then it took Dan another 3 hours to get it off the truck, go buy a bigger tree stand, and recruit a neighbor who then helped move it inside the house.

We couldn't stop laughing at how crazy big this tree is. And what the HECK were we thinking?! We're clearly nuts!

I can assure you we will never get another Christmas tree this big (it's just insane!), but it has definitely given us some good laughs. Oh, and all for the bargain price of $40! In California, I'm pretty sure buying a tree this size in Silicon Valley would have run us close to $300, if not more. I remember back in the day buying a 7' tree, and that costing us $160. Unbelievable!

The kids were itching to decorate the tree... and this year, we decided to just let them do their business on the tree. I did not hang one ornament. Dan hung under 10. And, our au pair probably hung about 10-15 ornaments. I actually think it's kind of cute and personal though, having the tree mostly decorated by little people. Sure, ornaments are clustered together, and hanging off the tree touching the ground in some spots. And, 90% of the ornaments sit well below 4'. But, I think it looks great - it's all about the lights!

Giuliana, our night owl

I love when children nap.

Unfortunately, I think Giuliana is outgrowing her naps. [deep sigh....]

The reason I know this is not because she refuses to nap every single day. Because she does still nap very happily 4 out of 7 days. But, rather... because on the days she DOES nap, she ends up staying up until Dan and I go to bed.

Giuliana has always been such a great napper. Consistently napping for 2-3 hours every day. And, until about 3 months ago, she would do her daily nap and then go to bed at night when Gabby and Rocco did. It made bedtime super easy-breezy to put all the big kids down at one time, together.

Then, almost three months ago, she started not falling asleep right away at night if she took a long nap. She would talk, and talk and talk, and sing, and tell us Gabby was the one talking (they share a room). This would make Gabby crazy, as she was tired and actually trying to fall asleep. But, her pesky little sister was singing at the top of her lungs in the same room making her angry, instead of tired. Ugh! Then if we went up there, Giuliana would say "Dabby being too loud. Dabby keep me awake!". (Insert parent giggles here... really, Giuliana?!)

It grew to be more of a problem putting Giuliana to bed at the same time as Gabby and Rocco. Instead, if Giuliana took a 3 hour nap, we'd put her to bed an hour or two after Gabby and Rocco. Then, she'd fall asleep right away.

Well, then Halloween season hit with all the spooky decorations and costumes, etc. I think the spook in Halloween spooked our girl, because she moved back into our bed as of early October.

Good. Times.

Now, Dan and I wake up with about 20 stuffed animals, in all shapes and sizes in our bed. Several purple blankets (aka, "purpul bankey"), sometimes a book or two, or a batman figure, or a few horse, cat or other small animals, a pillow pet here or there. It's really amazing, actually... I'm in awe sometimes when I wake up looking around me. I mean, how does all of that stuff and 4 people really fit in a king size bed. Amazing.

And, if that isn't entertaining enough. Now, when I'm getting ready for bed... Giuliana will be wandering around the playroom or whatever, running in and out of our bedroom. One night, I walked in on her in the girl's bathroom... and there she was polishing her toenails, and she had also put glitter on her face.

I have a feeling this little girl is going to keep us on our toes. For a LONG time. But GOSH... I'm SO IN LOVE with her! I must be crazy because I think she's cute even when she's naughty.

Gabby's 1st Gymnastics Meet

Gabby had her first gymnastics meet on Saturday, December 1st. It was an intra-squad meet, so they competed against their teammates - not another team. This was set-up to get them used to the structure of a meet, and having a real judge (which they did have) watch and judge and score them. Granted, the scores were never disclosed - which was fine and probably best. The next meets are set for January, February and March against other teams from throughout western Washington.

She practices twice weekly, for 3 hours each night. I think this is a little overkill - but she loves it. She's on pre-team. However, in January 2013, the US Gymnastics association will not classify her as pre-team anymore, rather she'll be called "USAG Level 2". Apparently, they are re-classifying all the levels, etc, with different names come 2013. And, her gym is one of those more serious gyms, so they stick to the guidelines and try to educate us parents about these changes via newsletters and emails.

I'm learning that some parents are REALLY in to all of these details, and that "meet buns" (how their hair is styled gym meets) are serious business. Ha! I tend to be one of the parents that knows my child will never be a professional gymnast, so I see no reason to push my kid beyond her limits. I love that Gabby is enjoying gymnastics so much. But, if ever there is a day she is not enjoying it, or if her school work suffers... then we know it would be best to pull her out. Her happiness and school/education is much more important. And, six hours a week for a 6/7 year old is a LOT. Life is short... and kids should be having FUN and enjoying life and the activities they are involved in at this age. 

Gabby was truly SO excited for the meet. She tends to be a perfectionist, so I was forced to help/watch her floor routine over and over for the 2 nights prior to the meet. We had been given the music CD, and a sheet of paper with the routine a month before, but we hadn't practiced at all. So, two nights prior to the meet, she became stressed that she would forget her routine. I told her it didn't matter if she forgot, to take her time, and that what was MOST important was that she did the very best she could do and that she was having FUN. But, she insisted on practicing... a LOT. Practicing over & over was painful at first (for me!), because Gabby's perfectionist was coming out. Then, it got fun when she started to relax, and it was cute because the little kids were watching and cheering for her. I did eventually have to tell her to stop practicing because she must have done that routine 100 times over & over.

We all went to watch Gabby at her meet. She did such a great job and we were so proud of her. It takes such courage and confidence to get out there and do the best job you can do in front of an audience. We couldn't help but be proud of not only Gabby, but each one of those girls! It was truly so fun to watch all of them perform.

Gabby's favorite apparatus is the bars, so I posted that video here. Her second is beam, and third is floor. Vault is her least favorite. She did a great job on all of her routines. She didn't forget them like she was worried she might. And, wow... it was just great fun to watch!

First Tooth!

Marco cut his first tooth today (Friday, November 30)! Just two days before he turns 7 months old.

All the signs have been there... waking up a lot more than usual during the night crying, drooling like a little madman, constantly chewing on his fingers or whatever he can put in his mouth, or biting on me.

Hard to believe my BABY (my LAST little baby!), cut his first tooth.

Wow!

A Turkey Day, Divided!

Thanksgiving 2012 will go down in the Martino memory books as a turkey day, divided.

We started the week out with a trip to the ER for Rocco, who had a coup/asthma attack on Sunday night. It was so crazy, as I *might* have heard him cough twice that day.  It was 11pm, I was brushing my teeth and I heard an odd coughing/hacking noise coming from down the hall and I thought it was Gabby having a cough attack, and being super dramatic about it (which is usually the case). So, I asked Dan if he could go check on Gabby since I was brushing my teeth. Then, I hear him yelling "Rocco, breathe!"... so I rushed over and realized we were dealing with a pretty serious case of croup/cough and told Dan to run down and get Rocco's inhaler. Rocco literally couldn't take a full breath, he couldn't talk, and was just coughing and gasping. It was all very scary to me and I was seconds from calling 911. We were able to get him breathe a bit closer to normal and Dan rushed him off to the ER. They gave him steroids, which helped him significantly. They arrived home around 1am, and Rocco then threw-up dinner (chili.... yum!) all over Dan and him and the downstairs bathroom floor. (Thankfully, it is a tile floor!). Clearly, the steroids didn't settle well in his tummy. Poor kid! Dan then stayed up until 3:30am, so he could have piece of mind that Rocco wouldn't have any more breathing troubles. Since Matteo died in his sleep... any occurrence like this rocks our world, and very quickly brings to surface all of the feelings and emotions and memories from the day Matteo died. And, I know nobody can relate, unless you too have experienced the loss of a child, but the emotions and feelings are so strong and present, they are palpable within our home.

Rocco was totally fine the next day, granted, he did have a little random cough. But, nothing I was overly concerned about. No fever, and his eating and energy levels were fine as well. Well, then Gabby started getting a little cough (so little and sporadic that I also wasn't concerned)... and she felt good enough to still go to school and gymnastics on Wednesday night.

This would be the first time since living in Washington that we would not host T.hanksgiving dinner at our home. Instead, we were invited to our friend's home to join their family. We were very excited about it and all of us were looking forward to it. Still, I decided to let them know we had two little people coughing, and showing mild cold symptoms. I am always very cautious about bringing my kids anywhere, if sick... and VERY appreciative of other parents who act the same way. Since Matteo's cause of death was mostly related to a virus he had picked up, I prefer to not spread germs whenever possible... and for people to not spread them to us. Some kids just don't have good immune systems.

Anyway, Thursday morning arrived (turkey day)... everyone was excited and getting ready to join our friends that afternoon. But, Gabby seemed to be coughing more and started looking horrible. I felt her forehead and knew right then and there that we couldn't bring her. Her temp was just under 100 degrees. She started sobbing, saying she wanted to still go but also saying she felt awful and sick. I felt SO bad for her. I tucked her under a blanket on the sofa, piled up some library books next to her, turned on a movie, and got her some juice and crackers.

Dan & I went for a 6 mile run together (our date, if your will!), showered, and Dan got Rocco and Giuliana ready to go while I finished up making the appetizer and dessert we were supposed to bring. We said goodbye to Dan, Rocco, Giuliana, and our au pair, Adriana... and as Gabby cried, I promised her I'd let her drink a F.resca (she's never drank soda before!), and have treats while watching whatever movie she wanted to watch.

So, Gabby, Marco and I stayed home. It was very quiet. Very uneventful... and definitely did not feel very much like a holiday. Spending a holiday divided... 3 at the party, 3 at home, was the pits.

BUT... there are so many things that are and could be worse. And, we have so much to be thankful for. So, it's best to focus on the positive, be thankful for what you do have, and keep that front of mind. Missing a turkey day dinner with friends and family is really not a big deal in the big scheme of life!

We brought Gabby to the doctor on Friday morning. She was diagnosed with strep for the 3rd time in 3 months. Jeesh! Then, Marco caught the cold virus, as did Giuliana... so we had 2 more sick little monkeys come Monday morning.

If I could, I'd wish flu/cold/virus season would just disappear!

She's SEVEN!

Our big girl turned seven recently. SEVEN.

Wow.

I have no idea where those seven years went.

Gabby's 7 Year Growth Stats:
Height: 4' 2" (75%ile)
Weight: 49lbs (50%ile)
BMI: 14-23 (10-25%ile)

Before I go to bed, I'll often tiptoe into her room to check on her and give her a gentle kiss on her forehead. Sometimes I'll just stare at her and get nostalgic... thinking I can still visualize her face as a baby. And, I'll think about how time just flies and she keeps growing. I'll think about the things that Gabby is worried or concerned about... and I'll wish all those things away for her. A parent's love for their child(ren) is an amazing thing.

I couldn't be more proud of the little lady Gabby is becoming. She is smart, confident, caring, thoughtful, loving, funny, and beautiful. She is sensitive. She's girly. She's an amazing big sister. She makes us laugh. Fashionista, drama-queen, dreamer and silly also come to mind. She's a happy girl... and she has such a big heart. We love her more than words. 

Gabby's seven year old favorites:
Food: pasta & meatballs with marinara sauce
Book: Sad Isn't Bad
Color: Pink
Movie: The Rise of the Guardians
Toy: L.EGO Friends Mia's Horsefarm
Song: any song by Taylor Swift or Katy Perry
Treat: mint chocolate chip ice cream
Day: Wednesday
Sport: gymnastics
Vacation spot: Hawaii

She is in first grade and doing so great at school. We're told she is one of the top students in her class, and she is reading at second grade level. Her teacher said she does well in both reading and math, and that Gabby is one of the kids in the class who is both helpful and she can really "count on" in certain situations. She loves reading chapter books. She loves learning math, and even spent an hour one night trying to do three digit addition, making me teach her how to do it over and over again [gee... THAT wasn't frustrating at all! ha!]. Gabby loves school. I think she likes both the challenge of school and the social aspect equally.

She is in gymnastics and swimming and has asked to be re-enrolled in dance class (ballet & tap) in January. She decided to quit soccer in September, saying she's just not interested in soccer anymore.

She is VERY into fashion these days. So much in fact that for her birthday, she asked us for specific shoe and clothing items. All having sparkles, of course (this child LOVES sequins and glitter!). Also, she has started designing her own dress and handbag line, and neatly cuts and tapes each new design into a journal/book for safe keeping. Then, for her birthday, a friend got her a very cool fashion design tracing light box... and she has since designed shoes and complete outfits. I have no idea where she got this gene from... not me! I'm pretty certain my mother only has photos of me wearing jeans and sweatshirts from kindergarten to age 20.

 I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as she has always been very opinionated in what she wears every days since she was 18 months old. Dressing up in heels and fancy dresses started shortly after 18 months. And, multiple outfit changes per day started happening at age 2. Now, adding to the interest in fashion is an interest in face glitter. This is a very new interest. It's cute and she uses it sparingly... never to school, just for fun. So I let her. It's harmless. And, I'll admit - it does look kind of fun! I think it's somewhat a result of having au pairs live with us who often put makeup on.

In addition to fashion, she also really loves L.EGOS Friends, and arts and crafts type activities where she can trace stuff, draw, and color, or just be creative in general in some way/shape/form. She is becoming quite good at drawing (copying) things that she's looking at - I've been impressed. And while she loves the L.EGOS... I think Rocco is better/more patient when it comes to building the sets. But, I do love that the kids all play SO great together with them. It's really cool. I had no idea how awesome the L.EGOS sets were until recently.

She knows how to S.kype, F.acetime, text message and email friends from her i.Touch. Crazy, I know. But, it is pretty funny to watch 6 and 7 year olds on F.acetime... just giggling at each other, asking over and over what the other one is doing and then informing us later that "so and so" is staying overnight on Friday. Too funny, because I remember having to call my friends on a rotary dial phone with the cord attached to the wall when I was a kid. I remember it being a very big deal/privilege to use the telephone, and I would have never imagined in a million years being able to call my friend on a tiny hand-held device where I could actually see AND talk to them at the same time.

She also listens to a lot of music on her iTouch, and I'll sometimes walk in on her singing at the top of her lungs to whatever song. I love walking in on those moments!

She's getting to the age where she is becoming more private. Enjoying more time content just by herself, whether it's reading, coloring/drawing, or just playing. She's also had moments of "I'm going to get dressed in my closet so nobody sees me." Then, the next day... she'll be running from the tub through the house with bare buns.

This year, we barely saw her on her actual birthday. She went to school, then sraight to gymnastics for 3 hours, and then finally home at 7:50pm. We sang her the birthday song, ate gourmet cupcakes and she ripped through her presents in less than 10 minutes. She was a happy girl and I think she had a great day.

For her birthday party this year, she asked to have it at a roller rink. She has never been roller skating before, so I figured this might be kind of interesting! As it turns out, only a few kids had ever skated before, so it was perfect because they all sort of had the chance to learn together. She invited a lot of friends from school and gymnastics. The kids skated, some played arcade games, and then they ate pizza and cake. When we got home and I realized all the presents that she had to open from her friends, I suggested we put together a pile of gifts that we would give to children who might not get any gifts for Christmas. Gabby is a lucky girl in that she does not truly need anything. I was so proud of Gabby because she agreed with me, without hesitation, and helped me set aside gifts that we could give to other children.

Love you tons, Miss Gabbers! You make me so, incredibly proud every single day of your life and I love you around the world and to the moon & back. xoxo

 

6 Month Update

Marco's 6 Month Growth Stats:
Height: 27.1 inches (75%ile)
Weight: 16lbs 6oz (50%ile)
Head: 17.8 (90%ile)

Night Sleep: Still no real schedule, but daytime nap patterns have emerged which is nice. As for night sleep, he typically goes to be between 8-9pm. He’s waking up again between 11pm-12am, so I nurse him back to sleep. He’s decided to make me his human pacifier… sucking for almost an hour. I usually fall asleep while he’s nursing at night , and then he wakes up at least 1-2 more times throughout the night to nurse and soothe himself back to sleep. 

Naps: Marco’s awake time has now stretched to 2 hours during the day, sometimes 3+ hours between his evening nap and bedtime. Every time he wakes up… he’s able to stay awake for at least 2 hours before he needs to take another nap. His first nap of the day is usually around 9am. His second is usually around 12:30pm, and the third is usually between 4-5pm. The majority of his naps are still rather short (30-40 minutes). But, he does have the occasional 1 hour nap.   

Eating: Marco still eats on demand…lucky boy! When he is hungry, I nurse him. I will also still nurse him to soothe him if he’s upset. I probably nurse him 10-12 times throughout the day and night. So far, I have tried feeding him applesauce and sweet potatoes. He has shown no interest in either and actually acts as if he’s going to throw-up with the sweet potatoes. He also looks at me like “MOM, what on earth are you putting in my mouth?!” Eating pureed baby foods is a big goal for us this month!

Marco Updates:

• Sitting all by himself!
• He’s now easily distracted when breastfeeding—he wants to check out his surroundings before he nurses if we’re not in our usual spot. It is next to impossible to nurse him if one of the other kids are around, or if there is any unusual noise.
• Reaching for and grabbing anything that I am holding. Or, if I’m holding him while writing something… he’s bending out of my arms to try and grab what I am writing with or on.
• Grabbing for everything and anything, really!
• Constantly playing with his tongue… sticking it out and wiggling it, making it look like he’s concentrating on his upcoming slam dunk
• Loves grabbing his feet and putting his big toes in his mouth
• I can hold him on my hip with ease now… his core strength is strong enough for me to simply hold him with one arm safely & securely.
• He loves to grab and pull on my hair.
• He likes to grab my arm and squeeze/pinch me, while I hold him on my hip.
• Long screams and screeches to talk with the other kids.
• LOVES watching water come out of water faucets. When I turn on the kitchen sink or pour water from the refrigerator door, he’ll squeal with delight and start flapping his arms and jumping with his legs. It’s hilarious!
• Definitely a liability on the changing table! This little guy likes to roll right over the second I put him down on the changing table.
• Everything goes in the mouth!
• He discovered his unit. Every time we change him now, his hands are like a magnet to the unit.
• Drooling constantly! We have to change his bib almost every hour when he’s sitting up because they get soaked.
• He LOVES being around his siblings! If he hears them – he wants to be with them or in the same room as them, and then he is THE most content, perfectly happy baby on the planet. While they are all running around talking and playing, he just sits there talking (screeching and screaming) away and playing with whatever baby toys are in front of him. Happy as can be! And, when the kids are all gone (maybe on an errand with Dan), he is just sort of fussy. It’s as if he LOVES the chaos of a child-busy house. So cute!
• He’s getting better about liking the car. But, can really only handle 3 trips in the car per day. If he hasn’t already “told us” he’s not happy about driving in the car, he’ll be sure to scream and cry a lot on the 4^th try. Because of this, if Dan is traveling, I try to leave him with our au pair so he doesn’t have to deal with car torture.
• He has really grown to enjoy stroller rides while I run. I love this, because then when I drop Rocco off at gymnastics, I can run with him during the class until I have to pick Rocco up again. Although… now, of course as I type this, I’m no longer able to do this with Marco because cold/rainy season has hit. Will have to wait a few months to do this again!

Halloween 2012

Why isn’t Halloween on a Friday every year? Wednesday just doesn’t work for a mom with 4 young kids. Halloween comes and goes so fast when the holiday is in the middle of the week. It’s like a mad dash of carving pumpkins, school party preparations, bringing and wearing costumes to school and after school activities, then toss Dan’s birthday into the mix, etc. I’m exhausted. I was secretly excited when November 1 arrived.

This year, Gabby and Giuliana both chose to be Batgirl and Rocco wanted to be a samurai (I think his decision was somewhat based on the fancy sword pictured with this costume). Marco was a monkey by default… I didn’t think much about his costume and threw the monkey on him as we were rushing out the door to trick or treat in town. I WISH I would have thought more about his costume, because then I would have remembered to put him in one of the twins bat costumes that they wore on their first Halloween. Bummer!!

Since Halloween was Wednesday night, and Dan’s birthday was Tuesday (along w/Rocco’s gymnastics), we decided to carve pumpkins on Monday night. And, since the rain decided to arrive a week into October (after 90 days of no rain)… Dan & I never took the kids to a pumpkin patch this year.

Pumpkin carving is a somewhat exhausting experience for a parent of 4 young, enthusiastic kids. Luckily, we have had the help of our au pairs the past few years. Gabby really loves carving pumpkins. She pulled out all the seeds and pumpkin guts herself this year. Love! I helped her just a tiny bit at the end. She also really enjoyed choosing what her pumpkin should be carved as. Giuliana also seemed to get in the spirit of pumpkin carving this year. It was probably a combination of her own excitement and energy, fueled by the excitement of her older siblings (and her wanting to do whatever they do; be just like them, etc). She used a spoon to whole-heartedly attempt scooping out pumpkin guts. However, at age 2, it was all about the interest and intent, and not much productivity. It was super cute. After she was done trying and playing, I scraped the insides out and let her pull as much of the guts out as she wanted (which wasn’t much). But, she had a grand time! Rocco was a big talker, but when it came time to clean his pumpkin out—he was not a fan. He didn’t like getting the pumpkin guts on his hands. He’d try to pull stuff out with the spoon, but didn’t quite get the concept of scraping the pumpkin walls first… so he just got frustrated and decided to enlist his mother to do the job. He also chose how his pumpkin should be carved and I had to stop him several times from trying to carve the pumpkin on his own.

We ended up carving a B.atman logo, a one-eyed pumpkin, a P.eace sign, a moon/star pumpkin (to represent Matteo), and a silly face.

 

This year, we also decided to make and decorate some caramel apples. Fun activity that lasts all of 7 minutes. MUCH more time put into melting the caramel, cleaning the pan, and cleaning all the sprinkles from the counter and floor. Now that activity is checked off the list - not sure we need to repeat it! ha!

 

On Halloween, both Rocco & Gabby had Halloween parties and costume parades at school. Then, we took them trick-or-treating through town where all the local businesses were handing out treats to the kids. I LOVE this... the kids fill up their treat bags. It's very social becuase it's from 3-6, so it's not yet dark and tons of families are participating so we see lots of school friends. And... the kids get somewhat worn out from this and don't yet feel the need to do much night trick-or- Yes... even at age 6 & 4, the concept of "work a little harder, get more reward" can be taught! ;) 

Little Boys & Tools

Never underestimate the intelligence or brains of a 4 year old boy. While dad's away, they know exactly where his tools are, which tools to use for what and how to disassemble and fix small motorized vehicles and appliances. Amazeballs!!
  
I walked outside to discover Rocco disassembling the seat on his small 4 wheeler, to get to the battery, so he could recharge it. I was shocked... he had all the right tools out (and knew where to find them... I don't even know where to find them!), and had taken the screws out, etc. 

This is not the first time I've discovered him with a tool or two of daddy's, without telling me what he was up to. 

Let's hope he works on his plumping skills next... I could use a good, reliable plumber in the house too! 

Writing skills keep improving!

Rocco is getting so great at writing his letters and numbers.

One year ago, he had little interest in saying the alphabet, much less practicing writing letters or numbers. Now, not only is he holding his pencil like a first grader...but he seems to also enjoy practicing his writing. Getting to practice on a marker board definitely helps with the motivation a little bit too.

School days also result in a few letter or number oriented worksheet activities. I always enjoy seeing the work that comes home and he's always so proud to show me... as if to say "look how hard I worked at school today, mom!".

Rocco is also improving so much with his letter sounds, and number and letter recognition. So often, I'll find him watching and listening as Gabby reads books. And at times, he'll pretend to read books to himself. If Gabby says "Rocco, you're not REALLY reading.", it will start a little spat between the two of them. Regardless, he is realizing the connection between writing and reading and that is what I love.

Sitting!

My sweet hunk, little Marco, is now sitting all by himself, without help from anyone or anything!

So bittersweet.

The little guy is growing up.

Matteo's Dream Fund Donates Money to Seattle Children's "The Journey Program"

On October 5, 2012, Matteo's Dream Fund sent a $1,000.00 check to Seattle Children’s Hospital's “Journey Program”, a service that assists any family who has experienced the death of a child by providing support to help parents, siblings and extended family members cope with death, loss, and the grieving process.

The Journey Program assists approximately 200 patient families every year at Seattle Children’s Hospital through support groups, individual and family counseling, providing reading materials and referrals to community resources. They also provide grief support to schools and communities, assist employers with how to help a parent go back to work after losing a child, and provide constant phone support to anyone and everyone who contacts them.

This is such an amazing program, and it truly benefits the entire community, as they will not turn anyone away. So, yes, even non-patient families who experienced the death of a child benefit from this program.

This donation was made possible by a number of donations received at a private event hosted on July 4th by the Dunkin family. HUGE thanks again to the Dunkin family, and everyone who donated money to Matteo’s Dream Fund!

 

If you or anyone you know are in need of support after losing a child, please take a moment to contact your local children's hospital and find out if they have a grief support service.

 

And, just a friendly reminder since we are approaching the season of thanks and giving... remember to set aside some money or time to donate goods or services to those who are in need. There are so many people who need help in so many ways, and we all have the ability and power to make the world a better place.     

September visit from Gammy & Papa

My parents visited us in September. We didn't do anything too exciting when they were here, as life was pretty busy with getting used to the new school year and activity schedule, Marco was still so young and breastfeeding, and a new au pair had arrived at our home just 6 days before my parents arrived. It was perfectly fine though, because were able to simply spend time together enjoying each others company, amidst the chaos of 4 young kiddos and their busy schedules!

My dad was able to meet Marco for the first time, and my mom was very excited to see him again since she was here when he was born.

We cooked a few good homemade meals, and Rocco was even my assistant chef one day, chopping up a storm! He chopped peppers, potatoes and green beans for a vegetable curry soup I make (my mom loves it - so I usually make it when she's here). We also picked a LOT of blackberries from the blackberry bushes that surround our yard. We went on a few walks. My parents enjoyed taking Rocco to school, Gabby to her bus stop, to Target to pick out a little toy, and they even took the kids out for ice cream once or twice. 

My mom loved spending more time with Marco--he will probably be her last grand-baby. She would rock him to sleep and spent most afternoons holding him as he napped in her arms. Marco soaked it all up and napped for a few hours each time (long naps were NOT normal for him at that time!). So - it was great!

Gammy also spent lots of time reading to the kids, playing on the swing set with them, and doing learning activity books with Rocco and Gabby. She also gifted us with babysitting the 3 older kids one night so Dan and I could escape (with Marco, of course) for a sushi date night. No easy task, as my kids can keep a person VERY busy!

Papa spent LOTS of time with Miss Giuliana and Rocco. Giuliana thought Papa was so very interesting and fun, and she loved that she could get his complete, undivided attention. She took full advantage of every opportunity to play with him, sit by him, and get him to tease her. She would even perform little song/dances for him just to make him (and us!) laugh.

Rocco, if given the opportunity, would glue, staple or tie himself to his Papa. He LOVES his Papa. He thinks his car is the car from "The In.credibles", that he knows everything, and can do anything. Papa is basically on superhero status to Rocco. So, the entire time Papa is here, Rocco is right beside him. If Papa takes a nap - this is devastating to Rocco and he is asking the entire time where Papa is and when he'll wake up, and then he proceeds to mope around until Papa is ready for more action. It's hilarious! The day Papa and Gammy left, Papa drove Rocco to school in the morning. When Rocco got home, he asked where Papa was and we reminded him that Papa had left. Rocco got so upset and gave us his angry face while yelling "HE DIDN'T EVEN PLAY WITH ME TODAY!" It was SO sad!

Gabby just loves when Gammy and Papa are here too. I think her favorite reasons would be because it means she gets to sneak into their guest bed at night and sleep right between them. And, she loves that they get to do fun stuff like go to the ice cream shop, and "get ready" with Gammy. They'll wash their hair, blow dry and put makeup on together (you know... the whole "getting ready" process that's excited to a 7 year old, but not to an adult). Papa will play the "what am I drawing on your back game" with her and the other kids... and they all love, and are very good, at guessing what's being drawn on their backs. (This game also is a great way for Papa to get a 6-handed back massage when his turn comes up!)

It's always fun to have my parents visit. We wish we could see them more often and that we lived closer. But, we'll take any time we can get with them! Thanks for the fun visit, Gammy & Papa!