Our Poe Visit

Last Friday, the girls and I went to visit our friends at Poe Elementary School - where I used to work. I really wanted to see everybody before school started and I thought that the girls would have fun running in the hallways. Well, it did not work out that way. In fact, the girls were not as enthusiastic as I was about the visit. They had a real hard time - they were overwhelmed I think - too many people in a new environment.

In the pictures above, we were in Barb McClintock's classroom. Barb is a fifth grade teacher and we used to be on the same team. Barb had given the girls some math manipulatives and the girls enjoyed playing with them - and by playing I mean opening up the bags and throwing the pieces all over the classroom. Which is how they play a lot of games.

Thank You Kimberly

I was having a little bit of trouble with making dinner at night. I needed a little bit of time to complete dinner without the girls hanging onto my leg or making a complete mess in the kitchen.

I read Kimberly's blog and saw how she dealt with the same problem - her solution was to put in a video. At first, I also was a little opposed to them watching t.v. - but seriously - in this heat - is there really an alternative?

On to Borders I went to purchase an educational video for the girls. Kimberly posted that Sesame Street was a hit in her house - so I thought that it would work for my girls also - and it did! The girls love the video - and I get about 30 minutes to make/complete dinner. Okay, so sometimes I cheat and I rewind the DVD back a little bit - but seriously - no more than an hour! My mother reassured me that I learned a lot when I watched Sesame Street as a child.

There is a part in the video where there is a man playing the guitar while singing "La Bamba". Little sheep puppets join in on the chorus "Ba ba bamba" - the girls sing along to this. Of course it's more like "Ba ba ba" when they sing it but still. I also hear them sing this same song in their cribs before falling asleep at night! Pretty cute!

Isabella

Isabella is our fabulous 8 year old neighbor that lives across the street from us. On Wednesday afternoons, she comes over and plays with us - and the Gs absolutely love her. This summer, our other neighbor, Ally, who also lives across the street, came over with her. Ally is a little older than Isabella but just as wonderful.

This Wednesday will be Isabella's last since she will be starting dance class that meets on Weds. afternoons, and with the new baby coming, we will have to figure out how it will all play out.

I am sad that it is her last Wednesday. Isabella has been coming over for quite some time. I believe since before the girls could even crawl and have had so much fun with her.

I am sure that we will have many more opportunities for play - but it will be different than what it was.
Thank you Isabella!

First Haircut

On Friday, Michael and I took the girls to get their first official (much needed) haircut. I have cut a little bit of their hair before Friday, but not too much since Michael was opposed to them getting their hair cut (don't ask me why). I had visions of my poor girls looking like Kate Hudson's son.

I had made a few comments to him recently about their hair and he finally relented and gave us his okay. Since it was their first hair cut, I did not want to do it without Michael. I knew that he would be upset if I had done so behind his back. I would not feel right about taking the girls without him.

The above pictures are 'before' the cut. As you can see, poor Gisella's vision was impaired since her hair fell over her eyes. She was also starting to grow a mullet. Giuliana's hair just needed a little trim - her hair is really curly and looks shorter - she also has a calick that prevents her hair from falling onto her face. I was mostly wanting Gisella to get her hair cut since it did cause a vision impairment.

Here is Gisella getting her hair cut - she was not happy about it - when we first placed her in the hair cutting chair, she started to cry. She soon stopped once her Daddy took her and held her in his lap. I think that the big chair scared her a bit. My husband, of course, told me that we were 'torturing them'. Whatever.

After Gisella had such a difficult time, we were nervous about Giuliana's turn - since she is more sensitive than her sister. Giuliana surprised us all - she did not cry one bit - but she did make things difficult by continuously trying to turn her head in order to look at whatever Alma (the stylist) was doing.

Our first official haircut is over. The entire process took no longer than fifteen minutes. This picture was taken 'after' the haircut. Gisella's hair is no longer covering her little face. Also, when Gisella was finished with her haircut, she continued to look at herself in the mirror and smile. I think that she really likes her new little bob!

After the haircut, we all went out to dinner to celebrate - yeah!!

Lunch with our sweet cousins

Nonno and Nonna just returned from their trip to Italy yesterday. Nonna has been gone for almost two months and Nonno for one. The girls were excited to see them once again.

Today we had lunch with Nonna, Nonno, Tony (my brother), Larissa (my sister in law), and their three kids. Here they all are having so much fun at lunch. What a crazy mess. I felt sorry for the people sitting next to us! Luckily, the restaurant got us in and out very quickly.

Verdict is in???

Well, the Dr. did not have much to say at the appointment for GiuGiu yesterday.

Pretty much what I wrote about in my blog is what he had to say - it could be a number of different things. For sure though, it is not a milk allergy.

I paid 30 bucks for that?!!

Poor Giu - Part 2

Last Saturday, the last time that I updated the blog, little Giu was doing better - and she was - until last Monday morning when she threw up again.

I am not sure that it was the stomach flu that was upsetting her tummy and causing her to vomit. Since she has only thrown up in the morning, I had a feeling that it was the way that she drank her milk in the morning. This child gulps down her milk in a matter of seconds and then steals her sister's milk (while I try to prepare breakfast) and downs that also. I thought that maybe the way that she drank her milk so fast in the morning, was what was causing her to throw it back up.

On the other hand, she has always done this. Anyway, the next morning, I only gave her water. The morning after that, I gave her a little bit of milk only after she ate breakfast and made sure that she did not steal her sister's milk. She did not throw up again all last week -

This morning, I made sure that she ate her breakfast before I gave her milk. I did not think that I gave her very much. Anyway, she stole her sister's milk also and I just assumed that she would be fine - she had eaten breakfast and was okay all of last week.

Well, sure enough, she throws up again - a few times. I am not sure what is going on - I just don't think that she has a virus - she may have a milk allergy or maybe she just drinks too much milk on an empty tummy and her stomach cannot handle it?? I am not a Dr. therefore, we are going to the Dr. this afternoon to see what he has to say.

More on Giugiu later - now, I need to shower!!!