SpawGlass BBQ for Grandpapi

Today we went to a BBQ for Grandpapi's retirement from SpawGlass.

By the end of June, Grandpapi will retire from the company where he has worked for forty years - a lifetime. We are happy for him as he embarks on a new journey but yet know how difficult it will be for him - a large part of him was defined by his job.

Grandpapi, we know that SpawGlass will miss you!

Mothers Day '09

On Sunday, we went to Nonna's house and went swimming. Giuliana and I have similar body shape!

Gisella already looks like she got a tan - and looks so pretty in her white dress.

Here's our "Wild One" (Giuliana) over at Mimi's. She actually looks a bit scary . . .

The Saturday before Mother's Day, Giuliana and Gisella had fun running all over Mimi's house. Mimi did not mind - in fact she also did not mind that the girls left toys all over the playroom, pushed little tables around the dining room table, and left pool toys all over the backyard. She just wanted them to have fun - thank you Mimi-we definitely had fun!

Giuliana - the wild one - looking back

Giuliana.

Where do I even begin?

At exactly 6 weeks of pregnancy, we heard Giuliana's heartbeat. She was my "Baby B" - so labeled due to her position in the womb. I believe that from the moment of conception, she was ready to go. Not sure where, but she was ready.

Giuliana was born 6lbs 5 oz. and has always been bigger than her sister. Michael and I used to call her Chubs when she was born because she had such cute chubby cheeks. She never had problems eating. The nurses in the NICU were so impressed that she could suck and eat so well. That has never changed. Giu-Giu loves to eat!

Giuliana had such a hard time as a newborn - she had really bad reflux - so bad that we had to put her on medication so that she could sleep. In addition, about one week after we got home from the hospital, she developed "Baby Acne" - red bumps all over her face.

One night after we got home from the hospital, Giuliana cried. All night. And then proceeded to cry EVERY SINGLE night. Until she finally stopped and then cried all day, every day. This lasted the first 4- 5 months of her life. I remember calling my poor pediatrician at least weekly to tell him about her. Dr. Boardman would stay on the phone to reassure me that I was doing everything that I could. He told me that she would outgrow many of the 'conditions' that concerned me. Dr. B. you were so right.

Giuliana is loud and demanding - has to have things her way. She steals food, sippy cup, toys and anything else from her poor sister.

Giuliana is also so much fun. She loves to laugh and play and mimic my movements. She is an active baby - always on the go. She is so funny and emotional. She loves to be the center of attention - when she wants to be. She is larger than life!

Gisella - the sweet one - looking back

Gisella was my "Baby A" so labeled due to her position in the womb. When we were very first pregnant with the twins and went for our 6 week ultrasound, we did not hear Gisella's heartbeat - but we saw a sac - that was when the ultrasound tech labeled her as "Baby A". I remember going home that day and praying that we would have twins. Hoping that the 'empty sac' would have a heartbeat. Of course, I would have been so blessed with just one baby - but with two? I could not even imagine.

When we went back for our ultrasound at seven weeks, we heard Gisella's heartbeat and knew that for sure, we would be having twins. Throughout the course of the pregnancy, Gisella's heartbeat was always a little lower than her sister's - in the healthy range of course - but still lower.

Gisella was born 6lbs .5oz. and due to the fact that I developed a fever during labor, she along with her sister, was placed in the NICU. The NICU nurses at Women's Hospital are so kind and loving and took such great care of my babies. Gisella's heartbeat on the monitor was still so much lower than her sister - I used to worry about it - now I realize it is who she is - a laid back - easygoing little girl.

Gisella, as a baby, loved to sleep. She preferred sleeping over eating. Michael and I were always so worried about her not eating. (Things have not really changed). She was such an easy baby - we could put her in her crib and she would just go to sleep - no complaints from her. When we took her out into the world, not a peep would come out of her. If I had had only Gigi - mothers would hate me because I would be the one stating how easy this parenting thing is. I realize that it had nothing whatsoever to do with me (well, at least at this stage) - it was all my sweet Gigi.

Our Little Bundle

On Monday, May 4th, Michael and I went to have our level 2 Ultrasound where we found out that we are expecting a healthy baby girl. Yes, another baby girl - a little sister for the GGs. We were so excited to find out that our precious little one is growing and is healthy.

Michael, of course, would have loved to have had a boy, but I know that he is going to be spoiled by his three little girls. During our session with the doctor, Michael could not contain himself and had to ask what the gender of the baby was at least twice before we were actually told. The first time he asked, the doctor had not even squeezed the gel on over my stomach yet. The second time, he asked, the Dr. was looking at the baby's spine (yes, far more important than the gender). Finally, the Dr. had to stop and actually look for the gender so that MG would stop asking. Of course, before we left, Michael asked the dr. if she was absolutely sure we were having a girl.

Poor Georgie. Yes, we are thinking of naming the baby Georgiana and calling her Georgie. (Okay, I am thinking about calling her Georgie). Not sure about the spelling yet though. I have seen it spelled Georgina and Georgiana. I like it spelled Georgiana only because I saw the movie The Duchess and the Duchess' name was Georgiana spelled with the extra A. I guess I have some time to think about it.

Big Girl Chairs

No more highchairs (or bottles)! I think that I am more excited than the girls. Cleaning the highchairs (and bottles) was so much work - the booster seats are so much easier to clean. GGs adjusted really well to the seats - they are happy to be big girls!

A Busy Day

Swimming at Nonna's house. Giuliana loves to wear her sunglasses!

Here we are at the Astros Game - we made it to the top of the 6th - of course we got there at the bottom of the 4th. The GG's were more interested in watching the people around them then watching the game - but we had fun - although I can't seem to remember what team was playing against the Astros . . .