18 months

is it really true? is she really 18 months old already? it seems like time has really flown by and our little babaloo is developing her own personality quite quickly. she keeps us all on our toes for sure. 

here's what she is up to these days: 

• now that she can walk and run, she is mastering climbing.  on everything.  up on the couch and chairs, down from the bed.  up and down, up and down.  
• her vocabulary is exploding.  she will consistently say at least one new word a day.  we are always asking each other..."did you know she could say ___?"  a few of her favorites are:  poppa uh roro (always together...because whenever you see poppa, you almost always see roro too), more (she also says this in sign language), peas (please...also rubs her belly for this too, which is sign language), pizza, luh you (love you), soose (juice), uppie (pick me up), book, beebee (binky), cookie and car. 
• she loves for you to sing to her.  her favorites are "Jesus Loves Me" and "Babaloo".  so, she will say geegah (Jesus) or baba-oo.
• she wrinkles up her nose a lot.  it's her favorite face to make. 
• she knows that when i put a barrette or bow in her hair, i always say "pretty girl", so she will point at the hair accessories and say "bow...pittie".  
• she will throw herself on the floor and have a fit many many times a day.  but, we always let her lay there and then ask her if she is done.  a lot of times, she will get up now and say "all done". 
• she gives out a lot of hugs and kisses too.  she especially makes sure that roman gets a hug if he seems upset.  
• along with the tantrums, she has started hitting a little bit too.  mostly, it is really soft and not so bad, but we don't like to let it go and encourage soft touches instead.  so, now she almost immediately will stroke your hair or arm and say sah-eee (sorry).  

 they each got their own bag of cookies!

 

The Beauty All Around Me

i've really come to realize that my life is such a blessing. everyday little things. messes in my house, they all mean that i'm blessed with two wonderful, fun little humans that make my life beautiful. and, i have a husband that LOVES to have fun and play and that makes life so fun too. he might not be the neat/clean freak that i am, but i guess that makes for a boring life, huh? oh well, i'd rather have a messy house and sticky floors than not to have those in my life that make those messes and those sticky spots...love my life.oh, and yes, there's guido too.  he's still adjusting to life with us, and we are getting used to him too.  what a clown!

bubbles on the front porch...this girl loves her bubbles!

see momma, i can do it myself!  but how come no bubbles come out?  and why do my lips taste like soap?

cruisin' through the 'hood on our cart

roman and poppa have a bedtime tradition of "touching the ceiling".  i just wanted to capture this before ro gets too big for poppa to lift up that high!

sunny days are so fun...let's get outside and enjoy them!

i don't think i've ever seen a brother and sister have this much love for each other.  i'm so grateful

toby and roman went to a ballgame last weekend and so guido and i got to hang out together.  he actually sat still enough for pictures.  that deserves a collage!  this is rare, folks.  he's a mover, not a cuddler. 

fun times at the park....wheeee!

little miss hollywood strutting her stuff on the playground

what should i play on next, momma?

balancing act

time to feed the ducks

...and the geese, apparently.

not sure why she wanted to flash the ducks, but hey, whatever floats your boat, baby!

momma and g have matching toenails...i love having a girl!

craziness at the doctor's office!

 

gianna's favorite book right now is "Jesus Loves Me" and i sing it instead of read it, which is probably why she loves it so much. she knows which one it is and always grabs it and brings it to me saying "gee-gah, gee-gah", which apparently means Jesus.

The Fun Never Stops

one evening when i got home from work (the kids had been home with poppa all day), roman had made a "surprise party" for me.  it included dinner in a fort and a picnic in a tent.  here we are in our tent having our picnic.  such a sweet, kind-hearted boy!

finally outside for some fresh air and the wind in her curls

 roman is having so much fun playing t-ball

gianna has figured out that using her hands is easier and faster than using a spoon.

 she makes this face ALL the time now.  i love it.  so funny

 roman's taekwondo school moved to a bigger space and it is really nice.  he tested for his green belt and did really well

 he even got to lead the class for the motto with mr. moore. 

 he got his green belt!!

i asked him to pose and make a mean face.  he said he didn't want to because he was happy he got his green belt.  so, happy first, then you better watch out because he can kick your butt!

these kiddos are too funny.  gianna has learned the word poopoo and says it quite often.  of course, when i try to get her to say it, she fails me!

 this night, roman made up his own superhero, mr. scratchman.  this was his costume.  i guess both my kiddos like to make the scrunch nose face.  

roman loves to hold his sister and asks to have his picture taken with her on his lap.  somehow this always happens.  maybe i should put her in a onesie... 

 on saturday, we were home by ourselves all day, so momma let them stay in pajamas and build forts and make messes everywhere.  it really was an awesome day!

gianna loves to rock on my legs...freeloader!

 there's that cute face again!

we went to the bounce house on sunday and boy'o'boy, did we have fun!

 she wanted to go up one more time!

Sick Days

wow.  it has been rough around here.  and i might have the worst case of cabin fever yet.  it all started on Easter night.  gianna got sick and stayed that way for a few days.  then, she was feeling better and went back to school on thursday.  they called at 5pm and said that she had thrown up.  dangit!  thursday night, roman threw up.  good times, right?  well, by friday night he was screaming everytime we touched him and said his head and legs hurt.  we didn't take any chances and took him to the ER.  he got some fluids and did a complete 180 while we were there.  woke up saturday, everybody feeling pretty gross, but not too bad.  sunday, gianna woke up from nap with a fever.  it wouldn't shake and so i kept her home on monday.  roman too because he said his throat hurt.  then, i got sick and roman got more sick.  they both woke up much better this morning, but we need a day of recovery and rest.  whew...

my brave little man after getting an IV in the hospital

popsicles always make everything better

 we've watched doc mcstuffins WAY too many times this week!

on the mend!

 um, can you say crazy?

 hmm, momma, what's this red thing on a stick?

 oh, a lollipop?  me likey!

Awaiting the Bunny

roman has really been excited for Easter.  attending a Catholic school has really made him very aware of the true reason for the holiday.  i love that.  

we finally had time to dye eggs on saturday afternoon.

 mr. concentration

 oh yeah!

 wow!  the bunny came and left some awesome goodies!

 look momma, the bunny brought me some fun stuff

 too busy looking at his loot to even look at the camera

i literally thank God every night for these children.  they are not only beautiful, but they have pure kindness and joy in their hearts and for that, i am so grateful.  

 time for the egg hunt...it's on!

 do i play with this or put it in my basket?

 ooooh, i found one!

 look guys!  i found another one!

 racing to get them from the couch

 she sees them in her chair

 and practically dives to get them 

 he's so sweet.  he pointed this one out to gianna. 

 and he lets her get the easy ones

 some of the eggs had yummy chocolate candies inside.  

 finally, mimi, popo and aunt maddy arrived.  we had a great meal and lots of laughs and good times.  we are so happy to have them here to visit.