5 month's old

5 months and counting. She gets more fun by the day! She is still an angel baby. Lately we have been going lots of places and in the process of moving so baby has been all over Illinois! She is a champ. She rarely cries, she accomodates well. She really is a perfect sweet little loveable baby. She gets more smiley and lovey everyday. She pretty much still loves everybody. She smiles and puts on a good show for everybody. Most of the time she shows off by babbling away. I mean this girl doesnt just have one or two sounds. She has a variety of sounds and loves the sound of her own voice. She talks and talks and talks it really is entertaining. She is also very loud about it which kinda goes with the Italians in my family. Loud and proud! She is also starting to immitate things, such as, fake coughing and then laughing, high shrieking, sticking out her tounge. She loves her feet, she recently found them and is obsessed with grabbing them and watching them. She still loves her thumb. She still isnt the best sleeper in the world, she seems to need to see someone or at least know they are there in order to sleep well. A couple times a night she wakes up to either nurse or just to cuddle. Besides starting rice cereal i gave her a little banana and she wasnt so sure the first couple of bites but then decided it wasnt too bad and was getting frustrated when I couldnt get the spoon into her mouth fast enough. She also has started to get frustrated when she cant grab things fast enough or isnt in the position she wants to be in. She hates lying down and will do whatever she can to try to sit herself up. She can sit up for 30-60 seconds at a time. She still sleeps all curled up on her side. Loving my bundle of joy so much and looking forwrd to my new job and extra time with her!

Baby's First Christmas!

It was an AWESOME Christmas. Tyler and I had decided that with a new house that we did not need to do any christmas presents this year and it was still the best christmas that we have shared together. Francesca is the best present that we could have ever asked for. She completes us in ever aspect of life. She fills our hearts with joy and she reminds us what Christmas is all about. Christmas is about being with the people you love and sharing that moment with lots of snuggles, hugs and kisses. Its about sharing laughter and stories about life and what's to come. We did all of that. We spent Christmas Eve together as a family all day. We snuggled in our apt in comfy clothes and just took in lots of Baby love. We then met my family for dinner. I did not get to stay at dinner long because a sweet baby girl that was born the same day as Francesca got a heart transplant. So I spent a few hours of Christmas helping them share the joy and happiness that there family was celebrating. It was a blessing to be able to celebrate another life and another year for such a sweet little baby. I was glad to be apart of the Christmas Blessing of this family. Just another Christmas Miracle.

Christmas Eve night we eventually drove to the suburbs were my family waited for us with christmasy pajamas and christmas cookies. We had a sleepover. Elle and I didnt get much sleep we were up chatting.  It was such a special night with my family. It was the beggining of many Christmas traditions to come. We woke up and it was time for Christmas present. Francesca was first since she obviously had the most presents under the tree. I dont think I need to explain that this girl is one loved and spoiled baby. The picture of her is all of her presents just from my parents, sister and grandma. We single handed bought out fisher price and she is set until she is 3! She was like a little queen. She sat in the pottery barn chair that Tyler and I bought her and took all of the Christmas in. I cant say it enough, she is such a good baby. I cant wait until she is ready to play with all her new toys. It is a good thing we have a house because we need the space for all her new toys!!

The rest of my family came over and there were more presents and lots more laughs. We played Family Feud and Just Dance on the Wii. Franki was entertained by it all. It really was the best Christmas ever. My family is so generous with there love, gifts and presence. Franki is one lucky little girl to be surrounded by the people who love her the most. We continue to be blessed everyday. I cant wait to continue all of our Christmas traditions in the years to come.

MMMMMMmmmm Gooooood!

We had a wonderful weekend filled with great friends, family and food. It was exactly what the Holiday season ordered. It was great to get out and away from work and enjoy the company of people who mean so much to us during the holiday season! Francesca is absolutely loving all the attention she is getting. She also likes to show off what a good baby she is. I mean we took her all over town this weekend and she was as content as can be. She is either smiling or just looking around taking in the chaos that Holidays create. Chaos is a good way of course; christmas trees, lights, people chatting and laughing, decorations, and all of the holiday bliss.

Just this past Friday I decided it was time for little Francesca to eat rice cereal. I was going to wait until 6 months but who I am kidding she was letting us know she was ready. She began to continue to be hungry even after 7-8 oz of formula and still spitting most of it up because it was  just to much liquid. She really caught on immediately. She was trying to help by grabbing the spoon like she just couldnt get it fast enough. She absolutely loves it, and boy is is fun to see happy she is to eat. It is the messiest, stickest thing but its worth it because she enjoys her nighttime bath just as much as she does eating. The really funny part about the rice cereal is that Hulk loves it too. Yes on friday I made the rice cereal set it on the floor near the bumbo where I was going to feed her. I left room to grab her bib and I come back and the entire bowl is gone, seriously gone to the last drop. Hulk ate it and loved it. MMM Breast milk and rice cereal it resembles cement. He then proceeded to beg the entire time I fed her the new bowl that I had just made. He then likes to help her get it off her face by licking it right off. I think rice cereal may just be the beggining of Hulk and Franki's friendship!

Enjoy some new pics of her sweet chunky cheeks with a mess full of cereal!

Christmas Photos

Christmas Photo Shoot ( I saved my favorites for the Christmas Card so you will have to patiently wait for the card to arrive to view those).

I swear this baby does two things all day long, smile and either put her hands, toy or whatever else she can get in her mouth. Yet it is the hardest thing to get her smiling on camera. Its like you take the camera out and she is so focused on what the heck are you pointing that at me for face that she wont smile. I dont have one of those fancy cameras so the delay is just long enough to miss that silly little toothless grin! However, Her sweet face makes for some really great pictures. I have spent extra time at home this week just loving my girl lots. Now hopefully Elle can get better soon so that Franki can play with her Auntie again. But I cherish every moment I get with my little love bug and it was nice to have lots of time to play with her this week. She is really starting to laugh and that is my favorite thing in the world. Baby laughs are the best endorphin ever.

4 month stats and a night on the town!

4 Month stats: Head Circumference: 15 3/4 inches (still a peanut head-but were up to the 20%tile!), weight 12 pounds 7 ounces (25th %), Length 24 inches (35%).
The doctor was really impressed by how strong she is: i.e almost sitting up all by herself with just a little lower back support she sits with her head up and looks all around without even the slightest shakiness. She also talks a lot for her age, or so the doctor says. She was a noisy little bug while we were at the doctor's office. She loves showing off with all of her various noises, the funny part is that she usually only makes these noises while her hands are shoved in her mouth and she is drooling all over the place. She now needs a bib with just about every outfit she has! Everything is going just how it should and we couldnt be happier that she is doing so well! She finally has the beggining of baby chub! She has this sweet little chub line at her wrists and I love it! I just want to eat her up, it is so cute. I mean who doesnt love baby chub, seriously?!

Tyler and I went to my college friend Katie and Paco's wedding this weekend. It was really our first real night out since Francesca was born. I went all out, hey its been awhile! I got my hair done and got all dolled up for the occasion. It felt really great to get out. We kinda felt like wedding crashers because we didnt know very many people at the wedding, but we enjoyed a night out to talk to each other, laugh with one another and just enjoy some adult company. Plus my Mom, Franki's Mo-ma got to spend lots of bonding time together (which they both enjoyed). It was an overall great night and I did surprisingly well. I had my first drink in a year! (crazy I know?) But when your pregnant and breast feeding its hard to squeeze in a drink, so I treated myself to one drink woohoo! Great weekend spent with great people! I cant wait until we move so we can conveniently go to my parents at any momemtns notice. Tyler and I are looking forward to our life as suburbanites!