Lorenzo turns one!!

June 26, 2014

Lorenzo turned one last week, June 18, a huge milestone.  We celebrated with a much smaller celebration, just us four plus Grandma.  We had cake and balloons, presents, and a trip to the NC Transportation Museum for a ride on the train.  Below are some photos of my babies enjoying birthday cake together.  Lorenzo had Thomas on his cake and the bakery did a great job.  I sometimes wish I had cooked it, but what can I do - sometimes I have to reach out and let someone else do it.

At the train museum

Time flies in an instant... I'm glad we were able to go do something that was special to us, as a family.  Lucia's first birthday was a huge affair, and given her situation, it was perfect, but I wanted it to be small and more fun for all of us.  The kids loved it.  It was hazy, hot, we dodged a pm thunderstorm, but everyone had a great time.

The next day the kids got to enjoy the water table we bought for Enzo for his birthday.  Chris captured the perfect picture of him enjoying the water.

I have a long year-end letter I've written to Lorenzo which I will upload as its own entry.  In the meantime,  here are some of my favorites of the birthday boy.  He is such a treasure, such a joy.  He's so happy, full of energy, giggles.  He's really fit into our family and his smile lights up our household.  Love you, Lorenzo, Scoots, Nub/Nubbins, Chub, Chunky Monkey, Bud, and Lucia's new nickname for him:  Cubby.

Happy one year to our family!!

March 12, 2014

Hi my name is Lorenzo and I'm so big now.  I'm crawling, I'm learning to stand.  Time will not stand still for me.  My mommy can't write much because she's chasing after me.  Or Lucia.  She will try to catch her breath and write.  But in the meantime, here are some photos.

Lucia says:

Eminem was on the radio.  "mommy I like M&Ms but I dont like this song."

"stay right there chubby cute/chubbo/scoots/(new Enzo nickname)"

"mommy, I have to pump milk for my baby, too!  So she can have a bottle later in the week"

Listening to her favorite song on Tennis cd - I decided to tell her we have to listen to other songs too.  Lucia:  Ok, I love all of these songs.  Me:  Yes, it's a great record.  Lucia:  Mommy, what's a record?

Lucia's nicknames for Lorenzo (so far - this is an ever expanding list)

Enzo, Zenzo, Zenzi, Denz, Bro, Bud, Buddy, Buddy Duddy Dud, Chunky Monkey, Monkey, Chunka Monk, Chubsy Cute, Chubby, Chubbo, Nubbo, Scoots, Giggles)

Lucia loves:

her pink puffy coat, even though it's hit 70's/80's recently.  LOVES her coat, begs to wear it inside.

her little bro making him giggle.

talking about food we are eating and planning menus/recipes.

giving me kisses, hugs, telling me she missed me all day (she says this excessively lately.  and it's bittersweet, tugs at my heart strings/mommy guilt).

fruit and graham crackers for dessert

running trains with Daddy

Helping - especially cooking, clearing table.

pumping, just like mommy

Michael Buble - dancing to the "I love you" song.

January 10, 2014

Well, the holidays have whirled past us and now we are into the new year.  It doesn't surprise me that I don't have time to write, but I wish I could.  I feel badly.  There are so many moments and thankfully we capture them by photo but I'd love a written account.  I don't want to forget the details, the little things.  Lucia's hilarious these days - tells me to "not even think about it!" when it comes to asking her to take off her beloved pink parka to sit in her seat and eat.  She fights bedtime, lingers at the top of the stairs.  She was sad for an entire week that a little snail we saw through the sliding glass doors had died.  I didn't know how to explain it to her.  I just told her he was crushed.  And she talked about it with a profound sadness and inability to process what it meant, at home and out in the car.  She was truly sad.  She wants to cuddle, snuggle, hug, and kiss, me every night at bedtime - the order changes but she determines it every night.  She is very snuggly and sweet but it all has to be her idea.  Her terms.  She was happy to decorate Daddy's train birthday cakes but wouldn't be told how to use the icing or sprinkles.  It was a big pile of primary colors on top of one car but she was very very proud of it.  She saw the Nutcracker ballet for Christmas and LOVED it, was very well behaved for a three year old.  She loves her little brother and talks about him often.  She tells me she misses me, loves to read the same books over and over.  She is a ball of energy, silliness, doesn't want to share her toys or play WITH us but lets us watch, and sometimes she lets us join, on her terms.  She loves to go see trains with Daddy, loves to sit in the train room and drive them, make him change engines constantly.  We caught her on numerous occasions lying on the floor by the Christmas tree staring at the trains under our tree.  She is beautiful, a little dancer, singer, comedian.  She loves reading food magazines and cookbooks - talking about food, the fact that she's vegetarian, the foods she just LOVES (uses that word yet will not eat said food for me).

And Lorenzo... what a tough holiday he had.  Poor thing started with 103.7 fever on my birthday, 12/22, and was up and down the whole time.  Missed a few of his reflux meds and paid the price with all night screaming sessions into the new year.  Thank goodness that is resolved.  He's back to himself.  I'm cutting out all dairy (almost finished week 2!) and hopefully this will continue to help.  It takes a full 4 weeks to see a difference, for all dairy to be eliminated from myself and from him.  What a big boy... he started eating food and just loves it.  His first was banana which went better than when Lucia had tried it.  He grabbed the spoon and wanted to feed himself.  He couldn't get it fast enough, but of course with his reflux we have to feed him slowly.  He loves sitting up and taking everything in, wants to move about so badly.  He'll see toys and want to get to them.  He grunts, indicating something he just has to have (usually food).  He talks a lot - lots of gagas and daddas.  When he's not suffering in reflux hell, he's such a smily and happy baby.  His smile melts my heart.  He's such a beautiful boy, and I'm so glad he's back to normal.  I know I should work on him sleeping in his room when he's doing better, but I am not in a hurry.  I keep feeling like I should do it.  But he's snuggly.  And I love this stage (not yet mobile and content to cuddle with me in bed.  Lucia stopped a long time ago and I miss it).  And I miss him all day.  So much.  It's good bonding time.  I think we both sleep better even if we are up a lot during the night.  Our sleep feels matched, cozy, we feel in sync with one another.  If he needs comfort, I'm there.  I think after all of the night pain he needs me, he needs to feel secure and cozy.

I am grateful for the time at home.  Even though a lot of it I was beyond sleep deprived and weary, I was happy.  I was so glad to have had all of that time with my family.  I never get good quality uninterrupted, just get to be mom time.  I love it.  I love good stretches where I can just mom and ignore the work stuff.  My true identity and that which drives me is in being a mother.  I felt my life started over then in a way that is so mind blowing.  I wear a necklace that spells "mom" with a heart for the "o".  Lucia EVERY night tells me what it spells, asks me who got it for me "oh yes, I did.  For Mother's day".  and then, "Am I your daughter and you're the mother?"  and then usually is followed by an "I love you" and a big hug.  I treasure this role dearly and I don't take it for granted ever.  I know how blessed I am.  I am so proud to raise these two beauties, to hold them and comfort them, watch them grow, cherish them.  I finally feel a sense of purpose and the craziness and loudness at home, the lack of a real schedule, these things I try to roll with them.  The noise and colors and silliness of kids in the house, it's my life now, and even on days where I feel like I'm going to snap from stress, I try to slow down and remember it, remember moments like Lucia's talking a lot and making connections finally, Lucia's smile, Lorenzo's birth, Lorenzo's smile.  The simple things.  I love my babies.

December 18, 2013

Dear Lorenzo,

Wow, you are getting so big!  Yet they worry you are not gaining enough, always something to worry mommy about.  You are just over 17lbs and 26.50”.  You are ready to try solids, and I know you can’t wait.  You love to eat, and you have been so interested in my eating for a while now.  You want to take my spoon, you are curious in putting everything in your mouth.  I just wish you felt better – I know you have reflux, and it’s hard to see you in pain.  I am going to try eliminating dairy to see if it helps.  I’m glad nursing has been so easy for us.  I know there are always challenges as a mommy, and this is our battle to deal with.  Otherwise, you are doing so well.  You babble so much now – dada, bababa, gagaga, etc.  Lucia loves to talk to you.  You give the most amazing smiles, love your exersaucer.  You’re so curious about how to get around.  You sit up so well and prop up on your hands, try to figure out how to get to that toy just out of reach.  You are bearing weight on your legs and trying so hard to stand.  You need to slow down – you are growing so fast.  You still sleep in our bed, and I’m sure this isn’t ideal for most people, but I love that time.  I love time to snuggle with you, nurse you during the night, cuddle and kiss you.  Comfort you when you wake up.  I will miss this and these months are so short.  Before I know it you’ll be super independent like your sister and won’t want to sleep with us.  I can’t wait to celebrate Christmas with you, and I hope it is a special holiday for our family.  We are so happy you are here.  You make our family feel complete.  I was just looking at pictures from the day you were born, and it’s so amazing.  You were so tiny, so perfect, so healthy.  You are precious.  Your hair is getting blond and your eyes seem to be brown/green.  You are becoming such a little person yourself, little man.  J  I love you so much. 

Love, mama

October 28, 2013

Trying to be more consistent here... life is so crazy lately.

My new goal is to post weekend summaries on Monday.  This gives me something positive to focus on and to keep track of all of the little things more consistently (hopefully).

This past weekend was gorgeous.  Weather was perfect.  We planned another trackside picnic.  Had a relaxing Saturday morning at home and got ready to go on time, were out the door as planned, which is huge accomplishment, makes me feel proud of us.  Of course Enzo started crying as we got in the car- he hates his car seat, but chilled out and both kids were napping 1/2 hour in.  Got to spot, laid out blanket, food.  Enzo really didn't seem to mind the train horns at all.  Never cried, nursed in car because there was some set up for a fall festival outside and wanted privacy, napped on my lap.  Lucia had a blast.  It was really nice, made me think we should try to squeeze in a few more picnics while it's warm and light out.  Lucia has a blast and Enzo loves being outside.  And Chris obviously enjoys the trains.

Baked a ghost cake for Lucia on Sat night.  She saw the ghost cake pan and has asked about it like 20x a day since.  She was so excited for it and lived up to her end of the deal by eating her dinner, two bowls of soup last night.

Sunday we all slept in a bit.  It's been hard to get up and go because we had such a busy day on Sat and all of us are kind of fighting colds at the moment.  We had a nice morning, Lucia even helped me make soup for dinner while Enzo took his morning nap. She had such a blast - standing on the chair next to me, chopping the veggies in the chopper, and telling me how she loves these vegetables, even stealing pieces off my cutting board, narrating it as she went "i'm taking a piece of this yummy celery.  mmmmm, i love celery, mommy don't i"  She did get tired while the veggies sauteed, so she took a plate of celery and carrots and hummus to the table to sit and snack.  Enzo really has taken short naps and has been very hungry - another growth spurt perhaps?  He got up as soup was being prepared and was excited to sit and watch football.  Lucia loves reading all of the food, design magazines lately, even telling me every time she sees a meat recipe, that she doesn't eat meat, she eats vegetables and tofu.  She always picks the same 2-3 magazines, loves reading to and showing Lorenzo as well.  We took pictures of them on the couch and in most shots, Enzo is looking off to the football game while Lucia poses with silly faces.

Turns out Lucia and Chris had another impromptu train trip to see the Lackawanna heritage unit (I think) and she was in heaven.  They had a really nice afternoon together, the two of them.  I didn't want to get Enzo up and had someone coming over who I donate breastmilk to.  I had accumulated a lot in the freezer to pass on.  I'm so glad Lucia has such a loving dad and that they have such a sweet bond.  She had a great time.  I had some quiet time with Enzo, and he and I took a long walk with him in the Beco.  It was lovely - 70's and sunny.  I had a relaxing time with him.  We came home, cuddled and laughed and just had some baby time.

For dinner, Lucia loved her soup and ghost cake, got to try on her pink princess Halloween costume which looks adorbs but I think it's a bit itchy so she'll need to wear something underneath.  I hope she doesn't fight me on that and we have a fun time.  Also hope Enzo is awake/cooperative - my little Batman baby.

October 18, 2013 (just a little bit late...)

Lorenzo is 4 months old.  Holy wowzers.

His monthly little letter below:

October 18, 2013

Dear Lorenzo,

You are 25.25” and almost 15 lbs!  You are growing so fast.  I need you to slow down.  You have such a hearty appetite.  My milk supply is very high and this is probably from your nonstop feeding all weekend.  Your hair was thinning on the top except for your little Mohawk and now it’s coming back in, fuzzy, brand new dark hair.  We still can’t tell what color your eyes are – sometimes hazel, sometimes green, gray.  Your lashes are so long and your smile is contagious.  You are so giggly, so vocal lately, cooing all the time.  I hear you just laying there talking, making sweet baby sounds.  You nap less and less and are awake and alert.  You love to sit up on the couch, pull yourself forward to practice sitting by yourself.  You have excellent head/neck strength.  Lucia is so happy to see you, and your face lights up when you hear her voice.  You look for her.  you look for Daddy too.  You are so interested in all that is going on.  You love being outside and looking all around, taking it all in.  you have so much to say and can’t wait to tell us all about it.  You are healthy, you’ve had a few sniffles, but nothing major.  You are strong and seem to fight off any small colds easily.  I love watching you and lucia together, such cute little brother and sister pair.  You are such a joy, and I can’t believe it’s been almost one year since my positive pregnancy test confirmed you were on the way.  Love you so much!!

September 18, 2013 (a little delayed)

Dear Lorenzo,

You are already 13lbs 9oz!  You are growing so big, so fast.  I can’t keep up.  You are finally, now as of this past weekend, much less of the tiny baby who nuzzled and ate and slept and pooped.  You are alert more and more, discovering your hands and feet.  You love to grab at things – toys, necklaces, Lucia’s hair.  You are my healthy, growing boy.  Your smiles are so beautiful, they light up your whole face.  You smile with every muscle in your face.  You glow.  You make anyone smile back at you even wider.  You are rolling side to side, can’t wait to be mobile.  Lucia loves to show you toys, dangle them in your face for you to grab.  You love your activity mat, getting down on the floor.  You love to use the floor gym at Miss Cassandra’s.  You are laughing, giggling, starting to make more sounds.  You had your first ear infection, which was awful.  You were obviously in pain, had low fevers.  I hated to see you suffer.  Your first round of antibiotics, I hope this isn’t the start of a trend here.  Lucia had chronic infections and had to have tubes put in her ears at 18 months.  I hope you don’t but if you do it’s ok, too.  You are generally happy and easygoing if you are healthy.  We are still breastfeeding, you have a healthy appetite.  I’m pumping at work and always have more than enough milk for you to enjoy the next day.  Your hair is so cute, you still have your little Mohawk, all the way down the back of your head, so thin in front but big puff of Mohawk on the top.  You are such a cute baby, so full of giggle and cuddles.  I miss you all day and adjusting to being back at work has been so sad.  I am always so happy to see you and Lucia after a long day.

I love you, my little boy!

Love, mama