"THE METS JACKET"

So Greg and I are going on 11 years of being together (5 years married this March). We were at the old Burlington Coat Factory on Tatum and Cactus shopping like 8 or 9 years ago and saw this jacket. Now its super hard to find METS stuff out here so when we saw it we bought it. Now mind you, were weren't even close to being engaged yet but still felt the need to buy it (guess we knew we would end up together) This jacket really can go either for a boy or girl.
So many, many, years later... we got to use "THE JACKET"!

9 months old today!!

(This picture was taken today in front of BJ's at Desert Ridge)


Guiliana has turned into such a big girl just in the last month, from saying her first words "Hi Dadda" to all the different foods that she trying (and liking).

I spent most of the morning today packing up yet another box of clothes that she has grown out of, her "playmat", and various baby seats that she no longer uses. It has made me realize that she really isn't going to be a baby for much longer. Once she starts walking... well then that's it!!

Here are is just a little bit on Guiliana at 9months of age:

She still has no interest in crawling, but has so much interest in standing. She will grab onto your shoulders if you are sitting next to her and pull herself up on you. She LOVES to jump, whether its in her excercaucer or if you holding her in the standing position, she is JUMPING! She also claps her hands when you tell her to, gives hugs and kisses, and can give a high-five. Some of her favorite things to do right now are watching the Wiggles, Dora, or of course Spongebob- take our evening walks with Brooklyn, and shopping with Grandma and Mommy. We also have noticed that she enjoys slipping Brooklyn snacks underneath her highchair tray. It really is the funniest thing!! She is eating so many different foods right now - over the holidays she has tried and liked, mash potatoes, green bean casserole, animal crackers, chicken nuggets, just to name a few. She has been also eating eggs now for the past month or two. She loves them - especially with a little cheese, she will eat a whole egg all by herself (scrambled of course!)

She is a total "momma's girl" right now. If I am in the room she wants to be with me. As soon as I walk into the room and she finds me, she wines till I pick her up and once I do she laughs. She is such a giggler!! My nickname for her, and has been for quite sometime, is "giggles" She just melts my heart when I hear her giggle. Oh, and for some reason we have this clock in our kitchen that she is DEATHLY afraid of and Greg and I have no idea why, its weird.

Last Monday I ended up having to take her to the doctor... She ended up with her 2nd ear-infection, except this time it was a double one. She is much better now as the antibiotics are working nicely. But the funny part is... at 9 months she weighed in at 23 pounds!!! What a chunker huh!!! But, we are keeping our fingers crossed that she doesn't end up like her daddy with the constant ear-infections.

Happy 9 month Birthday Guiliana! You are such a wonderful little girl and I am having the time of my life being your mommy!! XOXOXO

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

More Christmas pictures...

Because I took SO many pictures on Christmas and it would be crazy to post them all, I loaded about 86 (those were the good ones) of them to Dropshots (or as I have it posted on my blog "Guiliana's Photo Headquarters"). If you scroll about half-way down the page you will see all my sites to visit, and its listed under there. This way it will be MUCH easier for us all. Plus, there is video on there too!! ENJOY :)

Guiliana's 1st Christmas...

We knew Christmas this year was going to be a special one because it was our daughter's very first. Santa stopped by and left some gifts for her. Mommy and Daddy had so much fun "watching" ... i mean "helping" her open her gifts. But, the most special part of this Christmas was our daughter said her first words!! She had just woken up from a nap and it was time to get her dressed in her Christmas dress. After she was all ready I walked down the stairs and daddy said, "Hi Baby" and Guiliana said, "Hi Dadda" it was super sweet and it brought tears to my eyes. WE just stopped and looked at each other and kept saying "did she just say what I think she said"? Her words were as clear as day! There was no mistake what she said. We still can't believe it!
See Greg and I decided that Christmas is all about the children and there isn't really anything that we need. SO, we decided to buy only for Guiliana and little did we know, she had a gift for us too. Guiliana did get something for all her grandparents and GREAT grandparents though... oh, and of course Brooklyn! We can't forget our puppy.
Well, besides getting engaged (Christmas 2002) this was the BEST Christmas so far. I was so excited that just on Christmas Day I took 111 (yes! that is correct... ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN) pictures. I will try and post a few favorites but I did put together a scrapbook slide show to try and sum up the day. We opened gifts at home and then spent the rest of the day at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Guiliana was super spoiled this year. Our family was thrilled that there was finally a child to buy for on Christmas. Thank you to everyone who had a special part in making our daughter's 1st Christmas a fantastic one!
Enjoy (till I post more)

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Christmas Eve...

Yes, I know... its 11:26 pm on Christmas Eve and I am still up. My company just left and Greg and I put all the gifts from "Santa" under the tree. I have so much to share from Guiliana's first Christmas Eve (and of course I can't fall asleep yet) so I thought I would fill you all in.
Here is how this morning started...



I was in charge of the desert tonight so Guiliana and I made a Pumpkin Gingerbread Triffle! YUMMO! Of course she wanted to help.




THEN, off to Joanna's to bake cookies. She dug right in and even ate the dough! (and showing off our new car seat now that we are such a big girl!)







So after a good nap it was time for Great Grandma and Grandpa Tortora, Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle Pauly to come over for dinner and desert.
She had some fun entertaining herself by the tree tonight for quite sometime.





Some "family time"



Letting her open one gift on Christmas Eve - this one is from Uncle Pauly.





And finally... Santa has come and all the gifts are in their place.


My Christmas Wish...

My dearest Guiliana... thank you for being the light of our lives. You have brought a whole new meaning to Christmas for me and your daddy. I waited a long time for you and you have certainly made my heart whole. You are truly the best Christmas gift ever. Nothing else can compare to the love you have given me. Thank you for letting me be your mommy. I love you baby girl XOXOXO
Merry Christmas!

Favorite foods so far...

Over the maybe 2 few weeks Guiliana has really started to explore "FOOD". There is nothing that I won't let her try. As long as it can slide down her throat (as she still only has her two bottom teeth) I have no problem letting her taste. She stares as us while we are eating so why not let her curious mind go to work.
Her favorites so far!


She also LOVES the veggie dip ones and the tomato flavors too!




So fun!!! She is such a stinker!!