Soccer girl

Pep talk from Daddy :)

We won a free 6 wk soccer session for Azure. She loves it! She talks about playing "soccer ball" and her coach, Coach Matt all the time.

She learned how to play Duck, Duck, Goose and insists on playing it with me. Kind of a hard game to play with 2 people :)
They also play red light, green light and now Azure pushes Vince in his activity center for green light and abruptly stops him for red light. Sometimes he keeps going and she says somewhat annoyed, "Vince I said red light!" Ha!



I really like sports. Charles and I always joke around that I have so much passion and intensity yet, no skill :) Seriously, I was not blessed to be a skilled athlete but, I really enjoy sports so I hope that our children can learn some skills and feel confident and won't be picked last for teams.

Having said that though, we don't want to over schedule our family. It's easy to say that now while our kids are young. Things tend to be so easy in theory, yet quite difficult in practice. But, it remains a goal nonetheless. At this point we're not sure exactly what we'll do or won't do. But, we do know that we want to limit the number of activities that constantly keep us away from home and away from each other as a family.

Sis. Beck, the Relief Society General President said in a talk entitled Mothers Who Know:

"Mothers who know do less...They allow...less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home."

I read this post last month and it blew my mind! So inspiring. This is what we envision for our family. Though, I don't think we'll go about it in the exact same way. I just love this philosophy:

"We want to make family life interesting enough that nobody feels compelled to look elsewhere for a good time."

Isn't that key to raising the rising generation? As parents it will take all of our efforts. But, the reward is one of joy for eternity.

8 months

Today Vince is 8 months and 1 week.


Around 7.5 months he conquered the art of sitting on his own without face planting and/or constantly leaning on his hands.

You talkin' to me?

This is as close as he's getting to crawling. It's just too hard to move when you're carrying this much weight around :)

First bath together

He and Azure entertain each other. It is so nice. And so endearing to watch. They love each other greatly. I hope this stage lasts a long time. Once he can walk and take her toys from her, the amicable relationship may wane a bit.

This is Azure pretending that she's a "tiny baby", laying on her back and kicking her legs. She does an amazing job impersonating Vince!
About a month ago he started eating yogurt and meat. He loves it all! There is no food that he dislikes.

Last Sunday (the exact day he turned 8 months and exactly 1 week after getting his first tooth) his 2nd tooth poked through, the bottom left.

His motor skills have improved over the last month and he's able to feed himself somewhat.
But, here's proof that there is further improvement in the motor skills department :)
2 wks ago we decided to put the swing and playgym away because he was outgrowing them. My eyes filled with tears b/c we won't see them again until baby #3 comes. I am so my mother's daughter and cry at just about anything :)

He loves his jumper, which makes me happy b/c Azure did not.

Look at those chunky legs and his cute tongue sticking out. I am smitten!

I have a deep abiding love for this child. I hope he'll always love his mama and when he's grown up and has a family of his own, I hope he'll call me often and give me hugs. What a journey it will be raising this boy. Lovin' it right now.

General Conference

October Conference was a lot better than April Conference this year. I guess mostly just because it was on an ordinary day and not on Easter Weekend.

I have reread some of my old journal entries following General Conference and I have written numerous times "Conference this weekend was pure peace to my soul." And I really can't think of anything else more profound to say because that is exactly what it is, pure peace to my soul.

I love making a big breakfast on Saturday morning and watching conference in our jammies. To be a bit more formal we try to wear Sunday dress on Sunday even if we are watching it at home, but I still like the jammie tradition on Saturday mornings.

Summer Recap Part 4

Well, it's beginning to be autumn here in Savannah now that it's October. We've been able to open our windows in the mornings and at night to let in the cool (70-75 degree) air, afternoons tend to still be a little too hot to leave open. It's so nice to not have the A/C blasting all day long.

This is the last installment of our summer adventures.

A week or so after arriving home from CA Azure came down with bronchitis, which at first the Doc thought was pneumonia. She was sick for about a week having to use a breathing treatment, her "fishy mask". Vince caught a little of it too, but was only sick for about 3 days.
It's been a new experience having 2 kids and illnesses. Once one catches something, the other isn't too far behind.

Azure also got her first haircut on Sept. 1. The lady who cut her hair said she was the best 3 yr old client she had ever had b/c she sat so still and was so well-behaved. Azure tends to be somewhat timid in new situations (like this one) but, once she feels comfortable and confident she feels free to act herself. She is so like me that way, crazy how genetics work.

A little unsure...
...okay not so bad.

Before/After

When we got home Charles said the classic guy statement, "I can't even tell she got a haircut." True, I only had them cut an inch off b/c I didn't want too many of her ravishing ringlets chopped.

This summer we also frequented Coligny Beach in Hilton Head, SC. I love Hilton Head. No jellyfish stings this year. Our last trip was Labor Day weekend.
At the end of August we finally purchased a double jogging stroller! I had been researching them since January. I had hoped to grab a steal on a used one on Craigslist. I looked and looked and never lucked out. Thanks to all you friends who gave me pointers on the ones you have. We went on a few family runs on Isle of Hope, Forsyth Park, and Lake Mayer. So fun! Especially since Charlie is done with classes.
And, of course we went swimming in our pool here quite a few times. All in all, it was a great summer! Our last here in Savannah. Kinda sad. Next summer we'll be packing up to move who knows where.

Summer Recap Part 3

The main reason for our trip to CA was for Eddie's wedding. He is one of my best friends from high school and we have always stayed in touch throughout college, my mission, and other travels. His wife's name is Melissa and she is such a perfect match for him and of course, absolutely gorgeous. I was so happy to be at their wedding. They were married in Huntington Beach at St. Simon and Jude's Catholic Church.Funny story: when I received their wedding invitation in the mail, I put the time of the ceremony and the reception on my google calendar. A few hours before I thought the wedding was going to start I texted him to double check what time the reception started. He texted back 3pm. What?! For some reason I had entered the times 3 hrs later with the time difference from CA to GA. Whoops. Sooooo glad I caught my error beforehand. I would have been so sad had I flown out only to miss it.
Their reception was at an equestrian center and was decorated so fun.

A few days before our departure back to Savannah, we had lunch at In N Out and went to Victoria Gardens. Eating at Cafe Rio twice and at In N Out made for an awesome trip.

And we got to spend some time with my other grandparents too. This is my Nana (who my Generations Project episode is about) and Papa.





I finally remembered to do a generations pic.

4 generations of Sicilian women :)

Cutting News

This just in....

Exactly 1 week before turning 8 months, Vince has..

...

...

...cut his bottom right tooth!

Azure got this same tooth at 7.5 months, only a week before he did. I'm surprised that they reached this milestone at almost the exact same time.

This really is one of my most favorite baby stages, 6-9 months. Eating solids, sitting, crawling, teeth. This age is what I think of when I think baby. I love it! And I don't want it to end!

With him sleeping through the night again and being this adorable, I find myself wanting another but, of course we're not ready to go through all that that really entails so that will have to wait :)

More next week on the 8 month mark.

Future Aspirations

So, after much deliberation I have finally decided what I want to do as a career (making money) in the next season of my life.

I know I am strange but, sometimes I have thought, what would I do for work if Charles were to die? I have a Bachelor's degree and business and non-profit experience, but I never really loved it. And you should do what you love right? Perhaps a post on the background of all this later...

But, for now I want to announce that I've made the decision (which could definitely change since I don't plan on doing this for many years) to go to massage therapy school and become a LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) and to become a Pilates instructor and perhaps a Hypnobabies Instructor.

I have always liked the idea of being a "guru", Charles makes fun of me :) But, with these 3 "jobs" my clientele would mostly be pregnant women. And I would be a mini guru of things relating to the sacredness of the body, which is something I feel very passionate about. This could be an eloquent post explaining why, but, I don't have the energy for that now :)

Thinking about doing these things in the future makes me happy and excited, and that's a fun feeling!