Big News & Big Changes!

I realized recently that I failed to mention on our family blog our big news! Our family will welcome a new baby in late January and we are all so thrilled! The girls were so excited when we told them we were having a baby! This baby is so blessed to have two of the best big sisters anyone could ever want! Gabriella and Adriana are bursting at the seams to meet our newest family member and it melts David and my hearts to hear them speak with such anticipation and love about the baby. 

I am currently 19.5 weeks pregnant and growing, what feels like, everyday! We have decided to wait to learn the baby's gender until its birth. I had a sonogram on Thursday and all looks good. Of course we were tempted to want to know the gender but we held off and are so happy we did! We think it will be so exciting to hear the big announcement in the delivery room.

With this new change for our family we have been preparing for many transitions. This past week we began the first transformation, which was getting Adriana out of the crib and sleeping in a big girl bed. She has done remarkably well and we are so proud of her! I also want to note that she is completely potty-trained! So many important milestones these last couple months. She will turn 3 years old in just a few weeks, which I just can't believe! 

Adriana picked out her bedding and she chose a purple and yellow theme with accents of pink, blue and green. Her room turned out really well after we painted an accent wall purple (her bedroom was already yellow). She inherited Gabby's bedroom furniture and now that Gabby is older we purchased a very nice furniture set for her that she will have for a very long time. 

In her big girl bed with her special yellow blanket and doggie in-hand. 

What a big girl!

Gabby in her new bed. Her headboard, footboard, nightstand and dresser with mirror are the new pieces we purchased. It all looks very nice and fits perfectly. 

 Gabby is a wonderful role model for Adriana on how to be a great big sister! This baby is so blessed to have these two little girls be an important part of his/her life! 

Go Dragons!

We spent last weekend in Hutchinson to see the Blue Dragons take on Coffeyville Community College. Uncle Tommy debuted as the Offensive Coordinator and the O did great! Hutch won 58-26 in an impressive win. The offensive was solid racking up 616 total yards; 470 passing yards. The offense also set couple new school records. It was a great first game. We are so proud of Unc! Nonna and G-Pa visited the area for the week. After their visit in Hutch, they stayed with us for about a week. It was so great to spend time with them! 

Gabriella & Vinny before kick-off. Isn't he the cutest little boy you've ever seen?

Nonnie, Adriana and G-Pa waiting for the Dragons to take the field. 

Unc getting all set before the team takes the field.

Go Dragons!

An offensive play in the first series. 

 Congratulations Uncle Tommy on a game well-called and well-played!

First Day of the 2012-13 School Year!

Well, the day arrived... Today was Gabriella's first day of Kindergarten and Adriana's first day of Preschool! They both had wonderful days with glowing reports! At pick-up, they were both beaming with huge smiles and all the way home they told me about their days. I was so happy to hear such enthusiasm and excitement in their voices. 

Here are some photos from this morning. Mommy was a bit of a mess all morning. So hard for me to believe Gabby is in Kindergarten. The last 5 1/2 years have gone by so quickly. I am so proud of the independent and loving little girl she has become, but letting go is difficult and I realize this is just the beginning of her gaining more independence and reaching important milestones. It's all very bittersweet. Adriana has grown up so much as well. She loves to play and tell stories. She's lovable and a bit ornery at times, but a real sweetheart, too. 

They are both excited to go back to school. Gabby attends all-day Kindergarten so tomorrow she will be back at it while Adriana only attends two full-days each week. She will go back next week.  

So excited for school! Adorable in their uniforms! 

Our Kindergartner. So hard to believe (sniff, sob). 

What a big girl! She couldn't wait to get to her classroom to see the class bird "Bob."

Love 'em!

Walking up to Gabby's school with Daddy.

Great picture with Daddy to capture her excitement right before we walked into the building. 

A picture in the hallway outside of Gabby's classroom.  

Adriana is so happy to be at school.

Adorable, don't you think?

Quick pic with Mommy before we left. 

So glad the girls had a great first day. Hoping and praying for a healthy and happy school year!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy 31st Birthday, Daddy! We love you so much and hope you had the great day that you deserve!

In the morning before heading to work, we gave Daddy his birthday cards. We took this picture afterward. They love their Daddy! 

In honor of his birthday, the girls had a little dance party in the living room right before he left. Look at those moves!  

After dinner, we celebrated with Daddy's favorite birthday cake...angel food cake with chocolate mint frosting. The girls helped me bake and ice it earlier today. Right after we sang and before we cut the cake, Gabby asked us if she could say something. She paused for a moment, clasped her hands, bowed her head and said, "Jesus, please bless Daddy on his birthday. He is a good Daddy and a good worker and he has blue eyes and we love him. Amen." It melted our hearts and we praised and thanked Gabby for such a special prayer. I shed a few tears - truly touched by her tender heart and loving ways. 

Singing to the birthday boy!

One final picture of the day with his little girls before they went
to bed. Aren't they so cute?! We love you, David. You really are the best Daddy and Husband in the world and we are truly blessed to have you!

Haircuts.... Adriana's first one!

This afternoon the girls got their "Back to School" haircuts! It was Adriana's first haircut ever! I know... crazy! But, she has beautiful, long thick hair that I just didn't want to touch plus she wasn't too keen on the idea of a haircut until recently. She did great and loved it! 

My big girl right before we went into the salon.

Big Sis went first so Adriana could get an idea of what it would be like when it was her turn.

Gabby is an ol' pro at this now! 

Adriana waiting for her turn with great anticipation!

Beautiful girl with the most beautiful curls! 

Adriana was such a big girl when it was her turn. Look at Gabby's hand on her arm showing her support. They love each other so much! 

She was very relaxed and interested. 

The first snip! 

Look at that adorable face!

All done! She didn't want our stylist to use the hair dyer, but fortunately, it was so warm outside it dried quickly. 

Still long but a little shorter. She has beautiful hair!

Floridian Summer Vacation 2012

We spent a week in Florida and it was fabulous! Despite a long, delayed trip on our down there, we had great weather and really enjoyed ourselves. David and I took about a two-hour getaway from my parents' house in Naples to Long Boat Key for the weekend. We stayed at a fabulous resort! It was a relaxing and much-needed trip. The girls of course were in the care of my parents and they had more fun than us. 

The view from our room. 

After a really good dinner at a local restaurant, we sat at the dock to enjoy the boats and view. 

Rough life, huh? We spent our mornings and afternoons at the beach and resort pool.

***

When we got back to my parents' house there was more fun to be had of course! We spent a day at a beach club. 

The girls with Nonna. 

Gabby and Daddy enjoying the Gulf.  

Adriana enjoyed the beach and Gulf water more so this year. She loved finding seashells and swimming in the water. 

Fun at the beach!

***

One of the girls favorite places to go is the water park. We didn't go last summer but went twice the summer before. They love all the pools and water play.

Nonna and Adriana. 

This year Gabby was old enough to enjoy the lilly pads. She mastered getting across them after only a few tries. 

Yummy lunch!

We had a wonderful time visiting Nonna and G-Pa. Thank you for such a fun and memorable trip and for giving the girls even more love and attention than you usually do while we were away for the weekend. We love you!

You're a Grand Old Flag, You're a High Flying Flag...

Happy 4th of July! We had a fun day celebrating the U.S.A.'s birthday! We spent time at the pool and then in the evening went to our friends' house for a delicious cook-out, fun water play and fabulous fireworks. 

Our firecrackers in their red, white and blue!

Hanging out with our friends. Gabriella, Adriana, Riley and Abe playing on the huge water set. It was awesome! The kids loved it!  

So fun!

Wet and Wild!

Adriana being brave.

We hope you all had a great Independence Day! It's nice to have a special day to recognize the freedom and liberty we have in this country, and those who have fought and are fighting so that we may continue to live in a free society.