Miss CapaTosta

Yes, that is my daughter up front.  The one wearing the pink mini-skirt, fluffy white booties and the tight shirt.  I’ll do my best to ensure these words are not used to describe her outfits in 15 years.  For now though, it’s cute.  It’s cute because she weighs a solid 5-10 lbs more than any of the other six babies in her class. 

On top of that she got her first tooth this weekend–at 9.5 mos.  Like she really needs a reason to consume more calories…

Gianni’s class picture is precious.  Just three years ago, these kids were learning to walk together.  Now they are vivacious three-year olds who give their teachers a run for their money every day.  Gianni is on the front row, far right, looking innocent with his hands folded under his chin. 

Don’t be fooled. 

Today we took Gianni and Vivi to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch.  They both had a wonderful time.  Gianni was convinced Diego (you know, Dora’s cousin?) lived there.

My favorite moment of the whole day was when Gianni started cracking jokes with the frog–immediately after I snapped this picture.  (I have no idea where this boy gets his sense of humor–it’s strange to say the least.)

Frog:  Waving good-bye. 

Gianni: “Hey frog, do you like to eat Crayons?”

Frog: Human inside is visibly laughing, turns and leaves.

Me: “Gianni, why did you ask the frog if he liked to eat Crayons?”

Gianni: “I dunno.  I was making a joke.”

Me:  No words.

Here is an 8 month comparison of little Giovanni and Viviana–or more accurately, of their smiling dad. 

I’m so blessed to have a hands-on, equitable workload sharing husband–who is gorgeous, smart and athletic to boot.  I wouldn’t be half as successful in life, my career or in motherhood without him. 

Love you Gaetano, Gianni and Vivi!

I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since “The Curse of the White Pant.”  Since Viv’s vomit debacle, the bug lived on.  The Monday following the incident, I received a call from the kids’ school informing me that Gianni was puking.  The poor little guy suffered though his illness last Monday and Tuesday.  (Gaetano and I both caught the virus as well–most notably on Monday night.  Three bathrooms were not nearly enough.  We’ll leave it at that.)  After showing back up (and catching back up) at work on Wednesday, luck would have it that they would call me for a third time, to report that Vivi was sick yet again.  I stayed home with her again that Thursday and then we left for Easter very late Thursday night. 

We successfully contaminated a second household on Saturday night (yes, the day before Easter.)  My older, and younger sis caught the bug, as well as my Father.  They weren’t even able to make it out of the house and with us to church that morning!  By Sunday night my mom was in the same boat.  Can you believe it?  Nine people were infected by the Curse of the White Pant.  I will NOT be wearing those again–anytime soon. 

In happier news, the weather has been gorgeous in Nashville–as it has been around the country.  Those 80 degree March days were glorious.  We spent a fair share of time outdoors these past couple of weeks–as illness allowed. 

Here are some of my favorite pictures from recent days.

Gianni and Viviana with their Great Grandparents on Easter 2012.

I knew from the moment I picked out my white pants to wear today that I was taunting the Gods.  Something was bound to get on them.  I successfully navigated through two diaper changes and a bottle before dropping little V off at school this morning.  I defeated black ink pens and a chicken salad at work.  I was pumped when I left the office with spotless pants.

I let my guard down too soon.

As I was driving South down the highway at 4 p.m. (trying to sneak in a few minutes of alone time), Vivi’s school called.  She’d been throwing up.  When I arrived, the poor baby was in her 3rd outfit and looked like a wet poodle.  I immediately picked her up to hug her…

…which was precisely when the style gods looked down upon me and laughed.

“Don’t you know Moms aren’t supposed to wear white pants?” they chuckled to themselves.

Here are the kids in action.  Vivi laughs at everything her brother does, especially his home-grown mixed martial art form.

Gianni and Vivi’s school has a “Bonnet Parade” each year, marking the first day of Spring.  It’s always fun to see what kind of hats can be crafted out of paper plates and glitter.  Gianni and Vivi’s teachers did a great job. 

Here was Gianni–in the red shirt, when he first recognized me in the crowd!  “Hiiii Mom!”

Here is a shot of his marching skills.  Somehow he got the idea that he was supposed to march–since it was a parade after all.  (P.S. None of his other classmates were marching.)

More unsolicited marching.

Here come the babies!

Vivi came to see me in her yellow and pink paper plate bonnet.  She wasn’t thrilled with the parade.  She had to be awoken from her nap to join the festivities.

Second time around, he decided not to march.  Love that kid.

This week Gianni learned about “life cycles” at school.  He drew pictures of butterflies and tadpoles, and then my favorite…he wrote/dictated a story.

Upon reading the story, I’m not sure he really learned much about the life cycle of a tadpole.  From my understanding a tadpole can neither run nor bite.  I mean, I could be way off here–I wasn’t a Life Sciences Major or anything.

Oh the imagination of a 3-year-old.

So here is the family portrait Gianni brought home the other day.  Apparently there is a core group of three people: Dad, Mom and Gianni.  Duh.  And then there is a tiny person, who barely made it onto the bottom of the page, who you can only see with a magnifying glass.  I guess that makes four.