GPa and Chica... just a girl and her old man.

Emilee is lucky enough to hang out with her grandparents during the week while mommy and daddy are working very hard! Kevin (GPa) has the greatest sense of humor. He's sure to be one of Emilee's favorite people on the planet. Here's a little something that showed up in my email today, along with the pictures.

 

 

 

Hi Mom....just wanted to take a minute to write you a note and tell you how much I love you. You and daddy are the best parents a girl could ever ask for AND you picked the best grandpa ever for me...

today was so off the chain I just have to tell you...

First me and GPa got some quality face time...got caught up and dished the 411. Then I took a little nap cause I knew when I woke up I'd get to eat that great picnic lunch you made for me. Awesome...but here's where everything just got out of hand....

So GPa installs a kickin' stereo system in my ride while I was catchin' zzzzzs - yeah I know...!!!

 

 

Naturally we had to cruise right away. So we rolled out and cruised the neighborhood first...saw that old guy with the big beard and the flame-y handkerchief on his head sitting on the porch in front of his house as usual. Then we headed for the yard...I saw a few kids there of course...and they all had moms...I was the only chica rollin with a GPa...I'm just saying.

 

Everything was chill so we headed south towards the lake. We got all the way down to the parking lot past 23rd then GPa looks at me and says 'you can't handle the truth'...I stared him down and said 'bring it, old man' (it's a thing we have). So that crazy moefoe takes a hard right and all of a sudden we're off road four wheeling with the top down right on the beach....whaaaaaaaat

 

That was cool as hell. Then we headed over to the pier and saw some fish jumping all up in the lake and making a fuss...also we saw some ducks right next to my buggy...they're really cute, aren't they?

 

 

All good things come to an end...right? We ended up on chillin' on the patio at the GPa Grill for drinks. I had a virgin White Russian, GPa rocked an iceT.

 

 

GPa said it would be a good idea if I pooped my pants, so somewhere along the way I did just that....big time....just to show him respect and let him know I was paying attention.

 

By that time I was baked...what a day. I was a goner....just fell out for some more quality zzzzzs and should be back on top by the time I see you this afternoon.

 

 

Did I tell you how much I love you and daddy...? Cause I dew!!

 

 

and a second email a few hours later...

 

 

Hi Mom - I forgot to tell you...after we had drinks on the patio a plumber guy from Applewood Plumbing (those guys crack me up....heh) came by and asked GPa if I could have some candy corn...he said ok...then he says 'don't tell your mom'....

 

 

ohhh...ooops

 

 

hey don't mess up my thing with GPa, k? I got it all hooked up and can get anything I want so please be cool...

 

 

thanks mom....love you...

 

 

GPa is so cool!

 

 

As we wait for you...

A new year is upon us, 2013! This year, Jacob and I would welcome our baby girl!

My mom came to town for out baby shower, so before hand I got to spend some time with her!

We took Jonny to the Children's museum for some fun!

 

 

He is the only boy that I know that LOVES, I mean LOVES the grocery store!

 

Baby shower time. Thanks to my sister, the whole day was amazing!

She and my cousins made this such a special event!

So lets get this party started!

Audrey and I

 

My mother in law Penny, myself and Audrey

 

Shavonne made us cake pops! How nice!

 

 

Me & my babes!

 

Look at all that shwag!

And the cake was to die for!

 

My BFF Stacey!!!

My mom Laura and Jake's mom Tina

 

Gifts!

 

 

It really was a great day. We had a blast!

Favors!

 

Ms. Santangelo made us the cutest hats!

 

 

 

Baby girl's room is almost finished!

 

 

 

The girls like it in there too!

 

There's one last REALLY really important event that we had to attend before baby arrived. 

Stacey's wedding! I have been waiting for this day since I met her!

The girls all got together for pre wedding mani's and pedi's at Stacey's favorite spot in A-town.  Myself, Joy, Morgan, Julie, Stacey and Brad's sister Kristen.

 

March 23, 2013

I knew it was going to snow... I just didn't know it would snow THAT MUCH!!!      

 

 

No matter how much snow ended up on the ground, the day was bound to be a good one!

Isn't she beautiful!?!  

 

I pulled this off the wedding photo website. I love my girls!!! We where unofficially her wedding party, and I of course was her unofficial Maid of Honor! It was a beautiful wedding. I cried my eyes out during their vows. Not because of pregnancy hormones, I just really love Stacey and the fam!

She's my little sis, you know?!?

 

Just married!!

 Jonny really loves to dance, and its amazingly adorable!

  

  She asked me to make a toast at the wedding. I practiced and practiced the toast without crying, but of course I cried through the entire thing! Our friendship is so precious to me. I love that girl!

One thing is official... I am now on maternity leave! So I've been meeting friends for lunch.

I met Taylor at La Cocinita one of the days, and then we walked to Roberta's Chocolates. 

Go there... trust me... go there!

 

We unleashed. Taylor is 3 weeks behind me and also having a girl!!

Yay!! Baby will have some friends!

 

Well... I think we are ready

 

Come out baby! Come out!  

Changing seasons...

When my sister was little, we used to go the circus every year for her birthday until she reached the age that she hated going. She flat out refused at one point! Now that we are adults, and Jonny is SUPER into the circus, we are reconnecting with this pastime.

The first year we went back was 2011, and I have to admit... as soon as the show started, I begin to weep. I think it was because it reminded me so much of being happy as a child, and my dad was such a big part of those feelings. He always knew how to make everything we did awesome. It was a tough go, but I'm glad we returned in October 2012 with the family to have a good time.

 

Rrraaaarrrr!!!

 

 

Okay, this was AMAZEBALLS! This lady did a whole set of tricks with house cats!

I had to pick my jaw up off the floor at one point.

 

I told Jake that as soon as we got home I was going to try this with Izzy and Wicket, but of course the girls both just looked at me as if I was nuts! Hey, at least I tried to get them on board!

 

Elephants! My favorite!!!

 

The circus usually comes in October, so of course, next is Halloween!

Jacob and I didn't dress up or go out last year. Mostly because pregnancy made me so exhausted all the time. I just really wasn't up for it. I did however, manage to still decorate my house!

 

I also was honored when Maura asked if I would like to participate in her Dios de los Muertos celebration. We met Auntie Tricia at Mt. Olivet, and made sugar skulls for our Grandparents.

 

 

 They came out awesome!

 

  

Before Thanksgiving, I was craving Thanksgiving dinner. So I set out to the store and made an entire dinner. Here's Jonny enjoying a drumstick. He ate the entire thing!!!

 

Sharing in my exhaustion, the girls where always d.t.s.!

(Down to snuggle)

Izzy

 

Wicket

 

Our linden tree was especially beautiful this fall. 

I tried to get a picture everyday of the changes...

 

 

Here's Bailey and Jonny playing in the leaves at Grammie's house...  

 

...and here is them after!

As the colder weather started to set it, my baby sure was getting comfy! 

We decided to make the sex of our baby a surprise gift for Christmas.

My sister Audrey came with us to the ultrasound and was given an envelope containing the sex.

She kept it secret from EVERYONE for 6 weeks!

 

Although she had many offers, I was so proud that she never revealed to anyone what the baby was.

Not knowing the sex of our child to be was agonizing, 

but it didn't stop me from shopping for our baby!

 

Jake also bought something for our cupcake. A new AMY SOL!!!

I think I cried when he gave it to us!

 

Maura and I decided to get crafty for Christmas. We wanted to make the entire family something original out of some sea shells that we brought back with us from Costa Rica.

 I thought, why not make a whole crafting day out of it?!? 

So my mom, Audrey, Maura and Kiandra came over for some fun!

We made cookies...

 

...and then worked on Christmas gifts.   

 

I don't have any pictures of Maura for some reason, but here are some of our finished work!

They came out great!

 

 

That week was also Jonny's first Winter Program at daycare.

 

They where SO CUTE!

 

He didn't actually sing the song, but it was great none the less!

 

Since Jake and I have so much family, we divide up the Christmas Eve and day.

On Christmas Eve we go to Grammie's house for delicious dinner and of course gifts!

 

 

 

Josh got to play Santa this year and hand out all the gifts. 

He was super adorable trying to read every one's handwriting! 

 

The next morning, we held a brunch for the entire family to find out the sex of our baby! 

Its a GIRL!

 

I was lucky that my BFF made it!

 

We opened gifts and had a nice brunch. Even Izzy got a present!  

 

Here's Jonny eating chocolate!

And here's Cyrus on his new toy!

 

After Christmas we had some not so awesome things happening at the house.

Our outside hose hook up decided to spring a leak and create an ice rink on our patio.

 

Not fun... but oh well!

 

Now that we know we are having a girl, we can start planning our baby shower.

We decided on Local 46 as the venue to hold the shower!

 

 

Jonny being a dork while baby shower shopping...  

 

Auntie Tricia and I also made cookies for the shower gift bags. This is going to be great!

 

Everything seems to be running well. 

Our baby girl is healthy, we are healthy, and I have a new cup holder! 

 

We cant wait to meet you!

 

Let's get this show on the road!

 

Can't wait!