Connor Stats!

Connor had his 2 month well-check this week, he is now:

23.25" long

and

12 pounds 9 ounces.

He is an awesome kiddo so far, he sleeps wonderfully at night (and is actually napping right now, allowing me to catch up with blogging!), he has an easy-going temperament and he loves his big sister (and she loves him and shows it by kissing him all the time).

Swinging

Here is a video of Gianna and her "Baby" swinging at the park yesterday. She got this Valentines beanie baby 2 years ago and has made it her favorite lovey in the past few months. It goes everywhere with it and does everything she does, including: trips to target, saying prayers at night, swinging, riding in its own carseat, reading books and more.

Ash Wednesday

Here is a picture of Connor with his first Ashes. The person skipped him the first time, so Justin had to go back through the line, oh boy! You can see how old he looks now in this picture.

Weekend at Great Grammys

We spent last weekend at Great Grammy's house (or as Gianna calls her Great MahMah). Gianna decided that a weekend there in the pack 'n play was enough to make her able to fall asleep on her own (so Justin and I had the best sleep we've had in years)...not to jinx it, of course! Here are some photo highlights...
At a spaghetti dinner. No, I didn't let her eat the whole Brownie:
Helping to make Chicken Salad (which Gianna loved):
I swear Connor was there, I just only took about 4 pictures from the weekend, and the ones of him didn't turn out well.

Zoo time!

Here are photos from Connor's second trip to the zoo (I'm terrible... I forgot my camera the first time).

Gianna and the Camel:Connor and the squirrel monkeys:

Overalls

Gianna got these overalls for Christmas from Ooda and Poppy, they are so cute!

Doesn's she look like a big kid in this picture?Cheese!

Valentines outfits

Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Buscho for these adorable valentines outfits (Connor's shirt says "hunk-a burnin' love":

Gianna's first Sleepover!

After the birthday party on Valentines Day Sophia got to come home with us and spend the night! The girls had an amazing time playing together and actually both slept really well (in their own beds, so there were no midnight giggles). Here are a few pictures and a video from the sleepover.
On the way home:Playing Piano:Making Pizza:
And a video of making pizza:

Rocking together:
Dancing and playing the next morning (this picture of Gianna cracks me up!):Very special pancakes:The girls made valentines:Gianna adjusting Sophia's bow:Sophia loves it when Justin plays guitar!

Happy Birthday Nicolas!

Gianna's friend Nicolas turned 2 at the beginning of the month and he had his birthday party at on of our favorite places, Super Franks, on Valentines Day.

Here the kids are playing (Gianna and Sophia had the same Valentines outfit, by coincidence).Gianna riding on the plasma car.Waiting for Pizza.About to blow out the candle.

Connor and Great Grammy

Valentines Party

We took the kids to a valentines party (Connor slept through the whole thing) but Gianna had lots of fun!

Here she is decorating a cookie:So Proud!Yum!Crafts with Mommy.

Connor's Baptism (2/1/09)

Left to Right: Fr. Gus, Tom (Godfather), Connor, Jessica, Sarah (Godmother), Justin.

The Cake (I made it!):
Connor, Mommy and Daddy:
Before the Baptism:
Being held by Godmother, Aunt Sarah:
Being held by Godfather, Great uncle Tom
Blessing:Being Baptized (he didn't love it):Gianna during the ceremony:
Connor and great uncle Don:Connor and his Cake:
Family Photo:My two favorite pictures from the day:
Gianna saying, "Boogie Bubble." (she had a cold)
"Who invited the wookie?"

Read to us!

Here is Justin having some special time with the kiddos before bed one night.

Bubbles!

The results

Here are the results of Gianna's birthday party. I think they turned out pretty cute. I'm using the one she made as a spoon rest. In the middle is the "party plate" with everyone's fingerprint.

The Evil Genius

Over the past 2 days I have questioned my ability to mother a 2 year-old more than I ever thought I would. I always say that living with a toddler it is like living with a manic depressive and this week proves that very true.

In particular, over the course of the last 36 hours, Gianna has had 6 significant tantrums (3 in public). Yesterday at the mall she didn't want to leave Gymboree because they play cartoons in the store and she started screaming so loud I practically ran out of the store. Same deal in Children's Place, only there is was because I wouldn't open a sealed package of PJs for her. We actually managed to clear out Children's Place. Today in Target she threw the mother of all fits that just kep becoming more and more embarassing as I felt it was necessary to be a consistent parent and gave her a timeout right in the middle of the store for pulling a GIANT stack of cards off the shelf. You see, I know how esential it is to immediately reward good behavior by praising her, but I also know how imortant it is to immediately punish (with a timeout) bad behavior. Of course the group of people standing nearby did not appreciate my commitment to consistent parenting. What they don't know with Gianna is that she is smart: she will remember that I caved one time and work harder and harder each time to get what she wants. Like the time Justin first took her to Costco and carried her the whole time. For him it was special Daddy/Daughter time and he loves getting to hold her (while he still can), for her it was the gateway to never having to ride in the cart again (and special Daddy/Daughter time).

And while we're on the subject of Costco...

Today Gianna took a receipt out of my purse, looked at it and said "Costco." And yes, it really was from Costco! Is she a Genius? or maybe an Evil Genius?

Who knows, but it sure is exciting and dynamic to be her mother.

[Very Late] Kid Stats

I have been meaning to post the kiddo stats (from almost a month ago)... here they are

At 2 years old Gianna weighs 24.5 lbs and is 34.5 inches tall.

It was a tremendous hassle to get these figures and she threw the most dramatic tantrum just to get her on the scale (and get her clothes off). It wasn't until after we got Connor to do it that she would. That being said...

At one month, Connor weighs 11lbs 2 oz and is 22.75 inches. (He has grown 1 inch and gained almost 3 lbs in a month).