A moment only a mommy could love...

Yesterday at Target, we bought a potty for Vinny. While I have no real expectations about potty training, I decided that I at least wanted to introduce him to the potty. He will be 18 months in August and that was the same time that I began potty training with Isabella.






So this morning when he got up, I put him on the potty. I do have it in the living room so that he isn't alone in the bathroom (that could lead to a disaster!) and he was just watching Mickey Mouse. At one point he started to clap his hands which I didn't think too much of as he often does that randomly throughout the day. After about 15 minutes, he stood up and proceeded to pee all over the floor. Great.






So I got some paper towels and started to clean that up when I saw something else...

(Disclaimer: Do not scroll down if you can't appreciate a baby's BM!)

Yay!!! He was obviously clapping his hands because of this and I missed it! So proud of my little weasel! : )

Maine

Well we got back last night from an amazing week in Kennebunkport. There are many great moments from our trip but I think what we valued most was the time that we were able to spend with our family. In our day to day lives, we often miss those simple yet beautiful moments and being away from it all, we were able to soak it all in. I loved being able to walk to beaches and find "treasures" with Isabella. It was so special to watch Vinny delight in the water splashing at his feet- he must have said "Wah-wah" at least a million and one times. I relished being away from all "technology" and just "being" with my husband. It was so good to watch my mother and Vinny bond over the past few days and brought tears to my eyes when at last she had to load him into the car to go home. I loved laughing with my brothers over all the trips we took as kids and enjoyed getting to know the special women that they have brought into their lives. And I value so much the talks that I had with my father, ones that he was never able to have with his.

You are never promised any day but today and that is something that really hit me on our way home. I hope that we have many more times like these together as a family but I know that if we don't that I couldn't have asked for better memories.

I love you, guys!

Happy Birthday, Papa Rog!

This weekend we celebrated my dad's birthday (as well as that of my future sister-in-law, Michelle). Isabella informed me that his favorite cake is carrot cake. So that is what we made! Before we left the house, I had the platter sitting on the table. Mike caught Mr. Vinny climbing the chair to get at them! He wasn't too happy when Daddy explained that they were for later.

He was very happy, though, when we finally let him have one!

Happy Birthday, Dad! And thanks for just another excuse for eating cupcakes! : )

Happy Fourth of July!

We had a great holiday weekend! Uncle Nick had his 2nd annual Lastrina-Palooza party at the in-laws and it was the first time that all the Lastrinas had been together since Christmas 2008! Crazy! It was really nice! The kids had a ton of fun and got lots of swimming in. Isabella remembered how to swim from last year and has gotten so comfortable in the water. She has learnt some new strokes, how to do handstands and Grammie Reli is teaching her how to dive! Vinny is so independent- he runs right into the water and doesn't want anyone to hold onto him! It will be very tricky keeping on eye on him the next few summers! : )

Some big news! Mike will be taking a job transfer to the Minneapolis office so we will be moving to Minnesota sometime late-Spring 2011! We have very mixed feelings on this but ultimately think that it will be a good step for Mike's career and a great "adventure" for the family. The logistics have yet to be decided but it should only be for three years. At that point, we are planning on relocating to southern MA and staying put! : )

It has been soooo hot here the past few days so we have decided to get some sort of a pool for the kids for the days/nights that we are just not up for the drive to P'boro. Pics to follow for sure!