Sunny Days

Luca LOVES being outside and absolutely loves playing with this bubble mower that his Grammy & Poppy gave him. He calls it the "Bubble Machine."


He also loves riding in his car. He's getting really good with maneuvering it.

It was such a beautiful day out today even though it was a little chili the sun was out.


Olivia is not a fan of the grass. The first time I put her down on the grass she freaked out. Then slowly I have been trying to get her used to the texture of it. She doesn't like to touch it with her hands. She has been standing and balancing for a good 5 to 10 seconds and even tried taking a couple of steps this week. I remember Luca doing this but it still took a good month until he decided to really start walking.

I feel like we've been quarantined in our house since we've all been sick. Everyone seems to be feeling much better so I hope we can go back to our normal routine of going to the gym, playdates, zoo, parks, etc.

He still likes wearing his Papa's Ohio State hat!

Singing and Dancing

This video was taken last week. We didn't get to go to our weekly playgroup since we all weren't feeling well so we had fun playing in the bonus room all morning with the mic and keyboard. I had to post this because I love the part where Olivia throws the mic down in the beginning and tilts her head like she's doing a dance move or something. So cute!

Cirque De Soleil

So I've been inspired by Cirque De Soleil since we think we've decided on going to Vegas for vacation this summer and we really want to see the Cirque De Soleil show at the Bellagio. Luca and I started to do some little tricks.


Actually, my dad used to do this to me all the time. I will have post the picture of my dad holding me, my sister and my brother while laying flat out the floor when we were really little. I remember loving to do little tricks and flips with my dad. It was so much fun and I think Luca likes it, too based on the smile on his face. Plus, I get a little arm workout!

Today Luca had his 2 year pic with a photographer that is in my Moms group. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures - she's amazing. I also have Olivia scheduled for her 1 year pictures in June.


Luca giving Olivia the look like he's saying "don't even think about touching my firetruck." Poor girl loves to follow him around but lately he hasn't been a fan - I think he thinks she's going to steal his toys or something.

He looks like a little boy! I was so excited about this outfit we bought him but didn't even think for him to try it on BEFORE his pictures. They were so long on him they look like capris. I guess he's just making a new fashion statement....capri's are "IN" for toddler boys. :)

Olivia Following Luca

Olivia loves to use her walker to follow Luca around the kitchen. She's really trying to stand on her own lately it's so cute because she will put both of her arms up and try to balance. She will hold on to the coffee table and let go to try to walk toward me. I have a feeling she's itching to learn how to walk. Luca started walking about a week before his 1st Birthday but I think Olivia might walk sooner than him. Luca loves it when she chases him. He'll ride on his firetruck and giggle as Olivia tries to catch up to him.

I tried uploading a different video but it was too long so I could only upload this one of her falling!

Gabriella Sophia

Here she is my new niece, Gabriella Sophia Bellestri. Born April 19th, 9 pounds, 20 inches, brown hair and blue eyes.


My sister and brother-in-law got a call yesterday while they were on vacation that they had a baby girl for them to pick up at the hospital today. We are so excited that this day has finally come! They are going to be great parents and we are so happy for this great blessing in their life! Congrats Mary and Chris!!

10 Months Old!

I can't believe she's 10 months old! In 2 months she'll be a year...that's just crazy to me.


We went to zia's house this weekend. Olivia was exhausted from the ride since she only took a 30 minute nap during a 3 hour ride! She fell asleep in zia's arms once she arrived. She loves to cover her face when she's sleeping.

Luca LOVES putting puzzles together. For a while I thought maybe he was color blind because he thought everything was white or black, but he definitely can match an object to it's color. It's so amazing how much they learn everyday.

Luca loves to give his sister a ride on his shoulders, with Dads help of course!

Pigtails and Potty Training

I love putting pigtails on Olivia. I never had any pictures of me as a baby in pigtails because I always had short hair. My sister had long hair so my mom decided I would have short - boy cut hair. I think O looks adorable in them.



It's amazing how Olivia HATED eating and now all of a sudden she can't get enough of eating solids. She loves chicken, pancakes, waffles, strawberries, grapes, pizza, bread, pasta, cous cous, mushrooms, and more. I'm so happy that she's finally eating foods!

I try to take equal amounts of pictures of both Luca and Olivia but Luca isn't as cooperative with taking pictures as he used to be so he doesn't get great pics so I'll just talk about him on this post. Our doc says not to push potty training he will do it when he is ready. We talk about the potty and Luca has gone on the potty several times. The past two days he's actually asked me to go to the potty so he can get a sucker. He knows how to take his pants and diaper off and he will sit on the potty and will potty a few drops. He's definitely trying and really wants those suckers. He has yet to poop on the potty but I give him a lot of credit for going to the potty all on his own at 25 months old. Let's hope he continues to keep this up! I would LOVE to get him out of diapers this summer....that's my goal for him.

Big Boy Bed & 9 Month Check Up

One of the biggest challenges of having two kids is having room in the grocery cart. When Olivia was in her car seat it would take up the entire cart since Luca was on the front part. She was surrounded with groceries! I wrote a note to the manager at Giant Eagle requesting "Car Carts" and a couple of days later I got a call from the manager saying that he would put it in the budget to get some. Well, here it is! I love Giant Eagle. They only have ONE of these carts so far but I'm really hoping they'll invest in more.


The kids loved the car cart and Luca was even feeding Olivia her snacks. She is now eating table foods. The doctor said that she must have not liked the texture of baby food but she loves pizza, soup, quiche and she even ate chicken today. Still trying to work on veggies and fruits. It's amazing how different kids are. Luca LOVED veggies and fruits at her age. He still loves fruit but not so much with the veggies anymore.


We have recently converted Luca's Crib into a toddler bed because he figured out how to jump out of it. He wasn't great with his landing because he would fall on his head or on his arm and we decided that he really could hurt himself so it was time to convert his bed. We were really nervous because we thought this would be a tough transition but so far he's been great the past two days. I have been taking him to the park, playdates and playing outside to wear him out so he will take a nap instead of venture out of his bed and it has been working. Here I have him pushing his sister on the wagon outside of our house.

Olivia's 9 month appointment went well. The doc says that typically at 9 months you'll see them thin out a little bit since they are moving around a lot more which he was right because Olivia is now in the 50th Percentile for weight - 18 lbs 14 oz, she was also in the 50th percentile for her height of 27 3/4" and the nurse had a hard time measuring her head. She wouldn't stay still and the nurse scratched her head so I don't thin she got an accurate measurement or her head just got really big in the last 3 months - 18" which is the 90th percentile. Maybe it's all the hair? LOL

Monkey See...Monkey Do!

It's so neat to see the kids play with each other. Luca and Olivia emptied the bin full of tools and decided to both sit in it.


Well, it was Luca's idea 1st...

Olivia was just playing with his tools.

She saw how much fun it looked so she jumped in and Luca pushed her around the house. They both were having so much fun.

I love my kids!

Easter at Grammy's

The kids had a blast on Easter at Grammy's. We had a delicious prime rib meal for dinner - it was yummy! I love this pic of the kids and cousins.


Olivia looking at herself in the mirror. Look at all those curls on the back of her head!

Olivia and Papa

Luca and Evie looking for eggs. This was Luca's 1st Easter Egg hunt. It was so cute because when he went outside he ran to the neighbors house to show them his basket instead of picking up all the eggs! It was funny.



I think Luca thought Papa was going to take his basket full of eggs - he was flipping out! But other than that meltdown all the kids did pretty well and had fun.

Happy Easter!

Even though the kids don't "get" Easter yet, we still want to try to start a tradition. The Easter Bunny brought Luca a football basket and Olivia a tutu basket. She can actually wear the little tutu. We typically don't let Luca eat candy unless he sees us eating an M&M he'll ask for some but we let him eat a little bit of candy for Easter. He loved Jelly Beans and my favorite - Hersheys Oreo and white chocolate eggs. The Easter bunny must have known that I love those! The other two baskets were from our dear friends, Ante and Jes (O's Godparents). They bought Olivia 2 cute outfits and filled both their baskets with books and toys. They are always so thoughtful & generous, it was very sweet of them.


Luca posing in his monkey Easter outfit.

Luca grabbed a roll of toilet paper and would look through the hole. I had to snap a shot.



Olivia putting the pillow in her face and thinking "Mom stop taking pictures of me, already!"

Olivia "Ok - I'll give you one pose with my lips."

For some reason, Luca loves to wear his hat on sunny days?

We are heading to Grammy's house for Easter dinner after the kids take a nap. She's also having a Easter Egg hunt for the kids. Should be fun! I'll post pics tomorrow. Happy Easter!

Olivia Dancin' to the ABC song!

Olivia and Luca love listening to this Alphabet CD every night. Luca always requests the "N Song" but Olivia seems to like to listen to the alphabet song. While Luca was napping today I let her hear it and she was so happy to dance to her song.

Olivia attempting to say Mama.....

Olivia 4 Wheeling in her pretty dress!

Olivia tried riding Luca's quad and had a blast. I took a quick video of it.

Easter Egg Decorating!

What a fun day it was decorating eggs with Aunt Ju Ju, Evie and Grammy and we even got a little surprise! Baby Elle came over to meet her cousins. The kids were all great and we would like to make a little tradition of this and we are also going to start a tradition of an Easter Egg hunt for the kids and cousins.


The two baby cousins. Elle and Olivia are 9 months apart and Evie and Luca are 6 months apart! I love that they are all so close in age.

Olivia riding Luca's quad. She LOVES it! She would stand and dance and wear a huge smile on her face! She even learned how to press the button to make it go. I can't believe how fast she's growing! In addition to saying Dada, she now says Nana (trying to say mamma). She also says Uh-oh! She loves to dance to music and cruise around the furniture. Luca is starting to repeat a lot of words we say. He is starting to use 3 word sentences but mostly 2 word sentences. He loves to say "Mamma Home!" or "Papa Home!" whenever we enter the house.

Easter Bunny!

Today was such a gorgeous day and Olivia seemed like she was feeling better so I took them to Easton to see the Easter Bunny. Luca just climbed on his lap just like he did with Santa. He just stared at the Bunny and looked a little unsure. I don't think it even phased Olivia that the bunny was holding her. I didn't get any smiles but I was happy that they didn't freak out.


Grammy bought this pretty dress for Olivia and another dress that she'll wear on Easter. Luca spent the night and had so much fun with her. He said he saw duckies b/c she took him to the park and the river for a picnic. He even got to visit his Aunt Carmen and Uncle Henry. I could tell he had a great time and some good bonding time with his Grammy.

I'm not sure why Luca looks so sad with the bunny.

Olivia and the bunny and her cute little hat that goes with her dress. I was amazed at how she didn't even try to take it off. When Luca was her age he didn't want anything to do with hats and sunglasses. Olivia must be a girly girl and loves hats.

We met our MnM friends at Easton. We wanted to take a group pic so the kids all held hands while waiting in line, it was so cute!

Here is Luca and all of his friends. Olivia was not happy that she didn't make the pic but it was a little chaotic getting 4 2 yr olds to cooperate. I didn't want to add a 9 month old to the mix.

Baby Elle and Big Sis Evie

Evie giving her new little sister kisses. She's such a good big sis.


Since the kids and Corey have been sick we have felt awful that we haven't been able to visit our new little niece, Elle. I made them some dinner today and brought it over when Corey came home from work so I could hold her again since I'm the only one that hasn't been sick.

I'm hoping that my kids will feel better soon so they can finally meet their new little cousin. Luca met Elle via skype since I don't want him to get her sick.

She is so tiny & so cute! I love babies. It's amazing that Olivia was a newborn 9 months ago. It just goes by so incredibly fast.


Luca was so excited today that he was having a little sleepover at his Grammy's house. When he woke up this morning I asked him if he wanted to go to Grammy's house today and all day he's been asking "Mammy's house? Bye Bye." I told him if he's a good boy and after he gets up from his nap he can go to Grammy's house. He couldn't stop talking about it and he was a good boy all day.