Just for fun...makes me so emotional....

Luca3

Luca2

Luca 1

Luca age 1

Luca 3

Luca's 3rd Birthday Party!!!

Luca had a great 3rd birthday. We started the day with Rob taking him to the Children's Museum for a few hours, then they had lunch. After lunch it was my shift, I took him to a park in Lake Oswego where we took his 1 and 2 year old pictures and we spent about 15 minutes (it was freezing) snapping some 3 year old pics. We were going to go to a movie but Luca told me he "didn't want to go to a show" so instead we went to Ceramics Cafe and painted an ice cream bowl and then went and had a smoothie. When we got home Rob took him to the park to play then Aunt Andee, Uncle Dave, Maddie, and Connor came over for a mini bday party since they were out of town for his party. It was a great day and we were all wore out by the end of it...I think christmas and the birthday really wiped us out this year. Regardless Luca had a great experience and that is all we could hope for. It always amazes me to think back to before he was born and how he has changed our life. He is such a blessing and just melts my heart. He is growing so fast and I am trying to cherish our moments together. Here are his 3 year old pics (and one from before the children's museum)

We got a walker!!!

I think Gia was trying to upstage Luca's birthday party because she decided to take her first steps (without falling at the end) Luckily we got it on tape! She is 8 months and 3 weeks. Luca was 9 months and 3 weeks when he walked and I was shocked that he was so young...I can't believe Gia walked so early....i think I am in trouble...

Luca's 3rd Birthday Party!!!

So we celebrated Luca's 3rd birthday today with friends and family. It was a nice low key birthday, snacks, presents, and cake. We will be taking Luca out for a "day of fun" tomorrow on his actual birthday!

Christmas 2009

Another wonderful christmas on the books for the Bellenghi's. This was Gianna's first and she seemed to love all the festivities. We headed to Lebanon Christmas eve to visit family then back up to the Bellenghi's for dinner. Christmas morning my folks, Traci, Jordon, Charli and Jack drove up to celebrate with us. We spent the evening back at the Bellenghi's for a fantastic italian meal. Luca was so much fun this year he got a little scared about Santa however and this morning we had to literally bribe him to come down and see what Santa had left him. He asked "Make sure Santa isn't down there and make sure he took his reindeer!" He LOVED his bike and we got some great video of him helping Gia go through her stocking as well. It was a wonderful day.

Luca and Rob playing on Christmas eve

My favorite picture, Poppi and Gia Christmas morning.

Luca and Maw maw looking at Santa's workshop

Gianna Christmas eve, she has the funniest grin these days....toothless grin

Gia in her 1st christmas pjs, Luca had a pair his first christmas too.

Gia trying to get on Uncle Jakes computer

Family christmas eve

4 cousins

Family Christmas day (Luca was wiped out :)

Gia watching the Titans with daddy

Poppi's Birthday

We celebrated Poppi's birthday on his actual birthday for once Dec 13th (I am a little behind on my blogs) We spent and afternoon in Lebanon just hanging out, what we love to do best. We had a great time and kept Grandma and Poppi quite busy with their now 4 grandbabies!

Poppi and his kiddos

Playing with Luca and Gia

This is why I love Jack.....well one reason!

Gia trying to keep up with the boys

Uncle Bobby hanging with Charli

Thank you

Shop and help the homeless this holiday season. Click here for details!

Thanksgiving

Our last two days have been spent with our amazing extended family, eating great food and watching football. It doesn't get much better than that. We spent thanksgiving with the Bellenghi family and had a wonderful day with delicious food. Friday we headed down to Lebanon to celebrate with the Shimmin side. It is so wonderful to have such a loving supportive family.In a year that has been harder then most for us, due to the crazy economy, I reflect back on the year and am more thankful then I have ever been. I am so thankful for my husband who works his tail off to provide for our family and to allow me to stay home and care for Luca and Gia. He is loving, supportive, honest, and an amazing father. I am beyond thankful to two healthy, happy children. They enrich my life and I feel blessed to be their mom. Some pictures from the last few days...

Happy Hour at the Bellenghis

Rob and Charli

Shimmin Family photo

Grandma and Gia

Cousins and second cousins

Luca

I feel like I always post about Gia since she is always doing something new but I thought I would post a little about Luca and his latest happenings. Luca is about 1 month away from turning 3 and is constantly doing and saying the funniest things these days. His newest phrase is "oh pickle juice" I am not sure where it came from but he thinks it is hilarious. He also likes to take his blocks and build birthday cakes. He asks Rob and I what flavor we want and builds one then brings it to us to blow out the candles...the kid loves birthdays and thankfully with his huge extended family we got to a party roughly once a month. He always goes to find his guitar so he can play me music and he sings to me "i love you mommy" over and over. He is such a sweet soul but also is all boy. As soon as Rob or one of his uncles comes through the door all he wants to do is wrestle. He loves his sister, first thing he does when he wakes up is he wants to go his baby sister. We are still working on how to be gentle and soft with her but hey at least she will be tough :) Whenever he gets in trouble and is done in time out he looks at Rob or I and says "smile at me" with a huge grin on his face as to make sure we still aren't mad at him. His favorite show is Super Why a cartoon on PBS where a kid becomes a super hero who's super power is that he can read. Luca will randomly yell out SUPER WHY, WITH THE POWER TO READ!! Yes he has requested a super why bday party. He is a cheeseball but an adorable one of course. We are working on saying sir and ma'am and so now when he sees people in the store he will say oh he is a sir or she is a ma'am, a bit embrassaing when he gets it wrong and they can hear him :) He goes to school with his Maw Maw once a week and it has really been great for him. She works at a school through the church and he gets to go for free! He got in the car the other day after school and said " Mom God made the animals, and God made me!" Melted my heart. He likes to say "no way jose" instead of "no" and he likes to run across the room and then tell us how fast he is. He is just a joy these days, well 80% of the time, he is still 2 after all :)

7 months old

7 months old!!!

Halloween 09

We had a great halloween, topped off with a Duck win!! We took the kids (well Luca) trick or treating during half time and it worked out perfectly. We only took him to 4 or 5 houses and he was beyond excited for all the candy. This was the first year we took him to strangers' houses so it was exciting. Gia held up, obviously didn't care what was happening....

His first house, not sure what to think

Gia is confused

Showing us his ninja moves

New addition to the Shimmin Clan (well Ford clan)

Charlotte Faith Ford. 10/24/09. 8lbs 9oz. 20 inches long. Beautiful. Healthy.

That sums it up!

Congrats to Traci, Jordon, and Jack. Charlotte decided to FINALLY make her debut Saturday morning. I am so so proud of my little sis for delivering this baby girl without drugs (not by choice) she is stronger then she will ever know and I hope she believes she can really do anything now. Charlotte, who we call Charli is beyond adorable she is so pretty and petite and just a sweet little soul. Jack is being such a good big brother, he is going to show that girl the world and I can't wait to witness it! I am so thankful that now regardless if Rob and I decide to add to our family Gianna will always have Charlotte as her sister!