Mother's Day

The day I became a mother I was extremely excited and awe struck of the responsibility and grateful for the trust bestowed upon me. I remember feeling strongly that I COULD do all that was required to be a Great, Amazing mother to my little one. I was in a partnership, not only with my husband, but with a LOVING Father in Heaven that sent this soul to earth to learn and grow. This same feeling came over me again with the birth of a second child. As a little time has passed there are many days that pass that I FORGET this special feeling I had those first early days of my motherhood. Dishes pile up, toys pile up, laundry piles up, the space is never enough. Little ones are hungry, they play nice, they play too rough, and the STRESS and Frustration starts to pile up too. I feel as if NOTHING is getting accomplished and my day's work is amounting to ZERO. It is usually around this time I am on the floor picking something up and Isaac will come and bear-back hug me- chatting in his little language! Or Lottie bug will ask me to "Please help me mom," I leave EVERYTHING and give a silent THANK YOU and start to kiss those little faces! I smell the sweet scent of their hair and I tell them I LOVE them! Because If I don't who will? These moments I get a small glimpse of those cherished feelings I first felt. I love being a Mother! I am grateful that I can fill this HONORABLE Role and be the BEST I CAN BE! I am even more grateful for the examples of Mothers I have had in my life! My Mother has always been a strong reference point for me. I love her strong Conviction for what she believes in and Passion in what ever she is doing. She is a Loyal friend and Honest. She encourages me to be the best I can be and I love her! My Grandmothers have both been very present in my life and for this I know I have been blessed. Kindness and Forgiveness, always giving LOve, you are never too old to Learn something new and to NEVER GIVE UP! I have been far from home for a few years now and I continue to meet women whose amazing qualities touch my heart and inspire me to be a better being. I love all of you! Happy Mother's Day!

Butt Heads!

Yesterday Charlotte picked up a crayon told me it was blue and then continued to put it between her fingers as if she had a cigarette! She laughed and blew out a mouth full of air! Only 2 years old and already she thinks that it's cool to smoke! Horrible! I know that living in Italy there are many people who smoke, but I guess I was a bit native to the influence on my little ones! A few hours after this incident we were at the park and I was following Char's around with Isaac in the stroller. I watch a woman light up right next to me! No wonder, kids really absorb everything! They observe and try to do things the see us do! I better watch my actions because I know that what I say and do will be mimicked by little Lottie!

I realized that well over one month ago was the last time I posted. I am on blogger nearly everyday... just felt a bit overwhelmed by the business of everyday and not having much motivation to post anything. Gio has asked me a few times if I have updated the blog and I reminded him that he also has access if he feels so inclined to jot a few things down. Maybe in the future he will become more of a regular!
Isaac is growing, growing, growing! He has the sweetest smile! No matter what is going on or how tired I am when he smiles the whole world is at peace!

Charlotte is potty training, and doing pretty good at it. She loves to add a sticker to her chart every time she makes it to the potty!
The days come and go and most days my house looks worse when I lay down then it did when I got up. I guess this is part of being a Mom. The heat is killing any motivation that I had to clean and organize, but we did retrieve our two fans that were being stored at the neighbors house, Thank goodness we have some relief now! I honestly don't know how I will ever survive the summer here in Milan! It is only May and I can barely handle the hot sticky weather!

I just needed to Breathe

T




Today I had some challenging moments as a mother. Lottie has not been feeling well for a few days. She had a fever Friday and Sat with a runny nose and hardly any appetite. Sunday the fever was gone, but still a yucky nose and no appetite. I know that this is nothing to be alarmed about, but today she was just inconsolable!
She would throw herself on the ground and scream. I knew she was not feeling well and wondered if her throat was hurting since her little voice was really hoarse and she had a cough this morning. I tried giving her many things, singing, playing, offering different drinks and snacks. I finally just left her on the ground to work it out for a few mins (all the while she is still MADLY pulling out fist fulls of hair) and went to the other room to breathe!! This honestly was the first time I had encountered a heavy feeling of inadequacy as a mother. What can I do??? Am I really going to be able to help her figure out her feelings and work through them? I know there must be more ahead of me, but as for today I was nearly in tears not knowing what to do! a little later I remembered this wonderful video I saw last week.
Read whole talk here.

at least Two reasons for Today

One of our church leaders said some beautiful words about mothers a few years back:
“During my professional career as a doctor of medicine, I was occasionally asked why I chose to do that difficult work. I responded with my opinion that the highest and noblest work in this life is that of a mother. Since that option was not available to me, I thought that caring for the sick might come close. I tried to care for my patients as compassionately and competently as Mother cared for me.

Many years ago the First Presidency issued a statement that has had a profound and lasting influence upon me. 'Motherhood,' they wrote, 'is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.

Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.' " Russell M. Nelson, “Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women,” Ensign, May 1999, 38

One:


Thank you sweet mother for bringing me into this world and for teaching me how to love! I honor you!
Two:
(this was taken today Lbug is getting some teeth and this is the only thing I could think of to relive her pain- can you see the tear??)
Thank you Sweet Charlotte for giving me the precious gift of MOTHERHOOD! I EnJOY our time together and learn so very much through your view of the World! I LOVE YOU!

(my Mother in law)
Cara Giovanna, Grazie per il lavoro che hai fatto come mamma! E' per quello che fai come nonna! Auguri!

I have had a great day! Church was Lovely! I was gave a talk. I learned some new things. I felt the LOVE of my Father in Heaven, my sweet husband and my little Lottie!
We have Zia Maria (Gio's aunt) staying with us for a few days. I am happy and Honored to me a Mother!
Happy Mother's Day to you!


(this is my present! Can't wait to use it!)
Check out an inspirational story about a mother below!

Loving Little Lottie!

I know that many of you would like to see more pictures and hear about what has been going on with us since Charlotte has become an official part of our family, here I am to tell you a bit about it all! As I write this Charlotte is sitting on my lap with one hand next to her eye the other resting on her lap and curiously staring at the bright screen of the computer- so pensive!!! She is a very attentive little one and LOVES her "homework" (basic black and white designs that she could stare at for hours)!!!
My parents have been here for a few weeks and we have enjoyed the company! Not only the little day trips we have taken, or the great food we have eaten, but the pure quality of the time we had together! It could not last forever- they headed back to Utah Sunday afternoon, we look forward to the time we will spend together in the spring!
Charlotte is a great baby! She cries for the normal things- food, sometimes to be changed or when her tummy hurts- she sleeps 4, 5, and sometimes even 6 hours at a time through the night. She is still pretty little to have her "routine" down yet, but she is doing well!!! I kiss her way too much and I am sure she thinks I am just nuts!!! Giovanni is doing his best to balance work and his want to be home- he loves to hold her and is getting braver about changing the diapers too! He is a big help when tiredness takes me over (especially now that gma & gpa Royce are back in the states)!!!
She is growing too!!! She was born at 5lbs and when we left the hospital she was 4.6- last Friday she weighed in at 5.6, the Dr.s have all been impressed at her growth only with breastfeeding! Yea for us!!!
I have added some pictures of some of the places we have seen and things we have been doing- enjoy!