Buon San Valentino!!!

Happy Valentines Day to you all!!! I know some of you out there are non- believers in this LOVERS holiday- Bah- Humbug to you!!! I for one enjoy a day dedicated to LOVE- this does not mean that lots of money has to be spent- just a nice day to remind us to TELL and SHOW people whom we love- that we really do LOVE them!
I read on history.com that this holiday was not started by card companies as some of you think, one legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. oh all for LOVE!!!
On Thursday I made some YUMMY chocolate truffles for Gio to take to work and for us to share with some of our lovely neighbors, doorman and Favorite bread man!! They were not very hard to make- and did I mention how yummy they were??? Charlotte and I made some Valentines for family earlier this week and mailed them off- for those of you who did not get one consider this your electronic greeting!!!

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!

my first week as a mother

So many people say that you can't understand what it is like to be a parent until you become one, I would have to agree! I am only 10 days into this and the thoughts, feelings, and experiences are so very rich! Amazing that such a little person can be the fount of so much LOVE! I knew that I loved her before I met her, but now that I know her my feelings have just multiplied!!!
Giovanni is a Fantastic pappi and he really LOVES little Lottie! He loves placing her on his bare chest so she can cuddle next to him! It is really sweet to see them together! For now we are loving the beginning of this new adventure!



I am here to tell you all that being the mother of Piccola Charlotte is GREAT!

Charlotte and family

Charlotte meets her zia Amalia

















Charlotte meets her grandma Teresa














Charlotte meets her nonno Aldo and nonna Giovanna















Charlotte meets her zia Mariuccia

Charlotte with family

Charlotte with her parents!

Charlotte Raya Criscione

Born this morning at 4:20 AM in Milan. All is well. She is only 5 pounds! More to post later!!

Last week of pre-baby

Here we are in the end of the 39th week rolling over (on Friday) to the 40th week of pregnancy! All is going well and the little Siciliana, she has dropped 2 cm- with her head down- but her back to my back, which could make for a long labor with more back pain.
We have been "nesting" around here! I really do mean "we" Giovanni has been home from work with the holidays (a nice change) and has been helping me do so many things that I could not do before- or he forbid me from doing due to heaviness of things or protecting my from getting hurt (sweet guy). Tomorrow Mother Teresa (my mammalina) arrives and we are really looking forward to picking her up! Other then JR & Kristi no one else in my family has ever seen (yes virtually- but not in person) any place Gio and I have lived! It is really exciting for me that she is coming here! I get to show her fun things in the city and take her shopping to fun places (good time to do it too- since all the sales started last week)!!! Not only that- but we get to welcome home a new baby while she is here- YEA!!!!
Along with cleaning and doing what we can to make space in our little apartment we have had some fun too!!! Pictures are from New Years with our friends Davide and Simona toasting at midnight with orange soda!!! Giovanni taking the tree back to Ikea (we got the amount back we spent on the tree and bought a tub for the baby), my belly cast that Gio made. As well as a picture of what we woke up to this morning!!! SNOW- and A LOT of it!!! I love it!!! Reminds me of being at home- Utah home!!! This is pretty unusual for Milan, I just hope that tomorrow mom does not have any problems landing!
Enjoy these pictures and words for now- (the pics of me and belly as well as with Gio and belly were taken about 1 month ago).