playmates, food firsts and sweet story time

Every day I am amazed by the growing interaction between Evan and Joel. Plus, the fact that I was never able to experience what they are experiencing is so cool to witness! Whenever Evan is around Joel is consumed with watching him, and now has decided to laugh at his silly big brother. Evan has finally began noticing that his baby brother reacts to him. Evan already has an audiance. I caught Evan pushing Joel around and around in the exersaucer yesterday. I noticed him doing it because Joel was giggling. I keep our camera on the kitchen counter for capturing these quick moments...

Joel had his four month well child visit today. He's a little bit late with it since our move up here put him behind with the well child check ups. He weighed 15 lbs. 13 oz. and measured 26.5 in. long. He's doing so well. He's such a happy and peaceful baby. He loves to laugh at his brother. Yesterday I gave Joel a small amount of cooked rice cereal. He took to it very well. He still has to work on his tongue thrust. It pushes most of the cereal out of his mouth.

Last night I was able to catch Matt reading to both boys before dinner time. They both love when their Papi reads to them. They always stay put when Papi reads to them. I'm always struggling to get Evan to stay put and listen. Although, Evan enjoys looking at books on his own.
Life's so much sweeter with two!

Let Freedom Ring (bluegrass style)

Matt and I were commenting that yesterday's fourth of july festivities were truly what fourth of july is all about. We've never really experienced a day quite like we did yesterday. Just real Americans who are proud of who they are and where they are from. Eating, eating, and eating. Listening to bluegrass music being performed by their fellow neighbors, enjoying the fabulous weather (not sticky), and watching fireworks that seemed to never end. We got to accompany our friends and their two girls to a local farm in Greer, SC. which puts on this celebration every year for a few of their friends (400 plus). We had no idea what to expect, so we were pleasantly surprised by the great Southern hospitality, and amazing home-cooked foods. The farm has several buildings that have been specially built for these functions. One building housed the bbq pork sandwiches, and chicken with all the yummy fixin's like corn on the cob, beans, salads, ect. The other building housed the desserts. I certainly had my fill!!! Cookies, brownies galore, tons of cakes. It was an eye opener to see all of this food. All of this was free, and put on by this family...the Bruces'.
We arrived around 6 p.m. and the kids were able to last for there first fireworks display also put on by the Bruce family. There was a beautiful full moon, and the mosquitos took the day off. We sat around there pond watching the fireworks light up the sky. There were a few tears, but those subsided. Joel fell asleep, and big brother Evan watched in wonder while Matt held him.
Needless to say we enjoyed our South Carolina Fourth of July.

Joel on July 3rd at Falls Park in downtown Greenville.

Beach buds

What a lovely beach! Matt and I took the boys a couple of weeks ago to Topsail Beach, NC. It's near Wilmington, NC. Our close friends Tony and Susie were staying there for the second time with their family for the week. Gabby our goddaughter was celebrating her 2nd birthday, and we wanted to meet the newest member of their adorable family, baby Sophia. We rented a duplex from vrbo.com for two nights. It makes so much more sense to rent a condo or home when you have more than one child than to stay in a cramped hotel room without a kitchen. I highly recommend that website for all your accomodation needs.
Tony has the sweetest family! They ALWAYS make us feel so special and so welcome whenever we see them. We've told them many times that we wouldn't mind them adopting us into their family if they are looking for more. They are too sweet to say, NO WAY! :) We were so surprised by Evan's reaction to the beach, because he absolutely hated it. Matt and I are both fishes, and love the beach. Naturally, we thought Evan would be the same. We are hoping that this is will pass, or maybe he's more into mountains. If that's the case he'll be thrilled when he realizes where we've moved to.
Here are some photos from Gabby's Minnie Mouse themed party. With matching t-shirts and all! Susie is just the best when it comes to things like...EVERYTHING!

High Above the Sky

On Memorial day we drove to Simpsonville another suburb of Greenville to attend Freedom Weekend Aloft 2009 at Heritage Park. The festival is every year and it lasts all weekend. They have concerts, like Sister Hazel, carnival rides, and food. The highlight of the weekend is the launching of the hot air balloons. Evan loved seeing all the different colored balloons in the sky. It also gave us a chance to explore another area of the Upstate. The park was awesome. We will be returning just to play there. They also have a small train that gives rides for $2.00 a person.

In between time outs

So here we go. Let the updating begin, and boy do we have a lot to add to the blog.
Time out break.
We've had a lot going on since I last blogged. We celebrated our first Easter up here by going to mass with the boys. It seemed like forever since we had been to mass with Joel's birth and the move. It was good to go.
Time out break.
We then headed to Alpharetta to have lunch and an easter egg hunt. As always we had a fabulous time with our family. Evan was non stop that day. He gets so excited when he sees his cousins.
Time out break.
Here are the photos from Easter...




Soon after Easter we had a visit from Pipo and Mima. While they were here my Tio and Tia came for a visit from their home in Atlanta. We had such a nice barbeque on the deck. The weather cooperated great.



In May my oldest girlfriend came to visit me. Cintia and I have been friends since the 5th grade, so for 20 years. It's really amazing to be able to say that. It was so refreshing to have an old friend visit us in a new place. We had a great time together, and she was such a huge help with the boys. I'm not sure it was a relaxing time for her.

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Sleep, glorious sleep!

It's been a while since I've been on here, and that's due to sleep deprivation. We started the sleep training at 9 weeks, and last night Joel finally slept through the night! Wouldn't you know that I didn't enjoy it. I went to be after Matt, and when that happens I never sleep well since his snoring keeps me awake. I love him still :))
On March 30th we heard Joel laugh for the first time. It was such a deep sounding giggle. We tried to have him do it again with the video camera, but like most babies he doesn't perform on command. We are getting excited for Pipo and Mima's visit next week. They'll be here for a couple of days. We really miss seeing them. Evan goes to Gymboree every Tuesday night. I take him with Joel in the ErgoBaby carrier, since he don't tolerate the car seat. It's my workout! Well, the laundry is calling...

Pee pee on the Potty!

Pee pee on the potty! I bought Evan an Elmo video called Potty Time to begin getting Evan familiar with the potty, which matches his Elmo potty seat. I never thought I'd be excited to write about pi pi(spanish), but Evan just pi pi in his potty for the first time. It didn't even take an bribing! I've just been asking each time I go to change his diaper if he wants to pi pi, and then place him on the potty. Thanks for listening to this ridiculously excited mami.
By the way, our best friends Tony & Susie had their second daughter, Sophia Marie on March 16. She looks just like her big sister, Gabby....just beautiful.
Congrats guys!
Oh, for the first time Joel slept 6 hours straight last night. I'm off to bed early in hopes that it happens again. :)

Minutes to the mountains

These are images from Table Rock, and Caesar's Head park both which are only a twenty minute drive from our home in Easley. We really like how close we are to the mountains.

Nap time = Mommy time

Since Joel is currently taking a good nap I had to take this time to update our blog with photos of our first two weeks in South Carolina. Today it's snowing for the first time since we've arrived. I'm having a difficult time returning phone calls right now since Joel isn't a good sleeper yet, but I'm hoping that will soon change for the better. Evan is doing great. We've enrolled him in a Mom's Morning Out program starting in June. He'll be going to school twice a week from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I think he'll really enjoy it since he loves being around other children. I've taken him to several parks and playgrounds since we moved, and he says, "Hi" to every child he sees.
Joel is growing so fast. He's over ten pounds now, and that's because he eats like a champ! He doesn't have a two month appointment till April, so we'll have to wait a month for that. We've been able to get a doctor for the boys, and one for my check up too. Things are falling into place. As for Matt he really likes his job, and is glad to be working with only children. We will miss working with John and Tina Vairo. They were so good to us! We'll there's so much to say and I'm starting to ramble a bit. I'll let the photos do the talking.

From Joel at One month old

From Eat like a BIG boy!

From Evan playing in his playroom

From Our First Snow in South Carolina

From Our First Snow in South Carolina

From Our First Snow in South Carolina

From Our First Snow in South Carolina

From Our First Snow in South Carolina

From Our First Snow in South Carolina