The Aftermath of "Nap" Time

So as I am sure that you are aware of, nap times have been "challenging" since we switched the crib into a toddler bed. Every day, I put Cienna in her room and beg her to stay in her bed. IT NEVER HAPPENS. But today, something really special happened. When I went to go check on her (she was being very quiet so I thought that maybe she had actually fallen asleep) I found the mess of a lifetime. The best part was the fact that she got into some Vicks Vapo Rub and put it in her hair, on her body and all over her baby doll. She also took every diaper wipe out of the wipes warmer among other things. We immediately went to the bathtub (just what I was hoping to do right in the middle of the day) and I attempted to get the Vapo Rub out of her hair. GOOD LUCK! She looks like a greasy little homeless baby now. If anyone has a suggestion please let me know!

Lubbock, TX

This week, Cienna and I drove to Lubbock, TX to visit Elizabeth and Brody Hudome. Elizabeth and I met a Gymboree last year and a few months ago they relocated to Lubbock because of her husband's job. Anyway, we had so much fun carting around the kiddos to various parks, classes and eateries that I was sad to leave. We will have to make another trip very soon!
We also had a doctor appointment last Monday morning and everything is going really well. I finally hit 12 weeks and the 1st trimester screening came back normal which is great news! Tony is still insisting on finding out the gender of the baby, so on March 30th he will know. Other than that, no news that the baby is gigantic or anything like that so things are good!
Tony's turns 30 on Wednesday and he has informed me that he would like a shotgun for his birthday. Sounds like the perfect milestone b-day gift to me! So at least the present part is taken care of. Tony's parents are coming at the end of the week to help us celebrate, which I cannot wait for. I am not sure who is more excited...me or Cienna. That is it for now!

Visiting the "Minkos"

Cienna and I visited the ABQ zoo today, and when you first walk in there are flamingos in the center of the park. Cienna gets so excited when she sees them (because like her mama, she loves the color pink) but she can't exactly say "flamingo." Instead she calls them "minkos". It sounds something like this: "Mama I go see the minkos!" She loves the animals, loves the train that runs through the zoo and insists on walking the entire time. So independant!

And if you are wondering how the big girl bed is coming along...it is going good! She is sleeping through the night with no problems but nap time is a little challenging. She either does not take a nap or it takes her 2 hours to fall asleep. But I would rather have her sleeping through the night than taking a nap so I am happy.

The kitchen remodel is almost done...just the backsplash needs to be done and the counters turned out great. We sold almost everything at the yard sale, although I never thought that sitting in my front yard could be such hard work. It felt like I had been camping in a dirt pit by the time the weekend was done. So glad that is over!

I think that is it for now. Hope everyone is doing great!

Toddler Bed Time

We have been meaning to change Cienna's crib into a toddler bed for about 2 months now, ever since the first time that she climbed (or flipped) out of the crib and landed on the floor. Then she goes a week or two with no incidents and we put it off. Changing the bed means her climbing out, and now that she can open doors I seriously doubt that I will get any sleep! But after today, I fear there is no more delaying the change. After putting her down for a nap at 11:45am, she continued to "play" in her crib until around 1:30pm. I refused to get her up because she had been such a stink pot this morning and I knew that she needed a nap. FINALLY, I heard her stop crying and went in to take a peak. This is what I found! I immediately called Tony and told him tomorrow we have to change the crib into a bed. The poor thing is going to break her neck if we don't get on it! Anyway, this is probably my last post for quite a while considering I will be too tired to write a sentence that makes sense. If anyone has any suggestions to make this transition smoother, please share!

New Year, New Baby On The Way!

First, let me get you up to speed on our holiday season! Thanksgiving was spent in New Mexico with my mom and brother Jonathan who flew in from CA for the holiday. We drove to our cabin in South Fork, CO and celebrated a snow-free Turkey Day. We had a blast! My dear friend Lindsay came to visit New Mexico the first week of December for a few days and we had plenty of time to catch up (and have way too many drinks!) The second week of December Tony and I traveled back east to Philadelphia, PA, New York, NY, & Atlantic City, NJ. We saw historical sites, a Broadway show, the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and visited Tony's brother Dominick who resides part time in Atlantic City. It was a whirlwind of a vacation...we hustled to get everything in because one never knows when you will make it back! Eight days later we found out that we are having another baby and the day after that we made a road trip to CA where we drove for 16 hours straight and arrived on Tony's parents doorstep at 2am on Christmas Day. Suprise! After staying in CA for 2 weeks through the holidays (and finally visiting Alcatraz like we always said we would do!) we made the drive back to New Mexico. The following week we completely remodeled our laundry room...snuck in a doctor's appointment and another trip to the cabin and now we are getting new kitchen countertops / sink / etc on Friday so we are demolitioning the kitchen tomorrow. Friday / Saturday we are having a garage sale, Sunday is Superbowl and I think we will finally get a small break in the action before Tony's brother Dom comes to visit in the middle of February, parents come at the end of February and brother Chris comes the second week of March. Oh and did I mention that we are having a baby too? I am due August 30th and so far I am feeling great. I swear...now that I put this all down on paper (well..uh...computer) I now know why I have not blogged in 2 months. I have been busy!! I hope to get better about this (Cindy, you have inspired me) so that the blogs aren't 6 pages long! Hope all is well with all of our friends and family and I would love to hear what you are up to!

Halloween Festivities

Halloween this year was spent in CA with our friends and family. Cienna dressed up as a pumpkin (and the cutest damn pumpkin you have ever seen I might add) and had a blast going from house to house collecting candy from strangers. At first she was a bit apprehensive....until she realized that people were going to give her stuff and then she was delighted! To our surprise she was not all that interested in actually eating the candy....that is until Grams and Pops began giving her some and then it was "more, more, more!!" Next year will be even more fun, I am sure. Our friends DJ and Melanie threw an "adult" Halloween party later that night where Tony and I dressed up as well. Unfortunately, the only picture that I have of the costumes are on the grandparent's camera but I assure you the costumes were fab. I went as a Jazzercizer and Tony went as Run from Run D.M.C. We had so much fun catching up with old friends from the "hood."

My little brother Jonathan turned 18 on the 30th and my mom threw a party for him the day after Halloween. Hard to believe that my little brother is 18. It seems like just yesterday that he was annoying me and my friends and crimping my style. Wow....I am getting old!

The holidays are upon us and we are awaiting the arrival of my mom and brother for Thanksgiving. We hope that everyone has a fun and fulfilling Turkey Day! Keep in touch!

The Start Of Something New

As you all know, Tony and I have lived in New Mexico for (ever) now and as a result it can be hard to keep up-to-date with all of our friends a family. I started this blog to keep everyone in the loop as to the "haps" with the Mazotti family and our crazy life together. Everyday is a new adventure with our newly "independent" girlfriend Cienna and our dogs Zues and Tonka. Feel free to comment and share stories of your own!

Ali