Memorial Day Weekend

While most people spend Memorial Day weekend camping, boating, and grilling, we in the Mazotti house like to do projects. It is an age-old tradition that started, let me think...well just this year, but I think that it is going to be a life-long tradition now that I know how much stuff can actually get done in a 3-day weekend. We didn't spend Saturday running out to Home Depot getting stuff for our projects either. No, we have our "projects" piled in our family room just waiting for the right weekend to tackle them. Here is a snapshot of what we got done:

-Grouted the kitchen backsplash
-Installed new door handles
-Hung flower boxes under the front windows (well one got installed...the other is back in the living room)
-Put new tires on the smoker (one of which is already flat again)
-Planted flowers
-Replaced string lights on patio
-Mowed the front and back lawns
-Hung a bug zapper (really for mosquitos and aparently mosquitos are smarter than I thought)
-Leveled the washing machine
-Replaced a toilet
-Finally mailed a 87lb compressor for our Coke machine

While I am sure that this does not sound like much, imagine an 87lb compressor, toilet, flower boxes, door handles, bug zapper and string lights sitting in your living room for 3 months. I am damn proud of our Memorial Day accomplishments!
We hope that you all had a great weekend...and were able to relax and welcome in the summer that is finally almost here!

It's Official

I must hand it to my husband who was able to keep our baby's gender a secret for the last 6 weeks. I'll admit that I did not think he would be able to do it (or some of our friends for that matter!) but everyone came through for me....except Presbyterian of ABQ. Because of the kidney situation, I have had to go in for ultrasounds every 4 weeks and every 4 weeks someone has indicated that we are having a boy. Well yesterday it was confirmed when the doctor came in, looked at my chart and asked me "so what are we having here? Oh a male." I said "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE HAVING!" To which he replied "oh, sorry, well whatever it is a boy or a girl it looks good." I couldn't believe it! They told me! When I got home I told Tony that "his son weighs 1lb 10oz" and the grin on his face said it all. Done deal. It's a boy!
Your thoughts, prayers and "uh, ohs" are welcome. I already know that I am in trouble. Like father like son right?

My Happy Mother's Day

Back in 2007, I spent my first Mother's Day in Texas with Tony packing up our house while Cienna was in California with family. As we walked our dogs around our neighborhood for the very last time Tony asked me if I was sad because I wasn't spending my very first Mother's Day with Cienna. I told him that it would all be worth it if he could promise me that my next Mother's Day would be spent at our "cabin in Colorado." He promised that he would do his best to see to it that we got the cabin that we always wanted by then. In 2008, I spent my second Mother's Day with Tony and Cienna at our newly purchased cabin in Colorado. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. This year, my third Mother's Day, I am feeling enormously emotional as I blog on the couch. I received a necklace from my favorite jeweler, Lily Barrack, which my husband designed especially for me. He gave me a card with words so sweet, it made me cry. My daughter just told me that she had to go potty...and she did! I am not only a mother, but also a mother-to-be, just one more blessing that has been bestowed upon me. I truly so happy, which makes this the best Mother's Day that I have ever spent.

Last Monday one of my best friends, Lindsay, and her fiancee Joe drove out from California for a visit. We spent Monday - Wendesday hanging out in ABQ, where they went to Gymboree, hung out at Maloney's Bar for Cinco de Mayo and got to see what a crazy life we truly live. Wednesday afternoon we left for Colorado and had so much fun enjoying the fabulous weather (it was HOT in ABQ) and catching up. We played Spades, BBQ'd and took the raft out on the lake. Since I forgot my camera (and Linsday is probably just getting back into CA as we speak) I used some "stock" photos of the raft (and Cienna on our maiden voyage last year!)


On Friday we drove into Pagosa Springs, CO, where we visited The Springs resort for the day. They have 17 hot springs that range anywhere from 93-114 degrees and if that wasn't relaxing enough, they all overlook a beautiful river. It was truly a treat and Cienna loved her choice of "tiny pools!"

Saturday morning we went our seperate ways...Lindsay and Joe headed back to CA and we headed back to ABQ. The time came and went way too fast but I am so grateful that they are our friends. Thanks for the great visit you guys! We will see you soon!
P.S. Just got some pictures from Lindsay...here are a couple!

Busy Busy Weekend

Since Tony returned to work on light duty last week I started to get a feel for what having a husband with a regular 9-5 might be like. Home every night, weekends off... it is so wierd! I decided to take advantage of his days off by cramming as many activities as we could handle into 3 days. I am sure that Tony is very grateful for my planning, although he failed to mention this at any point throughout the weekend. He did, however, keep mentioning "sleep" or "rest" or "nap" but I just assumed he meant this week when my friend Linsday and her fiancee Joe are coming to visit. Anyway, we had a blast this weekend starting with our date night Friday night. We went to Seasons, which is a fabulous restaurant in Old Town ABQ. The best part of the night for me was being able to take 10 minutes just to read (and re-read) the menu prior to ordering. Usually when we eat out we have our meals ordered in 30 seconds flat and are begging the waiter to bring crayons, bread and water on the double before Cienna wigs out. I loved taking my time. It was more satisfying than the meal!

Saturday we took Cienna to see Pinkalicious, the musical, at the ABQ Little Theater. The theater is located in our neighborhood and while we have always wanted to go, we did not think that Cienna would sit still through the various other plays that they put on throughout the year. Pinkalicious was our perfect opportunity to go considering she loves the book (and the color pink!) It was very cute and captivated Cienna for an entire hour!

Sunday we went to the ABQ Isotopes AAA baseball game. They are the farm team for the LA Dodgers and it just happened to be Public Safety Day so we got a discount on the tickets. The game was fun, but the best part was the games / activities that they have for kids behind the outfield. Cienna bounced, slid, and carouseled her way through 9 innings (along with scarfing down some nachos and an ice cream.)




We rounded out the day by celebrating Tonka Maria's 4th birthday with some "Drooly Dog Ice Cream Bars" from Three Dog Bakery. Tonka and brother Zeus were obviously in a festive mood....


Another great weekend, come and gone!

My Favorite Fireman

I just received these photos from one of Tony's co-workers and had to share them. It makes me so proud to see that although his work is tough......

He doesn't have to look like a tough guy to do it!

Tony is a big guy with a big heart...and he truly loves what he does! I love him! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Disney World

Well we made it back from the most magical place on earth they call Disney World. Cienna had so much fun meeting the characters, riding little rollercoasters, swimming in the "big pool" and the "tiny pool" aka the spa, and experiencing her first 3-D animation show which scared the daylights out of her. Each and every night she was tired beyond belief but ready to go the next morning with more pizzazz than the day before. I am glad that our trip was only 7 days because I really started to think that she was going to expect daily trips to Disney World for the rest of her life. If anyone is planning a trip to Disney World I have a few tips:
1. Pack your own lunch.
2. Always budget for ice cream. Always. It is Florida and you will need it.
3. Travel with someone in a wheelchair. You get to go in special lines. (Thanks Mom for pushing!)
4. Stay at a resort close to the parks. With all the shuttles and monorails and ferries, it takes 2 hours just to get to the park.
5. Bring your own water and refill it at the fountains. Buying it there is crazy expensive!
6. If you can only see one parade, make sure it is the nighttime one. Fabulous!
7. Don't try to go 5 days in a row. Make sure to plan a rest day.
8. Always make sure that someone is waiting for your 2-year old at the bottom of the pool slide BEFORE they go down it. This will save you from instantly aging 10 years.
9. Plan what you want to see that day before you head to the park. Checking maps and scedules when you are there is such a waste of time!
10. Before buying your ears, check the Mad Hatter at the park entrance. They have every hat that you can imagine and you can even design your own!
And now for some pictures:

Day 1 - Meeting Pinocchio

End of Day

Day 2 - Animal Kingdom - Meeting Goofy

And Minnie

End of Day

Day 3 - Epcot

Not Making It To The Fireworks

Day 4 - Pool / Rest Day!!


Day 5 - Back To Magic Kingdom


End Of Day

Day 6 - Having Another Magical Day At Magical Kingdom



End of Day

Day 7 - Going Home And Still Tired!

Pyelectasis

I went for my "follow up" sonogram today to see if baby Mazotti's kidney had drained itself since my last sonogram 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, not only did the kidney not drain, but the other kidney now has a large amount of fluid building up. The condition is called Pyelectasis and it is (from what I am told) the most common condition that is found in fetuses. Here is a little blurb that I found on the internet:
Enlargement of the part of the kidney that collects urine (the renal pelvis) from 4 to 10 millimeters in diameter is called fetal pyelectasis. Pyelectasis is detected in 1 per 100 babies before birth, and is seen more commonly in male fetuses. About 1in 500 cases develops significant disease. Most mild cases resolve before birth or within a few months after delivery.
So....they tell me it is nothing to concern myself with and that most likely it will correct itself either before being born or right after. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I am not dwelling on it either! They did tell me that my baby had "very muscular arms and legs and was definately going to be an athlete." They also told me that it was a "nice, chunky baby." They got some great pictures that I wanted to share!

A picture of the "very muscular" arm

And one of the leg.....

Contemplating emptying the kidneys!


Our other news is Cienna's first visit from the Easter bunny. She was so excited to do all of the Easter things....dye eggs, the hunt and realizing that the bunny brings gifts! She was so careful to remove each item from her basket one-by-one and show us everything....I absolutely loved it. Here are a few pics of that...

Her Easter basket

Some of her favorite things....

Dying eggs for the first time