Share the Love

It seems that big sister has taken a strong liking to her new role. She takes every opportunity to mimic what I do to Gabe and how I talk to him. She is a little mommy sponge. When we woke him up from nap, she asked to hold him...then she proceeded to tell him the the story of the owl babies (just like I read it to her). All I can say is that we all love having the little guy in our arms and he has been such a dreamy little baby.



We went away to Seattle to visit my family and Lou went to Kodiak, AK to do some fishing with his dad. We had a great time and Lou took the camera. I am waiting for friends and my mom to send us photos to post for y'all. We all enjoyed the time away from Montana and were happy to come home and see each other and Murf again. Lou brought us home salmon and stories and we hope to take Frannie and Gabe to AK so they can see it for themselves.

First attempt at the jumper

 

Gabe's #1 source of entertainment




watching the ceiling fan



Thank you for the amazing 12 weeks!!

 This week I start being at work full time and figuring out a new normal and seeing how far I can stretch my energy. Gabe and Frannie are both with great care providers and I can relax knowing they are doing well, but its not the same. My lovely 12 weeks at home with my kiddos living the dream life has come to an end and I will never forget all the great moments we shared. Its hard to believe that Lou and I have come so far and made our goals a reality. Thank you everyone for sharing in this wonderful time with us and supporting us as we move along.

Quick - Quick

Just an update:

The last two weeks have flown by since the last post. I am back at work now and hope to find time to get more updates out to you all.

Lou was on a fire assignment for 8 days and then his mom and dad came to visit us. Frannie and I took care of Gabe and tried to not miss daddy too much. It was purely a week of existing. Frannie did master pumping on the swing this week and couldn't be happier with herself! Way to go Frannie, I am so proud of you!!



pumping away

Gloria and Ju-Ju Bee are still trying to find their coop harmony and will hopefully be more peaceful before the first snow falls...

Nonna Joann and Papa Lou drove out from NY with our new car pulling a trailer and bringing Lou's treasures from his childhood. We took Frannie and Gabe to a pumpkin patch to get their pumpkins-it was 90 degrees that day!!



Thank you Nona Joann & Papa Lou for coming to visit us!! We will miss you-



picking her pumpkin

a pumpkin of her own

Gabe is now two months old and lifting his head up and growing stronger every day. He can now roll from front to back and is 13 pounds! He is meeting new friends as we speak at daycare and getting settled into his new normal now that mom is going back to work. I miss you Cubbie!!


hold your head high




trying to roll




bright eyes at two months




Cubbie attack!!!




friends forever?




Family of Four



Gloria-ous

This week has passed by like a blur with the growing baby and end of August heat. I realized last week, when my computer battery was running out of steam, that I didn't post pictures from the Wild West Festival. We took Frannie last year, and she drug us again this year. She remembered the horse rides and the big red barn. Two things that make her very excited. We were hot post camping and went anyways. Gabe didn't much out of it but maybe next year he'll get to go on a horse ride too.

The bigger the better- Frannie loved these draft horses and really scared us all as we watched her give them a hug



Frannie and Chips


Gabe and Frannie are enjoying simple days in the heat and we have been enjoying watching them grow and change. Gabe is getting better at holding his head up and spending time on his tummy. He is still dealing with the baby acne and I cant wait for it to be gone. My poor little baby looks awful, but I cant really complain because everything else is going so well.

 

Sleepy time



We got a new chicken for ju-ju bee from a coworker that was downsizing his flock. I was a little nervous about the introduction and how our little black chicken might feel. The girls were friendly to each other and now we have a full sized egg layer in our little coop. Ju-ju bee might make it through the winter now.



Welcome Gloria to the family



Sorry for the short post. I'll be taking more pictures and typing more soon. Enjoy the Summer!

And the beat goes on...

We have turned the corner on the one month arrival of Gabriele and things are starting to feel good. We have our own little family of four groove going on and the only one that seems to mind is Murf (sorry Murf, I only have so much time to be everyones best friend that you might only get a few fleeting moments from me but you are still the best Griffon in town).  Gabriele has escaped his time with a clogged tear duct to enter into a new sentence with baby acne (it isnt as cute as it sounds). Gabe has gone camping and been a real champ. Firsts abound around our house these days...those sweet sweet 'firsts'-awww.

Battery is about to die, so here are a few caption free photos from us lately-enjoy!

One Month

Yes, I am so bad. It has been one month since my last post. But listen-I have a good reason...I had a baby!! The last month has breezed by full of wonderful memories and yes, we have been getting some sleep. It seems that my little boy has been just what we hoped for-the perfect new member of our family. Frannie has been enjoying being the big sis and we are all adjusting to the new normal (i.e. no time for blogging). It seems that the changes in our lives this summer have been something that we will always remember. No time to catch-up, but here are a few highlights of the past month:

7/11/2011- Gabriele Luciano Volpe is born 9 lb 2 oz. Mom and Dad had an adventure in getting him here and were pleased with how perfect and healthy he is-Welcome to the Family Little Man!

just what I always wanted-two Lou's!!

happy big sister

first day and I am in love!!

Frannie continues to monitor her peas and other goodies growing this summer and enjoys taking care of her chicken. Murf is hanging in there too now that he is really the low man on the totem pole.



our juicy currants




reaping her rewards


Frannie is thrilled to be at the Fair and Rodeo this year although we did skip the rodeo due to the new baby. She didnt mind b/c she got to see all the animals and hang out with them for a few days.

visiting with fred-she is fearless when it comes to animals



future rodeo queen?




even the goats get a visit

Gabe and Frannie share his first bath in the big tub. Frannie could'nt be happier to have a little brother to help take care of and share her life with.

Baby grows and grows. Gabe is learning how to stretch his legs and hold his head up like a champ. Here are a few pictures of the bear cub this last week.



to be or not to be blue?...that is the question



morning glory-he is always the most alert when the sun rises

so cute I couldn't help mtself

Buddha or baby?

observing the world

starting to use daddy's cradle

I hope to keep posting more regularly now that life is sorting it self out for our family. Enjoy the summer and keep in touch

Hey baby, its the fourth of July---

The break from routine has been very needed. We didn't leave, we didn't celebrate, we didn't blow anything up. We just were. Life as we know it will change soon. Soon I will be seperate but still attached to the baby inside of me. Soon, we will celebrate. Soon we will play. Soon, yes soon, we can blow things up. But now, we just are. Staying at home with our quiet life, with our not so quiet three year old, enjoying the heat and comforts around us. Summer is here and it is time to slow down. This sums up how I feel about our weekend, please read: http://www.grist.org/living/2011-06-28-the-medium-chill

We focused our time on simple things, yes here that phrase is again. Sitting with Frannie outside talking, drawing, running through sprinklers enjoying how Murf has started to ignore the chicken and just be our dog and a part of our family. It helps that the squirrels are trying to infiltrate our yard and he has a distraction... Things are growing, things are blooming. I took Frannie on her summer tour train trip in 90 degree weather (hard on both of us but she loves watching the tour train go by and it was a good day to take the trip).  Winter seems long gone but we know it is soon coming. For now, we are able to just be and let life take us where it may. Its good, b/c I am so dang huge I dont know if I could do much more or at least any of the things I dream about doing.

Frannie doesn't know about her independence, or how things have come to be and I am happy she can have a safe and carefree life. I think about other three year olds across the globe and wonder how their lives are. I am blessed to have a daughter in this era and know that she is safe and protected in our little town. She has so many opportunities and freedoms and I hope she will take each one with pride. My son will soon join her and know this life and be safe. I hope he comes soon.

Happy Independence Day out there-I hope you are all safe and enjoying the summer and celebrations in your lives.

We ran through sprinklers....

...and ran some more

We watched the peonies bloom

We lit fireworks (very safely)

We lit and lit

and lit some more

and it never stopped being fun even in the day time

We played with our dog

And we talked about and waited for the new baby to come