Blessings...

Last week I was really having a tough time between transiting back to work, parenting, household management and all that comes with it. I found myself in a constant bad mood and didn't like the parent and spouse that I was being.
Toward the end of the week, Nick told me about a co-worker of his and the unthinkable events that he and his family were facing. This man's 3 month old son, baby Will, had just been diagnosed with a very rare and serious kind of cancer. I immediately felt an odd connection to this man, his baby and their family. Probably because they have three kids, all basically the same age as ours. Hearing about all that is going on with them and the outlook they have chosen to take, has changed my attitude and helped me snap out of my bad mood and realize the blessings that I am given every day.
Of course, I am incredibly saddened that Will and his family have to go through what they are currently facing... but I thank them for their strength and perspective.
Below is the link to their blog. It is Will's dad writing him letters. It is incredible. Please join their fight for Will by saying an extra prayer, keeping him in your thoughts, or by holding your own baby tighter and taking the time to count your blessings.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bravewill

1/2 Marathon!

Today, I completed my 2nd 1/2 Marathon!

This summer my running became my stress relief, my weight management and my treasured time alone. Soon my running turned into training - mostly so that I felt like I had a schedule to follow. Having that schedule kept me going on days that I felt too tired or too crazed.

I get such an amazing since of accomplishment at the end of every long run. Today it was even better because I had my family and friends there to cheer me on!

This is at the starting point. I am way in the back... My only goals in this race (keep in mind that I am NOT competitive at all!) was to be able to run the whole time and to finish.
Giving the girls a high five for TEAM GIUMARRA!
The finish line.

I completed the 13.1 miles in 2hrs, 5mins.

My biggest supporters and fans.
Me and my running buddy.

I dedicate this run to ME!

For the runner, for the mother, for the wife, and for the fun. May the running make me better in each of these roles.

Thanks to all that were in my fan club today!

Giumarra babies

Who ever has seen our kids, know that they all look a lot a like. So, who looks more like one than the other?? These are the girls, both at 5 months. Who looks more like Colin?

Natalie

Sadie

Cast your vote!

Colin is 5 months!

Our little baby isn't looking so little anymore!

Colin is now 5 months old and it has been a big month for him (and me too!)

This past month, Colin started daycare and I have been back to work. It has been going ok... some busy mornings and crazy evenings, but overall it has been better than I was expecting. In the midst of my 1st week back at work, we learned that Colin is allergic to milk and he dealt with a horrible rash. The rash has finally cleared and I am trying to go dairy free to see if that helps him stay clear. I was going to start food with him this past month, but now with the milk allergy, he will probably get to try food out at some point this month.

He is full of smiles and his bottom 2 teeth are just days away. It will be so fun to see his smile with little, itty bitty teeth peeking through. He is really working hard at rolling over and just hasn't gotten it yet. I am sure it will be not long off before he is a moving!

With me back at work, Colin sleeping pattern has not been so great. He is waking up between 2-4am full of smiles and love, but not wanting to go back to sleep. The past couple of nights, I have ended up feeding him. I have such mom guilt about it... I don't want to get in the habit of midnight snacks and so want to encourage him to be sleeping through the night, but on the other hand, feeding him is just so easy and he can't be with me during the day... the least I can do is give him some cuddles. Maybe he needs the time with me, maybe he is hungry or maybe he is just being a baby? Does anyone have the right answer?

So, here's to another wonderful month of health and happiness!

Wonderful Weekend for All!

Isn't family the best!

This past weekend, fun was had by all!

To start, my aunt Jeanne (my mother's sister) was turning 60 and a surprise birthday was planned for her up in Maine. My mom was planning on going and offered to bring the girls with her. I wanted to be part of it all, but I knew that with just being back to work and Colin not loving the car, that I just didn't have it in me to go as well. The girls were very excited to have some "Nannie time," but were SO VERY much looking forward to playing with their cousins, Liam, Aela and Shae. These kids are my cousin, Jen's, children and they are all about 1 year older than my kids. It's so fun... there is just something about family that the kids seem to understand - although they only see each other 1 or 2x a year, each time they are together... they are instantly best friends. The girls had so much fun being with their cousins and loved having a weekend away. I just hope that Aunt Jeanne had as much fun!

This is a picture of all the family at the surprise party... Jeanne had not yet arrived.

Uncle Tom, Sadie, Aunt Kathy, Jen, Greg and Shae, Rebecca,k JC

Aela, Liam, Natalie, my Mom, and Erika

In this picture is our girls and Liam (6 1/2) Aela (4).

Speaking of loving family.... my mom gave me the bestest weekend!

This weekend, Nick, Colin and I were home. For all you that have a houseful of children, you can appreciate how wonderful it is to be in your own home with peace and quiet and the freedom to do whatever comes next!

Thank you mom!

Our 8th Anniversary

Eight wonderful years as Mr. and Mrs. Giumarra.

Every Anniversary, I have put on my wedding dress and Nick and I have danced to our wedding song, "When you say Nothing at All" by Allison Kraus. Some years, the dress would zip and some years it wouldn't (This was a zip year!), but it has always been fun and something I look forward to. As our family has grown, the girls have been part of this tradition and think it is super fun to look at me in the dress and be part of our dance.

This year, our COMPLETE family all joined in for the dance.

After being at my cousin's wedding a couple weeks ago, I felt inspired that we should write our OWN vows to one another.... so I asked Nick that for our anniversary, we should write and share personal and written vows to one another. For Nick, I wrote and shared....

For your wit, For your smile, for your love and laughter... I love you.

For the husband, for the father, for the carpenter and caregiver...I love you.

For being my partner, my lover, my friend... I love you.

For before, for now and for forever...I love you.

Nick decided to go with the theme from our wedding song and Say Nothing at All....

Sadie's 1st Day of Pre-School

Today was Sadie's 1st day of pre-school at the YMCA.

I wasn't sure how it was going to go... all summer long (well really since Colin has been born), Sadie has been weary about any activity that has to do with leaving me. She has been telling me that she wasn't going to be going to preschool and hadn't seemed that excited about it. With Natalie starting school last week, she definitely got more interested in preschool, but I still wasn't sure how it was going to go. As always, Sadie continues to surprise me...

Today, as part of the 1st day, the parents go with the children to the classroom and stay for the entire time and then on Thursday, just they children will go.

This morning, she walked into our room around 6:15am and before we or her had time to say good morning, she announced, "Mom, I changed my mind. I don't want you to come with me to school today." I told her that today the mom's get to go, it is Thursday when she will go all by herself. She thought about that for a minute and then replied, "but Mom, I really want some alone time."

Isn't she a hoot!

Here is our preschooler all ready to go! She was so excited and proud!
This was taken right in front of the school. She was still very excited, but by this point was glad (again) that I was with her.
Once in the classroom, she did great! She kept checking in with me, but was more independent that I than I had expected. I think she is set to go on Thursday!

Natalie's 1st day of 1st grade!

Here is our daughter, an official 1st grader on the morning of her 1st day of school. She was so proud and very excited. Natalie practically bounced her way into my room at 6:05am and said, "Can I get dressed for school now?"

Sadly,both Nick and I were off at work the morning of her 1st day.... so she got the next best thing - Nannie and Poppy to walk her to the bus and wish her well. It's fun to think that 25 years ago, my mom walked me to my 1st day of 1st grade and now she gets to do it again with my daughter.
Notice how Sadie had to be part of it all! These our Natalie's friends and neighbors who are at her bus ride. First in line is Connor. He lives right next door to us and started 2nd grade. Next to Natalie on the other side is Ashlynn and she is also a 1st grader. Of course, we have Sadie and Isabella (Ashlynn's sister) joining the picture. The end of day one... full of smiles. She was actually disappointed that she didn't have homework on the first day.

Finally, mom gets some love from her very favorite 1st grader!

Today... on Natalie's 2nd day of school, we learned that her class has a class bear. This the bear goes home with one student every weekend to spend with the student and their families and Mrs. Morris picks a student with great behavior to take the bear home. We are SUPER proud to share that Natalie brought the bear home with her today!

(side note... Natalie accidentally left the bear on the bus, so the bear is spending the weekend at the Queensbury bus garage.)

Back to Work

I knew this day would come.... when my maternity leave would end and I would go back to work as a full time social worker and somehow have to figure out how to still be a full time mom. Over the last couple days, my anxiety has been high while my emotions have been low. While talking about it on 2 separate occasions, I actually found myself getting teary about leaving my baby and trying to envision what craziness my life would look like with working full time, a household to organize, and 3 kids and a husband to love... and still find time for myself!

Outside of forgetting to put any make up on this morning, we all got out of the house and were all where we were suppose to be without much trouble. The day at work kept me busy enough and reminded me that I actually do like what I get to do and that I have a job where I can help others. Every time my brain shifted to thoughts of sadness, I reminded myself how incredibility blessed I am, that WE are, that I was able to be home with Colin and the girls for so long. I am blessed to have Nick be such an involved father and spouse. I am thankful that I get to be home with my family by 3 in the afternoon.

In the end, the day went on and the kids did well. Colin still smiled at me when I saw him in the afternoon and the girls still filled my arms with hugs.