martedì 28 dicembre 2010
Happy belated Christmas! I thought I would have been able to write on Christmas day but we went to my Father-in-Law's brother's house and then to our neighbour's house all day long. We actually walked into our bedroom at 11.45pm only because Izzie was extremely tired. I haven't been feeling so great these days, but I have faith I'll feel better soon.
So, I'm only blogging because Izzie was so sweet today, well, she always is, but this morning was special for she said "help me!" Lately, anything and everything she wants to do by herself she will scream out "me, me, me!!" and every time she needs help, I tell her it's "help me." She really surprised me today when she said "help me!" I know it may seem like no big deal and maybe she should have learned how to say that by now, but I need to remind myself all the time that Izzie is growing up learning two languages as her main languages: English and Italian and she is also learning a third language, which is more of a secondary: Spanish. She definitely understands English and Italian really well and I believe she already knows how to translate, obviously not in words, but she knows how to. I hope that when she starts going to school that she continues to speak English to me. I've been told by several non-Italian parents that their children refuse to speak the language taught at home after they start going to school. It's mainly because they don't want to feel different or odd, but in my opinion it's up to the parent to show their children that they aren't different or odd, but rather that they know something very valuable in life. At least that is what I was always told.
Ok, that was my two cents for today... :) more next time...oh and if I don't get to write before New Year's Day, Happy 2011 to everyone!! May all your resolutions be kept and all your wishes and dreams come true! I wish everyone lots of good health, lots of love and lots of work in this upcoming year!
-Mamma Jenn
sabato 18 dicembre 2010
It's exactly one week until Christmas and it's pretty exciting because Izzie will be able to enjoy this holiday more than she did last year. Last year she was only 5 months, this time around she'll be 17 months with a mind of a 3 year old! We set up our Christmas tree a week ago and the only thing different is that the decorations are set only on the upper half of the tree, we wanted to avoid struggling with her or having to repeat ourselves constantly "Izzie, don't touch the decorations." It worked because she hasn't touched the tree, she did the day we set it up, but she hasn't since then. Yesterday it snowed, it was soooo beautiful, I wish it had been Christmas yesterday that way we could have had a "white Christmas." Who knows if the temperatures will fall below 0 anytime soon. Today it was cold, but definitely not as cold as yesterday, the snow stuck through the night, but morning time it was gone. I was sad. Well, not much to post lately. I hope I have more to say or post before Christmas.
hugs,
Mamma Jenn
martedì 23 novembre 2010
I know I have said it many times that I would start weaning Izzie and was never able to do it. Well, a week ago Thursday, I decided to give her a bottle before bedtime and she took it, no questions asked! I was so thrilled!! She's been taking her bottle in the morning and before bedtime and she's nursed for her afternoon nap. I am so thrilled today because it's been over 24 hours that Izzie has not nursed, she's been strictly taking her bottle! She's picky however; she only wants her pink Tommee Tippee bottles with the pretty flower stickers, but I find it sweet that she herself asks for the bottle. We've been weaning her slowly for a week now, this Thursday, Thanksgiving day, it'll be 2 weeks!! I am very proud of her because despite the fact that Mommy is not giving her her "gnum gnum" and it must be hard on her, she's being a real trooper. It takes 3 weeks to get used to doing something, 1 more week to go and hopefully she'll be "gnum gnum"-free. I enjoyed nursing her for 16 months and probably would have nursed her longer, but we're TTC and I don't think it's happening because of me nursing. I don't want to have baby #2 when I'm 40, so I decided it was better to start weaning her slowly and it's working. My main concern was for her not to suffer too much, I'm not one for doing things drastically, while it works for some babies, it definitely doesn't work for Izzie. Slowly but surely is working for us better.
On a different note, this past weekend we had our annual Olive Harvest and it was Izzie's second harvest. She was so cute helping out, I hope that she grows up loving to do this harvest as much as I love it. Of course it'll be different for her since she will have known to do this from the time she was 4 months old whereas I learned to harvest olives when I was 33 years old, big difference!
On the second day of the harvest, she helped outside while I cooked lunch. The part I love the most of the harvest is lunchtime on Sunday. Whomever helps us out is invited to have lunch with the family and we get to chit chat, relax and enjoy each other's company while not working. Bless Izzie's heart, she "worked" all morning long on Sunday and by the time lunch came around, she ate and fell asleep on her high chair, not even the chatting going on woke her up, she was definitely tired!
Until next time!
-Mamma Jenn
martedì 16 novembre 2010
Not everything fits in a perfect square, or box in our case. My life has changed dramatically since Izzie's birth, I keep saying that I know. It is only now that I feel more complete, I feel like a real wife, like a real mom and more than anything like a woman!! I'm sure every woman goes through the feelings of inadequacy after giving birth, the good Lord knows I did. I have made changes in my life that have made a big difference for me. These changes may be insignificant for many, because it's small things like taking over my kitchen and cooking all meals again or being able to wash at least one load of clothes a day, that have made a difference in my life. I love the fact that I cook for my husband and Izzie and they truly enjoy their meal, I love that I accept the fact that my house won't always be clean as long as Izzie is adventurous and continues to grow. I'm learning to take one day at a time, something I never did before. I used to live my life around a specific future goal, I used to live inside a perfect 4-sided square. Today, I accept the fact that you cannot live your life inside a perfect square...I am flexible to change.
-Mamma Jenn
venerdì 5 novembre 2010
Yesterday we had a Huge Oil Spill at our house, thank goodness it was only Olive Oil and Izzie didn't hurt herself. While we were watching TV, Izzie was running around, playing and doing only Lord knows what because all of the sudden we hear glass breaking! Immediately Roberto ran to Izzie to see that she had her Isabella placemat in hand and she was standing on broken glass and olive oil. I took her to the bathroom and undressed her, darn it, she had just taken a bath!! No blood anywhere on her-good, just her pj's and her shoes full of olive oil-tomorrow's laundry. My father in law is a very superstitious person, he believes spilling olive oil brings you bad luck. We've decided not to let him in on Izzie's Oil disaster; the last thing we need is Nonno warning us of bad luck. I can already hear him say "Oh Mamma mia, is Nonno's love ok?" Now we are left with olive oil re emerging from our tiles...I didn't know this but since the tiles are very porous the oil will sit to then come back to surface. This is not cool! It'll be a never ending battle with the oil then!
Izzie is becoming more and more curious. On Monday we were outside and I found her squatting down and poking at something, when I reached her, she was munching on a snail's home! The snail was still inside what was left of the home, and she was spitting. It was funny to see her making a "yuck" face...in my opinion she's too little to want to eat escargot, but when she's 18, I'll be able to tell her of her early escargot experience. On Tuesday morning, she was playing outside and she found a dead mosquito, I'm glad I was at arm's reach because she was about to taste that as well. Yuck!! Seeing her almost put the mosquito in her mouth really made my stomach churn, it made me think about my brother Josh. My Mom told us that when he was little she found him one day with a lizard inside his mouth, the only thing hanging outside his mouth was the lizard's tail. Double yuck!! It amazes me how little minds work and the extent of their curiosity! They may get into danger, at least what we parents consider danger, and they may hurt themselves, but as long as they are curious, we have to remember they are only exploring their own world. I am very blessed to have a healthy and very curious little girl...she's my little genius.
- Mamma Jenn
giovedì 21 ottobre 2010
I don't have much to write about, just one small complaint. Does every 15 month old refuse red meat or is it just mine? For whatever crazy reason Izzie is refusing red meat. She loves chicken and fish, she even likes pork (as well as prosciutto), but don't give her red meat because it will end up on the floor right beneath her high chair. Any suggestions on how to make red meat inviting to her tiny palate??
-Mamma Jenn
venerdì 8 ottobre 2010
Today is the day...D-Day for Izzie. We have decided to start weaning her today, such a horrible mother I am to give her this as a 15 month gift, but it has to be done. A part of me wants to continue nursing her just to avoid the tantrums she'll throw when I refuse to nurse her. Another part of me lives in a magical world where Izzie will self-wean very soon and I won't have to worry about her crying and fussing. And another part of me lives in the real word and wants to own my entire body again, boobs included. Fifteen months is a HUGE accomplishment, I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would nurse her this long. I figured that if I could make it to a year I was already some kind of Super Mom, but 15 Months!! Let me clarify something before I am hated by non-nursing moms. I am not one whom believes that if you didn't nurse your child that you're not a real mom or such things, I believe each mother-child is different and everyone has different needs. Anyway, going back to my drama here...I know I've stated in different occasions that I really wanted to wean her and start teaching her to sleep in her own crib and I am aware that I didn't do it. I didn't even begin or even come close to beginning, but this time I will try. I've been told to offer a bottle instead of nursing her and since she will be crying like a maniac, in the end I will nurse her, but this is ONLY daytime. Night time it'll be bottle or nothing. Poor baby! Well, she should be waking up pretty soon, so I guess I'll start preparing her bottle...wish me luck!!
-Mamma Jenn
-Mamma Jenn
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About Me
- Jenn R.S.
- Roma, Italy
- Loving and living life to the fullest for God has blessed me with the most wonderful gifts ever: my husband Roberto, my little girl Isabella Nadine, my 2nd baby whose debut we are waiting for,my family and friends.
