Just lovin' this parenting thing...

Seriously...the best thing we have ever done...

Giuliana is here!!!

On May 25th, after 36 hours of labor, our girl arrived!!! 19.5 inches, 7lbs 9.2oz, and fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!

And we wait.....

I have had such a wonderful pregnancy so far. Giuliana is 39 weeks and we are so prepared for her arrival;) Now, is when I am learning the true meaning of patience. Mike and I are definitely enjoying the calm before little Miss comes into the world. However, we are SO eager to hold her in our arms, see her sweet face, and hear her noises!! What does she look like? Her daddy? That's what I think. How big will she be? Will she be chill like Mike? Nutty like her mama? What will my birth story be? What on earth does labor feel like? I know these questions will be answered very soon, but when? Patience. Patience. Patience. On one hand, I do not want to rush this time, but on the other, I am ready to meet our daughter!! Any bets on her due date?????

One final baby shower?!

On Friday, after our department meeting at work, the whole department surprised me with a baby shower for Giuliana!! Mike was there and we felt SO loved!! The theme was "Jackie is about to POP!" and everything was "pop" themed...popcorn, blow-pops, Pop-martini's (non-alcoholic, of course), popcorn chicken, "popcorn" cupcakes, popcorn themed party favors, and so many other "pop" themed items! The room was decorated with popcorn, little pacifiers, and teeny feet candies. There were baby girl balloons, a pile of gorgeously wrapped gifts, a table full of food, a backpack with "letters for Jules for when she starts Kindergarten" written by the guests at the party, a "change the baby" game, and so much more. Most importantly, we had so many people from my work there, just showering us with love!! More pics to come, but for now, here is one of me and Mike, after winning the one handed diaper change....with our little doll. LOL!!! Thank you all so much for all of your thoughtful preparation and generosity!!!!

Girl's weekend!!

Giuliana and I had the best weekend with Aunt Sherri and Godmommy Jenna! We relaxed, ate yummy food, got pedicures, walked around the Inner Harbor, people watched, chatted, and just loved every moment together! Giuliana, I cannot wait for you to meet these special friends of mommy!!

Multicultural night (and a surprise baby shower!) with an awesome group of students!!

I always write about how lucky I feel to teach such amazing students. I have a small group this semester for my EDU 211: Ed Psych class. We learn about multicultural education in this class and I shared with them about the worldly dinners that Mike and I have been doing with the wonderful Bob and Nina for years now. Well, boy did they jump on that! They created their own version of the "around the world" dinners and invited me and Mike;) We all spun the globe and got a country, dressed from that country, and made food from the country! Then, as if the night wasn't fun enough, they also surprised us with a baby shower for Jules. There was an amazing cake and a ton of special gifts for our daughter! What a wonderful night;)

Two amazing baby showers!!!

My moms, Sherri, and Heather made me my first shower in NJ. It was super special, with lots of family and friends, showing a ton of love for me and Giuliana!! Then, my sister-in-law and mother-in-law threw me my MD baby shower and also went above and beyond!! Here are some pictures from both events (more pics to come from the MD shower once Uncle Dave sends them our way! Thank you to everyone for loving us so much and for being there for the celebratory moments;) Mike, Jules, and I are three lucky peeps!!! Seriously, Angie?! Ah-maz-ing!!! No words for your energy put into this!!! I am still freaking over it!!! Can't wait to see the pics;)

Dad, you will be missed...

On March 9, 2013, my dad, Charlie, passed away...here are the words I read at his funeral today... A strange juxtaposition... I feel so lucky to have been born having two amazingly, wonderful parents. Some don’t even get to experience that once in a lifetime. But for me and Adam, we were lucky enough to experience it twice. First with our incredible birth-parents and then, 14 years later, with our step-parents, who are more than that title gives them credit for. I’m sure you all know the story of how Charlie became my dad (and if you don’t, I’ll happily tell you, just ask), and what a beautiful story it is. He always speaks about the amazing gifts I gave him by introducing him to my mom: he met the love of his life and he became something he had forever wanted to become, a father. But what I know that he knows, because I told him all of the time, is that I am the lucky one, because I got him as my dad. To have two fathers, who you truly love and cherish, walk you down the aisle at your wedding, dance the father daughter dance, and just to exist with in everyday life, is gratitude I fear I could never shape into words. When I think about my dad, Charlie, so many things come into my mind. Christmas mornings in our pjs, my Fantasy Football partner: “that father-daughter team nobody messes with!,” our Eagles vs. Giants wars, softball, cheerleading, Cooperstown, his wedding to my mom in which I was able to be the maid of honor, him standing directly next to me and Michael as we wed, his sayings, like “slammin’ the hammer!,” or “I want to meeb like a maniac,” or “what it is!!” I also think about his laugh, his words of advice, his smile, his sturdy handhold, his passion for his “kids” at East, his love for his colleagues and friends, the way he looks at my mother, the way he looks at me, the moments we told him we were giving him a grandchild, then the joy he got the first time he felt our daughter kick, and over the last two years, I have marveled over his strength through this horrific battle, knowing that he didn’t deserve to have to go through anything like this and that he was going to be taken away from this world, from us, way too soon. But he never complained. Not once. So it is a strange juxtaposition, as I sit here, 7 months pregnant, about to bring our daughter, Charlie’s namesake, Giuliana Charlize, into this world….that he is leaving it. However, the thing that brings me comfort is knowing that she will have one hell of a guardian angel looking after her always. Dad, to know you is to love you; I got to choose you to be my father, but our life together made you my dad. I am grateful for every single second I had with you. Your presence in my life has made me a better person and Michael and I will honor you daily by passing that on to “your little Charlie,” Giuliana.

Over 6 months prego now!!!!!

She will be here in three months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Giuliana's Nursery!

It seems as I get busier, I blog less and less!! Ug! But here I am not, as another awesome semester starts and our daughter's room is coming together! I am now 6 months pregnant and getting more excited every day. Here are the latest pics of her "surfer girl" nursery!

Her closet is already full of amazing things! My EDU 111 students from the fall threw her her very first shower and it was just amazing! My sister-in-law bought her a ton of adorable clothes for Christmas, and our good friends gave us a huge box of clothing from their new daughter! Everyone is wonderful and we are very lucky to know Giuliana is loved so much already! So now all we need is the baby!!!