Merry Christmas!

Although this Christmas has been bittersweet, we have enjoyed our Advent tradition, and lazy days at home with sweet visits from friends and family. My brother got a chance to come and spend some time with us, and we really loved having him & Natasha here. Of course, the day after they arrived, we had a huge snow storm that left Frank stranded and unable to get home! Being snowed in required lots of hot chocolate and board games to cure our cabin fever :) Snow forts and snowballs were built and thrown!

The kids have really enjoyed "taking care" of Lucia, and she is doing wonderfully. She is already changing....it just goes by soo fast! Having Memaw here has been a blessing, and has really helped the transition from 4 to 5. Next week we will be on our own, and begin to work out our routine with 5.

Christmas day was laid back and fun. The kids all got just 3 presents from the parents, and some others from family, and it was just the right amount. Christmas is just so fun with all the kids! We love and miss you all, and may just come to sunny FL for Christmas next year! Looking forward to 2010! Happy New Year!

Happy Newborn Days

Lucia Bella-our homebirth story

Well, Lucia finally decided it was time to join the family....and she wasn't wasting any time! Monday was a long, draining day for me, so I went to bed around 9:30pm. I was a little crampy the whole night, but nothing major, and slept fairly well. Then at 5am I woke up from a dream with an intense contraction. Then another came 2 minutes later....and another and another. We called the midwife at 5:15 to tell her they were coming pretty quickly, because she has an hour drive. Now keep in mind, Sophia and Jude were both about 8hr labors. All of the sudden the contractions were one on top of the other, and I knew I was in transition. I got out of the tub and to the bed, and told Frank she was coming. He tried to reassure me that she wasn't....and I quickly informed him I knew what a baby in the birth canal feels like! She was born at 5:53am, caught by her daddy before the midwife arrived! We are both recovering wonderfully, and are happy to be taken care of by daddy :) Lucia Bella Cardinale: 7lbs 11oz, 20.5". XOs!!

Bread!

My Christmas purchase this year was a green apple KitchenAid Mixer....and I am in love! I just made my first loaf of bread using it and am very pleased! I've only ever made banana bread before, so this was a little daunting...but it turned out great! You can find the recipe here.