Spring Arrives On Time!

Global warming has reared it's ugly head.  And since this is a blog about my kids, I shouldn't be singing it's praises all that much, since our human race depends on us preserving this beautiful planet, and it will be my kids' kids or their kids' kids problems.  Nevertheless, the weather over here in frosty Minnesota has been Ah. May. Zing.  This is the first winter in my entire life that I can recall no real snow to speak of.  Each time it did snow (I think it may have been three times or something like that), it all melted completely inside of a week.  There was only one day this winter that registered a subzero temperature (my poor mother was here from Florida), and it was a brownish Christmas at best. 

I'm not mad.  Not in the least.  On St. Patrick's Day this year, we sat outdoors in tank tops all day.  I remember waiting tables at Bennigan's where they had a tent out in the parking lot, and trudging through snow to deliver shots to my patrons.  Well, I'm not waiting tables anymore and I'm definitely not trudging through snow.  Those buds in the above photo have been growing in my backyard under the perfect spring conditions (75-80 degrees most days for the last couple of weeks), and Mother Nature has even watered them a couple of times.  I think it's safe to say that spring is here not only on the calendar, but in real life too.

Bettino has been enjoying what little life he knows outside of the house.  The only thing that makes me feel better about being at home most of the time is that the house is a whole lot bigger than my womb was and he did just fine in there.  Most of the time when we go out anywhere, he just sleeps anyway, so seems that new experiences don't excite him too much at this point.  Conversely, they lull him to sleep. 

His two month check up has him clocking in as another large baby (just like his sister was):  He weighs 13 lbs, 10 oz which puts him in the 89th percentile for all boys his age, and is 24.8 inches long, 95th percentile.  His head circumference is 15.5 inches, which is only in the 30th percentile.  Big body, little head.  Just like Alessandra was!  Bettino has good reason to be such a big boy as I told you last time, the kid eats voraciously.  Doc says that kids that age can't eat too much, so we'll just keep feeding him until he eventually turns into Big Baby from Toy Story 3.

Life would be a lot easier for me if Bettino COULD carry a bottle around with him all the time!

Just check out those chins!

Alessandra is toning down a leeeeetle beeeeet when it comes to loving up her brother.  I think the repeated nagging may have worked to a degree.  She still goes through all the same motions, but they're just...tamer.  Either way you look at it, we are fortunate that all she wants to do is hug and kiss him as opposed to throw him down the garbage disposal.

Bettino is a good boy in general.  He's content, but not as happy as his sister was, but then again, who is?  As their pediatrician said, it can skew your perception when you have an extraordinary performer first, because then your second, normal baby seems not-so-rock star at that skill, whatever it may be.  Don't get me wrong, Bettino IS a rock star all around as far as I'm concerned, just not a giggly rock star.  To make up for the lack of laughter, my boy sho' does love his mama.  And I will take that all day long.  A willing little bean to cuddle with?  Yes please.  Another characteristic of his introverted personality?  He rarely cries.  He just sort of grunts which becomes more pronounced the more agitated he gets.  The final stage of agitation is indeed to cry, and when he's particularly upset he begins to bleat like a little lamb.  "Baahahahahhaaaaa!!!!!"  Again, it's rare, so he must not be upset that much.  I'll take that too.

We are starting to get some smiles and little coos, so there's definitely a little personality in there waiting to emerge just yet.  Good thing he's so darn adorable.  That will keep me occupied until then, staring at his cute pudgy face and rubbing my nose and lips on his fuzzy head.  (It feels so nice and soft!  Is that weird???)  I also love the way he smells.

Cheeks = Chunky Monkey = One Million Kisses All Day Long

On St. Patrick's Day, we were very busy.  Ricardo ran his first race that morning and did very well!  He placed 1,294th  out of over 8,000 people in a 7k in downtown Minneapolis!

Good job, Cardo! 

While daddy was out running, an unexpected visitor broke into the house and cooked us breakfast.  A leprechaun turned our pancakes and orange juice green!

We then went to Sawyer's 4 year old birthday party, and afterward, I even got a night out with my friends!  It was glorious...Coors Light never tasted so good!

And speaking of glorious, here are some pictures of Ali enjoying the weather outside in our backyard.  I can't say that I miss her playing in the sandbox and tracking it all inside, getting it in her hair (her ringlets tend to act as sandtraps), and burying her stuffed animals, but anything is worth this beautiful weather!

Just look at those beautiful red lips!

Her eyes are still one of my favorite things about her.

Burying "puppy", her favorite stuffed animal

Well, hopefully I'll get to updating more often from here on out now that I'm at my computer more.  I started working from home this week, and I hate to say that it actually feels quite good.  

Until next week, I leave you this sugary sweet photo of my little monkey.

Hugs!