The Paladinos

Well, we're 2.5 weeks down and counting since Peter Michael's arrival.  The first week Michael's mom, Debby (a.k.a. GranDeb), stayed with us which was a huge help with meals and grandkids.  Thank you GranDeb!  I don't know what we would have done without her.  This last week was the first time for me to be alone with both kids which went surprisingly well. 

We have already fallen into a little routine and for the most part it's manageable.  Peter Michael has been doing pretty well at night.  There were a few nights that had me excited when he went around 4 hours between feedings.  But now he seems to have settled into a pretty rigid 3 hour feeding schedule day or night.  But it still works out to about one feeding a night, or at least in the middle of the night which isn't too bad.  Peter usually stays awake after his morning feeding until 11:00 or 12:00 which has been interesting.  He's a very easy baby as long as you hold him while he's awake.  So it makes it a little difficult to get anything done in the morning but I shouldn't complain since he sleeps most of the rest of the day. 

Gabby continues to do very well in her role as big sister.  She loves running errands for mommy when I'm feeding or holding Peter Michael.  Sometimes she gets a little whiny and wants to be picked up or held when we're holding the baby but she doesn't seem to resent him at all thank goodness.  She has been a very loving big sister and asks to hold him or give him his paci. 

This last weekend was a very big one for us with two big outings with the kids.  I know, we're probably crazy to take a newborn out this early but he stays in his carrier and sleeps for the most part so he wasn't exposed to too much.  Saturday we went to the Gentry Zoo.  It has a drive thru and a petting zoo with all kinds of animals.  Gabby got to pet goats, donkeys, a zebra, a kangaroo, baby raccoons, baby pigs, turtles, deer, and hedgehogs.  We were very surprised by all the animals that they have.  We also went out to eat for the first time Saturday night which went very well.  Sunday evening we went to a Firefly Festival in Fayetteville at the Botanical Gardens.  It was pretty hot but fun.  We got to see all kinds of interesting people and the grounds there are beautiful.  Both kids were pretty worn out today after their big weekend but I guess we proved that life does go on after having two kids. 

Gabby's 1st Carousel ride at the Promenade

Gabby's 1st real pony ride

Peter Michael dancing to the music at the Firefly Festival

    

Petting a goat

Feeding a zebra and goat

I just thought this was a cute picture

Peter Michael joined our family two days ago on June 4th at 11:44 a.m.  He was 8 lbs 8 oz and 21 1/2" long.  Everything went very smoothly with the delivery and he arrived bright eyed and vocal.  The nurses were very impressed with his lungs.  But he quieted down very quickly to eat which he took to immediately praise the Lord!  He has been such a good little baby and has done a lot of sleeping and eating.  When he does wake up he is very alert and loves to watch people and things in the room. 

Big sister Gabby has taken to her baby “bubba” very well.  She loves it when he is awake and is very attentive to anything that he might need. 

We feel very blessed and excited that he is here, healthy and happy.

First Picture

Peter Michael with Gramma

Peter Michael with Papa Mike and Mimi

Peter Michael with Papa Dino

All strapped in for our trip home from the hospital

How tiny does he look in this big seat!?

First walk

Gabby thought this was big fun to lay with “bubba” after her bath.

Helping change Bubba’s diaper.

This is what happens when there are just too many exciting things to look at in the room.

Just in case you haven’t heard the latest I wanted to give you an update on Peter Michael.  I have been having some irregular contractions since last Thursday and was very hopeful that I would go into labor over the weekend.  However, I had another checkup yesterday and am still only at a 1 and haven’t changed a bit.  I guess PM is very comfortable which we’re hoping means that he will be the laid back baby that we’ve dreamed of.  His sister of course punched her way out a week early and hasn’t stopped going since.  It’s been very strange how different my two pregnancies have been and will be interesting to see how different the labor is.  Hopefully we’ll end up with a safe delivery and healthy baby as before. 

Since I am now officially over my due date we have decided to go ahead and induce.  I go into the hospital tomorrow at 4:00 pm and they will start me on a slow acting medicine to help me dilate.  Early the next morning they will break my water and possibly give me another drug, pitocin, to really get things going.  If all goes as planned Peter Michael Paladino should be here by noonish.    We are very excited and anxious to meet this little boy.  It’s crazy to think that we will have a son in a couple of days. 

Gabby has been warming to the idea of a baby brother.  She still isn’t sure about sharing mommy and daddy or her bathroom though.  She is such a funny girl.  You never know what will come out of her mouth or what she will do.  It’s amazing how much she has changed and really turned into a big girl.  She will be such a little helper with her baby “bubba.” 

Finally we’re also getting some pictures of the house out before it’s covered with baby swings, chairs, etc.  I guess the next post you see will be with a picture of our Peter Michael.  Yea!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course, random funny’s of Gabby

Yes, we do brush her hair sometimes

No, it’s not very often

I recently joined an online Mom’s group where we were offered a photography session with a free-lance photo mommy for a great deal.  Some of the pictures are below.  As an fyi, her name is Laurie Glenn and her blog is www.laurieglennphotography.blogspot.com.  She really did a good job of capturing Gabby’s many expressions and actually makes it look like a happy photo session even though Gabby was not a willing subject.  

Next Thursday is our official move date to Bentonville.  We close on our Ft. Smith house in the morning, our Bentonville house in the afternoon and will move in to the new house that afternoon/evening.  Wow!  Busy day.  I don’t think any of us really realize what it’s going to be like to leave.  Of course we won’t be that far away and will be back to visit.  And soon Peter Michael will keep us busy so we won’t have time to think about missing everyone. 

We’ve had a ton of pictures on the cameras that we just haven’t gotten over to the computer so I finally decided to download them today and share them.  Enjoy!

Painting for the first time in her new apron from our friend Michelle.

  

On the tire swing with “Ma Mike”

Dancing in the middle of the road.

Gabby in her new hat.

Peter Michael trying out his new blanket from GranDeb.

Gabby with her first Easter basket.

Eating her first marshmallow Peep.

Easter family pic.
 

Twirling in her Easter dress.

Air Gabby

Doesn’t this make you want to try jumping on the bed.

Our sweet Sunday School class threw us a Going Away/Baby Shower.  Look at this yummy spread.

Gabby playing at the party

Opening her present from her friend Logan at the shower.
 

Gabby with friend Vivienne at the party

You can’t see her in this picture but “Bossy” Gabby was leading this little train.

 

We have no idea what she’s saying here but she does this every time I wear a certain jacket with strings.  She’s saying something into a “microphone”.

The cool way to jump.


Again, I have no idea what she’s saying here but she has a cute little dance to go with it.

If you didn’t know we have definitely decided on the name Peter Michael Paladino.  You can judge for yourself if you think the name fits since I had my 4-D ultrasound today.  Unfortunately Peter Michael wasn’t feeling cooperative and was sleeping soundly, but we did get half a shot of his face.  The other side is covered up with placenta.  Also, with his position there was no confirmation that he really is a Peter Michael but we’re pretty sure from the previous ultrasound that’s what we have.  And I just think he looks like a boy.  There is a little bit of hair from what she could tell and it looks like he has big, full lips like his sister.  His little face is literally about a centimeter from the outside of my stomach so the poor little guy doesn’t have much room.  I guess that means I just need to work on gaining a lot more weight.  Yea, I can have donettes again!  I think he’s going to be a talker like his sister because he opened and closed his mouth a lot.  He was probably telling us to stop poking his face. 

Just to update you on his progress otherwise, I am 32 weeks and feeling pretty good.  Peter Michael is pretty still as long as I’m up and moving about but as soon as I sit down to relax he gets very active.  With Gabby it was mostly kicks and hits but with Peter it’s more like full body movement back and forth.  It’s very strange when you can see rolls and jumps through my clothes.  Like his sister, he loves our pastor’s voice.  Or maybe he hates it but either way he gets very active on Sunday mornings and I’m sure gives the people around me a show.  We’re planning on delivering in Bentonville since we’ll hopefully be moved when he comes.  

Doesn’t he have sweet round cheeks (or at least one).

Eyes open here.  Maybe I’m crazy but he kind of looks like my brother, Rob.

Foot

Mouth open.  Look at those lips!

Eyes open again.  It looks like he’ll have big eyes.

Yea!  It's confirmed, we're officially moving to Bentonville.  And it only took us 5 months to get it done.  :)  Thank you to everyone who has had to put up with us talking about this for months and months.  I'm sure you're all just sick of us. 

We accepted an offer on our house last week.  By the way, if you ever need a realtor we love Linda Geraghty with King Realty Group.  We were For Sale By Owner for 2 months and finally listed it with Linda and sold within 7 days.  And we just went into contract on a new house in Bentonville today.  We love the new house (we think any way since we've only been through it once). 

We will be closing on both houses on April 30th.  It's been a very long process but we are so thankful and thrilled with how it has all worked out.  God has definitely provided for us.  We will really miss everyone in Fort Smith and are sorry to leave our house behind.  It will be interesting to see what Miss Gabby thinks about having a new house, new room and new baby brother all at once.  I guess as long as she still has a bed to jump on and her dance video (thanks again Aunt Patty) she'll be okay. 

This is a pic of our new digs. 

Apparently Gabby had some bottled up energy this evening and it all came out in at least a 30 minute jumping session on our bed.  She's watching herself in the mirror and yes she gets close to the edge but don't worry, she's in complete control (uh, or just lucky she didn't fall off). 

In the first video she is singing a song from her new video which is a live Christian children's concert.  Thanks Aunt Patty!  These have definitely replaced the Lady Bugs video.  She's saying "turn around, turn around" at first and then launches into her version of "jump, jump, jump into the light, light, light, run, run, run from the dark, dark night."  And yes, she does end with a "poopee" which is not on her video.

In the second video she is doing a little faith healing that we've been practicing at home.  Just kidding.  We're not sure where she got her moves but she's definitely passionate about it. 

Last weekend we celebrated Gabby's 2nd birthday.  Can you believe our baby is 2!  She might have been a little overwhelmed with everything but had a good time.  The theme was cupcakes this year and she got to pick out her chocolate one with blue icing.  She was much less hesitant about eating it this year instead of just picking at it like last year.  Thank you to everyone for all of her wonderful presents.  They are still keeping her very entertained.

A picture from last year just to see how much she's grown.  Who is this little girl?

  

Papa Dino showing her how to get messy.  His mustache was stained pink for the rest of the day. 

Sitting on her new potty chair.  This is pretty much the last time she sat on it so we're not getting our hopes up for quick potty training.
 

Helping clean up with her new big girl vacuum.

Okay, so I had to show off a little here.  These are cupcake bites that I made for everyone to take home. 

I took these pictures of Gabby for Michael's Daddy Valentine Card.