Christmas 2013

Christmas time was great this year.  Noah didn't quite grasp the whole thing, but there were some things he really liked:
-seeing Christmas lights and decorations out and about
-colored Christmas lights on the tree-helped him to learn some colors
-getting cards in the mail
-snow (when there is no snow or too cold to go outside, he makes snow angels on the carpet)
-making xmas crafts and cookies
-playing with the nativity set-especially baby Jesus
-unwrapping gifts-last year, all he cared about was the wrapping paper and boxes.  This year, there was some interest in what was inside the boxes :)

On Christmas Eve, we made mom's traditionally pizza and watched a xmas show before bed.  He woke up early on xmas day and was a little grumpy.  He needed a little encouragement to open his gifts at first, and then he was into it.  We got him a doctor kit (which he quickly learned to say "heart" while using his stethoscope), some books, and some little trucks and trains.  We saved the train table for last.  Once he opened that, nothing else mattered.  It's been non-stop trains ever since.  All day long we hear "choo-choo, all aboard" and lots of "uh-oh's" when the trains come off the track.  It's very fun to watch him play with it.  Daddy likes it alot too.  In the afternoon, we went to Patti's for dinner.  He had a blast playing with all her pets, opening more cool gifts, seeing all her decorations and playing with all the kids.  It was a great day!

Month 13: January 9 - February 9 2013

We have been staying busy and trying to keep warm on these cold days.  Noah loves watching it snowing and going out to play in it.  On February 8, the Blizzard of 2013 happened.  Luckily, it wasn't much of a blizzard around here.  We got several inches, but nothing like other parts of the country where they couldn't open their front doors.  It was a good day for playing in the snow and warming up by the fireplace.

Noah is definitely walking all over the place!  We decided that on January 11, he went from taking a few steps to walking.  Every day he is more and more confident.  He walks fast now when he gets excited or when he is trying to get to something he really wants-like the open dishwasher!  He is climbing on everything and he thinks it's hysterical.  He has also taken on some very cool dance moves.  We have yet to catch it on camera, but it resembles a double handed wave with his hands over his head while twisting his trunk.  Another move is the squat to stand with clapping.  Very cute!  We have dance parties just about every day.  Sometimes he even dances to my singing.

Noah loves to help clean.  He uses a cloth to wipe things, helps vaccum and loves to play in the dishwasher.  He really likes helping Daddy do projects too.  He has taken a liking to one of Daryl's dirty, old work gloves and he has to put it on every chance he gets.  Daryl tried giving him a cleaner pair, but Noah didn't want those.

We started peanut butter (which is a favorite now), milk (which is definitely not a favorite, but he's getting more used to it) and just about any food we are having he will eat.  I made homemade granola bars the other day and he loved them! He can sign "more" and is trying to use a spoon and fork.  We know when he is finished eating because the food is quickly pushed off the tray onto the floor.  Ruby is a fan of that.  He also has a new trick where he will start to feed you a piece of his food, then quickly take it away and laugh.  It's kind of funny how he knows this is a joke.  Noah has started to really interact with Ruby.  I'll find him throwing her toy to her, petting her or feeding him his snacks.  Ruby isn't too interested (except in the food), but someday soon they'll be good friends.

Other new things: pointing to everything, blowing kisses, standing up from the middle of the floor, putting the phone up to his ear and saying something that must mean hello and playing hide and seek.  He also got his 3rd bottom tooth.

 Superbowl Sunday

 13 months old today!

 Ruby's chewing disaster

 Mall walking with Aunt Patti

 Play doh

A Little Late

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Christmas 2009:

After having dinner at Tracy's house, we headed to Patti's for a bit. They got Super Mario Brothers for their Wii-it's like old school Mario just better and 4 people can play at once! Boy was it intense-lots of yelling and cheering!

Yep-that's right-my husband bought me these for Christmas. I always tease him that he should buy me underwear for Christmas because I know how completely awkward it is for him to even walk by the underwear department. So this year, he thought he would teach me a funny lesson! He went to Target and asked the lady for the biggest stuff they had. So I got XXXL undies and a 42 DDD bra. I didn't stop laughing for days AND I learned my lesson :)

1924-A Special Christmas

On Christmas day, 85 years ago, Grandma Radoccia (Rosa Farina) and Great Grandma (Maria Farina Nanni) arrived in Ellis Island aboard the Dulio passenger ship. They had a 10 day journey leaving from Napoli, Italy. They were on a low level of the ship and Grandma was very sea sick the whole journey. Aunt Maryann said that she always talked about how sick she was and how she would never get on a boat again. What a journey! Here are some facts about Grandma at the time of her arrival:

Grandma-13 years old, 5'5 (1" taller than Grandpa when he arrived here at the age of 17), she had $75 with her. They were headed to 306 3rd Street in Reading, PA to meet Grandma's father. This was the first time they ever met!

Busy Summer

Summer came and went and although we barely

had any weather that resembled summer, Daryl and I managed to keep busy and do some fun things.

Daryl and his dad started building a cabin on our land in May. They put alot of hardwork into it and the end result is great! It is 10x12 with an upstairs loft which sleeps 4. Soon, we'll be adding a wood stove, shelves and laminate flooring. We'll also be adding an outhouse with a flushable toilet! My contributions to the building process were limited, but I did make a fire pit and log bridge. Hey, you gotta start somewhere right? We were able to spend a few weekends in the cabin during the summer. It's a peaceful and relaxing getaway!

In June was my big 30th and Dad's 75th. Daryl surprised me with a trip to Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid. You can read about that in a past entry.

In July we started adoption process! We are very excited and hope to be matched soon! We just completed our homestudy process and now we've really been focusing on networking. It's crazy to think that someone, somewhere will choose us to adopt their baby. It's hard to believe it will ever happen, but we're trying our best to trust God's timing!

In early August, Daryl and his dad were back at work. This time, a shed for our backyard. They did an excellent job. It matches our house perfectly! We've moved a bunch of stuff from the garage to the shed. Daryl will be using the garage bump out as his workshop space.

In mid August, after talking to Aunt Maryann, we made a decision to travel to Colorado at the end of August. We only had a couple weeks to prepare, but we packed alot of sightseeing into our week long vacation. We'll have to devote a entire entry to the trip, but Colorado is amazing! So beautiful and clean. It's like nothing I have ever seen. We stayed with Aunt Maryann and Uncle Rich most of the time. They were wonderful tour guides and hosts. The highlight of the trip was Daryl's rock climbing adventure in Boulder. Here he is on the flatiron. We had a great time!

And finally, to end the summer, Daryl had nose surgery. So, not only can he hear, but now he can breathe too! I'm sure this will be very useful during his triathlon training!

Mom-Part 5

The grandkids loved to look at grandma's dolls!

Holding Amanda...check out her nails

Mom with one of her students....he wrote in a card..."thank you for being in this picture. It really made me feel better. You are my favorite reading teacher."