More Firsts!

After his busy first day of school, we drove to Orlando to go to Sebastian's buddy Michael's 3rd birthday at Sliderz. It's one of those big warehouses with inflatables and fun slides to jump on. A kids dream, right? Well, not Sebastian's. He is very frightened of them. But we'd been talking about it and I was so proud of him yesterday. He told me he was scared and I told him it was okay to feel scared. That we didn't have to do anything he didn't want to do yet. So slowly, over a course of about 30 minutes he went from refusing to enter the area, to me carrying him around, to him walking with me holding his hand, then sitting and FINALLY jumping on the inflatables. I was so proud of him. It just reinforces how even though he's little, he is certainly entitled to his own fears and feelings and I'm so glad that we gently got to a good place for him to enjoy it. So, after that discourse, here are the pictures!

Running!

Matteo had a BLAST. Even more than his brother I think. And he was running on a 45 minute nap all day. Needless to say, he fell asleep in the car and slept all night.

We all loved the big slides!

The best shot I could get of Elias, Sebastian and Michael. Emilio and Owen couldn't make it.

And our last "first" was going to the dentist on Wednesday morning! We have been talking it up and everything was going great until they wanted him to lay down. Then he freaked. But, after I laid down and they showed him all the tools and everything, he was okay with it. I could barely believe my eyes. He laid down, opened wide and they cleaned, flossed, scraped, wiped and checked his teeth, no problem. Wow. He is growing up. I still can't believe it.

Flossing.

When the cleaning was finished he got to pick a new toothbrush. He took this very seriously as you can see from his expression... He picked a Cars toothbrush.

Dentist checked him out and it was all good! Looks like he got Mami's good teeth - hopefully!

Reading stories with Papa!

Best picture ever of Papa and Matteo. So adorable.

VIDEO - Matteo says "Cheese"
(If video does not appear below, click here to watch.)

So Matteo is not a huge talker, but since his picture obsessed Mami is always making him smile, he's got the "cheese" part down. =)

Today I also started the boy's room Rocket Project. Yes, with capital letters. You see, I am very ambitious and creative, but not exactly artistically talented. So I took my moms advice and made a giant pattern of the rocket I am going to paint on the boy's room wall.

I taped it to the wall, traced it and started painting it today. I am so excited because it is 95% done and looks amazing! But no peeks at the finished Project until it's completely done, so expect a blog post dedicated to the Rocket Project very soon. It's so cool!!!!

Sebastian's 1st Day of Preschool

So we have been talking about and preparing for this day for months. Sebastian woke up and the first thing he said was "I'm going to school today!"

Started the day with his many bowls of cereal. First Kix, then Cheerios.

Daddy saying goodbye to his big boy! I love this picture.

We got him a special preschool card that he opened right before we left.

VIDEO - Special Preschool Card
(If video does not appear below, click here to watch.)




So...the whole ride to school he kept saying "But Mami, I'm too little for school. I'm not big. I want to stay at casita (home) and play with Matteo. I want Mami to stay at school and sing songs and do crafts and have snacks. But Mami, I'm too little." Ackkkk. I have never been through this before. It was so hard to reassure him and remind him of everything we know about how great it would be when I could feel his fear and anxiety. He was still nervous as we waited to go inside, but as soon as he saw his classroom he seemed excited.

He walked right in and hung up his Gator backpack on his hook with his name on it.

He's actually saying "oooo!!!!" in an excited way as he walked in and saw the playdoh. He made a bee-line to start playing, when his teacher Ms. Carolyn asked him to go wash his hands. He went right over, started lathering up and was so happy. I figured it would be a good time to give him a quick kiss and head out with out too much fanfare. I kissed him on the head and said goodbye and he looked at me and just started to scream, "Mami!!!!!!" It was AWFUL. AWFUL. AWFUL.

I helped him finish washing his hands, dried them off, calmed him down a bit and then tried again, but this time I left. As I walked out, I saw the teacher scoop him up as he screamed for me. I didn't want to leave. Part of me still feels like maybe I shouldn't have left. But I did. I stood out in the hall, with my new friend Kendall (her daughter Brianna is in his class and she did great, yay, Brianna!). Kendall would peek in and tell me how things were going. Finally, he calmed down and was just crying when Ms. Kathy, the assistant came out and told me they were reading a book and that he was still crying a bit. I went to the "boo-hoo breakfast" to wait a bit for another update. I was the only boo-hooing Mami. What a dork. After about 30 minutes from when I left him, Ms. Kathy came back and told me he was just fine now, reading books and not crying. Whew. But I still didn't feel much better. I didn't feel better for a whole 2 1/2 hours until I could see that little face again. And here is the little face I saw when I went to pick him up...

VIDEO - 1st Day of School Pickup
(Click here if the video does not appear below.)

He was so HAPPY. He was so PROUD. He was so excited that HE DID IT. I guess to experience those feelings sometimes there is a little fear, a little anxiety. I think it was good. I think it was worth it.

Showing me his drawing.

And his sticker.

On our way out, after his first day of school.

Oops...we actually went back in because I wanted to get the "real" first day of school by the door picture. =) And also talk to the teacher to make sure he was really okay. Yes, I was THAT mom. I think I will ALWAYS be that Mami. Thank goodness another mom beat me to the punch to be the "Room Mom" or else I'd end up doing that too. =) I am learning so much just in these first few days how to let go. Grow up. I feel like I'm the one growing up.

Back pack shot! It's like twice his size, but still so cute.

VIDEO - 1st Day of School Recap
(Click here to view if it does not appear below.)


So, I tried to interview Sebastian about his first day once we got to the van, but as you can see he was too silly/excited/hyper to say much. But the best part is at the end when I ask if he wants to go back to school and he happily says, "sure!"



I'm so proud of my Sebastian. Great job, Papito. I'm so proud of you. You are so big. And I can't wait to see what new things this school year brings. You might be scared sometimes, but we'll always do it together. I love you.

Orlando Weekend

So tomorrow (Tuesday) is Sebastian's first day of preschool! He is so excited and I am so excited too! It's hard to believe that we are already at this point in our parenthood journey. I can't wait to do my next post to let everyone know how it went!

Welcome back to Florida, Nana and Papa!

Papa brought lots of "tic tac cheerios" for the boys. Matteo knew just who to go to for more!

Thursday was Sebastian's "meet the teacher" day. He did great! He was so excited and hung his backpack on his hook with his name on it and walked right in like he owned the place. It was so great to see him so confident and excited.

He started playing with the sorting toys and teasing his teachers Ms. Carolyn and Ms. Kathy by telling them everything that the little fruits were not. He is such a stinker!

Figured I better get this traditional at the door picture early since I'm sure his first day on Tuesday will be pretty busy! His teacher Ms. Carolyn loves frogs. I think that's a good sign since I love frogs too. =)

And here we are being cheesy as we go to our first parent teacher night. I hope this doesn't mean we are getting old. =) It was fun, exciting, overwhelming but overall a happy moment!

This weekend was my future sister-in-law Sarah's wedding shower. It was nice to meet some of her family and friends.

Yay, a cast iron skillet from the Giammarinaro ladies.

Me, Darlene (MIL), Kim (SIL) Sarah's Mom and Sarah

While Mami was at the wedding shower, Paul and Sebastian went to the Home Depot kids workshop and they made this school bus pencil holder. So cute.

We had lunch at Five Guys and Matteo got his first taste of ketchup. He loved it and just kept dipping his french fry in it and licking it off. We are going to have to buy the stuff by the gallon now. Sebastian loves it on everything too. Oh boy!

Cute picture of Sebastian with Lelo and Lita.

More Summer Play!

Sebastian is starting preschool in less than a week. My baby! I can't believe it. He is soooo excited and I am too, really. When I went to the school to fill out some paperwork I met another mom there that had just moved to the area also. We exchanged numbers and it turns out that the kids will be in the same class! We quickly set up a couple of play dates so now they are excited about seeing each other at school this Tuesday.

Sebastian and his new friend Brianna. He was reading her his library book.

Playing in their tent.

We also went on a play/dinner date to Jessica and Jayna's house. Matteo and Jayna have been buddies since they were a few weeks old when we met at the hospital breastfeeding group. We have kept in touch and are so glad to be with our friends again!

Saturday we went to Chase's 1st birthday pool party. They boys had fun swimming! (And the little girl in the back, she is fine, but not enjoying practicing her survival swimming skills. )

Sebastian played "pin the tail on the donkey" for the first time.

Of course Matteo had to try it too...

The Frewin's.

We've been talking to Sebastian about genuflecting (kneeling) when we enter and leave our seats at church. Well, he can't quite get the kneeling thing for some reason. So it's hysterical because he gets up there, squats, does his sign of the cross and settles into his seat. It is soooo funny!

Angelica stayed with us again this week. Everyone was reading before bedtime.

We did water day in the backyard with our new mini-pool and even hooked up a few sprinkler toys. They had a ball.

Matteo flying his airplane.

I just can't resist taking pictures of his smiles these days. He is just such a smiling cutie!

We meet up with new friend Brianna at the zoo.

It was the last "Arctic Blast" session when they put a HUGE block of ice in the splash pools. The kids have fun gathering around to touch the ice and play with it. It was really neat!

A rare picture with four of the seven kids at the zoo. We also met up with a high school friend and her kiddos Toby and Elina. It was so nice to see them too!

Ah, five of seven in this one! Sebastian (in white on left), Angelica, Matteo, Tyler and Brianna.

That irresistible smile again... He had so much fun playing and he was asleep in his car seat before I even finished loading up the car on our way out.