ANNOUNCING!

The newest Carini Bambini is scheduled to arrive June 4, 2009!

We are so very, very, very excited!

I just got back from my 12 week visit at the doctor and the baby is strong and healthy. I've been so concerned because I have not felt sick (silly, I know). I was quite queasy with Isabella. But in March I had a miscarriage (same weekend as my 30th birthday...awful!) and had not felt very sick with that pregnancy, so I assumed this one might turn out the same way. Fortunately we seem to be in the clear! With very little morning sickness! Yeee--haw!

This morning when I had to go to the doctor Isabella was upset so I tried to explain, "I have a baby in my belly and the doctor is going to make sure the baby is healthy and strong." We talked about it for a while. As I was putting my shoes and coat on she kept saying to me, "baby" "doctor" "belly" "strong!" After reassuring her that is what it was all about she said, "Later!" "shaio, shaio!" (ciao, ciao!)

Fashionista

I went to H&M a couple days ago just to grab her some hairclips (the only ones I've found that hold onto her fine hair). When I left I remembered why I rarely go into H&M anymore. Because, really, who can resist pink cable tights, pink rain boots and soft knit hats? The shopping trip was a rare time when I didn't have Isabella with me so she loved the surprise when I pulled out the new clothes for her at home. She wanted to try everything on. So this is her new outfit. The pink boots are now an everyday item.

Some fun pics

At the American Museum of Natural History

Love those eyes!

Taking a break while shopping at Century 21

Painting (Can you see the yellow on her teeth?)

Why I don't take showers...

This is what I found when I finished my shower this morning. Her royal cuteness, on top of the kitchen counter, guzzling from the huge honey jar.

It was a good reminder why I don't shower very frequently. It was seriously the quickest shower ever; no shaving, no hair washing. But when I was done the apartment was quiet...too quiet. So quiet that I made her jump when I busted up laughing.

Pizza Time!

Now that the weather is cool we can pump up the oven for some pizza. (For those who don't know we turn on the oven to 500 degrees one hour before cooking to get the pizza stone nice and hot...which makes delicious, crispy crusts). Isabella loves pizza and has been getting into helping me roll it (and everything else nearby). My favorite pizza this week: fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. So fresh, so simple, so delicious!

Creating

This past year I've had a desire to become more creative. It's a pretty broad desire that I'm still exploring, but I feel like I'm heading in the right direction and felt good about some of the creations that have come from my hands. It is very exciting for me.

The top photo is one of many notecards that I made. Isabella loves to fingerpaint and I had a huge pile of her artwork, not sure what to do with them. Should I keep them all, hang them up, etc. When I was in recent need of some notecards and not pleased with the designs and cost of what I found at the store I decided to make these. I had all the materials on hand: paintings, blank cardstock, paper cutter, and gluestick. I thought it was brilliant, resourceful, and beautiful.

The second photo is my perfect loaf of bread. I've been working on making good bread for a while now and my last batch was fantastic. Perfect flavor and perfect texture. Hopefully I can recreate it with next weeks' batch. The recipe and techniques that I've been working with are from the book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. If you want to know some of the things I've tweeked (like raising time) just let me know. There's nothing like warm homemade bread slathered in butter and honey. I think a loaf ended up being dinner one night (with a side salad :)).

Halloween Hoot'nanny

My lovely, talented sister let us borrow the monkey costume she made for her kids. There were a whole lot of monkeys in the parade, but they were all exactly the same...except Isabella. Yeah for homemade!

Brian and I went as rockstars. We, of course, forgot to take photos with our camera. Luckily we have friends with cameras. Above photo is by Rebecca and we are still waiting on others.

Halloween was fun! We packed a lot into one day and were exhausted when November hit!

I wish I had taken photos of everything, but I only captured a couple of moments of the day.

--We met up with Beth and Morgan at the playground.
--Ate pizza at Angelo's in Midtown with a good friend who recently moved to the city.
--Met Brian for his lunch break at some swanky Bon Appetit shin-dig.
--Walked from Midtown to Washington Square Park (a long walk, if you're not familiar).
--Participated in the 15th Annual Greenwich Children's Halloween Parade around the park. (Marched with Gwyneth Paltrow. Yes, the real one.)
--Rode the carousel at the carnival (located at the end of the parade). It took about an hour of standing in line and I was regretting that I said 'yes' to Isabella's pleas to ride the "forse", but she still talks about it everyday. She loved it and that makes it all worth it. :)
--Left the Village a little late and had a horrible time fitting onto a train during rush hour.
--We all got into costume and went to Marci & Dan's for a fun party.
--Brian and Isabella danced until 10pm attempting to get Isabella off her sugar high.
--Yes, it worked. We all slept well.

Slime Stash

Isabella found my stash of glow-in-the-dark slime. She begged, "want some, want some," and I gave in. We had a lot of fun playing with the goo. And she only tried to put it in her mouth once.

BLAZE

It's been a while and I have a bit of catching up to do. Let's see how much I can post before Isabella wakes up from her nap.

The Monday before Halloween we got outta the city and took a lovely drive up the Hudson River to Van Courtland Manor where we went on a fantastic tour of over 6,000 jack o'lanterns all lit up (after sunset). It was a fun, fabulous display that got us in the Halloween spirit. They call it The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze. And blazin' awesome it was.

Thanks Ashley for suggesting it, we loved it!

Celebrating two years!

We had a small ball pit in an inflatable pool.

Friends Diane, Lili, and Henry

Colorful cupcakes.

Yum!

We threw a party for Isabella's second birthday and it was a blast. We invited all of our toddler friends that we hang out with on a regular basis...which meant there were a total of 9 toddlers! yikes! It was crazy and fun! We had such a good time having all our friends over.

An Older Post

I meant to post these photos of one of our adventures in Wenatchee a while back...but forgot.

We went up to Lake Chelan one morning and went berry picking. (Yes, one of my all-time favorite things to do!) Lake Chelan is absolutely gorgeous and I hope the next time I visit we can spend some more time up there. It was the perfect picking weather, the perfect picking spot, and the perfect picking people! I loved that Gillian and Isabella would run around eating berries and smiling.

Sailing the Liberty Schooner

My good friend Sarah is full of fun adventures. Recently she became friends with a lovely family (with two children, ages 7 & 4) who live on and operate the Liberty Schooner in the New York Harbor. The last time they invited her to come out on a chartered ride she asked if she could bring me along. I was completely thrilled and honored! Sarah and I helped them prepare and serve food for the passengers. We even learned one bit of pulling the boat back into the pier (and actually got to do it...pulling ropes, yelling commands, etc.) I loved getting to know the family and the crew. All amazing people!

The whole evening was fabulous. There was something magical and harmonious about being on a beautiful sailboat gliding around the harbor as the sun set on the city.

I can't believe she's TWO!!!

How did this happen? Where has the time gone? I can't believe Isabella is two! The baby in her is fading more each day and a sweet, spunky little girl is emerging. So sad and so fun all at the same time.

I can't help but remember two years ago. She's a girl who likes to take her time and do things her way. (Favorite saying right now, "I do it!") She was born 10 days late (with the help of some natural induction techniques) and didn't even show signs that she was ready to be born until three hours before she was finally out at 10am on a Saturday morning.

Isabella Margaret Carini is named after two amazing women. Isabella is her maternal great, great grandmother who has been deemed a saint in my family; must be where she got her sweetness from. Margaret is her paternal great grandmother who is a spitfire woman, full of life and vigor; must be where she gets her spunk from. ;)

Isabella has brought more joy and love into our lives than we thought possible. How can such a little human bring so much life and light into our hearts?! What an perfect miracle and amazing blessing she is!

Some favorite things:
"I do it!"
"a Bella." Not commanding, but stated as a matter of fact.
"Oh boy!"
"funny"
"whalk"..."steirs"..."and" She prefers to walk down the subway stairs, holding my hand, rather than being carried in the stroller. This rarely happens but is requested every time.
"NOON!" She gets so excited on the rare occasions we spot the moon above the city buildings.
"See it." When she hears something she often wants to see it...which isn't easy in the city. There are a lot of sounds and few open visual spaces.
She is a fabulous helper: "backuum" vacuum, "poon" putting the clean spoons away, "push" pushing the full laundry baskets into the elevator and down to the basement.
"Tank ou!" 'Thank you' is rarely prompted anymore but frequently given.
"dan" She loves to dance in circles on her own or with daddy.
Her many facial expressions lately are priceless. Oh, how I wish I could capture some with the camera.

Thank you Minde for the fabulous cupckes at the playground!

Swim Salmon, Swim!

Isabella refused to turn around.
You gotta keep a close eye on those fish!

One afternoon we went to the Rocky Reach Dam and got to watch the salmon swim upriver to spawn.

Oh, Suburbia!

I love New York City, I really do. But it was so so nice to sleep in a quiet land, play on clean grass and sidewalks, and have a backyard to throw the kids out in. How dreamy! ...sigh...