It has been a busy season around the Soriano house! The most exciting news, of course, is coming in August:

“Hey mom, what’s the bun in the oven thing you and papa keep talking about?”

We are very excited that #2 will be joining us later this summer! It is exciting – and a bit daunting – to think that I will soon be a mom of two under two. Giana is getting ready to be a big sister. She is getting very good at singing to her dolls and shhhh-ing them to sleep. She is showing signs that she is ready to start potty training, so we will work on that in advance of the baby’s arrival too. (Stay tuned for the big gender announcement coming soon!)

We have also been traveling quite a bit. Rafael just got back from a trip to El Salvador. He had an amazing time with his friends and family. He went to a beautiful wedding and connecting with people he hasn’t seen in years. He went in apprehensive, but left feeling very good about the direction his former country is going.

I am in the exciting state of Wisconsin this week for work. Prior to this, I have only been away from Giana for two days, when she stayed with my mom during our small group marriage conference. Five days and nights away from my sweetheart is getting hard. We tried to Skype, but she didn’t understand why I couldn’t reach through the screen and hold her. It worked quite a bit better when I muted my microphone and turned off my camera. I got to watch her go through bedtime routine, read books with papa, and have a snack. Even better (for this momma), was when she was walking around, calling out my name. So sweet.

It was also so sweet that Giana and Rafael sent me flowers! He had to figure out where I was – he knew I was in Lake Geneva at a college, but didn’t know which one. He called around, figured out the clues, and sent a florist to me with a beautiful boquet. Of course, I would rather be with them, but the flowers definitely put a smile on my face while I’m far away. I love my man so very much.