A gross post

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I promised myself a long time ago that I would do my best not to embarass my children on Facebook….but this isn’t Facebook. Stop right now if you don’t want to read about poop.

Ready?

For the second day in a row (third time though), Giana pooped on her little potty! Each time, she said “poop?” in her cute little voice, ran with me to the bathroom and did her business. I am so proud! And happy – that’s three less poopy diapers I have to change and wash in my lifetime 🙂

After her successful poop today, she celebrated by showing Elmo and Margot how she did it. She then proceeded to get out a book and “read” to them from the big throne. (I wonder if she learned this part from papa?) She was super serious the whole time, but I couldn’t stop laughing.

She’s still pretty young for full-on potty training, but we are definitely making process. Who knows? I would love to avoid having two in diapers if at all possible!

Summer meal planning

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With the inevitable tiredness that comes with being 7, 8 and 9 months pregnant during the summer months, I decided to simplify our family’s summer meal plan. Instead of doing the weekly rotations we used throughout the winter, I made a chart that allows for mixing and matching each week. Throughout pregnancy, I have random cravings – and food aversions! – that pop up here and there. This plan allows for more flexibility in meeting those while still planning ahead.

With the new plan, I select a meal from each column that corresponds to the loosely-themed day of the week. Then, I can make my grocery list based off the ingredients under the meal idea. (It’s not an exhaustive list – just the things I don’t usually have on hand that I will need for the recipe.)

I already feel more relaxed about planning meals for the summer, especially through the time baby girl arrives. Yay for organization!

100 days left

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100 days left…until our official due date! It’s hard to believe August is right around the corner.

Nesting is certainly settling in. I have gotten out all the tiny newborn outfits and re-arranged the girls’ bedroom to accomodate all their clothes. We found a double stroller on Craigslist that was just what I had in mind. The last thing we need is a toddler bed for Giana so her new baby sister can take over the crib!

I have been slacking on the belly shots, so here’s a few to show our progress. Here’s when I started showing around 19 weeks:

And here we are last week, getting bigger at 25 weeks along!

One other thing we need – a name!

And not that anyone had doubts, but Rafael is still the best hubby a pregnant woman could ask for. He keeps this pregnant mama happy! Look what he brought me yesterday. Yum!

Lots of news

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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.

Hey pretty girl

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Valentine’s Day is not a big holiday for us. We just had my birthday, and Christmas, and our anniversary, so yet another holiday loses doesn’t seem very important by the time it rolls around. Besides, I love to get surprised with flowers, and my favorite ones are the $5 bouquets at the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market.

We always say we won’t do anything, but we can’t help but do a little something. I made Rafael Salvadorian quesadillas and Giana worked hard on coloring a card.

Rafael and Giana gave me a beautiful card and he came home with valentine candy treats for both of us.

The best part of the night was right before bed. My dear husband asked me to dance. He queued up a love song that instantly brought tears to my eyes. We swayed next to our bed to “Hey pretty girl.”

Life’s a long and winding ride
Better have the right one by your side
Happiness don’t drag its feet
And time moves faster than you think

I love my husband so very much.

Hey pretty girl when I see the light
And it’s my time to go
I’m gonna thank the Lord for a real good life
A Pretty little girl and a beautiful wife

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

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My love and I were married three years ago today! It really was the best day of our lives.

I can truly say I love him more today than I did on that wonderful day.

Not only is he a wonderful husband, but I have been able to see him become an amazing father.

I love you so much!

The Target Run

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We were having a wonderful, lazy Sunday yesterday. We slept in, had a late breakfast, and cuddles on the couch. I was still in my sweats when G laid down for her nap at 1, but my shopping list was long and I needed to get to the store.

So there I was, cart overflowing with household necessities. I even had not one, but two 38-pound tubs of cat litter stashed on the bottom. (We are not crazy cat people – it was on sale and I had a coupon!) I was wearing my stretchy pants, complete with stain(s), holey shirt, over-worked mom ponytail, and – of course – not a drop of makeup.

I had to get one last thing on the list and the slowest lady was taking her time right in front of me. S-L-O-W-E-S-T lady ever. Finally, she turned into an aisle…which just so happened to also be the aisle that also contained the Scotch tape I needed. I looked into her face as I passed her – and it just so happened to be someone I knew. My director from my last job. Fantastic!

We caught up on the news – new jobs, babies and so on. Thank goodness she didn’t try to hug me because she would have caught of whiff of my unshowered self. I awkwardly tried to stand in front of all the litter while getting the scoop on her freelance business. I talked about how much I love being a mom even though I looked like an escapee from the mental ward.

I understand why my mom never leaves the house without makeup on now.

Another husband post

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I know it has been awhile since I wrote. Things have been BUSY! Our little girl is doesn’t stop moving from the moment she gets up in the morning until she goes to bed at night.

You know who else has been busy? My amazing husband, that’s who. In the past week, I have watched him do the following things – all above and beyond is usual duties of working and fathering. He:

  • Shot and edited amazing holiday photos of a family that we are friends with
  • Worked on a company logo and brand identity for a young businesswoman
  • Volunteered for the Art Buddies program and created an amazing costume with his little buddy
  • Budgeted to donate extra money to a charity
  • Was recognized at a gala for being an awesome volunteer graphic designer for the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA)
  • Received a really nice piece of recognition from his boss
  • Remained calm as our little girl threw up for the first time (adult-like, not just baby spit up) as he was holding her
  • Took me out on not one, but TWO adult dates!

This list probably isn’t even complete, because he is so humble that he doesn’t even brag to me. My husband does so many things for so many people in such a quiet way. I am so proud of him and so proud to be his wife.

Doesn’t hurt that he is super handsome either 😉 Here’s a couple pictures of us on our nights out!