Rya's first Thanksgiving was a lovely, quiet one... even if it looks like Currier is choking Rya and Rya is biting Currier in this picture.
My cousin Cheryl flew in on Thanksgiving day to spend the holiday with us and to help us out for a week. We are so THANKFUL to have her here!
This is Rya's milk drunk face. It's very similar to her Mama's Margarita drunk face.
Last night Currier caught me pop a peppermint candy in my mouth and asked if he could have a piece. I said, "Oh no Currier, these are a choking hazard!" He followed up with, "Can I please have a choking hazard?" The child should be a comedian!
Rya Diane Balent joined our family on November 17th 2008 at 1:03 PM weighing 9lbs 4ozs and measuring 20 ½ inches long. She was delivered via scheduled c-section (a lot easier and less panic than Currier's emergency c-section!) by Dr. Geier at the East Cooper Regional Medical Center.
We chose the name "Rya Diane" because I liked the name Riley (a nice Irish name) and Trent liked the name Raya (Hebrew for 'light') so we compromised and named her Rya. Diane was my late mother's name so naturally we honored her.
We knew Rya was going to be a big baby but we had no idea that I was giving birth to a third grader! At 9lbs 4ozs, she was just 2oz shy of Currier's birth weight.
Currier is thrilled to have a baby sister. He wants to hold her, kiss her, hug her and give her Eskimo kisses. So far he's been really gentle with her. Let's hope he stays that way!
Trent's parents, Mimi and Papi, came up from Florida to be here for the birth of their eighth grandchild and to take care of Currier during our 4 day hospital stay. Thank you Mimi and Papi!
Rya shares her birthday with both of her grandfathers, Papi Balent and Papa Currier. We had a little birthday celebration to honor the BIG day. Currier now associates hospitals with ice cream cake and party hats!
And now we're a family of four (actually six counting Bruco and Paolo!) and we couldn't be happier! Thank you for all your well wishes.
Look out... Rya D. is in the house!
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The big day is here! Today, I have a scheduled c-section at 12:30. My stomach is in knots with excitement and nervousness and I can't quite wrap my head around the fact that in just a few short hours, I will meet my daughter. I can't wait to love her! Thank you for your support and prayers. Stay tuned for news and pictures.
Currier and I decorated the house for Thanksgiving this morning and Currier wanted to know why the Pilgrim was holding his pee pee. The kid is a total laugh riot ... and wow that's one big pee pee!
Over the weekend we took Currier to see Madagascar 2. It was the first time we've taken him to the movies since our move back to America. Once his candy was gone he lost interest pretty quick and only lasted 40 minutes. It was a disappointment considering the tickets, popcorn, candy and drinks totaled $50! Outside of the movie theater they had one of those bungee trampoline things and Currier insisted on trying it. Seeing Currier jump in fits of laughter and scream "Weeeeee!" made the $50 forfeit worth it!
Since Currier was born in Italy, we want him to grow up with a couple of Italian traditions. One of the traditions that we decided to bring back to America with us is "Giorno dei Morti" or "Day of the Dead". Today, Italians remember their dead ancestors and visit their graves with flowers and candles. In the morning, children find presents brought to them by the dead. This tradition is a way of keeping the memory of the dead alive. Rather than fear death, Italians embrace the circle of life by passing on the connection with their ancestors to their children. This morning, Currier woke to find this goody bag on his bedroom doorknob. He screamed in delight when he opened it and found two little airplanes and a Reese's Peanut Buttercup from his ancestors. Don't you wish dead people would bring you toys and candy?
Bruco, our Italian Greyhound, turned five-years-old today! We celebrated his special day with mini cheeseburgers. Bruco's birthday gift was the two months of obedience training that we spent a 1/2 of mortgage payment on! We love you, Bruco Balent. We're happy that you're a part of our family you crazy, neurotic dog! Happy Birthday.
It's been a whole week full of Halloween festivities! First, we carved a pumpkin and the damn thing rotted before Halloween. Second, our HOA threw a party at the community clubhouse with a jumpy castle, lots of games, prizes, food and to our little fireman's excitement—a firetruck! Third, Currier's preschool took all the kids trick or treating to all the neighboring businesses. And finally, last night our fireman went trick or treating with our neighbors, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. It was a fun week full of candy but I'm glad it's over—Phew! Now it's time to come down off this sugar high and work on getting this baby out of me!
