Sleeping Nicholas

Like father, like son (note the arm positions)

Sleeping babies are so cute!! The many sleeping faces of Nick.

Bluebonnets

Bluebonnets are the Texas state flower and every year they grow wild along the country highways. We pulled over and took some photos in a field.

Recent Nick

Nick relaxing with daddy.

Awake Nick.

Sleeping Nick.

Matt (and Gianna) are on the way to becoming famous models. This photo of Matt and Gianna was taken when Gianna was ~ 3 weeks old. It is one of our photographer's (Danny clark photography) favorites and has been used in advertisements for the photography studio. Now it is hanging in a baby boutique (Nest and Cot) in a Houston shopping center. I had to sneak in and take a photo of it hanging on the wall.

Nick swaddled - it appears he likes the straight-jacket look.

Nick pics

Almost smiling in rap mode.

Nick - 3 days old

Gianna - 3 days old

New baby and little brother.

The stats:

Nicholas Arthur Torregrossa

Born 3/13/09 at 10:07 AM

Wt: 8lbs 3oz (> 2lbs heavier than Gianna!)

Length: 21 inches

Friday the 13th - Delivery Day!

First photo.

In the room waiting.

Arriving at the hospital.

So, apparently this baby (unlike Gianna) was taking his sweet time making an appearance. Due to this, I decided to get induced on my due date. We arrived at the hospital at 5AM, and made it to a room a little before 6. I had been 4cm dilated at my last prenatal visit, so I figured things might move kind of fast. At 6:00 AM they started the pitocin infusion. I felt ok until about 8:25 am when I noticed that contractions really hurt and they were coming every 1 - 2 minutes. The doctor came to break my water around 8:45am and then the anesthesiologist came. I was having horrible contractions by then, and it took all my willpower not to move during the placement of the epidural. They were done putting in the epidural around 9:25am - but I noticed no difference in the contractions. The doctor said it could take 20 minutes to "kick in". Well, at about 9:40 I realized that the baby was about to pop out. So, the nurses checked me and, surprise, I was right. So, they called the doctor back and I pushed for about 15 minutes and out came the baby! I think the epidural kicked in somewhere around the last push. So, nearly a natural childbirth although not by my choice.

Belly today - 39 weeks and 3 days

I feel huge!! This poor baby has no more space.

More Gianna prior to new brother

Gianna had to have an esophogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) exam last week. (I think I spelled that correctly). Essentially, they put a camera down her throat to look into her stomach and small intestine. Everything came back normal, but Matt and I thought she looked hilarious in her little hospital gown. She looked like a little prophet!

Two different outfits; two different days of napping with Daddy.

Recent Hairstyles

So, I don't know if this is the pregnancy talking, or what, but I am freaking out right now because I feel like Gianna's life is passing me by. And, I still haven't learned how to use my video camera so I have no videos of her for the past year and I just know I will forget everything about her childhood. I need to stop working!

I am 2cm dilated...any day now...

Excitement in Houston

Our never-ending renovations continued today. Apparently one of our old pipes collapsed, or something, so the plumbers had to come and put all new pipes in. Matt and I had no idea they would actually crawl under the house. If you look closely you can see the poor guy's feet who was under the house all day. I think this would qualify as a "Dirty Job"--maybe Mike Rowe should check these guys out. Anyway, they were working from 9:30 am until 7pm. And it is still not completely fixed.

The other photo is poor Lola. Somehow she caught herself on something in the backyard and ripped a chunk of skin out. Matt took her to the vet this morning and they will be stitching her up on Monday. Until then, she has to wear the cone. But, she seems to be doing ok other than that.

Belly - 34 weeks

Hard to believe I have 6 weeks left still. I am a little tired of everyone telling me how much bigger I am this time and the look of shock on their faces when I say I still have 6 weeks to go. Matt predicted a 9lb 8oz baby today. For my sake (and his) I really hope he's wrong!

Chuck E. Cheese

We went to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time last weekend with Gianna. She enjoyed herself very much. Her favorite "ride" was called Fetch the Vet. An under-the-weather vet and dog made of plastic are seated on the left side of the car while the right side has a space for a toddler with a steering wheel. Gianna did not want to leave and we had to drag her screaming (literally) away. I guess it is a foreign ride (?) as the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car.

Posting slacker

I have been a posting slacker. I am having a lot of trouble juggling working, Gianna, being pregnant and dealing with our never-ending house reorganization/construction. So, that is why the long time in-between posts. Hopefully, I will improve soon! Anyway, the above photo is Gianna today. We had to go to the urgent care clinic this morning because she was having trouble breathing. I hate going there because she always gets so worked up and now that I am pregnant instead of being able to brush this off, I felt like crying. She just seemed so sad. They diagnosed her with bronchiolitis and gave her some steroids. Hopefully by tomorrow she will be back to normal.

Gianna playing with her new stacking cups in the new playroom.

Me and Gianna in Wisconsin after Christmas.

Gianna and her cousin Evan. She looks a little stunned.

Gianna and her cousin Gabrielle. Gabrielle is mastering her photo techniques.

Christmas in Columbus, Texas

Gianna helped to trim the tree. She really liked putting the ornaments on (and off) the tree!

Matt's Uncle found the perfect tree. All the kids got to help chop it down - even Gianna (with daddy's help). I don't have a picture of that, unfortunately.

Gianna in the oven of her new kitchen.