Brother and sister - I think this will work

The images and videos below chronical the first few weeks of the Enzo-Gianna sibling relationship. I think we'll all be just fine.


At first, it was a distant relationship.



At times, Enzo was totally anti-Gianna.


I'm not sure he knows what the sign says, and why he is laying on his side.


Then, Enzo became quite curious about Gianna's feet.


...and the buttons on her papasan.



As the days went on, Enzo started getting a little closer. This is a cute memory for me. As I held Gianna and as my mom washed the dishes, my son (who wasn't that interested in his new baby sister) carefully positioned himself on a stool at my feet and patted my legs.



Here, Enzo squealed with delight as Gianna got her first sponge-bath at home. Enzo was in charge of the shampoo.


Here, he's kissing (not eating) her hand. I swear.



My first experience at capturing all four eyes on me.

Nana and Grumpy's

We didn't want to let any more time pass before Gianna got to meet her great-grandparents, so we loaded up the car and made the trip ourselves. Since I'm now able to walk (and sit) semi-normally, it made leaving the house possible.

Happy birthday, Mother Earth

Our city hosts an Earth Day environmental fair, complete with free tree seedlings, composting demonstrations and instruction, water saving tips, free oil-change pans, recycling bins, and free mulch.


Enzo and Jeff approach the pile of dirt, each with his own rollie wheel barrow. You should have seen the rookies rolling up with 30 gallon trash cans with no wheels and trying to lug them to their cars. My guys have brawn and brains!


They even lined their cans with plastic for easy clean up. Look at Enzo taking control of his can. This was right before he high-fived the city worker shoveling dirt. He was tickled to pull off his glove to give Enzo some hand love. Wait, that sounds bad. You know what I mean.

So proud of a job well done!

In honor of Gianna's birth and Aunt Sophie's death, we planted fruit trees. My mom left her environmental activities at Sierra Vista Jr. High (where she is the Environmental Club's faculty coordinator) to come to our house for some evening planting.

This was right before Enzo fell in a big hole. Luckily, it wasn't a mine shaft and the channel 7 newsvan didn't have to come on scene.

This was right before the reciprocating saw came out and just before Mom broke the shovel due to buffness. So, now, thanks to Mom, Jeff, and Enzo, Gianna has avocados, Aunt Sophie has oranges, and Mother Earth has pears.

Supper Club makes house calls

Our wonderful friends descended on our home to meet Gianna, play with Enzo, check up on Jeff and me, and cook us a fabulous meal. And laugh, and talk, and eat, and drink (them, not me). I don't know why we don't do potlucks more often! We even had in-from-out-of-town Supper Club alumnus Mike Braun make a surprise visit. Thanks all for the fabulous meal and phenomenal friendship.

Gianna's check-ups

Our hospital offers a complimentary check-up at the Mother-Baby Wellness Center, so we went on April 5 to see how Gianna was progressing - and to discover how I was NOT healing. She checked out great. Mother did not.


Gianna has only lost 4 oz., which is great! I think she digs the scale.


She was a very patient patient.


Sorry, couldn't rotate this one for some reason.


Trance/fog/shock/exhaustion.


"I went for a check-up and didn't even get a lollipop."

Today was Gianna's official 2-week check-up and she is thriving.

See, Dr. Kwon says so.

She weighed in at 7 lbs. 10 oz. and measured 21 3/4 inches. Is it possible that she could have gained 13 oz. and grew 1 3/4 inches in 9 days? Go me. I'll take credit for that. My mammaries rock!!

I'm ready for my close-ups

Rachelle B. Smith came over to capture our new little one in her sleepy glory. It was a lot of fun, but interesting trying to manage Enzo as well. We didn't get the calm, serene family photo we were hoping for, but we did get some excellent ones of Baby Gianna. We'll post the rest once they're ready.


Gianna nestled in my pregnant belly cast.

Sure wish I had a pedicure. Like the pinky pacifier in Gianna's mouth? Nice.

I mean, seriously. Our cover girl.

Do us a favor and make a comment on the photographer's website to score us some free prints. Thanks.

Here are some we took:

And, here are more shots from our pre-Gianna days.

Gianna's 1st - and Enzo's 2nd - Easter

There was truly an Easter miracle because the Easter Bunny remembered our home this year! With all the craziness and the fact that Gianna was actually due today and that we just returned home from the hospital, it's amazing that we didn't get skipped.

We hit the backyard on a cloudy and chilly morning to find an Easter basket hidden in Enzo's beloved "caaraw."

Enzo took a try at his largest - and heaviest - ball to date: a BASKETBALL!

And bit off the ears on his first chocolate Easter Bunny.

Enzo's Nana even delivered the most awesome (and most loud and annoying-sounding) toy ever. And electric, energy-efficient, GREEN, lawn mower - just like Dad's. It has become an outdoor toy because, hey, that's where lawn mowers are used.

I gathered up my pain meds and we headed to my mom's to celebrate together. Here is Claire, Tim, and Kayden who experienced his first Easter, too!

Our new family.

The first outing in the carseat.

Enzo kicked off the egg hunt with a few minutes on his favorite slide as Mema's.

Lots of toys hidden in bushes, plants, and trees!

My mom and dad's kids and grandkids. We really are happy, although we all are squinting directly into the sun.

Kayden discovering his basket hanging from a tree.

Taking a break from the hunt for a few swings.

Having just endured prostate cancer surgery, Dad made his way carefully around the yard. (With the help of his oldest grandson.) BTW, Dad left the hospital more than a week after his surgery without feeling in one of his legs, and severe pain in his shoulder and arm. He walked into surgery and should have walked out. We're still investigating why he now needs a walker to get around.

So much good stuff! Thank you, Easter Bunny!

Happy first Easter, sweet baby!