We Appreciate The Point

Last night we attended The Point's Listener Appreciation Party at Breakwater Beach in Seaside Heights. Such a nice place. My parents came with us. We all had fun watching my son slide head first down the slide (please note - he was NOT supposed to be doing that, big sign read "no head first sliding"). It was so nice to see and meet a lot of the staff at The Point. Everyone is so nice and down to earth.

I had the pleasure of meeting a few individuals that deserve credit for running this fabulous contest. I could not thank them enough. I also had the pleasure to spend time with Lou's wife, Diane and to meet Liz's boys, Christopher and Benjamin.

A great time had by all!

Thank You Atlantic Club

Today I began my membership at The Atlantic Club in Red Bank. The Atlantic Club is one of the Point's sponsors that donated a year membership to April and myself.

What a place! I am so excited to have the opportunity to work out there. I met with Katherine and she set me up! One of my biggest concerns was the childcare room. JoJo will be joining me on my gym runs. Such a nice room. He is going to have a blast there.

Katherine and I joked about the pool classes. It mostly is an "older" crowd, but swimming is so good for pregnant people. I told her that maybe I will start a new trend, pregos in the pool!

Thanks again to The Atlantic Club, another generous, giving sponsor. I appreciate it more than you know!

Kick Off To Summer

We started our summer vacation with a trip to Sesame Place. We spent two days in the park. It was a blast! Excellent place for kids of all ages. There is something for everyone, even pregnant people.

There were a few rides that restricted pregos, but it was obvious why there were restrictions. I enjoyed the lazy river! I asked the attendant if there was a tube that would actually hold me. There was.

As we went to the different sections of the park I was envisioning what Baby Derek will be able to do next year when we go. He will be almost 9 months old at that time. There is plenty that will hold a 9 month old's attention.

I like starting traditions. As we ate dinner Friday night Joe and I were talking about next years trip to Sesame Place. I want to have a few things that we do every year for as long as the kids enjoy it. It is so nice to have memories to look back on, for when the boys get older they can say "when I was younger every summer we did _____."

Sesame Place is defiantly on that list!

Congrats Class of 2009

Last night was graduation! Another school year completed. This September I will be entering my 10th year of teaching. WOW!

I offically only have to work 8 more days until I have Derek, that is a very beautiful thing! Thank God for summers. Teaching is such a perfect profession for moms.

First morning of my summer vacation and I am blogging at 5:58 AM. Well, this actually is sleeping in. My alarm usually goes off at 4:40!

Welcome summer!

Joseph and Carmelina

Thanks again for a great year! See you in September!

Playdates

Every Mom needs to have playdates, oh wait, shouldn't it be every kids needs them. Well, I think that my friends and I get together for us and the kids benefit from the interaction. Honestly, the kids love being around eachother and I love being around my friends. A win win situation!

Thank you to Laraine for hosting today's playdate! We had a blast!

Bittersweet

The end of the school year is always bittersweet. For the second year in a row the ending of the school year has impacted me, but it has nothing to do with my students. It is a farewell for the summer to the woman who is a second mother to my son, his babysitter Carmelina and her mother Nona.

My friend Stacie refered me to Carmelina. I am forever grateful to her for that. Carmelina runs a state licenesed and certified day care out of her home by my school. Her and her mother take care of our children while we are educating others kids. They are amazing, no better way of putting it! This school year has been a challenging one for their family, they have been dealing with an unfair illness in the household, and never once has the care of my son been impacted. Amazing!

JoJo is madly in love with Nona, he speaks of her ALL the time! Being a working mom, there is no better feeling knowing your child is well taken care of while you are at work. I know for sure he couldn't be in better hands. We are so lucky to have them! Next year Derek will be joining his brother there when I return to work in March. Don't get me wrong, it will be hard the first day I drop Derek off, but I know he will be loved.

Thank you for a great year Carmelina! I hope you have a great summer, you deserve it!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all Dads out there. A very special father's day wish to my husband. I just want to thank him for being so wonderful. Joe is an amazing father to our son. He is patient, kind, giving and so loving. He teaches him so much and JoJo just thinks the world of him. I am so happy that we will be adding another child into our family, another life to enjoy and love.

I can't forget my Dad. Thanks Dad for all that you taught me. Your patience and support have made me become who I am today. The values you installed in me have been passed down now to your grandson and soon to be grandsons! Thank you for being so good to all of us!

Many people father children, but it takes a special person to be a Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

People In Our Lives

I'm one of those Moms that will get my kids involved in anything and everything. I love doing kiddy things with JoJo. I'm always looking for events around town to bring him to. Yes, I am one of those Moms. I am already dreaming about being PTO President.

Needless to say, when it was time to sign up for Childbirth Classes with my first pregancy I chose to do the 5 week course instead of the 1 day class. We started the first class in February of '07. I was telling people about how we were going to do the course and a few people had told me that it is so nice to meet other parents that are due around the same time I would be due. I heard some stories that people have met in these classes and they are still friends years and years later. I wasn't going to make friends, I was going to prepare myself for childbirth.

Until I met Christina. Joe and I walked into the classroom and there was one other couple there. Instantly, we connected. I was due in April, she was due in June. We just clicked. One of those people you just know you will get along with and she is genuine, not just passing time with conversation.

Today we celebrated her son Jack's 2nd birthday. People were right about meeting great people at Childbirth Class, I met one of my best friends there!

Belly Laugh

Today was the first day of final exams. After my 2nd block students completed their math finals, I began a conversation with one of them. To make a long story short, and to spare the details, he refered to my growing belly as an "extra load." I got the biggest kick out of that! I have to thank him for a good laugh today! My "kids" really know how to make me smile!

The End is Near

The school year is coming to a close. A week from tonight I will be at graduation. I'm ready. I love the summers, not only for the warm weather (well, lack there of this year), but most of all I get to spend all day with my son! This summer will be extra special. It will be the last few months that he will be our only child. I am making sure I put some routine in place over the summer, some "special" time just for him that will continue when Derek arrives. So far I have him going to a Daddy-and-Me story time every Sunday morning. Of course he will have his traditonal Saturday morning Gymboree class too. Most of all lots of time with Mommy and Daddy! Nothing beats that...absolutley nothing!

Have to cut this short, it's Thursday, my ice cream is waiting!

Good Morning!

This morning my parents joined me on air. I have to say, they were star struck! It was a very good morning! My Dad couldn't get a word in edge wise, but like he said off air, when you are surrounded by 7 girls all your life you can hardly even speak! We had a lot of great conversation off air and of course on. It was such a nice experience to have them with me and for them to see what I do every other Wednesday when I go to the studio. This was a Father's Day "gift" that my Dad will never forget!

Such nice memories are being made from The Point's Baby Watch. Thanks again to the Point for choosing me as one of the moms-to-be! I appreciate it more then you will ever know!

I Gave In

Ok, so I did it. I registered. According to the poll more people supported the "yes" to registering for #2 then the "no". Of course Joe loved that result. Friday night we went to Baby's R Us and sat at the registry desk. With scanner in hand we walked through the store. My registry totals 9 items. Nothing much, just a few things that we do need. I saved all the bottles from JoJo, but since his birth two years ago, the plastic Dr. Brown bottles that he drank from for a year are no longer good for babies. He turned out great, but I don't want to take my chances. I went for the new and improved BPA Free Dr. Brown's...and a few other things....

Thank you to those who voted! :0)

Scheduled Birthday

Being that I had a c-section with JoJo, I planned on having another with Derek. I had a great experience with it the first time, so there was no doubt in my mind to have a repeat c. With JoJo I labored for 15 hours, pushed for an hour and a half and ended up in the OR. No regrets, it was an experience.

Along with taping a video at the doctor's office yesterday we scheduled Derek's birthday. October 3rd. Of course there is always a chance that he may want to come out before that, but as for now the date is set. L&D were called and I am booked!
It is a Saturday, JoJo was born on a Saturday and Joe was born on the 3rd. A little weird picking his birthday. But so much easier when you already have a child and are an obsessive planner like me!!

Listening to Baby Derek's Heartbeat

This is a short video clip from my doctor appointment yesterday. If you listen closely you can hear Baby Derek's heartbeat! Sounds good!!!

Relaxing

Last night I took advantage of one of the generous prizes April and I have received for being the Point's moms-to-be. I had massage 1 of 6 at Body Mind Stress Management in Toms River. The owner Johnny performed the relaxing, peaceful massage! He was very accomidating to the fact that my belly was very present! Before I left I made sure I booked massage #2. I just want to thank Johnny for donating such a nice gift. I feel that in these times people are holding back on donations and such. He didn't think twice to be so giving. I truly appreciate it and so does my entire body. :0)

Speaking of holding back on things, one thing people are not holding back on are rude comments. Maybe people just don't think before they speak, but come on...do you think a pregnant person wants to hear how horrible their summer is going to be because they are preganant. Or, how huge they look in a certain outfit. What ever happened to "how do you feel?" Pregnancy is to me, the greatest gift, a time to treasure. I absolutely love every second of being pregnant. Sorry, had to vent. I start off my blog talking about how wonderful I felt after my massage, to complaining about rude people. One extreme to the next, must be the harmones!!! I can not discount all the nice things that people have said to me. I have one co-worker in particular, Patti, who very genuinely tells me how good I look! It's a great way to start off my mornings! She is one of many, so to those of you out there that know how to share a compliment, THANK YOU!! :0) You know who you are!

PS - I have been debating on whether or not to complain in my blog....sorry had to do it. I feel better! :0)

A Very HAPPY Birthday

Turning 31 was better than expected. I didn't know how life could be better on my birthday. I have an amazing husband, adorable 2 year old son, and a healthy baby growing inside of me, which is another boy. Life is good!

I woke up at 4:40 am, to the house festivally decorated with streamers and balloons. The whole house, all levels. A very nice surprise! I was instructed by Joe that I could not enter the living room after 5:00 pm. After school JoJo and I layed on the couch and watched 2 episodes of Sesame Street. I usually won't let him watch two hours of TV, but I figured, why not, it's my birthday. Which he was fully aware of. He kept saying "Mommy it's your birthday" more like a question, then a statement.

A little before 6, Joe handed me a message in a bottle type of invitation. After retrieving the invitation inside I unscrolled it to read about Bernadette's Birthday Beach Blanket Bash, it was being held in my very own living room, and given by My Boys. As I walked into our living room there were beach towels all over the floor, inflated palm trees, beach balls, crabs and a bucket and shovel (which will make it's way into JoJo's sandbox). I was given a lei to wear and an ice cold lemonade drink displayed in a palm tree cup with a paper umbrella sticking out of it. A delicious dinner followed, picnic style on the floor and the dinner celebration was topped off with a perfect rendition of Happy Birthday around a yummy carrot cake, which Joe also baked! Yeah, it was a great birthday!!!

A very special year 31 is going to be. I will give birth to my second son! Life is great!

Welcome Aryonna!

Big day today in my family. My nephew Nicholas and his wife Maria welcomed their Baby Girl Aryonna into the world. That's right, I said my nephew now has a daughter! Sounds crazy, I know. That's what makes my family so wonderful! It's full of LOTS of people!! I am a great aunt, again! Congratulations to them!!!

Baby Derek must be taking a snooze today, and even yesterday. Either that or I have been moving around so much that I don't realize his movements. I think he is going through a growth spurt. I learned in my first pregnancy that babies don't always move all the time. I used to freak myself out at times thinking there was something wrong. People would tell me that there was nothing wrong and babies will tend to have less movement when they are growing. Nothing could convince a new mommy that everyhting was alright, I just wanted to feel movement. When JoJo was born and he would sleep for hours, upon hours at a time, I then realized that, yes, babies do need to sleep to grow. I know when I lay in bed tonight he will been showing me he is awake. I love it!

I have a very bust week ahead! I have been putting together my summer schedule and daily entertainement for JoJo. So far we have activites for Tuesday-Thursday. Some days we are booked twice, of course, only if I feel up to it! There is plenty of time scheduled for R&R by the pool!

Shower Then Sun

Today I went to Jen's Bridal Shower. It was very nice. Joe is in their wedding in August.

When I got home the 3 of us headed outside and hung out in the backyard. Derek was all over the place as I layed in the sun! Hopefully that is a sign that he is going to love the sun as much as his Mommy does!

I missed Liz's sprinkle today. I hope everyone had a nice time! I am headed to bed shortly, very tired today. I think that nap yesterday threw me off.

Nothing Much

I've had a pretty uneventful day! And I'm okay with that. I actually did something today that I have not done in the five months that I have been pregnant...maybe even since my 2 year old was born. I napped. Yes, and it was wonderful. I layed on the coach as my son and husband played, the next thing I knew it was 35 minutes later. I seriously can't remember the last time I did that!

Moving Up

I drove up the Parkway this morning with a box spring and frame to a queen size bed in the back of my Pathfinder. We are clearing out the extra bedroom and getting ready to move JoJo into that room and Derek will then reside in JoJo's current room. We have been working on moving all the extra furniture out so we can transition JoJo into his new "big boy bedroom" way before Baby Derek's arrivial. I hope to complete this task by the beginning of July. Then we can get the baby's room together after JoJo is settled. Although I feel the change from one room to the next will not phase my older son, I will feel better to do it sooner than later.

I judged cheerleading try-outs today. I used to coach cheerleading at Woodbridge High School (the JV squad), but once I got pregnant with JoJo I resigned. It was very bittersweet. If you heard me on the raido, or watched my videos on the Point website, or know me, it is no surprise that I would be apart of the cheerleading world! I enjoy helping out and judging. It's nice to be apart of it even if it's only for the try-outs!

Please vote if you have not done so already. I can't tell who votes what, so don't hold back!

ICE CREAM TONIGHT!!!!

To register or not to register?

Great morning with Lou and Liz! I want to thank them with helping me answer the question of to register or not to register. I posted a poll, please let me know what you all think. I'm looking forward to the responses. As I was driving up to work after being on air, I of course continued to listen to Lou and Liz and I was cracking up when Liz said "do you only have one birthday party?" Great response to the question that was posed!

After school today I treated myself to a facial. Joe bought me a gift certificate for Valentine's Day to a local spa, so I took advantage. I am turning 31 next week, so I want to restore my youthful look! I must say, I'm glowing...or is that from the baby?!?! Either way, it was relaxing! Baby Derek enjoyed it also. He was moving all over during the facial!

I wish it was Thursday, I could so go for that ice cream tonight, but I'll wait until tomorrow!

Very Generous

I have to post about how wonderful people have been to me since they found out I was pregnant. I want to point out two friends in particular. Laraine and Christina have been so nice to lend me TONS of summer maternity clothes. My first child was born in April, so the majority of my pregnancy was in the winter. I had next to nothing for the summer months. They both, generously gave me ample clothes to last me through the summer. Thanks girls! :0) I don't want to limit my thank you's, many more people have been wonderful, but I am blogging until October...don't worry, everyone will be mentioned!

I'm looking forward to being in studio tomorrow morning with Lou and Liz. I have to thank Lou for a great commerical. It is so great to be driving to work and hear my name on a commercial and also stating that I will be there this Wednesday. Great way to start off the day!

Happy June

Sunday was kicked off with swim lessons at Dorbrook (not for me, for my son....lol). There were a lot of kids in the class and not one mom was in the water, it was all dads. It was very nice to see. Although the water and air temperature were a bit on the cooler side (9:00 am lesson), both of my Joe's had fun!

I planted my flowers yesterday. As I planted my all pink flowers, I thought how ironic is it that my favorite color is pink, and I am surrounded by blue!! I couldn't be happier to have all boys in my house, including the pets!! I planted two rose bushes, pink of course, and as I planted I was thinking how I will always remember these flowers for two reasons. One, pink roses were the flower that we used in our wedding, and two, because these are like Baby Derek's flowers. I will remember that I planted them while he was growing inside of me. Ok, I have to stop or I am going to start crying......

We ended our day with a 50th Birthday Celebration for my sister Mimi. I'm sure she is going to love that I put her age in my blog! Happy Birthday!! :0)

Only 25 more days of working, in total, until I have Baby Derek. Not bad at all!!