Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love ya, tomorrow!

That is my mantra lately...I am trying to focus on tomorrow being a better day than today. Why you ask? Why am I wishing my days away? Because life has become 'so daily' to quote Mary Engelbreit. Its kind of like living ground hog day. Here is an example of life: wake up, get dressed, get the girls dressed and fed, head to the gym, run an errand or two, come home, do some things around the house, feed the girls, put Sophia down for a nap, teach Ellie her preschool lesson, maybe teach a lesson or two of piano or voice, make dinner, rinse, repeat the next day. It doesn't sound so bad to you perhaps, but its just so PREDICTABLE. I just feel like I am stuck. I am slowly making friends here, but for the most part it seems people are as busy as me with their kids and lives and don't have much room for another face in their lives. Its hard for me because I usually don't have trouble connecting with people or making friends, but here it seems people keep you at an arm's length. I feel like I have tried to reach out, maybe not. Maybe I am the one who is aloof and not showing interest. I just feel so blah. Maybe it is just going to take more time. More tomorrows...

I have gotten back into sewing a little bit, and being creative definitely has helped my mood. I miss being outside, there is still so much snow on the ground and taking the girls to the park is out. They hate being inside all the time and I agree, it is for the birds! I am soooo looking forward to warmer weather. The girls are also excited to enjoy the park again and I look forward to the pool this summer, although I will be huge and pregnant. I also miss photography. I think I need to invest in another book of some kind to get me inspired. Let's see, I also am trying to get caught up on the scrapbooking which haunts my craft table, there is still alot to do to feel ready to start another album, aka the next baby book. Our Italy album is sorely in need of attention, but luckily Sophia's baby book is caught up to one year. I have lots of projects, maybe I just need to channel my loneliness and cold weather blues to productivity.

Tomorrow is also the day we will (hopefully) find out what the gender is of this new baby. Ellie still wants a girl and Sophia wants a blue baby, although I am not sure if that really means a boy. The jury is out on my end, I have felt differently this pregnancy, but Chris says I have said that now three times, so its probably a girl, which would be fun, the girl thing is great. I know Chris would love a boy, and it would be fun to have a little boy to keep us busy, but I will be excited with whatever he/she turns out to be. Names are alluding us once again, although I have two girl names I like and a middle name for a boy.

Tomorrow tomorrow. Its only a day away and another chance to be happy and live well.

Snow Snow and More Snow!!

The 'snowfall' of this century hit last weekend here on the Atlantic Coast, and it has really affected our community of Columbia. The Washington area was affected severely with widespread power outages. We had friends in the Bethesda that lost power for 2 days or more. One of Chris' classmates stayed with us for a few days while he waited for his internet and power to resume. We were very fortunate to have no heating or power issues, we were quitecomfortable in our little igloo. The kids, Chris and I had fun playing games, baking, and relaxing. It seemed as we were indoors for so long, that time stood still, we waited and waited for life to return to normal, and the snow to stop. The gym was closed for a few days which was a cramp in my routine, but things are slowly returning to normal a week later. Kids in the area haven't been to school in over a week, I am sure many parents are going crazy and wondering when the schools are going to get things moving and get the sidewalks shoveled and streets plowed.

President Barak Obama has dubbed this storm "Snowmaggedon" and it surely fits. This storm rivaled one named the 1922 "Knickerbocker" storm one that dumped 28 inches in 24 hours. We had 33.8 inches here in Columbia. The kids have loved the snow, they enjoyed watching it fall, they love playing in it. Ellie really enjoys her advetures, and both girls like to collect the icicles that Chris routinely knocks off the roof'. I watched in wonder as the snow kept coming, and coming and coming. Sunday morning was an impressive wake up, with snow covering everything! We patiently awaited the snow plows which finally dug out our streets. School was cancelled for Chris on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday February 8th 9th and 10th. I was grateful to finally get out of the house on Thursday, and replenish our milk, cheese and ice cream supplies! Chris is back at school and trying to catch up on lost time from classes. I am hoping there are no more major storms on the horizon. We have five feet sitting on our lawn, I think we have enough for the season!

12 weeks!

We are happy to announce that we are expecting our third baby, due July 26th 2010. Chris, the girls and I are happily enjoying these first few weeks. Ellie has already named the baby, 'Ruby'. This is funny to me, I think its because the girls watch a show called Max and Ruby about a pair of bunny siblings. Sophia has hence decided to call the baby 'Max', or 'Blue Baby.' All of this conversation is fun. We aren't sure about the names just yet, but many people have the opinion that this baby is going to be a boy. Before we were even pregnant people told us our next baby would be a boy, particularly our Italian friends. I will be happy with whatever comes our way. It would be fun to have a boy in the mix, but a girl would be so fun too. Our first doctor's appointment was yesterday, and we had our first ultrasound. The photos and images were amazing. The baby's organs and body are so amazing, fully formed yet so small. This is my third pregnancy, yet life is still such a fragile amazing gift. I am so excited to be a mom again. We are excited about this addition to our family!

December Flies By

So much to share about the month of December, so I will try and summarize the best I can. For me, December can bring a lot of emotional moments. Christmas is always a cherished memory, my parents always did their best to make sure there was always magic around Christmastime. I loved the expectation and waking up to find suprises from Santa. My folks always new how to create awe and wonder. I am trying to do that with my own children. This year the girls were happy to get a doll house from Santa. It was a big hit. I had a sewing project in the works, but that didn't pan out, unlike my mother, I am not sure how to sew with my children around, I am thinking I need to sew late at night, I am sure that was her secret. =) There were several years my mother would make a dress or a costume, or doll clothes as a Christmas surprise. One year she made me a long white eyelet dress. I loved it SO much that I wore it until it was knee length, and mom finally had to tell me it was too small. She always knew how to make Christmas special.

I wonder if the reason why they did so much for us is for some of the same reasons we try and instill magic in our own childrens' Christmases. We WANT and CRAVE Christmas magic of our own. It seems the best way to re capture that 'feeling' is to help our own children relish in the magic of the season. Christmas isn't about gifts and baubles and lights and cookies. In fact the older I get the more I do truly appreciate the real meaning of the season; love, sacrifice, hope, joy, humble beginnings. Even now, when we read the Christmas story, I marvel at how a lovely young mother could give birth to a baby in a cow stall. I ponder the glorious angelic appearance to shepherds in their fields, and the arrival of three royal kings to the boy king. Its all pretty magical.

My girls love Christmas music. They love to sing the classic Christmas carols, dance to the fun current holiday music, and twirl to the Nutcracker. They love to put up the nativity and hold the baby Jesus. So much magic we are creating, it warms me, and I hope each year will hold magic for all of us.

November!

November FLEW by us! It was a wonderful month, full of memories and activities! Of course we enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving at home, my parents flew out from CA to spend the holiday with us. They also were able to be here to celebrate Ellie's 5th birthday. Ellie and my mom share a birthday, its a pretty special thing! November 24th is a wonderful day. We had a Chinese food feast with our family in the area, Andy and Teresa and their kids, Dan and Kelly and their little ones, as well as Grant and Alene and cute Penn. I made beef and noodle stir fry, soup with dumplings, shrimp fried rice, and chinese bbq ribs. It was so good! Of course we had plenty of cake and ice cream too! The cousins had a blast running around together, it has been so great being so close together. Unfortunately Dan and Kelly are moving to Lemoore CA for his next set of orders (we are so happy for them) and Grant and Alene are hoping to match in San Diego for his intern year and residency in orthopedic surgery. We will definitely enjoy the last few times we will be all together!
Thanksgiving was a busy day of cooking. My parents were wonderful about helping to prepare the feast, and the girls helped me make the rolls and pies. It is so fun having them in the kitchen! (Most of the time). We enjoyed leftovers for DAYS afterwards, and now we are winding up to Christmas! Where does the time go!??
At this joyous time of year we are ever grateful for our health, strength and the love of family and friends. We miss GREATLY our friends in Naples. Italy was such a wonderful 2 years for us. We are looking to many great years and memories here in Maryland.

October!

Is nearly over, I know, but I must enter a blog about this month, one of my favorites of the year.

We are officially 90% moved into our house, the other 10% will take about 3-4 years to complete, probably once Chris is done with med school, its just the way we roll! The girls and I are totally into a routine, which for me is so important. We spend our morning at the gym, run an errand or two, come home, eat lunch, Sophia takes a nap, Ellie and I do preschool. Our afternoons are pretty loose, we play, have a snack and the girls patiently await Daddy's return home from school. Ellie is in ballet once a week, and Sophia recently started gymnastics.

Both girls are doing so well, and I feel so incredibly blessed to be their mom. I love fall, the cool weather, the change of pace from the busy and yet lazy summer days. Instead of playing at the pool we spend our days in the backyard swinging on the new swing, or baking goodies.

Here are my top five things about October:

5. October for me officially begins the autumn season which means candy, pumpkins, costumes and Halloween!

4.The fall colors, leaves of every shade of orange, red, yellow and brown, EVERYWHERE

especially here in Maryland.

3. Pumpkin Picking with my kiddos

2. Cooler weather means sweaters and scarves!

1. Baking yummy goodies at home with the kids

I love making costumes for the kids. This year I tested my weak sewing skills with a lovely fairy princess costume for Ellie. It almost took my sanity, but the costume is finished! The girls looked so cute in their costumes at the ward's trunk or treat. My little Sophia in her monkey costume was a big hit. We are looking forward to November. Ellie will be turning five, which is totally a shock to me. She is totally a little girl now, responsible, helpful, sweet, SMART and funny. I love being around her. Sophia is constantly making me laugh, and is so sassy. She is fearless, brave and strong. I love that about her. My folks will be coming out for a visit and we look forward to taking them into DC and to other things close by. We are totally enjoying our new life that we are creating here in Maryland.

It's September, where has the Summer gone??

Okay, I am really terrible at blog writing, which is strange since I love the internet, and am on here through out the day. So, here goes, quick recap of our whirlwind summer!

WE HAVE MOVED! We left our beloved Bella Napoli for the Eastern Coast of the US. We are now in Columbia Maryland, and we really love it! Chris is attending medical school at USUHS. He is really busy, as busy as he was in the fleet, and sleeping less! He is enjoying learning new things, and has just started his lab section where he has the opportunity to disect human bodies. Ewww! But seriously, here we are.

June was our last full month in Naples. Chris and I took a day trip to Capri without the kids, and it was a wonderful day, well deserved rest prior to our long voyage home. The kids and I hopped on a plane in Rome on July 2nd, headed to LAX. We spent a week in Disneyland with my parents, and my brother and his wife. It was a great way to get back into the groove by spending time at the Happiest Place on Earth! The girls LOVED Disneyland, and I loved being home. The next two weeks were spent trying to purchase a home in Columbia while I was in California, and Chris was still in Naples! It was a disaster. We finally decided on the home we are living in now, and are very pleased with our purchase.

After our two week stint in California the girls and I met up with Chris in Kent, WA for a Cochran family reunion. It was quite a week! We really enjoyed spending time with everyone, and really had fun at the Luau that Charlene and Deford put together for the family, complete with roasted pig! While in Washington we were putting the final paperwork together to be in our home once we arrived in Maryland. Unfortunately, we were not able to immediately move in once we arrived. By the time we signed the paperwork for our house on August 31st, we had stayed in 9 different places!! I was definitely ready to be in our house with or without furniture!! Our stuff arrived from Italy on September 8th, and the weekend prior we painted the inside of the house. It is now the 21st of the month, we have made great progress in getting through boxes and organizing the house. I am beginning to feel like this is my home. The girls are really loving their room, and our huge back yard. I just feel so blessed to be in a house again. So happy we are all safe, healthy and moving forward in this new path.

Some days I really miss Naples, and my friends. I just want to look out my window and see the Mediterranean Coast or taste some delicious Mozzarella di Buffala, or take a shopping trip to the local markets, pottery shopping on the coast, or planning our next trip around Europe. I know that the friends we made in Naples will be ours for life. The dream of living in Naples was one that came with highs and lows, but the overall experience was incredible. I would do it again. I hope we can spend another tour over seas somewhere. Europe is a fantastic place to live. Italy is an incredible place, truly a 'dream that will follow me throughout my life'. One that I hope to return to again, and again.