It's Not Dew-Dew

We were walking this morning, outside!!!! The sun was shining the sky was blue, it was perfect.

We heard a helicopter approaching. I said, "Look guys, a helicopter!"

Mya and Enzo both whipped their heads around. When it's a plane they announce, "They goes Dew-Dew!!!! (Aunt Taylor)" They think she is in all the airplanes.

Today, Mya said, "Hmmm, that's not Dew-Dew, its a helicopter."

"Who is it then?" I asked.

"I think its Oprah," she said.

Found this one accidentally

Our trip to California over Thanksgiving got overshadowed by the surprise arrival and early birth of Sami. So I never really looked at the pictures until just now. This was taken the day before Sami was born. It was a great trip that only deserved to be cut short by that amazing child! It looks weird to only be a family of 4.

Dear Cincinnati,

I have just found myself in one of those rare moments....I'm alone. Antonio is off with the "big" kids and Sami is napping soundly. I made myself some breakfast and all of the sudden the rain clouds parted and the sun started shining through. I found myself on my front stoop and also found myself living in the moment, which is hard for me to do. My mind went to Cincinnati and I thought the Queen (not sure why it is called that) City deserved some of my attention.

Dear Cincinnati,

Wow. We have certainly been through some ups and downs together but today I've decided that I can't be mad at you.

You certainly keep me up at night with your imperfections, you have hurt people I truly care about, you often seem like you never want to change, but this morning....I find myself basking in the happiness you have brought into my life.

With you my marriage bounced back from its hardest days and we have brought home a running total of 3 children. This house that once seemed so empty is full, like....all.... the....time!

I assumed I had made all the amazing friends that a couple could have but no, you surprised me with friendships that have pushed me, held me, lifted me, challenged me, laughed with me, danced with me, parented with me, and cried with me.

I have neighbors that have helped me when we had no one to lean on, who ask me how I am and wait for the answer, who babysit my children so I can date my husband, who drop off coffee, and meals, and gifts for newborn babies.

This house has been full time after time celebrating babies, sunshine, goodbyes, breakfast, birthdays, holidays, and adoption days. Old friends share drinks and meals here, and new friendships have blossomed here.

I can honestly say there are 22 children (and more coming soon) that I cannot wait to see who they grow up to become and how their friendships with my children will blossom or possibly fade. All opportunities to grow for each of them.

Cincinnati, do I think we'll be together forever? Probably not, but today instead of seeing your glaring flaws I choose to see you for what you have given me.

A chance to be close to my parents, a chance to make mistakes, to make realizations, to become a mother, to provide a steady job that challenges Antonio and gives us options, but most of all you gave me friendships that have changed my life forever.

Thank you,
Jencie

Sami (We're Really the Ferraro Five Now!)

I haven't blogged about Sami.

I could post a huge list of reasons why but I won't bore you. I'm sure you can imagine what life was like with 3 kids 3 and under, now 4 and under.

It has been nothing short of chaotic, beautiful, frustrating, fulfilling, a nightmare and magical.

But oh, how did I ever live a single day without this beautiful, little girl in my life.

Some things that I don't want to forget, but know that I may:

1. Your mouth smells like how I imagine heaven. Sweet, warm, like a candy cloud... and makes my heart skip a beat.

2. Your smile makes me feel like the most important person in the world.

3.Your ability to fall asleep anywhere is beyond helpful.

4.Your eyes are so dark that I see my reflection in them, reminding me to be the best mother I can to you.

5. Your hand on mine is the most amazing contrast of colors both a sign of beauty and the long road we will be on together as we teach others it is okay to be different.

6.Your laugh. You laugh at my laugh it feels like the most give and take of my life as I lose track of who started it and I know I don't want it to stop.

7. You stomp your right leg to the beat and music calms you.

8. You sing along when your daddy sings you Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

9. When I lay you in your bed you smile up at me and roll to your side. When I come to check on you later you have shimmied so you are head to toe at the width of the bed...that is how you are most comfortable.

10. You have officially proven that it is impossible to fall in love only "so many" times, my heart is larger, my dreams for the future bigger, and my drive to be the one to give you all you need to be your best self, is stronger than ever before.

Little Samia, thank you for choosing us to be your parents.

Anatomy

Okay I may take it a little too far but I believe in complete honesty and factual description of what we politely call "our private areas."

It is my goal to protect my children from predators, young and old and to have an open line of communication when it comes to all things....all things.

Does it make me uncomfortable, yes. Does it make Antonio uncomfortable....absolutely. We do it for future Mya, future Enzo, and future Sami, we want them to be comfortable with themselves and their bodies, and comfortable talking with us about all that stuff that parents wish they could ignore.

Enzo is now potty training and after I corrected Antonio's attempt at calling a penis a "peanut" we have settled on what sounds like pea-nuss. Close enough.

The other morning Mya was perched on the couch with her cinnamon toast and ice water as Enzo was getting dressed. As he pulled on his Mickey Mouse underpants, Mya said:

"What if there was a pea-nuss that went all the way to the ceiling and someone cut it off (makes scissor motion with her hands)?"

I replied with, "Ouch! Well, people don't usually (try and tell me you aren't thinking about Lorena Bobbitt right now) cut off penises."

To which she said, "Oh, so you don't cut pea-nusses or hair."

Phew, that covers a couple of my fears.

Solving Problems

The other day both Mya and Enzo woke up with colds. No big surprise but the conversation that went on was nothing short of text-book sibling rivalry....

Mya (clutching fake money and credit cards that came with her new princess purse): "Enzo, I have a cold."

Enzo (in only underpants) "No you don't....I have a cold!"

Mya (still clutching money, now with a hand on her hip) "I DO TOO HAVE A COLD!"

Enzo: "No you don't."

Mya: (adds a stomp with her cowboy boot) "I do to have a cold. I'm going to throw my money!"

Me: "Mya, will throwing your money around solve your problems?"

Mya: "Yes. It will solve my problems, but it won't solve yours."

If only.....

Confessions of a Former Biter

I did it, okay?!?! She just kept taking that toy away. What was I supposed to do? In my head I heard my voice, "Hey! Give that back!" But when I open my mouth I am silenced. I mean I open it as wide as I can but instead of words I find my mouth closing in on the nearest inch of flesh I can find.

Yes! She dropped the toy!

Whoa...screeching, kicking, tears...MAKE IT STOP! She took MY toy, why is she crying?

Uh, oh. I hear stomping....its getting closer.....

Oomph, why is my mom carrying me out of the room? The screeching is following me. Geeze, Mom sure said NO really loudly. What followed NO? Was that biting? NO....BITING?!?!?!

Then it was like groundhog day, the same thing kept happening and happening. I was starting to hear, NO, BITING a lot. I just couldn't get my mouth to form the words and my sister always stopped if I used my teeth.

Then today, my sister wanted to touch my head while my mom changed me out of my pj's. I wasn't in the mood, I just wanted to get it over with so I could eat breakfast.

The next thing I know, I opened my mouth and out came, " Mya, no touch my head!" And she stopped.

Man, my mom has a pretty smile.