Christmas is Coming...

It's that time of year again and whether we want to be or not the Season has a way of making you happy! I could be sad, sad because our son isn't with us as we had once hoped and expected, but instead the Season gives me hope. Hope that 2010 will bring better luck, better things, and another opportunity for our dream to come true. I'm looking forward to the holidays, time spent with family and friends, decorating the house with Christmas goodies, wrapping presents, and of course all the great Christmas Music!!! I'm also looking forward to visiting my Mom in sunny Florida on December 28th for a few days. I wish I could stay longer and I really wish Carmine could join me, but his job doesn't allow that time of year off. Carmine got a new job and goes for training in Oklahoma for most of December. We're so happy he finally got a better job at the Post Office and now he even has Saturdays off! Me, I start my last semester (finally) for my Masters in January and I can't wait to finally be done and hopefully move on to bigger and better things. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope 2010 is a much better year for all!!!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

Viva Las Vegas!

Carmine and I had a wonderful time in Vegas this month, we saw and did so much and keep talking about all the things we still want to do when/if we go back someday! It's beautiful there and so much fun! Good food, beautiful statues, great shows, shopping, and of course gambling! We saw Criss Angel's, "Believe", which was "eh". Certainly not the world's greatest magician, but he is really cute. We also saw Cirque de Soleit, "O", which was incredible -- dancing, synchronized swimming, diving, and we had great seats! We stayed at Mandalay Bay, which has a beach and a lazy river pool, it was so relaxing. We loved the Venetian, where we ate and took a Gondola ride, and we saw "O" at the Belagio home of the breath taking fountain show perfectly in sync to Andrea Bocelli's amazing voice. I truly loved the whole trip even though my feet were killing me from all the walking we did. We laughed at the fact that more of the walking was just finding our way in and out of the hotel/casinos. They really set it up so you can't get in and out quick. Carmine (wimpy) made me go on the rollercoaster at New York, New York alone, I wouldn't have missed it for the world, it was great! We didn't win it big (although Carmine did get $340 out of a .25 cent machine after only putting in $7). We really did enjoy every minute!

Carmine and I are participating in the "Share Walk for Rememberance" in Bridgewater next Saturday (10/17), which was our Newby's due date. We're very thankful that the walk just happened to be scheduled for this difficult day and month when the hopes and dreams we have still aren't yet to be and when Newby is so often in our thoughts. The Share group we go to every month has been very helpful. Each month we seem to dread going and consider skipping it, only to leave at the end and say, "I'm glad we went". The hardest part of the group for me, is all the people with kids. I understand that their loss is just as sad, but I can't help feel that if I was fortunate enough to have children or even one child, as they do, I would be too grateful to continue with all the sad talk and regrets.

Now it's on to some scary movies, haunted hayrides, and candy corn. Gotta love it! Happy Halloween!!!

The Autumn Wind...

It's only September 1st and it seems fall is truly in the air already, a little cooler, the leaves already beginning to change colors, and for many (including myself) back to school! I am beginning what I hope to be my last year of school here at Rutgers and probably my most challenging. Come the Spring semester, I have to use all of my vacation time in order to complete the required Field Work, but as there are two sides to every coin, that will probably be the most enjoyable and productive part of the entire program! Carmine and I are looking forward to a trip to Las Vegas at the end of the month. I've never been and I can't wait to see all the casinos and non-stop action! We're staying at Mandalay Bay, the only casino with a "beach". Our biggest hope is to be pregnant again sometime soon and we'll be praying everyday for better luck and our ultimate wish...to be a mom and dad.

I Grieve...

So hard to move on, still loving what's gone.

I know they say that time heals and makes it better, but somehow the more days between the last day my son was with me and the days that he's now gone only make me miss him more and more and more. My poor son, you carried all of my hopes and dreams, perhaps it was just too much for you. I can only hope that the pain I feel today and will feel everyday without you is somehow pain that you were spared. I loved you the minute I found out you were inside of me and I will continue to love you everyday that you are not.

The Urn

We looked forward to

Your laughter

Your cries

The color of your eyes

Today we are left with

The urn on our dresser

We had hopes

We had dreams

We were happy, so it seems

Now we are left with

The urn on our dresser

We miss you

We love you

We wish you were here

Instead of the urn on our dresser

by Jeanna James Anzalone

You'll Live in Our Hearts...

In Memory of Newby Angel Anzalone who was born and died on 6/19/2009 but will live in our hearts forever & ever.
Love,
Mom & Dad

Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails it is!

We're having a BOY!!! We were thrilled to see Newby again yesterday, despite the fact that the day didn't go as well as planned. It turns out he's a little smaller then he should be and it is probably due to the fact that I've developed Pregnancy Hypertension (high blood pressure). I am praying that it doesn't lead to Pre-eclampsia, which would have me on bed rest first, and could lead to a very early delivery (only 28 weeks!!!). I'm cutting all salt out of my diet and going to try to mildly exercise a bit more. Although, this really is all related to my diabetes, I can only hope for the best at this point. I go back for another sonogram in 2 weeks, and hopefully he will be bigger, a sign that he's still growing and only fell a little off track. The doctor says he appeared to be the size of 19 weeks despite the fact that I'm 20 weeks along. I said, couldn't that be just a miscalculation of my due date? She said no, because my 12 week sonogram was right on target. It's so hard not to worry but I know that stress certainly won't help things and will only make it worse. Poor Newby, sorry your mom has this awful disease. I pray everyday that you come out ok despite it all. Even though she said he's smaller then he should be, he is proportioned well and still look adorable to us. We can't wait to meet him!!!

Had to go to the hospital for this Sonogram, where unfortunately the pictures were not clear at all! Newby at 20 Weeks:

It's Our Anniversary!

Hard to believe how fast it went, but one year ago this weekend was filled with pure joy and excitement as we got married! We spent the whole year talking about how great our wedding was and I still surround myself with pictures of the memories. Now with our beautiful home and Newby on the way, we are truly a family and my husband has been wonderful!

April Showers Bring May Flowers!

April was filled with wedding bliss down in Sunny Florida! Mom & David's wedding was perfect from the low humidity sunny weather, to the beautiful ceremony and reception surounded by water, and of course the happy couple joined by family and good friends. I have my next sonogram scheduled for June 2nd (20 weeks) when we're hoping to find out if it's a boy or a girl! My birthday was on Mother's Day this year and it was a really nice weekend. My husband got me everything I wanted (Wii Fit and a new ring) and even surprised me with a Mother's Day gift from "Newby", a Thomas Kinkade Disney picture of Pinnochio, which will be hung in the baby's room. In a few weeks, Carmine and I will celebrate our 1-year Anniversary. Time is flying!

Link to view Mom's Wedding Photos:
http://www.photoworks.com/photo-sharing/shareSignin.jsp?shareCode=ABDC5D1C855&cp=ems_shr_alb_pml&cb=PW

Link to me singing at Mom's wedding (on You Tube):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDmc2EkpsKo

Lookin' Good!

Had my first external Sonogram/Ultrasound yesterday and was left AMAZED! "Newby" (as we like to call him or her) got so much bigger and I could count all the fingers on his/her hands! "Newby" was awake and moving around a lot! He/She even appeared to be sucking his/her thumb and then turned his/her back to us! It was truly surreal and hard to believe that amazing little life is inside me moving around. I don't feel any movement yet, but I'm really looking forward to that part!

Here's "Newby" -

With Arms Wide Open!

Carmine and I are expeting our new bundle of joy sometime in October (due date 10/17/09)!!! We're so excited, nervous, anxious, curious, and overjoyed! We've both talked about and dreamed about this for a long time and the time is here and now. We will definitely be finding out if it's a boy or a girl who will bring us so much joy but either way, we just pray everyday that I can carry and bring a healthy baby into the world in October. Now it begins...

Long Time No Post!

Sorry to those of you who actually do check my Blog for info, Facebook has sucked me in and it's hard to update both regularly. Carmine and I are really excited and anxious for Spring. This month is full of birthdays - Happy Birthday Dad, David, Matt, Isabella & Annabella, and Paul! Girlies are turning 6 this year and cuter then ever, looking forward to their "Highschool Musical" Birthday Party! I get a Spring Break from school next week, but I'd like to try and get ahead, so it won't really be a break at all.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy Heart Day!

I'd just like to say enough already! In light of the latest Yankee to be found guilty of steroid use (A-Rod), I'd just like to say, why don't we just allow steroids in (all) sports? Modern day sportsmen could become more like late day Gladiators. The bigger the better. Then we wouldn't have to pay them the ridiculous salaries they get because all athletes would be super athletes. If an athlete can't take steroids, then he won't probably won't be able to play, sorry. We'd be able to take sports to a whole other level. Making athletes like Mark McGwire look small and weak. Imagine Hockey with everyone on steroids? No more press speculations, accusations, suspensions, fines, million dollar players apologizing, teams in distress.

Valentine's Day is coming and I just love that there is a holiday that is all about hearts, love, and romance. It's always even better when it falls on a Saturday! I hope everyone has fun with their loved ones. I hope all your kids give and get lots of Valentine's in school.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Well, the long weekend is over and now the work begins. The Spring Semester begins today so it's back to school for me. I'm dying to lose some weight so getting to the gym is a priority. Work is busy with the students back and events a buzz. The Inauguration of our new president is today! All those shows I talked about in my last blog are on. So, from morning until night there is plenty to do, see, and participate in. I saw my friend Anna this past weekend and her adorable son Patrick. He has this really curious nature that is so fun to watch and he loves to flirt with the ladies with this adorable little smirk he gets. Such a happy baby. Anna is my mentor, also a Type 1 diabetic, she keeps a close eye on her diabetes and was great throughout her pregnancy and delivered a very healthy baby boy. I hope to do the same someday soon and having her for a friend is something I'm very thankful for.

I found this Goethe quote online in one of my classes and thought I'd share:

"Our Wishes are Premonitions of the Potential that Lies within Us" ~Johan Wolfgang von Goethe

I Love Long Weekends!

Here's a picture of Christmas at Our House. I'm really looking forward to the 3-day weekend coming up. I'd really like to get over to the new outlets in Tinton Falls and the Englishtown Fleamarket, which although it's only a few blocks away from my house, we've just been too busy on the weekends to get over there. It's also a great time for TV -- Obama's Inauguration, Big Love, American Idol, Nip/Tuck -- so much to see and enjoy! I recently started using Facebook and I'm amazed at how many old friends I found or found me. It's really a facinating website.

Happy New Year!

Another year over, and another new year begins! Lots of great memories from 2008 and lots of great hopes for 2009. My mother, David, and Grandma came to visit over the holidays and although the time flew by way too quick, we had a lot of fun! We spent Christmas Eve at Carmine's parents house, we spent Christmas Day at my brother Chris' house, we spent New Year's Eve at my house. We went to NY, had dinner at Nonna's, and got lots of compliments on our new home. The following are some pictures David and my grandmother took during the week. I'm still waiting for Carmine's pictures...