Gabriel James Anzalone

Welcome Gabriel!

Season's Greetings!!!

Christmas came early this year for Carmine and I as our beautiful son, Gabriel James Anzalone, arrived on Sunday, November 14, 2010 (at 10:24 a.m.). He was a month premature and spent 6 days in the NICU before coming home. He weighed only 4 lbs. 8 oz. at birth and came home only 4 lbs. 1 oz.! He's the love of my life (my little Munchkin Man) and the best gift we've ever received.

As we struggle through the holidays as new parents dealing with Gabriel's digestive issues, we will not forget what this time of year is all about--love, peace, and gratitude.

Merry 1st Christmas, Gabriel! May your first year be a happy one. We LOVE you!!!

November, A Month of Thanks...

"Fallen leaves lying on the grass in the November sun bring more happiness than the daffodils"

~Cyril Connolly

"How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative—or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people."
~Sir John Templeton

T hanks for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather.
H for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday.
A for autumn's frosty art, and abundance in the heart.
N for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember.
K for kitchen, kettles' croon, kith and kin expected soon.
S for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that about.
That spells THANKS for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving.
~Aileen Fisher, All in a Word

November is National Diabetes Month and Prematurity Awareness Month. This month, 1930, my grandmother Gertrude (aka Lefty Sr.) was born. This month, 1976, my brother Chris was born. This month our nation gives Thanks for all that we have been given. And yet as important as all of that is to me, nothing can compare to the greatest thing we now await to happen this month, for in just two weeks time, I will be having a c-section to deliver our son (prematurely) and God willing we'll soon be celebrating another November birthday and our greatest reason to be thankful will be born!

Carmine and I have so many hopes and dreams about our son. We both picture him from either the sonogram pictures we've been blessed to receive and just from our own visions of what he may look like and while our visions may be different I know that we both picture him as the most gorgeous thing we've ever seen. While the middle name for our son was (and still is) one of debate, we both came to love the name Gabriel. I love its meaning, "God is my might", I love the sound of it, I love both the full name, Gabriel and the nickname, Gabe. Gabriel is also the angel who let Mary know that she would give birth to her son, Jesus.

After the unexpected and painful loss of our first son, Newby Angel, we were filled with concern, worry, and anxiety this pregnancy, but it was a much different pregnancy with a much better doctor (Charles Hux, MD). I got to enjoy my son's movements (even the more painful kicks in my side), I was able to keep my diabetes in good control, and despite the fact that we were often filled with worry because of the baby's size (always a little smaller and in the lower percentile throughout the pregnancy) we have now made it to 34 weeks, our son made it to 4 lbs. and we have high hopes that we will get to bring our son home this time.

I don't know what the future holds for our son or what he will grow up to be, but I do know he will be surrounded by love, adored by many, and that Carmine and I will be the best parents we can be. Carmine will no doubt make him laugh and be an excellent role model of kindness and support and I will do my best to teach him many things. I can't wait to read to him, sing to him, dance with him, and show him all the things I love most in the world. I especially can't wait for our first trip to my favorite place, DISNEY!

Lots of Hugs and Kisses await you Gabriel! Love, Mommy

Winnie the Pooh

Our Nursery!

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh," he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you.""

Showered with Love

My baby shower on 10-10-10 (my favorite number), was AMAZING. Jen, Monique, and my Mom really put together the best shower and every last detail was unique and perfect. I was surrounded by so much love from my diverse and lovely family and friends. The baby and I received gifts galore and we couldn't need for anything. We can't wait for our son to arrive and meet all those who love him already. Carmine and I are both so excited and I simply can't wait to be a mom!!!

Shower Photos:

A New Dawn, A New Day, A New Life and I'm Feeling Good!

So, I figured enough time and events have passed without posting to my old friend Blog. In May, I received my Master's Degree in Library Science and I'm currently taking the final State Certification Course in order to teach in a public school. I look forward to a career change, but only after my even more exciting upcoming role as a Mom!

I am 30 weeks pregnant and anxiously awaiting the arrival of our son! With all the hopes and and prayers we can offer up for him (and I) to arrive healthy at the end of this pregnancy, we're happy to report so far so good. Of course we already love and adore him and think he's the most adorable thing we've ever seen. I can't foresee a day without him in my life. His every move makes me smile.

Our mom's sent us furniture for the nursery and Carmine has been working extra hard getting everything put together and ready for our son to come home. Carmine and I went to a Breast Feeding and Infant Care Class, this Sunday (10/10/10) my family is throwing us a Baby Shower, and we have appointments to meet with 3 different Pediatricians for the baby. It's all very exciting!!!

Here is our favorite Sonogram picture of the baby!

"Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." ~Charles Dickens

Auld Lang Syne and On To a New Year!

Welcome 2010! My wish for this year is the same as every year, that Carmine and I can welcome a small addition to our family. I'm hoping that this year will be a good one for us all! It's an even year, which always tends to be better for me, so there's hope. I had a wonderful Christmas with my husband, family, and friends! We spent Christmas Eve making Gingerbread Houses with Girlies (Carmine turned 36), Christmas Day in Staten Island with Mom & Dad Anzalone, I spent some time in Florida with my Mom & David and my Grandmother (we even got to go to Universal Studios one day!), and we spent New Year's Eve in Staten Island and New Year's Day with Girlies playing games! We got lots of nice gifts. I've really been enjoying our new Keurig coffee maker that we bought with a Gift Card from my Father and Marla, so simple and tasty! I'm not looking forward to taking down the tree and all my Christmas decor. I would love it if we could just go right from Christmas to Spring, but a long winter is no doubt ahead of us.

Here's to a little positive thinking, creating positive energy, and bringing positive results!

Happy & Healthy New Year!