11 months old

Dear Benny,

Oh sweet boy, I can't believe you're already 11 months old!


11 months old, Februrary 14, 2012

This month has been a very big month for you.  You are offically walking!  We couldn't be prouder of you!  It was pretty amazing because your transition to walking was so quick.  We thought you were ready to walk for so long, but instead you seemed to have just waited until you figured it out.  You never seemed to experience that new walker awkwardness.  Your most favorite activity is now trying to keep up with your sister.  You're now just working on speed...she moves a bit too fast for you!
 


You're wearing 9-12 month clothes, size 4 diapers and size 4 shoes. 



You have the best smile.  You smile with your entire face and it just makes those cheeks of yours that much more kissable.  Your smile is still made up of 8 teeth, 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom. 



Your favorite toys are the shopping cart, the Little People zoo animals, and anything McKenna is playing with. You are deathly afraid of Legacy, our rocking horse.  You don't want to be anywhere near it and if you have to be near it, then you are crawling all over me or Daddy!  We can't figure out why you don't like it!



You continue to be a good eater.  Your favorite foods include: applesauce packets, raisins, yogurt, Goldfish, graham crackers, and milk.  I can usually get you to eat anything I put in front of you!



You are quite the dancer!  As soon as you hear music playing, you are bopping up and down with a big smile on your face. 

You love to read books.  Your favorite books are any book that plays music or plays sounds.  You love your Mickey Mouse Clubhouse book and your CARS book the most.  You are always grabbing them off the shelf. 



You love to sing songs with me.  You love doing the motions to Wheels on the Bus, your favorite part is when the driver on the bus says "move on back!" and I dip you back.  Oh how it makes you laugh!





Just know you are the most perfect little boy in the whole world.

I love you, my sweet booski!

Love, Mommy

California Girl

My sister, Lizzie, is now a California Girl! 

On Monday she left for San Francisco for 6 months. 

She will be participating in the Credit Management Training Program (CMTP) for her company, Wells Fargo.  It's a great opportunity and we couldn't be more proud of her. 

But, of course, we'll miss her like CRAZY!!!

Last Saturday, my parents hosted a going away party at their house for the family and then Lizzie's boyfriend, Jordan continued the party by hosting a party at Orazio's, a bar downtown Naperville.

We had an awesome time celebrating our sweet Beanie!


ready to take on San Fran!


"Big Guy" is putting piggy tails in...because he's the only one she'll let do it!  ...btw...awful angle...but Kenna sure looks cute!


Benny & Aunt Beanie


Beanie & Mackie


Amanda & Krissy


squinty sisters!


Momma sure loves her Bella


a couple of Momma's best friends came too!  Marie & Jody


Godmother love!


it's always fun with Aunt Beanie & Big Guy


always!


Kenna loves cu-cakes!


Here's to you and all you will accomplish, Liz!  We love you!


Love!


the four girls


ready for our girls trip!


a nice family picture, but we're missing a couple of people!  Brian?  Benny?




Lizzie,
There is so much ahead of you as you embark on this chapter of your life.  We are so proud of all of your accomplishments and can't wait to see what's next for you! Work hard and show them just how amazing you are.  You'll be home before you know it.  ROVE!
Good luck! 

...Mackenzie has the pictures of part 2 on her camera...it was a late night...and a rough Sunday...we sure had fun!

Love

On January 28, we headed to Ohio to celebrate my Grandma & Grandpa Milazzo's Anniversary.  It's been awhile since the Milazzo family has all gotten together and this was the perfect occasion.   We enjoyed a delicious dinner while catching up with one another and snuggling all of the great grand babies. 

The past year has proved to be quite a bumpy road.  Love and prayers are a pretty amazing thing.   We are all so lucky to have one another and the heads of our family couldn't be better examples. 

We love you Grandma & Grandpa Milazzo.  We love you VERY much.

Grandpa & his #1 (of 16) grandchild and his #6 (of 8) great-grandchild!


kids table - Sal, Dino, Mikey, McKenna, Marissa, & Sammy


McKenna coloring with Sal


Grandma & Grandpa!


Big Guy & Beanie


Bri and his boy


Lenny & Little Lenny...same smile?


great picture of Uncle Lenny & Nicky


Grandpa meeting his newest Great Grandchild, Kinsley!


G&GM with the littles...this group keeps growing!


I <3 my cousins!   ...mandy, angie, tony, lizzie, sean, nick, me!...


missing a few of us :(


nice picture of the grand kids with G&GM...  sadly missing: Kristen, Mackenzie, Matt, Joe, and Julie


the girls!  Aunt Kim, Aunt Lynn, Grandma, Aunt Jan, Mom, Aunt Deb


look at the blue eyes on these two!  Benny with beautiful Marissa


cutting the cake


my gorgeous cousin, Angie, who I don't get to see nearly enough!


Sophie, Nicky, Lizzie...probably about to break out in a dance off


enter hilarious caption here


Auntie Lynnie and Maris

such a sweet picture...Kenna loves Big Guy

Evenings like these just remind me how much I miss all of my family.  We always have such a great time together.  It's such a shame that we live so far away from one another and really don't get the chance to see each other.   Thank goodness for Facebook, otherwise it'd be a lot harder to keep in touch! 

Congratulations Grandma and Grandpa Milazzo!   We love you!

Winter?

It's winter.

In Chicago we usually expect it to be cold and we expect it to snow, especially when we're expecting it to be "the worst winter ever." 

In our case (so far), it has by no means been the worst.  It's been pretty mild and we've only had one snow that is really worth talking about.  Funny enough, I'm so far behind on my blogging that I haven't talked about it. 

So...here I am...talking about it. 

In anticipation of "the worst winter ever", Brian & I ran around Plainfield looking for snow pants and boots for our two little snow bunnies.   Itty bitty boots were bought and they sat waiting and waiting for the first snow of the season. 

Finally, it arrived.  I was pumped to get McKenna & Ben out in it together.  I thought for sure they'd both love it...sledding down our side yard, throwing snowballs at Trippy (and at each other), shoveling with Daddy, snow angels, building a snowman, all stuffed in our winter gear...

Well, as it turns out...pumped wasn't the word to describe McKenna's reaction...and well, Benny, he's young enough to still 'go with the flow'.  So, Benny & I (and Trippy) went out and played in the snow.  Brian & McKenna stayed in and took pictures :)


Benny's first snow!


not totally sure about it


wanted nothing to do with playing in the snow


Trip, on the other hand, loves the snow


loves the snow


first sled ride

Maybe next time, Kenna???