Settling In

Today Carina had her one week (plus a few days...) check up and all is well. She's gaining weight back she had previously lost, her color is good, she's eating well, though not on any schedule yet, she's looking around, and she's in overall good health.

The doctor's office is out of flu shots (H1N1 and Seasonal) and it's a race in this area to get one. Evidently people are lining up at 3 in the morning when the listserves announce a place that has them available, and they run out in less than an hour. Our family is in the high risk group with Carina being so young, so we may spend the next few weeks getting up early and camping out at various locations trying to get a flu shot - sounds like fun.


Mia and Laney are being great big sisters. They get diapers and wipes, give Carina her pacifier, and want to hold her all the time (supervised of course).

Our friends from Laney's (and previously Mia's) preschool have coordinated a meal schedule so our dinners are taken care of each night. What a difference that can make, and how wonderful it is we have a supportive group of friends and neighbors to make the transition easier! We feel so blessed!

Mia has a bad cold and is home from school today so the girls are playing and getting into mischief today. So, life's almost normal, but with a quieter Mia since her voice is almost gone - poor thing.

Carina is Here!

After heading into the hospital for an induction early on Tuesday, Carina Elise was born at 7:38pm on October 13th. She was 20.5 inches long and weighed 8lbs and 1oz.

We're settling in and learning the ropes of having 3 children! (i.e. zone defense for my football fan friends) Mia and Laney are completely enamored with Carina, and love to hold their new baby sister. Marme is here until Monday and Patrick is home for two weeks to give me a chance to rest and get our new routine figured out.

Here are some pics of Carina's first few days - we'll get more out soon!

The Waiting Game

Hello, Little One!

We're ready for you to come out now, but you don't seem to want to leave your cozy cocoon for the outside world that is our crazy busy and loud family. Mia can't wait to hold you and Laney wants to see how tiny your feet are. She'd also like to borrow some of your clothes for her baby doll, but I won't let her until you outgrow them.

We have a name for you finally, but we're waiting on you to determine when we'll celebrate your birthday year after year. Your Daddy spent some time dancing with the big girls this evening, and I know he'd dance you around the room if you came out, too. He's a great dancer and snuggler - just ask your sisters!

Anyway, I would be happy for you to make your grand entrance any time now - I know it's fashionable to be a bit late, but we're getting antsy here and would really like to see you -

Love, Your Waiting Family

PS: Here are some recent photos of us keeping busy while we wait -

Tired, but still here...

So, we're getting down to the wire with Baby Volpe's arrival coming sooner than later. I'm tired, sore, and have not enough brain left to compose anything witty or interesting. So, I will attach some pics of our lives in the past few weeks to keep you updated. Lots of activity around here, so have a look -













In order: Laney's first day of school take1, Laney's first day of school take2, Mia with Grandma and Grandpa at Uncle Paul's Wedding, Mia crashed at Uncle Paul's wedding, Mia saying goodbye to the family in Texas.

A Baby Pool!

Take a guess at when Baby will arrive, as well as her other vital statistics! We will send the winner a small prize after Baby is here:

http://www.expectnet.com/games/BabyVolpe3Pool

Some hints:
Estimated Due Date is October 8, 2009
She's a GIRL (ultrasound at 20 weeks)
Mia was 9lbs, 3oz, 20.5 inches long, and 10 days overdue
Laney was 8lbs, 5oz, 20 inches long, and 2 days early

Shoe Shopping for Xtra Wide Feet

As a child, I always hated it that I couldn't wear all the cute shoes that my friends had. Why? I had NARROW feet, and had to wear something that Stride Rite carried. Period. They didn't have as many varieties in shoes back then, and they DEFINITELY didn't have VANS in narrow sizes. (-the cool shoes I wanted that just never worked out for me)

So, here I am a mom of two daughters, and am faced with the same dilemma, only my girls have Extra Wide feet. Mia especially. As their feet get longer, the variety of girls shoes available in wide sizes, and especially in Extra Wide sizes diminishes drastically, leaving us with about 3-4 styles of shoes to choose from. So far, it hasn't been too much of a problem, as we can find school shoes and sneakers and a pair or two for Sunday School. Thanks to Payless, Stride Rite, New Balance, and Jumping Jacks.

HOWEVER, this week we are looking for strappy dress sandals for Mia to wear in a wedding, and there just aren't any! Not one pair that comes in Wide. So, it's either the standard MaryJane in patent leather or a modified Mary Jane in patent leather.

Poor Mia was devastated when she tried to pry her feet into the dyable rhinestone accented dress sandal that would go perfectly with her dress, and she just couldn't get them on. (Going up a size is not an option, as she has long feet for her age as well.)

It was then that I realized that those with wide feet have it worse than those with narrow feet, because all that would happen to me if a shoe didn't fit was that it was loose all over and might fall off. People with wide feet may not be able to even get them on in the first place. At least I can empathize with her when she wants the "Cool shoes" of the season and it just doesn't work out. Poor thing.

Mia's First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Mia's first day of Kindergarten. No tears, no hard goodbyes, just a seemingly regular day at school - can you believe it?!?

She's attending the Spanish Immersion Magnet program at Rolling Terrace Elementary School here in Takoma Park, and will be taught in Spanish for the day, except during Art, Music, PE, and Library time.

Her teacher is one of the "good ones", I've been assured by veteran parents we know, and she reported that she had a good time! Aside from that, we didn't get a lot of feedback from her in regards to what she did today, other than that she went to the "Sports Room" (aka Gym) for some games, and learned the word Peacock in Spanish. I'll be looking forward to Folder Wednesdays, where we get info and homework from the teacher.

Congratulations to our little school girl!