I love coffee. It’s the first thing I look forward to in the morning. It’s my ultimate pleasure, my happy little place. It helps me unwind and it whispers to me “slow down and take a sip”. Early Mother’s day morning I woke up to the wonderful aroma of coffee, eggs and bagels. I never wake up to any food aromas, as I am the person in the house who gets those aromas started each and every day. So my nose and stomach were super delighted! My girls treated me to a most delicious breakfast made with love. They wanted to serve it to me in bed but I don’t like staying in bed any longer than I need to so they served it to me in the dining room.
Coffee would have been enough, but they made me my favorite breakfast and just the way I like it. They even put my favorite table cloth on the table! I was served fried eggs with cheese and a half of a bagel light on the cream cheese. What a treat, not only was it delicious but I loved all of the little details. The flower, the little chocolates, the pretty tray, a little glitter. They know me so well! I was truly impressed. The surprises didn’t end here, I was showered with cards galore, beautiful rocks (one rock had a quote on it that I had written in a book when I was in my 20’s. Apparently everyone thought it was hysterical and they painted it onto a rock for me) and a paper pendant neclace! 
My day continued to unfold with a beautiful lunch which included a delicious salad made by Amir and Milano cookies followed by a show on the trampoline. After a visit to nonnas we hurried back home where I was surprised with a beautifully put together dinner for two. Amir and I were greeted at the front door by a lovely little waitress named Lia. She had a great big smile and sat us at a window side table for two.
Our meal started off with a glass of water, and a fruit salad appetizer with a side of granola and almonds.
Followed by a fluffy, pink pancake topped with fruit and powdered sugar. The meal ended with my favorite dessert, chewy chocolate chip cookies.
Thank you girls for making this mother’s day feel like mother’s day, it didnt feel like just another day of me in the kitchen and that was exactly what they wanted. It wasnt just about the meal that was made. It was all of the little details that made me realize how much my girls know me and what I like. The lite up candles and the Mason jar filled with flowers, the classical music that played in the background. A cup of coffee would have been enough, but all of the extras made this day a day I will remember for a long time to come.
a kiss under the table
I set up a little art studio in our dining room knowing this would become one of our favorite spots in the house. I have yet to sit and create something but I feel like it’s the best gift I can give to the family right now. It’s been a great outlet for the kids. While Amir works night and day to sustain us, I’m trying to find ways to keep us all mentally healthy and happy.
Painting by Lia Weiss
Today I turned 41, however for the past 2 years I’ve told my kids to tell everyone that Im 38. They’re so good about doing that. Isabel said to me yesterday ” mom, I told everyone you turned 38 last year, what do I tell them this year”. I told her tell them I’m 37!
I got an awesome mom key chain. I officially feel like a mom. It’s good to be 41!
One of my favorite holiday tradition that our family has, is going into New York City to see the tree at rockefeller center. It’s not seeing the actual tree that’s my favorite part, but the journey of getting there with my family. Every year now for the past several years, we, along with my brother and sisters family and sometimes my father in law, hop on a train from long island and head into the big city.
This year santa had two extra little ones on his lap. Our little Liam and my sweet little nephew Salvatore Matthew. Liam had a little sented package in his diaper and was not happy at all. Lia was missing from Santa’s lap because the wait to see him was so long and hot and overall overwhelming for her so she waited with her dad on the 9th floor.
she got to watch Netflix on daddy’s phone while he took a little winter’s nap. The holidays could be overwhelming for little ones aswell as big ones and although I wished them both with us as we visited santa I understood that their happiness meant more to me than a picture with Mr. Claus. My next favorite stop is Bryant park. You would think I would have taken more pictures. I’m usually in my zone when I’m there. I love the little shops and the people hustling and bustling all around us. The tall buildings surrounding me, all lit up as the early night sky approaches. I just sit and dream about having a tiny spot this little piece of the world. 
The kids always ask if they can ice skate here, but it’s always so crowded when we come that it’s best to just sit and watch everyone else skate. Before we hit our final stop, which is the tree, we always make sure to stop at the American girls doll store! With six girls on this trip it’s a must! I absolutely love this store, it’s such a magical place to be. The kids never care to get anything but they do enjoy walking around and seeing all of the set up dolls and accessories. They go around collecting all of the little papers with the product details which they cut up and use to make barbie things when they get home. Every year we stop in this store, this is the first time I felt that our little girls are growing up. I was kinda hoping they’d ask me for something, buy they didn’t. Its bitter sweat watching them all grow up. 
Finally we hit our final destination. The big New York city tree. By this point everyone is cranky and tired and wants to go home. The crowd is overwhelming not only for the kids but for the adults. We take our famous picture by the tree and call it a night. The walk back to the train station always seems so long. But we all race back and do our best to get the next train home. It’s always exciting and a little nerve wracking waiting to see which track our train will depart from. It’s always funny to watch us all run in a hurry to make sure we get a comfortable seat on the long ride home. This is Lias favorite part of the day. She has the biggest smile once we get on that train back home. 
Holly and the Mench arrived today in our house. They were found mingling around our liquor cart with a note that said…
I never look forward to these guys arriving, but the kids love them. I was hoping they’d come a little later in the season, the kids, on the other hand couldn’t wait to see them, wondering why they hadn’t arrived yet. Can’t wait to see what they do. Let the holiday season begin.
For 9 months I walked around pregnant. I watched my belly grow from looking like I was eating too much cake to looking like I swallowed a basketball. Layers of muscle and fat and skin kept me away from seeing what was between me and the baby growing inside of me. For 9 months all I had was wonder. I wondered, is this baby going to make it? Will I ever meet it? Are we adding another girl to the group or will this one be a boy. Are these boy symptoms I’m feeling or girl symptoms? I wasn’t sure. One thing I did know was that this baby was very active. I remember feeling flutters super early, way before 12 weeks. After three pregancy I knew the familiar feeling of flutters. As the baby continued to grow, the movements continued to increase, reassuring me throughout the day that it was there and it was ok. I loved that feeling. I remember at work, when we had the pre-schoolers rehearsing for graduation, this little one would flip and move with excitement as the kids sang there songs. I noticed the same thing while sitting in the auditorium, listening to my daughters holiday concerts. The response to music continued as we’d sit in our entry room listening to the girls playing their flutes. I’d think to myself “this kid really likes music”. This kid also made me very nauseous! I was nauseous for the whole pregnancy. It was awful. I was hungry but nothing delighted me. Well, except for cake! I had no cravings just hunger and naseau. Towards the end of the 2nd trimester I started experiencing numbness and pain in my right arm. The pain was so bad that I couldnt cut or write anything with my right arm. I couldnt even get thru stirring chopped meat for taco night! The nights were even worse. I had to ice my shoulders and hands to relieve pain in my arms. I’d never experienced such a thing in my other pregnancies. I cried alot, not cause of hormones but because I was in so much pain. I was so worried that it would never go away. How would I function? I couldnt drive or push the cart at the supermarket without my hand going dumb and pain striking my arms. At times I’d think to myself, what have I done. What if I put myself self through all of this and something goes wrong and it was all for nothing. But one little kick and a smile would appear on my face. The pain, the unknown, the naseau, the sleepless nights, they would prove to be worth it! One thing I did notice in this pregnancy was my hormones. I wasnt emotional or sensitive like I had been with the prior pregnancies. No one really got on my nerves and if they did I didnt meow about it like a cat, I roared like a lion. Almost like I had testosterone inside of me. Most of the time it was the kind that caused me to chase my husband morning, noon and night! Otherwise I was as cool as a cucumber or picante like a spicey pepper. Amir believed that the cause of all of this was a little boy. An energetic, high testosterone little boy. And he was right. I dont know how Liam entered the world, did he come out screaming and crying or was he silent. Due to an emergency c- section, that is a question we will never know the answer to. But I do know that Liam loves to cuddle. He doesnt like a soiled diaper, not even a barely soiled diaper. But he hates to be changed, go figure! You feel like your in a battle, the way he moves his legs and arms all over the place, desitin ends up all over the place, sometimes the diaper rips cause I’m trying to go as fast as I can so I dont have to hear the angry, high pitched scream he makes and to top it off he pees and has been known to poop all over me. Thats completely new to me. My little girls never did that to their mama. He frets if hes hungry, like hes been starving for days. Hes delighted by the hugs of his big sisters and absolutely loves to be in his daddy’s strong arms. He does not like to be alone, loves to be ooed and cooed at. He loves being outdoors and looking up at the trees. He loves to sleep. Thank you for those 5 to 6 hour stretches in the early evening! Hes not a big fan of the car seat, luckily the car ride always puts him to sleep. Theres so many things we are learning about him every day and so much hes learning about each and everyone of us. So thankful for him. Two months ago we didnt know if he would be Liam or Natalia and now I cant imagine this life without him. So glad you are here Liam.
