At this time last year...

We've been so busy the past couple of months that I looked down at my day planner on my desk this morning and realized that today is already June 26th - that means it's been exactly one year since we closed on our house and moved in. Wow. It's amazing how an event that was a year ago can feel like it just happened yet it also feels like SO much has gone on since then.

Looking back, I guess we may have been a little crazy! Three weeks before my due date and in the sweltering South Florida summer heat, we packed up everything in our quaint little rented townhouse in Plantation and move a half hour north to our first home in Deerfield Beach. We put our families to work for 2 weeks straight until everything was moved in and in order for Diana's arrival. I was actually shopping at IKEA and having Danny move a couch up to 5 days before my c-section - it's almost funny looking back on the chaos now!

We have enjoyed our first home this past year - and it has been good to us!
I remember that very first night about a week before Diana was born that we finally felt "settled" in our house after a lot of hard work...there I was, huge and pregnant, Danny was exhausted from moving and working...and the two of us just cooked dinner and watched a movie together in our new living room. We knew life was about to change with little Di's arrival but we couldn't wrap our heads around just how different and wonderful it would really be.


We brought our baby girl home from the hospital 9 days later...and we've watched her crawl, stand and take her first steps here. She loves watching the ducks out back by the lake (but I think Stanley and Henry enjoy barking at them more!) We love our neighborhood- the playground down the street, the other dogs we meet on evening walks.

Yes, our house is still a work in progress. On any given weekend we have 10 to-do projects that never seem to get done! But little by little we get things organized, decorated, planted and hung.

Our first year here has been busy and great all at once. It's nice to stop and reminisce and look forward to what the next year will bring!

(PICTURES Top to Bottom: VERY pregnant sitting in our new living room visiting with my good friend Rach, our nice, neat house...the calm before the baby storm!, Diana arrives home for the very first time at 2 days old, our back porch)

Summer Celebrations

We had two very special celebrations this past week.

It was my Grandma Sally (or "Gigi")'s 77th birthday last Thursday. She watched me grow up and now she is a big part of Diana's life too! It's so sweet to see Di's face light up when her great grandma walks in the door or sings to her or plays with her. My grandma is definitely 77 years YOUNG - she comes over to help me with anything and everything I need (she's the BEST laundry folder I've ever seen!) We are all so fortunate that she is energetic enough to keep up with our crazy family! Diana is going to grow up really knowing how wonderful her great grandma is! We were lucky enough to spend Gigi's birthday with her - she came over to help out as usual and we made her a key lime pie and sang happy birthday!

Next up was Father's Day - Danny's first! We kicked off the weekend on Saturday morning and joined my family at their timeshare up in Singer Island (about an hour north in the West Palm Beach area). Aunt Jo came along too and we had a blast with Grandma Susie, Grandpa Ron and Uncle Brandon. Diana had been in the sand before but never in the ocean and SHE LOVED IT! She laughed as Grandma Susie jumped up with her during each wave and she could've dug in the sand for hours. We found a little time to relax too - we ate lunch together by the pool and enjoyed the gorgeous day and ocean breezes.

 On Sunday, Di and I hung out and went to the park while Danny golfed with his dad and brother. Later on, we headed to the Muzzarelli's for Father's Day dinner. It was great to just be together and unwind before the start of a new week.

(PICTURES From left to right: Diana helps Gigi blow out the candles on her key lime pie, Di and Grandma Susie laughing as the waves come on shore, Diana gives Daddy his Father's Day card and coffee mug with her picture on it, playing with Nonna in the kitchen after dinner)

New Di video

Couldn't resist posting a new video of Diana!

Diana at 11 months old

11 months is the last stop before...Toddlerhood!

Today Diana is 11 months old. They say after the one year birthday, toddlerhood officially begins! I have to say that I feel like we are living with one already! In all of the months since Diana was born, this past month we've seen the most changing and growing in our little girl. Right before our eyes, she has morphed into a tiny (but mighty) person. I'm starting to see the baby slowly fade away and catch glimpses of the toddler years that are almost upon us:

• The big deal this month is WALKING!! Diana took a few steps right before the 10 month mark and now she...is...everywhere! Walking from room to room, climbing over the dog gate to get into the kitchen, carrying things around, knocking other things down...whew! Mom & dad are tired and I'm told even more adventures are to come when she starts running! Danny and I are babyproofing on the fly, as quickly as we can. She reaches up to a shelf to pull books down, we move them up to a higher cabinet. And oops, can she really reach that lamp already? In a flash, we've unplugged it and it's stashed in the guest room closet.
• She is becoming so aware of the world around her! She waves bye-bye and blows kisses to everyone, including the check out girl at Wal-Mart and the nice older man in line behind us at Starbucks - too funny!
• She can't stop saying "dog" "duck" and her new favorite word "DAT!" (which we're pretty sure is "that") And she uses it for everything that's not a dog or a duck (or mama or dada!).
• Di also knows what we're saying (even more than we realize I'm sure)! She understands things like "bring the ball to mommy" and "go show Aunt Jo your toy." Of course, she also understands "no" but likes to ignore us!
• And perhaps the cutest new "thing" - she uses a toothbrush and imitates Danny brushing his teeth and she also brushes her own hair (and moms hair too) with her mini hairbrush.

So many new things, every day and every week are exciting, wonderful and exhausting all at once!

(PICTURES - from left to right: Di in her highchair having a breakfast of bananas and Cheerios, taking a swing with her new "golf club," hanging out with her Daddy, running away with a chocolate ice cream mustache before mom could wipe her face off, with Grandma Susie in the pool)

Next up, her first birthday party at Grandma Susie and Grandpa Ron's in July!!

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...

May was a pretty busy month for us here in the Muzzarelli household with a wedding, Mother's Day, my birthday and Danny's 1st semester finals. Oh yeah, and an exhausting but wonderful trip to Disney. Whew! I think Danny and I were both pretty happy that we had no major events planned for the beginning of summer, other than spending time with our families and watching Di enjoy the pool. Last summer, Diana was a newborn so we spent most of July and August holed up in the house. This summer, we are looking forward to splashing around in the pool and at the beach with our little girl!

We've taken the last couple of weeks since my birthday to catch up on (a little) sleep, recharge our batteries and just hang out with people we love. Here are some pictures!

Diana and Danny went to dinner at Nonna Linda and Grandpa Gary's a couple weekends ago and gave mom some time to nap (thank you!!). As usual, Diana had a great time with the Muzzarelli clan, especially cousin Roman and his giant Legos! We also finally went down to Plantation last Wednesday to see Matthew, Alex & Roman's new townhouse. It was so good to see them settled into their own place.

We also have had two nice dinners with the Hafler side of the family! Diana had a total blast in the pool at Grandma and Grandpa's yesterday afternoon. She is definitely a Florida baby.

Here are two videos of Little Miss Di enjoying the pool!

Di in the pool
More Di in the pool

We FINALLY spent some time with my aunt Dianita and Grandpa Rubio - they came up from Miami this past Saturday and after playing with Diana at our place, we all had a delicious dinner at PF Chang's. They hadn't seen Diana in a few months and couldn't believe how big she's gotten and how she's walking all over the house.

I even managed to sneak in some girl time! Danny hung with Diana while Aunt Jo and I went to Cheesecake Factory and then to see Sex and the City 2 last week. It's so fun to get dressed up and go out every once in a while. That doesn't happen a lot these days!

So that's the start of our summer...even though we've got three months of hot, humid weather and hurricane season ahead of us, I think the next few months will be filled with fun as Diana enjoys the beach and the pool...and her family!