1st Vacation

The kids enjoyed their trip to the cape (as did mom annd dad!) We arrived Tuesday afternoon to the cute little cottage in West Yarmouth. Grammie and Steve were at the beach and hurried home as soon as we arrived. The kids played for a bit then had their dinner. We went for ice cream and then put the kids to bed...everyone was pretty tired - so we all went shortly after!

On Wednesday, we got up and got everything packed and ready for the beach. We went to Seagull beach which is only .8 miles from the cottage. Steve will usually drop us all off and then drive home and ride his bike back, but because we had so much "STUFF" we decided to drive and park the car. Steve and David unloaded everything and Grammie and I sat in the back of the van with the kids until everything was set up. We brought the kids to our prime location...right near the water. Grammie and I brought them down to the water and stuck their piggie toes in and Ari wanted to dive in! Matthew enjoyed it too - but wasn't as anxious to get right in as Arianna was! We sat in the sand by the water and let the waves crash on the kids. I then grabbed Arianna's Bumbo chair and she sat in that and loved having the waves crash...that was a GREAT idea until she realized she could reach down and grab a handfull of sand! She was ready to put the whole hand in her mouth when Grammie stopped her. We fed the kids lunch, then they both took a 2.5 hour nap! Matthew sprawled out in the tent, and Ari fell asleep on me sitting in my chair. They woke up and we headed home. We were at the beach for 5.5 hours that day. We headed home, gave the kids a shower (in the outdoor shower) and then Derek and Ashley came for dinner.

On Thursday, David and I left the kids for a bit with Grammie and Steve and went to Cuffy's t-shirt outlet and we went to the Christmas Tree Shop. We were gone for about an hour - came home and everyone got ready for the beach. Brian drove up and got there at noon - just as we were packing the car - so we all piled in and off to the beach we went. The kids spent most of the day in the water and didn't want to get out! The water was about 75 degrees - so it was nice and warm. We played on rafts and Ari figured out how to jump the waves. We then headed out around 3:30 - went back, showered, packed the car and headed back home. Matthew slept the enitre ride home (2.5 hours) and Arianna slept for about 1.5 hours. They were so good on this mini-vacation.

By Golly...they've got it!

The Manzello household is on the move...and on the move we are! Arianna has decided she will crawl wherever she goes and Matthew is slithering everywhere on his belly.

Matthew has finally gotten the hang of rolling over - and now he thinks he's a big boy and rolls everywhere! This morning he decided to wake up and roll all over his crib and he rolled so much his diaper came off! David found him completely naked and in a WET bed! We put them to bed in just their diaper last night because it was so hot out - well i guess next time we should put clothes on him! haha

Arianna is growing and progressing so quickly. She is hitting milestones that even I am amazed at. I spoke with my mother in law this morning and she said Ari crawled over to her, got on her knees, gave her hands to Joyce and pulled herself up! We are in trouble - she is so moble and has already received a few battle wounds too! When she wakes up she lets us know she is awake by popping her head over her bumper and yelling for us. She is such a character!

We head for our mini-vacation tomorrow - hope all goes well! Will post pictures when I get back!

5.5 Months Old

Well, I didn't like the other website so I figured I'd try this one...let's see - I haven't done this in a while!

Ari and Matthew are now 5.5 months old and boy are they getting big! They are eating solid foods 3x a day and so far they love everything I have given to them. I've been making my own baby food ($$ saver) so that has really helped us out! The kids absolutely LOVE bananas! I try to give them bananas for breakfast every day, but today they had peaches. They do love their fruit! Their newest things with eating is getting a mouth full and spitting it on their tray. So not pleasant!! I have been covered in peas and carrots!

Both kids are doing GREAT - Ari is still hitting crazy milestones! She has begun to crawl. She scoots all over the living room - she even tried to crawl up the stairs the other day - TIME FOR A GATE!! Her newest thing is getting on all 4's in her crib and grabbing her bumper - she pulls it down as if to say "peek a boo" - and then she calls you to come get her out of her crib! She's a character!! She did sit up the other day for about 5 minutes with out falling over. So it won't be long before she is sitting on her own too! She is still a little peanut, but she's starting to get heavy!

Matthew is really getting the hang of rolling over. He's behind his sister - but he is doing some things first too. He discovered his voice 2 weeks ago - and boy did he ever! He realized he can scream! He plays in his exersaucer and screams and yells while he is playing - it is really funny! He is getting so tall too! I was holding him this morning and his legs hit the top of my thighs! He's going to be tall like David!

We are taking the kids to the cape for 2 days next week - should be interesting! Mom and Steve are renting a cottage and I was able to get a few days of from work. I'm already starting to pack!! We'll need 2 of this, and 2 of that, and 1 of this, and 1 of that, and oh about 50 diapers! LOL

That's the news at the Manzello house hold - hope all is well!

Arianna 8/4/09

Matthew 7/29/09