A year in review - Part 2

Last May I went to Moab for a work trip. We took the girls from the treatment center where I work down to hike and go river rafting. I can't post any pictures of the girls but here are some of my favorite people I was lucky enough to work with who made the trip really fun.

Natalie, Nora, Aimee and Me. Yes that is a fake tattoo on my face. I was trying to bond with teenage girls.

Richard and Aimee being bridges

One of many bocce ball games that usually follow Sunday dinner at the Balzotti's. Gabe, Uncle Chris, Haydon, Aunt Marie and Dawson.

Gabe with the box of Cheerios he poured on our floor. Funny because we have a photo of me when I did the same thing at his age. I'll have to track it down.

Gabe and Natty during a visit last summer sitting on our front porch in their rocking chairs. Gabe's face says it all. I think Nat is his favorite person.

In February I got to go out to Berkeley to visit my sisters. I took Gabe and he got to stay with Shane and Natty while we took my new niece Maud and went to Monterey for a girls trip. It was so great to be with two of my favorite women.

Krista, Elisa and Maud on the beach we were told to evacuate, by about 10 people yelling at us, because of a tsunami warning

All four of us and one of the few photos of me pregnant.

Thanks to a flood, Elisa and Nat and Maud came to Utah around the same time I went to visit them. Nat and Gabe got to build a snowman with BG and Yaya.

So now you're all caught up. I'll try not to go that long again without posting. I promise nothing.

Welcome to the World Little Nico!

Dominic Jonathan Balzotti or Nico, as he is more commonly known, was born April 26, 2010 about a week and a half early. He weighed 7 lbs 13 oz just like Gabe who was a week late, and he was 20 1/2 inches long. An inch shorter than Gabe.

At his 2 month check-up he was 12 lbs 1 oz and 24 inches long. He is growing fast and he is pretty darn cute.

Gabe loves him and often says "Mommy put my baby on my bed so I can hug him." He is also good at reminding me when he is leaving "Mommy take care of my baby okay? Don't forget to give him his binky."


Nico is a very sweet baby and is starting to give us lots of smiles which we haven't really been able to capture yet on camera

Gabe Quotes

A sampling of our daily humor from Gabe

After pouring dirt all over the floor:
Gabe: "But Mom, it my job to make a mess right?"
Mom: "No, but it's your job to clean up the messes you make."
Gabe: "You kidding me Mom? No way. You gotta be kidding me."

Chelsea made Gabe a crown that said "I'm a big brother" when Nico was born.
Gabe's response was "Oh, I'm a princess!"

Mom: "No hitting Gabe."
Gabe: "But Mom, I a bad guy!"

We are in the throes of potty training and one day when he pooped in the toilet I told him we could go on a walk and get a treat. He was very excited and said "First I have to do my dance mom. Don't come over here while I do it. It dangerous." When he finished his dangerous dance we went for a walk. To everyone who we encountered on the walk he said "Hey! I pooped! I going to the store to get a treat!" I think our neighborhood was thoroughly entertained. Several people laughed out loud. Mind you, most of these people were strangers.

First Halloween, First Birthday and Other Assorted Firsts

First Merry-Go-Round

First Halloween

First Birthday

Note how food is more important than presents.

First Cake

First Bath With Natty

This kid has a great arm.

First time raking leaves...well, eating leaves.

First steps toward becoming a tease like his father.

First time using the computer.

Whew. That was exhausting.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

An assignment from Grandma
By, Gabe Balzotti

First, we went to Chicago to see Aunt Alyssa and Uncle Sean but we don't have any pictures because Mom didn't charge the batteries in the camera. :(

Then we went to Lake Geneva where the wonderful Akemann family put us up for a whole wonderful week!

On the lake with Dad. More interested in the boat itself than the water.

The beautiful Akemann women, Sarah, Donna and Rachel

Uncle Peter driving the boat with Pono, Rachel and Mahea

Playing with Pono

Playing with Mahea

Saying goodbye to Lake Geneva with Grandpa...

And saying hello to Port Stanley, Canada!

At the beach with Dad

Grandma is helping me get used to the sand.
Yeah, I think I like this!

At the Pottery with Grandma, Great Grandma Brodie and Dad. 4 generations!

This is the pond at the Pottery where Grandma Debbie was baptized!

With Mom, sitting on a frog.

When we got back from our long trip to Chicago, Lake Geneva and Canada, we went to the ranch with these fun cousins and Jake caught a fish! Don't worry, Gracie and Jake didn't eat it until it was cooked.

Playing guitar with Natty and Dad teaching me.

Playing with Aunt Elisa and Natty

Playing with Big Papi

That's amazing!

Helping Aunt Krista move with Natty's help.

YaYa holding the keys to the Penske. It's amazing we made it all the way to Berkeley without incident.

And saying good-bye to Aunt Krista. We still miss you Koos!

So overall, it was a great summer. Sorry the report was so late Grandma! Hope you like it!