Tweetsie Railroad

Laney experienced her first out of town mini vacation.  I wanted to get out of the house and go somewhere.  Matt and I decided to go to the mountains.  We invited Alison and Nick (but obviously that didn't work out) and Marcie and Justin.  We stayed in a cabin in Blowing Rock, NC.  We decided to go visit the Tweetsie Railroad on Saturday.  I was thinking it was going to be old and run down considering my dad went when he was little. I was pleasantly surprised.  We walked around, road on the chairlift, (made me nervous!!) watched Emma and Evan feed the deer and other animals, and of course we road the railroad.  We also rode another small train.  After we left there, we went to walk downtown Blowing Rock.  It was a neat little town.  Then back to the cabin.  We were so tired.  We grilled that night and enjoyed each others company.  Laney did really well.  She slept during most of the Tweetsie Railroad.  She also did well adjusting to a new house.  She didn't even realize it probably.  The weather was so nice.  When we left Sunday morning it was 67 degrees and when we got back home, it was 97 degrees!!!  Wow, the mountain air was so nice!!!  So glad we got to get away for a few days!! 

 Laney slept the whole way.  Woke up to eat at Chick-fil-a.  Then back to sleep she went.

 At the Tweetsie Railroad

 Sleeping Beauty

 Us on the chairlift.  Thank goodness for the Moby wrap that we were given.  She loves being snuggled up.  It made it easy to hold her.  She rode in the stroller and in the Moby Wrap.

Baby Reid's Arrival

Laney has a new cousin that is two months behind her.  Monday morning, I was feeding Laney at 5:30 and the phone rang!!  I was terrified that something was wrong.  Never would I have imagined that Alison was in the hospital.  It was mama on the phone and she said that Alison had gone to the hospital at 2:00 that morning.  Well... off to the hospital we went.  Things were moving along at a nice pace.  She was progressing faster than I thought she would.  Well, 2:30 rolled around, the nurses came in, the lights came out, and it was time to start pushing.  3:30 came and went, 4:30 came and went, 5:30 came and went~ poor Alison!!  Finally Reid made his début after 31/2- 4 hours of pushing.  He weighed 5lbs14oz.  He was a good size since he was a month early.  He weighed about a pound less than Laney when she was born and he was longer than her.  I can't believe that she was that tiny.  I'm not sure how I wasn't scared to hold her.  She has grown so much.  She looks gigantic compared to him.  We are so excited that they are going to be so close in age.  It will be fun!  It is funny because the two of them resemble each other.  They both have Italian blood in them.  They both have dark hair and dark skin.  Here are some pictures of the two of them.  We are in love already!!

 Nickalous Reid Romagnoli

Alison still loving Laney bug while Reid is napping

 Feeding time- we have our hands full.  Thank goodness for MaMa and PaPa!!

 Look at that big girl compared to Reid.  I dressed her in the same outfit as Reid to compare them!

 Wow~ our family has changed so much over the last two months!!

This picture is out of order..... but Laney had to take a break from waiting on Reid.  It wore her out!! Finally, Mimi and Papa came and got her to take her home.

 

These are happy days for our family.  We are on top of the mountain right now.  I pray that we will savor every moment.  In this life we are not promised happiness always.  Thank goodness that is what we have to look forward to in eternity. 

 "Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life."

Ecclesiastes 7:14

 

 

Just to see you smile... I'd do anything

It's official, our baby girl is officially smiling!! I am so excited.  I have wanted her to smile at me since we brought her home.  Every now and then she would smile, but I think most of them were gas pains.  This week, she seems like she wants to laugh out loud.  If I kiss her, talk to her (it has to sound ridiculous) or play pick-a-boo she will smile.  So.... now all my time is spent trying to get her to smile so that I can capture it on camera. I love this little girl!!!  I know there will be many milestones but I am certainly enjoying this one!! I have some videos, but these pictures are the best that I have for now.  I think I could just take a bite out of her!! 

Let Freedom RING

Well, we just spent the last two days getting ready for our 4th of July celebration.  I must say that it was so much fun.  We invited lots of friends that we haven't gotten together with in a while and their kids.  We had a slide that led to a slip-n-slide, sprinkler, water guns, sparklers, and water balloons.  It was so much fun watching them.  We had lots of good food and a nice time to catch up.  Laney survived her first cookout.  I must say, she did rather well.  We sat in her seat when needed and was held other times. We didn't finish up until 10:30 and she was so patient.  I think we should tire her out more often because she slept from 10:30 until 6:30!!!! It will be fun when she can get up and run around with the other kids, but I am certainly not wishing away this cuddly time when she really just wants to be held!!  I was thinking about her this morning, the sermon I heard yesterday, and our freedom in Christ. I pray that our life will not deprive her of knowing about that freedom.  I want to be an example of what its like to live in freedom.  I want her to hear about how Jesus paid it all (through our words and actions) and all to HIM we owe.  I pray that she will put her faith in Jesus Christ so that she can live a life that is free.  Free of worrying about the future, free of trying to be a better person so she will measure up (because none of us are good, but praise the lord he took on our sins so we don't have to measure up), free of guilt from the past and so much more. I pray that she will fight for her freedom through the pursuit of His word. I pray that because of her freedom she will shine brightly and these words of hope will flow from her mouth so others can experience that freedom as well.  Look at these sweet kids!  There are so many of them!!