Spring has sprung!

After a two-month absence from blogging, here's a bit of what's been going on in the Faustino household! Gracie and Rocky are growing quickly, and Rocky has hit the "getting-into-everything" stage! He definitely keeps me busy. Gracie continues to amaze us with her conversational skills and her memory! Nothing seems to escape her notice. She really loves her books and lately, she's into "Angelina Ballerina." (We get some of the videos from the library). My mom made her a little pink ballet skirt from some scrap fabric, and Gracie loves to twirl around in it. I have to get a picture of that. In these pictures (above and below), Gracie and Rocky are watching for Lou to come home from work. It's finally warming up here (in the 50s), so we've started to open some windows and play outside more.

Gracie trying to give Rocky a hug (or a headlock!)

It's amazing how difficult it is to get them both in a picture and looking at me...now if only we could get smiles, too! =)

This picture makes me laugh. I don't know what prompted Gracie to strike this pose, but it was so funny, I had to take a picture! (Note the frog slippers; Gracie loves these!--thanks, Nana!)

Last Monday and Tuesday, Lou and I had a little getaway to Martha's Vineyard, an island off of Cape Cod. It was our first time away without the kids, and although we missed them, it was so nice to sleep in the morning (although sleeping in for us is about 8:30 a.m.). We stayed in a nice little bed & breakfast and got a great rate since it's still off-season. (On-season on Cape Cod is Memorial Day through Labor Day).

The front porch of the b&b

Some pictures from Easter Sunday...Lou preached a convicting sermon on how the resurrection changed Paul the apostle and on how it should change us as well (I actually just heard it for the first time the other day since I had nursery duty on Easter morning). Hopefully, we'll be able to get his sermons online soon at the church website. We've been working on it, but it's slow going. We really need an IT guy! =) I love this picture of Rocky (below); he was in the middle of a laugh!

Gracie in her dress

Playtime outside in our front yard

Gracie in Concert

Gracie has been learning a lot of songs lately. Here she is singing "The Church's One Foundation." In case you can't make out all the lyrics....

"The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord
She is His new creation by water and the Word
From Heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride
With His own blood He bought her (Gracie skipped this line)
And for her life He died."

Below, Gracie sings "Jesus Loves Me." I knew she knew the first two verses, but I didn't realize that she had learned the third verse until we did this video. Also, she did finish the song, but my camera battery ran out, so we apologize for the abrupt ending. =)

"Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, He who died
Heaven's gate to open wide
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me, He will stay
Close beside me all the way
He's prepared a place for me
And someday His face I'll see."

Where does the time go???

Rocky and Gracie are growing so fast!! Rocky is taking his first few cautious steps, and Gracie's vocabulary is multiplying daily! She continues to amaze us with the words and sentences she comes out with. Lately, Lou has been teaching her to sing, "The Church's One Foundation," and believe it or not, she knows it! It's funny to hear her try to sing "foundation" and "creation." I'll have to try to get a video. Rocky is talking, too, with a word here or there (see video below). These are just some "everyday" pictures from hanging out at the house.

Rocky likes to be up high. Gracie used to like it, too, but now she's getting scared!

Gracie and Rocky with their winter scarves that Grandma made for them! I love this picture of Gracie even though she has her eyes shut. She's so dramatic sometimes. Both she and Rocky love the snow. It actually snowed yesterday, and for a while, they just stood on the couch and watched it snow! They like to watch Lou shovel, too, because he'll throw snowballs at the window. They love that!

My current favorite picture of Rocky!

Gracie has been learning the b-i-b-l-e song, and as you can see below, Rocky has been learning it, too! He surprised us one day by finishing the song!

Celebrations

December was a busy month for us with the holidays and with Rocky's first birthday on Christmas day! Above is Rocky with one of his favorite books; he and Gracie love the Sandra Boynton kids' books. They just got a CD of Sandra Boynton songs for Christmas from Grandma. They love the "Personal Penguin" book, and the song that goes with it. If you're really interested, you can hear it and see the video at www.workman.com/boynton. Below, Gracie and Rocky sharing a hug. I'm glad they love each other so much.

A few days before Christmas, we had a big snowstorm. We actually ended up having to spend the night at my mom and dad's because we lost power (no heat!!). New England weather is crazy, though. On Christmas day, the temperature was in the 50s, and the snow was melting away! Below is the view of our street looking out our front window.

Our front yard

Our snowy backyard

We spent Christmas at my mom and dad's with all my relatives, and Lou's family came down to celebrate Christ's birth with us! Here is Gracie playing with her new dollhouse (she's holding part of the kitchen furniture).

Gracie and Mommy on Christmas morning

Candy is a special treat! We opened a peppermint patty to share with Gracie and Rocky. I guess Rocky liked it because a few minutes later, we discovered he had gotten another one and put it in his mouth, wrapper and all!

Gracie being silly

Family photo...it's so hard to take photos with small children!!!

On Christmas night, we celebrated Rocky's 1st birthday. Below, Gracie sings "Happy Birthday" to Rocky...next to the cake, this was her favorite part!

Rocky has his first piece of cake, and he loves it. No crumbs left this time!!

Playing with his new cars and trucks

Looking at the farm from Grandma and Grandpa

Opening presents is serious business!!

We praise the Lord for blessing us with family and friends!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Giving Thanks

Although Gracie and Rocky share a room, Rocky is usually up from his nap before Gracie. When Gracie finally does wake up, he loves to go with me to get her. His favorite thing to do is to get into her crib with her. Here some pictures of their adventures. Gracie's "big sister" expressions are priceless!

I'm not sure what she was doing here, but her face is so funny!

Here are some pretty flowers Lou got for me "just because." He's so sweet! When he came home, he told me not to come to the door, so I knew he was up to something. He tried to coax Gracie to carry them in to me, but she wasn't very cooperative.

Rocky and Daddy snuggling on the couch

Play time!

Gracie with her crazy, after-nap hairdo!

This year, since I am currently not pregnant, nor have I just delivered a baby as in the past few years, we decided to have Thanksgiving at our house. Everyone pitched in and brought different parts of the meal, and we really had a blessed day, thanking the Lord for His faithfulness and His provisions. I enjoyed the excuse to do some baking. I love to bake, but rarely do it since it's too dangerous to have around the house! So, here are some new recipes I tried...candy corn cookies

and chocolate spice cake

Auntie Elaina and Rocky snuggling after Rocky got up from his nap

Thanking God for our little ones...

Grandpa and Rocky

Daddy and Gracie sporting their shades at the breakfast table

Mommy and Gracie being silly!

Rocky and Gracie sharing a laugh

On the phone again...she's so girly!

So cute!

I'm not sure what Rocky was thinking, but I love this face!

It was hard trying to decide which pictures to post. Usually, the kids are too busy to want to cooperate for a picture, and the last few days, they actually have been looking and smiling. Amazing! Just in time for Christmas pictures! It's so funny. Even now, looking at their pictures, I still get so choked up sometimes. I can't believe that God gave us two precious little ones! I am so thankful to have them; it's hard to remember what like was life before they arrived. Sure, we have our fussy, difficult days, and there are times when I would like some adult conversation. However, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I'm so glad to be home with them, to love them and teach them and watch them grow.

"Behold, children are a blessing from the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a reward."
~Psalm 127:3