Finally!!!!

I finally got my pictures back up on Blogger so I'm ready to post again.  Since my last post in October, I had a beautiful baby girl...and Im totally in full mommy mode! Elizabeth Michaela Pompeo was born on October 17th weighing 6lbs 4oz!

Needless to say, I've been so busy with mom-ing that I haven't had time for much else. It took me a full two months to get into the swing of things and sorta used to travelling and being with my new human every day.  I have learned a few things along the way:

• A birth may never go the way you planned or want and you may have to make decisions you never thought you had to...whatever is good for the baby and yourself.
• Its OK to say no to visitors until YOU are ready.  Take the time to get to know your baby and recuperate before you "entertain" guests. 
• Its OK to cry for a couple of weeks, even if its every day! Hormones are funny, funny things and they will fluxuate quite a bit once your baby has arrived. If your sadness extends past two weeks...seek help from a doctor, midwife, family member or friend. 
• Asking for help from someone else does not mean you are a bad mom. Especially if its your first one, you may not be able to do everything on your own.

• Its cool to take advice from family members and friends but noone knows your baby the way you do and as you get to know her better, you will realize that your gut instincts are the best ones! Always listen to your mother's intuition....it will never lead you astray
• Its OK to be overprotective of your baby - especially when there are a lot of people around....you don't want them hurt (especially under three months when the skeletal system is still pretty fragile).
• Studies show that little ones (especially under two months) need to be introduced to the world SLOWLY.  Its totally cool if you stay around your house for the first month and take your baby out to be socialized a little later on.
• Its OK to want a break! Don't feel bad if you just want your baby to sleep so you can watch TV or take a shower...or ask someone else to help you out.

• Breastfeeding isn't easy at first, especially if its your first time. But the proper guidance and persistence (and a bit of pain tolerance) will get you and baby breastfeeding like a pro.  My Doula and Midwife were excellent in getting me going. If you can't get professional help, La Leche League International can always help.
• Stress will ALWAYS reduce your breast milk.  This is personal experience. If something is bugging you and you can't resolve it....let it go! Its not worth it for you or your baby to loose milk. Keep feeding and take the tips on La Leche's website above to help.
• Talk to other moms...experience truly is the best and you won't feel so "alone".  
• Its OK to make mistakes, you learn as you go....noone is perfect. 

I have so many other pointers that I'll get to as I go on....feels so good to be back. 

As always......

Pink and Sparkles,

Alessandra

xoxo

P.S all pics of my baby by Picture Perfect Designs ;)

Nest-a-holic!

Just an update as to what I've been up to....nesting! Here's what I found out about it on Pregnancy Weekly:


"Females of the animal kingdom are all equipped with this same need. It is a primal instinct. Just as you see birds making their nests, mothers-to-be do exactly the same thing. The act of nesting puts you in control and gives a sense of accomplishment toward birth. You may become a homebody and want to retreat into the comfort of home and familiar company, like a brooding hen. The nesting urge can also be seen as a sign of the onset of labor when it occurs close to 40 weeks of pregnancy." 





I swear, we're all just animals to the core! Here are some things I've been swooning over: 


My child's furniture:



This is not a picture of the room ... that will come soon! But I am so excited about the furniture I'm taking my time thinking about how to dress it up :) 



Source
So girly, I know, but who could resist??



Source
Of course we need a bassinet :)

Source
Obsessed with sterilization!



Yes, I hired a cleaning lady...I can't do it all on my own because I can't even walk some days :)



Source
Doing what I can...I have been organizing like crazy!




That's all for now!  Talk soon.


Pink and Sparkles,
Alessandra 
xoxo

I'm Back....with a bump!

I have been the most horrible blogger lately, so horrible that its safe to say I took a bit of a hiatus. Sure, I'm preggo and I won't bore my readers with all the preggo-related reasons as to why I just haven't felt like blogging ... so I'll just continue with another post and hope we can make amends, my loves!

I wanted to give you an update as to how I've been doing, size-wise!  So here are a few pictures of my progression from as early as possible to the most recent!

 10 weeks

 15 weeks

 19 weeks

 21 weeks

23 weeks

 26 weeks

 28 weeks

30 weeks

So far so good....right now I'm 32 weeks today so about 8 more weeks to go!!!!

Pink and Sparkles,

Alessandra
xoxo

And its a....

So, we found out what we're having...in case that's too convoluted, its a girl!!  My readers will know that this was probably inevitable for me...at least for my first. I know this is a cliche, but I really wouldn't have cared either way (something about overalls on a boy makes my heart melt).  Nonetheless, I believe God gives you what God gives you for a reason and I graciously accept!  I hope she loves ballet as much as I do.Here's looking to frilly, girly, pink and sparkly things everywhere :)

Pink and Sparkles,
Alessandra
xoxo

Stunning

Kate, the wedding and everything about it was absolutely gorgeous!  Its a fairytale I wholeheartedly take part in becuase, lets be honest, I wish I was a princess :)

Loving this picture...but enjoying, perhaps even more, the wee one at the bottom left who really isn't having any more of the noise from the crowd...lol!

Have a fabulous day!

Pink and Sparkles,
Alessandra
xoxo

2 Stripes, Whoa Baby!

My loves,
First of all, I have been a terrible blogger for the last while and for that, I am sooooo sorry.  But I have good reason I promise you.  Observe:

Ohhhh thats right....everything LIFE indeed! I had to do it three times in the same night because I didn't believe it the first or second time (I actually did the test for a few days after JUST to be sure).

Now that I have some energy back and I'm in my second trimester, expect some more regular blogging to commence.

So excited to share this journey of my life with you all :)

Pink and Sparkles,
Alessandra
xoxo

Dave Puts the "C" (cool) in Cooking!

The best part of my day, hands down, is coming home to my husband - whether or not he concocts something in the kitchen.  But when he has the opportunity to cook (rare, as his hours are often longer than mine) my stress-filled days are automatically remedied as I step into the house to the smell of something in or on the stove. Dave in the kitchen prepping, tossing, searing or seasoning, glass of wine waiting for me, table is set and I know I'm home. 

I love cooking as well and I've always been quite good at it. Since I moved out of my parent's house, I've been getting even better. Its such a special treat, though, when Dave puts his own swagger into our meals - not afraid to try anything new (and rarely needing any direction whatsoever) he will take on any cooking challenge.  

I haven't taken pictures of all his cooking adventures but here are a few from the last few weeks.  We also do a "Sunday pizza day" every other Sunday...there are some shots of one Sunday as well. Enjoy!

 We eat dinner in front of the television quite often...

 Sunday Pizza Day! Always two pizzas ... one with sauce, one without :)

 And always wine ;)

Much love,

Pink and Sparkles

xoxo

Nutcracker Suite Ballet Party?! Yes, please!

I'm drooling over here. Seriously. I found these amazing photos from none other than Hostess With the Mostess, Daily Blog, one of my favouites and on my Sweetest Blog rolls...you have to check it out! So many great party ideas.

By now, you all know the little obsession - err, way of life - of mine...ballet and pink and sparkles and well, I can go on.  I threw an appetizer/cocktail Pink Party myself this past summer and it worked out fairly well.  Girls only - each one brought an appetizer or dessert and, of course, there were cocktails. I have fabulous friends who entertained my idea of wearing an item of pink to the party as well!  

But first, may I present, the Nutcracker Suite Ballet Party:






The inspiration....




























Still dying over here.....




Sigh.......now, my Pink Party!

Ok, ok, I tried to make macrons....

 ..and failed miserably

They tasted yummy, though.

And a pink sunset to match the day's theme...

I cannot take credit for this, my friend Christina L. made it!! Cake pops in a flower pot!

Friends in pink...

Much love,
Pink and Sparkles
xoxo