Library Card

This week has just been wonderful with my Rocco Jay Milazzo. We have done so many fun things and I am not looking forward to Monday. I don't think being at work at 6:00 AM is better than snuggling and sleeping in with my snuggle bear. But it is worth getting off at 3:00 to spend a few hours of fun before bed time.

We took our first trip to the local library and got Rocco his first library card. He thought the library was really cool. He liked the big stairs that led up to the children area, the kids computer, the small chairs and oh yeah a few of the books that he read upside down. Can't wait to go back and check out our first book. This time we just explored.

Puddles of Love

Rocco played in the puddles for his first time the other day. We are still on the lookout for rain boats, but we couldn't wait. We went for a walk around the block and ended up in the puddles. Rocco thought it was really cool to walk back and forth through the water. He was really enjoying himself. Then he decided to sit down in it. After that move, we made our way home. It looks nice outside, but it was cold. Too cold to play in wet pants.

Thankful For My Siblings

I love my sisters and brother. I am thankful for them and forgive them for all that they have done to the middle child. :)

No really, I love all of you and am thankful for our family bond, friendship and unconditional love. I have wonderful memories with all of you and look forward to a lifetime of more.

Stephanie - I love your strength, your perseverance and all the days of school that we "missed" together.

Stacie - I love your silliness, your determination and your clothes that I used to wear back in high school without asking.

Stephen - I love your kind ways, your quest for knowledge and your younger brother ways that used to spy on me and Jared back in the day. But you at 13 years old, buying stocking gifts for the family with your own money during a hard year for Dad and Mom takes the cake. Your sisters taught you well.

I love all three of you with all my heart.

This picture is classic - taken at 4:41 AM (I can tell by the clock on the microwave) after celebrating Stephanie and Stacie's Birthday in 2007. That is what happens when we don't live next to each other and we only get to celebrate a few things together. Life Light and Love.

5 Things I Am Thankful For and My Aunt Lynn

My Aunt gave me a blank book to write five things I am thankful for each day. I don't remember when that was nor did I use it at the time. But on 11/30/99 I finally started this project and used I used a book my friend gave me. I really wish I would have started with my Aunt's book, not sure if I even still have this book or if it packed away somewhere.

But before I recap my entries, here are five things I am thankful for about my wonderful Aunt Lynn.

1. My Aunt Lynn's relationship with my Dad. I have said it before and am grateful for it everyday. If it is wasn't for this bond of bother and sister, my life would have been completely different. The value of family and the wonderful memories that I have of my childhood are forever in my life owed to my parents and my Aunt Lynn and Uncle Chod.

2. My Aunt Lynn's funny bone. Not only does my Aunt have it, but so does my Dad, my cousin Sharon and me. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I do think we are pretty funny.

3. The bond that my Mom and Aunt Lynn have. From owning a house cleaning and catering business together so they can make their own schedule and be there for the kids, to planning every holiday and birthday dinner together. These women are the heart and soul of the Shelley and Long families. They are great teachers and role models.

4. My Aunt Lynn for not getting too mad at me for turning the water spout upside down so when she went to get a drink of water, the water went all over her kitchen. She only got a little mad. :)

5. My last visit with my Aunt before she passed. I asked her if I could rub her feet to help her feel better. She was dying from pancreas cancer. She said yes. I rubbed them for the rest of my visit. I could tell she was really enjoying it. I was glad to give her tired body some relief. She asked me what names I would name my child and told me not to give a boy name if I was going to have a girl. She didn't like girls with boy names.

5 things I am thankful for from my book.

11/30/1999 - I am thankful for...

1. The beautiful sound the rain made last.

2. Simba lying with Jared on the couch like a baby.

3. Jared brining me flowers.

4. Working out after work.

5. Have a good day at work.

12/12/2009 - I am thankful for...

1. Sleeping out in the front room with Jared and the cats. The heater is broken so we slept by the fire.

2. Seeing the family. Brightin happy that I was there. Gave me a big hug.

3. Going out to lunch.

4. Taking a nice long warm shower.

5. Receiving a package from Grandma, ma. She sent me a cake topper for my wedding cake. Made in the 1930s.

1/13/2000 - I am thankful for...

1. Thankful for life. Today is my birthday. I am thankful to have lived 25 years. It was a great day with lots of love given to me.

2. Going to lunch with Kathy, Ron, Lisa and Jared.

3. Jared sending me flowers at work. I got 12 red roses. I was very surprised.

4. Will calling me to wish me a happy birthday. He is also making me a birthday present.

5. For all the help Aunt Lynn is doing for the wedding. We ordered the invitations with her today. She is also helping with the flowers and cake. I am thankful for that.

7/27/2000 - I am thankful for...

1. Going swimming yesterday. Just enjoying the time.

2. For my mom and how excited she is for the interview in Chicago with United. For her trying something new and keeping strong.

3. Daktari sleeping on my lap. He has the cutest face.

4. For my girlfriends and the love and support they show me.

5. Watering the plants and hanging in the hammock for a while.

4/22/2002 - I am thankful for...

1. Taking Max on a walk both Saturday and Sunday. Great weather.

2. Seeing my niece and nephews this weekend.

3. Getting a little sun in the yard.

4. Sushi, I love sushi.

5. Not hitting the deer on my way home Saturday. Very close.

When you stop and think about the things you are thankful for on a daily basis, you realize it is not the big things. It is the little things that happen in the moments that make you smile and appreciate being present and alive.

Me and My Dad in 2007.

Can you see the resemblance? Nobody even told us to open our mouths like that. We just have the same funny bone.

Two Days Off - Change of Plans

I am off work this whole week and Rocco's daycare is closed Wed-Thurs. But when Rocco returned home this morning after he and Jared left for the drop off at Jill's, my plans changed. Jill is out sick so that means special one-on-one time with Mommy for the next three days.

Today was a great day. We had an egg, ham and cheese breakfast followed by blueberries. We went to downtown Campbell to watch the light rail pass a few times. We went to lunch at Aqui's and then Rocco went down for a nap. We shared an ice cream cone, covered every inch of the yard, did a short bike ride, snuggled per Rocco's request and went shopping to find rain boots. Which by the way are sold out everywhere.

Pictures:

Us at lunch

Us sharing an ice cream

Rocco saying "cheese" in the yard

Action shot

New Phone = Cool Apps

Technology, here I am! I recently got an iPhone and I love it. They take great pictures and it also has a video camera in it. What more can I ask. Oh, driving directions too. That is huge for a Shelley. So here are some of my camera pictures.

Pictures:

Jared and Rocco watching the light rail in Campbell.

Rocco watching Shrek.

Jared and Rocco cooking dinner.

No Peddles and What! No Helmet

Rocco really enjoys to ride his bike. I still can't believe I don't have a helmet for him yet. Well we do, but it is a cheep one from target and is a little to big still. Jared gets deals through work, so we are going to buy him a good one. That head must be protected!

When he first started he wouldn't sit his butt on the seat. He was basically just walking with the bike. But now he is sitting on the seat. Just this last run, he would forget and then sit his butt on the seat and look at me to let me know he is learning. When the bike goes down, he is really good about just letting go and not going down with the bike. He just lets it drop.

Rocco the number one rule is - you must be home when the street lights are on. Oh and Mommy loves you.

Shrek, Donkey, Fiona and Rocco

What’s on the tube at the Milazzo’s? Shrek, Shrek and some more Shrek.

Rocco loves to watch Shrek. Basically movie = Shrek. We watch it every night after reading and just before bed. We all snuggle on the coach and watch it together. Rocco is so sweet, he will start on one lap and then eventually move over to the other lap to make sure everyone gets equal snuggle time. It is so cute and he does it every time. He will be on my lap and then look at Jared and say “Dad” and then move over to make sure everyone gets love. We also play Shrek on special dinner nights as a treat. He really enjoys this.

So last night Rocco wakes up at 2:00 AM and we moved him into our bed. He starts to cry and say “movie.” I say no Rocco it is night night time. It is not time to get up. He quickly settles down and I hear him whisper “donkey” as he is trying to go back to sleep.

The other day Jill tells me she is working with Rocco on sounding out the letter P in his words. She starts to say some P words. Pumpkin, Purple, Please and then she says Princess and Rocco says “Fiona.”

Jared and I laugh all the time at donkey’s lines. Some of our favorites are:

Princess it’s spooky in here, I ain't playing no games.
Ah man you got a puppy, all I got in my room was shampoo.
Shrek, you cut me deep, you cut me real deep just now.
I like that boulder, that is a nice boulder.

You Know You're A Shelley When...

You eat wontons. Wait, not just eat, but love wontons. I don't know how many wontons I have rolled in my life. I was talking to my sister Stacie about this and we say around 1000. And that is just for my hands. My Mom and Aunt Lynn used to have these on their menu when they had a catering business together. (they also owned a house clean business together) I remember sitting around my Aunt Lynn's kitchen table rolling wonton after wonton with my sisters and cousins getting ready for a wedding. They became a Shelley favorite. When the Shelley's get together not only do we eat tacos but we eat cream cheese and sausage wontons with sweet and sour sauce. I have also tired new fillings such as cream cheese, shrimp, and green onions.

Rocco just tried his first wonton last weekend. Yep, he is a true Shelley.

2 packages of cream cheese
1 package of sausage - cook until brown
green onions, water chestnuts - optional


Mix filling together and put a spoonful into a square wonton sheet - fold
Fry in vegetable oil until golden brown.
Dip in sweet and sour sauce.

Rocco and Mommy Time

Well, I am back from a week that was a bit off schedule for Rocco. I was in San Francisco for two nights and then got home just before dinner on Wednesday and back to the city on Thursday and once again home just before dinner.

This week was a little hard on Rocco. I wasn't there to pick him up for 4 days in a row from daycare. Jared did the pick up, but even though it was Daddy, it just wasn't the routine Rocco is used to. On Thursday, Rocco didn't nap well, didn't eat lunch and cried when it was just about the time that I would show up. He was really missing his mom. He woke up from his nap calling for me.

So I took the day off on Friday and gave Rocco all the love and snuggles he needed. We road the light rail, something that I have wanted to do with him for quite some time now. We like to go to Campbell and watch the light rail go by and the crossing lights and bells go off. But what happens when Mom is not paying attention to what stop we are on? We get off at the wrong location. Darn it, what do I do now? Rocco is just about ready for a nap and walking with him would take a while. Carry him? Can be done, but that would be a hard workout. So we walk to a little area close by that has a swing and pass the time. Oh, and set the camera on the timer to take a picture of the two of us. We make it home and take a nap.

Then we went to lunch and finished up at the park. It was a great day and a wonderful way to start a weekend that has nothing on the agenda but Rocco and Jared time.

Learning In the Bath

We are working on our letters in the bath.

He likes to find the "T" for Tuba, although he pronounces it eba.

He likes to find the "A" for Allison (friend at daycare)

He likes to find the "O" for Cheerios, although Jared and Rocco call it O's.

He likes to find the "L" for Lights.

He likes to find the "R" for Rocco. A new word to add to the list as of a few days ago.

Thank Goodness For Boys

Rocco got a great hand me down from his second cousin Chase. Thanks Chase! (Jared's cousin) This car holder was made by Papa Davenport for Chase (now 21 years old) and now Rocco will get years of enjoyment from it. So of course I had to open the Christmas gift that we got for Rocco this year. I was trying to be good and buy my gifts early so I won't be stuck shopping in the crowds. But Jared and I wanted to hang the truck car holder in Rocco's room and it really needed some cars, just so happened we had them.

Jared and I already picked out our favorite cars. I can't wait till Rocco tells me what his favorite car is.

Hanging On To This Morning

I will be in San Francisco for the next two, maybe three nights for work. This will be my 2nd time away from Rocco and Jared's first time alone with Rocco. I am sure going to miss picking him up from Jill's, snuggling him, eating dinner with him and miss every smile and laughter these next few days.

So what did we do this morning? We snuggled till 7 am in bed and then drank our milk and coffee on the floor while we laughed at Daktari pushing around a magnate. Rocco likes my Wonder Woman cup. So I let him have a sip of my milk before I filled it up with coffee. Then he said "please please" he wanted to finish the milk. So I got another cup and we sat and enjoyed our morning. (which I am usually already at work and miss on the week days) I couldn't have asked for a better morning to start the day off with.

Look What I Did

Rocco brought home his first art project from Jill's.