{Ivy's First Two Weeks Of Life} & {Grammy Comes To Town}

The day after Ivy was born my Mama flew all the way to Italy. It was perfect timing! Our friends, Carmen and Scott, went to the airport for us to pick her up and bring her to the hospital so Richard wouldn't have to leave me and the baby. When I saw Mama walk in the room I was super excited for her to meet Ivy. Ivy is her first Grandbaby and I know she was thrilled to have been able to see her within 24 hours of being born.  To see her face light up when she got to hold Ivy for the first time warmed my heart. She is a very proud Grammy and loves her Granddaughter so very much. Because Mama got in on Thanksgiving day and we were still in the hospital, our amazing friends brought us all plates of yummy food! We were so thankful for their willingness to do that for us on a holiday! 

The next day we were able to go home! I was so ready to be in real clothes and be in the comfort of my own home with my brand new baby girl. My Mama had cleaned up my house a little bit and had cooked Thanksgiving dinner for us! It was really nice to come home to a nice meal. Mama got to stay with us for 18 days! She was such a blessing to have around for so many reasons! She would cook dinner for us, clean, and calm Ivy down by singing to her. She was also about the only person that could get Ivy to burp after I would feed her. Mama just has that special touch I guess. A touch that I hope to get soon. The 18 days Mama was here went by so stinking fast but we had a great time and made the most out of those days! Mom was able to attend Ivy's one week and two week doctor visits and we learned that Ivy was definitely a growing baby! She weighed 8 pounds and 14 ounces at her 2 week apt. She has gained 13 oz. since birth! Wow!

I took Mama and Ivy everywhere! We  went to thrift stores, markets, a winery, a purse factory, Venice, Verona, and we ate yummy Italian food. Mama loved it all. Ivy could have cared less! She just slept the entire time except to eat and get a diaper change so she is a very good traveler! She is an all around good baby. She sleeps really good at night and wakes up about every 3 hours to eat. She loves her morning tummy time on my chest. She hates for her diaper to be the slightest bit dirty. I think it's mainly because her poop has made her bottom a little raw... She screams bloody murder when she has a dirty diaper and it breaks my heart into tiny bits cause I know it hurts her... Hopefully I can heal it with some Butt paste and CJ's Butter. Her sleep routine is pretty easy to work around. She wakes up every three hours to eat and get her diaper changed. I love watching her sleep and dream. The faces she makes crack me up. She is my little butterball!

So yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life. We had to say goodbye to Grammy... Ivy and I stayed home while Richard took her to the airport. We had an amazing time having her here and I hated seeing my Mama saying goodbye to her grandbaby. I cried sad tears when they left me.. Skype is the biggest blessing to have while we are over here in Italy. We have already skyped Grammy today! We miss her already! I can't wait for these next few months to go by so we can be in the US and close to family!

Ok so here are a bunch of pictures from Ivy's first two weeks of life along with pictures from when Grammy was in town! :) Enjoy!

Grammy & I in Venice, Italy

My sweet family

Ivy & I at the mall in Vicenza, Italy

3 Generations 

Me at the winery

Ivy's first tub bath

How she sleeps in her car seat

Showing Mom how the milk machines work

Yummy lunch we got downtown Vicenza

Ivy loves  her new swing

Mama & I at Aeolia's

Pear Faggotini

Me and Richard with Ivy in the sling in Verona

Verona, Italy

Us at Juliet's house

Ivy loves her Grammy's singing

{Marriage Retreat to Germany}

This past weekend was a rare one, where the Army gives us a much needed four day weekend. We were blessed to have been picked to go on the Marriage Retreat offered to military families, where your lodging and meals are free. We traveled about 5 hours by bus up to Garmisch, Germany. It was a nice scenic ride up through the mountains of Austria, where we stopped for lunch at McDonald's.

Not your average view from a Mickey D's

We arrive at our hotel later Friday afternoon, got checked in and then Richard and I went to make appointments to get a couple's massage. That evening we went to our first 'class' where we learned about The Five Love Languages. Richard and I both took a little test to see what our primary love language is and come to find out we both have the Touch love language. That means we feel loved the most by touches. Touches including holding hand, playing with my hair, scratching his back, etc. So that was pretty neat to learn our love language and how knowing them can better our marriage. That night we ate dinner then went to bed. The next morning we woke up and went to breakfast and then to the second part of the class where we learned about finances. After that we ate lunch and then we went to our room to take a nap till it was time for our massages! Richard loved his first ever massage and will go with me more often now. I loved mine as well. I had to get a maternity massage which is nothing different except I was laying on a pillow instead of the hard bed so I didn't mind that at all. We both felt so relaxed afterwards. Then it was time to take a nice hot shower and get ready for dinner downtown with another couple. 

I must say that was an interesting restaurant.

After we ate a very German dinner, we walked around downtown Garmisch, only to find that every single store was closed for the day. Bummer. However Richard did get to see the one thing he desired to see most on our trip... 

Germans have a weird sense of home decor.

After about thirty minutes of walking around, we decided to walk back to the hotel. We got there just before the bottom of the storm clouds dropped a ton of rain. To end our day, we decided to have tea and dessert. It was perfect. That next morning Richard and I ate breakfast and then it was time to head home. But not before we got this awesome picture! 

I hardly look pregnant in this picture.

We came home to a very happy pup who was peeing with excitement. Ellie missed us so very much and we would be lying if we said we didn't miss her a ton as well.