What's in a name?

People are always asking me what Luciana's middle name is. Well, she doesn't have one. I get mixed reactions to this, but there is a reason:

The truth is - my sisters and I, along with most of my 1st cousin, were not given middle names at birth. As a result, when we got married, we made our maiden name our middle name. That way, we still keep our original identity without looking too feminized (like if we didn't change our names or by hyphenating).

Dani kept this tradition with her 3 girls, and John and I decided to do the same with our daughters.

I am sure the next question is - What if you had a boy? When we have a son (I hope!), he will have a middle name. The girls' names that we considered are so unique (and very Italian) that a middle name just doesn't seem necessary. The boys' names that we like are very classic and a middle name would be very appropriate for them.

So, that's the reasoning behind our middle name decision - in case you were wondering!

Jillian - Episode #9

Now that Wes is finally gone, there really isn't any drama or excitement on the show. The remaining 3 guys went to Hawaii with Jillian. They all went on the fantasy dates and this week Jillian went to the fantasy suite with all of them.

That is where the drama finally surfaced - Ed apparently was not able to "get into the mood" while alone with Jillian. I kind of felt badly for him...it has to be humiliating to have that aired on national TV.

In the end, she got rid of Reid. So Kiptyn and Ed remain. Next week is the "Men Tell All" episode. I am curious to see if Wes shows up and to hear what he has to say. I did read on another website that he is claiming that there was a lot of editing going on with his narrations and that he has been made out to look worse than he really is...not sure if I totally buy that, but I do believe that the producers tweak stuff for added drama.

We'll see....

Still a little frustrated

I posted earlier about not being able to fit into my regular clothes...and the saga continues. At least now I can button the pants, but they are just a little snug (READ: muffin-top alert!). The funny thing is - the issue isn't my waist...it's my toosh and hips. When I look at myself in the mirror, I don't think that I look too different than I did last year at this time (for the exception of my chest, of course). The scale is also showing the difference...I still need to lose about 10 pounds to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight, but I think that at least 5 of those pounds are invested in my milkers (seriously!).

So I went back to what I was doing before I started swimming 2 years ago - TurboJam. I saw an infomercial in a patient's room once when I was rounding about 4 years ago, and I went home and ordered it. I started these DVDs before John and I got married, and they really helped me to get back into shape and then I was able to maintain my weight (because I will be the first to admit that I really do NOT watch what I eat). Hey - when you are in an Italian family like mine, and your father is a chef - there is no way that you can avoid carbs. Regular exercise was always my way to keep the same figure while not dieting.

I have been TurboJam-ing for about 3 weeks now and I definitely notice a change. Pre-TurboJam, I could barely get my pants around my toosh, and now I can actually button them. Maybe in a few more weeks they will be comfortable again and I won't have to feel like such a fatty!

Jillian - Episode #8

FINALLY! Wes is gone!

And he was/is a total sleaze. When he was in the limo after he got the boot, he admitted to having a girlfriend and said that he was done acting. I can't believe that he let her believe that he was so into her for so long.

Now that he is gone, I don't really care too much who she ends up with, because the remaining 3 are so nice and genuine.

I just can't wait until the reunion show...I am curious to see what Wes says and how Jillian reacts.

What a guy!

I had mentioned to John in passing once that I was admiring a co-worker's ring. She is a nurse anesthetist at the hospital and has the most spectacular setting which consists of sapphires and diamonds.

The morning after Luci was born I presented John with his birthday present - nothing big because we don't typically exchange gifts for any occasions, but I thought that this was a special birthday. I got him this Willow Tree figurine called "New Dad."

Then he busted out with a ring box, but it wasn't just any ring box, it was the ring box that had my engagement ring inside. (Yes, I have kept it) When I opened it, this is was I saw:If you can't tell, it is a printed picture of a sapphire and diamond channel-set ring. He remembered how I raved about my co-worker's setting and wanted to give the ring to me as a belated birthday present/push present. However, my fingers were pretty swollen during the last few weeks of the pregnancy and I wasn't wearing my wedding rings anymore. He didn't want to get the ring and then we would have to go back to the store to get it re-sized. So we waited a few weeks, and once my wedding rings fit comfortably again, we journeyed downtown to the Clark building to order the ring. I have had it for a few weeks now, and here it is:So I guess he does listen to me when I babble. What a guy! I love him so much!

Jillian - Episode #7

She is such a fool! What kind of spell has Wes put on her? I can't believe that he is still there! Jake came back during this episode to tell her everything. He even came right out to say that he was NOT there to get a rose or anything like that. He genuinely cares for her and wanted her to be aware of the lies that Wes has been telling her. Apparently Wes told Jake on several occasions that he has a girlfriend named Laurel in Austin, and that when confronted about it - Wes will claim that she is an ex-girlfriend who he is still friends with. And guess what he said when Jillian asked about the alleged girlfriend? Exactly as Jake predicted. AND SHE STILL GAVE HIM A ROSE - MADDENING!

Other drama - Ed came back to say that he made a mistake by leaving earlier and that he wants another chance. So she invited him to the rose ceremony and gave him a rose. Unfortunately Michael and Jesse got the boot (both were quality guys).

Next week they go to Barcelona and Wes slips by referring to Laurel as his girlfriend instead of ex-girlfriend when the subject comes up yet again.

As long as she doesn't pick Wes in the end, I will be happy - all the other guys are definitely good ones!

Luci - 2 months

Luciana had an eventful 2nd month - she attended her first wedding, baby shower, graduation party, and she was baptized! Her godmother is my sister Dani and her godfather is John's best friend Brett. She slept through the entire mass and the entire Baptismal ceremony following the mass - even when the water was poured over her little head - she didn't make a peep or open her eyes!

She is growing like a weed and is getting cuter by the day. She smiles and laughs all the time and I love it! Her sleeping pattern is great - her average schedule seems to be 10:30pm - 5:30am. She actually slept for 8 hours straight a few nights ago. I really can't complain about it at all!

She went to the doctor today and here are her stats: height - 23.5 inches (90th percentile), weight - 11 pounds, 14 ounces (75th percentile), head - 38.5 cm (50th percentile). She got 3 shots too - didn't do too badly with that - I just scooped her up and nursed her immediately to calm her down, which seemed to work pretty well.

I am totally dreading returning to work, so I have to start leaving her with someone in small increments to prepare myself. I went to the mall last week and left her with John. I ended up being gone for almost 4 hours and I was in total withdrawal! We'll see how that progresses over this next month!

Here is the link to the pictures of the past month:

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1180272009/a=40662473_40662473/