The Gounaris Family

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Thanks

First of all, I really am going to change my blog to private... but every time I look at the LONG list of email addresses I need to enter into my computer I get turned off. So, it might be a little longer before I actually do it : ) One day!

...this is long so don't miss the pictures at the bottom...

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. We went to Tom's Aunt and Uncles place. Caroline was cute as a button as usual. At first I think she loved all the attention she was getting...but, by the end of the day she would pretty much cry if anyone looked at her.
Since I loved Finding Equipoise's last blog post about being grateful...I'm going to copy you just a little...thanks for the idea. 


Tom- What can I say? He's amazing! Not many people know him like I do. He is so smart, hardworking, kind, gentle, and an amazing father! We've been through so much together these past 4 years but we always have each other. No matter what anyone says or thinks about us it doesn't matter... we know each other and love each other through thick and thin. I have loved watching him be a father these past few months...he is so cute, always trying to make Caroline as comfortable as possible. One other thing that I LOVE so much about Tom is his kindness towards me. He has ALWAYS put me and my needs first. I try to do the same for him, but I can honestly say he does a much better job at it then me. :) I wish every one could know his heart and soul like I do! 

Home- This  year I am thankful that we have a home...a roof over our heads! In the past couple years we've met some very dishonest people and had some run-ins with just plain bad luck that quite possible could have taken that roof over our heads away. Thankfully things have always seemed to work out, and we are starting to see the end of the rainbow. 

A beautiful daughter- This year we finally met our Sweet Caroline! We love her so much and can't imagine life without her. So many people seemed to have their opinions,  but Tom and I KNEW it was her time to come to this earth...she belongs here with us. I have never been so happy in my life as I have been since I had her. Anyone who knows me knows that I have dreamed of being a mother basically forever. I finally feel like I am fulfilling my purpose in life.

Niceness- In a world full of so many mean and cruel people, I am grateful for those who choose to be kind to others. I'm not perfect by any means, but I hope that I can always remember to be kind to others. I believe that we can truly make this world a better place by simply choosing to be kind and charitable to EVERYONE...not just those who are easy to be nice to. I love the quote from a primary song "kindness begins with me!" 

Knowledge and faith in God- I am grateful that I have faith in God and I am thankful to my Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving his life for all of us. I am thankful that my parents taught me to pray. In this world it seems so easy to abandon faith in God...but after seeing my daughters face for the first time, and just seeing the stars at night, and this beautiful earth we live on, I will never be able to doubt that there is a God and that He loves me.  

So many family and Friends- I am so grateful that I have so many wonderful people that I call my family and friends. Unfortunately, I don't get to live by the majority of my family and friends...but, I am thankful for the wonderful friends I have met here, and for my in-laws who I know would do anything for Tom, Caroline and I. I also have an amazing Dad, and Step-Mother. After my surgery last year, my dad was here for me. My dad and Cathie came to surprise me for my baby shower, and Dad came out after Caroline was born. It's been great getting so much support from him and Cathie. My mom and I were very close...we talked every single day, and I miss her terribly. But, my mom had such a great heart, I know she would be happy that Cathie is helping to take care and look out for all of us since she can't be here anymore. I also have a pretty amazing brother and sister...I miss them terribly and wish I got to see them more often. I also have to say that I am thankful for the Internet! I love technology that helps me to keep in touch with all my friends and family so far away! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!









Caroline and Aunt Diana


Stuffed Turkeys!


Caroline and Eleni


All tuckered out...

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Last Call...

Changing my blog to private. If you want an invite, make sure I have your email!

Knicks Game

Friday night our friends Dave and Julie invited us to the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. Dave's work has a suite that we got to use...and free food for us! It was super fun! Thanks for inviting us Dave and Julie! 










Caroline stayed at home with her YaYa! Of course I can't leave out a picture of Sweet Caroline.


Thursday, November 12, 2009

Laughing All the Way....HAHAHA

Caroline has really started to laugh and it is so cute! Sorry the camera is kinda all over the place. I was trying to keep her from seeing it because she usually stops doing whatever cute thing she is doing if she sees it. Enjoy!



Monday, November 09, 2009

Private

I'm going to make my blog private... I've heard too many bad things  lately with blogs. If you read my blog and want to be invited leave a comment with your email address, call me, or give it to me on facebook. 

3 Months

Caroline is 3 months now...wow, time flies.

She went to the dr. the other day and she is now...

Weight: 11 lbs 14 oz. (50th%)
Height: 23 3/4 in. (50th %)
Head: 15 in. (10-25%)

She is doing all kinds of fun things these days.
*This morning I woke up to her "talking" to herself in bed. I listened for about a 1/2 hr and then went in to see her with the hugest grin on her face. I love the morning when she is all smiles. *She is grasping things now. I lay her on her little floor mat and she grabs her toys. She also likes to hold on to my clothes when I am nursing her...and the blanket, which often leads to her exposing her mommy. Oh well. We are still waiting for her to grab her feet. She kicks them a lot and looks like she wants to grab them, but just can't quite figure it out. *She gets so mad when I put her on her tummy. It only lasts about 2 minutes before she is screaming. She can lift herself,  but no rolling over yet. *She is so easy to put to bed at night. Around 7 she starts to get fussy. I give her a bath, feed her, wrap her up in her blankie, and then it's off to bed. Usually it's around 8 and then we don't hear from her till 8 or 9 the next day. She takes a little nap in the morning and then a longer one in the afternoon. *She giggles every time I make any sort of noise with my mouth. I just love her little laugh. I need to get it on video. *Whenever strangers talk to her she either coos back at them...or cries. I guess she knows who she likes and who she doesn't. 

Tom and I talk about how cute she is every night before we go to bed. We just love her so much and can't  imagine life without her. She has been a huge blessing in our life. I am so glad that Tom is willing to work so hard so I can stay home with her. I can't imagine if I had to let  someone else take care of her. I get anxiety just leaving her for 2 hours. The first month of her life was pretty hard, just figuring out what she wanted and such, but now...she's a piece of cake. 

I tried to take just one 3 month picture...but I ended up getting a bunch that I liked. She's just too cute!










On Halloween. I figured it was pointless to dress her up any more than this. :)

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Fall Trip to the Cabin

This past weekend Tom and I took Caroline upstate to his Uncle and Aunts cabin. It was so nice to finally relax with Tom since he works so much. The leaves had changed and it was so beautiful. We love fall! 

Beware! I took LOTS of pictures!!





























Random Pictures

A few random pictures from the 2nd month of Caroline's life. 


I think she looks like such a big girl in jeans...this is her first time wearing them :) 


Does this diaper make my butt look big?....yes, but it's cute! :) 


Exploring her toy that Aunt Elizabeth gave her. 


See...she likes silk, just like her mother. She tries to eat it! Ha!


What a cutie!


I just want to pinch those cheeks! 


Bath time...getting so big!


All tuckered out after playing with her toys. 

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Caroline Meets Papou

Carolines Papou came back from Greece and met her for the first time. She was all smiles and so was he! 

Caroline and her Papou




Caroline and Petroula


Caroline and Aunt Diana


Caroline and her Aunt Eleni (really her cousin, but she wants to be her aunt :)

Thursday, October 15, 2009

THE NUMBERS ARE IN

We took Caroline to the doctor today for her 2 month check up (a couple weeks late, oops). She got her DTaP shot and did GREAT! Barely even cried...much different then when she got the Hep B shot.

Here are the numbers:

Height: 23 in
75th percentile (up from 1 mo. 50th%)

Weight: 11 lbs 4 oz
50th percentile (up from 1 mon. 25th%)

HC: 15in.
25th percentile (up from 1 mo. 10th%)

So...I guess she is long, average weight, and a small head. 


I just think she is adorable!! :)

What do you think???

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Yankee Game

Tom got to go to the Yankees/Red Sox game last week. He went with his friend Dave who got these awesome tickets. They were in the 9th row right up front. Tom was in heaven!










Free Hooter Hider

Go to http://www.uddercovers.com/ and get a FREE breast feeding cover...just enter the code onefree and all you have to do is pay shipping! Great deal! I love mine!