Favorite Quotes

"An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day." - Irv Kupcinet

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up." - Jesse Jackson

And this priceless one:

"One original thought is worth a thousand mindless quotings." - Diogenes of Sinope

Talk about your generation gap...

The hubby and I are having a hard time keeping up with Nonna and Nanno. Originally from Sicily, Rose and Sal (my daughter in law's grand parents) are two extremly incredible people. Up at the crack of dawn, neither one of them stop. I mean truly, do not stop. Sal says if he sits down, his mind takes over and then things start to hurt. So he keeps moving. All day. Here's what he did today: He took a 5hour road trip (alone) from his house down near Miami up to Spring Hill to meet his great granddaughter, Juliana. He walked in, kissed her and held her for a couple of minutes, grabbed my husband and said "ok, let's go." Off to the store they went to pick up the glider rocking chair and ottoman for the nursery. They came back, put it together, and off to the supermarket they went to pick up some groceries for dinner. Drop off the food, and out to Home Depot they went to pick up the ceiling fan for the nursery. In the meanwhile, Rose, is in the kitchen making home made pasta and broccoli (and that was just the appetizer!!), then came the salad, and then came the most delicious pork chops I have ever eaten. Ever. I try to help with the clean up, but basically get tossed out of the kitchen. Yesterday we went shopping and she goes up and down the aisles of the store so quickly, I really can't catch up to her. This woman is 31 years older than I. I'm exhausted just writing about it.

I am so grateful that I have gotten to know Sal and Rose. They should do a stand up comedy act together - their stories would have people crying from laughing so hard. Too bad my dad wasn't able to meet them...

And now for the supporting information...

In today's world of instant gratification technology, as pleased as I was with myself in getting pictures of my granddaughter online so quickly, I now have come to realize that no information was published with the incredible photos. Here's the scoop:

The total time of prelabor and labor was 36 hours and 45 minutes.
Juliana Rose Wise entered the world at 4:45 p.m. on 11/10/09, weighing in at
8 pounds, 2 ounces, measuring 19 inches.

It was a mind-blowing, emotionally euphoric experience to help coach my daughter in law through labor and delivery and watch my son do the same. When Juliana arrived there were three other generations in the room to greet her.

Hubby and I are now officially Gramz (yes, with a Z) and Gramps, and are thrilled to be just that!! And I do believe I read somewhere that there is a Batty Uncle up in Boston! There's also GG Annie, Bisnonna and Bisnonno and so many more folks who's lives will be changed forever. Two words keep coming to mind: Surreal. Profound.

Congratulations Justin and Vanessa - your daughter is the combination of all that is good between you. I am so very proud of both of you.

Juliana's arrival

Just call me Gramz:

Click here to view these pictures larger

The fifth of the month

April 5, 1935
December 5, 1958
November 5, 2009??????????????????

How cool would that be?