Chirstmas Card 2010

This is our Christmas picture for this year..."Santa Baby"

Update

Raya is nearly 3 months old now, and I have been so bad at updating our blog! we've been having fun--Raya is more vocal and she seems like she's trying to talk..she loves it when we repeat the sounds she makes. She's such a happy girl! This is a picture my parents took while we were talking to them on the web cam.

Photo Shooot taken 11/30/2010

Trip to St. Pete

we went to st pete for the day yesterday so raya could meet my grandpa and gigi and my uncle charlie...and we introduced them to the webcam! It was so nice for them to meet her!

Uncle Randy and Aunt Lindsey came to visit!

Randy and Lindsey came to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with us and to meet Raya...We cant wait until their little one arrives and Raya can meet her cousin! we miss them already :( These photos were taken by budding photographer randall lemle:) check out his blog for more : http://rockinphoto.blogspot.com/2010/12/visit-with-raya-anthony-katy-in-florida.html

crazy family

Messy Raya on the video cam :)

what toledo gets to see when we talk on the web cam..........

one month!

Happy halloween!

...and check out our new sling!

3 weeks old

Raya went to the doc yesterday and she's now 9 lbs 1 oz! she gained 2 lbs from her birth weight and she is healthy as can be....except for her temper: the doctor asked which parent her temper comes from....i hear i was a happy peaceful baby, so it cant be from me!!! :) we're doing well though!

16 days old

Raya is 16 days old...we video-chatted with grandma and grandpa lemle last night--they miss her! it was nice they were able to spend time with her her first week of life:) Raya seems to want to nurse all day long the past couple of days so she should be growing!! the top pic is from a video chat with uncle randy, and the bottom is from a video chat with the grandparents...once i find my camera i'll take some better pics if her! love to everyone -katy

Raya Luna Castronovo!

She's here! Katy went into labor about 5pm yesterday and delivered beutifully at the Birth Center in Gainesville at almost 11pm. Raya and Katy are both doing great, we are all resting now, but very excited about this beautiful new baby girl!

Reflexology Case Study

I recently completed a certification in Hand and Foot Reflexology. Reflexology is an ancient holistic healing technique that is based on the theory that there are reflexes in the hands and feet that correspond to every part, organ, and gland of our bodies. By applying pressure to these points, circulation is increased, bringing about health and healing to the whole body. I've really enjoyed practicing reflexology and am excited to learn more and more about it!

As part of my education, I had to do a case study, meaning I worked with a person with a particular health issue for 6 weeks, and the client kept a journal and I kept notes in response to the treatments I gave him. I then wrote up my findings, and my teacher just posted it to the school's website.....check it out! -Katy

Panic Disorder and Reflexology

Maternity photos

Our friend Eric is going to take some photos of Anthony and I in our house on saturday so we have some good photos of me preggos and of our little house....but I got nervous that I will go into labor before then (so silly), so I took some maternity photos myself today...they were actually all pretty blurry but i tried :)

yay for 38 weeks!

Babymoon

Anthony took me on a trip over the weekend! It was fun because I didnt know where we were going...he took me to Amelia Island and we stayed by the beach. we ate yummy food and did yoga on the beach, and anthony boogie-boarded while I laid in the water--it was perfect temperature. It was lovely to get away for a couple of days, and so romantic...thanks Anthony

37 weeks!

Well we made it to 37 weeks, which means that I can go into labor at any time and still be able to have it at the birth center! so she wont be too early, now we just need her to not be too late :) ...here's their website: http://birthcenterofgainesville.org/

Home-made Co-Sleeper :)

Anthony and I made a frame for the baby's bed! it will but up against our mattress so she can sleep next to me, but in her own little bed...We have a travel bed that fits into the frame as the mattress...I'll post a picture when it's up in the loft :)

baby hammock

Mary got a baby hammock for us so we would have a place to lay down the baby downstairs. I hung it up today! It's really nice organic cotton canvas hammock and has a really nice swinging motion. I put some string up underneath the loft so we can tuck it up out of the way when we're not using it. Daisy's bed is right under it (she's been really liking to sleep in the laundry basket :)

Baby Showers!

Thanks to Mom, Mary and Tina for throwing me two awesome baby showers! The first was a web cam shower that my mom planned for me--since I'm so far away in Florida, she had a party at her house in Ohio and then Anthony and I joined them on the webcam. Everyone held up their presents to the webcam: Yay technology! I'm real mad now because I didn't take any pictures....

Tina and Mary (Anthony's sister and mom) threw me a really beautiful shower at Tina's house. Tina made a lovely cookie tree (with awesome baby onesies and baby buggy shaped cookies) and Mary carved a baby buggy out of a watermelon for the fruit salad, and made a cake in the shape of a baby buggy. you guys rock. thanks :)

Thanks so everyone for all the lovely gifts and support :)

36 weeks

about one month to go...my due date is October 16th, but the midwife told me it's more like a "due month". At 37 weeks I can give birth at the Birth Center without having to go the hospital. That's next week! I guess by that time the babies lungs are mature enough to breath on their own, where if you go into labot prior to that, they arent.

Windows!

Anthony trimmed our windows with really nice wood that Dave had in his shop: it's sassafras and sooooo pretty. It's been a little bit cooler, so we've been opening up in the morning and evening: I just hung a screen on our door so we could leave it open without so many bugs!

I want foooood

Thanks Rivas Family!

Lulu has a car seat! (Lulu is the baby's fetus name by the way :) Thanks to Aunt Marsha, Uncle Ruben, Dan and Barb, and Jacqueline and Jarrid for this wonderful gift! Sweetie, my favorite stuffed animal as a kid is taking a ride in it (she's a meerkat)

Anthony's latest sculpture, Heliotropis

Anthony's latest sculpture is up at a private residence in New Jersey. from his website:

This cutting-edge sculpture created by artist Anthony Castronovo combines the beauty of glass and bronze with the technologies of solar power and microcontrollers. Heliotropis interacts with its environment by sensing physical changes in light, temperature, humidity, and wind speed to determine its form and behavior. www.acastronovo.com

33 weeks Pregnant!

I weigh 131 lbs! Just went to the Birth Center for a prenatal visit, and the baby's heartbeat sounds great.