Inheritance

Life Together

2008-04-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Life in October 2007

2007-10-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Victoria's first trip to her pediatrician (Dr. Cannizzaro) at 11 days old.

Life in October 2007

2007-10-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

This was Victoria at 9 days old. We say she was born smiling and laughing!

Life in September 2007

2007-09-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Mommy is giving Victoria her first bath at home.

Life in September 2007

2007-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like a good snuggle!

The Beginning...

2007-07-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

We have known each other since June of 2000. After meeting in Tallahassee at a business conference, we became friends. Dominick invited Diana to his parent's church (Faith and Power Worship Center) and from there, the friendship grew into a relationship that turned into an engagement; which finally became a marriage on July 20, 2002. God has truly blessed us with an infinite love for one another.

During the summer of 2006, the talk of starting a family was becoming normal conversation. By that time, Diana was entering her 3rd year of teaching at Sabal Point Elementary as a 2nd grade teacher, and Dominick had completed his MBA and was approaching his 5th year as a contracts manager/negotiator with Lockheed Martin. In having purchased their family home, children were inevitable. On January 19, 2007, we found out that we were expecting! On January 29, 2007, our doctor confirmed that we were 6 weeks and 6 days pregnant and gave us our due date of September 18, 2007. The journey of parenthood had begun!

And Then There Were Three...

2007-07-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

We were so excited to find out that we had become parents! This picture was taken on January 19, 2007 at 5:00 AM. We both wanted to see the results together before heading off to work.

The Announcement!

2007-07-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Announcing to our families that we were going to become parents was a very special moment. On Monday, January 29, 2007 we all went out to eat at Garibaldi's. Dominick's dad was sharing how blessed he and mom were to be parents to wonderful sons and now daughter-in-loves. At that moment, Dominick shared how blessed he was to have such wonderful parents, and how he was blessed that they were going to be wonderful grandparents as well. After about 2 seconds of trying to catch what he said, the whole family jumped with excitement and ran circles around the table! This was followed by many hugs and high-5's. This is Dominick's parent's first grandchild, and they are ecstatic to embark on their new journey as grandparents!

The Announcement!

2007-07-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

It was a little harder keeping the secret from Diana's mom as long as we did with Dominick's parents. Diana's mom has a very strong mother's intuition and knew something was different about Diana. After not being able to hold it any longer, Dominick and Diana shared with her mom that she was going to be a grandmother for the third time! She was so happy that her "little girl" was having a baby. Her mom expressed how happy Diana's dad would have been if he were here to share the special moment in life with us.

One Month Pregnant

2007-07-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

The baby is in there! Can't be seen, but definitely can feel the changes! Dominick got used to making sure Diana had quick meals to eat. If not, she would get so queasy that she would start seeing double! No vomiting...thank God!

Two Months Pregnant

2007-07-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

Does anyone have a pic? As a part of "Old Fashion Sunday," we showed our two month old baby. A little bump was showing.

Three Months Pregnant

2007-07-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

By this time, Diana felt the difference with her pants and jeans around her waist. Here she grows!

Four Months Pregnant

2007-07-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

The fourth month was around Diana's 25th birthday. Hence, she was entitled to a hair makeover. You know, soon-to-be moms need lots of TLC.

It's a Girl!

2007-07-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Sonogram was done in our fourth month (18 and 1/2 wks along). This is the day (4/21/07) that we found out we were carrying a precious little princess!

A message from the Lord to our princess coming from Jeremiah 1:5 " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Five Months Pregnant

2007-07-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

Half way there! Oh, we can't wait to see her! By this time, the Lord had placed her beautiful name "Victoria Grace" in our heart. She is a Victorious woman in the making that will be covered with the Grace of God! Also, with Diana's Puerto Rican heritage, a name in Spanish was very important to us.

Six Months Pregnant

2007-07-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Yes....Diana strutted the baby in Puerto Rico. She felt more comfortable when she saw another one of her "kind" strutting her belly on the beach. Dominick always made her feel beautiful no matter how she was growing day by day.

Second Sonogram

2007-07-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, not that we didn't believe it the first time. We just wanted to see a plumper Victoria...aaaand maybe get a confirmation that our baby is a girl. :) When the sonograms are done early, a mistake can easily be made. The results (6/25/07) for the second time: A Girl!

Seven Months Pregnant

2007-07-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

Time is winding down! During the seventh month, Diana started using several pillows to help her sleep better on her side. She loves to use Dominick as support to lean against at night!

Eight Months Pregnant

2007-07-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Wow! Eight more weeks until delivery day. We can not wait to see our little princess! She's almost here. And no, Diana didn't swallow a watermelon. :)

Daddy loving on Mommy and Victoria

2007-07-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

Here's Daddy loving on Mommy's belly. Victoria knows when her Daddy talks, sings, and kisses her. She'll be here soon recognizing his voice!

Nine Months Pregnant

2007-07-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

We are down to the final stretch! What moms say is true; by this time one is ready for delivery. Carrying our precious cargo in the ninth month kept Diana up at various times of the night and caused for some restless days. At the end, one sees that it was worth every minute of it!

Our Baby Showers

2007-07-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Lord touched the hearts of many to bless us with wonderful, beautiful and useful gifts for Victoria. We were blessed with 5 baby showers. By the last one, we had everything we needed and wanted. Our God is our provider!

Baby Shower #1

2007-07-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

On May 22, 2007 the parents and students in my class got together and celebrated the end of the year with a baby shower. I truly had one a classroom of wonderful students.

Baby Shower #2

2007-07-24T06:58:00.000-07:00

May 22, 2007 was the last day of school. The teachers of Sabal Point Elementary came together and celebrated one of the 6 pregnant teachers.

Baby Shower #3

2007-07-24T06:57:00.000-07:00

On May 27, 2007 my family in Puerto Rico threw Dominick and I a surprise baby shower. Jeff and Courtney were able to be with us in Jayuya, Puerto Rico and meet my wonderful family.

Our Day in the Hospital-September 22, 2007

2007-07-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

This was an amazing day. After going over my due date, I was getting a little antsy. I was becoming all too familiar with water retention. I had swollen ankles for the past 2 weeks. Dominick said they looked like Nutty Professor feet. I took that with a smile knowing that my ankles would return to normal. After my doctor told me that he was planning on going out of town, Dominick and I decided to schedule an induction. Thus, Victoria was born on September 22, 2007 in Altamonte Springs Florida Hospital. We had an incredible day with an incredible nurse (Denise). My mom, Dominick's mom and Dominick helped me through labor. Dominick held one leg, my mom the other, as Dominick's mom administered the oxygen. What a team! With the help of them and the epidural, I started pushing at 9:10pm (after being admitted at 8:00am). Victoria arrived at 10:05pm. As soon as I saw my angel, my eyes filled with tears. Dominick and I embraced one another as we held our precious baby. She was born 7.8 lbs and 21.5 inches long. The day we looked into her eyes, our life had totally changed. That day heaven was missing an angel because we were holding her in our arms.

Daddy Putting the Stroller Together

2007-04-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

Dominick had a great time putting Victoria's stroller together! Amazingly, after only an hour, it was successfully completed. They test drove it around the house with a stuffed animal. We made sure it passed all safety requirements. The stuffed animal survived! Diana was very happy about that!