Cousins are the best, aren’t they? Leo’s in this awesome stage where he does these big belly laughs and I found myself being jealous that he gets such a kick out of the stupidest little things, like me pretending to sneeze, or Sauce chasing his tail. And then I realize, I also get those big belly laughs over similarly silly things, mostly when I’m surrounded by my cousins laughing over some nickname we came up with for one another, or a silly story about something that happened to our parents when they were little, or listening to our grandfather give his own big belly laugh as he tries to tell us stories of Sicily (half in English and half in Italian) that he can barely get through between his own jolliness. My cousins…they just get me. And I’m lucky to have so many of them!

A few weekends ago, I had a mini-reunion with some of my cousins in NYC, and appropriately, we got a call that Leo’s little cousin was on the way. (You know, the one that was hiding in this pretty belly right here.) We didn’t know it at the time, but her arrival would take the entire duration of our trip, so we mostly spent the weekend obsessively checking our phones to see who we were going to get to meet. (What is with these Bruno babies and their extended dramatic entrances into the world?) As I spent the weekend with my own cousins having many of those big old belly laughs, I realized how happy I am that Leo will be so similar in age to both his cousins…and years down the road, I hope will be just as close to one another and have their own mini-reunions and laughs just the same.

I was thrilled when sweet baby Stella finally entered the world.  Another niece! I feel so honored to be her auntie and I cannot wait to do girl things with her like manicures, and tea parties, and prom dress shopping, and (sorry Greg) talk about boys!  It makes me so excited to think about family vacations and holidays now that cousins are in the picture. The future will be so fun and I’m so blessed to get to spend it with Stella and her parents. I love you sweet baby girl, and am so happy for all the memories you and Leo will have together.

Leo’s going to have a lot of protecting to do…







Baby girl gets two of the greatest parents.  I hope she knows how much she’s loved!


When Leo was born, I asked Alex what his dad would say if he were around to meet these little babies and he responded it’d go something like this: “Cute baby. Don’t screw it up.” And although that remark sounds about right, I know his heart would have been bursting on the inside to be grandfather to both Leo and Stella.  And he’d be equally as proud of Greg and Alex becoming fathers. Greg was wearing “Grandpa Joe’s” shirt in these pictures, which made it feel like a little piece of him was with us…




In lieu of cards, guests and Jess’ shower were asked to bring books to add to Stella’s library, so this little peanut will be one well read little girl!









If you know this family, I know you’re asking yourself the most important question…how’s Weezy doing with all this baby excitement? I think this pic pretty much sums up his emotion…






A little Nana action…


Randomly, four nights before her birthday, I had a dream that Jess had a baby girl and named her Stella. Since I was right on that, I’m going to go ahead and predict that my premonition of fun family time ahead will also be true, and I have a feeling it’ll be the best time in all our lives.  Because after all, the best is yet to come…

Much love from the bottom of my heart-