Benvenuto Babbo!

Dear Family,

"Babba" is a nice name, and we all LOVE our Babba, but Aunt Rachel says that "Babbo" is "Daddy" in Italian. We think it might make a more fun and durable name for Dad. It's what Pinocchio calls Geppetto, and what the adorable little boy calls his father, the Roberto Begnini character in Life is Beautiful. It is Tuscan! Thus, it is perfect for Craig David Galli-o. I believe that all I have talked to are in favor of changing Dad's grandpa name to "Babbo". How do you feel about it? Babbo says e bene.

Thanks, Rae. You are the source of so many good ideas.
Benvenuto Babbo!

Con Amore,

Nonna

Happy 100th Birthday, Grandma

Dear Family,

Our grandma Vella Rachel Fowler Neil would have been one hundred this September 25th. You may remember that her female descendents are gathering at Garden City Utah, on the shores of Bear Lake, to celebrate her life and gifts to us.

Thanks to Dad and Mom, we will be staying at Sweetwater at Bear Lake, September 23-25. Maybe we will see Grandma's diamond ring glinting in the sand on the shores there! Please share any birthday party ideas you have. And if you have time in September, let's head homeward together to the land of the Fowlers, Crowthers, Westons, Neils, and . . . (who else, Mom?)

Day Nineteen

Hello, family and friends. It's me again. I'm sorry it's been so long since I have written, but they're keeping me pretty busy around here, mostly by denying me food. Eating and sleeping are my big jobs, and eating is my favorite. Mom's always there for that. For the sleeping part, I try to stay alert when they do their sleepy tricks, but Hoya is working better and better for Babba. Tonight Auntie Laurel played with me, and we had a good time. I didn't cry! I just watched her. She has youthful energy, as I do.She danced with me.
Of course, I can dance on my own. Here I am performing the sailor's hornpipe in my sea outfit and blanket. I can move all over the place when I'm allowed to. It's pretty easy when you are six pounds with a six pack!


Here I am with my limbs all akimbo. Sometimes I think I'm just arms and legs, stuck together in the middle. The family likes to keep me in a baby burrito, which cramps my style. There's not even room for salsa in there! But it gives me less to worry about. I only have to think, "Who is that crying?"
This is an angel, my mom. I love her more than everybody, and hardly ever cry when we are together. Why would I? She takes such good care of me. She goes by many names, most of them "Mom"--like "Mom," "Mama," Mamacita," and "Mommy."She had a golden birthday when I had a one week birthday. Grandma and Grandpa Evans came to celebrate, and Grandma brought a picture of my mama when she was a little girl. Grandma has had it at her bedside for many years.
I was so glad I didn't have to wait until next winter to see snow! Nobody else was excited about it. It was such a treat. We may even have a flood. The last time they this much water was the year Mama was born--the flood of '83. Before that, it was Noah.As you can plainly see from my pointy ear. I am part elf, just as we were hoping. Of all my traits, I consider this one of the best. I think Mom's nose and dark eyes are coming through, too.
This is how my ear will look when I'm older:Nice, Huh?
One night, Grandma and Aunt Nancy threw a party for Mommy and me. We had lemon custard drinks and scones with clotted cream and lemon curd in honor of our British heritage, and to memorialize the royal wedding. And I suppose, the royal birth of me. Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Nancy wrote poems and songs for me, Babba, Mom and Dad wrote a letter, Auntie Laurel painted a watercolor, and Cousin Anna and Auntie Hannah, Nonna, Mom and Laurel sang for me. Thank you so much, Grandma and Aunt Nancy!I met pretty Cousin Jane, who had just come back come from her mission the day before!

I have a new Auntie: Fei Fei Peng. She lives in the basement, where Daddy used to take me when I was crying at night. One of these nights, we might surprise her with a visit. That would be funny. You can't see me in this picture, but this was my first meal at a restaurant: "Dim Sum." And it was a dim sum for me. I love Fei Fei. Today she learned how to change my diaper. We saw pictures of her as a little girl for Family Home Evening.
Mom and Dad are my best friends. Thank you for being my friend, too. Even though life as a young man in a baby body can be challenging, it is good.


Ha ha--gottcha last!
Love,

Aaron

Day Two

Hello Friends and Family,

This is Aaron. Yesterday was a busy day! After being born, naturally I wanted to be next to Mama, not in a silly baby bed. Sleeping was out of the question. Being alive and trying things with my body was what I wanted to do! Daddy slept on the big fold out chair in the hospital. Well, he didn’t sleep much either. I practiced eating. Mommy and I are a good team.

It wasn’t just the three of us. Lots of people, mostly women, came to my birthday party: doctors for Mom, doctors for me, nurses, head nurses, technicians, cleaners, medical records people, lactation specialists, admitting and discharging people. They all looked about the same to us, except one was from Bulgaria and one was from Austria. The doctor from Austria couldn't understand why I wanted to go home rather than stay in the hospital two more days. Apparently she likes it there.

Another doctor told her not to worry about us, and finally around noon Daddy took many bags blankets, pillows, essential oils, clothes, more clothes, reverse osmosis water, three kinds of crackers, juice, apples, nuts, books, notebooks and papers, Hypnobabies CDs (I was born listening to one of them), and free diapers down to Nonna's and our car. Good thing his jacket said "Sherpa."
My cousin Abe sang a Happy Birthday song to me on the telephone. Today we video chatted. I can’t wait to play with him and Benjamin. I think I’ll ask Ben to teach me to crawl. He’s very fast!

Something special was that I got to go home in the blanket Grandma Lynn took Daddy home in when he was born. Grandma brought it from Maryland along with some clothes and cute farm toys for me.

What I really didn't like was the big, black car seat. I could hardly get my chin over the buckle! Really, that should just be Abe's for a while. Mom and Dad said I cried all the way home to Nonna and Babba's. I don’t remember that.
When I got home, Morgan was very excited to meet me, and wanted to congratulate Mom a lot. I think we will be pretty good friends.

One good thing is that besides having nice, long fingers for playing the violin, I have lungs as strong as Aunt Hannah's! And that's with a chest the size of a flat orange! So I'll probably get to do whatever I want to musically.

I got to meet two new people: Babba and Aunt Hannah. Babba likes to take me outside and walk me around saying, "Hoya, Hoya, Hoya." That must be Italian. He's already bought me two premie outfits (I wasn't premie, but OK), mitts for my hands, and a little blanket with a doggie that looks like Morg. My legs stick out of the premie outfit, because I'm not short--just lean. This morning he took a special trip to get me three new binkies. Not too bad.
Aunt Hannah took some pictures of Babba giving me my first bath yesterday. He was coaching Daddy. Everyone wanted to know the true color of my hair. If you've seen Daddy's hair, you've seen mine. In fact, if you can imagine a baby Daddy, you'll know pretty much how I look!
All last night, Mama and Daddy and I played for hours and hours again! They love me so much! There’s a lot to do when everything else is quiet. If I was a little fussy, you should remember that I have a big plastic clip on my tummy that takes up almost all the room there is. That is a little awkward and can be uncomfortable. Besides that, my tummy only holds a few tablespoons, no matter how good the food.
Mama is great at feeding me, and I'm great at clearing out all the meconium.

This morning I have been resting, trying to catch up from last night. Nonna and I went for a long walk together. I was in a sling. It’s really nice in there! We picked flowers, got breakfast, and cleaned up a little from the family vacation last week. That was the very last vacation with me in the dark. What really made me come right away was that Mom and Dad hiked in Kolob Canyon the day before my birthday. I just couldn't stand it any longer! Then they went to the temple on my birthday, and I knew it was OK.

Now I’m sleeping on Babba and Nonna’s bed.

Life is beautiful. I love you.

Welcome, Aaron!

Dear Friends of Rachel, Micah and Aaron,

Here are a few teaser photos of the new little family. Rachel's delivery was full of grace. The midwife and nurses kept saying that it was a very, very beautiful birth. "All births should be like this!" Nurse Kate said, "When I attend a birth like this, I just have to call my mom."

It was an extra tender mercy to have Micah's mom Lynn there, too. Who can't use a grandma who is also a nurse?

Though it is not possible to tell from the photos, Aaron's hair is a gingery blond! He has round little cheeks and a pointy chin with a delightful little dimple in it. Very handsome, indeed. My sense is that he is a noble spirit, full of confidence, and very glad to be here. Of course, he adores his mama, very much likes his dad, in whose arms he spent a long, peaceful time while being very alert.


He was born at 22:23 (or 10:23) on the 21st, so 21, 22, 23! Weight: 6 lbs. 1 oz., length 20.5 inches! He's a long little bean ;)

Now we are trying to extricate Rachel from all the well-meaning help at the hospital and get the little family home where they can rest.

Off We Go

Dear Family,

Pencils ready? Here is a draft of our family 2011 TRAVEL & ADVENTURE CALENDAR. Looking forward to happy times with you!

Galli Family Trips and Activities 2011

Mar. 4-5 Spring City/Manti Temple with Louise

Mar. 11-19 MARSHALLS HERE!

Apr. 15-21 Spring Break Trip, including 3 Nights Camping in Devil’s Garden, Arches N.P.

May 18-21 Couples Retreat Quickwater (Mom & Dad) (?)

Jun. ca. 10-? Ariel & Boys Visit!

Jun. 21-24 YM Bike Trip Bryce Canyon N.P. (Dad)

Jun. 23-25 Bonneville Stake Laurel High Adventure Trip (Mom & Laurel)

Jul. 24-27 TREK

Jul. 30-Aug 5 Oceanside Evans Family Reunion

Aug. 5- Aug 11 Oregon Coast Galli Family Reunion (?)

Sept. 14-17 Mothers Seminar Quickwater (Mom) (?)

Sept. 23-25 Womens Retreat, Bear Lake. Happy 100^th Birthday Grandma Rachel Vella Fowler Neil!

Oct. 19-24 Mom, Dad & Laurel to DC!

Nov. 23-27 Thanksgiving with Grandma Galli in Atlanta

Dec. 26+ Sunshine Trip to Southern Utah

How does that sound?

xo Mom

merrilymerrilymerrilymerrily

Dear Family,

Christmas is HERE! Please look over the calendar below. Don't feel obliged to attend every event, and do let us know what you would suggest we add or substitute for something lesser!

20^th Monday FHE Caroling with Garden Park Ward 7:00

21^st Tuesday Micah’s Concert, Megan Fuller’s Reception

24^th Friday Christmas Eve MARSHALLS ARRIVE! Dinner with Bob, Leah, Marshalls, Brenda

25^th Saturday CHRISTMAS Family Party Thomases

27^th Monday Skiing w/Ariel, Micah, Laurel, Babba; Meredith’s Reception; Susan Mickelsen Open House

28^th Tuesday Meredith’s marriage (Andrew & Ariel); Springville & Carl Bloch exhibits

29^th Wednesday Girls Day Out; Fleming dinner with friends; Narnia

30^th Thursday Family Temple Outing, Lunch downtown. Dinner with Petersons at 1246

31^st Friday New Year’s Eve! Liberty Park Run/Skate, Party with Malas' Family, Game Night, Favorite Foods Buffet

1^st Saturday New Year’s Day Skating/Bowling/Sledding, Christmas Clean-up, football

2nd Sunday Family Fireside 7:00 Visit Genial Robbins for 100th Birthday!