Rasha and Fulsa--The eager parents to be...

Charlotte,

Your mommy and daddy really hope you like your name. I don't ever want you to deal with the crazy butchering of names that your father and I had to endure as children. (Gotta love being Romanian)--Now, I can't guarantee that there won't be some punk kid raised by wolves that won't find some way to tease you throughout life (but don't worry---you'll be fine. We all go through it and you'll be tough like your mom and dad and won't let a little name calling get you down.--plus daddy will teach you to fight and mommy will pass on her ability to make people fear you--so you'll be all set) But anyway, back to the name business. I would just like to give you a few little examples from mommy and daddy's lives of how our Romanian names have been destroyed and tortured.

First mommy's name--Fulga (Full-Ga) I know it sounds very strange to most but my mother loved the name and named me after a princess named Fulga. Mom--it might have worked in Romania--but here...not so much. No hard feelings mom--it provides me with many stories.

Case # 1
I've blocked out most of the elementary school memories of being called Froga or FLUga so case #1 just proves that name calling hurts but you get over it and can't even remember the details.

Case # 2
Flash forward to High School. Every first day of school was an adventure for me and my friends. It was alwasy sooooo fun to get down to the end of the alphabet and sense that the butchering of Fulga would begin at any moment. Once the name was said, I'd have to say my speech of, "Can you please call me Linda? I go by my middle name."---EVERY SINGLE TIME! Of course, the class would laugh--I'd turn bright red, and then we'd all move on. (12 years of dealing with this issue--it even got old for the rest of the kids in class.) Every time we had a substitute it would start all over-TORTURE! ---One day after the whole "Call me Linda fiasco"--my English teacher comes up to me and asks me if I was named after the VOLGA river? Luckily, I knew about this river and was prepared to say, "My first name is Fulga--not VOLGA." It's cool, she didn't ask me in front of the whole class and she isn't a Geography teacher...so we all move on.

Case #3
History---Mr. Hobben's class--11th grade. It's the first day of school and our crazy German teacher makes all the kids stand up at the front of the room and when he calls our name we are to sit in the seat he assigns us. (Oh the terror---not only will he once again say Fulga but now I have to stand in front of the room.) We get through the S's---we get through the T's and we're heading down to the V's on the role sheet. By now there are about 4 kids left standing waiting for their name to be called. My teacher says, Fulsa? I don't move, in fact--I don't even flinch---I'm thinking...hmm--who's that? He says it again, louder...FULSA!?--nothing from me...and if my memory serves me correctly he says it a third time...Fulsa Viad? Oh brother--it was then I knew--that darn role sheet with it's digital like font--did not print out the entire G in Fulga or L in Vlad. So I say, "Oh that's me--but that's not my name. It's Fulga but I go by Linda...and blah blah blah..." I'm sure Rachel is still laughing about this one. She was fortunate enough to witness it.

I think that's enough cases for mom---Next up...DAD---simple enough. 2 syllables RA-RESH---not so simple apparently.

We've heard it all---Raj (our wedding photographer called him that all day), Rashiki---that's how they announced him at his LAPD graduation and most recently and my favorite---our neighbor of over a year telling me to tell RASHA to come by later to see the backyard. I was so stunned I couldn't even correct him. But don't worry I will the next time I see him.

So my little precious Charlotte...I really hope you appreciate your name and never have to deal with what we've gone through.

Love you little one!

The Secret Lies with Charlotte...

Okay so I've been thinking. I'm not sure I want to get a 3D photo of little Charlotte. I'm sure many of you have seen these photos before and I'm also pretty sure you would agree that they are crazy! The kid usually looks just like the picture (a little squished) but still pretty good shot. I guess my reasoning for this is-- well--we already know she's a girl, we already have her name, by the time the due date gets closer we'll even have a pretty good guess of her weight---so I'm thinking I need to leave a little something for the surprise factor, right? I wish I could say that I'll go and have it done and then not peek until after she's born ---but I just don't think I'll be able to have this 3D picture of her and not look at it. What are your thoughts?---Should I do it?

Maybe the secret should just lie with Charlotte...

The Pregnant Woman and the Sea...

...SALT & VINEGAR CHIPS!!!

I think it's time Charlotte see the crazy stuff her mom has been craving. All who know me would agree I enjoy sweets. Well, believe it or not the items I'm craving are not sweet. They are SALTY and VINEGARY. So-- the two things that I can honestly say I never really desired were green olives and salt and vinegar chips. Now---I find myself craving these items on occasion. Just for the record, I don't crave them together but seperately. VERY STRANGE. The other thing that I was craving for a while was bean and cheese burritos. Yum yum give me some. That isn't quite as surprising. I mean she could possibly be born on Cinco de Mayo and her mama talks like a chola.

Side note---I had an Dr.'s appt today and all is well with little Charlotte or should I call her Charlittle. Her heartbeat is strong and she's growing beautifully (Doc's words--not mine) Ata girl!---Already getting compliments! :)

Charlotte--your mom rocks!

Just wanted to add a quick note that today mommy is wearing heels and has no back pain at all! In case, Charlotte ever wants to know how tough her mommy is--This is proof.

What a good baby I have...

Since this whole blog thing is really supposed to act as my memory book for Charlotte, I figured I better write a little something about how I've been feeling and the joys I've experienced housing my little girl.

The first trimester was your typical one. Very tired and very sick--but it seems like the moment the 2nd trimester hit---things were getting much much better. Other than some back discomfort, occasional heartburn, and my sleep being interruupted by bathroom breaks I'm feeling great!

I think of so many women who have had a horrible pregnancy and I am so grateful that the Lord blessed me with a fairly easy one. Thank you God for my little Charlotte, who up to this point has been a true angel. She's the best little girl EVER! (Charlotte, honey--don't make mommy eat her words okay?)

I also wanted to take this time to thank my mom who must have sacrificed quite a bit with me. I just can't imagine being 40, pregnant, have 3 kids already, planning to leave Romania for the US, and dealing with all that change. Mom--you're a real star and I'm sorry for all the times I haven't been patient with you or I've been snappy and irritated because we don't see eye to eye on things. Now that I know I'm having a girl and the chances of her being like me are 50-50--I really regret some of the things I've said or done to upset you. I love you mom and you're the best!

And I can't go one more minute without giving mad props to my wonderful and amazing husband Raresh! He has been so supportive, patient, loving, helpful, and attentive. He has been quite the trooper for putting up with all of the craziness that I bring home. Just to give you all an idea of my latest craziness---I have been suffering from major seperation anxiety (I blame the hormones!) and Raresh has been absolutely perfect throughout the whole thing. He's been really good about calling me, checking up on me, holding me, and telling me how hot I am. (What a sweet little liar I live with---hee hee hee) Thank you honey for all your love and attention. I couldn't have been blessed with a better best friend and life partner.

Charlotte, I only pray that if it's the Lord will---that He would bless you with a man just like your daddy. I can say with absolute certainty that your life would be a wonderful one if you found someone with even half of his qualities.

Well, that's enough rambling for now---just wanted Charlotte to have some of mommy's thoughts and remember, mommy and daddy love you so much and we pray for you all the time. Not only for your development and safe arrival but for your future. Please continue to be good and we'll see you in 16 weeks. I love you!

Raresh's idea for our daughter's first gift

My man is so cute. Once he found out we're having a girl he sent me an email saying that the attachement contained a picture of the first present he wants to buy her. I told him, hey it's fine with me as long as she still wants to get her nails done.

The hills are alive with the sound of music...

All I have to say is if my baby girl looks like her daddy--I'm one lucky girl. Look how freaking adorable he is! I wish he still had that outfit (excuse me---uniform---I'm such a woman!). He looks like one of the VonTrapp family kids.

Christmas 2007--Mommy and Charlotte

Here are the Isai girls at Christmas! She sure is easy to take care of now...she eats when I eat and sleeps when I sleep. I can't even imagine what I'm in for! Eeeks!

Charlotte's first pictures

Here are the first baby pictures of Charlotte. I'm sure she will have many more baby pictures than her poor mother who has about 3 and I'm not quite convinced it's even a picture of me. It could easily be a picture of a cousin or something. Raresh has some great ones as a baby---must be nice. Well, luckily she won't have the same issue.

Watch out world Charlotte Jane will be here in 17 weeks!

This webpage is dedicated to my precious litte girl that will grace us with her presence in early May 2008. Her daddy and I are anxiously waiting to meet her face to face and see once and for all if she's more of a Vlad or more of an Isai.

For now, the site is mostly focusing on Raresh and I and how baby Charlotte is doing but soon enough you'll be able to see updates of her growing up as well as how our family is doing.

Enjoy!

Love,

The Isai's