Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Finally a Family: Ben and Starla Pt. 2

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This is my first time contributing to our 'updates', my husband Ben has taken care of it thus far. But I am happy to be able to help you to get to know me and my family. For those who don't know, I am Starla Cipriani. Here is some info about me since my lovely husband forgot to include it last time...
Starla Cipriani
Family - LTW: Reach Golden Anniversary
Cancer - 6 neat, 3 shy, 1 lazy, 4 serious, 6 nice
Life has been good for Ben and I. We have spent the last week just getting comfortable in our new adult lives. And though my job did not work out, Ben has been very successful in his, and supportive of my desire to start our family instead of going back to work right away. And not long after I lost my job I was pregnant.
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I wasn't showing yet, but our first baby was already taking it's toll on my body and I quickly discovered that I don't take kindly to pregnancy. From the moment I concieved I was hungry, tired, and downright cranky. As usual, Ben was extremely supportive and loving throughout the whole experience. I probably would not have made it without him!
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But the further along I got, the more it made me wonder if becoming pregnant was a good idea. For the first time in my life I began to question my life's focus.
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Don't get me wrong, I wanted our child more than anything, but I was thinking that adoption was going to be the way to go in the future! Though it felt like a hundred years, it was soon time to deliver our baby.
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To be honest, the delivery was the easy part for me! Maybe it was because I was glad that the pregnancy was over, or just that I was excited to meet my baby...either way it was not too difficult.
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I had a son who we named Owen. He was absolutely darlng. One look at him and, believe it or not, I was ready to go through the whole horrid pregnancy thing again!
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Ben was excited about Owen, but caring for infants didn't come as naturally to him as I had hoped. I just reassured him that you don't have to be great with babies to be a great dad. They don't stay little for very long anyway.
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I probably shouldn't have said that I would be willing to go through the pregnancy thing again because before I knew it I was getting those all too familiar sick feelings.
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But despite my fears, my second pregnancy was going much better than the first. Of course I was tired and hungry, but I was far less crabby. But there was one downfall to being pregnant again so soon, my poor kitties were not getting as much attention as they were acustomed to, and ended up going to great lengths to find companionship. Most afternoons Armand could be found watching soccer if the tv had been left on.
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And although the second pregnancy was easier on me, it still was in no way simple and I missed Owen's birthday because I fell asleep on the couch.
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Thank goodness for Ben. He had gotten alot better at caring for Owen, and was always willing to spend his free time with his son.
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I woke from my nap on Owen's birthday to find myself in labor! Our second child was on the way.
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Meet Aiden. Our second son. After this little one was born I decided that we needed a bit of a break from having babies. I despretly wanted a girl, but was not about to try for another one for while. So I spend my days with my boys.
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I look forward to seeing them grow, and possibly adding one more to the mix at some point...hopefully not too soon!

Family stats for Round 5:
# of sims: 6 (includes 2 pets)
Family Net Worth: 27,201

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Expect the Unexpected: Lucien and Natasha Pt. 2

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Wow, alot has happened to me since we last spoke. I defenitly have a new lease on life thanks to my wife Natasha and my new daughter Ava. I never thought that I would be a father again, or even a husband for that matter. But I wouldn't change a moment. My relationship with my sons has improved by leaps and bounds. Just a few nights ago we had Nolan and Nancy over for dinner.
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Tonight is Ava's birthday and everyone is set to come over and help us celebrate. I will catch up with you after the party...
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We had a really great time! And I can't believe how fast Ava is growing, but at the same time it reminds me of how old I am getting. Sometimes I worry for Natasha, but whenever I tell her of my concerns, she sluffs them off and makes me change the subject.
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In other news, Mystic and Dane had pups. Four of them to be exact.
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The house is really full now as you can imagine. So I converted the office into a temporary puppy paradise.
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We planned on selling the pups once they were old enough, but in the mean time we were lucky that Ava got along great wth a house full of dogs.
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And Ben would come by to help us look after Ava (when Natasha and I needed some private time).
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We were thankful for his help! But you know what that can lead to if two sims aren't careful...
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It was time again for Ava's birthday. This time we had a quiet celebration. Just the three of us.
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She really was growing up right before our eyes. And now that she was older, she was able to help us raise the pups and get them off to good homes, though she was sad to see them go.
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Nolan was able to take one of the pups home to keep him in the family. But Ben was worrried how the cats would fair, so we sold the rest of the dogs to a couple of our friends from town.
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I was glad that the house was quiet again. Four pups, and then four full grown dogs are alot to handle (and try raising a toddler at the same time)! But I wasn't going to be able to enjoy the peace and quiet for long. I guess we weren't careful enough...
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Natasha was pregnant again! We had talked about having only one child due to my age and our busy lifestyles. But even the best laid plans can go awry.
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Natasha explained the situation to Ava, and she was so excited to get a new brother or sister. Though I shared her excitement it was alot for me to contemplate. My sons were giving me grandchildren and I was getting ready for another baby!? Well, at least with all of the pups out of the house I was able to convert the room into a nursery.
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And after a long and difficult pregnancy, Natasha went into labor.
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She had not one, but TWO babies! Twin girls that we named Scarlet and Sophia. As I come into the last days of adulthood, I can't believe the cards that life has dealt me. What will come next for me and my house full of girls?

Family Stats for Round 5:
# of sims: 7 (2 being pets)
Family Net Worth: 49,713

Cipriani: Nolan and Nancy

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Hey there everyone, it's me Nolan Cipriani. And as Marriah mentioned, I got the courage up to ask Nancy Wolosenko out on a few dates...boy am I glad I did! After spending time with Nancy I found out that we were very much alike. We both liked to have a good time, but she seemed to bring out another side of me...one that was more serious and focused. So, when the chance to change my aspiration presented itself at the end of my sophmore year, I was inspired to take it. I ended up changing my path from pleasure to fortune (new LTW is earn 100,000), but I am still the same old fun-loving Nolan. Before long, I asked Nancy to be my wife. We planned for a big wedding after I graduated college. Nancy never had the chance to go to college, and was currently living in downtown Rose City. She agreed to move out to the island once we were married. I had a modest house built for the two of us just down the road from the rest of my family. **players note: I forgot to upload a pic of their house, but will have one next update**

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Here I am at graduation. I ended up picking art as my major, but not until junior year. I have to say that I think I have come a long way since I got to Academie Le Bloom. Starting out as a skeptical kid with nothing but having a good time on my mind, and I leave four years later with more direction in my life than I ever though possible. Not only have I set a lofty life goal for myself, I am engaged to a wonderful woman, and am a home owner!

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Nancy didn't end up waiting until we were married to move in. So the wedding plans were put on hold while we settled in. And settle in we did!

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For a while we did nothing but hang out together and it was great. We both began to work. I got a job as an Artist doing comic book penciling, and Nancy took a job as an executive assistant in the business world. But we were about to get a suprise that neither of us were expecting.

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Nancy was pregnant, and we weren't even married yet! With both of us caught up in the excitment of our new lives together we had over looked making it official. The next night at dinner we discussed the challenges that we both faced. We needed a room for the new baby, a plan for it's care when we she was able to get back to work, and we needed to get married.

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Nancy began planning right away and put together a beautiful nursery for the little one in the spare bedroom. She also lined up a nanny to come as soon as our child was born. My mind was at ease...almost.

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There was only one thing left to do.

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Nancy (Wolosenko) Cipriani
LTW - Become Business Tycoon
Capricorn - 7 neat, 4 shy, 1 lazy, 8 playful, 5 nice

It was hardly what we had envisioned, but it was the most romantic moment of my life. Quickly, and privately we were made man and wife. I don't know when I had become so nervous about everything. My life was always easy and I was never bothered by a thing. But at the thought of my child coming into a home that was no where near ready for it, I almost lost it. Thanks to my wonderful wife I am back to my old self again. I actually found time (no longer spent worrying) to make her meals, and care for her through the final difficult days of pregnancy.

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I was now, more ready than I could ever be to become a father. And I wouldn't have to wait long.

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Nancy was VERY pregnant and ready to deliver at any moment.

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And she did just that late in the evening. I was glad that I was home and able to help her through the birth. I may have been a bit groggy, but I was present.

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And then our son Miles joined our lives. He was a handsome baby with my green eyes.

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I wished I could spend every moment with Miles, but unfortunately both Nancy and I had to work to make ends meet.

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And that is where Calista came in. She is the nanny that Nancy had hired and she was a decent substitute for us, but little more than that.

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Before long it was time for Miles to grow up. We threw him a birthday party and the family got together to celebrate.

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And Miles got to spend some time with his favorite grandpa.

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For the most part, life just moved along. I was excited to see Miles grow more every day. Nancy and I have not talked about having any other children, but then again we had not talked about having Miles. And look how great he turned out!

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Miles Cipriani
Sagittarius - 3 neat, 8 outgoing, 9 active, 10 playful, 1 grouchy

See you next week!