April (Gianna's First Easter)

Briella:
The first day of April began with a trip to the zoo with you, me, Daddy, and Gianna. They were having a special "Safari Adventure Day" and it was really busy with people, giveaways, and lots to do. You were so happy to be there and very excited. After a while, though, it seemed to send you into a bit of overstimulation. By the end, when you were holding 10 different things, you were becoming frustrated with wanting to carry all of the giveaways in your hands rather than in your safari purse, but not being able to do it was making you cranky. Plus, I think you were "hangry". If you are anything like me, I too get overstimulated with lots of stuff and being hungry is never good either. I get overwhelmed juggling lots of stuff, hahaha, so maybe you get it from me?

April 1st zoo "safari day"

The day after the zoo, on April 2nd, Papa and Nonna arrived. It's been exactly two months since you had seen them; which was when you had your tonsillectomy. I'm not sure if it was the Five Guys french fries with salt you ate or just having them here and feeling the need to show off for them, but one of the days they were here, you were so BADLY behaved. You were in time out, screaming, [your screaming sends shivers down my spine and makes my blood pressure spike], defiant, obstinate, and so disrespectful the one day. It was completely unlike how you are on a day-to-day basis and the fact that you had Five Guys fries (with salt no less) for first time since January did not help things. It was totally your 'corn horns' behavior that we haven't seen {like that} in a while. Goodness gracious, you were being awful and Mommy is not proud to say that I lost my temper with you for it. Ironically too, that you just started wanting to read a nursery rhyme book and one of the phrases is, "When she was good, she was great and when she was bad, she was horrid." That was you. You were off and on like that for a week. Your nose was also running a lot and whenever I cleaned the floors, there was a ton of pollen coming into the house, collecting on our floors. So between the pollen bothering you and reevaluating some of the foods you were eating, and with cutting out some of the culprits, you were back to your happier, cooperative, and polite self again. 

You had a great Easter day, though. Your behavior was much better, you enjoyed sunday school at church, and really had a wonderful time during our neighborhood easter egg hunt. I was really having a proud mommy moment when I saw that your easter basket was filled to overflowing and you started filling up a baby toddler's basket with eggs. Her basket went from empty to overflowing because of you. I didn't tell you to do that. You just took it upon yourself to do it. And when we told you to go say thank you to Miss Julie for coordinating the egg hunt, she told us, "Oh, she already did! She hugged me, thanked me, and told me how much she had fun. She's such a sweet girl!" I was so glad to see you showing her your true sweet self.

You are dressing yourself every day in morning, picking out your pajamas, and putting them on at night. I honestly can't remember the last time I helped you get dressed because you don't wan the help. Sometimes, though, you pick out your own clothes instead of using the clothes I lay out and it's always quite a hoot to see what you put together. Here's a few examples: 

 Red shoes, purple pants, burgundy shirt...Why didn't I change your clothes before taking you to the store? Because you were so proud of the outfit choice and I wasn't going to ruin that for you.

 Stripes, tie dye print, and fishes...

 But the BEST outfit was this! Yellow daisy dukes, high heels, and a reindeer skirt just peeking out on the backside with some very silly dance moves...oh, and with your Bible in hand. I can't make this stuff up!

You are so going to dislike me for writing this, but you have recently discovered that your nose produces a sticky, 'fun' (to you) substance. You play with it and will go hide so you can pick your nose. One time you I could tell you were hiding something in your hands and I asked you what it was and I suspected boogies and when I called you out on it, you said, "Don't take it. I'm saving it." Oh my goodness, SO GROSS. Both yours, me, Daddy's, and Gianna's allergies have been really bad this month so I know the constant drippy nose isn't helping your new past time. The pollen down south is no joke. 

You still really enjoy 'school time' at home and often request for me to do flashcards and alphabet time with you. I love that you crave to learn. You adore school. On your days off of school; which are Mondays and Fridays, you actually ask to go to school! You've said, "Can you ask them if I can go?" when I tell you that it's not your day to go to school. I'm honestly really contemplating sending you to summer school, not because I don't want you home, but because you crave the socialization and playtime with other children. 

Some funny things you've said this month. Most mornings it's a struggle to get you to eat breakfast. (honestly, it's been a struggle to get you to eat MEALS on most any day lately. Must be your age?) I've come to conclude you are a lot like me and Daddy and don't care to eat a complete breakfast. So imagine my amazement after you actually ate breakfast, I heard you talking in your deep, playful voice. You said, "I want to eat a big bowl of cereal with bananas." I didn't know if you were being serious so I said, "Are you seriously still hungry after eating breakfast?" (I was in shock). You said, "No, Mommy, my tummy is just making a joke!" 
Or how you love to pick out your clothes and dress yourself and you brought me two shirts and asked me, "Is this a hot sleeve or a short sleeve?" {instead of saying long sleeved}. 
While we were outside watching the geese eat alongside the fence I said they were hungry. You said, "They are?" I said, "yes, we forgot to bring them food." You said, "No we didn't." I was confused and said, "We didn't?" You looked at Gianna and said, "She's their food!" I said, "What?" You said, "Yes, they want to eat her." (You're so worried that they will eat her.)
A sad thing you said, while Daddy was on a week long trip, "You and Gianna aren't going to leave

Waving to me as I drove away.

me, are you?" You were also pleading for me to make sure that I waved to you from my car every day that week. Your teacher also commented that you had a very 'off' day during that week while Daddy was gone. She said you were in your own little world not paying attention and it was very out of ordinary for you. 

I keep forgetting to write about this, but it's interesting to note that you have yet to sit through an entire Disney-type movie like Frozen, 101 Dalmations, or Cinderella. You enjoy shorter shows like Curious George, Daniel Tiger, Psalty, Signing Time, and aside from those 30 minute type of shows, you are quite particular. If given the choice, you'd prefer to watch nursery rhyme shows on apple tv. You still really gravitate to music. I think it's partly attention span and partly the content of the shows that you don't do long movies. You are your mother's daughter with this personality trait. If you see something that upsets you, such as people being mean, that's it--you are done. You will either walk out of the room or begin covering your eyes. I guess they showed a cartoon about Jesus at school and you told me that the movie scared you and when I asked why you said, "Because they threw stones at Jesus and I didn't like that. It was mean." That just about sums up why you only watch your happy-go-lucky shows. I can relate. I'm still that way to this day. I can't and won't sit through TV shows or movies that are violent, crude, offensive, or something that I feel I would be ashamed to watch if Jesus were in the room with me. 

You've also graduated from needing a booster chair to reach your food. We could have done it months ago, but I'll be honest, I didn't even think about it. You also do really well drinking without a straw, but for good measure and to not clean up spills, we usually give you a straw cup anyway. You're also struggling with sharing with Gianna. You seem to think everything is yours. "Mine, mine, mine." seems to be your motto. You have a book called, "Mineosaur" that we read to you often and we will remind you that you are being a "Mineosaur" when you don't share with her. Usually, taking whatever you won't share with her away from you during your timeout helps you to snap out of it. 

While you have your issues with sharing with her, you are very protective of her. If she strays out of your sight and you don't think I've noticed, you begin worrying asking, "Where's Gianna?!" While we are outside and if she gets too close to the fence when the geese are grazing the grass, you beg me to pick her up so the geese don't hurt her. One time you began crying because you were so worried that I wasn't moving fast enough to get her and that they were going to bite her, or worse, eat her. You are concerned that she is thirsty or hungry so you often times bring her a drink or a snack. If she falls, you want to hug her and kiss her. You always ask me to put her in the swing so you can push her. You say, "She's my baby." When she cries or I need help with keeping her happy while I suction her nose for the 100th time in one day, you sing to her. You love to make her laugh. Those are the moments that I know you have a deep love for her even when you fail to show it through your "mine, mine, mine" attitude with sharing the toys. 

Gianna:
After almost two weeks off from being sick, you began April 1st with, yet, another cold that turned into 14 days of constant running nose and congestion. You are sick more than you are healthy lately. If only we could get that thumb of yours out of your mouth. I called the Doctor on April 13th and left a message for the nurse, because, at that point, it had been 12 days of a non stop runny nose. The Doctor didn't feel it warranted a visit to see her, but had me keep an eye on you for fever, new or persistent cough, or any other unusual symptoms. Between the pollen and probably a virus, it was just a very pesky germ bug that got to you. Goodness, did your nose run and run and run. You couldn't breathe for naps and bedtime so you hardly slept. You also don't sleep unless we are holding you while you are sick so then sleep training has to begin all over again. 

Your constantly sucking your thumb isn't helping the matter because, on April 28th, you got yet another cold. I'm 99.9% sure it's from when the neighbor kid came over with his parents to talk and then began playing with yours and Briella's toys. It wasn't until they were leaving that I saw streams of yucky snot flowing out of his nose. His mom noticed it and began wiping it on his clothes saying, 'These darn allergies." Nope, not allergies because you got sick. I immediately washed yours and Briella's hands, but with the way you put your thumb in your mouth, and anything else you touch, there's no doubt that you got that germ immediately. Compared to your back-to-back colds at the beginning of the month, I was really focused on using oregano oil on your feet during your present cold, on April 30th, and three days into it, goodness gracious, do you and your room smell like an oregano spill. I started nicknaming you "Meatball" because of it. 

Don't you look like a little Meatball? Worn down and worn out from your cold on April 30th.

You had a lot of fun during Papa and Nonna's visit. You were taking to Papa more than Nonna a lot more this time, even saying his name. Nonna bought you and Briella matching Easter dresses and you both looked so pretty. You babbled most of the Easter service, even getting so loud that Daddy had to walk you out into the lobby for a while. Daddy was so nervous you'd never say his name and now you say it all of the time. It's so sweet. You get so excited when you see him or hear his voice and get very upset if he doesn't pay you attention ASAP. You are really talking, squealing, and laughing so much lately. You immediately begin bopping around when you hear music and you still love watching Psalty Little Praiser DVD's. There are 3 that are your favorites. Even when we play the music in the car or from the CD, you get so happy. You make the cutest squealing noises when you hear the DVD player being turned on. It's one of the only thing I know that will keep you sitting still long enough to get 25 minutes of food prep done for dinner and here are the pictures to prove it:

So comfy watching Psalty!

 Snacks and Psalty. Life is good.

I can't get enough of Briella's spontaneous hugs with you. You soak 'em up.

I can hardly believe this, but you are starting to show little moments of mild temper tantrums. Your feelings get so hurt when we shut gates or take something out of your hands that you can't have. After two weeks of having your nose suctioned, you began snapping your head back in frustration to it. You fall to the floor with your face pressed against it, cry for a quick moment, then put your thumb in your mouth and lay there. As of right now, you've only done it a handful of times this month, but it's actually the cutest thing I've seen. I'm kind of sure that it won't be cute if it escalates to anything much more than that...and I am begging and pleading that it won't. 

Costco. Gianna, crazy hair girl; you took your bow out.

You still love and enjoy grocery shopping because sitting in the cart is so much fun to you; especially when you can snack and hold the food items. You are super friendly and social to the other customers with huge smiles saying and waving hi and bye. It melts people's hearts. One woman told me, "Now that is a sweet soul." If we don't strap you in, you will actually try to weasel out of your seat or stand up. Speaking of standing up, you are making more attempts to stand up unassisted, but don't attempt any steps forward, only stepping to the side to the next piece of furniture. 

I'm excited to report that you had Snicker-doodle Enjoy Life cookies this month. We didn't give you more than 1-2 at a time and spaced them out with a few days in between, but you didn't sleep any different than your "normal" or get any rashes. Yay for that! You also seemed to tolerate when I ate some cheese on a piece of pizza and sauce with goats milk parmesan on your cheese. That was exciting. You are loving my cassava flour pancakes with my homemade strawberry jam on them. You also really like my paleo pizza crust with oil olive, italian seasonings, and parmesan on top. You also tolerated a certified gluten free KFP (kosher for passover) box marble cake from Gefen brand. I love seeing you have these triumphant moments in food. You really, really love your carbs: potatoes, noodles, bread, pancakes, and rice. They are daily staples in your diet. 

Here's another not so coincidental story. You've had issues with bananas for as long as I can remember you beginning solid foods. I decided to make a paleo banana bread and I gave you a slice before bedtime. You were up from 11:58-2:30am with insomnia that night. You were tired and really wanted to sleep, but just couldn't do it. That is one of your symptoms with a food sensitivity. And, like clockwork, if you eat a troublesome food at dinnertime/bedtime then you usually wake up between 10:30-midnight and will, without fail, be awake for 2-3 hours because of it. Can I just say, for the record, that your insomnia is awful. It seems like you have an insomnia night 1-2 times a week. Exhausting. Mommy also tried a new juice and after your first nursing from when I drank it, your face IMMEDIATELY turned red and you had a very bad few hours not feeling well from it. I felt terrible. 

The picture doesn't quite capture just how red and puffed up the one side of your face got from the juice I drank.

Between all of my reactions and your secondary reactions from me, I realized we needed need to begin weaning ASAP so I talked to Daddy and we decided we would begin closer to the weekend to accommodate his work schedule. So, you went to bed on April 16th not knowing it would be your last night of midnight feedings. When you woke up at 3am, Daddy went into your room to help soothe you back to sleep and again at 6am. The following night you slept from 7pm until 7am! Then, the following night you struggled to fall asleep after you and I both ate sloppy joes for the first time, but once you fell asleep, you stayed asleep until 5am and struggled to go back to sleep when Daddy went into your room to soothe you. The fourth night of night weaning you struggled, yet again, to fall asleep because of something I ate (I was in serious stomach gnawing pain) so once you finally fell asleep at 9pm, you slept until 7am even though you cried out in your sleep all through the night. But, since weaning you, your new wake up for the day can be the 4:00-5:00am hour. I don't know what's worse--you waking up 1 or 2 times through the night or having to be 'up and at 'em' at 5am? If we're lucky, a quick diaper change and a cozy wrap of a blanket, and you'll go back to sleep (sometimes) until 6:30-7:00. Now if only you did that every day.

You and I spent a good amount of one sunday service in the nursery. You are our baby and 'letting you go' to the nursery isn't as easy on us as maybe other parents. I was so happy to see that you loved it and hardly cared that I was there or not. The following sunday, we did all the paperwork to put you into the nursery but since you like the music part of service, we chose to wait until after the music to take you into the nursery. Funny though, you fell asleep during worship and slept all the way through the service in my arms and then in Daddy's arms after mine tired. It was precious. 

Some cute memories of your personality are that you love to laugh. Briella cracks you up with laughter when she falls to the ground and she always puts a smile on your face. Here's a video of one of those moments: Gianna's hysterical laughing. Here' a video of something Briella loves to do for Gianna: Briella pushing Gianna on the swing. You like to pull up me or Daddy's shirt, touch our bellybutton, and laugh. We had a playdate with our neighbor friend, TJ, and you were completely smitten with him. You were his shadow and kept crawling to him and trying to hug him. 

As of April 24th, you are completely weaned. I didn't really know that was going to the last day of nursing, but it just ended up happening that way with how the happenings of the following day occurred and I think it was for the best. You are not drinking from a bottle either so it's all from a straw cup now. I am absolutely more than proud of how you have transitioned right into this. You aren't even a year old and you aren't using a bottle or nursing anymore. You drink exclusively from a straw cup. We know kids between 18 months to almost 2 year olds that are still drinking from a bottle (your 'thing' is thumb sucking, not the bottle, so it just proves every kid is different). Needless to say, you are doing beyond G-R-E-A-T! for being completely weaned within a week. Here it is a week since your last nursing session and I still find myself stunned that it's done and over. I'm so proud of you, little one, for your adaptability and I know the Doctor will also be next week (May 5th) when she sees you for your 1 year check up.  

I finished up your birthday memory movie and I'm finishing a shutter fly memory book for your first birthday this month. I hope you like them. Here is the link to your memory movie:  Gianna's Birthday Memory Movie From Mommy. 

A bittersweet moment from this month was when I sold all of your baby 'gear' to the neighbors who are having twin girls. They bought your pink mat, your bouncy chair, your activity center, your bumbo seat, the 3 wheel push walker (you prefer the Disney push walker), your crib mobile, your wipe warmer, bottles, sippy cups that weren't used, teething toys, your stage 2 bath tub, Briella's booster seat, and such. So many memories that we'll see time and again in pictures, but are now gone from this house. Your Daddy said, "You remember what happened last time we got rid of all of Briella's baby stuff?" I said, "Yeah. We got pregnant with Gianna." He said, "Just remember that." If my bodily circumstances were different, I'd consider having a third but between my issues and your year long sleeplessness, I think you will be the baby of this family forevermore. 

Let's go to the zoo!

The zoo wore you out.

Papa and Nonna arrived!

Eating snacks while Mommy made paleo pizzas.

Visiting Uncle Nick's apartment is so much fun.

Gianna enjoying Mommy's homemade angel food cake.

Flying a kite with Papa and using Daddy for support to stand. 

 Snotty nose from the cold that you had during Easter. We were suctioning your nose every 5-15 minutes during that cold.

                                                                   Easter pictures. Matching dresses from Nonna.

Handsome men, beautiful girls.

Gianna's first Easter. I'm so blessed by my sweet, little family of four.

Easter baskets from the Nonni's

 Yummy lollipops.

 Morning playtime. Matching pants from Nonna. 

 Looked like you girls were in deep conversation here.

Look at Gianna's adoring smile for her Daddy.

  Scrunchy smiles before school.

Our little 'cool cat'

You were not feeling well at all during your 11 month pictures. I think it was one of the first months since you began smiling that I couldn't get a smile out of you for a picture. 

 Briella wore this outfit as a toddler and I love that Gianna can wear it too.

 Strike a pose!

 Briella fell asleep on the drive home from shopping and stayed asleep in the car for 30 minutes after!

Cutest little eater ever. You have such a great appetite and palette for food. 

 Gianna says, story time in Briella's bed is more fun. 

 Ready, set, GO!

 Gianna's new size 3 Stride Rites. She has the tiniest feet, but yet, looks so big in these pictures. 

 Our neighborhood watch.

 Skinny jeans.

Snack? Check. Book? Check. All ready to go for a drive.

Briella, out of nowhere asked, "Mommy, will you take a picture of us?"  

Gianna's first time drinking cows milk from a cup.

"Mommy, will you take another picture of us?" Sure. 

Psalty snack time.

Briella came over and sat on my lap and Daddy said, "Wow, you two look so much alike right now." and then he took a picture. Gotta love the Saturday afternoon wind blown hair we both were sporting, but Gianna's silly face is even more priceless.

Crazy hair.

Gianna crawled to Briella, grabbed her legs for support, and then Briella pulled her up with her hands to help her stand up.

Gianna says, Taking a walk with Mommy while Briella is in school is so much fun.

If you are wondering why you are sitting on cardboard, it's because Gianna was going through a phase that she didn't like the way the grass felt so I found a big box from our move and it worked like a charm since the blanket kept crumpling up when she would crawl on it. 

This is what happens when we go into Briella's room when she's getting dressed for school. Gianna takes EVERYTHING out of her drawers so I tend to let Briella dress herself by herself in her bedroom.

Eating a Mum-Mum while Mommy takes a shower and gets ready for the day.

FaceTime with Daddy during his week long trip.

Our little poser. Such beautiful smiles all.of.the.time.

I love the sweet moments. I love watching the friendship and bond grow more daily.

Cuddles for Mommy "just because". This is how Gianna always is with us. She's just a little lover. I hope she always stays this way because her hugs and squeezes are so comforting. 

Visiting Uncle Nick's apartment on a rainy Saturday was lots of fun for you girls. 

Our beautiful girls before church one Sunday. Gianna, this is the Sunday you fell asleep in my arms at church. I used the top layer of your dress folded over on your arms to cover you up.

My homemade sunscreen looks like white paint on the face, but hey, neither of you burned at high noon playtime in 80 degrees and sunny.

Gianna's first time playing with the water table and she loved it. Briella was having a "Mineosaur" moment and wasn't thrilled Gianna was playing with it. 

Pig tails or antennas? hehehehe

Saturday morning bed head, yawns, and cuddles for Mommy. I could hardly walk from hurting my back so I was sitting on the couch and both girls wanted to cuddle me. My sweeties. Briella was really nurturing to me when I wasn't feeling well; covering me up and bringing me pillows. It really was so sweet.

Standing at the fence watching the geese is so much fun.

Gianna put her cup like that so she could bend her head down to take sips. She's so silly. I love the black bean beard. 

Morning selfies with Daddy while Mommy attempted a ballet/yoga workout to help stretch my tight back after a week of pain.

May 30th. Gianna not feeling so well from a cold, but she and Briella were enjoying watching the geese with their babies waddling around our back yard. 

Personal Reflections

Well, I officially retired the nursing bras at the beginning of this month. While I've been eagerly awaiting this 'freedom' in my daily life, I'm not going to lie, I was anxious at it's arrival. It's a conundrum, really, because there were days (mostly Gianna's sleepless nights) that I would find myself cursing the breastfeeding because of the ill effects of food sensitivities on mine and her systems. Then, the days began to approach the breastfeeding was becoming less and less and I began to get nervous about what her life will be like without it (the antibodies, mostly, because of the constant sickness). As much as I felt that my food affected her through the milk, I also know that the milk helped her to fight the flu and all of these other illnesses much better had she not had it at all. Then, there was the scary part of night weaning. Ask any mom who has nursed her baby at any length, but especially the full year, and she will tell you the same thing. You become excitedly READY to have 'your life back' and then the moment it's time to give up the nursing, you question if you should go 'just a little bit longer?'. Like I said, what a conundrum! But, here I am at the end of the month and Gianna is completely weaned. No more middle of the night feedings and no more day time feedings. Not that there were 'many' these days, but it's done. Gone. Over. That chapter has been written and is closed. I think I've told your Dad numerous times that it's just so weird. I still find myself having reservations to eating foods or drinking caffeine because it would bother her, but now, I can have different foods and drinks again. It's been a whole year of eating and drinking with even more caution than usual so it's still taking some time to remember that I have more freedom with my diet again. 

I can hardly believe that this month marks Gianna's last month before turning 1 years old. How did a whole year go by? I've said this quote before and I'll say it again. "The days are long, but the years are short." It's so very true! That couldn't be more true during times of illness or pain because, let me tell you, I hurt my back in a way that I can't even describe this month. It was on the last day of your Dad's week long business trip. It was the most electric, intense, numb, tingling, sending shock waves of pain through my legs, toes, and fingertips. I couldn't bend, I couldn't sit, it was taking my breath away, the pain was so intense I would feel like I was going to pass out, and picking up and putting down Gianna was putting me in tears. So, yes, that day was very looooonng as well as any other days like it. But then you flash forward and you wonder how you got to where you are at and where the time went? Believe me, girls, you will have it happen to you too. It seems like it really begins when you graduate from high school. The time just starts flying by from there. 

So, enjoy every day for whatever blessing(s) you can find in it. Remember, there's always something to be thankful for because something you might have or otherwise not care to be thankful for is something someone else is only wishing they could have or experience. Believe me, I try to remind myself of that same thing every day.