Monday, January 31, 2011

10 months

(Dear Blogger.com: I hate how it's impossible to import pictures that have been rotated. It's either you, Picassa or user error. Readers, please advise.)

Gianna turned 10 months, and she is really becoming funny, personality-filled, vocal, silly, mobile and daring. She's as old as she was cooking in my oven.

Here she learns that she can rock - and I mean ROCK - the glider. I thought she might catapult herself across her room!

And, of the 68 shots I took of her with her 10-month sign, this is the only one with her face and the "10 months." Of course it's blurry.

Sign, but not face.

At some point, we fell about 4 weeks behind on Gianna's well-baby visits. So, for her 9 month visit, we saw the doctor at 10 months. She's in great health.

Her stats: Weight 21 lbs. (75%), height 28 3/4" (75%), head circumference 43.5 cm. (25%). When Doc asked how her fussiness in the evenings was, I was able to proudly report that it had been at least 3 weeks free from spontaneous screaming fits. Really. Is it gone?
We spent the past month exploring and learning many new things. We returned to the Long Beach Aquarium. It was really the first time that Gianna wanted to interact with the animals and move around. And it was a lot more fun for Jeff and me, too!

She's probably saying "aahhhhhhh," or "mammma," or "daddda," or "ughghhg," or "eeeeeeeeeiii," or "daaaaoooggg." Some of her faves.
Same thing goes for the park. This month, Gianna showed a lot more interest in getting on the swings and sliding down the slides. Feeling the sand between her toes. I wonder if we've been doing her a disservice, parking her in the stroller or on a blanket as we entertain Enzo and keep him from launching himself 10 feet down to an injury. Her exhuberence tells me that perhaps we should have been doing this all along. Whoops.


Her laughter. Contagious. She still loves her some tickles!!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Party!


Cousin Nate celebrated his birthday with lots of fun outside in a bouncehouse. On previous occasions, Enzo really wasn't a fan. But today - different story!

Jeff entered as the bouncehouse monster!

...And was immediately attacked.


"Weeeeeeeee!"

We couldn't get Gianna off the little pink car.

Enzo helped her out navigating.


Aunt Laura, Cousin Anthony and Aunt Alice.

Nana the Great!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Potty training


I read all about "Three Day Potty Training" and since a three-day weekend was upon us, we thought we'd give it a go. The curriculum requires that you're homebound for three solid days, and since we had a beautiful (and hot) weekend in the forecast, this was it. For several months, Enzo has periodically used the potty. In recent weeks, however, he has grown resistent and refuses to use the toilet. It's time to not drag this out any longer.

The night before we started, I told Enzo that Gianna needed all his diapers and that he wouldn't be needing them anymore. Starting tomorrow, I told him, he'd only be using the potty. It worked. He brought Gianna his diapers - one by one - and said "Here, sissy!"

We all awoke bright and early and I told him, "You get to go NAKED on the bottom today!" He was not having it. I think the only time Enzo has walked around naked is during the 10 steps it takes from his room to the bathtub. Finally, after a little coaxing - as well as a sample naked run around the house from his father - he stripped down.

Day 1:
Here's the gist: The little one is naked from the waist down while at home. Mom and Dad put potties all around the house. (And they also put blankets and rugs and towels across all furniture, carpeting for fear all will be urine-saturated and ruined forever.) When he has to go, he goes, and hopefully he goes on the potty. If he doesn't, you scoop in and carry him (peeing all over you) to the potty. And when he makes a "hit," you celebrate BIG TIME with the potty dance. The crazier, the better. Pull-up during naptime and bedtime.
Day 1 results: 18 hits and no misses. Can this be possible? Midday, as he's running around naked outside in the sunshine, we take our eyes off him for 10 seconds, and we find him sitting on the potty saying "Going ca ca now. Potty dance?!" Ah. Maze. Ing.

Day 2: Rise and shine and strip him down. "Naked?!" he asks us. Of course! Trying not to be overconfident, Jeff and I are stoked that we have only had to change Gianna's diapers during the past 24 hours. You're welcome, landfill. We are waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. Today, the curriculum requires one, one-hour outside-of-the-home excursion. To the park we go, potty and all. Oh, and shorts are fine - just no chones. Enzo is freeballin.

We spend the hour watching him like a hawk. "Do you have to go potty now? Potty? Pee pee Enzo? Now?!" As he squats down to "look at the sand," he pees his shorts. OK, what do we do? Right, act disappointed and take him to use the potty. "Enzo. Pee pee goes in the potty. This is disappointing." And change him into his spare shorts that his bomb-mom has tucked in the stroller cargo area. Not so bad for our first away from home (and wearing clothes) outing.
Day 2 results: 9 hits and 1 miss. Still phenominal.

Day 3: I don't think this boy will ever wear clothes again. We have a peeing Picasso on our hands. Today calls for two, one-hour excursions. In the morning, we head to the park and have an almost-accident. It's like he was able to stop himself. Awesome. Then, in the car to the dry cleaner and to get ice cream. Jeff preps the car and Enzo's carseat with my (sent home from the hospital with) labor and delivery bed liners as well as with shamwows. Expecting he will pee all over himself and all over the car. How do parents without SUVs do this? He peed twice in the potty sitting in the back of the Murano in parking lots before we left, and once while pulled over to the side of the road because he said "Mama pee NOW!"

"Who, me?! Potty dance now?!"
Day 3 results: 8 hits. No misses.

The post boot camp curriculum suggests naked bottoms while at home and no underwear under clothes for three months. Pull-ups during naps and bedtime. We'll see how that goes. But for now, we'll go with it. I'd say our little Enzo is on his way to being potty trained. Alleluia!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Knott's

When my dad asked me what family gift we wanted for Christmas, I said "Disneyland season passes!" Since the kids are young enough to not need their own, we'd only need two.

...So he got us Knott's Berry Farm season passes. I'll admit, I was a bit underwhelmed, especially since we wanted to be able to go to Disneyland with Kylan and Kyrsten, AND since Enzo is obsessed with Mickey Mouse. I will say, however, that Knott's is just perfect for my timid Enzo and wide-eyed Gianna. On the way to the park for the first time on New Year's Day, we gave Enzo a crash course on Snoopy. Here, he meets him for the first time.

His little hands are up in the air!!! (It took riding this one about three times for him to take my suggestion of "put your hands in the air!!!)

Enzo spotted the trucks and HAD to take Dada for a ride.


All four of us on the real-live steam engine choo-choo train.

Gianna even got to ride the trucks!

I don't think Enzo ever stopped squeezing that horn during the 3 minute ride.

Huff and Puff is his new favorite. After returning to the park this weekend as well, he walks around like he's a regular who owns the place.


Gianna saying "hey" to Snoopy. And picking his nose.

"It's good to see you again, good 'ol friend, Snoopy. I've missed you since last weekend."
"I thought you guys were really good in your live stage show. Costuming, good. Choreography, needs a little work."