1stTimeDad (...and mom)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

How she's checking out

I think this is my all-time favorite picture of my little girl. It captures her innocence, her purity, her wide-eyed approach to the world and her eyes that smile. Our precious Gianna.

Little Miss Independent loves to cruise, moving from one piece of furniture to another. Reaching, stretching, taking some risks.

She is a mad crawler, and really has some wheels.

She's eager to walk. (Don't you just want to squeeze those thighs??)
And, here are her first steps, just last week!

Second favorite picture of Gianna.

At Gianna's 12-month checkup, here are her stats:
Height: 30 3/4 in. (74%)
Weight: 21 lbs, 14 oz. (74%)
Head circumference: 44.5 cm. (25%)

And she likes to eat (and teethe on) shoes. Pink ones.

She's out for a stroll.

In addition to all of Gianna's physical milestones, here are other updates:
* She's a great sleeper, most of the time. We start baths and teethbrushing at around 7:45 and she's asleep by 8:15 pm. She wakes between 8 and 8:30 am.
* When getting Gianna dressed, she enthusiastically punches her hands through the arm holes, like she knows what she's doing. She loves getting her hair brushed and is toughening up her scalp during the ponytail tying.
* Her vocabulary is continuing to develop and her repertoire includes: Mama, Dada, baby, light, dog, Amen, Papa, Nana, Mimi, Grandbob, (Gi)annnna, ruff, mohr (which means more), aye (which means yes), up, dowuuuun, hyyeeeiiiii, byeee byeee.
* She is very loving and likes to give hugs. She and Enzo exchange kisses after our nightly prayers each night.
* Gianna waves hello and bye bye and loves to blow kisses to everyone.
* She is a champion eater. She almost always finishes all her food, and can eat most of the food we eat together as a family. We affectionately call her our lil garbage disposal.
* Gianna loves her dollies. She is such a girlie girl. Hugs them, kisses them, and says "Babbbyyyy."

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Gianna's Premiere - Happy 1 Year!!

Let's face it - Gianna's a star. So for her first birthday, we celebrated her Premiere party. This party was so much fun to throw. I only wish she would remember all the details. So, I took pictures in the hopes she'll let me repeat it for her 16th birthday party.

She LOVES hats, but cake.... not so much.

Our guests got to walk the red butcher paper -- I mean, carpet -- to the stage door.

.... that was two feet too short. Oops.

The paparazzi were everywhere.

... and I think they took some people off guard!

The fans came out in droves -- and shivered booties off all day. The sun umbrellas were sooo not needed. Windbreakers were.

This was the table whose occupants were bartering for neighboring table's movie candy. Seeing a bunch of adults hopped up on sugar was priceless. Hilarious.

Gianna had her turn walking the red carpet.

Then, signs autographs with her good pal Kyrsten.

Cousins Kayden and Avery and friend Kylan have a ball in the jumper. Lil Kayden got some air!

Folks warmed up with a movie buffet: hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, soda. Don't tell Jamie Oliver.

The red curtain and stage brought to you by Mimi.

Gianna's actual birthday, March 31, fell in the middle of the week. So this is the star the day she turned 1!

And, this was taken during the photo shoot for the icing picture on her cake.

Gianna has been such a joy to our family. The year has flown by, really. We can hardly believe our little girl is one, and feel so blessed to be her parents. Her bright eyes, wonderful tooth-filled smile, warm hugs and sparkling spirit are sent from above. We thank God that she was sent to us on March 31, 2010. Here is a look back at Gianna's first year on earth...

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Enzo loves him some Snoopy and Knotts

"Watch the road, Mr. Truckdriver!"

LOVES honking that squeezie horn.

One of his favorites is riding the real steam engine train. Here he is, kicking back, enjoying the staffer's not-so-original-or-witty commentary.

... and then hypnotized by staring at the tracks.

He is now a pro on the good 'ol Huff N Puff. Looking at this pic, I can soo see him as a teenage driver. Oye.

My pep-talk, encouraging Enzo to enter the enormous Snoopy bouncy house with, get this, OTHER KIDS!!!

Although he stayed pretty much to the sides of the bounce house, where it wasn't much fun, it was a big step for him to have the courage to try it out. He traversed the entire diameter to see Dada, who snapped this pic.