Giovanna's Journey!

You slept in until I woke you up at 8am. You started to cry when you realized it was a school day because you don’t want to nap. Once you were a little more awake, you were happy quickly. You got dressed, brushed your teeth & brushed your hair. I promised you if we make it to school on time everyday this week, you could earn a trip to my nail salon to get your nails done. You love that my polish “doesn’t come off” like your does because it is cured by a UV light. You serenaded me with Christmas carols on wat to school. Then you told me to look at you “but don’t take your eyes off the road and drive all crazy!” You also told me “you have to have to have two hands on your steering wheel in case you need to turn this way or that way. Your car could get uncontrolled and crash into a car.”

I toured ODA today and loved the campus. Carter Micale, who used to be in your class at Discovery Days is in pre-K there and his Mom loves it. I know a lot of people who have chosen ODA for their kids and love it. The campus is beautiful & very serene. It seems a lot like Discovery Days in the approach to learning. The kids are at tables, not desks, which is really great. This has been the toughest decision yet to make for you. There was no question about Discovery Days. All of the schools we have considered have pros and cons. It feels like such an enormous decision. Wherever you go will impact your friends circle and social experience for years to come. I want to make the perfect choice for you and that is so important to me. I hope you continue to love learning like you do know and I know the environment will affect that.

When I picked you up from Spanish, you jumped in the car, found your Polar Express book & bell and rang it saying “the most beautiful sound!” You read the book on the drive home and I took a video. Now, when you realize I’m doing that, you tell me to turn it off! We headed to the rainbow car wash (I really can’t skip it or you make me u-turn and go back!) then home to play and have dinner.

You got naked in the garage (I simply can’t keep clothes on you!) & we went inside to eat. After dinner, we took Harry for a walk and you wanted to ride your bike. Daddy told you to go get dressed & you came back out in a leotard and light up rainboots lol! We saw Ms. Moe and the gang and you were singing Rudolph while riding, then put your bike down to really belt it out. I ended up having to carry your bike home.

We headed to bed and after two books you were still squirming. Daddy came in to check on us & sat on the floor holding your hand. You finally felly asleep just before 10p. I really want to keep you on a good sleep schedule through the break so that you are well rested, happy and healthy. We got so off course before Thanksgiving!

I love you so much!

You slept in until 8:45a and came out to the living room to snuggle with me. We watched a little TV, then you wanted to hang the Christmas ornament that Ms. Sandy gave you. We ate breakfast and got ready to go to Fed’s performance of James & The Giant Peach. At first, you just wanted to wear your puffy vest and be naked lol, but you ultimately settled for a very fancy dress and your fancy dress up shoes. I told you we were going to a park and you really should wear play clothes and sneakers, but of course you knew better lol!

When we got to the park we played and you got to swing for a few minutes before the show started. You loved the show so much you asked to stay for the second show. You were having so much fun playing at the park that I decided to let you stay even though I knew you should go home because you were going to fade fast tonight. When it was time to leave you didn’t want to get off the playground equipment. We had a little upset and had to talk about it in the car. We agreed that TV and the gingerbread man song would be closed tonight. We started over and had a great rest of the night.

When we got home, we jumped in the bathtub, had a pizza picnic outside by the fire and snap chatted for a bit. We headed to your room at 7:30p and read two Advent Calendar books. When we finished, you curled up in my arms and were snoring before 8p.

I love you so much!

In the car on the way to school, you were singing crazy songs and telling funning stories. When I giggled, you asked me “Am I just cracking you up?” Yes, G, you are always cracking me up.

I got this message in the school Sandbox App:

“We pretended to be in the North Pole this week as we “baked” cookies with our ginger bread play dough and strengthened our fine motor and problem solving in our wrapping station. The children also enjoyed playing gingerbread roll, where they rolled a dice and decorated a gingerbread person.”

I picked you up from school & you were so happy to see me. You were starving when we got home so I made you some mac & cheese before I had leave for a charcuterie class with Marina & Lisa. Daddy played trains with you upstairs then you read him a book in bed. He put you to bed and fell asleep with you. When I got home, I found the two of you sleeping so sweet.

I love you so much!

You & Daddy used all the bread last night for your burgers, so I ran to Publix to get some more for your lunch. I grabbed you a glazed donut since you love them so much. Because we were up in the middle of the night, I let you sleep in waaaaaaay late. You were so cooperative and listened as we were getting ready, so I gave it to you in the car & you were so surprised & excited. We got to school late (22 minutes – yikes!) but you agreed to go in quietly to not disrupt your class, which you did quickly & quietly.

I picked you after Spanish. At pick up you hugged Grayson Landsman and she said “I love you Giovanna!” You are really loving spending time in the Pre-K class. You even told me in the car that AnneMarie has been really nice to you & wants to play with you.

Your Italian passport came in the mail yesterday & I brought it home today. When I showed it to you, you opened it & flipped through really looking at it. You said “my picture! Just like yours & Dads! We should get Harold one!” I asked if you think it’s cool? You said “sure it is!”

We went to meet Chrissy & Baby Olivia at the living nativity at Tabernacle Church. As soon as we got there & Baby Olivia saw you, she came running at you with her arms out & gave you a huge hug, squealing with excitement. You guys haven’t seen each other in about a month because Chrissy’s Mom was sick. You got to pet camels, goats and donkeys. You ate cookies and had hot chocolate. It was a very fun night!

You sang Christmas carols on the way home and read your Paw Patrol Christmas book. You started to get upset as we got closer because you asked if you could play when we got home & I said no. It was 8:45p and we needed to jump in bed. You threw a little fit and we talked through it. When we got home, we changed and went straight to bed. We read a couple of short books and you snuggled and snored in a few minutes!

I love you so much!

Your Italian Passport came today. When I held the envelope I knew immediately what it was. It made me so happy it brought tears to my eyes. Even if you never “need” it, it was still so important and meaningful to me to give citizenship to you. My hope is that someday it opens a door for you for an unexpected opportunity. If nothing else, I feel quite a bit of sentimental value in having an Italian passport. I hope it ends up meaning as much to you.

My work Christmas party was tonight so Daddy picked you up from Spanish. You helped him make hamburgers for dinner. You pattied them up and helped to man the grill. You wanted to sleep in your princess tent on the floor tonight. Daddy let you try, but you kept kicking and squiriming. After books in tent and another 10 minutes, he made you get in your bed. It was after 10p. Once you snuggled with him in bed, you yawned twice and drifted off to sleep.

Jackie and I got home after you went to sleep. She & I stayed up talking until 1:45a. You woke up at 2a & came out to the living room crying. You wanted Jackie to come to your bed. She did, but then you wanted to go upstairs to her bed. She left and it took me until 3:30a to get you back to sleep. I slept with you the rest of the night.

I love you so much!

You woke up at 7:30a. Our mornings have gone so much better since we have had a much better sleep schedule. You have been waking up on your own, around 7:15-7:30, getting ready easier, eating breakfast and going to sleep easier as well. You have even been gentler with Harold. Laying your arms on him without strangling him!

You insisted on having Ariel buckled in her seatbelt next to you. On the way to school, you said “I want to see Santa one more time at pictures.” I was joking with Daddy & Ms. Sandy that it was music to my ears lol.

After school you had Spanish. When I picked you up you said “I want the same thing as last night. Corn soup!” You wolfed a bowl down and then we went to Ingrid’s house and brought Harold. She had put out some snacks and charcuterie. When she offered some to you, you said “no thanks. I don’t need any of that. I already ate my dinner.” Then you proceeded to mow over half of it lol!!! You loved having Benji and Harold together to play. You were giving them both food, treats and toys. At one point, you took Harold outside on the lanai, but opened the door. You came in wailing because her yard isn’t fenced and he “got away.” It’s Harold, so I wasn’t worried. I went out the front door and he was standing in the mulch sniffing. He came inside and you hugged him like he was missing for a month lol!

You weren’t happy about it when we had to go, but again, trying to stay on schedule here! We went to your room and you grabbed your Advent Calendar book. You were excited to see todays book and said “Monsters Inc! Cool. Let’s go read!” You climbed in bed, we snuggled & you rolled over and went to sleep when we were done.

I love you so much!

Around 5am you came to my bed. You woke up on your own at 7:15a with completely dry night pants to boot! We are doing much better getting to sleep and waking up at a good time. You came running out to the kitchen and gave me a huge hug! You took your giant Ariel to the bathroom and then we had to get her dressed (she slept naked last night too like you lol!)

When we got to school you insisted on wearing your mask and you kept saying you had to wear it because of the coronavirus. It make me giggle every time you say it and you scolded me saying you “don’t even like that when you laugh when I say coronavirus.” I told you I wasn’t laughing at you, it just is such a sweet sound the way you say it. We took a few pictures before heading into school. The transition at drop off has been much better as well.

You ran up to me when I picked you up, gave me the biggest hug & said “Mama, can I sing you my song? Do you want to hear it?” Of course I do!!! You sang and jumped in my car. We went home, had some corn chowder for dinner and then went to Ingrid’s house to visit. You were so excited to bring Harold and play with Benji. She tried to make a plate of chicken and Peruvian corn for you but you told her, “hey, I already ate my dinner. I don’t need that!” Then you bellied right up to her bar and helped yourself to snacks. We were cracking up laughing!

It was almost 8p so we headed home. You wanted to finish the last of the Avengers episode you watched earlier. Then, we headed to bed to read your Advent Calendar book and watch an elephant lullaby that Daddy has showed you before. I wasn’t sure what you were talking about but when we found it you were super excited! When it was finished, you whined to see more, but I rolled over and you were snoring in just a few minutes!
I love you so much!

You woke up at 7:30am. We got up and let Daddy sleep in. You took a bath then we played in the living room. Daddy got up as we were making breakfast. We went to Marcela’s office to choose some tiles and colors for the new house. Although we ate breakfast immediately before we left, the first thing you said when we walked in her office was “can I have a snack?” You played nicely with a fake food spread they had on the kitchen counter and didn’t touch all the toys we dragged with us lol.

When we got home you played with Daddy in the toy room. I came to get you when lunch was ready and you shooed me away because you were having so much fun.

You had a naked pizza picnic party by the fire pit. We sat a place for Ariel, with a “pretend pizza & a real napkin.” Walked Harry and you rode your bike. We talked to Lauren & Ingrid & both had their dogs. When they were ready to walk another lap, you asked me to come inside with you because you wanted to play. We played for a bit then watched a little Hulk (Avengers is your new jam). When it was time to turn it off to go read, you kissed Daddy and raced me to the bathroom. You made your giant Ariel take a turn on the potty too lol. We read just your Advent Calendar book and then you turned over, asked me to scratch your back & butt crack, and you were snoring in 5 minutes. I love you so much!