2/18/21 – My Ears Are Still Tired

Of course you slept in a bit today since you went to bed so late last night. Daddy kept singing to you and trying to get you up. I was surprised that when you did finally wake up, around 8a, you were happy and got ready without a ton of discussion! You ate your breakfast and we headed to school. In the car, I was singing and you asked me to sing to myself because your ears were still tired lol!

I got this message in the SandBox App today:

Before and after reading Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham” this week the pre-k students shared how they like to eat their eggs and if they like green eggs and ham!

The girls played together in the dramatic play center this morning, wearing these wacky headbands while they took care of their babies! Gracyn has been such a great new friend, helping Giovanna to feel welcome in the Pre-K class! Your kindness does not go unnoticed, Gracyn! Thank you!

Ms. Sandy took you to the park after school. You had a blast and of course everywhere you go you make new friends. Tomorrow is silly hat day at school, so you helped her make a silly fruit & vegetable hat when you got home. Daddy beat me home because I had a closing that ran long, so you guys took Harry on a walk and had leftovers. When I got home, you & Daddy were outside talking to Ms. Moe, Jack Daniels and the whole neighborhood gang. We dropped Daddy off at man night. At first you were upset because you wanted to go inside with him, but I told you we would go home and have girls night. I grabbed a quick bite to eat and then you decided you were starving (of course, anything to delay bedtime lol). So, you grabbed an apple and ate the whole thing in my bed! Silly goose! I wanted to get back up to do some more work, but laying there waiting for you to finish your apple and settle down made me so tired. We fell asleep together and that was the end of me!

I love you so much!

2/17/21 – Will You Please Come Lay With Me?

When you woke up, you ran and dressed yourself. Today’s outfit was an interesting mix of Halloween shirt and tennis shorts & I love how happy you were about it.

After school, you & Ms. Sandy practiced writing and did some fun crafts. Daddy beat me home by a few minutes & when I pulled up to the driveway, Ms. Sandy was getting ready to leave & you were in Daddy’s car getting ready to go get a carwash. You asked me to come so I parked and jumped in his car. We went to the carwash and then went to Gecko’s for dinner.

When we got home, we played for a little bit then it was time to head to bed. We read some Seuss books and then turned off the light to go to sleep. You were super squirmy and kept getting out of bed to go pee (more stall tactics!). At first I was just trying to rub your legs and back to get you to calm down. Then I got up to just leave and of course you grabbed me and said Mama, don’t go. You plopped back down on your pillow and slammed your eyes closed. But a minute later you were back to squirming. I did leave and come back a couple of times. Then, I just went to the living room and didn’t come back for about 10 minutes. When I came back you promised to lay down and of course didn’t. It got a little heated, you were getting mouthy and I left again. You would come in the hallway, apologize and ask me to come back saying “I’m ready now Mama.” I will always come back and never leave you but man I was super frustrated. I was sitting in the rocking chair and you were laying in your bed. You looked up at me and said “Mama, I love to snuggle with you, will you please come lay with me?” At first I said no, because I was trying to give you a consequence for talking back. But I was conflicted inside, because I also want you to know, in your core, that no matter what happens, I will ALWAYS be by your side. Instantly, I felt a wave of emotion come over me. I saw your eyes starting to flutter as you were about to drift off to sleep. I went and curled up next to you in bed. You opened your eyes, looked directly into mine and said “Mama, why did you come lay with me?” I said, “because I love you and will always be there when you want me.” You smiled a loving heart warming smile, closed your eyes and drifted off to sleep. It was 11:15p before you finally fell asleep. I was exhausted from 3 hours of battle. I sometimes get caught up in what I need to do after you go to sleep and to be honest, when I do that, I get more frustrated when you don’t go to sleep. I try not to let that happen and I always regret when I do – I know that my days are numbered and soon you won’t NEED me and at some point you won’t want me to help you fall asleep. Tonight, after I calmed down, I felt grateful…Grateful I can comfort you. Grateful you are still little (because you are growing so damn fast). Grateful to be what you want and need. I absolutely adore you!!!

I love you so much!

2/16/21 – Looking Out The Window For You

In the car on the way to school, you were being silly with rhyming words and cracking yourself up. I loved the mischievous grin on your face and I was glad I captured it!

After school, you & Ms. Sandy did a Koala Crate and you made a parrot & a firefly that glows in the dark. You hung out with Daddy while I went to dinner for work. I called you on FaceTime when I left work on my way there & Daddy was just getting home.

You guys played and had a great night. You lined up all your stuffies on the bar and wrote their names on each piece of paper. Unfortunately, you wouldn’t go to bed for him. He sent me a picture of you staring out the window looking for me. I was already on my way home. When I got home, you ran to the hallway to give me huge hugs and I took you right back to bed. We snuggled but you were fired up so it took a while for you to fall asleep so you were up later than you should have been.

I love you so much!

2/15/21 – Back To The Zoo

This morning, we got up and headed to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. We haven’t been for a couple of years so I thought it would be something fun & different to do. When you first woke up you were a little slow motion, but once you realized we were going to the zoo you ran to get ready!!!

When we walked in the first thing you saw was the carousel, which made you super happy. We rode it three times in a row, even getting off once before riding so we could be the first ones on in the next group so you could pick the the cheetah. It took some convincing, but after that we walked around to see what else we could find. We stopped for a little bit of lunch on a bench watching monkeys, checked out the giraffes and rode the safari truck out to see the African animals. We made pennies with zoo animals on them and you couldn’t wait to put them in your new change purse.

It was getting warm so we headed over to the splash pad, where you immediately made friends. You found a tiny little girl and you guys were walking around arm in arm. You brought her over to me and said “Mom this is my new friend!” I asked you “What’s her name?” You said “I don’t know. I asked her but I forgot.” You came back a few minutes later and said “her name is Bianca. Bianca Rose. Isn’t that a pretty name?” You immediately offered her snacks & told her “my Mom always packs the best snacks.” She asked her Mom if it was ok. We ended up spending the rest of the day with them. When the rollercoaster reopened, we changed out of your swimsuit and you guys rode all the rides together then played on the playground. You shared more snacks too. We closed the park down together. We exchanged phone numbers and we planned to meet up at LegoLand in two weeks!!!

On the way home you immediately passed out in the car. I was hoping against hope that you would make it to the house, but I knew you wouldn’t. It was a long fun day and you played soooooo hard. When we got home (around 6p) I put you in bed, but you got right back up which was good. We ate dinner and you went to bed sooner than I expected with your late nap. It was an awesome day together. I love having these extra times with you.

I love you so much!

  • Making Zoo Pennies

2/14/21 – Surprise Daddy!

You had a blast at your sleepover at Chrissy’s. She let you stay up as late as you wanted and you slept in this morning. She took you & Olivia to church. You called me on Facetime on the way. After church, you guys came home and I made mac and cheese for lunch. Olivia napped and the three of us did some crafts. I thought you should nap, so I invited you to come sit on the couch and watch a movie with me. You were watching the movie for two minutes, then turned to look at me, climbed up in my lap, laid your head on my shoulder and immediately started snoring!

While you slept, I ran to the butcher shop and Chrissy went home when I got back. I finally had to wake you up around 5p because I knew you would have trouble sleeping tonight. You woke up pretty happy and then I gave you your valentine’s gift. You were so excited to see the coin purse, headbands, nail stickers, bracelets & socks!!!

Daddy traveled back from Ohio today. He arrived at dinner time. You excitedly met him at the garage door and walked him into the dining room to show him the beautiful table that you set for us. We had a lovely dinner of filet and crab legs and then hung out pretty late since you napped so late. Tomorrow is President’s Day and I took the day off to hang out with you, so if we sleep in, its ok!!!

I love you so much!!!

2/12/21

This morning, we tried to call Daddy but after his flight got delayed so late so we didn’t get to talk to him. Your school Valentine’s party was today so you chose your heart dress, Valentine’s socks, pink shoes and red glitter hair bows. I am so sad that we couldn’t attend because of Covid. I hate missing all these things since this is your last year at Discovery Days, but I’m glad they are still doing them and you get to have so much fun.

Ms. Sandy brought you to my office to surprise me with a flower bouquet for me and 2 dozen roses to hand out to everyone at the office. You were so cute and everyone thought you were absolutely adorable as you wished each person Happy Valentine’s Day and handed them their flower. I left about a half hour later to pick you up at home for a dinner date – just the two of us. We went to Da Ru Ma & you were fantastic.

2/11/21

Daddy left today to go visit his mom in Ohio. While you were wrong breakfast you gave him some pages that you colored and told him to give them to your mom.
Helped him get his luggage to car. Waves by. Lots of kisses

dinner w Sandy after school

2/9/21 – I Gave You Candlelight!

Daddy had to leave early today for work & you even though you woke up at 7:15a you were still too late to see him before he left so we sent him a picture from bed! You ran and got yourself dressed…finally in something you haven’t worn yet. I feel like half your closet you haven’t worn because you want to wear the same dresses all the time! You brushed your teeth and we did your hair and you had plenty of time to color before school. You made On the way to school you brought your coloring book & markers & colored the whole way there & I had to wait in the parking lot for 10 minutes so you could finish!

I got this message in the Sandbox App today:

This morning Giovanna used her visual discrimination and fine motor skills to identify and find the letters of her name to lace and hang up in the room. Later she chose to go to the sensory tray to exercise her phonological awareness by finding rhyming picture pairs! Great job, Miss G!

At the end of the work day, I was feeling a scratchy throat coming on and just not feeling great. When I got home, I made dinner & we started on your camping themed Koala Crate with Ms. Sandy a little before she left. We built the fire pit and it also came with felt smores. Daddy came home so you showed him what we did & then we ate dinner.

‘

Around 7p I really started to fade. You told me “Mom, go rest!” You took me into my room, told me to lay down, then gave me a 30 second foot massage! You left and made Daddy lay on the floor so you could rub his feet too!! When I came to check on you you told me again “Mom, go rest!” You came back to my room, rubbed my back with lotion and told me “you better have closed eyes!” You brought in your light from the fire pit craft project and set it on my nightstand. Then you told me “I gave you candle light you should be asleep. Here, I will give you a little kiss! Now close your eyes and go to sleep!” You actually did relax me and I fell asleep around 8p. Daddy took you to bed & you read books. When he asked if you were going to snuggle with him you said “no, Mommy only.” You asked him if you could go snuggle with me & he said yes, just don’t wake her up. You came in my room and we snuggled for a while. You kept fidgeting and talking and I kept asking you to be still and quiet since I didn’t feel good. You ended up leaving my room around 9:30p and going back out to the living room. You asked Daddy to go snuggle with you in your room. You were out in 5 minutes!

I love you so much!

  • Moved onto Daddy to give foot massage
  • Best Back Massage in Town!