Giovanna's Journey!

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!

You came to my room around 4:30a and snuggled back to sleep. I got up and showered first and when I finished, you and Daddy looked so sweet sleeping. I quietly made lunch, unloaded the dishwasher etc and let you two sleep as late as possible. I had to go in and wake you up at 8:05a because I don’t want to be late to school. You did great getting dressed, brushing hair and brushing teeth. You chose your leopard print boots and wanted me to wear the same boots. I told you I don’t have leopard boots, but I have leopard print shoes. So you asked me to wear and said “Match me Mama!” and you couldn’t wait to show Daddy. When we got to school, you couldn’t wait to show Ms. Amber either!!!

Ms. Marian called to tell me they are moving you up to Senior Pre-K after Christmas break. You will start visiting the classroom next week. She said you are ready socially and emotionally now, and have been ready academically for some time. She told me that lots of times you make very mature statements and ask lots of questions that show you are curious and thinking about things far beyond your years. She expects that you will leapfrog the kids currently in Pre-K very quickly. I know you will be so excited when they tell you that you get to move. You have been waiting forever!!!

When we got home ate, played and then we walked Harry. You were trying to push your cart and hold him at the same time, which wasn’t working well. I ended up carrying the cart while you were walking Harry. We saw Ms. Moe and you were excited to tell her about the bike you want for Christmas! When we got home, we played for a few minutes before heading to your room to read Christmas books and the Advent calendar book. Tomorrow, we get to see Santa again and you are so excited!

I love you so much!

Daddy woke you up at 7:30a. You asked for oatmeal then hardly ate any, but you got ready much better today. School drop off was also MUCH better this morning. No crying or refusing to go in, and we were finally 15 minutes early instead of running late! I hate being late!! You were excited to bring your Spanish book.

I went to tour St. Martha’s school this morning as well. I have been wrestling with where you should go to school next since this time last year. It is a huge decision and I want so badly to make the best choice for you. The school was great, would be a great fit academically and the location is perfect, but they will not accept a religious vaccine exemption, so it’s not an option.

On the way back to the office I picked up a canvas print of you with Santa from the photo session we had a couple of weeks ago. The clerk in the photo department apologized to me because she showed your photo to everyone. She said it was the most beautiful image she had seen and she couldn’t help but to show it to everyone even though they aren’t supposed to. My heart was so full. I’m so proud of you. I thanked her and told her no apology needed. I was touched she thought it was so beautiful.

Daddy texted me and asked to pick you up from school again. He did and you were so happy about it. You came home and played much nicer with Harry. You have been really rough with him lately, hugging his neck too tight, etc. so it was great to see you snuggling with him. When he wouldn’t stay in your room last night, Daddy kept telling you it’s because you are too rough with him. You want him to sleep with you so bad that you immediately eased up!

You had snack & then when I got home you and Daddy were headed to dinner. We went to Zoe’s Kitchen. You walked right up to the counter & placed your order. Answered all his questions about side dishes and drinks lol. He was like I can’t believe her! She knows what she wants! While we were eating dinner you instructed us to take turns talking about how our day at work was. You said “so Mom, tell us about your day.” Then dad. Then you.

We went to Whole Foods after we finished dinner. You wanted to get chocolates like DaRuMa has. You told me you didn’t care if they were rectangle like DaRuMa, they could be circle or square or oval. lol. On the way home we had another upset. You threw a fit in the car and were kicking my seat because you didn’t get your way. We we got home, I got you out of the car and we went straight to bed. In your room, you continued to talk back, refused to lay down and I told you I would have to leave if you weren’t going to listen. I have lost my cool with you more the last week or so and I don’t know why. You are definitely pushing buttons and talking back a lot. I left and we started over twice before reading your Advent Calendar book and then finally going to sleep at 10. I don’t want to empty each other’s buckets. I apologized to you when we went to bed for the third time and we snuggled. You said I love you Mama. And it makes it all better. I hate losing my cool and I don’t want to have upsets. I also want you to be respectful and explore boundaries. I’m trying my best to get this right, but it is HARD!!!!!!

I love you so much!

You came to my room about 5:50am and climbed in bed. You fell back to sleep and I woke you back up at 8a to get ready for school. You had a little upset again at the gate not wanting to go into school, but you recovered quickly.

You had Spanish after school & Daddy picked you up as a surprise. He wanted to take you to Ringling bridge to see the water then over to St. Armand’s circle. You asked him to roll down the windows. He said but it’s cold outside. You said “it’s ok. I have my coat on! I want to see the water!” You said “I wish we could take a boat out there” looking at the water.

After dinner, you were so excited to finally get to open your “Tuesday Surprise” which you have been waiting for. The surprise is a giant Disney Advent calendar of books. You were happy to open it and wanted to read more than one book, but you were patient and waited.

I got my nails done today, so you wanted to paint yours to match. You got rainbow toes and as I was about to paint the same reindeers I had on my nails on yours, you changed your mind & asked for stripes instead!

When we went to your room to read books and listen to Christmas music, you worked hard to find a hundred excuses to leave the room – you had to potty, you were starving, you wanted to bring Harry to bed. It took forever, but you were finally asleep in my arms around 10p.

I love you so much!