4/24/20 – If Mommy Says No, Just Ask Daddy…

While I was brushing my teeth this morning, you snuck into the leftover birthday cake & got down! You had blue frosting all over your face!!! When I asked you what happened you said you were just looking at the cake!!!! lol!

Today is going to be gloomy & rainy all day. On the way to school, you sang “Rain, Rain, Go Away” the entire drive. You had another great day at school. Because of the rain, you guys did an indoor rainbow obstacle course. Jumping around inside was pretty awesome! Because of the virus, your school schedule this week was Mon, Wed, Fri from 8:30-12:30. When you got home, Daddy came down from working at lunch and you guys played Jenga for the first time. I was a little leery thinking it might frustrate you, but he said you did an excellent job right away! After work, Daddy helped you make an Olaf out of an Amazon box we had laying around. I was quite impressed!!! You two are so cute together!

When I got home, you and Daddy went outside to sit on the porch. You guys grabbed rubber duckies to see if they would float down the street in the water running along the curb. That didn’t work, so he grabbed your little boat. The rain started to fall much heavier, so you ran to the front porch for shelter. Unfortunately, you slipped and opened up an existing scab on your ankle. You cried hard and it was bleeding pretty good. You ran inside and I got you cleaned up and propped your foot up on a pillow. Then we started to watch Incredibles 2! You were sitting on the couch in your jammies, leg up on a pillow nursing your boo-boo, with your arms up behind your head. I was cracking up at you. Grandma Noot came for dinner and brought you one of your birthday gifts. You were a little salty again about the gift being in a box! That apparently frustrates you as we learned at your birthday party! When you finally got into it, you found Binoculars!! You are going to love them. You couldn’t really use them right away because it’s so overcast today, but once you figure out what they are you are going to love them I bet!

I made cookies while we were watching TV and you didn’t realize it. I surprised you and brought one over to you on the couch and your whole face lit up! You asked for another one, and I said, no just one per customer. You said, how about two per customer? You took a second cookie over to Daddy. Of course he didn’t want it (he probably didn’t want the first one lol) so you scammed him out of it. You ran back to the couch, stood by Grandma Noot & said, “if Mommy says no, just ask Daddy! He will say yes!” Grandma noot took you to the potty and all I could hear was the two of you laughing so hard. I have no idea what was so funny, but it sounded glorious. I’m so grateful for the relationship you have with her. It’s beautiful to watch it grow.

I love you so much!!!!

“If Mommy says no, just ask Daddy! He will say yes!“

4/23/20 – The afterparty

Because we were up late partying last night, you slept in until almost 8am. This morning, you wanted to make unicorn cookies (part of the set that Elizabeth Munoz sent for your bday). I told you we can’t do that, but we can make unicorn pancakes, so we did. I lost track of time. I had a call scheduled for 9:30a which came in while we were making pancakes. I also had a 10am webinar to teach, which I totally forgot about. I had 2 minutes to spare from hanging up on the call until I had to be on the webinar, so no time to drive to the office. My laptop was at the office too. So, I had to throw on a dress, run in my room & jump on Zoom on my phone! About 40 minutes in, you threw open the door, ran in & jumped on the bed. Somehow Ms. Sandy didn’t realize it for a minute. I muted and turned off my video while Marina was talking, until Ms. Sandy came to get you lol! No one even realized what happened! The trials & tribulations of working from home!!!

You had 3 birthday deliveries! A Spanish Frozen book from John & Lydia Yoder, Frozen Lego set from Joe Cusumano & a unicorn Cabbage Patch Doll from Lisa Sessa. You were so excited to open them all!

You didn’t want me to leave for work. Daddy came down for lunch & took you in the car to the mailbox & let you ride in the front seat. You & Ms. Sandy made bubble art, built 3 Legos & did some school vocabulary words before heading out for a scooter ride. You didn’t nap, but rested and read books. After I got home from work, another delivery arrived. Frozen flip flops from Jackie & Baby Will!

After dinner we had more cake & went for a bike ride. We ran into Captian & Mike, so you didn’t ride much, you mostly pet the dog!!!! We headed to bed early.

I love you so much!!!

4/22/20 – Your 4th Birthday

This morning, when I woke up, you were laying in my bed with your hands over your ears, as though we had been keeping you up! You woke up while I was in the shower. You threw open the bathroom door, ran in and said “Good morning Mama!!” I said “Happy birthday sweet girl!!” You squealed, “yayayayayayayyyaya I’m foooooouuuuuurrrrrrr!!!!” What a great way to start the day. You took a birthday bath & you love to feel how far down your back your hair has grown.

When we arrived at school, Ms. Amber was at the gate and greeted you with a Happy Birthday welcome! You had a great day, and brought home a cute birthday card with a picture of your class on it. You also brought home a rainbow windsock that you made for Ms. Sandy’s birthday! I came home from work early to make ziti for your birthday party tonight. You were napping on Ms. Sandy on the couch. You looked so peaceful.

You woke up shortly after I got home and you couldn’t wait to open your gifts from Ms. Sandy. Shortly after Ms. Sandy left, Marcela dropped by to bring you a birthday gift. Excitedly, you told her today is your very first day of being 4! You were so excited to open it and find it was an Elsa doll with 3 different dresses (ones you didn’t have!). You immediately opened it and played with it.

“Hey, you are supposed to bring me a gift!”

Joe Romo arrived a little while later & you ran to the door to invite him in. You scolded him in the hallway & said “hey, you are supposed to bring me a gift!” Luckily, he thought you were funny/cute! Many of your gifts were delayed in shipping because of the virus! Grandma Noot arrived next and you hit her up immediately about where her gift was too lol! Romo, Aunt Deb, Fed & Grandma Weezie also came. Grandma Weezie was so excited to make your cake. It was cute & delicious! She even found some Frozen characters to put on it! You hardly ate anything because you were so excited to open your presents. You apparently have decided that you don’t like gifts to be in boxes – they are too hard to open!! You sighed in frustration, box after box lol! Nana Lesleah gave you a TON of Disney dresses, Ariel jammies, a stuffed Ariel and Little Mermaid figurines.

We all sang Happy Birthday & you jumped around like crazy! Finally, the long awaited time to have cake! You don’t love anything more, except maybe frosting!!!! Aunt Deb got you an awesome Arendelle castle dollhouse, Frozen bubble wand, Elsa & Anna dress up shoes, jewelry & a crown, and a light up scooter!!! Elizabeth Munoz sent you Frozen figurines & a unicorn cookie baking set! You have so may people who love you and boy did they show it & spoil you!! When Aunt Deb, Fed & Grandma Noot were ready to leave, you walked them out to their cars. But then, you started to play with Fed, chasing him on his Hoverboard (sneaking a ride) & signing songs with him. It was almost 11p when we finally got into bed. We did one Lingo (Italian lesson on Duolingo), read part of a story and you were out like a light! You drifted off to sleep while snuggling with your new Elsa doll. I couldn’t stop kissing your forehead. What a great 1st day of being 4. I hope all of the rest of your days are just as happy.

I love you so much sweet girl. Happy Birthday!!!

4/22/20 – A letter to you on your 4th Birthday

Dear Giovanna,

It’s hard to believe that you have been part of our family for 4 years, but it is equally hard to remember what life was like with out you. I often tell you that I don’t know what I did without you, but whatever it was, it was dumb! I have so much to tell you. So much to share. I’m honored to have the opportunity to write you a letter every year for your birthday. Even though the daily journal to you continues (and you might think I’m crazy for that someday), I love to reflect on the year gone by to see just how much you have grown. You love to tell me that my job is to keep you safe and your job is to learn and grow. My little love, you are doing an excellent job!

Every day, but especially today, I wish I could hit a pause button and freeze you where you are today. I still cry every time I read the book “If I Could Keep You Little” – just like the book says, I would love to keep you little, but then I would miss out on seeing who you will become, and that woman is going to be unstoppable!

This year, you started school full time, we started to tour schools to decide where you will attend Kindergarten, you got to go to Disney for the first time and of course to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. I cried like crazy because it was a glimpse of what’s to come with things like prom and your wedding. You had your first “photoshoot” & headshots – which made me tear up watching you “get ready”. I know you are “only” four, but it’s like the time is slipping through my hands no matter how tightly I grasp!

You are vivacious, charismatic, electric AND magnetic. Everywhere we go, EVERYONE is drawn to you. You make people happy, your smile is contagious and you aren’t afraid to head right up to a hostess stand to request a “table for 3 please”! You will order your meal from the server with conviction. Your confidence is inspiring and I hope you never lose it. You are as smart as you are funny, which will serve you well in life. You are compassionate and very concerned about others. You are beautiful inside and out. You are loved by so many people. We are so proud of you!

It was incredibly clear from the moment you were born that you are a beautiful force to be reckoned with. You know what you like and you aren’t shy about advocating for yourself. You are quick to say “so, this is the deal” or to tell any grown up that you are “going to negotiate”!!! There is nothing better than your random “I love you more than California” matches we have and our snuggles while we read stories in bed. This morning you threw open the bathroom door and exclaimed “Good morning Mama!!! I’m 4!!!!” You know how you feel when you see a rainbow? That’s exactly how I feel when I see you!

No matter how old you are, you will always be my baby. Grow into the beautiful, book smart, street smart, strong in mind and body, independent lady that you are destined to be, but never forget that we will never leave your side. I will endlessly encourage you to seek knowledge and empower your mind. I will remind you that true beauty is within and to love yourself first and lead by example. I want to help you learn, but give you space to make your own decisions, and allow you to learn from your mistakes. I vow to be the place you can come to feel uplifted and protected. I will be there for you ALWAYS, through it all.

My birthday wish for you, my love, is that you forever appreciate how special you are. I hope you remain confident enough to be yourself, own your strength and power and march to the beat of your own drum. You are more magical than Elsa and I promise to always remind you of that! Don’t ever settle for anything less than your wildest dreams. Thank you for always loving me unconditionally. Thank you for the many unexpected kisses and hugs from behind. Thank you for exceeding every expectation I’ve ever had of having a child. Thank you for just being you. I’m so grateful to be your Mama.

I love you so much sweet girl. Happy 4th Birthday!

4/18/20 – Happy 4th Birthday Party Giovanna!

On Saturday, April 18, 2020 we hosted a “drive by” Frozen birthday party for you, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At first, I was disappointed and thought this was going to be a sad impostor of a party, but instead it ended up being one of the best parties ever. Many friends and family drove by, some jumped out to snap some photos in the photo booth & we passed out Frozen cupcakes. You got to see first hand how special you are to so many people! It was a wonderful afternoon! Despite the rain, you enjoyed playing in the puddles, dancing with your umbrella and you ate at least 6 or 7 cupcakes. People decorated their cars with signs and balloons. You received flowers, gifts and best of all a surprise visit from Elsa & Anna! You were so surprised and excited to see them when they arrived. This was so special and was so much more than we could have ever planned. Although I can’t believe you are 4, I’m so happy we got to celebrate in this manner!

4/22/19 – A Letter To You On Your 3rd Birthday

Dear Giovanna,

So, you are 3 today & this year has been the biggest leap yet. The person you were a year ago barely resembles the hilarious little lady that now graces us but I’m sure next year we’ll be saying the same thing.

My love for you grows daily which I never ever thought was even possible. How could I possibly love you more than yesterday? I’ve definitely met my match in you!

Over the past year, you began preschool at Discovery Days & met lots of lovely little friends. You’re very independent & love doing things yourself, so you settled in quickly & soon became very popular with your favorite friends being Mr. Carter, Henry and Lillian.

Watching you grow older is bittersweet. Half of me is so excited for things to come & all the exciting things you have ahead of you but the other half just wants to press pause for just a while, to hold your little hand in mine for just a little while longer & look into your big beautiful eyes while you tell me “Mama, I love to snuggle with you.” Thank you for 3 of the best years of my life. I am so proud & honored to call you my daughter.

You’re loving and outspoken and cuddly. I love the way you take my face in your hands and tell me that you love me. You always ask me “Mama, are you happy?”. I am happy, my sweet girl. You leave me in awe, every day. I would not be whole without you.

You are so confident & brave. I hope that’s a quality that you never lose and that you won’t allow anyone to erode that for you. I hope that your strong-will, which sometimes challenges my patience, remains a steady strength that takes you wherever your heart leads you.

You are very smart! You can’t get enough of your books each day. You have started “reading” to us now, because you’ve memorized so many books almost word-for-word. When you are taught something, you don’t have to be told twice. Watching your mind work and being able to really have conversations is yet another joy for us. You’re engaging and bright, and always tender. You express your feelings so maturely, it sometimes shocks us.

You’re so funny! You make me laugh every day. I write in a journal to you everyday, because is always something that makes me say, can you believe she just said that! That sense of humor will serve you well throughout your days.

You are strong. You are a great athlete and you love swimming, gymnastics and soccer. Your concern for others will make you a great teammate and your desire to learn will enable to excel in anything you put your mind to.

You love to dance & sing. You’ve memorized songs in English and Spanish, and you especially love Vivir Mi Vida by Marc Anthony and Arriba, Abajo! Of course, you know every move, facial expression & hand gesture from all the Lion King songs, which you will sing, loudly, anywhere, especially with Federico!

You are a great traveler. You have been to many countries and cities already. You love language and people. My goal is to show you the entire world. Imagine the fun we will have and the things we will learn, together!

You have a charisma that you aren’t aware of yet. I know it will serve you well. You make friends wherever you go. I call you the Mayor of Everywhere! You love other kids and when you see babies, you are drawn to them, wanting to hug and kiss and make them smile.

I wish I could keep you little forever, but I am looking forward to continuing to watch you grow into the young lady that you’re meant to be. You’ll do great things, my girl.

Always remember that Daddy & I love you more than anything in this world. Stay strong, let your voice be heard, be kind, hold your family close. Know that you will always be loved, no matter what. And no matter how old you are, you will always be my Baby Girl.

I love you…

4/22/18 – A Letter To You On Your 2nd Birthday

My sweetest little Giovanna,

On your 2nd birthday I am filled with mixed emotions of excitement, sadness, happiness and pride. I am excited because I see how much you’ve grown, and I know so many magical moments await you. You are the sweetest spirit but also have a commanding attitude that lets us know you are fearless, strong-willed and independent. You are and will be a force to be reckoned with and I know that your strength and persistence will serve you well in life and shape you to be a remarkable little lady.

I can’t wait to have conversations with you about life and answer all of your questions about hair, careers, clothes, and anything your curious and beautiful little mind wants to know. But, I must admit, I am kind of sad. You are growing up so fast and the baby days are gone. Over the last two years, you’ve amazed us in so many ways. My days spent cuddling with you, munching on your plump little arms, thighs and cheeks are coming to an end. Every chance I get, I bury my nose in your neck and hair and greedily inhale that special baby scent that is uniquely yours. I savor each tiny kiss you plant on my cheeks, my lips, my eyes because everyone of them I can collect is one to remember in the days you will no longer willingly do so. As much as I may wish for my darling girl to remain a baby, I know you will not be forever. I must push my tiny bit of sadness aside and embrace the part that thrills me about your growth and the happiness you have brought me. You came into this world with the sweetest spirit but an attitude that told us you were strong-minded and independent. You are a force to be reckoned with for sure, and I just love that about you. I know your strength and persistence will serve you well in life. Being compassionate and tough will make you such a remarkable woman.

You know the part I love the most about you is how incredibly smart, witty and funny you are. You have mastered all the letters of the alphabet, counting to 20 in English,Spanish and Italian. You know the days of the week in all 3 languages, and your first and last name (mine and Daddy’s too…they way you pronounce Ky-oollll is adorable). You were efficiently expressing your needs and desires with words and phrases rather than whines well before you turned 2.

So what’s next for you, my little girl? I can’t be completely sure, really. I may not know what career you will go into when you grow up, but I am certain that the sky is the limit in all aspects of your life.

I am certain you will learn and explore in a way that makes your life rich and fulfilling. You will grow and figure out who you want to be and what you want from life. You will accomplish great things and inspire many. I’m confident that you will develop a bond with your family and friends that nourishes your soul in such a powerful way. I know that you will always be fiercely loyal and compassionate to the people you love. I am sure that I will butt heads with you at times because we share so many personality traits (a blessing and a curse for you my little love), but I also know that we will always make peace because our compassion allows us to step outside of ourselves and see things from someone else’s perspective. Working through our differences and through the process will only serve to strengthen and deepen our relationship.

The road ahead will be filled with trips to places throughout the world – Europe (especially Italy), Asia, Australia, and the Caribbean. You are already such a good traveler and have been a trooper through airports, cruise ships and time zones. You have been on 28 flights, 2 cruises and explored 12 countries (England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Montenegro for example). I hope through travel you gains true understanding that there are many ways to do things, as different cultures will demonstrate, so you can always have the confuse in yourself to choose the path best for you. Your educational experiences (not limited to a classroom) will open up a world of opportunities for you, and you will take advantage of whatever speaks to your heart.

The challenges you face and overcome will help shape you into the amazing woman I know you will become. I am eager to help you grow into an adaptable, determined, persistent young woman who is destined to become.

If the first two years of your life serve as any indication of what the next two will bring, I have to just push my little bit of sadness aside and embrace the part of me that’s thrilled about your growth. As much as I may wish for you to remain a baby, I know you can’t be a baby forever. You have to learn and explore. You need to grow and figure out who you want to be and what you want from life. Since you were born, my favorite book to read to you is “If I Could Keep You Little” by Marianne Richmond, which reads much like this letter to you. I cry every time I read it to you…still! Although the book “warned” me this would happen, I was powerless to slow down time!!

On this special day, I hope you are able to feel every ounce of love that surrounds you. Despite this letter to you, I can’t really put in to words how much I love you. I must say it to you at least a million times a day and yet I still hope it is enough. I am so grateful to have you as my daughter, to teach me how to be a better person, a better mom. Your love for me is truly unconditional my sweet precious Giovanna, and I will do my best to make you proud to call me your Mommy.

I promise you our family unit will give you the security that every kid wants and deserves. I hope you know that you were born into a family that wants the very best for you. I hope that your childhood shapes up to be much of what mine was, and also a lot of what mine wasn’t. I know life won’t always be perfect because it just doesn’t work that way. But I do know that life will always have magic in it if you simply train your eyes to see it. I hope we do a great job teaching you how to train your eyes.

Loving you always and forever,

Mama & Daddy

4/22/17 – A Letter To You On Your 1st Birthday

Dear Giovanna

The moment I found out I was pregnant, you became the love of my life. Then I saw your precious face on the ultrasound, heard your heartbeat and later felt your movement inside me. Each day, I loved you more than I thought was possible. The second that Dr. Cohen placed you in my arms, I wept with overwhelming joy and love. I knew my life would be forever different…better…fuller…more meaningful. For 365 days, I have held you, loved you and taught you. You have filled my heart, my soul, our home and my life with so much happiness and joy. For 365 days I taught you to talk, you taught me to be silent, I taught you to walk, you taught me to be still, I guided you through babyhood, you guided me through motherhood. I needed you just as much, if not more, than you needed me. We have learned together through this first amazing year. Thank you for choosing me to be your Mama. I am so excited to see what else you teach me throughout your life. Happy Birthday beautiful girl!!! I love you beyond words!!