Summer Fun

Gigi and I spend the majority of our time with Aunt Sara and Gigi's cousins (Zachary and Cayden). Since Mr. F is on graveyard shift Gigi and I have 3 to 4 days a week that need to be filled with activities. (side note: gigi is extremely social and needs to be out and about so we go go go.) Thankfully we have a community pool which we use 4 to 5 times a week.  


Today we spent the morning at Quail Botanical Gardens and then everyone went down for naps at Grandma and Poppy's house. Tonight we went down and hung out with about 30 of my neighbors at the park.  Friday Park night is the best - I live in such a great neighborhood. Here are some pics from the past couple of days. Raising kids with my sister is the hugest blessing. I could not do it without her and so appreciate her support especially since Mr. F works such long shifts (12.5 hours). I could write more but for now I have to get to sleep because my little princess will be up before I know it and boy is she giving me a run for my money. I think I might just have a strong willed child on my hands:). Looks like someone has a similar personality to her momma!

Sara and I thought we would take a picture of all three kids. As you can see we were not very successful

Everyone wanted their picture taken with the glasses on

Cayden Loves to Smile and he is such a Ham

Good Night Hugs

Attempting to get a picture of all three kids. Gianna is not much of a smiler
    

Cayden has the best sad faces 

Pony Tail Moms - hey at least we showered today:)

Having Fun playing at quail gardens

I love my Zachy

Sara and her boys

Our Vacation in Jackson Hole, WY

On June 29th we began our 15 hour journey to visit Frank's sister Christina in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The summers in Jackson are really amazing and we wanted to spend time with Zia Christina, Zio Dan and cousin Cash. Below are some pictures from our adventures thus far. Gianna did really well on the drive and we were happy because we were able to drive 11 hours the first day. We got into Utah around 1am and got right to sleep. We are so happy we came out here and feel blessed that we have been able to have some true quality time with our family. We went camping at Jackson lake for 3 days and now we are spending time at Christina and Dan's house.

These pictures are all out of order but oh well!

Gigi has been loving playing in the backyard - she has so much space to run and be free

She was playing with the hose and a little pool so we let her go naked

Zio Dan gave cash a bath and a new hairdo

We spent a couple days out on the boat

The water was very cold but that did not stop Gianna from playing in it

Cousins Cash and Gianna eating dinner while we were camping

Aren't the Teton mountains amazing in the background

Gigi and Daddy relaxing on the deck

Some Pictures

Fathers day is coming up and my hubby is the best dad. He puts so much effort into his relationship with Gigi.

This picture captures Gigi's free spirit. She loves to run around screaming and is full of energy. She keeps me on my toes and there is never a dull moment when she is around. My mom says I I was just like her when I was little.

She has become quite the coppertone baby already this summer. I am constantly covering her with sunscreen but she just keeps on getting darker and her hair gets lighter.

We spend most of our time with my sister and her boys. It's hard to get a picture where they are all looking in the same direction.

Gigi is very interesting in sitting on the potty, wiping and droping the paper in the toilet.

Just some pics

Gianna loves dressing up and she loves shoes. She clicks around the house in these high heels and it cracks me up.

My nephew Zachary is getting to be such a big boy.

Gianna and Cousin Cayden

I love that Gigi still chows on broccoli.

Were having so much fun with her at this age. She is super dramatic and has been having some big melt downs and crying sessions. I have chosen to ignore them because I know toddlers are very emotional. Gianna is very outgoing, loves to talk and tries to repeat the things we say. She really loves people and says hi to everyone. I have stopped counting how many words she says because there are new words everyday. I love being a mom and seeing my baby grow into a little girl.

Short update on me: I have changed my eating dramatically in the past 5 weeks. Based on advice from my chiropractor I have finally stopped eating all the foods I am allergic too. He said I was on my way to getting an autoimmune disease if I did not do this. So I am gluten, corn, dairy and egg free. Eating is pretty boring but thankfully this time I know how to do it.

When I had to eat this way during pregnancy it was super stressful because I had to learn everything. This time it's a lot easier and I feel so much better. I no longer have stomach aches, nausea, bloating etc... I am much better version of myself on this kind of eating plan.

That's my update for now....

Legoland ~Fun in the Sun!

My sister and I took the kids to Legoland today and we had a blast. My parents gave us passes for Christmas and we have gotten a lot of great use out of them already. Since it has been a bit warmer we decided to go to the water play area. Gianna is completely fearless and was soaked within minutes, she is such a water baby. I think I might need to get her some swimming lessons this summer.




Cayden is finally walking and he is loving his new found freedom. He also got his first haircut yesterday and is looking so much like a little boy.




Zachary really wanted to go down the slide at the water park but he was scared to go up the stairs because water was pouring down on them. So Aunt Julie took one for the team and carried him up the stairs. I got really wet but it was worth it because Zachary was so happy.


Gianna loves to sit in Aunt Sara's sit n stand stroller. This is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich smile.

Cayden chillin after a long morning of sun and water.
Gigi loves her cousins so much!

Goodbye 2009

Here are a bunch of pictures from the past month.

There are two things Gianna is most interested in: HATS AND SHOES - the hats only stay on for moment but she loves her shoes.




Nonno Sam got a new hat for Christmas and Gigi just had to try it on




We have discovered that the Gianna is the happiest when she is naked. In this picture she is running around and screaming with delight as Mr. F chases her.




We gave Gianna a bike and a helmet for Christmas. Her cousin Zachary has this same bike and a helmet that she just loves to use.



Taking her new bike for a test ride. We gave this to her on Monday because Mr. F had to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! Huge Bummer for us:(




I am not sure if you noticed that in one of the pictures above Gianna was wearing green crocs over her footed pajamas. Auntie Sara got Gigi these crocs for Christmas and she loves them so much she even wanted to wear them in the bath tub. She has also worn them for naps and with various outfits. If they are taken off of her feet she yells quite loudly until they are put back on. I had to hide them from her because things were getting a bit out of hand. Thanks Aunt Sara:/

Gigi and I spend lots of time with Auntie Sara, Zachary and Cayden. Since the babies are around the same age we are on very similar schedules. A couple times a month the boys and Sara come over for dinner, baths, and playtime. This bath was kind of a tight squeeze. Zachary will be three in January but is the size of a 4 or 5 year old.

Taking the kids to the park is

part of the daily routine Uncle Flack blew bubbles for the kids and they were all captivated for at least 15 minutes straight.

My parents got a trampoline from my brother Eric. The kids have been having the best time playing on it.

Gianna just loves Zachary's helmet.

On Christmas morning Gianna and I packed up and headed over to Grandma and Poppy's house. Since Mr. F had to work we did not want to be home alone. Here Cayden is preaching a sermon to all of us. Cayden loves to ramble on in his baby talk and raise his hands up in the air. He makes us laugh so much.

Zachary got a strider for Christmas and decided to try it out in his diaper.

December has been one heck of a month - Gianna got three front teeth, two molars and two colds. Her sleeping has been confusing and messy. Today is the first normal day we have had in quite a while. Her second molar is almost in so hopefully things are going to stable out (knock on wood). The holidays have been hard because Mr. F has had to work but I am choosing to focus on being thankful for his job and for the overtime pay.

The past couple of weeks have been tough with Gianna (the honeymoon is definitely over) but I am learning and growing as a mom. I love her more every day and love seeing the little person she is becoming.

I am looking forward to a wonderful 2010! Happy New Year:)