All About Gianna

 Updates:

*not quite 26 pounds (~40th percentile) and ~25th percentile for height

*healthy (besides recent bout with pneumonia)

*independent, very happy, sassy, and nurturing

*wears undies, no pull-ups, per her request

*reads, sings, jumps, colors, and plays with baby dolls

*loves walks and bike rides in the burley

*knows her ABC's

*counts to 20 but skips a few

*knows green, blue, yellow, sometimes orange, red, and pink

*curious and asks questions constantly, "Why? What?"

*speaks in sentences and talks non-stop

Matai (plural for Matas)

Aaron, Kelsey, and baby girl Matas came to visit!  Ugh, I miss them.  We have had such amazingly fun times with those two.  We learned how to make and down light white russians, find lost people in an apartment building, use dams, make all sorts of projects, and play Balderdash and sink the biz.  Kelsey and I were work-out buddies too.  Aaron is job searching, so I am hopeful that he finds something closer than Champaign, IL where they live now.  Gia and I want Kelsey and baby to be able to play with us more often!

On a side note, Gianna desperately wanted them to be Kelsey and Lena (babysitters from the Y).  She kept thinking that Aaron was Kelsey and Kelsey was Lena.  The associations of a two-year-old...

Spontaneous Camping

The ever-so-kind Conleys invited us to camp with them for a night. The kids went swimming, played at the park, ran around the camp site, and enjoyed post-dinner popsicles.

Miss independent wanted to do whatever Bennett and Maryn did. Gianna went on the swings, and yelled at me to "Go away!" I was too afraid that she was going to flip right off though because she couldn't touch.  After ending up head first down the twirly slide, she said, "More," and after flying down the other slide, she looked at me and said, "What next?"

Spending the night meant Gia had to sleep in a big girl bed (bottom bunk) for the first time. I am happy to say that she did awesome!

Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone

The Froman Swap

Having good friends in town is so nice.  Saturday, Ryan and I wanted to pack, and Molly and Josh had a graduation celebration that evening.  Gianna played at their house during the day, and Genevieve and June came over that evening.  Gia loves "Gena."

Quick story:  about a month ago, Gianna started asking for Gena, Baby June, Molly, and Morgan (the dog).  Once she started thinking about them, she couldn't handle it.  The poor thing broke down in tears while repeating over and over again that she wanted to see Genevieve.

Can you tell they have fun together?  Thanks Fromans (stay in La Crosse - no pressure)!

By Request

We have been working with Gianna on our full names.  Yes, I am a little crazy, and I think that it is important for her to know.  In fact, a week ago, Gia and I went with some friends to this awesome kiddie parade in Winona, and we witnessed three or four lost kids.  The one little boy was brought up on stage, and they couldn't even figure out his name let alone the name of a parent or guardian.  Here is Gianna saying our names (and acting like a banshee).

Gianna & Friends

Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone

Saturday Morning

Who doesn't like breakfast in bed and cartoons?

Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone