Giana Turns Two!

It is hard to believe that my baby girl is 2! We are so blessed and lucky to have her in our lives. She makes us laugh everyday! She is so much fun!

Here are a few fun facts about Giana at 2 years old:

**She has lots of words and phrases and repeats everything! Some of the funny things she says are: “I not a baby", "never ever ever" (like never ever ever say that, or tell me no!", "stay over there". She is feisty—has a lot to say—"you not do that…you go time out!" She has a lot of attitude! She is usually so sweet to Talia (and Talia is very sweet to her) and she is a big daddy’s girl—she loves her daddy!

**She loves books—the push button ones, the lift the flap ones, the touchy feely ones, she has a few of them memorized too—Big Red Barn, Dear Zoo, Tumble Bumble, Hug, and many Dora books.

**She loves to watch videos on her “computer” the portable DVD player—recently, she loves to watch Dora, Strawberry Shortcake, and Miss Patticake Easter DVD.

**She counts to 1-13, 15, 16, 17, 19 can id red and yellow, but not consistently, counts 1-10 in Spanish

**She is getting much more picky about foods and likes to sit on you lap to eat. She will eat red meat, sausage, some noodles, bananas, turkey, ham, grapes, and cereal. She is much less willing to try new things now

**She wears underwear most every afternoon and does fairly well—an accident can happen, usually once Kenny gets home! We'll get there...soon!

**She still uses a paci, although we are getting more strict as she can have it in the car an in her crib but not all the time when she is walking around the house; she loves her blankie just as much as she loves her paci—both girls love their blankies!

She is the sweetest, happiest baby girl with a lot of attitude!

We had her 2nd b-day party at the YMCA in the Gym. There was a big bouncy and the kids got to run around the gym playing sports, and jumping til they were exhausted! We all had a great time!

New Years Eve

We all headed to Ohio to celebrate New Years with Eugene and David. We drove down with my parents, and Mario and Shirell and the boys met us there. We had a great time. We spent an afternoon at the Imagination Station--an awesome children's museum. We all had so much fun.

peek a boo Giana

playing doctor with Zio Gene

clouds

Playing in the sandbox

Then we went back to Eugene and David's place, where they made a great Mexican fiesta!

Look how cute the girls are-

smile

Talia, Ryan and Payton Talia almost made it til midnight...

We stayed over until midnight and then went back to our hotel. We headed to breakfast before heading back to IL. Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas

Although we were all still pretty sick, we all headed to Mario and Shirell's to celebrate Christmas with my family. The girls had a great time opening presents in the morning. Giana was just so cute as she gasped every time she opened a present, and then quickly asked, "can you open it?" Talia just loved opening everything and then setting it all out to take it all in!

sitting in their new chairs:

getting ready to go

Shirell made a delicious lunch and then we opened presents!

It is always so much fun to sit around and talk to my family. There is never a dull moment!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve

It seems that we can't catch a break around the holidays each year. Poor Giana has the croup, and needed a steroid shot, Talia has a double ear infection and bronchitis and Kenny and I both have sinus infections. UGH!! Because of that, we decided that Giana and I were going to stay home and not venture to Wisconsin to celebrate Christmas Eve with the Engstrom's. Kenny promised to take pics though...

here's a sleepy and sick Giana (and sad Kenny)

Talia and Kenny before they headed north

Talia with her cousins Pierce and Reagan (who hurt her head)

Here's the tree--Santa came!

Hens Holiday Party

Our Thursday "Hens" playgroup had our annual holiday party on Thurs. Dec 9. The girls got dressed up in their super cute matching Hanna Anderson play dresses (and Giana in her new super cute hat) and off we went to the Lipani house.

The girls brought presents for Santa to bring to other kids who do not have enough presents this year and Talia happily talked to him about what she wanted for Christmas (again). At least Giana didn't cry this time. :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! We can't wait!

Sweet Sisters

Look how sweet my girls are!

First Snow!

The girls had a great time playing in the first snow of the year. We wanted to get out during the day, but the day escaped us and it gets so dark so early these days. It was only about 5 when we went out, but it was already dark! That didn't stop Talia and Giana from having a great time sledding down our front lawn and making snow angels. This was Giana's first time ever playing in the snow and she really seemed to like it.

Back inside--look at their pink cheeks!