As the wife of a youth minister, I'm used to having a busy summer. They usually consist of several weeks of camps, a special Seniors-only trip, pool parties, bonfires and of course, every student's favorite getaway, CIY's MOVE conference. 

Its been a while since I've updated-- my newly-turned 2 year old keeps me hopping!  That and a wicked case of bronchitis/URI that kept me under the weather for 3+ weeks.  But I just had to pop in for a quick update on Gia.


She is the most adorable thing I've ever seen. Truth be told, when she was a baby, I was scared of the toddler years that were to come.  What the heck do you do with a mini person all day long? But now that this stage of life is here, I love it!  Well, for the most part. I'm not one of those bloggers (you know, THOSE bloggers) who pretends to love everything about life all the time, 24/7. You know, those bloggers with 2 kids, a full time job where they work nights so they can watch their kids during the day, plan clever crafts and learning times, serve homecooked, organic meals every night, all while getting no sleep and still looking amazing?  Yeah, sorry. Not me. But for the most part, I am really loving this stage with Gia.


Sure she has her moments. We all do. She definitely gets her "moments" from me, anyways. Temper tantrums are a daily- sometimes hourly- thing around here. Her latest means of protest is to just fall to her knees wherever she is, if she doesn't agree with my request. More often than not, this happens in the middle of the street or a parking lots. Its loads of fun, especially when I have my hands full of groceries. :)  But its just part of the territory.


What I really wanted to write about are the sweet things she's been doing that just blow my mind. I already wrote about her precious prayers. They get cuter & sweeter every night. She's also started praying with us at meal times. She reaches for our hands, hers already coverd with cottage cheese or ketchup, and we grimace & laugh but hold them anyways. Several times a day, she will open her arms up wide and say "Mommy BIG HUG!" My brother was here for her birthday and taught her the art of a fist bump. Now, she'll make a fist, stick it out in front of her and say "hiss hump." She wants to do it over and over again. Its hilarious!


She's also taken to snuggling. She was never a really cuddly baby, but now she's making up for lost time. She always says, "Mommy nuggle?" Its usually when I put her down for a nap (stall tactic) but she'll do it at other times, too.


My two favorite phrases she now repeats to me daily are "Mommy so cute" and "Mommy you're boototiful." She says it was a draw in her voice, dragging out the "cuuuuute" and "boooootootiful."  So fun.  I love her giggles and squeals and am so thankful for this little girl who calls me Mommy... even if it means never going to the bathroom by myself.

I'm going to let the world in on a little secret: I don't really know what I'm doing with this whole parenting thing.  Oh, I've read lots of books on the subject and talked to many moms I admire.  I've Binged and Googled and Pinterested to my heart's content issues on the matter of parenthood, especially as it pertains to this new land we've recently entered: Toddlerdom.  But when it really comes down to it, I'm just doing the best I can with what I've got.  Some days, that's more than others.  At the end of every day, though, all I'm ever left with is a prayer in my heart and faith in my Heavenly Father that I'm raising my daughter in His way.

There are days when I don't think I can take it any more... She's growing up so fast. She already knows all her basic colors. She says "I love you" spontaneously at dinner (though her dad had to translate that one for me). She feeds her baby dolls like the Duggar mom, and has strong opinions about cheese (loves it) and milk (hates it).  Our books from the library this week were about counting.  I realized we haven't really been working on numbers.  I'm amazed at how much she soaks up so quickly.  While playing with Dad after dinner last night, she counted to eight!  She's growing up so fast.


She picks up the funniest things from Sean and me... "Huuuh-neeeey!" is currently her favorite term of endearment.  Apparently, its mine too at the moment.  She shouts "I'm tuummmming" as she runs from the play loft to her bedroom when its time for jammies.  When I'm sitting on my bed, making menus for the week or our shopping list, she brings me her toys and says "Here go" as she flings them up to me.  The need for discipline has appeared seemingly overnight, and we're still working on understanding what it means to "obey" and "disobey."  But she knows what is right and what it wrong- that is certain. In fact, several times today, she put herself in time out before I had to tell her.  It made me feel guilty and question myself for a brief moment, and then I reminded myself that loving guidance is necessary.


She's growing up so fast these days.  When she runs by me in a flash of excitement, hurrying on to the next toy that strikes her fancy, I can hardly recognize her as my baby!  But in my heart, I know, she will always be my baby.  So I search with fervor for signs of that truth- that she will always be my baby.  Tonight as we were watching a movie before bed, she held my hand.  And though she is growing up and learning and becoming more "girl" than "baby" by the minute, tonight, the tiny dimples in her hand remind me that she will always be my baby.


Some day, in the not so distant future, I will look at her and realize that she is becoming more "woman" than "baby."  And I'm not sure what will convince me then that she will always be my baby.  But you better believe I will search for it.  And I will find it.  Because though I know its her job and my prayer that she will grow up to become a beautiful, God-serving woman some day, she will always. be. my. baby.

Gia has been a mess of teething pain lately.  Several weeks ago, she had almost a week straight of moderate fevers and sore gums- but no teeth to show at the end of it!  This week she's been in even more teething pain but thankfully, there is at least one dagger that has made it through the surface of her gums.  I'll tell you what- the books aren't joking around when they talk about the rough days brought about by teething pain.  Those suckers are mean!  Gia's also working on getting in at least one of her 1-year old molars.  The back part of her gums is so swollen!  I stuck my finger back there to feel around for any of the emerging offenders, but all I could feel was this gross fleshiness from the inflammation.  Poor baby indeed!

Yesterday, she was having a horrible time with the pain, but I had done all that I could do for her- tylenol, teething tablets, frozen treats.  I offered other means of comfort- frozen washcloth, ice to chew on, teething toys and snuggles- but she wanted nothing to do with me.  She bent herself over towards the hard kitchen tile (we call this her "downward facing dog" pose) and just cried.  She paused only to stand up, bring her hands to her mouth to show me what was hurting, punctuating the gesture with an even louder cry.  I tried to gather her up in my arms, but she just wiggled out of it.  She wanted nothing to do with me.  So I took her upstairs to her room and tried to read her a book as we sat & rocked.  Again, she writhed her way out of my hold, sliding to the ground and hitting her head on the side of the rocker.   More screams ensued.  But again, she wanted none of my comfort.  She walked over to a corner in her room and just sat there, screaming and looking at me.  I felt so helpless.  Why wouldn't she let me hold her?  Aren't babies supposed to be more cuddly when they're in pain?  It hurt me to see my little girl hurting, and to have limited means by which to alleviate that pain.  Finally, I just got on the floor beside her while she continued to throw her fit- a fit of both frustration and discomfort.  A first but certainly not the last.  I kept my arms out towards her and waited for her to come to me.  Thankfully, the tylenol kicked in and she was able to take a little nap.  But her display of independence scared me.

I know that's what this age is all about- learning independence from me socially, physically, mentally and emotionally.  But man, its hard!  Afterall, it was only two months ago that she was still reliant upon me for a certain amount of daily sustenance!  And while I'm grateful that she has learned how to fall asleep without my help, I am keenly aware of the independence this also marks.  She's only 15 months old, but I already see a strong will in her and at times, like yesterday, that scares me.  I want her to be a strong woman, but I also want her to display gentleness, quietness and peacefulness.  I want her to be steadfast in her faith but humble in seeking help.  A strong willed child is not a bad thing.  In fact, it can be quite a valuable character trait- but here's the catch- only when it is harnessed to and formed around the heart of Christ.  AND *gulp* its my job (along with Sean) to help her learn how to do that.  I'm 31 years old and am still trying to figure that out.  How in the world am I supposed to teach my daughter truths that are still sometimes abstract- at best- in my life?

I was praying about that today and God simply gave me one word: scripture.  Read it over her, read it to her, pray it for her, bathe her in scripture.  That is the only way I will ever know how to raise my daughter, who is so much like me its frightening.  I don't want her to struggle against God and family for so many years.  I want her to be able to use her strong passions- whatever they may become- for the Kingdom of Christ, and to bring the Gospel to a hurting world.  I want her to be solid in her love and faith, but moldable in her heart and spirit.  Alone, as parents, we are incapable of teaching that.  But with scripture- breathing, reading, speaking, praying and living it out before her, that's the only way it will happen.

Now I admit, I'm a sap in my old age.  I cannot read a passage of scripture out loud to my daughter without my eyes welling up with tears.  Seriously, I can be reading about Noah's Ark or Joseph and his techincolor dream coat, and tears spill onto my cheeks.  But I'm learning to become okay with that... God's word is powerful and His goodness is woven all throughout scripture.  You simply cannot escape that when you read it.  I used to roll my eyes at my mom when she would cry.  (I'm sorry, Mom.)  Now I get it.  So I guess Gia is just going to have to get used to that.

On another note, something I just thought of as I was writing this... the way Gia was acting when she was crying yesterday... how often have I done that with God?  Writhing in pain, but determined to get through it on my own, apart from God.  His comfort so close, but my stubborn, sinful heart forbidding me from melting into his arms.  I am so thankful that he never gives up on us, that his love is always there, and his arms are always outstretched towards us.  May my stubborn will be overcome with his grace and mercy; may I put my pride aside and accept his love, and in return, may I show his love to others, that they may also come to know the awesome power of his redeeming love.

Gia had her 15 month check-up today!  She is doing great!  She's now grown from the 7th percentile in weight up to the 25th percentile!  Her height and head circumference are also right on track.  Despite a week of fever and fussiness, she still only has 6 teeth to speak of.  Though I do think there may be another one on the bottom trying to pop through.  Dr. C was very happy with Gia's vocabulary... she now says a dozen or more words.  Her doctor said she would have been happy with just three words!  I'd been a little worried because Gia doesn't finish saying the end of words, (for instance, she days "dah" instead of "dog" and "BAH!" instead of "ball") but Dr. C said that was perfectly fine!  She said its totally normal and nothing to be worried about at all.  She's far ahead on her speech and comprehension.  The doctor was impressed when I told her how much Gia could understand when we asked her to do something.  For the most part, Gia is sleeping well through the night.  She wakes up in the middle of the night sometimes, but our doctor gave us some tips on how to deal with that.  Basically, don't get her out of bed and let her soothe herself back to sleep.  Gia is starting to bring me a book, then sit in my lap and let me read it to her.  This is one of my favorite things!  She has also started giving me spontaneous hugs- this is my absolute favorite!!  We are so blessed by this little beauty who makes me crack up with laughter every day.  Her precious personality it shining through and I love getting to know her more and more.

I haven't forgotten about the 13 month pictures... they're coming.  I'm working on it but I've been so busy around here.  I am so in love with my little girl... she is hillarious.  Every day she does something new that just cracks me up.

We went to a garage sale this afternoon and found some great deals.  Most of the kids clothing items were 10 or 25 cents!  While we were there, there were several little girls who were looking at Gia as I was looking through all the clothes.  One little girl said, "Why does she look like that?"  I asked, "Like what?"  She said, "She has no hair!"  I just laughed and told her it wasn't growing very fast yet!  Haha. My sweet bald baby.  My mom told me that she didn't have to cut my hair until I went into Kindergarden!

Lately Gia's been picking up new words, and associating objects with those words in new contexts.  Its so fun to watch her connect the dots!  For instance, while she was taking her bath tonight, she was playing with her rubber duck.  I was teaching her to say "Duck" which she did pretty good.  Then, we were reading a book before bedtime and there was a picture of a rubber duck in the book.  I asked, "Gia, what is that?"  She just stared at it for about a minute, then said "Duck!"  (Or as she says, "Duh!")  So cute!

I took these pictures tonight as I was holding Gia.  Its Wednesday night, and she's always tired on church nights.  As you can see, she didn't make it through her bedtime nursing session.  (Hope she doesn't wake up hungry at 3 am!)  Usually, I try to keep her awake as I'm feeding her so that I put her in her crib awake.  But that was just not happening tonight.  So instead, I just stared at her.  For a long time.  Truth be told, I do that a lot.  Just look at her.  I'm amazed and awed with the both the amount of love I feel for her and the capacity of my heart to hold such emotion. 

I made a quick little video that shows how I edited the weekly photos.  So many people have asked where I got the onesies for the 52 weeks, but here's the secret: they're fake!  Totally photoshopped.  I just use a plain white onesie, then add the weeks in using Photoshop.  If you are interested in doing a similar project but don't have Photoshop, I think you can still do the same thing using another free photo editing program like paint.  (But I haven't tried it so I'm not totally sure.)

Sorry if the video isn't entirely clear... I couldn't figure out how to add text beyond "titles" so the text is a little more vague that what I had initially planned on including in the video.  It also cut off the very top of my screen so you can't see everything I was doing with the top tool bar in PS, but it gives you the basic idea.  If you have any questions, just ask!

Oh- and there are stupid ads on it so you may have to "x" off of those in order to see the text.  :)




 

Weight: She is 17 pounds, 3 ounces. 
Clothing Size: 12 months, with a few 9 month onesies that I still SQUEEZE her into.  
Fave Toy: She received some super fun toys for her birthday!  Its hard to pick a fave this month as she is having a blast exploring them all!  But if I had to pick, I think her new Cinderella baby doll and doll stroller are her current fave.
Fave Outfit: Without a doubt her birthday outfit- the "1" shirt and tutu skirt.
New Moves: Walking more here and there, a few steps strung together at a time. She also has this super cute squinty-eyed face she makes when she really likes something. 
Teething: STILL NO NEW TEETH!
Eating: She's been eating like a teenage boy the past couple of days!  I am so proud of her.  I am trying to wean her off of her afternoon nursing session.  Yesterday was the first day I didn't give it to her, and it went pretty well.  So we'll keep trying that and see how it goes.  She got her first taste of sweets this month and is pretty much a fan.  She loves cake pops and donuts the most.  :)  I've tried giving her whole milk but so far she is not a fan of it.
Sleeping:  She is still waking up once or twice.  For now I'm still letting her nurse but I know we really need to stop that soon.      
Talking: She is babbling like crazy!  She says "all done" while doing the sign for it when she is finished with dinner.  She also says it whenever she's ready to move on to a new activity or get out of her car seat.  Too cute.  She's also trying to say "banana" which is cute. 

I cannot believe Gianna is one year old.  We had to go to the doctor on Friday before her birthday because she had an ear infection.  Gia now weighs 17 pounds 1 ounce, and grew an inch in just the past month.  She is 28 inches tall now!  That puts her in about the 12th percentile for her height and weight.  Dr. C was very happy with how she is growing and gaining weight.

For Gia's birthday, her Aunt Anne and Uncle Kyle wanted to take her to the Indy Children's Museum.  What a great birthday gift!  I love the idea of giving the gift of a memory!  There was a "Going to Egypt" exhibit that made the day especially fun.  We pretended like we were going to see Nana and Papa Sam.  I was amazed at how true to life the depictions of everyday Egypt was!  We took a million pictures (ok, really just 134) but here are just a few of the best ones.

She's hillarious.  This is her personality that is just budding!

 After the Children's Museum, we went to Yatz's for an early dinner (YUMMMM) and then The Flying Cupcake for- what else?  A birthday cupcake!  Here are some phone pics of that. 

She used my dark-wash jeans as a napkin for her white frosting-covered hands.

Mmmm Yatz cajun food!

It was a beautiful day filled with many priceless memories.  My heart was so full.  I can't think of another day this past year that has been so perfectly wonderful and enjoyable other than the day she was born.  Thank you Aunt Anne & Uncle Kyle for making memories with us! 

HURRAY!  52 Weeks old and this Photo A Week project is complete!  I had my doubts about being able to do this project, but now that it is complete I can't believe how fast this past year has flown by.  I am glad I was able to keep up with it!

This past week has been so crazy with all the things Gia has been doing.  Its like all of a sudden, she realized the people around her really were her friends.  She's been much more social.  On Saturday, we had her big birthday party (a week early so out of town family could be there).  I was totally nervous about how she would hold up for the whole thing, but that child amazed me.  She let me walk around and play hostess while she was perfectly content to play with the other kids across the room.  When the party was over, I was going to hurry up and get her home for a nap, but she was still happy.  So I was able to stay and clean up- she never got fussy!

She is getting so cute with her little baby dolls.  She got a new one for her birthday that she loves- a baby Cinderella doll.  Its amazing to me how maternal she already is.  My parents got her a doll stroller for her birthday, and she is so sweet.  She cuddles the babies and the puts them in the stroller.  Gia is even getting a bit more cuddly these days- something she has definitely not been much of before.

As for walking, Gia hasn't really taken many more steps.  Just a few here and there.  But she is definitely trying and getting closer!  She is still saying "momma" and "dad" a lot.  She's becoming such a daddy's girl.  She can also say "All Done" when she is finished eating.  It is SO cute when she does that!  She's even started saying "all done" whenever she is tired of something... getting out of her car seat, playing with a certain toy, etc.  This little girl has such a mind of her own already!  Gia loves to sing.  She has such a sweet, angelic voice!  She sings in the car all the time!

So what's next?  I am planning to take monthly pictures of little Miss G from here on out... until she's 18.  :)  How many pictures is that?  194?  Yes, that sounds good.  Well ok, I guess I will just take it one year at a time.  I have an idea for what I am going to do, but I need to find a few things for it.  I'll keep you posted.  ;)  Thanks so much for following along with us this past year.  Your kind comments and encouragements have helped keep me going!

Oh, and as for what I am going to do with all of the pictures and fabric, I will write another post about that soon too.  But you may have to bear with me a few weeks because we are in the middle of moving craziness! Now for some outtakes: