Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Matt - we love you!! 

Small Steps and Big Leaps

The past couple of weeks have been just amazing for Gianna!  Friday the April 13th ironically turned out to be one of our luckiest days ever.  At physical therapy that morning Gianna took her first step (2 steps, to be exact, and towards me!).  It was a moment I'll never forget...I'm actually still getting tears typing about it now!!  We continued with the rest of the session, and just as we were about to leave and Julie was handing her to me, GiGi reached out to me and said "Mama" for the first time ever!!!  Leave it to Gianna to completely blow me away by reaching not only one, but TWO big milestones in the same day!  We took all the kids out for burgers and ice cream to celebrate that night.  Dominic and Angelo have since then taken it on as their personal mission to teach GiGi to walk.  Every night after they get their PJ's on, it's walking practice time where they sit on the floor facing each other and help her try to take steps in-between them.  She's even learned the sign language for "walk please" and signs it over and over (and over) for them to keep practicing with her.

And another big milestone this week - Gianna moved up at school from the infant room to the toddler room.  She's the only "non-walker" in the room, but I think so far she's holding her own, learning to wash her own hands in the little sink and eat at the small table and chairs (no more high-chair!).  She's exhausted by the end of the day, but I think she's loving her new room to grow.

The thing that touches me the most about all of Gianna's progress is how pleased and proud of herself she is.  She's developed this whole new smile during the past couple of weeks.....tilts her head to the side, crinkles up her eyes and nose, and just absolutely beams from ear to ear.  Self-confidence is something we all hope for our children.  To see GiGi start to develop that confidence at 18 months old is truly a dream come true. 

 

Easter Sunday 2012



Good Hare Day

We've been bunny-sitting our niece Haley's cute rabbit Penny this week, so she made the perfect "prop" for some Easter pictures!  Gianna's been interested in Penny but always gets nervous when we take her out of her cage.  She warmed up to her though playing outside today and enjoyed petting her by the end.    

Kentucky Girl

 

March Madness may be over but it's still Big Blue Madness basketball time in KY with the Wildcats in the final game for the first time since 1998.  Our little cheerleader has been rooting for Kentucky, but with a 9:23 pm game time tonight, I'm hoping she'll bring us luck even while asleep!

Sure Steps

GiGi has hypotonia (low muscle tone), which prevents her from being able to stand up for long without her feet turning in and falling down.  Her PT recommended that we have her fitted for foot orthotics which would help give her a lot more stability. We took her to Kenny Orthopedics to get her feet measured and order her little foot braces (called Sure Steps).  Of course I picked the ones covered with flowers and butterflies to make them "girly"! We got to pick them up in about a week and they fit perfectly.







The hardest thing was finding shoes to fit over them! 
None of the velcro shoes fit over the braces. 







We finally found the perfect pair of white tie-up shoes.
Here she is standing up and playing at Physical Therapy







Here's G on her first day with her new braces and shoes.
I think she looks so confident!



I'm so happy for her!  I can tell she's thrilled with being able to stand up, play and explore more.  The boys are now determined to teach her to walk.  D was so proud of helping her take these steps!!



Happy Valentine's Day!

Cheers to a New Year

Here's some pictures from New Years Eve - partying Gianna-style (hats, glasses and wigs = a good kid party!).   I always love the new year - like opening a book with blank pages to fill.  I look forward to filling those pages with good times with our family and friends and watching our little ones grow.  Health and Happiness in 2012!!