Swim Lessons

It's been a crazy busy summer and I finally made time to squeeze swimming lessons into our schedule.  

I'm not sure who was more nervous....Gianna or me. Our summer has been full of challenges and new concerns with our three year old - so I had no idea what to expect.

We figured private lessons might be more effective for her, so I registered her and found out her instructor would be a man. That gave me a little concern because lately she has been very shy with men - even men that she knows well.

Gianna has become much less willing to try things in the pool this year.  Last year she'd jump off the edge and go under - this year, she wasn't having it.  But alas, God sent the perfect swim teacher for her....CJ.

How cute is he? (I didn't want to know how old he was because I'm pretty sure I'm old enough to be his mother.)

He was incredible with her.

She was HILARIOUS with him.

She talked the whole time.

He laughed the whole time.

He'd ask her to put her head under water and she'd say, "Nah, that's okay." or "But, I'm just a little kid!"  or "How 'bout you put your head under?" (After which she'd offer to give him gummy treats for a job well done.)

He said she was the most fun lesson he'd had all summer.

She really was pretty fun - and funny. And I was relieved, because you just never know which way these things can go.  (I'm crossing my fingers about upcoming ballet lessons - where she'll have an audience for her antics.)

Jelly Book - volume 7

I keep a "JELLY BOOK" of some of the entertaining things that Gianna says and does.

Here's my latest entry...

Spring/Summer 2011

* * * * *

Gianna often wants to know if random people are happy. Usually she asks us right after she gets into trouble.  When we went to Florida we were driving to her uncle's house:

G: "Is Uncle Robert happy?"

Me:  Oh, I bet he's in heaven right now. (Referring to him having his whole family visiting him.)

G: Uncle Robert died?

* * * * *

Me:  Gianna, why are you blinking so much?

G:  Well, I think my allergies are trying to come out.

* * * * *

G:  No, Mommy - not in the sun!  I want to live in the dark shade.

* * * * *

At a children's concert talking about the song, "Whatcha want to be when you grow up?"

Me:  What do YOU want to be Gianna? (She usually says doctor of fireman.)

G:  Frweee.

Me:  You just turned three, Gianna.

G: Oh. Then Frwee and a half.

* * * * *

Prior to that same concert, I'd asked G several times what she wanted to be when she grew up.

Consistantly her answer was, "A boy."

Well, I did tell her she could be anything she wanted. (Gosh, I sure hope I'm not going to be in the same support group as Cher!)

* * * * *

G:  Mommy, come with me. Quick!

Me: What's wrong, Gianna.

G:  Jesus, is on the ceiling. Come look!

My curiosity piqued, I quickly followed her.

G:  Look Mommy, he's up there!

(Pointing to the crucifix above the door.)

G: You see him?  He rose from the dead!!!!

* * * * *

During nighttime prayer:

Me:  Is there anything you're are thankful for tonight?

G:  Black.

Me:  Umm..... Black? You want to tell me more about that?

G:  Yes...I am thankful for black choc-o-late.  When I'm four could you make me a choc-o-late cake?  I like the white cake, but I LOVE choc-o-late cake!

* * * * *

Another night during prayer:

G:  ...God bless Sophia, baby Joseph, and Ms. Nichole...(smiles)...Rock and Roll, Ms. Nichole.....(proud grin)....that rhymes!

* * * * *

After a a good ten minutes of her attempt to fight her nap, I entered her room only to find her out of bed (which she rarely tries) and playing with her dollhouse. 

"Gianna?!" I said sternly.
"Oh, hi Mommy, I had a lovely sleep!" 

Nice try, dumpling.

* * * * *

As I was driving (about 35mph) after being stopped at a traffic light for several minutes Gianna said in a very concerned voice:

"Woa! Mommy. What are you doing? Why are you going so fast?  Gentle, Mommy, Gentle!"

* * * * *

Gianna's not sick very often, but every now and then after she cries (new pastime) she complains,

"Oh no, Mommy! Now I'm all 'snuffy!'"

* * * * *

Gianna was crying after she had gotten scolded and said,

"Oh NO! I can't see."

I started getting concerned and asked, "Gianna, why can't you see?"

"Because of the drips in my eyes."

* * * * *

One day we stopped for a train on our way home.  As we watched it pass, Gianna asked me,

"Hey Mommy, Is that train going west?"

(Not left, but WEST.   I actually had to see where the sun was setting to figure out that the train was indeed traveling westward.  Geez!)

* * * * *

I can count on my right hand how many times I've had to wake Gianna up in the morning.

Last week was one of those times.

She was so groggy and could barely open her eyes.

Me:  Wake up, Sleepyhead, we have to go to swimming lessons and the funeral home.

Gianna (barely able to lift her head):  Ummm....maybe Saturday.

Me: (laughing) No, not Saturday, today.

Gianna:  Or how 'bout Christmas?

* * * * *

Lately, we've had a lot of family friends who have passed away.  I'm pretty impressed by her understanding of the difficult concept.

G:  Mommy, George died? 

Me:  Yes Gianna, he did.

G:  George went to heaven?

Me:  Yes Gianna, that's right.

G:  Mommy, we're all going to die.

Me: Well, eventually - yes.

G:  But Mommy, I don't want to die yet.

Me:  Me neither, Gianna.  Let's wait.

* * * * *

I gave Gianna some frosted mini wheats for a morning snack.

About 20 minutes later she came up to me,

G:  Mommy, can I have something to eat?

Me:  Gianna, I just gave you mini wheats that you didn't eat.

G:  But Mommy, I DID eat them.

Me:  Gianna, the bowl is full.

G:  Yeah, but I only ate the 'cream'.

* * * * *

Another time she did the same thing with pretzels....licked the salt off, left the pretzels.

* * * * *

Soaking wet after playing on the Slip-n-Slide, Gianna says,

"Mommy, can I go on the swing?

Not wanting to stay outside, I replied,

"Well, Gianna you're all wet.  It'll be very slippery."

Gianna's response:

"So, Mommy.....how bout you put me in the swing.....and then if I'm too wet and slippery, THEN we can go inside."

Who's going to say no to that logic?

* * * * *

On the swing:

"Hey Mommy, wanna push me Super Pie?''

* * * * *

G:  Oh no. It's brokeeen.

 (I love the way she says broken and rarely correct her.)

* ** * *

My dad was recently in the hospital and on our way to visit him we spoke with a hospital worker emptying out a trashcan in the hallway.
G:  And what is YOUR name?
Worker:  I'm Carmen.  What is your name?
G:  I'm Gianna.  What are you doing Carmen?
Worker:  I work here.
G:  Oh, good.  My PePaw is here and he's sick.  Can you make him better?

{melt}

* * * * *

The first day of swim lessons, the precious instructor tried and tried to get G to put her head under water.  Finally, she looked at him, tilted her head and said,
"Mr. CJ, I'm just a little kid!"

* * * * *

We had a large packing box that Gianna turned on it's side and turned into a rocket.
We just read a book from the library called Mail Harry to the Moon (so cute) and she asked me if I could send her to the moon in her rocket.
Every time she got in the box I'd begin the countdown....
Five, four, three, two, one....
The door (lid) would fly open and Gianna would have a panicked expression and
say, "Ummm....Mommy, can you come to the moon with me?"
Me:  Oh Gianna, I can't today.  I have to cook supper.
G:  Well, can Max come with me?
Me:  No, silly. Max is a dog.  He can't go to the moon.
You'll be okay.  Ready?  Five, four, three, two, one.....
G: NOOO.  I don't want to go to the moon!
Me:  But I thought you wanted to go?
G:  Yeah...but I'm just a little nervous.
Me:  Really? Why?
G:  Mommy? Is this for pretend?

* * * * *

I love my Jelly Book Girl!

Party time....

Well, almost a month later - I'm finally posting about Gianna's birthday party.

The theme was - use whatever you have around the house to throw a 3 year old party.....starting with the invitations.

The theme was Cupcakes...if that is even considered a theme.

I found these cupcake placemats for 96 cents at Pier One in November. I knew I'd figure some way to use them.  (I cut the letters out of felt that I already had....didn't even have to glue them!)

She was given a fancy party had for her first birthday, I've uncovered it and re-covered it each year.

Simple spread...just had hotdots and cupcakes. (Chips and dips too.)

I wasn't sure if just cupcakes would suffice, so I finally got to use my giant cupcake mold and put the humungo cupcake on top of a cake.

Little friends (and big ones too) made for a fun time.

Lovin' from Nanny Jeanne and Uncle Alan...

Our PRECIOUS godchild, Nate...

Precious indeed!

The gifts were awesome! And SO appreciated.

My family was in Florida for the funeral of a close family friend of ours, but Uncle Vinnie gave Gianna an awesome gift....

And right before we were getting ready to sing Happy Birthday, Gianna got the BEST gift!  MeMaw and PePaw caught an earlier flight and made it just in time to celebrate with us!

(I was TERRIBLE with my camera on party day.  I missed so many shots and so many people.)

* * * * *

And Mommy schemed up an idea for she and Daddy to give to their big three year old.
Daddy even built it himself!

HER VERY OWN STAGE.

(She's been holding concerts ever since she got her karaoke machine at Christmas.)

The stage was a hit.

The party was a success.

And the momma was tired.

And as happy as I am to celebrate my child, I'm SO glad we have another 11 months to think about another party. :)

Back when I was a kid....

....my mom used to make a great cake for our family birthday celebrations which became a tradition for many years. It's called an Ice Box Log Cake and it's a super simple cake made with Nabisco's Famous  Chocolate Wafers  (super thin chocolate cookies) and homemade whipped cream (with a touch of vanilla and sugar.)  

Heavenly... 

...and so easy.  You make spread generous amounts of the cream on each cookie and set them aside in little stacks.  Then you assemble the stacks on their sides into a log and cover with cream.  Once your put it in the refrigerator to chill, the cream moistens and expands the cookies into soft yummy cake. (Told you it was easy.)  The neat thing is that when you cut the cake on a diagonal it looks like this...

It's like eating the lightest, fluffiest, tastiest cookies and cream cake. (It has an Oreo taste.)

I knew I'd be making a big birthday cake and cupcakes for Gianna's party, but I wanted a little something special for her actual birthday.  I started doing some research and discovered that there are MANY people who grew up enjoying this wonderful cake in the 60's and 70's.  The one complaint is that the wafers are super hard to find. You can order them on the internet, but I understand there are a lot of broken cookies and you have to order an entire case - which is much more than I need or want to spend. 

The more I started thinking about how much time and/or money I might waste in search of these chocolate wafers, the more inspired I became to see if anyone had a copycat recipe for them.  Oh how I love Google!  I found the recipe here and I had all the ingredients at home - so it made things so much easier. The recipe for the Icebox cake is here. (You can add a little sugar to the whipping cream to sweeten it a bit.)

I didn't tell my parents I was making this cake, so I think they were really surprised that I was able to resurrect such a memorable part of our family history.  It was my brother's favorite cake growing up (mine too) but he's been working in Florida, so he didn't get to see/eat it.  Don't worry Uncle Vinnie, I'll make you one when you come back.

Now we have a new Lewis Family Tradition!

Two thumbs up from the three year old!

One good shot...

Sometimes people remark that they are impressed with my daughter's willingness to have pictures taken of her.

HA!!!

Just to get one decent shot of my new three year old, we had to go through these...

My goal in picture taking is to get one good shot.

This was the last one I took in this comical series....

Maybe it was the last, because I stopped when I got one good shot.