365 Days Ago

The Mr. crossed all his T's and dotted all his I's and then signed our lives away in exchange for a set of keys and a home of our own. 
A year ago this very night I was shoving the last of what we owned into 3 small suitcases and was anxiously awaiting the reunion of our little family in Texas. 
Here I am now a year later sitting at my kitchen table remembering all the challenges that lead up to finding and buying this home.  I remember the absolute certainty I had that I was going to be so happy in Texas.  The anticipation of finally having our family together and in a place of our own was all I could think about.
I'm glad we are together as a family, being separated for 6 months was really was one of the hardest times of my life.  I love this house I really do.  I have so many plans and things I want to do with it. 
I'm glad we've been so blessed. 
The past two weeks Derik has been off and has been home to help me out and I have loved having him home.  How different my life was just one year ago.  How grateful I am to be on the other side of things. 
Texas is taking it's sweet time to grow on me, but with time I find myself being content with things the way they are.  Houston winters are pretty awesome (if you ask me) so it's easier for me to find joy in living here. 
All in all I'm a happy girl, happy to be a home owner, happy to be making it out here all on our own, happy we are together, happy to have a set of keys and a house of our own to make memories in.

Sunday Snippets

Our Week in Review 

November 19-25

• Got a call from the school nurse saying Alivia had a fever of 101.  Apparently there is a bug flying around her school.  She's been lethargic all week.  She shared her germs with Isaac now I have two sick kids.
• Derik's car refused to start again.  Luckily his friend Ryan came over and they tinkered around and got it running again. 
• The kids and I put the Christmas trees up Friday afternoon.  I opted to go very simple this year.  Since most of our Christmas tree ornaments have been broken throughout the past 10 years and I refuse to buy more until I don't have toddlers, our trees are adorned with just a string or two of lights, but the kids love them just the same.  I often find Miss Alivia curled up under the front room tree.  She plugs in the lights and just lays there all day it's really sweet.

 

• I spent my weekend building a bed frame out of wood.  I'm just waiting for one more part to arrive in the mail, so that I can finish it up.  Dylan's friend came out in to the garage while I was sawing wood and asked my why I do all the hard work around the house.  It made me laugh.  I kindly tried to explain to him that I choose to do all the "hard stuff" because I think it's fun, not becasue Dylan's dad makes me! 
• Teeth are falling out all over the place here.  Alivia lost a tooth and has one that's on it's way out.  Dylan lost another tooth too. 
• The Mr. had the week off.  It's been nice to have him home, he and Isaac have had a ball playing catch, running around shooting each other with Nerf guns and getting slushies at Sonic. 
•  I had mentioned to Derik that I thought it was weird that I hadn't ever felt this baby hiccup.  Famous last words I guess, because it has been hiccuping like mad ever since. 
• I think it's to early to call it nesting, but I certainly have had the fire to get projects around the house done.  Now I need to really focus on freezing meals and actually preparing our home for another baby. 

3rd Annual Giovannoni Thanksgiving Thanks

Derik:

1. Employment
2. Family
3. Health

Michelle:

1. Family
2. Gospel
3. House

Dylan:

1. Family 
2. Legos
3. Pokemon

Alivia

1. Jesus
2. Food
3. Grandma's and Friends

Isaac:

1. Daddy
2. Hotdogs
3. Technology (the tablet)

Six Years Ago...

Somewhere around 7:30 in the morning I told Mr. Giovannoni to pack up our stuff, and that it was time to head closer to the hospital.  While I thought my labor was pretty intense at that point, I was going to be sure the hospital wasn't going to send me home like they did when I was in labor with Dylan.  So I huffed and puffed and we headed to my mothers home.  I can remember standing on my mothers doorsteps, when a whopper of a contraction hit.  I grabbed Derik's hand and I said "please please don't ever let me forget how much this hurts, and I never want to do it again! 
After a few more hours of doing my best to handle the pain, my mother convinced me to go to the hospital.  I was still somewhat certain they'd send me home, but I guess at that point I was praying I had actually made enough progress to be able to stay at the hospital.

I would have been pleasantly surprised (if that's even possible during labor) when they said I was 5 centimeters dilated and moving fast, but I was most definitely relieved to know I was nearing the end.  Just a few moments after lying in the hospital bed my water broke and I was told that if I wanted an epidural I'd need to get it now or else it would be to late.   Just a few moments after the epidural did it's magic I quietly fell asleep.  I remember being woke up and being told it was time to push.  I was totally elated to have slept through to the end and a couple of pushes later, the Mr. and I welcomed our daughter into the world. 

It's funny how in those first few moments of holding and looking at her I was mystified and in denial that she was my daughter.  She was totally not what I expected.
She was fair skinned, and no matter how many times I was told she looked like me, I just couldn't find anything in her face that I recognized as my own.  She was a screamer and I was totally unprepared for that.  I think the only thing I got right about her in the beginning was that I observed little kinks in her hair and I said look "she's going to have curls".
I can look back now six years later and smile at how she revealed herself to me back then, she is still that little girl who mystifies me, who challenges me and who has taught me that expectations and dreams you hold aren't always what's best for you or the person you hold those dreams for. 

Alivia is determined and stubborn.
She is passionate.
She has a very healthy sense of self and a great appreciation for who she is.  She believes she is beautiful and the center of the world.  She is indeed a princess in her mind and expects others to see that about her too. 
She can be your dearest kindest friend, but she also knows how to push every little button a person has if they do something that doesn't jive with her plans.
She has a mothering nature about her.
She is eager to please and works very hard.
She is affectionate and really enjoys hand holding and hugs and kisses.
She loves her daddy, (I think he just gets her on so many levels that I don't) and it makes my heart happy to see the bond they have.
She loves to color.
She's so girly...She loves nail polish and lip gloss and jewelry and purses.  She likes to coordinate and look her best. 

Happy Birthday Miss Alivia, we all love you.  You are such an important part of our family.  Thanks for coming here and showing me who's boss!