That first week is a DOOZY!

Giulianna's first week of preschool is behind us.  She had the best week ever and loves making new friends.  Unfortunately, with this new endeavor, we didn't escape unscathed.  Because Giulianna has never been in any type of organized childcare we have never been exposed to the germs that are creeping around inside the school and as it turns out, those little buggers are fierce and ready to pounce!  Giulianna hopped in the car last Wednesday and I noticed a scrape under her right arm.  I immediately held her arm up over her head and ask if she fell down today.  She said "Yeah"  like it was nothing.  And she was right, it usually is nothing, but not today.   No, Giulianna's little scrape from the playground was an entry way for a million little germs that she had never had before.  So fast forward to Saturday when Giulianna woke from her afternoon nap.  She comes in my bedroom and lays down beside me on the bed and immediately says "My arm hurts".  I was not prepared for what I saw when I raised her arm this time.  Giulianna was completely covered in a rash that started at the spot where the scrape was and spread down her torso along her right side.  The rash was really big where it started and speckled down to smaller spots.   Oh my Gosh.  What has happened?  I had no idea what it could be and this looked bad. After a trip to Urgent Care we found out she has a contact dermatitis which is a huge allergic reaction to something.  Poison Ivy is considered Contact Dermatitis.   So hopefully after a few days it will clear up and she will be good to go.  BUT Good Gracious!  I wasn't prepared for that!  I thought we would get sick our first year with fevers and viruses but I've never seen such!  This year is going to be interesting.

Mills' Morning with Mommy

This morning I got the rare chance to spend time with Mills all by ourselves.  I got the day off of work today because of some renovations that we are doing to the restaurant.   Giulianna had school this orning so that left Mills and I to ourselves.  She knew that she had Mommy to herself and took full advantage of her situation!  We read book after book!  Had snack together and went to the Children's Hands On Museum in downtown Tuscaloosa.  We started with their Movin' and Grovin' class.  Mills had a blast!  She danced and clapped to the music and made her rounds through the room smiling at everyone!  She is such a sweetheart!   Then we went downstairs to a Baby Social Bookreading in the Farm.   She absolutely loved it!!  I had such a great day off!  I wish I could do it more often! 

 

Giulianna's Words of Wisdom

I told Giulianna the day before school started that Mommy was sad that she was getting so big and going to school.  I told her that I wanted her to stay little forever and stay with me.  She told me "Mommy, don't be sad.  I have to grow up and go to school, so I can learn to Read!"

I guess if she has to.....

Giulianna's Big Day

Friday was Giulianna's first day of preschool.   She was so excited for her big day and ask me all week when she was going.  Since she knows her days by babysitters, I told her it was the day after Ms. Kristin came, so she was ready as soon as Ms.Kristin left on Thursday.  When she woke up on Friday she found me in the kitchen.  She was smiling ear to ear.  The first thing out of her mouth was "Are you making my lunch????"  I told her that I was, and tucked her lunch into her backpack.  She then put on her backpack and wore it for the rest of the morning while still in her nightgown watching morning cartoons.  She actually tried to go out the door a couple of times.  Needless to say when we got to the school she was so excited she could barely stand it!  When we got to her classroom she gave me a sideways hug that said "See Ya Later!!!"  I'm so happy for her!  I know this is exactly where she wants to be!

Here are a few pics I took on the Big Day...

Millsy say CHEEEEEE

Mills has been really getting the hang of having her picture taken these days.   She has been really hamming it up with all the cute new things she can do.   She is getting really good at her animal sounds, she is singing and dancing, as well as jumping (without leaving the ground).  Her cute factor is WAY UP right now...  but one of the cutest things that she is doing is smiling on cue for the camera.   In fact, anytime that you ask her to smile, she gives you one of these million dollar smiles with a happy 'Cheeeeee"!  Absolutely precious... too bad she has also picked up some not so cute habits as well, like splashing in the toilets and trying to get things out of the trash can.  

  Could she be any cuter?? 

The Cat's Meow

Giulianna and I got to spend this past Saturday together at a fabulous carnival themed birthday party for her friend Anderson and his baby sister Lydia whose birthdays are close so their mommy (My friend Lindsey) did a split ticket.  And what a party it was!  In case you didn't already know, Giulianna is a full throttle kind of girl, who from day one was completely rarring to go.  At the carnival G wore herself out between the gymnasium sized inflatable slide and the two bouncy houses! She had a blast!  One of the most impressive things at the party though was the face painter.  Have you seen these painters yet?  The ones that can paint faces so ellaborate that the kids look like they are attending a mardi gras ball?  Impressive to say the least.  This lady could do the entire face in about 3 minutes... 

Check out Giulianna as a cat.

(She was given the choice of blue or pink cotton candy and of course, she chose BLUE)

Squash Cakes

Last night we had Breaded Pork chops with squash cakes for dinner.  Being a southern girl,  I was immediately drawn to the idea of the squash cake that my Mother-in-law served a few weeks back.  These things are a wonderful!  And a great way to serve summer squash that is EASY to make! They are basically miniature squash casseroles fried up in pan!  What's not to Love???  Who knew Italians and southerner had the same affinity for fried vegetables?   This is NOT my mother in law's recipe.  I improvised and made these because I hadn't gotten my hands on her recipe yet... 

Here you go!  Enjoy...


Grate 4 yellow squash
2 eggs
1.5 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup of all purpose flour or bread crumbs
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil (both spices are the dried kind)
Pan fry in olive oil