Tripp teaches me patience

I don't always have the patience that I should late at night when it comes to Gianna, especially when I'm tired and she wakes me up.  If I can't get her to sleep, I am quick to feed her in order to help her drift off to sleep rather than make her cry-it-out.  Bobby has more patience than I do, singing to her and getting up with her with amazing energy in the middle of the night.  If I am well rested, I can usually handle anything she throws at me, but when I'm tired, it's much harder for me to be patient.

There is a little boy named Tripp Roth from Louisiana who had a skin disorder which took his life this past week.  He was in constant pain everyday for the 2 years and 8 months that he lived, and his mom devoted her life during that time to caring for him.  She couldn't change his diaper like a normal baby, or feed him, or give him a big hug.  She watched everyday as her little boy broke out into open soars at the smallest of touches, and she sat with him in her arms as he took his last breath a few days ago.  

I sob everytime I read her blog about Tripp, and her story inspires my daily patience.  How can I be frustrated at all with my baby when she is perfectly healthy and happy?  I mean, Gia can smile at me, snuggle up against my chest, roll around on the floor, and be picked up & comforted when she cries.  I am so blessed.  Thanks to Tripp, I look at her and am reminded how precious this time with her is.  Sleep can wait.  Right now I want to soak up every moment I have with Gia, whether it's the middle of the day or the middle of the night.  Thank you Tripp, for your legacy.  Thank you to his mom, Courtney, for her courage, patience and love.

If you have time, please read her blog.  It is moving beyond words, and it has changed my life.  Pray for Courtney and her family as they grieve over the loss of Tripp.

Her blog, "EB"ing a Mommy:  http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/

A news article about Tripp:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2087209/Tripp-Roth-dead-EB-sufferer...

Gianna Grace's dedication service

My baby was dedicated to the Lord over our Christmas break.  We waited to have her dedicated because we wanted to be able to share it with our families, to have them there as support and witnesses to this wonderful moment where we promise publicly to give her life to God.  The service was at Coastal Shores Baptist church (Bobby's home church) in South Carolina on January 1st.  Both grandparents were there, along with one set of her great-grandparents, two great-aunts and uncles and her Uncle Josh.  My extended family would have loved to be there, but they live so far away, it just wasn't possible.  She looked amazingly cute in her dress (hand-made by a friend in Westwego) and, although she had an incredible rough morning before getting to church, she was cheerful and friendly at the service.  

Of course, my dad snapped pictures before coming to join us on stage, which is something I am so thankful for.  Although we had someone video tape the service, my dad is the only one who took pictures during the service, and I will be glad to have those as memories.  Pastor Kent spoke during her dedication, and then Gia's daddy gave a sincere, wonderful talk about what we hope for Gia.  He talked about the meaning of her name ("God is gracious) and why that meaning was so important to us, and then read the verse that we have given for her before she was even born (Psalm 64:1-2).  Bobby teared up a little because of the love he has for his little girl, which is one of the reasons I am so in love with him.  Bobby's dad prayed for Gia at the end, and I was moved and so greatful for my wonderful in-laws.

This day was special to me for 2 reasons:  One, we were able to share it with both sides of our families (other than Kelly, who couldn't be there because of the distance, which was sad for us both, but she got to come up to Boone later and spend time with Gia.).  I want Gia to feel loved and spiritually encouraged by her grandparents and extended family, and I want them all to know how important it is to us that Gianna grow up loving Jesus.  Two, I want Gianna to always know that her life belongs to God.  He has plans for her, gifts and talents that he will bless her with, all for His glory and all so that she may know how much He loves her.  I want her to understand that Jesus gave up His life so that she can have a relationship with the Father, and to see her serve Him out of love and gratitude.  My biggest prayer, more than my hopes/dreams for her, or even more than her health, is that she knows Jesus and trusts Him as her savior.  I pray that for her every night, and I wait with anticipation for the day that she makes that decision to dedicate her own life to the Lord.

Gia with her Uncle Josh

Gianna with her Montanarella grandparents

Gianna with her Wood grandparents

Gia with her great-grandparents

Gia with the whole family (minus me, I was taking the picture)

And, because Aunt Kelly's heart was there even though the rest of her body couldn't be, I've included this picture from Kelly's visit with us!

 

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations." ~Psalm 64:1-2

 

Christmas #3

We had to wait the longest for this Christmas, but it was worth it to spend the time with my parents!  Bobby went with his parents and brother to see the Gamecocks play in their bowl game (sorry Bobby, can't remember which one... but it was a really good one and they won), so we waited until January 5th to have the Montanarella Christmas morning.  The festivities, however, started on the drive up to Boone with the Christmas music and continued on the whole week with decorating/eating cookies, watching movies, teasing each other about gifts and dressing Gia up in all her Christmas outfits.  Unfortunately, Gianna took to sleeping TERRIBLY and then having extreme seperation anxiety from me, which means I got no sleep at night and then couldn't pass her off to take a nap during the day.  That equals one tired mommy, but I made the very best of it by spending time with my parents instead of sleeping.  After Bobby arrived, it got easier because he could share the nightly burden, but we were both exhausted all week.  

Anyway, on Christmas Eve my dad and I cranked out Christmas Eve dinner like machines and, if I do say so myself, it was one of the best meals we have ever made.  It was great to cook in the kitchen with my dad, I really miss that being so far away.  I rushed around to finish wrapping gifts and got Bobby to help me.  And let me just say that Bobby has improved 100% at his wrapping ability since we first got married.  I'm very impressed.  Poor Mom had the stomach bug (we had been passing it around), so she didn't get to eat much of anything that night, but the food was wonderful.  

Christmas morning was awesome.  We sat around opening gifts and telling stories about how we had to struggle to get the gift, or how we saved a bunch of money when buying it.  Gia had fun eating the paper again, and fortunately, since she was requiring a lot of attention, we were able to get some gift opening done while she was napping.  We ate a lot of leftovers, ate a lot of chocolate, laughed a lot and enjoyed each other's company.  I must say that my parents did a fantastic job on stockings this year.  Stockings have always been my favorite part of Christmas morning!  After opening gifts, we read the Christmas story in Luke and watched a couple episodes of NCIS.  It didn't snow, but mom and I took a walk anyway in the freezing cold.  

I am so blessed that Bobby and I both have wonderful families whom we LOVE spending time with.  It really makes the whole holiday fun knowing that we get excited to share the time with both sides.  We are also so grateful to have been able to afford plane tickets to go home, even if American Airlines did mess up our initial flight and lose us one day with the Wood's.  I pray that God blesses us with the time and finances to be able to spend Christmas with our families next year and in years to come!  Here's some pictures to show our fun!

Gianna's Christmas Eve gift

I look ridiculous, but this is me reading Gianna her Christmas Eve story

Our Christmas Eve spread

Our Christmas tree

Mom and I were pretty tickled about this

My candy bar tradition with Dad!

Our gifts from Peru to my parents... can you tell that Bobby accidently got the wrong sized hat for my mom?  It was really funny.

I'll leave you with this one... my dad wearing the rudolph nose we got him in his stocking and the toy my mom got him.  Hilarious!  If you want to see more pictures, they will be on facebook!

Christmas #2

We arrived at the Wood's house the day after Christmas, where we went straight to Bobby's grandparent's house to celebrate with the whole family.  For some reason I didn't take any pictures at this event.  I'm not sure what I was thinking, other than my camera was packed away and I was tired.  But, she got to see her second cousins who are 10 months and a year, great aunts and uncles, grandparents and great grandparents, and of course, her Uncle Josh.  Gianna got a bundle of cute toys and clothes, and Bobby and I had fun with the White Elephant game.

The next morning we had Christmas with the immediate Wood's family.  Gianna was awake for a while while we opened stockings and a few of her presents, and then she went down for a nap.  We laughed a lot and enjoyed each other's company, and the grandparents especially had fun watching Gia play with her toys.  Grandmama didn't want to let go of Gia, she loves her so much!  They all do :o)

Bobby got 4 books he had asked for and shirts, and I got Apples to Apples (it's the most awesome board game ever), a waffle maker like the one in hotels, and necklaces.  We are so spoiled by our families, and we still have one more Christmas to go to!  Here are the pictures from our Christmas at the Wood's.

Mama Faye opening the calendar we made for her

Gia with Uncle Josh

Bobby and me sporting our new hats!

Granddaddy playing with Gia as she checks out her new walker-toy from Uncle Josh.

Christmas #1

We were in Utah for the actual Christmas day (or Pre-Christmas, if you read our last post), so things were low key and relaxed, except for running around cleaning and packing later in the day.  Bobby and I woke up before the baby (that NEVER happens!) and opened our stockings.  I gave Bobby a ton of candy, and he loaded my stocking down with chocolate and 9 Bert's Bees chapsticks (that's right, 9!!).  Almost as if on a timer, Gia woke up once we had finished our stockings, so we got her and brought her out by the tree.  We had to get ready for church (Bobby was giving the message that morning), so we left our presents until the afternoon.  Bobby did a wonderful job preaching, and I kept Gia with me for part of the service since it was Christmas morning.  

After the service was over, we got home and immediately fixed our paper plates of Chinese food (yum!) and Sparkling cider.  We watched an episode of Gilmore Girls (my sweet husband tolerated it and made the time special for me) and then opened our gifts while Gianna was napping.  Gia woke up, and we got down to business unwrapping her things!  She got a gift from me, Bobby, Great Grandpa M, Aunt Fran and Uncle Paul, and Nana.  She got some neat things, but was way more interested in the wrapping paper!  

We spent the rest of the day eating, watching Christmas movies and packing/cleaning.  It was a sweet time of just the three of us, although we missed our families.  I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, or Merry First Christmas if you're like us!  Here are some pictures to commemorate the day.  I only put some on here; the rest will be on Facebook.

Our Christmas scene.

The big doggie I got Gia.

Our stockings

Bobby got the Kindle!

Gia got her daddy a "World's Greatest Dad" frame for his desk.

Bobby got me a pretty scarf.

Gianna opening her gifts from Great Grandpa Montanarella.

Our family Christmas photo.  Gia's looking away, and Nola's eyes are half closed, but it took us 10 minutes to get this good of a picture, so it will do!

 

Happy Pre-Christmas!

This year we are unable to be with our families for Christmas, so, as my Dad says, we are having our "Pre-Christmas" this weekend.  We were both disappointed about this fact, but we are doing some fun things and making the best of it.  For example, Bobby is out right now picking us up a lot of Chinese food that we will eat for the next 2 days (just like the Gilmore girls!).  And tomorrow we will make hot cocoa in our hot cocoa maker, open presents after church, Skype with our families and watch a lot of Christmas movies.

Bobby has been so sweet, wrapping my presents with bows!, putting fun labels on them (to Elf from Bumble), placing them in different rooms so that they were there when I turned around, making a "Bobby's Christmas songs" list on iTunes and playing it, and just being generally in the Christmas spirit.  I used to call him the Grinch because he wasn't into baking with me or decorating the house, but last night I upgraded him to the Grinch at the end of the movie.  Lindsay Lou Who must have worked her charm.  I love you, babe.

We got Gia some neat things, but those details will be in a different post after Christmas.  I took some pictures of her though, just for fun and because I think she's so darn cute.  Thanks to Nola she smiled for the camera.  I hope you enjoy them!

Sleep is hard to come by

I wanted to post this a couple of days ago, because that's when the sleep fiasco was, but I was too tired!  So, here is is, a few days late.

We had 3 nights (well, me mostly) of very interupted sleep thanks to our little princess.  She would wake up wanting to eat at least once a night (as normal), but then didn't want to go back to sleep.  So, I stayed up with her for a couple of hours until she finally conked out.  Then she would wake up a couple hours later, crying, but for no apparent reason.  We were thinking that she might be teething, but I think, now looking back on it, that she had gas.  But, thank goodness, after I had three days of being grumpy and crying for no reason, she finally is on a great schedule, and Mama is happy.  And when Mama's happy, everyone's happy :o)

So, after nursing the baby and then taking a shower, this is what I found:

And then, on the floor below Gia, I found this:

My sweet family all snoozing together... except me, because I had to grab a shower when I could.  I hadn't had one in three days at that point.