Summer with my Nonna

**Check out the videos at the bottom!!**

This summer my Nonna offered to keep me while my parents were at work. This saved me from the dreaded Daycare, as well as really helped my parents! My Nonna would travel from Myrtle Beach on Sundays and stay with us until Friday evening then head back. It was a lot on driving and dedication on her part!! We are so thankful that she was able to make the sacrifice. I must admit that I got a lot closer to her over the summer and I know when the time came for her to leave that she would have rather stayed!

My Nonna and I have so many memories together - too many to share all of them. I do want to share some of the highlights with you. The most vivid and one that I'll never forget is that my Nonna sang to me in Italian each day! I would just stare at her and sometimes even dozed off. To this day, it puts a huge smile on my face! I'll also never forget how often she took me 'off the hill' (a.k.a. down the driveway) - we literally walked about 4-5 miles a day - no joke! When Nonna first started taking me down the hill, I would only look on one side, as I wasn't really able to move my head side-to-side. Right before my Nonna left, I looked on both sides of the driveway and like my Mommy says, my head is now on a swivel!

My Nonna stayed for almost 2 months. Like she said, the first week was rough because we hadn't 'clicked' yet, but soon after I always awaited her arrival on Sundays. I find myself still awaiting her arrival on Sundays, but am quickly reminded that she isn't coming. I have lots of stories to tell of my time with my Nonna; it was so special! Here are some pictures, as well as videos (Nonna introduced my parents to the FlipCam). The singing video is a lifesaver for my parents - if I am upset, it calms me. My parents played it for me over 10 times in one setting to keep me calm! Thank you Nonna for completing my summer - I miss you and love you so much!

1st Beach Trip

My first beach trip was to Myrtle Beach, SC! My Nonna and her family live down there, so of course, it had to be the first beach trip! I didn't actually see the beach this trip because my family and I were too busy running around to see the beach! Plus, it was a rather quick trip - down and back in a weekend! I finally got to meet the Italian side of my Mom's family and oh, what fun it was! My Great Aunt and Uncle have a pool and I fell in love. Mommy and I are trying to convince Daddy that we need one in the backyard. Yeah, we'll leave it at that...

The main reason for our beach trip was because my cousin, Bianca (a.k.a. Auntie B), received her Ph.D. in May and her parents threw a party at their restaurant. We couldn't be more proud of her; all of her hard work and dedication definitely paid off! We all had a great weekend...I can't wait to see all the family again! And if you see Daddy anytime soon, tell him how wonderful a pool would be...maybe he'll get the hint after awhile?!? Enjoy the pictures - it was a blast!

My Papaw & Great Grandma

The first week of June was spent with my Great Grandma Sadah and my Papaw. They kept me during the week while my Mommy and Daddy went to work. It was an eventful week for them, as they had to stick to a strict schedule with me and they had to feed me only what my parents told them was ok - despite Papaw wanting to give me mashed potatoes with gravy!! My cousin Rowan came up to visit with her parents half way thru the week. It was fun, we all went to eat at Red Lobster!

The week was quite an adventure for my Papaw and Great Grandma! The day that Rowan came to visit, my Great Grandma accidentally let Piper out. I watched my Papaw chase the doggy around and around the house without any luck of getting her in; it was very funny! Daddy finally had to come home to help aid in the chase - Piper came right in the house. It was a week! I had a great time with them and cannot thank them enough for keeping me while my parents were at work - it kept me out of Daycare for just alittle while longer!! I miss them dearly...heres a few pictures of their short week with me!