Happy Halloween!

Lisa October 31, 2009 6Comments

Dear Mom and Dad,

October 31, 2009, and we have made it to the end of another month you and I.   Hard as it has been, being apart  – we are so much closer to our reunion.  That’s what is known as the the Poppy “half full” mentality – rubbing off on your little spirit stick.  We are weeks away from our visit and only a few more months before just maybe… your time in the land of sand will be complete, and you will be home!

Today was my first Halloween as you know, and as you probably also know, that means…THE BLACK BEAST, aka Mr. Nikon had a field day today… and I was to the beast,what ‘Heidi Klum’ is to Victoria’s Secret…

This photo extravaganza also means… much uploading,  and a selection process that is excruciating to just select a “few” to view.  It will require patience because it is 11:00 here, and chances are Nana will not get this love letter done for quite some time… for now, just know…. I had such a spooktacular day!

Mommy had a Halloween skirt and shirt for me, and Nana got me the onesie I am wearing that say’s MY FIRST HALLOWEEN!   Here I am in the skirt and shirt Mommy gave me…..

Here I am askin’  WHO NEEDS A COSTUME WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY A PRINCESS?  Today was full of all kinds of wonderful things… Nana had explained to me that TRICK or TREAT meant you go and get candy one night a year…. you put on a costume and ta-dah… candy!   So I was pretty excited… I don’t know what this candy stuff is, but okay.. sounded fun… inquisitive little Gugu Bug that I am, I thought hmmmm, what costume and where does one trick or treat?  I woke up late this morning after my first babysitter episode ever… which was totally awesome.   Nana and Poppy had tucked me into my crib and I slept until nearly 10 am… CRAZY HUH!

We had some important stuff to do before TRICK or TREAT time, so we picked up Aunt Alyx from school, and Aunt Mikayla and Aunt Arri from work, but Aunt Allyssa had class until three.  Poppy too had to work all afternoon, but  Uncle Nick was in Novi at school, and  when finished we were all to meet. 

Great Aunt Pam was coming to TRICK or TREAT with me.  And Great Grandma and Great Papa were meeting us too… why you ask…?  Not for TRICK or TREAT but because today Aunt Mikayla got her very first car.   She is about to begin student teaching, and all the campers have been sharing a car.   She so needed one, and thanks to some really wonderful friends – special people who have watched her grow up, she was able to get one!  She has a 2005 Pontiac G-6 and a smile on her face that made Nana so happy for her.  Now she as a senior in school can get to her student teaching and fulfill her requirements to become a teacher, her dream come true… I am still not clear on this happy tears thing… but Nana says, her tears are happy…. “what ever”, when this happens to me, and I start crying happy tears well someone just better give me a heads up on that one… for now it is just plain confusing.   Like Trick or Treat for example…. Nana says you go out, in a costume, and get Candy!  Okay… I am game, let’s go!… So here I am going out to my very first TRICK or TREAT….. where you ask?… not next door, no…not in a subdivision… no….but in FLINT Michigan! 

Now what do I say… TRICK or TREAT?   and I am a LADY Gugu BUG!

Well alright…. let’s do this… and we were off to Flint to see Great Great Aunt Ida, and Cuz Nanc… who are always checking up on me.   We go to her home and ring a bell… and hang out eating cookies and some pineapple!   Yes I tasted both, and loved both!  The beast tried to snap a few of Great Aunt Ida and Cuz Nanc, but he captured them with closed eyes, and they would shoot Nana if she had posted them!   Even their mouths were open at my bug beauty I guess?  Because clearly it couldn’t be the fault of Nana whos eyesight lately is slacking..   and I mean slacking…. don’t be surprised if my photo shoots are blurry, because Nana’s havin’ some eye trouble!

   I was totally cute, and all LADY bug….

You want me to do what?    CRAWL…. Hmmmm…. Let’s think about this… yes bugs crawl… baby Guillianna, hmmm not so much…well fine we can try!

So now … Nana said… candy?   What is this…?  Giselle my Giraffe?  Here in Flint?

But no… this was not Giselle, this was a TREAT.   Was this CANDY?   It was a treat for me!   I cannot believe it… so amazing this Trick or Treat thingy…

I tell you… I could get to love this “candy” thing… what, you say Nana didn’t explain it right?   Not Nana… she says she never lies…. but yes… I thought candy was something you ate… maybe I should try to chew on this… I do everything else!  Come on Nana… I am asking her…. fess up… did you tell it to me straight or are you just trying to confuse me more?  Just askin’!

Well, to be sure, that was pretty awesome… I had fun, I dressed up, I was adorable, and… I got a present… and I will cut Nana a little slack  AGAIN, because Great Aunt Ida, proved Nana is not a liar… she even had a package wrapped for the other campers and guess what…IT WAS CANDY and LOTS OF IT! 

Hoping you have a good cup of coffee or a nice cold drink of soda, because don’t think for one moment…. we are done here today… nope….we had more Trick or Treating to do… from Flint to Farminton Hills…. time was a flying by, and we didn’t make it to Seattle, where Great Grandma Sally is, or to Pensylvania, or California or to any other state where my adoring fans live… we didn’t even get anywhere else in Michigan like she had hoped, but we did get to a second Trick or Treat location… where I was greeted by my Great Grandma Sharyn who had noodles cooked to perfection for me, and my Great Papa, had brought us all pizza and salad.   I stuck with noodles, and loved it… but that was not all…  I had a special lady bug quick change to do… cause you know… big bug butt doesn’t really go in a baby car seat well… so Nana had a quick change for me… here it is…

Okay… let me see now…

I was a fluffy lady bug… who could hardly move her lady bug bottom and now…

I am a lady bug…

In a DRESS?   I have little lady bug wings?

Are you sure about this?

I mean, yes, I am adorable, but …. really? 

I am not sure about this Nana…

Not one bit..

but if you say so…

Trick or Treat Papa and GG-ma?  I am a bug in a dress….

Go figure?

I have traveled to from Flint, no not with wings, but to TRICK or TREAT, for ‘candy’…  Noodles, and cottage cheese….

You game?  I have been an awesome sport so far!  What did you say You love it… you love my costume!  Awe… gee thanks, I am so glad….I don’t look silly?   Hey do you want Nana to get you one too GG-mm?   I bet there is a boy version Papa?   Come on…. let’s do it… What do you say..Next year , we can all be princess bugs!- Okay?

So I had a blast… becoming a Princess LADY bugette… and we all had such a nice  TRICK OR TREAT together.   All the other campers stayed and passed out candy at Camp Nana to all the trick or treaters who came to visit them…they let me be the one to go visiting… and I say it was so nice of them.  THANKS CAMPERS!  Now here are a few shots taken by the beast for  you guys so you see me in my costume too.   Here I am…. my spooky look.

Hey do these stripes make my butt look big?

I can’t tell…. ?

Do I look short?

Hey where are my feet…Nana, you cut my feet out of the photo!

How will mom and dad see if I am wearing my shoes?

I am so lucky…while I would have loved to see all my family everywhere… and gone trick or treating at the homes of all who watch me…every day… I send you all HAPPY HALLOWEEN WISHES… and hope you will forgive today’s VERY LONG love letter… but that is what this site was for… to make my Mom and Dad feel close – as close as close can be, to ease them just a bit by letting them feel they were there… every step of the way.   And Nana… well sometimes there is just no stopping that woman… she runs on a bit… but it is all in the name of love…

I got more treats from Great Grandma and Great Papa…. oh so lucky! Thank you for my stacking peek a boo toy… I LOVE IT!

Priceless memories captured for you and daddy… with all our love…

And it is true, BY THE END OF MY DAY I WAS PRETTY ‘TUCKERED’ OUT, BUT NANA AND THE BEAST HAVE ONE VERY SPECIAL PHOTO JUST FOR YOU…

When we returned to Camp Nana, the Ms. Kristin, Uncle Nick, Aunt Mikayla, Aunt Alyx, Aunt Allyssa and Aunt Arrianna,  had each carved me a pumpkin!   I had six pumpkins Mom and Dad… and another treat waiting for me… one from Ms.Kristin’s parents…. Great Aunt Pam gave me the Pumpkin Bear, and Ms. Kristin and her Parents the softest Bear Blanket EVER!

I had one last costume change… and put on my Trick or Treat Jammers…. and lets just say… I had an awesome day. I am pretty loved arounnd here… and while I NEED YOU TO HOLD ME SOON, AND CANT WAIT TO BE PLAYING WITH YOU, I hope today shows you… Iam doing good, and Nana is pretty sure I am one totally LOVED BABY by all!

Night Mom and Dad, until tomorrow, I am as always, your Little Miss Adorable, your daughter,

Guillianna!  After all of the photos and the day is done…it is clear that for Nana, Halloween has never been about scary stuff, or candy… but instead it is just like every day, or any of dozens of holiday’s,  it is and always has been about the ‘treats’ that friends and family bring to our lives… IF SHE COULD HAVE, SHE WOULD HAVE VISITED WASHINGTON AND GREAT GRANDMA SALLY, AND OH SO MANY OTHERS who have held this family together with treats for years.   Thank you friends and family…we hope you have treats on Halloween, and every day!   All our Love!  Camp Nana!

A First for Nana!

Lisa October 30, 2009 1Comments

Dear Mom and Dad…

Today I was so good, and worked so hard on my crawling.  This is pretty much how it went today… The French- in those who perform ballet  learn by standardized positions, 1, 2, 3 they have a lingo all their own, well I do too…I have the PRINCESS-CRAWL POSITIONS, and this is how I roll here at camp… First….Princess-Crawl ‘A’   or PiCA…

Above  is Princess-Crawl Position “a” which stands for ALMOST….Next…

 This is Princess-Crawl Position “C” for STOP everything I AM DOING AND CLAP!  After all, I did try to get into position, a little applause is always nice,  and deserved, right?  No it is the PiCC position.  So we have PiCA, PiCC mastered so far…. you guys with me?

I know what you’re thinking….You would think Position ‘B’ would have been the logical next PRINCESS-CRAWL POSITION, didn’t you?? But NO, FIRST A, THEN C, NOW … it is Princess-Crawl “T”.

The Princess-Crawl Position “T”  for totally trying, and try, try again!  I call it PiTA! 

 So we are movin’ now…

PiCA, PiCC, PiTTA – (are you getting this … NANA thinks she is a rapper now…. and EVEN HAS A SONG FOR CRAWLING… IT does SOUND LIKE RAP very bad rap but yes… still Nana PLEASE!)  Is there to be no reprieve for me?  Chanting continues….

PiCA, PiCC, PiTTA…. Rest!

PiCA, PiCC, PiTTA…. Rest!

What is the ‘rest’ part stand for you ask ?

Well it’s not an acronym… here is the next step in Princess-Crawling..

Shocking… I know..

But shown below is the last step in the Princess-crawl to date….this Mom and Dad … is ‘REST’….

And rest is my favorite part…. but believe me, I really “worked it” good today!  

Last winter, Nana made two separate plans with all the campers… First, she made plans last January of 2009 to take Aunt Arrianna to see Phantom of the Opera for her 18th birthday.   When that date came nearly 9 months later, Nana had the campers go to the theatre with Poppy, and she and I hung out – and did cool baby stuff.  It worked out good, and she and I did celebrate with dinner out that night.  Second was an event for all of the OLDER AND MATURE CAMPERS, to see a comedy show.  Aunt Mikayla will be having her birthday next week and so last January she made plans for her and Poppy to take the campers to a special comedy concert being given as her birthday treat. Even though her b-day isn’t until next week this was the date of the performance.    Nana – is a pretty serious camp director, taking this whole babysitting thing to a whole new level. She is not really a slacker when it comes to the ‘princess’ and the needs of a princess…I am with her 24/7 so …well, in a nutshell, she is a little attached at the hip to me.   This being FRIDAY and all, we met up with Great Grandma Sharyn and Great Papa, where they let me stay at CAMP GG-MA for a few fun filled hours…. I had a great visit, and Nana says all the campers laughed so hard.   The laughter was truly needed here at camp.  Poppy and Nana, well let’s just say… Nana is a little ‘stress bucket” sometimes.   We all had a nice time, but this was a first for Nana… and her separation anxiety… well… it is HUGE!   But she survived, and I loved being PRINCESS Gugu for the great grandparents.   GG-ma made me a scrambled egg, I had Chicken and Carrot Sticks (yes –  a babyfood graduates thingy I usually love that resemble those vienna sausage things that gross some out… well these Chicken Carrot Stick things are awesome!) GG-ma read to me, and Papa played with me… I had vanilla pudding, and was treated like royalty… WHAT AM I SAYING,  I am royalty.  I was so good, and Nana,well she is recovering nicely…   All is well in Michigan… cold and rainy lately, but fun fun fun, and I am so close close close… to being back with you and daddy, to crawling, to becoming a toddler!   Before you know it Momma, it will be me saying to you… “hey mom, you have to let me spread my wings!”  

Until tomorrow, when I show you my special day attire…(the Halloween costume) please remember I love you both, and I miss you both, and as always, I am your LittleMiss Adorable, your daughter,

Guillianna!

And by the way – silly – campers, I am not going to be tricked by a fake baby?

I am way to smart for that….

and I will not be challenged into crawling by a stuffed dolly!

 Or will I….

Okay, last one try…

Look at this face… workin’ workin’  workin’

and yea, no crawling just yet mom and dad, but not to worry… all good things happen in there own time… see you soon!   Your sweet baby, GUGE!

Nana Says Thank You…

Lisa October 29, 2009 0Comments

Dear Mom and Dad…

Before I tell you how much I love you, and how much I miss you, I promised Nana.. that I would send a ‘shout out’ to Great Grandma Sally and Great Grumpy who have done Nana and Poppy a favor… sometimes… mom’s and dad’s  just do things for their daughters, that make life easier.  Nana says, her mom and Grumpy always do for her… and the only thing Nana has in return is to try to pass what she can  – or what she has learned from Great Grandma  – on to all her kids… (never really quite with the style or flare that Great Grandma Sally has) but sincerely Nana really really just wanted to send her an across the country hug….. so here goes…

BIG SQUEEZE!  from Nana to you… via sweet baby Guillianna!

Now – let’s get to the ” about me” part of the day…  which is clearly my personal favorite!  I didn’t leave camp today and we sang (yes, we sang  🙁  again! ), and played, I practiced scooting  about on the the floor and have gotten so I can move backwards pretty good…. don’t ask how or why, I just do.

I rode in my little red sports car and took Giselle Giraffe for a spin.

I tried to tell her… over and over get your belt on…  and there is no room for Baby Gugu Giraffe, only one baby allowed in this car….but either she is ignoring me, or …. she is trying to get my goat!   Ha…. or my Giraffe! 

I had a great day…  I hope you did too.  I am going to have my last Princess-versary in a few days, and then it is the BIG  Event  My FIRST BIRTHDAY, not that I am no longer a princess, but then I am officially  a 1 year old…  I know lot’s of babies still do that 18 month- or 24 month thingy, but the way I see it, it’s kind of when you finally become a teenager… or when you finally aren’t a teenager anymore and hit your 20’s…  next thing you know… you are 40 something or 60 something or 80 something … and want to be 20 something.  It’s a milestone thing!  (So I am told)   I plan on being 1 for a while…Mom and Dad say they may come home for good some time this spring… (can I get a Oh Yes!) which would be TOTALLY awesome.   Initially we were told 16 to 18 months, but now Momma says, only12 months.   Which puts me with my parents a bit sooner! 

I hope my little friend Maddie’s Momma had an excellent day today, and that her upcoming work… is easy… in the big easy!   Hope Maddie’s Mama enjoyed her pre-meet and greet!  (which since writing this , I just got word from her… it went awesome – GREAT news!)

Here the beast captured me, and I was trying to capture him right back….

Still no H1 flu shots for me …. waiting list!   But No Fun Nana, is a sterilization , hand washing, germ-o-phobe!    Oakland County has people lined up around the outside of buildings in rainy cold weather… for hours and has only a limited supply.   Crazy!

Until tomorrow – I send all my love,  and look forward to having some great photo shoots for you over the weekend in my first Halloween attire.    Here is to making our parents proud, and appreciating the things they do for us…. thank you again Great Grandma Sally…. someday  – Nana will make you as proud as you deserve to be…Hugs and kisses, your Little Miss Adorable, your daughter,

Guillianna!

Can You Believe It? I’m Nearly Princess Perfect!

Lisa October 28, 2009 2Comments

My First Report Card!

Yep, this is it… my first report card from Goldfish Mini Swim Class ( I know it is hard to see, but you will see it first hand very soon) …. after all I am delivering it to you Mom and Dad all the way in the land of sand !  I have been working  – no what I mean to say is, I am loving swim class!  Tonight I laughed the entire class!   I have not yet gone under water, and have a few tasks to complete before they can move me up to GoldFish Mini II, but I will get it done so I can move up with my GoldFish Mini I friends!

Today was also a special date…. 13 years ago today… Mommy and Aunt Mikayla finally came to join the rest of their sisters with Nana and Poppy.  And yes Mommy it is true Nana has taken a bit of artistic liberty to put up a photo you may not have wanted her to of you… but it is the price of being a daughter… sometimes… you just have to do things you may not otherwise do because it makes a parent smile…right?   Nana loves looking at photos of all the kids… and boy does she have a lot of them!

For me, today was all about GOLDFISH MINI class and to make it even more wonderful,  Maddie was there  – with the boys Conner and Alex.  We missed Etta and Simone!   Maddie’s mom has a very special day tomorrow,  a meet and greet, like I had with you mommy and daddy… remember when we had our very first meet and greet(ultrasound), cool wasn’t it, and I hope Mrs. Mattie’s mom  knows that I am thinking about her.   You will meet the mini’s when you come to visit… and all the mini parents…. who have been SO NICE TO ME!  

I am preparing for a very busy weekend… and actually went to bed a smidge earlier than usual. Before I did I took some awesome photos for you.

I had lunch with a shoe bandit today… who has returned safe and sound to Michigan… and is not converting to be a Buckeye just yet.    Nana says, the bandit is a “mystery”, I being the awesome and experienced judge of character, say nah, the bandit makes me laugh… and in my opinion- is no mystery…  I was glad for the lunch that was brought and shared!  Thanks “mystery” bandit and Uncle Nick!  I also found a new “camper” here at Camp Nana… and well sat her down and gave her a little talking to… just wanted to point out… I am the baby around here, and really… she should not get any ideas….

When we were done, I am sure she understood exactly where I stood on the issue…

Me at play… so cute.   Then there is tupperware… greatest invention ever! Notice CRAWLY THING… next to me…. nope not today… just tupperware!

Yep it is true Mom and Dad, I am all kinds of cute and adorable today and everyday…. hope you are both well and until tomorrow I am sending you hugs and kisses… and remain your Little Miss Adorable, your daughter, master cheferette, Goldfish mini swim-stress…. (uh yea…. there goes Nana using literary license – making up words again… believe me, my use of the English language… no so ‘Nana-ized’, there how’s that for a word Nana!)  Who here thinks Nana is tired?  If you were smart…you would take better advantage of my snooze time, it you did, your writing may improve, silly Nana!

Guillianna!