This year has been FULL of exciting changes and blessings. Giavanna turned 2 and has been growing and developing at rapid speeds! She started Noah's Ark Preschool two days a week and has flourished with new friends and accomplishments; a few of which was learning to spell red, sing and perform in a Christmas program and sharpen her artistic skills. We also found out this year in June that we are expecting a new baby boy in March of 2011. After a lot of discussion, it looks like his name will be Vincent Charles Valderrama.

After officially getting settled in as Texanswe have discovered some fun places to play. A few of Gigi's favorites are a local park where she likes to feed the ducks and turtles, our local Library where Gigi likes to pick out her books and look at the fish in the aquarium, and going for frozen yogurt at the Yogurt Story. She is definitely a sweets junkie and wakes up requesting ice cream cones almost every day. She is still one of the pickiest eaters I have ever seen with her favorite being peanut butter and honey sandwiches and pancakes. With her low and distinct voice she loves to sing and play instruments and this year she finally got on a swing and has decided that she likes to swing. Her most recent favorite toys are a calculator, cell phone and a straw. She adores daddy and loves to jump off almost anything into his arms. She calls him her prince and likes to dance with him.

Ron is still working at Merrit Hawkins and I am a stay at home mom which takes up almost every bit of our time. When we have free time we like to eat out, do anything outside and hang with other family members. We continue to focus on church activities and serving when we can. We are leading a home team Bible study where some of our most cherished friendships are being made. We have so much to be thankful for and try to remember to give all the glory to HIM. - Merry CHRISTmas!!

It's Summer 2010 and it's HOT!

We just started a third session of Tumbling/Gymnastics, getting prepared to start preschool in August, went on our first Meals on Wheels volunteer run, and just celebrated Giavanna's Second Birthday. We had a blast! First we flew into Mississippi and spent time with the Mississippi Family and then came back to a house full of more family and friends! This Summer has been amazing. I have started running and it has been just wonderful watching Giavanna and Ron cheer me on. We are committed Library goers in the Summer and are reading so many new books! I think her favorite right now is 26 Letters and 99 Numbers, but probably her all time favorite book is Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see?. We are concentrating on colors and numbers. Giavanna is 75th percentile in height and 10th percentile in weight. She is a growing little weed and soaking up so many new things. She has started calling her daddy, daddy-o and me, Mamaw for some reason. She is taking very good care of her babies and is a very good momma to them. I think that may be why she is calling me mamaw, b/c she is momma now. Let's see...what else? That's probably just about it. We are amazed every day at the intellegent and witty things she says. We don't know where she gets it, but we are very proud and shocked at how blessed we continue to be as a family!! Here are some current pics.

February 2010

So far this year for Giavanna has been all about talking, learning and drawing. Giavanna has become GiGi and her favorite thing to do lately is sliding at the park. Luckily we have about 10 parks almost within walking distance. The other day Ron told me she was singing her ABC's and low and behold, he was right. She loves to sing her ABC's with a huge grin on her face and then clap when she is done. She is saying sentences now and loves to talk on the phone. She is a helper and a doer. She takes time to notice everything around her and hates a dirty floor. If I clap and laugh at something with her, she looks at how I am holding my hands or how I am sitting and she does the same thing, the same way. She looks up to me but her Daddy is the one who holds her heart in his pocket. These are the days the Lord has made!

Having moved into a house with a yard, she is constantly wanting to go walk. We have a field across the street where the local elementary school kids practice soccer so she loves to go and watch. We have gotten a ton of snow, and whether she will remember it or not, it has been something her dad and I will not soon forget. Church has finally become fun for her so leaving her in the nursery is no longer a battle. Her baby sitter, Jalea, spends every Monday morning with her so I can volunteer and every other Wednesday evening so Ron and I can host a bible study from our home. We have been given a great deal of love and blessings from the Lord and are so grateful.

We recently decided for Giavanna to stay in her bed at night and to sleep through the night without coming into our bed. With a lot of affirmation and support from my local Legacy Moms group, we are all well on our way to experiencing sleep filled nights and well rested days!

Life as a mom has taught me to slow down and appreciate the things around me. Life as a wife has taught me to love and think of others. These two wonderful people that I share my life with have made my life into something truly special.

Our 2009 - Looking Back...

The Valderrama family started the year off with Uncle Cody's wedding! We drove to Tennessee to see the I Dos, then to Mississippi to see the Hardwick family and then traveled back home to celebrate Easter and the beginning of Spring with the Texas family. We went to the Zoo every chance we got and had a blast with Giavanna's first group of play date friends. Then on May 31st we celebrated Giavanna's first Birthday with friends and family pool-side with L.O. Bishops BBQ and a birthday visit from a monkey!! This year we enjoyed a Texas Rangers baseball game and a Dallas Mavericks basketball game. Then our favorite time of year came...Fall! We bought our first house as a family in the great state of Texas and started getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas which we enjoyed in Mississippi and in Texas! Family was the theme of 2009 and it was a sweet year! Giavanna has grown and done a lot this year and has proven to be a true Valderrama and Hardwick! I have seen her expressions grow and change into her very own nature. I have watched her decide what she does like (crayons, Elmo and anything outside) and doesn't like (highchairs, swings and shopping carts) and has also learned to hug and kiss and say I love you. Her spirit is true and sweet and very serious at times, but always aware and forgiving. She moved into a toddler bed, decided her favorite words were "no mommie" and started asking to watch Elmo on tv. The most important things in life seem to be the most simple these days...treasure and love your family.

Love,
The Valderramas - Psalm 121