The Name Game

Baby boy Quinn has a name!    But we're not telling :0)   What I can tell you is this naming thing is no joke. When I was pregnant with Gia, Jon and I quickly discovered that we don't agree on names at all. Jon likes Irish names and traditional names. Me? I like Italian names and names that are less traditional but not totally you-neek (aka unique. Get it? It's a play on the people who spell perfectly normal names in wacky ways. Mathieu for example. What happened to Matthew?)   Anyway, we decided, after a few cursory discussions, to not even talk about names until we knew if Gia was a girl or a boy. After the 20 week ultrasound we started talking and it took a few months to come to an agreement.   I remember the night we decided. Jon was online looking at baby name websites and was throwing out his favorites. I was vetoing most of them. One of his suggestions was Gina. Not really my cup of tea, but it made me think of Gia, which I said aloud. Jon immediately said he liked it. So we tossed it around a little while longer. I told my mom one night shortly thereafter (via Facebook messenger) and she loved it too. It took us a few weeks of sitting with it to officially decide on it.     Gia's middle name is Danielle, which Jon picked. It's always been one of his favorite names. Once we decided on Gia, we talked about middle names and knew we liked something with an "L" sound in there. Gia Danielle flowed well and sounded pretty so I {happily} agreed to it.

Gia Danielle -- less than an hour old

I knew that naming number 2 wasn't going to be easy. In fact, if it was a girl, we knew it would be even harder. We love the name Gia so much and it really just fits her so well. How would we ever agree on another girl name that was as pretty as Gia and that we both loved?   After our Gender Reveal we started the long process of making lists and checking out every baby name website Google could find us. Again Jon gravitated toward Irish names, suggesting things like Aiden, James, and even Seamus. And of course I wanted Italian names like Rocco, Marco, or GianPaul.    We finally came up with a list of names we both liked (there were 5 or 6 on there) and we slowly started whittling away at the list. Vincent was on our list, until my stepdad came up with "Vinnie Quinnie".  So, yeah, we crossed that one off pretty quickly!    About a month ago we were in the car, on our way to the shore. Gia was in the back, asleep, and we were talking about names. We came up with a first name and a middle name that we both liked. And then a few days went by and neither of us was 100% sure that it was the name.    I wasn't sure it was the name because I thought of another name that I loved--one that was not on the agreed-upon list...and one that Jon does not really like. I was secretly holding out hope that Jon would change his mind.   Yesterday we revisited the name discussion and Jon explained why he doesn't like my newest choice...and I had to agree with him. Suddenly it lost its appeal and our previously decided upon name was shiny and new again and I loved it.   So there ya have it. The very LONG version of how we came to baby boy's name. Now you just have to wait till October 22nd to find out what we picked {and why}!

The Land of Make Believe

Last summer we took Gia to the Land of Make Believe in Hope, NJ. It's a small amusement park and water park meant for little kids. Last year, our trip was one of the first times she'd gone on rides and we had so much fun.
I was worried we'd have to skip this summer because I'm pregnant and not really up for trekking around in the heat, but last week, we decided, spur of the moment, to go.  This pregnancy is so different from when I was pregnant with Gia. I feel better the farther along I am; and I feel better the more active I am. (Don't get me wrong, I'm still exhausted and achy and all that good stuff, but in general I feel pretty good.)
Instead of getting there at 10 am when it opens, we did the late shift and it worked out perfectly. Gia napped in the car, stocking up on all the energy she'd need to run around for a few hours. We got there a little before 2pm all the early birds were already leaving. We scored a parking spot right near the entrance. And, since it was later in the day, it was already starting to get cooler.
Gia went on lots of rides and loved them all.

    And of course we spent over an hour with the animals at the petting zoo.

Later, we went on the train two times. Here we are at the station, waiting for it.

We both have crazy eyes in this picture.

I love this litte face so much.

 

At the end of the day, Daddy convinced Gia to ride on a mini free fall ride. Somehow she wasn't scared. Till she got on, that is.

Jon didn't realize quite how scary it was till they got on. He talked her through it--telling her she was ok and that it was almost over. She didn't cry and she didn't freak out. I don't think she truly loved it, but she was a trooper and made it through. I was really proud of her for acting like such a big girl.
Add another fun summer day to the books!
 

Watch out Tiger Woods!

While we were in Wildwood we took Gia mini golfing for the first time. In true Gia fashion, she loved it. There are so few things that she doesn't like...it really makes taking her most places a breeze. 
We went to Duffer's on a sunny, non-humid, gorgeous morning. Gia loved her golf club and the fact that she got a pink ball. She didn't really care to hold the club the right way though. Nor did she care for the actual rules of the game.
Her version of the game goes something like this.
1. Hit the ball (the right way).

2. Watch it roll for about 2 seconds.   3. Pick it up and run to the hole with it.    

    4. Drop it near the hole.  

    5. Use the club (in a very awkward way) to shove the ball into the hole.    

   

    6. Yell "I WON!"

 

7. Proceed to pick up Mommy's ball or daddy's ball and "help" us get it in the hole the same awkward way. 
8. Repeat 17 more times.

 

The other day we went to one of Gia's friend Gianna's 3rd birthday party at an indoor play place in New Jersey. It's right next to a mini golf place. I didn't think she spotted the golf place, but I was wrong. As we were leaving the party, Gia said, "Look Mommy! Golf! I want to play golf!" So on Monday we had some cloudy weather and were looking for something to do (Jon was off) so we took her back. She had just as much fun the 2nd time around.