Francesca as a 25 to 27-month old

The last few months have been full of festivities and visitors. Francesca was a giraffe for Halloween (see top photos) and enjoyed being one of her favorite animals. She also had a great time opening the door for trick or treaters and handing out candy but, contrary to her biological heritage, was not interested in actually eating the candy. As you can see from the pictures, Francesca otherwise fully embraced the Halloween spirit by communing with her familiar, Zorro, a.k.a. "Zorro -- the CAT!"

Francesca's nonna (grandmother) Karen visited right before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving itself was spent eating and running around with Marcos and his mama Eileen. Marcos is the one in the bottom pictures with Francesca and the geese. They are quite the geese herders. Another big treat during that time was having her godsisters, Jane and Emma, come over and spend the night (see pictures of the group hugs). Francesca's papu (grandfather) and zio Davide were her for the Christmas holidays. As you can see from the pictures, David took full advantage of the situation.

With all the comings and goings, the saddest departure was of Francesca's nanny Anne, who took care of Francesca from when she was 9 months old until this past December when Anne moved to Florida. We all miss Anne a great deal - especially Francesca, who talks to her photo daily. Luckily, a wonderful new nanny has joined us - Kelly - and Francesca is getting into the groove of spending her weekdays with a new person. Along with all the usual activities, Kelly and Francesca have been busy introducing each other to their favorite cafes.

Given that she will be a teenager in six weeks or so, Francesca has been practicing the fine art of barricading herself in a room by closing the door and refusing entry to anyone. If a hearty (or foolish) soul dares to open the door, she slams it shut while announcing "door is CLOSED!" in a tone of wonder that anyone could be so blind. She has also taken to requesting certain clothes and then preening in front of a mirror and declaring them "bee-oooo-tiful!" Toddler clothing is made even more beautiful when paired when her mama's gold jewelry, preferably three or four bracelets at a time. When feeling more like a toddler, Francesca requests hugs while murmuring "oh, sweetie love."

Francesca has also been polishing her public speaking skills. For now, she likes to "read" while perched on top of a step stool and her renditions always include a lot of eye contact with her audience and dramatic flourishes like gasps and arched eyebrows to accompany particularly exciting plot lines. Francesca's current favorites are Toot and Puddle: Charming Opal, The Napping House (where everyone is "sssssleeping!"), Chicken Soup With Rice, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

In case being a lecturer doesn't pan out and she is required to dust remote corners, Francesca has been practicing how to slide around on her stomach, backwards and forwards, while getting under beds, tables, desks, and carpets (see pics). The sliding is accompanied by moves learned in her Bear Cub gymnastics class at UC Berkeley, such as the donkey kick (on hands and knees then kick both legs out simultaneously) and the mountain (like a yoga downward dog, except on her head and two feet - or one foot). She has also mastered sliding off of beds head first and somehow getting off of couches head first and backwards. These maneuvers are regularly accompanied by the self-congratulatory "good vert!"

As Francesca would say, "tre-mendous!"

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