I absolutely LOVE living and working in Tribeca. I have a nine-minute walking commute, and I’m close to all the people, places, and things I love at pretty much any moment. This day, I needed to finish some things in the office, so Finleigh, Gigi’s big girl friend, brought G by the office to say a quick hello and enjoy a cake pop before the girls went to the park at Pier 25 (which is a four-minute walk from my office). We hung out for a minute, and then they went to the park while I finished work. At six, they came back to get me, and G and I walked over to Mr. Chow for dinner.
We took a ‘family bike’ for a little stroll! It was MUCH harder to pedal than a regular bike and hotter than hell outside, but Gigi was in heaven and we had a great time. The owner of the shop, Billy, gave Gigi a coloring book that had coupons she could redeem at local spots. We took her for a free ice cream and a little gift from the local bank (a Susan B. Anthony $1 coin!). Everyone was so kind to us and Gigi was the sweetest little conversationalist.
Two days in a row we woke up bright and early, packed our bags, and drove out to Captiva to rent a boat for the day… and two days in a row, we arrived at our destination and learned our boating plans had been cancelled due to rain/lightning. We were all a tiny bit disappointed, but I am proud of our crew’s optimism and resilience. Instead of letting the cancellation ruin our day, we explored the marina wildlife (manatees and pelicans), went to breakfast (hot chocolate with whipped cream is a game-changer!), got coffee and cake pops, and took a drive through JN Ding Darling nature reserve park to see the local wildlife (mostly birds, a bunny, some tiny crabs, a huge spider, and a million mangrove trees). When we got home, we enjoyed the beach and the pool. The day wasn’t any less fun — just different than what we originally expected!
Waiting for the final weather verdict (with a bathing suit bottom ‘hat’ on her head)Exploring the marina Pretending to be a pelican Change of plans day 1: time in the Gulf Wrapping up the day with a park visit and ice cream at Pinocchio’sBirdwatching The liquid cure-allA big hug for Daddy when we realized the whole boat thing just wasn’t happening
Gigi has learned so much this summer. She’s wrapping up the season as a stronger reader, writer, mathematician, swimmer, dancer, gymnast, and, who’d have thought, ice skater! I’m so proud of her for embracing new things and being okay with the bumps and bruises along the way. She puts her heart into everything she does and she is growing into such a resilient little lady. Today, we played “shop” — I was the shopkeeper Georgia Grace was my customer. She was buying gifts for her two twin daughters, Believa and Bailey, who were turning six tomorrow. I had placed price tags on each item, and she counted pennies, nickels, and dimes to pay me for each purchase. When she ran out of money, she told me she needed to go to the bank. So, I tuned around and pretended to be a banker for her. We had so much fun and playing our game made me realize how comfortable she’d gotten applying math concepts in real-life situations.
The shop sign — from ideation to execution — was all hers: All the Cats Love You.
Dave bought Gigi an inner tube and she’s positively obsessed with it. Prior to this trip, when asked, Gigi would beg us to take her to the pool over the ocean; that has changed. She now wants to get to the ocean as soon as possible so she can relax and play in the water. She loves laying on her back and riding the waves up and down; she also loves playing inside of the inner tube, and is very excited to have picked up on the trick to spin around in circles very fast (I taught her that just this week!).
She had her first chocolate chip silver dollar pancakes at the Over East Cafe. For a kid that’s used to dining in New York City, this place was a treat: a kid’s menu, a coloring/activity sheet, and a special cup and straw. Gigi has become such a strong reader — she reads her own menus and doesn’t need help reading activity instructions… she just sits down and gets busy. Today, she did her first word jumbles: seashore, clam, crab, octopus, and coral. We were super impressed!
I love her coloring concentration faces. She was making a seahorse.Breakfast snuggles with her main squeeze
We’ve been waking up super early to enjoy the day before it gets too hot. This morning, we made a little picnic and had breakfast with our feet in the sand. After, Gigi waded into the gulf in search of treasures.
We are on our way to our last vacation as a family of three. Even typing this, I realize that Gigi’s life has already changed in so many ways. If she read this, she would argue that we aren’t a family of three, we are now a family of four. She is so excited — we all are!! — for her baby sister’s impending arrival, but wanted our girl to enjoy one more special trip with her parents before everything changes this fall. On the plane, our girl chose the window seat and got to complete TWO whole Disney movies: Encanto and Frozen.
Summer camp was fun, but now it’s done! She’s danced, tumbled, skated, and danced some more, but now it’s time for some relaxing, unscheduled, unstructured family time at the beach! We took Gigi to her last camp class this morning, and when I picked her up, we celebrated with ice cream (G had s’mores flavored ice cream and loved it!). Tonight, we have a long night of packing ahead before we leave for Sanibel Island first thing tomorrow morning! When I told Georgia Grace I needed to pack, she asked to help. She said she ‘always’ wants to help but the packing is all done when she wakes. What a sweetie.
For the first time since her third birthday in 2019, Gigi finally, finally had a birthday party with her friends. We started the day with a SoulCycle ride (I rode, Gigi danced) and then we hopped in the car and headed to Let’s Dress Up!
We arrived a few minutes before her guests so that we could explore the space and Gigi could get ready. She took one look around and decided she’d chosen the perfect party venue!
She looked carefully at the wall of dresses, and, in her true Gigi style, made her choice and didn’t second guess herself. The shop owner kept referring to it as the ‘unicorn dress,’ and offering Gigi matching accessories, but G politely declined: she had a vision.
The perfect shoes for the perfect dress!Putting on her first earrings and ever!
Then, it was time to greet her guests! She had friends from school, ballet, and the neighborhood. They were all such sweet little ladies, politely helping one another get ready and making conversation throughout the day. After getting dressed, it was time for makeup and nails. The girls were very particular about what they wanted, Gigi included: makeup was NOT an option, but she was all about the glitter nail polish!
Picture perfect!
After everyone was ready, the girls sat down and enjoyed their tea party. A few minutes later, it was time to sing Happy Birthday! Then, the girls decorated cupcakes and we all enjoyed cake. They squeezed in a little dance party, and before we knew it, it was time for Gigi to hand out gift bags.
Squeezing in her last few minutes with her buddies! At home, opening gifts from her friends.
Our happy, smart, sweet, kind, lovely, beautiful-from-the-inside-out girl now needs two hands to show her age… she is SIX! She’s sweet, she’s funny, she’s playful and has an incredibly impressive and ever-expanding vocabulary. She adores her family — Mama and Daddy are her everything, but she really loves her extended family, too. She cannot wait to be a big sister, and talks about ‘her baby’ all the time. (Gigi told me that when she makes wishes, she makes wishes for her sister.) Gigi works HARD and is learning so much. This summer alone, she’s worked to perfect all sorts of things: reading, writing, math, ice skating, gymnastics, dance, and more. She loves playing make believe, just give her a few “buddies,” some time and quiet, and she’ll transport herself to another world. Her favorite music is anything from the “My Little Pony” movie soundtrack (especially the song “Open Up Your Eyes”), and on TV, she’s into Bluey and Gabby’s Dollhouse. Her favorite books are the Princess in Black and Magic Treehouse book series, and she looks forward to snuggling with her parents and reading every night. Dance continues to be a big source of passion and joy, and she’s really looking forward to starting a new ballet school in the fall.
When I asked her what she wants to be when she grew up, she plainly stated, “Four things: an ice skater, a gymnast, a ballerina, and a sandwich maker.” On her favorite food? “Mac and cheese. I like the kind where I put on ketchup.” (She’s referring to Kraft-brand). What are her likes and dislikes? Watching TV and getting dirty, respectively.
“Am I six?!”
The morning of her birthday, we kicked off the celebration our family way: open ONE present and, then, cake for breakfast!
Birthday magic! She went for the biggest gift……and absolutely loved it!“Too itchy.” On our way to Nutcracker camp at Dance with Miss Rachel! Proudly wearing her birthday button.
After dance camp, it was time to come home and open presents from Mama and Daddy. She’s not the type to tear into all of her gifts at once; rather, she will sit and admire the gift and often ask to open it and begin enjoying it right then and there.
My sweet girl. Her music box was the biggest hit this year. She wound it and sat and watched her twirl to the music for much longer than you’d expect a six-year old (with a boatload of presents waiting to be opened!) to do. I’m so glad she finds it so special. Pausing to enjoy birthday FaceTime calls from her family! The inside of my homemade cake. Gigi and Dave said it was better than the bakery-bought cake we ordered for Gigi’s party… I think they are just being kind. But I am proud of it, just the same!
After we opened gifts, it was time for a birthday lunch at Laduree. It was Dave’s idea, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. Our server was just lovely — he treated Gigi like absolute royalty, bringing her treats and engaging her in conversation. Towards the end of our meal, we learned he had been an elementary school in Paris before moving to New York.
Enjoying a strawberry ‘birthday macaron’ on the house!
When we got home from lunch, it was time to open gifts from Gigi’s extended family! She was so appreciative of the thoughtful presents everyone sent her.
Searching for her gifts… She found them all!
Later that night, Gigi put on her new nightgown and snuggled up to the unicorn from her cousin, Ben. We cuddled in bed and read from her new Magic Treehouse book. It was an absolutely perfect sixth birthday.
Completely and utterly captivated… you can tell by the expression on Gigi’s face that Daddy is really committing to the characters’ voices.
Gigi Makes Three 