Saturday, June 27th, 2020

Today is the first of two baby showers for Natalia. I'm excited. And, also glad the baby shower is at our house here in Italy. Everyone is wearing a pink t-shirt with Natalia's name on it. It is cute.

My mom even said I have some surprise guests coming. I can't wait to see who is coming.

I got yelled at by Nonno Donatello for helping make some of the food in the kitchen. I am relegated to sitting outside on the patio with Dario, Giorgia, and my mom. They were chuckling at me.

"Child, you should have known better than to go into the kitchen," my mom says.

"I wanted to do something. I can't sit still for long. Plus, I don't have Beau, Bentley, and Blaze with me."

"How about we take a walk towards the front? Your special guests have arrived," Dario says as he stands up from the couch. Dario held out his hand to me to help me up. "Close your eyes." We then made our way to the front of the house.

"Um, can I ask why you asked me to close my eyes, then you put your hands over my eyes?"

"Because it is a surprise. Duh."

I sure did elbow Dario in his stomach as he stood behind me.

Once we made it to the front, I heard car doors opening. Dario then took his hands from my eyes.

"Keep your eyes closed until I say ready."

"Ugh, the suspense is nerve-wracking."

"Okay, now you can open your eyes."

I opened my eyes and saw, "Janiyah, Graeme, and Jacee!! You guys made it!"

Janiyah replied, "Surprise! Of course, we were coming. And, this is Jacee's first trip away from home."

"Aww, you guys. Thank you so much for coming. It means so much to me."

I cried while waddling to give Janiyah and Graeme a big hug.

"You're welcome, Kina."

"You'll be staying with us." I picked Jacee up out of her carrier. "Hi there, Jacee. You get cuter every time I see you." She tried to smile after I said that.

"Let's go to the backyard. I'll introduce you guys to my mom and Dario's mom."

I carried Jacee as we walked to the backyard. She is so adorable. I just love her to pieces.

As we walked closer to the patio, I saw my sisters sitting with mom and Giorgia. When they saw who was walking with me, their mouths were wide open.

"Graeme and Janiyah, my sisters are huge fans, so that explains why their mouths are wide open. My brothers are too, but they are inside the house."

They both chuckled.

"Graeme and Janiyah, from left to right are Kea, Keandra, Kalisa, my mom, Tauni, and Dario's mom, Giorgia."

Even my mom and Giorgia began drooling while looking at Graeme. Giorgia was saying something in Italian too. Pops is going to be one lucky man tonight if you all know what I mean. It was hilarious. "And, in my arms is Jacee, Graeme, and Janiyah's baby girl. Jacee is three months old."

"It's nice to meet you, Graeme and Janiyah. Thank you for coming and supporting Kina. You can call me Mama Tauni," my mommy said.

"Aww, you're welcome, Mama Tauni. Ever since the day we met Kina, we have become close friends. When she told us she was pregnant, Graeme and I were so excited for Kina. We had to come to support her," Janiyah says to my mom. Now, I am going to cry.

I sat next to my mom and cried. These mood swings are off the chain.

More and more of our family began arriving. Pops went with my dad to pick up my grandparents from the airport.

We sat there talking for about an hour. We then saw my grandparents entering the yard with my dad, Pops, and, "Mason Myles?!" Now it is my turn to blush.

I didn't want to give up holding Jacee, so I stood up and kissed my grandparents on their cheeks.

"Nana Kay an nana Ini, it's suh great to see yuh. Thank yuh fi coming. Where a grandpa Winston an Donavan?"

"There's mi grandbaby wid our first great-grandchild! Wi ah doing fine. How ah yuh? Dat can't be Natalia. Mi thought yuh were only six months pregnant," my Nana Ini says.

"Mi six months pregnant, nana. Dis cutie pie a Jacee. Jacee a mi best friend's daughter. Nana, mi want yuh to meet Graeme an Janiyah Harrison, mi best friends from California."

My Nanas both looked at Graeme and gushed over him. "Yuh're dat cute actor from Hollywood. Yuh're much cuter ina person," Nana Kay said to Graeme while shaking his hand. She didn't even want to let go.

"Nana, Graeme wants his hand back." Everyone chuckled, including Graeme.

Graeme replied, "It's nice to meet you. And, thank you for the compliment."

"De pleasure a aal mine, cutie."

"Nana, yuh're about to have Graeme's cheeks redder than ah tomato. Come have ah seat. Yuh remember Giorgia? Giorgia a Dario's mom."

"Of course, child. Nana Ini has ah great memory."

My grandfathers came and joined us. My grandpa thought Jacee was Natalia too. I explained to them that Jacee was Graeme and Janiyah's daughter. They were ogling over Janiyah, who is very curvy. Let me get my friends away from my grandparents.

"Janiyah and Graeme, I'll show you where your room is located." We started walking into the house.

"Sorry about my grandparents. If they bother you at all, just let me know. And, sorry for taking over Jacee. She is just too adorable. And, I want to keep preparing myself for Natalia."

Janiyah replied, "It's okay, Kina. Ever since starring with Graeme in the movie, I have been getting looks from people everywhere. I am used to it now. If they try to touch me, then we got issues. As for Jacee, you are one of the few people she will stay with, which means she is comfortable with you holding her. She is all yours. Just let us know when you need a break."

"Okay. Thanks."

*************

It's go time for the baby shower. I had to give Jacee back to Janiyah because Dario and I are being introduced, in Italian, by a DJ.

"Signore e signori, i protagonisti della serata, Dario, Kina e Natalia Ginnetti! (Ladies and gentlemen, the stars of the evening, Dario, Kina, and Natalia Ginnetti!)"

Dario and I held hands while we walked to two beautiful rocking chairs with pink decorations set up for us. Dario said these rocking chairs have historical meaning for the Ginnetti family. They are only used for baby showers when a child is born into the family. Nonno Giovanni is about to speak. I'll have to translate for my grandparents and family later.

"Grazie a tutti per aver partecipato a questa occasione speciale: il primo nipote e il pronipote della famiglia. Per favore, goditi i festeggiamenti che ci aspettano. (Thank you all for attending this special occasion - the first grandchild and great grandchild for the family. Please enjoy the festivities ahead.)"

After Nonno Giovanni spoke, I went to get Jacee again. She is wide awake now. Then, I went to translate what Nonno said for my family from Jamaica.

After translating, Jacee and I took a seat. Janiyah came over with a bottle for Jacee. She didn't cry one bit when Janiyah walked away.

"Hi, pretty girl. Look what your mommy brought over for you." While Jacee drank her bottle, Dario fed me. Jayce was being chased by some of the women in my family and Dario's family. It was hilarious. I waved him over to our table.

"I feel like a magnet. I have been chased since we landed here in Italy."

"Wow, is this the real Jayce Sterling? I thought you liked the attention from the ladies."

"Well, I do. But not like this. My butt has been pinched several times by women old enough to be my grandma."

"Sorry about my Nana Ini and Kay. They don't see celebrities often. My Nana Kay wouldn't let go of Graeme's hand. She did the same thing to Mason too. My cousins who came are extra flirty. If they bother you again, let me know."

"Thanks. Dario, your family went all out for the baby shower. It's amazing. I even got yelled at by your grandparents when I stepped in the kitchen for just a glass of water."

Dario replied, "Thank you. Uh, yeah. My grandparents always do the cooking for family events, and are very possessive aboutthekitchen. And, for weddings, they oversee who is cooking. If it doesn't taste right, it has to be fixed again until it is right."

"Thanks for the reminder. I feel spoiled. Your grandfather's Italian food is the best I have ever had. When we travel back home, it won't be the same."

"I feel you on that one, Jayce. Sorry, hubby. I love your cooking too, but your grandfathers are the best."

"Trust me when I say my feelings are not hurt."

The DJ announced for Dario and me to dance. We walked over to Graeme so I could give them Jacee. The DJ played a classic. 

My Nanas both stood up out of their chairs and danced. They love Frank Sinatra. Even though his music is before my time, I love his songs.

Dario twirled me around, but not too much. Once the song was over, we walked over to the cake. Let me rephrase that, make it cakes. There were two cakes for us to cut.

"I want to save that crown topper and put it in Natalia's room as a memento that she can cherish. When she grows up, I can tell her all about her first baby shower."

After we cut a slice, we walked over to the next cake.

"I want one of everything on this table, including the cake." I'm serious. I have a sweet tooth tonight.

After cutting the cake, Dario put one of everything on a plate. I sure did walk back over to Graeme and got Jacee. I'm going to miss her when they fly home.

We walked back over to our table, and Dario fed me cake.

Dance music came on for everyone to dance. It was a mix of Caribbean and Italian.

We have so many gifts that it isn't funny. My family is going to help me open them tomorrow. Thank goodness the baby showers are today and next month. It is going to take us from now until Natalia is born to find a place for everything.

Jayce looked at my plate and laughed. "Are you seriously going to eat everything on your plate?"

"Yes, I am, Mr. Sterling. Maybe not at the moment, but before this night is over, this plate will be gone. Uh-oh, here comes a part of your Italian-Jamaican fan club."

"I'll see you both later." Jayce stood up and made a dash inside the house. It was funny.

I ate the cake and the cupcake. I'll save the rest for later.

"Jacee and I are going to walk around and say hello to the guests." I started with my family first and said hello to everyone. Jacee is squirming, which means she wants her mommy and daddy, so we walked over to Graeme and Janiyah.

"I think it is night night time for Jacee."

"I'll take her, Kina. Thank you for watching her."

"Thank you guys for letting me hold her today. It made this baby shower more special." After handing Jacee to Graeme, I went to dance with my brothers and sisters.

"We were wondering when you were coming over," my brother Kenton says.

"I could never forget dancing with my sibs." I can't dance like I want to, and that's okay. Natalia is more important to me than dancing. See you all at the Jamaican baby shower.

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Frank Sinatra video is courtesy of YouTube

Baby shower cake is courtesy of Can Stock Photos - © Can Stock Photo / RuthBlack