Happy Easter!

This afternoon we went to our friend's Jim and Tara's for Easter. For years we have gotten our families together for holiday meals. It started as kind of an orphan thing...Tara and Jim adopted myself and Crystal because our families were out of state. At the time they had 2 kids...now they have 3, Crystal and Joe have 3, we have 1 and Jenacca also joined, so technically we had 2. Talk about a growing group!

Gabriel toddled around their house playing the game..."wait, we don't have this!"

It all started with the red rocking chair.


Then it was onto the screen door.


Then he tried the slide, which he wasn't too sure about.


The big finale was the swing, which he loved! I see one in our not too distant future for our backyard.






It would be complete without something in Gabriel's mouth!

First Easter Egg Hunt!

This morning in our neighborhood we had the annual "Spring Fling" Easter Egg hunt. Even though Gabriel had no idea what he was supposed to do with them, he was on the ball when it came to grabbing eggs. In fact, before they offically started he was already picking them out of the bushes.







On the hunt!


Now it is time to check out our loot!


In typical Gabriel fashion...taste it!




"Mom!"




Then a quick visit with the Easter Bunny!


Then he was ready to hang out with the big boys...which would have been fine except he started stealing eggs.




Zane was nice enough to give him one.


A quick sip of water and it was time to head home for a nap...a nice 2 hour nap :)

#7

Gabriel is cutting his 7th tooth. That will make 4 on top and 3 on the bottom. This was last week when the throbbing got the best of him :( poor little guy...to make matters worse I wouldn't let him hold the camera. Mean mommy! I certainly don't mean to make light of the situation but it is very entertaining sometimes at how dramatic little ones can be. CRYING one minute and giggling the next when distracted with the right toy.



"give me the camera!"

The perfect son!

Since Gabriel could crawl he has been in love with the Swiffer. Now that he can walk he can push it! Are you thinking what I am thinking?...my new duster!

Laps

For those of you who have not visited my house when Gabriel is on the loose you should know that he is big on laps. Crawling, now walking, everyday he has to get his laps in. Most of them are around the kitchen and sometimes around the couch and if he is on a big adventure he goes through the butler pantry to the dining room, rounds the table and comes back down the hall.

Rahja helped him take the first lap...or he may have had a dirty diaper.

*Caution: He does fall a couple times. Mom, he is fine! It is part of learning!

G Money's Birthday Party

Here are some pictures of "G-Money" and his gang from his birthday party. All of the kids were decked out in their G.I.P. gear...Gabriel's Important People. It was a fun afternoon and I am so glad that my mom and Gene and Keven's dad and Diane could come out! We had a tatoo station for the kids...which I learned later were very hard to get off. Sorry! We had lots of other activities as well and most importantly a banana cake custom made for Gabriel. Keven's parents own a bakery so they made the cake...Gabriel's and the one for our guests. Both were delicious and decorated in true G-Money style.















Having some solo playtime after the cask smash...still covered in frosting.




What a day...


*pictures by Solei Photography (www.SoleiPhotography.com)

1 year pics

On Gabriel's 1st birthday we had some family pictures taken. Here are some of my fav's. Keven had to wear his comic book T-shirt to match Gabriel's...does this mean I have two kids?















How can you not love those lips!


*pictures by Solei Photography (www.soleiphotography.com)

Two favorite hobbies....

Walking and Singing!

Here are a few more videos of Gabriel's progress in both areas ;-)

This was tonight, after only a week of practice! Look at my side-stepper go!




Side Stepping at it's best!


And a little singing to wrap things up.

A good Monday giggle...

It is no secret that Gabriel LOVES music. Well, we have now discovered a new love. Not sure if it will evolve into singing but right now it is a little yelling.

Gabriel had been playing in Rahja's water bowl (I got there 2 minutes too late) and soaked his clothes. Since it was so close to bathtime I let him run free in his diaper, which he loves.




You know how some musicians throw their instrument in the air when they are done?...Gabriel has a finale of his own!

New kicks!

In honor of Gabriel's first steps this past week Keven and I took him to Stride Right for his first official pair of shoes. He hasn't been a big fan of shoes so far, perhaps because we were forcing him into the wrong size! He measured just above a 5 1/2 so he is sporting a size 6 so that he has room to grow.





At home breaking them in.

Looking back

Every milestone that Gabriel reaches I can't help but to look back at where we began and thank God for how far we have come. My little angel is so full of energy and personality. He has a contagious smile and keeps us all laughing with his antics, silly noises and dancing. His favorite game is "the get'em" game. He loves for Keven or I to chase him around the room and then tickle him. Sometimes he crawls away quickly laughing and will stop and look back to make sure you are coming.

He has left "the bottle" in the dust and is now exclusively drinking from a straw cup. He talks all day long, only I don't understand yet. He loves to share his food with Rahja and thinks I don't notice when he casually drops a piece of whatever he is having off the side of his chair for her. Speaking of food, he seems to only want to eat cheese, bananas and toast (or grilled cheese). Occasionally I can get an egg in. I sneak it in with french toast. At least he still loves his milk. He is great in restaurants and lets me wander around the aisle at Target and Home Goods...thanks to his shopping cart cover ;-)

I can't wait to see what is next!

This picture was taken a year ago today. We sure have come a long way! Thank You God!

Off to the races!

Gabriel took his first real steps today! I am so happy that I was home to see it. Unfortunately Keven was in Chicago. Days like today I feel so blessed that I have a job that allows me to work from home, even if only part time. Anyhow, Gabriel was standing the back door talking to Rahja through the glass. She walked away and he got bored with looking out the window. He turned and took about 4 steps beofre falling. It was like he forgot that he was "supposed" to crawl. I was standing about 20 feet away and got a clear view of the whole thing...unfortunately without my camera. He spent the rest of the afternoon looking for palces to pull and practice and I spent the afternoon trying to capture it on video. Let the madness begin!

Here are a couple videos from the evening. He was getting a little tired so he didn't last as long but walking none the less, at least in my eyes!

Bedtime fun

Watching Gabriel around the house these last few weeks I know his first steps aren't far off. He usually will take a couple as he dives for me or Keven...or the couch. Unfortunately I didn't get a got shot of his whole body so you can't see his feet but about 45 seconds in he takes a couple steps...

PS - I had not idea how much dust was in the air. Yuck! It is amazing what you can see with the light on my phone.

Anyone know where I can get one of these?

Mother's Day is coming up and I broke my mom's.

Party at the park...and ant bites for mom.

Saturday (4/2) Gabriel and I went to Madeline's 3rd birthday at a park in Phoenix. It was a bit of a drive but Gabriel didn't mind, especially since he is in his big boy seat now! This party confirmed that Gabriel and I are in a new phase. He no longer wants to be held for more than a few minutes and not every place is safe for him to be on the ground so one of us is going to be unhappy. I did manage to find a few safe spots in the grass, with little trash, so that he could stretch his legs. I however stood in an ant bed and an still itching!

On our way...


This squat turned into a stand and what I thought might be steps...


After standing he decided to take a knee.


Headed home with some milk, getting ready for a car nap.