11 months young

I am sitting here watching Gabi move around, interact with her toys, siblings, me... and I am amazed.  Our last, our baby, is steps away from becoming a toddler.  She is a blessing to our family.  A joy in our lives, and a constant reminder of unconditional love. 
So, what is our little girl up to.  Almost everything!  She is now very skilled at going up our stairs.  She is furniture cruising and occasionally let's go to take a step towards something that she wants.  She has taken up to 4 steps now towards us, before diving into our arms (or whatever she is reaching for).  She is funny to watch crawl, she is so fixated on walking that she crawls with one leg up in front of the other one on her knee.  She loves clapping, giving air kisses, nodding her head, and dancing. 
Gabi adores her Daddy (I know she loves me too).  However, when Daddy comes in, she lights up.  All he has to do is look at her and she bursts out in laughter and shoots him the biggest smile.  She is our sweetheart.
Gabi continues to be pretty easy going in nature.  However we have started to notice a bit of impatience.  She will yell out if you leave her in her high chair too long. But most times she is pretty content going with the flow.  Hardly ever demanding anyone's attention.  She does get it though.  She has a smile that will warm any heart, and one that makes you smile right back at her.
Gabi STILL has no teeth!  It doesn't seem to stop her from enjoying many foods with us though.  The power of gumming things is amazing.  She now sits with us at dinner and enjoys many things.  Broccoli being one of her favorites.  She is no fan of pureed foods, unless it's applesauce or banana.  She is down to only nursing twice a day, with 3 bottles of formula throughout the day. 
Gabi is vocalizing more each day, but nothing really constant other than Mama, Dada, something that sounds like "there", and her dinosaur mimicking.  Her crying breaks your heart, because it is a rare occurrence. 
Toys, she is loving more of them each day.  She loves playing with blocks and putting the balls in the holes.  She has a shape sorter that she is starting to master.  She is real good at getting the square and circles in.  She enjoys the fridge magnets, rattles, and anything that ISN'T a toy she can chew on!  She loves when Will and Isa play with her, of course her favorite game being dinosaurs! =) 
11 months young and she is so much fun.  This past month Gabi took her first sled ride and loved it.  She loves looking and playing with the snow.  She is exploring everything, going through cabinets, opening drawers, and checking out what everything tastes like.  Our little girl is growing up too fast.  We love every minute with her and know she will bless us with many more happy moments!

skating with the Schilens

The title says it all =)  This was Isa's first time on the ice, she was a little scared, but still managed to have some fun. We sure are loving all are winter activities! It was a great afternoon!

 Ryan and Joe............Paige with Megan

Audrey and Isa take a break

thanks for sharing in the fun Joe, Megan, Ryan, Paige and Audrey!

little steps

Over the last week Gabi has gone from taking 1 step and diving into us, to taking up to 3 consecutive steps before collapsing or diving into us!  I didn't want to wait until she was 11 months to document this.  She still loves crawling everywhere, but LOVES furniture cruising.  She also is up on her knees and even puts one leg up (as if to stand up on her own). She is showing so many signs of wanting to walk. 
Although I would love for her to stay my little baby forever, I am so proud of her new little accomplishments!  I think (then again it could be a LONG time) she will be walking before she gets teeth! Go Gabi Rose!

occasionally she gets some little helping hands =)

Group sledding

Today our playgroup came over for the 1st time for the new year.  Everyone came in all their gear to hit our little hill for some fun sledding.  It was so great to all get together again, catch up, and let the kids go crazy!  There were 6 of us moms and 16 kids (granted 5 of those were Megan's =)!  The kids have grown up  like family and it's always a great time when they get together! 
Love these gals!

here are some of my favorite pics from today!

Grant and big bro Brady

Macy and big sis Paige

Megan and baby Carly

my Will

Brady, Will and Kevin racing!

Alex and big bro Sam

*cute side note:  this evening I asked Will who his best friend is (thinking he would mention one of his pals) and he paused for a second, looked up at me and said "umm, my Bestest friend is Bapa"  =)

family fun

tonight our family had a special treat... we went to see Disney on ice: Toy Story 3!!!!  the kids were MORE than excited and the show was amazing!  we had great seats and throughout the show Tobin and I kept looking at each other and smiling at how much fun the kids were having.  Isa stood almost the entire time (waving at Jessie most of that time).  several times we could hear Isa say "Hi Jessie, Hi!" while she was waving.  Will was so excited to pick out his "pizza planet" hat and narrated many of the scenes for us!  truly a wonderful night, and one we will always remember sharing with the kids!

So excited... his smile says it all!

 

 

Jessie with "Spanish" Buzz

this was Will and Isa's favorite part

Isa waving to her Jessie!

day at the rink

Yesterday Will and I headed to the ice rink for a field trip. I must admit that his pre-school is quite ambitious with their field trips.. but I am loving it! They have gone apple picking, bowling, shopping at target, and now ice skating!

As we walked out of the rink Will said "mommy, I LOVE ice skating." And I loved the special one on one time I had with him!

we're in trouble

Over the last 3 days Gabi has made us do a double take.  We have caught her pulling out drawers (and getting her fingers caught), open cabinets, and crawling EVERYWHERE.  However... check out the next 2 videos to see her newest accomplishments (and why we are in trouble!)

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

we have had another snow storm and over in our neck of the woods, it is welcome! the kids get so excited to go outside as soon as the first snowflake makes it way down.
When we bought this home, we never would have imagined the pure enjoyment the little hill in the backyard would bring the kids and us. In the summer the kids loved running up and down and tumbling down. Now... it's all about sledding, rolling, sliding down. The size of the hill is perfect for the kids, and still fun enough for the grown ups (made more interesting by trying to dodge the trees!).

Today was made even more fun when Tobin stayed out a little longer to build the kid's first snow fortress! so much fun!

and the destruction of the 1st fortress =)

stay tuned... more to come on Gabi tomorrow =)

MercyMe - Beautiful

no explanation needed... just for anyone needing a pick-me-up... this one is for you.

a sister found

today was a good day with an old friend (and her daughter).  over the last couple of months, I  have been reacquainted with my "lil sib" Angela.  I became her "big sis" back in August of 2004.  She is a sweetheart with such a caring soul.  over the past year or so we were off living our lives and I must admit that I was not a good mentor.  I let my life and it's all it's craziness keep me away from her.  I feel so glad that she is back in my life.
Today, she and her daughter came to hang out, chat, and play in the snow!  It was a great day! sometimes its in the most unexpected places where you really find peace. 

Isa and Amariah sledding.

This was Amariah's first time, and she loved it!

10 month girl

Wishing everyone a great 3 Kings Day! 

Thought I would also catch up on Gabi... who turned 10 months over Christmas break....

OK, the fact that there is already talk about Gabi's 1st birthday is scary.  We really want this time to slow down!  Gabi is 10 months old now and there is no mistaking her with a baby anymore (sad to say).  Her personality is really starting to emerge.  She is easygoing, loves smiling, adores her siblings, and is so easy to make laugh. 

She is now a pro at kisses (makes a kissing sound when you ask her for a "besito", kiss in spanish), she shakes a when you tell her to dance (or baila).  We know she recognizes people because she always looks towards the person we are naming.  She claps her hands, waves, pulls up on everything, crawls everywhere, and nods yes and no.  Watching her nod "yes" is hysterical because she also raises and lowers her eyebrows when she does it.  It's too cute! 

Like Will and Isa, she isn't a great eater.  She loves her milk, but isn't too thrilled with solids.  She STILL has no teeth, but we are certain they are coming soon.... we think!    Also like her siblings Gabi LOVES bath time.  She splashes like a pro, and even occasionally tries to swim by dunking her face in.  She loves it, but it scares us!  We have another water baby!

Gabi has been heard to say Mama, Dada, Bapa, and has been exploring sound.  She roars back like a dinosaur at Will, and yells back at Isa.  Although she is exploring sound more, she sure isnt' a gabber.  Most times she is content just being quiet and observing the crowd (and smiling at them).  She can "walk" across a room if you are holding her hands, and stands for up to 30 seconds before carefully bringing herself down.  She is showing signs of wanting to walk, but hasn't stood up on her own yet.    She plays well on her own, but never refuses a welcome arm.  She loves being held, but seldom cries for it.  She has won a special place in Grandma Thomas' heart too as her lil snuggle girl.

To say Gabi is sweet is an understatement.  She is a quiet, perfectly sweet girl who has our hearts.  We feel so lucky to be sharing in her life.

already missing family

It's crazy to think that they only left a few hours ago and already the house seem so much more quite and lonely.  We had a fantastic, relaxing, just hanging out kind of week.  The kids running around the house, playing so nice in the playroom, and the countless giggles were awesome.
The kids did a lot of sledding in our back yard (every day they had the chance to!).  The adults got a great chance to sit back and relax and catch up.  It was so nice that the kids would just go and play on their own.  We continually remarked how the distance didn't seem to matter to the kids.  It's as if we lived next door.  Today was a little hard though... they are getting older and now they realize that saying goodbye means they won't see each other for a little while.  After a few tears from the kids, they were all... and already plotting their return!  We can't wait for our next get together!
It's times like this that we really wish we lived closer together, but we do feel SO blessed for ALL the opportunities that we have had to be together.

all 5 cousins sledding =)

 bringing in the New Year!