Spring is just around the corner, if not here yet, as demonstrated by the budding trees and blooming flowers. 

Okay, so this one may be considered a weed, but I like these weeds a lot better than the little yellow dandelions. And there are daffodils, crocuses and cherry blossoms all in bloom now. Gabriel is absolutely loving being outdoors. He must ask at least 20 times a day to go "outsie" while pointing at the door or out the window.

 We oblige him as much as possible. The ducks are a lot of fun and he often asks for them. It's one of the many words he can sign and say, so I clearly know what he wants. Plus we know several duck songs from music class, which he also loves.

This one is from a local park that has a river through it. Gabriel loves to play in the water and Ruben loves showing him all about being a boy and getting dirty, which is good because this momma would probably try to keep him mostly clean.

And, of course, the park is always a winner, especially if Emily is there. This picture is from yesterday (St. Patrick's Day). Emily is so nice she didn't even pinch him despite the fact that I forgot to put him in something green. No wonder he likes her. 

We leave on Wednesday for our first family vacation to the Redwoods in Northern California.

We are super excited!

March 1st

Well, here it is the beginning of another new month. If I thought time passed quickly before Gabriel was here, it definitely goes by faster now that I have him to enjoy. Our boy is growing up so fast! He absolutely loves being outside.

Gabriel & I have been taking a class through Kindermusik since the end of January. It's actually a Sing & Sign class, so although he verbally communicates well, the signs have been a fun addition. We are also doing swim lessons, although he is less than pleased about that, I think mostly because it's class time and not just play time in the pool. Plus, another factor is that his little girlfriend, Emily, is not in our swim class. Huge bummer for Gabriel as he asks for her every day at least once (if not a dozen times).

We took Emily & her mom, Sara, to Portland with us last week. After Gabe's appointment at Shriner's (we go back in 6 months, and no more surgeries to consider now) we took the kids to the Portland Children's Museum. Here are a couple pics.

They had a great time exploring and playing, which is what's important. And, of course, being together is always fun. Gabriel also really enjoyed watching a couple of the guys at the Children's Museum who were working on a broken display. Between the motor they were examining, the tools they were using and just the fact that they were fixing something, Gabriel was fascinated. I had to chuckle about that.

Below is a picture of Gabriel sharing his harmonica with Emily. The harmonica was a Christmas gift from The Pebley's and Gabriel has really enjoyed playing it and sharing it - with anyone (or any dog) who will tolerate his sharing. I keep telling him Maximus can't play it because he doesn't have lips, but it doesn't stop Gabe from offering.

 

After getting over his sickness from Christmas, Gabriel ended up with a pretty nasty URI for several weeks in January. Per the ENT from last week's appointment, he's still dealing with an enlarged adenoid, but he is doing better. I hope we are done with sicknesses now for awhile. This picture is from shortly after he had recuperated. I knew he was better since he kept grabbing the cookies and pulling them toward him. I caught him smiling here for just a second before he started going for them again... notice he already has one in his hand. Yup, his father's son...

We are planning our first family vacation to The Redwoods in Northern California toward the end of this month. Ruben and I are both very excited about it. Like I mentioned Gabriel loves the outdoors so I think we will have a fantastic time exploring the trees and the beaches and just being together, making memories. Then a week later we will be heading to MT for Easter with my family. I'm very excited about that as well! Lots to look forward to this month.

Happy 2013!

Well, my three week vacation from work is coming to an end. It's been a fun and exhausting break at the same time. Gabriel was sick for about 5 days during Christmas week, starting Sunday evening and finally starting to get back to normal by about Saturday. Needless to say our Christmas was low-key and just our little family, plus Maximus came home on Christmas Eve. Yay! :o) We did go visit some friends for New Year's and stayed with them in Gresham. Gabriel and their 7 month old son, Elijah, are still too young to really interact and play but we are all excited for that day to come. Here's a cute picture of the two of them together from New Year's Day.

Gabriel and I also spent a few days in December with my Grandma Joy and her husband, Chuck, in Arizona. Unfortunately, the weather was not so good - raining almost the entire time we were there. But we still had a lovely time and I'm so glad Gabriel was able to meet his Great-Grandma and brighten up their lives. 

Gabriel loved laying and sitting on Great-Grandma's big pink dog.

Here's Grandma and me in our matching old-lady robes. 

I've officially crossed the threshold. ;O) 

Gabriel loved going up and down the front steps as well as the ramp. He's taking a little break here while Gram and Chuck watch in admiration. 

And the last picture for now - Gabriel with Chuck and Gram.

This New Year I am reminded about what is truly important in life. I am very thankful that I have so many supportive, loving people in my life. Plus an amazing, healthy son who reminds me every day to laugh. Not every day is easy, but every day is worth it.

Adorable video

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Gabriel has been fighting a virus since Sunday evening. He's feeling better and hasn't had a fever in over 36 hours now. However, he does now have a little rash all over and seems afraid to miss anything. Getting him down for his naps yesterday and today were challenging. Not to mention our overnights - last night and tonight have been challenging still; hence, my posting this at 1:15 am. But I was thinking of this video and just had to share. I hope it works, it's so stinking cute. I had no idea what he was going to do, I was waiting for the cheesy smile that comes at the end. Enjoy! I will post again soon, I promise, as I have pictures & info to share from our trip to see my Grandma in Arizona from a couple weeks ago. Good night and may Gabriel have sweet dreams for the rest of the night... and Mommy, too.

Growing so fast

Although I didn't take many pictures this past weekend, I still thought it was high time for you all to see some different pictures of Gabriel. So the two below are from a year ago today. This is my "can you believe it?!?" reflection for today. The time has passed so quickly already.

We had a great weekend, even if mine was only 3 days instead of my usual 5 days. I adjusted. :o) Two really adorable things happened that I want to share. First, on Wednesday when I took Gabe to daycare and was getting ready to leave he gave me two huge, wet puppy dog kisses right there with no prodding. I think I smiled all the way to work that morning and any time it comes to mind now. Also, on Thursday morning he was standing on the couch with our little afghan mostly covering a teddy bear he had been playing with the day before at his feet. I challenged him to find his bear and he began by slowly doing a visual scan around the room without moving much. Then I told him to check down by his feet and toes, after a second of processing he lifted his foot up to about knee level and looked at it. I praised him and then said to check under the blanket by his feet. A moment later when he did look down at the blanket and saw the teddy bear's ear sticking out he triumphantly grabbed the bear and held it up. It was and is the coolest thing to see him processing information in this way. I love this boy! 

Okay, last thing I want to share was about our walk around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. Gabriel was amazed! The look of wonderment on his face was precious. Also he could occasionally be heard making two main comments: "lights" (sounds more like "yites") and "whoa". We had an excellent walk that night and again last night with some friends. Everything is different through the eyes of a child, and I feel so blessed to have this one.

This week is gonna be a busy one... I'm working 4 whole days, then on Friday Gabriel and I will be flying to Arizona to see my Grandma Joy and my mom. I am so excited to see them! Plus that begins my 3 week break from work - good for me and family time, but not so good for my next paycheck. :o(

 I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Happy Holidays to you and yours

Here's the wreath I made last weekend. I'm so proud of how it turned out!

Thanksgiving

Our little man got dressed up on Thanksgiving Day.

Family Photo

We had an excellent Thanksgiving this year, so many things for which to be thankful. We spent Thanksgiving Day and night at Ruben's parents. His sister and new beau also came down from Seattle and were able to be with us. It was a nice day. Plus, when we got back home we still had time to make a second Thanksgiving dinner - this one was just for the three of us. It included a delicious ham from our pig (Paul), an amazing sweet potato dish that ended up tasting like pie filling, made from scratch green bean casserole (even down to the tiny fried scallions on top) and homemade rolls (Barb's buns, if you will). Our first Thanksgiving this year was good, but the second one was even better.  

Here's Gabriel trying to help Maximus get his ball from under the chest.

 On Friday before leaving Portland we met up with my wonderful friend, Julia, and brought Maximus home with us for a couple of nights. Our time with him could not have gone better. He and Gabriel got along fabulously. There has been much laughter and squealing in our home the last couple of nights. It's been a great holiday weekend. I hope all of my loved ones have felt as blessed as I have this Thanksgiving.