At Christmas Even dinner Gabriella reached over for me, grabbed my arm, cocked her head sideways and said, "Merry Christmas Mommy" in the sweetest little voice. She then did the same to Stew.
She ended up sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's bed that night because she got so freaked out about the big man coming down our chimney while we were sleeping. It is a pretty scary thought.
She is transitioning into PreK and absolutely loving it. She comes home and talks about what she learned, etc. A few days ago the teacher asked the kids what would happen to the cup of water when it's taken outside. My little pumpkin, newest one in the class, announced that it would freeze.
The teacher pulled me aside and expressed her surprise and pleasure at her ability to ease into the room and understand concepts. It may just be water freezing to one person, but it's genius in the making to me!!
Yesterday Gabriella told me I was like Snow White and that she and Brianna were the two dwarfs. Made me laugh.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Halloween Pictures
October 31, 2010
In reviewing some past photos, I figured I'd take this time to post some favorites from Halloween past:
Halloween 2007 (Age 8 months with best friend, James)
Halloween 2008 (Age 1 year, 8 months) This is not a particularly stunning picture, but it's sentimental because it was her first independent carnival ride!
Halloween 2009 (Age 2 years 8 months) This is a smidge out of focus but I'm loving the Autumn colors!
Halloween 2010 (Age 3 years, 8 months) Gabriella clearly not enjoying the texture of Pumpkin guts!
In reviewing some past photos, I figured I'd take this time to post some favorites from Halloween past:
Halloween 2007 (Age 8 months with best friend, James)
Halloween 2008 (Age 1 year, 8 months) This is not a particularly stunning picture, but it's sentimental because it was her first independent carnival ride!
Halloween 2009 (Age 2 years 8 months) This is a smidge out of focus but I'm loving the Autumn colors!
Halloween 2010 (Age 3 years, 8 months) Gabriella clearly not enjoying the texture of Pumpkin guts!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
October 24, 2010
I was just looking at pictures from one year ago, around when Brianna was born. It's hard to believe that almost a year has gone by and how much both of my girls have grown! Sigh.
Gabriella decided she wanted to be a Police Officer for Halloween. She has taught me the importance of using nonsexist language. I was in the habit of saying "Police man" when referring to a Police officer. One day she made a comment that she couldn't be a Police man when she grows up because she's a girl.
:(
ACK!
I am now INCREDIBLY mindful of the words I choose, especially as it pertains to sexist language (e.g., Police Officer instead of Police Man, Firefighter instead of Fireman, Mail Carrier instead of Postman, etc.) Here she is in her Police Officer Costume.
Actually today she corrected me. It's her Police Officer UNIFORM.
I took this picture today and I LOVE it. She and Brianna absolutely adore each other. I was able to capture Gabriella RIGHT when she noticed Brianna doing something in the background (I think she was picking up a leaf). She just looks so authentically adoring of Brianna here.
I was just looking at pictures from one year ago, around when Brianna was born. It's hard to believe that almost a year has gone by and how much both of my girls have grown! Sigh.
Gabriella decided she wanted to be a Police Officer for Halloween. She has taught me the importance of using nonsexist language. I was in the habit of saying "Police man" when referring to a Police officer. One day she made a comment that she couldn't be a Police man when she grows up because she's a girl.
:(
ACK!
I am now INCREDIBLY mindful of the words I choose, especially as it pertains to sexist language (e.g., Police Officer instead of Police Man, Firefighter instead of Fireman, Mail Carrier instead of Postman, etc.) Here she is in her Police Officer Costume.
Actually today she corrected me. It's her Police Officer UNIFORM.
I took this picture today and I LOVE it. She and Brianna absolutely adore each other. I was able to capture Gabriella RIGHT when she noticed Brianna doing something in the background (I think she was picking up a leaf). She just looks so authentically adoring of Brianna here.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Trip to Serbia
September 21, 2010
3 years, 7 months
Gabriella has been having a ball in Serbia. We leave tomorrow with a lot of good memories and new friends. Gabriella has enjoyed learning some Serbian and some Hungarian - mostly saying "hello" and "thank you"- which, for a 3 year old, can get you pretty far!
While here she has also learned how to skip. She is so proud of herself and will demonstrate her new skill to any audience, family, friend, or stranger. She is also excited to come home because, "Mom, I really miss Daddy." She wanted to bring him back something that he'd like. After thinking long and hard she decided that we should get him a t-shirt. ("Because his shirts have holes in them.") I thought that was a great idea and easy to do. I asked her what does she want the shirt to look like. "Umm... it should have a beer can on it."
Ha ha! She cracks me up. I responded, "what if we can't find one with a beer can?"
Gabriella:"Ummm... well then one with a blue tooth on it." (She knows that Daddy likes to play with the dogs with a beer and his headphones on. She thinks headphones are called "bluetooth".) So cute.
Cousin Adam and Gabriella at the Zoo
Skipping and Singing in the center of Novi Sad
3 years, 7 months
Gabriella has been having a ball in Serbia. We leave tomorrow with a lot of good memories and new friends. Gabriella has enjoyed learning some Serbian and some Hungarian - mostly saying "hello" and "thank you"- which, for a 3 year old, can get you pretty far!
While here she has also learned how to skip. She is so proud of herself and will demonstrate her new skill to any audience, family, friend, or stranger. She is also excited to come home because, "Mom, I really miss Daddy." She wanted to bring him back something that he'd like. After thinking long and hard she decided that we should get him a t-shirt. ("Because his shirts have holes in them.") I thought that was a great idea and easy to do. I asked her what does she want the shirt to look like. "Umm... it should have a beer can on it."
Ha ha! She cracks me up. I responded, "what if we can't find one with a beer can?"
Gabriella:"Ummm... well then one with a blue tooth on it." (She knows that Daddy likes to play with the dogs with a beer and his headphones on. She thinks headphones are called "bluetooth".) So cute.
Gabriella and Omama
Cousin Adam and Gabriella at the Zoo
Skipping and Singing in the center of Novi Sad
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Baltimore Trip
July 2010
I found this old post that I must have forgotten to publish... Here are a cuople more pics from our Baltimore trip. The first is Gab with Daddy and the second is from the Baltimore Aquarium. We were also able to visit my Dad's grave for the first time - so it was pretty special.
I found this old post that I must have forgotten to publish... Here are a cuople more pics from our Baltimore trip. The first is Gab with Daddy and the second is from the Baltimore Aquarium. We were also able to visit my Dad's grave for the first time - so it was pretty special.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Things I Already Miss
I realize my girls are growing fast. I see it every day- a new tooth on Brianna -increasingly sophisticated humor by Gab, etc. I've been getting a little wistful lately. I love them so much but time seems to be passing me by way too quickly and I'm struggling to fully appreciate every little morsel of their childhood. I'm actually already missing some of the little things that I know will be gone in a flash:
1. Makeshift and hectic dinners, at one table, in one house. No plane tickets to arrange, no work schedules to adjust. Everyone together - a little stressed - a little tired - sometimes cranky - coupled with conversations about preschool, lentil beans behind ears, and dress attire that includes sometimes half-naked, pajama clad kids.
2.Being asked, for the 8th time that week, "Mommy, where is the fire engine going?" Having a little person look up to me, believing that somehow, someway, I actually know where every fire engine is going...even though I always have to say, "I don't know honey, maybe there's a fire or someone is hurt." No matter what, she always asks again, wishing and believing that I may actually know this time.
3. Bedtime routines that include bookreading, kisses, races to the bathroom ("I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win!") to get to the toothbrush, and tucking her in with her favorite 'green blanket', ("soft side please.")
4. The sound of little feet walking down the hall... knowing it's Gabby not just because of the lightness of her step, but because of the pace -- "walking" is really a half-run...everywhere.
5. The endless smell of urine. I know this sounds like a strange one, but Gabriella has had a difficult time with 'accidents' ever since Brianna arrived on the scene. The other day Stew was taking Gabriella into preschool and as he was putting her in the carseat he noticed that her pants were wet. "Gabriella, did you pee your pants honey?" To which she responded, "Just keep buckling me Dad!" Her accidents are sometimes a source of pride, and other times embarrassment. So combining her continual accidents and the fact that Brianna is still in diapers, the smell of urine now evokes positive feelings.
6.Toys under my feet. Cheerios at the bottom of my car. Crayons in my purse. A diaper in our glove compartment. Paint brushes in every crevice of our house.
7. And the thing I probably miss the most already, only because I know it will be gone way too soon... is having two little girls respond to me with almost an equal show of love to what I have for them. When I pick them up from preschool Gabriella runs to me, arms extended, screaming "MOOOMMMYY!!" When I see Brianna after work her little face lights up with a huge grin and she begins to crawl over to me with a half-whimper of excitement.
______________________________________________________
It's humbling for me to watch my heart run, walk, crawl in front of me in the body of these two beautiful little creatures. I suppose the last thing that I really already miss is being able to actually be with my girls - I actually get to see my heart, every single day - before I know it they will be off....
I love you Gabriella!
I love you Brianna!
1. Makeshift and hectic dinners, at one table, in one house. No plane tickets to arrange, no work schedules to adjust. Everyone together - a little stressed - a little tired - sometimes cranky - coupled with conversations about preschool, lentil beans behind ears, and dress attire that includes sometimes half-naked, pajama clad kids.
2.Being asked, for the 8th time that week, "Mommy, where is the fire engine going?" Having a little person look up to me, believing that somehow, someway, I actually know where every fire engine is going...even though I always have to say, "I don't know honey, maybe there's a fire or someone is hurt." No matter what, she always asks again, wishing and believing that I may actually know this time.
3. Bedtime routines that include bookreading, kisses, races to the bathroom ("I'm gonna win, I'm gonna win!") to get to the toothbrush, and tucking her in with her favorite 'green blanket', ("soft side please.")
4. The sound of little feet walking down the hall... knowing it's Gabby not just because of the lightness of her step, but because of the pace -- "walking" is really a half-run...everywhere.
5. The endless smell of urine. I know this sounds like a strange one, but Gabriella has had a difficult time with 'accidents' ever since Brianna arrived on the scene. The other day Stew was taking Gabriella into preschool and as he was putting her in the carseat he noticed that her pants were wet. "Gabriella, did you pee your pants honey?" To which she responded, "Just keep buckling me Dad!" Her accidents are sometimes a source of pride, and other times embarrassment. So combining her continual accidents and the fact that Brianna is still in diapers, the smell of urine now evokes positive feelings.
6.Toys under my feet. Cheerios at the bottom of my car. Crayons in my purse. A diaper in our glove compartment. Paint brushes in every crevice of our house.
7. And the thing I probably miss the most already, only because I know it will be gone way too soon... is having two little girls respond to me with almost an equal show of love to what I have for them. When I pick them up from preschool Gabriella runs to me, arms extended, screaming "MOOOMMMYY!!" When I see Brianna after work her little face lights up with a huge grin and she begins to crawl over to me with a half-whimper of excitement.
______________________________________________________
It's humbling for me to watch my heart run, walk, crawl in front of me in the body of these two beautiful little creatures. I suppose the last thing that I really already miss is being able to actually be with my girls - I actually get to see my heart, every single day - before I know it they will be off....
I love you Gabriella!
I love you Brianna!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Gabbyisms
June 23, 2010
Age 3 years, 4 months
Me: Gabriella, please use your knife and fork rather than your fingers.
G: Not tonight Sweet Pea.
_________________
(Same conversation, a few minutes later.)
G: Momma? (She prefers to call me Momma rather than Mom or Mommy..)
Me: Yes?
G: I'm gonna ask Daddy to put triplets in your tummy.
Me: (Externally:) Oh, hmm.. (Internally) WHAT??? - where did you learn the whole daddy putting a baby in a mommy's tummy? Why are you cursing me with triplets?
______________________________
G: I want to be called Ella.
Me: Okay.
G: What should we call you? -Momma?
Me: No I want something a little more exotic.
G: Okay, I'll call you Mom.
Age 3 years, 4 months
Me: Gabriella, please use your knife and fork rather than your fingers.
G: Not tonight Sweet Pea.
_________________
(Same conversation, a few minutes later.)
G: Momma? (She prefers to call me Momma rather than Mom or Mommy..)
Me: Yes?
G: I'm gonna ask Daddy to put triplets in your tummy.
Me: (Externally:) Oh, hmm.. (Internally) WHAT??? - where did you learn the whole daddy putting a baby in a mommy's tummy? Why are you cursing me with triplets?
______________________________
G: I want to be called Ella.
Me: Okay.
G: What should we call you? -Momma?
Me: No I want something a little more exotic.
G: Okay, I'll call you Mom.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Growing up
June 2010, age 3 years, a few months
With Gabriella's increasing independence comes increasing picture opportunities:
With Gabriella's increasing independence comes increasing picture opportunities:
Mommy's Lipstick
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
May 8, 2010
Age 3 years, 2.5 months
G: "I need to change my clothes before my nap."
M: "Okay, why?"
G: "I'm all wet."
M: "From swimming?" (We went swimming this morning.)
G: "Noooooo... yooouuu knooowww...!!! Pee!!"
G: "Noooooo... yooouuu knooowww...!!! Pee!!"
M: "Oh, then change your clothes babe."
G: "I'm just really tired of having to pee eeevvveerrryyy day."
Breakfast of Champions: Pringles and a Waffle.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 24, 2010
Age 3 years, 2 months
Me: Gab, do you want to go to Wegmans with me?
Gabriella: Yes! ....I don't really like shopping though.
Me: Oh really? {I truly didn't know that...}
Gabriella: Yea, but I want to go with you.
Me: Why?
Gabriella: Because I like being with you
{Insert image of my heart melting.}
Age 3 years, 2 months
Me: Gab, do you want to go to Wegmans with me?
Gabriella: Yes! ....I don't really like shopping though.
Me: Oh really? {I truly didn't know that...}
Gabriella: Yea, but I want to go with you.
Me: Why?
Gabriella: Because I like being with you
{Insert image of my heart melting.}
Monday, March 1, 2010
Playdate
Gabby's good friend, James, came over a couple of times this past week. She had a ball.
Going for a little walk (we came home early from the park because they decided to "run away from Mommy." Not good when Mommy is also watching a 3 month old!) This picture was taken AFTER the park - can you see their mischievious expressions?
There's never a better time for love than in the middle of making cookies.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Gabriella is now 3 YEARS old!! Holy Cow! She insisted on a little kid party at the bounce house (Leaps-n-Bounce) again this year -with the same exact kids as last year plus one (James, Vincent and Isabella...) From the pictures from my last post you can see that she had a ball - she was a maniac! And, all the kids went on this really big slide too - one that I thought you probably should be 5 years old or so to go on... but nope, they all climbed up the tall ladder (parents weren't allowed to go on becuase it was too big and too inflatable) and slid down- it was hilarious! I'll post a picture of her coming down - it's pretty funny!
At her 3 year check up everything went well! She is so much more interactive and mature with each visit. At this visit, she asked the doctor, "Do I need vaccinations?" Nope, she didn't... She also informed the doctor that it was her birthday and that she was going back to preschool with Mommy so that they could eat cake with her friends... and that she has a baby sister named Brianna... and that she and her Daddy got stuck in the snow that morning... and that she went to the bounce house... and that she and Mommy and Daddy were going out to a res-trunk that night... and...on...and..on..and...on... Our doctor is fantastic with kids so Gabby was obviously very comfortable! She was thrilled that she got to sit on the "big girl table" (doctor's words) and looked SO PROUD of herself!
When checking on her development, the nurse had the audacity to ask if Gabby could make 5 word sentences. Umm....how can we truncate her sentences to only 5 words? That would be great!
Snacks make it more fun..
Ta-da!
Princess Dress? $6
Princess Shoes? $2
Banana? 50 cents.
Grilled Cheese? 50 cents.
Tomato Soup? 50 cents.
A three year old's dream lunch? Priceless.
With a Golden Retriever patiently waiting to clean up the rug. I say "patiently" with a hint of sarcasm. Good boy Abraham!!
At her 3 year check up everything went well! She is so much more interactive and mature with each visit. At this visit, she asked the doctor, "Do I need vaccinations?" Nope, she didn't... She also informed the doctor that it was her birthday and that she was going back to preschool with Mommy so that they could eat cake with her friends... and that she has a baby sister named Brianna... and that she and her Daddy got stuck in the snow that morning... and that she went to the bounce house... and that she and Mommy and Daddy were going out to a res-trunk that night... and...on...and..on..and...on... Our doctor is fantastic with kids so Gabby was obviously very comfortable! She was thrilled that she got to sit on the "big girl table" (doctor's words) and looked SO PROUD of herself!
When checking on her development, the nurse had the audacity to ask if Gabby could make 5 word sentences. Umm....how can we truncate her sentences to only 5 words? That would be great!
Her height was 39.5" and her weight was 31lbs(?) can't remember. Height was 90-95th percentile and weight was 70th percentile... so she's doing just fine...
Here are some recent pics:
First salon haircut!
First salon haircut!
Snacks make it more fun..
Ta-da!
Princess Dress? $6
Princess Shoes? $2
Banana? 50 cents.
Grilled Cheese? 50 cents.
Tomato Soup? 50 cents.
A three year old's dream lunch? Priceless.
With a Golden Retriever patiently waiting to clean up the rug. I say "patiently" with a hint of sarcasm. Good boy Abraham!!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Workboxes
So I started using this "system" called workboxes. I found the idea on the internet from some homeschooling blogs. It's a way to organize and structure a homeschooling day. While we don't really homeschool, I thought it might be a fun way to keep Gabriella stimulated and me organized! I do a very modified version of the system, resulting in about 6 labelled plastic bins with various activities in each. Gabriella LOVES doing these! She has become more independent and is excited to wake up each morning to see what's in her boxes for the day! Here is a clip from a few weeks ago...
Sunday, February 14, 2010
FIRST LETTER!
You may have to click on this image to actually see the letter... but yes, she wrote her first letter!!!
Ahh... growing up....
Ahh... growing up....
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
"I'm sorry Mommy!"
I walked in the dining room and Gabriella had water all over the table. "I'm sorry Mommy, I made a mistake.."
Me: "It's okay, honey, that happens. Let me go and get a paper towel."
Feeling thankful for having such a polite little girl, I peeked my head around the corner at her for a secret glance (the kind that only parents understand.) With love radiating out of my eyes, I looked over at her sitting next to the spilled water. At that moment, without being aware of my adoring gaze, she picked up her water bottle again and began to pour.
And pour.
And pour.
All the while saying, "I'm sorry Mommy, I made a mistake, I'm sooorrryy..."
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Firsts
Today, for the first time, Gabriella noticed when I was skipping pages in her book. "Mom! You missed a couple of pages!!"
"Oh, I DID?"
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Ahh...living as a SAHM
I have now been home from work for 7 weeks. I'm loving it. I'm really loving it. Partially because I know it's time limited, so I have to savour it... Gabriella is going to preschool 2 days/week, so I get to be with both of the girls for 5 full days. My dream would be to work part time - I value my work but, of course, I treasure my kids...so this would be a way to balance both. Here are some photos capturing all the things I'm now able to do during the days that I wasn't able to do with a full time job:
Lots and lots of playing Hi Ho Cherry-O with Gabriella and her two dolls:
Lots of time for putting hair in rollers:
Some yoga (with snacks, of course):
A bubble bath waiting for Gabriella after preschool - fully equipped with candles, Wiggles music, and snacks on the ledge:
And, of course, just lots of time with both of my girls:
Lots and lots of playing Hi Ho Cherry-O with Gabriella and her two dolls:
Lots of time for putting hair in rollers:
Some yoga (with snacks, of course):
A bubble bath waiting for Gabriella after preschool - fully equipped with candles, Wiggles music, and snacks on the ledge:
And, of course, just lots of time with both of my girls:
The "Bad" Word
1/8/09
Yesterday, Stew was having a hard time getting Gabriella into her car seat. He mumbled under his breath, "This is a f- ing nightmare..."
Gabriella: "What's a f-ing night mare, Daddy?"
Daddy, in shock and caught off guard: "Don't say that word! That's a bad word!!"
Silence.
Gabriella: "It's okay Daddy, it's just a nightmare. Sometimes people have them when they sleep."
Yesterday, Stew was having a hard time getting Gabriella into her car seat. He mumbled under his breath, "This is a f- ing nightmare..."
Gabriella: "What's a f-ing night mare, Daddy?"
Daddy, in shock and caught off guard: "Don't say that word! That's a bad word!!"
Silence.
Gabriella: "It's okay Daddy, it's just a nightmare. Sometimes people have them when they sleep."
Thursday, January 7, 2010
What Makes Me Happy
January 7, 2009
One of Gabriella's favorite books right now is titled, Taking a bath with the dog and other things that make me happy. The theme is about learning what makes you happy and doing that activity. After we read the book I always ask Gabriella what makes her happy. She'll often just repeat what the book states, but sometimes she'll say something novel that reflects things that truly make her happy. I'm going to start a list on the side of this blog about the things that she identifies as making her happy... a couple of her firsts were: "playing with my baby doll" and "reading books."
One of Gabriella's favorite books right now is titled, Taking a bath with the dog and other things that make me happy. The theme is about learning what makes you happy and doing that activity. After we read the book I always ask Gabriella what makes her happy. She'll often just repeat what the book states, but sometimes she'll say something novel that reflects things that truly make her happy. I'm going to start a list on the side of this blog about the things that she identifies as making her happy... a couple of her firsts were: "playing with my baby doll" and "reading books."
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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