Merry Christmas!

At a Christmas brunch earlier this month, I heard a mother talking about how she let her children set up the nativity set this year. Her 5-year old went to work putting all of the pieces out. When she returned, she found all of the sheep, cows, and donkeys all squished together in a big clump with all of their rumps facing out. As she was about to correct him to make it look a bit more organized and neat, she saw the scene with fresh eyes. They were all squeezed together and nosing forward to see Jesus. They wanted to get a good look at this little One who "became flesh and dwelt among us." He is something special to behold.

Merry Christmas!

The best giggle

We have found that certain normal activities tickle Gabe's funny bone. One of those is playing catch. This giggle will do you good...

Big helper

Gabe is now helping with chores. Helping is a loose term - he just likes to be involved.

He "helps" empty the dishwasher (after all sharp utensils are removed)


Super cheesy grin - total ham for the camera

And, the best one that is acutal helpful is with the clothes dryer. I think it's his favorite thing in the house to play with. When the door is closed he pulls up and bangs on it.

So smart...

We have a keychain that plays the KU fight song and says "Go Jayhawks" when you tap it. Gabe has figured this out and it looks like this:

Homey Warm Beverage To Enjoy

I recently had this cider/punch and it ushered in the warmth of the season. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Punch

8 cups Cranberry Juice
6 cups Apple Juice
¼ C brown sugar
1 t. whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
1 orange, sliced

Just heat and serve.

I can climb the stairs!

Check this out... he's a pro!

Fall Foliage

Just a few recent pics of Gabe in the front yard. Isn't our front tree gorgeous!?!?

He sits there a minute and then starts splashing his hands in the leaves like he's in the bath tub. He's intense and concentrates - very cause and effect. (This is, of course, his new favorite trick in the tub and he scoots himself to the "deep end" to get the most 'splash for his buck.' He thinks he's hilarious... and mommy gets soaking wet!)

In the 2nd picture, he's raising his arms as we've taught him to do so when we say, "Touchdown!" I think it worked as the Vikings squeezed a win past the Packers on Sunday. Thanks Mark and Lisa for the awesome outfit - he's getting a ton of use out of it! (Would you believe that people here have commented several times that he's a Lakers fan?!?! It's a crying shame.)

Free tall coffee

Unassumingly, I went into Starbucks to get a regular old cup of coffee yesterday. This is a rare occassion as it's a treat (due to the price), and my boss for my part-time gig even offered to treat - double treat!

Well, I ordered my coffee and the cashier, who was coridal and friendly, offered me something to eat as well. I graciously declined and he finished the transaction. Then it happened...

he told me it was my lucky day because I, out of I don't know how many guests, had been chosen to do a brief online survey for which I would receive a free tall beverage of my choice!

FREE!!!

I was astonished and he must've caught on because he said, "Yeah, free! You can choose a latte or whatever you'd like... FREE!"

Hastily, I finished the survey yesterday afternoon and debated about what type of warm and comforting treat I desired. It was free so I had to use the freebie wisely and most advantageously. I had it all planned to leave the house a bit early this morning for an event so as to pick up my drink on the way. And, it was chilly out this morning, adding to my excitement!

However, we were late and I did not get to enjoy said coffee. BUT, I plan on heading out tomorrow a.m. to redeem my coupon code for my drink.

Yes, it is just a drink, but like I said - it's treat.

Happy Halloween!

We had a busy bumble bee on our hands. He enjoyed his costume and all of the kids coming to the door, except one. One little neighbor boy was wearing the mask from "Scream" and it made Gabe do just that. Here is a sampling of photos.

With his tights on he looked like Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance"

He giggled in his costume (of course, his parents, grandma and aunt
were all cheering for him - a lot of affirmation)



He couldn't see out of his costume so well, but that didn't stop him from playing.

Festive pajamas

Singing Mirror

We have been borrowing a "singing mirror" from a friend. It has all of these musical instrument buttons on it and when you push them the songs start up. They are some timeless classics like, "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands" and "Head and Shoulders." There is another catchy tune that was new to our household. "The Peekaboo Song" (which is our clever name for it) It goes as follows:

I can make faces and sounds like this

Wave my hand and blow you a kiss

Open my mouth to say please

Something else happens

Achoo! A sneeze!

Cover my eyes and peek right through

Come on let's play peekaboo!

Peekaboo!

While the sneeze part is random, it's a catchy little tune that I now hum all day long. G loves the "peekaboo!" exclamation at the end. It gets a big smile every time.

This toy is meant to be a sitting toy as pictured here:

What it becomes is a sort of climbing apparatus as seen below (we are very proud of ourselves):

Craigslist posting

Craigslist.com is amazing... beware - you may get addicted!

This was an actual posting I just read:

I have a beautiful Wedding Dress for sale
White long sleeve extra long train
Only worn Once

Just the one time???

Fall

I grew up in a "small town" inside a big city. Kirkwood, Missouri has an identity all unto its own. While being inside St. Louis, people from Kirkwood say, "I'm from Kirkwood" rather than, "I'm from St. Louis."

Kirkwood has a main street - Kirkwood Road - with old brick store fronts, quaint shops, farmer's market, Amtrak train station, etc. It is picturesque to say the least. We lived within 6 blocks of most everything we needed - even the library and YMCA. It was a great place to grow up.

Kirkwood Train Station

All of the homes were old and the types of folks that lived in them was a diverse bunch. We had moved there from the suburbs where every family on the street had 2-4 kids our age. It was mayhem. In Kirkwood, our neighbors were widows, families with teens, families with kids, empty-nesters, single moms, and grandparents. It was a real community - active and caring about their neck of the woods. We loved it.


As to the title of this entry, I really became aware of the seasons changing while we lived there. Mostly because there were elements of nature present there that were not in the suburbs. The streets were shaded with huge old trees. We had a creek behind our house that we romped around in. Spring and Fall captured your attention the most as you were assaulted with the aromas and strong fragrances each brought about.



This past weekend, we were walking through the park near our house here and I caught a smell... it was that sweet smell of damp leaves on the ground. You know the one I'm talking about: the smell of Fall. In that moment, I was immediately transported back to Kirkwood. It's dusk, we're all playing hide and seek, and I'm in this little gulley in the yard of a neighbor down the street underneath a huge oak tree. The leaves are as big as my face, and I'm hiding under a huge pile of them. It's cool under there and I can't tell if my clothes are getting damp or it's just cold. For a moment, I just close my eyes and lie there smelling the sweet smell. Secretly, I don't care if I ever am found. It's quiet and comfortable.


In an instant I'm back to reality. Snap! Just like that. Incedible how catching a small hint of a smell can transport you like that. That's where I venture off to when I "smell Fall."

Pumpkin Patch

In the name of starting traditions, we ventured out to South Carolina to a Pumpkin Patch/Apple Orchard in South Carolina.

They had little goats and Gabe loved watching them...

He stood up leaning against the sign that read "How tall this Fall?"

Sitting in the Pumpkin Patch - he didn't like touching the pumpkins at first

Standing at the Pumpkin Patch entrance

Yum-o!

My dear friend, Kelli, sent me this recipe. I have not tried it, but will be doing so (especially in a hormonal emergency) as soon as possible.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

• 4 tablespoons flour


• 4 tablespoons sugar


• 2 tablespoons cocoa


• 1 egg


• 3 tablespoons milk


• 3 tablespoons oil


• 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)


• Small splash of vanilla extract


• 1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 1/2 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

I will NOT be trying to feel more virtuous... it doesn't look like something to share. =)

Almost there!

Gabe has been trying to walk, but really needs to learn to crawl. He has all of the pieces, but hasn't put them together yet. Here's a little video of what his getting from point A to point B looks like...

Visit to Grandma and Grandpa's

Over Labor Day we visited Gabe's Grandma and Grandpa dB in Florida. He went to the beach and sat in soft grass for the first time (the drought in NC has made our Bermuda grass like prickly needles). We had a ball and he was definitely showed off to friends there. Here are a few pics and a bonus video of Gabe's chuckle when mom says "boo!" It's a hoot!

"What's this green stuff? Cool!"

Gabe and mommy at the beach - Gabe said, "Ohhhhhhh" in approval of the waves
G is for Gabe!

Steamroller!

Two weeks ago, Gabe was figuring out he could roll over (and not get frustrated on his tummy). This is what it looked like.



Then, this past week it was super showoff! He became a steamroller and is really proud of himself!

Caffeine

So, I started weaning myself from caffeine before pregnancy. Caffeine isn't apparently bad during pregnancy (1 cup a day say experts), but I just didn't want the dependency. And, I was having more than 1 cup a day. I did half-caf and then eventually decaf. I was weaned! No headaches, no sleepyness, normalcy. It was great... It also boded well later on because the smell of coffee made me want to gag during the 1st and 2nd trimester. It smelled like a pile of burnt rubble. Yelch!

Experts say the same rules during pregnancy apply during nursing as well (at least for caffeine). So I was in compliance. No problem as I was caffeine-free. And more importantly, caffeine-depependent-free. Operative word there: was. I thought it would be no big deal to go back to half-caf, and let's just break it down... the Chai Latte at *$ is my fave/weakness and does not come sans caffeine.

This morning I woke up really tired. I got about 8 hours of sleep, which is awesome. But I had zero energy. Was I coming down with a cold? Did I get mono? Oh no, is Gabe going to get sick now?

Then it dawned on me... no half-caf coffee today yet. Uh oh... I think I've fallen back off the wagon... or am I back on the wagon? I don't know that expression very well. I'm definitely on the bandwagon... caffeine is a wonderful thing. God invented the coffee bean... caffeine can't be all that bad, right?

6 months today!

Gabe the babe is 6 months old today! It's incredible to think how much he's grown in such a short period of time. He's close to sitting up on his own and he really tries to sit up from a lying down position all the time. It's funny (see video at bottom). This was taken this morning - he was really happy in his Vikings Jersey (his dad is from Minnesota so he was born a Vikings fan).

This is a video of Gabe trying to sit up on his own - he gets tired, a bit distracted, but then goes back to it. You can hear him sigh really big - it's a lot of work! He's got a real strong core that any pilates instructor was kill for!

Rough River '08

Another year, another weekend at the lake in the countryside of Kentucky. It's such a fun time with all of the family. We were missing a few cousins this year (Jason and Eric were in Australia in the name of Google) and Kasey and Amy and the boys were in Michigan with Amy's family. But the rest were there and in good form.
We did the usual, ate a lot, talked a lot, drank a lot, and had a grand old time. You don't get much sleep, but you have to push through and maximize your time with everyone.
One of the highlights was Gabe and Zoe getting to meet each other for the first time. Zoe kept pointing at him and saying, "Baby! Baby!" Gabe just watched her and soaked it all in. He was hyper-stimulated by the time the weekend was over. He's still recovering, I think.
Here are a few photos and a short video of Z and G.



Nana and Zoe















G and Uncle D













Great Grandma and G











Chatting at the lake
















Z









She was interested but then had other things to do...

Joy's graduation!

Well, the last one of my small group girls has graduated - Miss Joy is now officially DONE with college! We're so proud of her! YAY, JOY!

From left to right: Caroline, Brittany, Noelle, Joy, Beth and me

Real food!

Gabe ate his first rice cereal yesterday - it was so fun! He has been interested in people food for awhile so we thought we'd try it. I think he did pretty well for the first time... he's very grunty these days and gets a little fussy at the end, but not bad for round #1.

Here are a few shots during...

Soundtrack to my day...

This is what I hear all day long - it's my soundtrack in life

(sorry the videos are long... I just can't bring myself to turn off the camera!)

I'm a big boy!

Now Gabe sits at the table with us in his hi-chair. One week ago he wasn't doing that. It's so neat to watch him grow. He used to be content looking at things, but now he wants to grab everything and shove it in his mouth. His two thumbs are still his favorite.

Hello to my Grandparents!

This was taken about 2 weeks ago - Gabe has a special message to his Grandparents.
(He's being assisted by my best friend, Lisa)

Go Jayhawks!

Good luck to the Jayhawks tonight! We'll be wearing our KU garb to represent!

Listen to me talk!

So Gabe is really starting to talk a lot! He certainly has a language all to his own - and his dangling bunny rabbit best friend is the recipient of most of it. In this video he also has the hiccups and is a bit sleepy so he's a little sluggish in his talking towards the end. He also tries to shove his hands into his mouth while talking. =) Turn up the volume and enjoy!

My friend the caterpillar

This is Gabe's friend, the caterpillar. He LOVES him and he talks to him. It's very cute!

This is our boy...

Here he is!

Gabe has arrived - he's now two months and is so fun! He's really interactive and smiling and talking. I love being with him and love watching his daddy play with him.

Here are a few photos:

he's brand new here

His superman is a classic move!

his first smile on camera

(sorry it's sideways)

this is his swing that he LOVES

(notice the teddy bears on his feet)

just last week

...chillin'

Thanksgiving with my niece

You have to see these photos of my niece... I can't stand it she's so cute!



Zoe in her new fancy stroller... so happy!













my mom insisted this was her saying "how" in her Native American greeting, but this is really her wave - she's really good at it.











Kristen, my bro, Dustin, and Zoe at the park - so photogenic! I'm super proud that they are my family!

Just a little something...

Yes, this is exactly how most prego women feel towards the end...

Waiting...

In life we wait for big things to happen. We wait, but usually prepare for the event to happen. Exams in school, a big trip, a wedding day, etc. There is a lot of preparation that go into these events, but there comes a point in time where you have done all of the preparation you know to do and you just have to wait for the moment to come. It's emminent. It will happen, but you have to wait for the moment.

Never in my life have I waited for something like this. Yesterday was the official due date of this baby inside me. You wait for that day to come and then it passes and then you have to readjust. And, no matter how much you try to prepare for it, you know that there is no way you can prepare for what is about to happen. Your life is about to change forever in ways that you can try to imagine or relate to, but you don't really know.

You try to prepare: you read books, do online research, ask all friends and family and strangers about their experiences, and even pay heed to your crazy dreams you have about it all.

The double whammy to all of this is that you know it's emminent. The baby will be born and you won't be pregnant forever (although you don't feel that to be true quiet often). BUT, there is no guarantee on all of the pieces between point A and point B. When you travel you have a plane ticket with time, location, date, etc. When you get married, you have a date, location, time, and program (that YOU made, mind you). When you have a baby, there is none of that. You know you're pregnant and you know the baby will come out, but what happens inbetween those two facts is totally unknown.

Part of me loves the not knowing. It's the wonder and miracle that is this whole ordeal. I love that doctors can tell you what is happening but can't tell you why it is happening. Of course they can't - it's a miracle that God is doing. I certainly don't have any control over it.

It will all happen in His perfect timing. He knows all of the details, so in that there is peace.