Thanksgiving Point

I love Thanksgiving Point!! The entire place is so neat but the gardens are my favorite... they are incredible! We had a pass to the gardens last year but I didn't end up using it much after Gabe was born. I picked up again in the fall and Gabe and I would visit three to four times a week. I would strap him on my tummy in one of those carriers and off we would go! I really learned to love and appreciate the time spent walking among all those gorgeous plants and trees with the beautiful streams and waterfalls. It is just so soothing and uplifting. Needless to say, we got another garden pass this year. The flowers have been awesome this spring! The tulips bloomed a bit later than usual but when they did... WOW, they were pretty! My favorite place is the secret garden - at least if you can time it right to be in there alone. (It's just not the same if there is a big group of people already there making a racket!) If you are alone, it is so peaceful. Actually the whole place is! Is this great free advertising for them or what? :) Last year we actually saw a FOX! It was so cool! I followed it around watching him pounce on grasshoppers and taking lots of pictures. Unfortunately I didn't have my real camera with me and so all those great pictures are on my phone - what a waste! This year I haven't seen him back yet but I did get a picture of a little, yellow bird (don't ask me what it is exactly)! There were a bunch of them flying around - it was so pretty to watch.

There is a great little restaurant called Trellis Cafe that overlooks the gardens too. Eric met Gabe and I at the gardens last week and we decided to try it out... it was so good! It's simple but elegant and the food is delicious as well as a good price. So....if anyone wants to take a walk with me and my little man or meet us for lunch, give me a call!

A Year with Gabe

The past 12 months have been an adventure of a lifetime. All you parents can understand! Eric and I feel so blessed to have such a happy, healthy boy in our little Gabe. There is no way to prepare for the coming of a baby into your life...it's so much more than anyone tells you or what you can imagine. More joy, more smiles and laughter, more tears, more kisses and hugs, more love, more everything...well, except for sleep!! :) It's been magical. We love you, Gabe, higher than the sky!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABE!!!

My little bear is a year old! I can hardly believe it has been that long since he came home with us on Mother's day a year ago...time sure flies. Since his b-day landed on Mother's Day this year, we decided to have his big family party on Saturday. We had a bbq at a park near our house and luckily the weather was beautiful. It was so fun with all the cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Gabe loved all that attention...almost as much as he enjoyed playing with the balloons and gleefully stuffing his face with chocolate cake! :) What a great day! Here are some of my favorite pictures...including Gabe covered in chocolate frosting (what 1st b-day would be without a messy cake-face?!) Check out the picture of Gabe's cousin Cannon with Amy...he's really hamming it up for the camera! And also there is Gabe in his new "ride" and a cute pic of him and his cousins with Grandma and Grandpa Sterzer.

I know I posted a million pictures but there were so many others that I didn't! :) The first picture is with the sign my Dad made for Gabe for his b-day. Traditionally in my family my Dad will make his signature birthday banner and then everyone writes little messages of love on it, kind of like a card. I still have some of mine from growing up - it's a tradition I have always loved and wanted Gabe to be a part of. The other pictures are just a few of the many wonderful family members that joined us to celebrate Gabe...thanks everyone!

Lunch time!

...for everyone, including the dog apparently! Gabe is such a sharing boy, he even shares his lunch with his dog. Denali, opportunist that she is, has learned to lurk beneath the highchair at lunch time with her eyes on the floor...waiting. He thinks it is so funny to toss tidbits over the side and watch Nali rush in like a preying shark to feed on the crumbs! He laughs and laughs - so do I! Gabe is really cementing in the dogs mind that He Is Her Pal! She still plops herself down next to him while he plays and despite the beating she takes from toys, often right on her tender nose, she remains. Yes, he has won her loyalty...and I can see why! :)

Gabe's YA-YA face

Yes, Gabe has learned to communicate. No, he isn't talking yet. Not even a single Mama, Dada or Hi. What he does say is "YA-YA-YA-YA-YA" as loud as he can, usually just when he is hungry or tired and wants me to hold him! I'm thinking "oh, great", I've got a yeller on my hands. The sad thing is, it works and he knows it! I try really hard to at least get him to stop yelling long enough for me verbalize what I assume he wants before I then quickly do it before he starts yelling again! :) (It's really cute when he realizes I understand- he gets this big smile and acts all excited.) I'm sure he'll grow out of it as soon as he can get his tongue around some real words. Here is a picture of mid- YAYAYA yell! I was taking pictures of him one morning before he realized how hungry he was for his breakfast...poor starving child!!Gabe is such a funny little guy - I hate to make it sound like he is high-maintenance or annoying - NEVER!! He is usually so laid back and sweet with a big, toothy smile for just about everyone! Every where I go, people adore him. We went and got his passport this week and the people from Costco, the postoffice, and Public Health building all said what a friendly, cute baby he was!