Gabbies Winter 2012 Dance Recital

Gabbie had her winter dance recital today.  She has really come a long way from her first day of dance where she sat about 15 feet from everyone else.

This recital was held at the Great Basin College, our local community college in town.  She got to go up on the big stage and everything!  When I left her backstage, she asked where I was going.  I told her I was going to get my seat and that I would be in the audience.  She didn't bat an eye and said, "I'll see you on the stage!"

She did such a great job!  We are so proud of her!

Here she is with her good friend after the show!

When we got home, all she wanted to do was to snuggle with her daddy.  Such a sweet ballerina!

Oh, Liam Loves His Sister!

One of the best parts of having 2 kids is watching them play.  Over the past couple of weeks, Liam and Gabbie have really started to interact and play together.  Liam is now at an age where he can respond and voice an opinion about what is going on.  It warms my heart to watch them together!

Here is Liam demonstrating his new trick on Gabbie... Kisses!  Gabbie is such a good sport!

I know that they won't always get along like they do now and that one day the will fight nonstop!  But I also know, from personal experience, that even though they will fight like crazy for years, they will also realize that they are each others best friend!  

But for now, I am just going to enjoy the love!

Liam's Crawling!

So, Liam has been up and rocking on his knees for the past week or so.  He has been mobile for quite some time by rolling, spinning and pulling himself to where he wants to go.  But today he started to actually crawl.  Here he is in action!

I can't believe he is almost 8 months old!  Knowing Liam is my last baby, his milestones are bittersweet... I love seeing him grow up and develop, but it makes me just a little sad that it is happening so fast!

My Girl Goes to Preschool!

September 11, 2012... Gabbies first day of Preschool!

Gabbie has been so excited to start preschool.  She loved picking out her backpack, princess of course!  She helped buy her supplies and couldn't wait to get to use them.  

We went to the open house a couple of weeks ago and at first she was very shy, like she normally is in new situations.  But it didn't take her long to leave my side and check out the toys.  Within a couple of minutes, she was playing and meeting friends.  She didn't want to leave!  I promised her that she would be able to come back soon.

So, on her first actual day of preschool, I wasn't sure what to expect.  This was also her first adventure without her good friend, Tristyn, by her side.  She was doing this alone and didn't know anyone else at the school.  As we drove to the school, she asked lots of questions... one of which was, "Are you going to stay again with me mom?"  I told her that I wasn't going to stay and that Jodi would be picking her up.  I was a little worried about her reaction, but she was absolutely fine with it!

When we finally got to the school, she jumped out of the car and said, "Bye mom!  I gotta go to school now!"  And if I would have let it, that would have been the start of her school career.

But we had to do pictures, of course!  I also had to walk her in and get her settled, more for me than her.  We were actually about 5 minutes early and so we waited outside with the other kids and parents.  Gabbie started making friends with a little boy in her class and admired all the different backpacks.

Then we went in, found her cubby and her seat and she was set.  She gave me a kiss good-bye and a wave with her sweet little smile on her face.  There she was, my little girl, and I couldn't have been more proud of how confident she approached this new new experience!

  

And although I was incredibly proud of my brave and grown up little girl, there was just a little part of me that was sad that she didn't need me.  Oh, how I love her!

Gabbie, the Swimmer!

We started Gabbie in swim lessons for the first time this year.  When she started about 4 weeks ago, she wouldn't even put her mouth in the water to blow bubbles.  The thought of putting her head in the water terrified her!

We had some interesting days at the pool.  Never has this kid needed to go potty so many times in just a 30 minute timeframe.  One day when Kiley took her, she jumped out of the pool and told him she needed to go potty.  He asked her if she really needed to go or if she was just trying to get out of her class.  She very honestly replied, "I am just trying to get out of my class!"

However, about 2 weeks ago, she got a new instructor named Emily.  She did so great with Gabbie and now Gabbie loves swimming!  She will jump off the side without holding someone's hands, has no issue going under, can go to the bottom of the pool and retrieve a toy, and is great at her kicks and her arms!  

Here she is in action!

We are so proud of Gabbie and how hard she has worked!  She now loves swimming and can't wait to head out to Utah to go with all her cousins!

Our Happy Little Guy!

So Liam is now 4 months old and as cute as can be!  He really is such a happy and easy going little guy!  He smiles and giggles all the time.  He especially loves his big sister!

Here he is in action!

As you can see, he has also started on rice cereal.  He isn't quite sure what to do with it, but is catching on quickly!

We can't take him anywhere without getting comments on how cute he is!  And the one feature everyone comments on is his eyes...  Can you see why?

And I wonder who else has eyes like that??????

Lamoille Fair 2012

Today was the Lamoille Fair.  It is a small fair with lots of craft booths.  For our family, it is lunch, train rides, and seeing lots of work friends.  We just aren't craft people, but an Indian Taco makes it worth the trip!

We first went in 2010 and missed last year since we were out of town.  As Gabbie was sitting in the train, I couldn't help but reminisce of her first trip to the Lamiolle Fair! 

WOW!  What a difference two years makes!  My little girl is growing up so fast!  She isn't even a toddler anymore, she is a full blown little girl!

And while Liam attended this year, I realized when I got home that I didn't take any photos of him!  Poor second child!

Gabbie's 1st Dance Recital

Gabbie has been taking tap/ballet for the last 4 months.  You may remember her fist class where she would not participate at all and only stayed in the room because Kiley made her!

Well, she has come a long way!  She had her fist recital May 19, 2012.  She was so excited!  I even let her wear some make-up... real make-up... mom's make-up!  I think she was more excited about that than anything.

Here she is pre-recital with her best little buddy Tristyn.  She was in such a good mood and happy as can be!  I thought this may actual work without any drama!

Well, as soon as we told her it was time to dance, the drama kicked in.  She got all shy and said she wanted to go home.  With some coaxing and lots of help from Tristyn, she finally did it.

Her final dance was a daddy/daughter dance.  However, Kiley was not able to attend per doctor's orders.  I told Gabbie that Daddy really wanted to dance, but that he couldn't.  She asked me, "Then who is going to dance with me?" I asked her if she would dance with Cory, who is our sitters son who Gabbie knows well.  She said, "Ya!  That will work!"  So Cory stepped in and saved the day!  

She was so proud of herself after the first two dances!  She ran out to me with a grin on her facing, exclaiming, "I did it mom!  I did it!"  Then she absolutely refused to do the last dance.

With even more coaxing, we finally got her to participate.

Here is our girl in action!  This is a little long, but I figured grandparents would want to see it.

Don't know many seniors who would do this, so a big thanks to Cory!

As I was watching her dance, I was so proud of my little girl! 

I have to send a big thanks to our sitter, Jodi.  None of this would have been possible if she wasn't willing to take our Gabbie to dance.  She is so much more than a sitter and is always willing to do so much for our kids.  I don't know who else would be willing to take 5 kids so that the 2 oldest could attend dance and tumbling class.  Thanks Jodi!

Here is our beautiful princess ballerina!

The recital was at 1:00, so by the time we got home I decided it was too late to give Gabbie a nap.  She was snuggled up with me while I was feeding Liam.  I literally got up, put Liam in his crib and came back to find our princess sound asleep.

She really is our Sleeping Beauty!

To My Three Year Old Princess

Dear Gabbie,

You are three years old!  I can’t believe it!  You are growing up so fast and I am so lucky I to be your mom and get to watch you grow up.  

You are such a sweetheart!  I love snuggling with you as you drink your apple juice and do your "trick" with your snugs.  I love laying down each night with you, reading and cuddling as you fall asleep.  The best part is when you ask me if I want a kiss on my check, to which I always answer YES, and then you give me the sweetest kiss.  When I ask you if you want one, you usually answer me with, "Maybe later!"  But quite often, as we snuggle, you will very quitely and sincerely whisper in my ear, "Mom, I just love you!"  Melts my heart every time.

And, oh, how I love you!  I tell you that a lot, but it is because I do!  Usually I get a sweet little reply of, "I love you too, Mom!"  However, the other day I told you as you were playing with your toys.  You replied, in a most aggravated voice, "Mom, I love you too!  But why do you always tell me that?!?!?"  I tell you because I do... love you.... so much!  

You continually amaze me with how much and how fast you learn.  You will see or hear something once and you've got it.  Songs, dances, patterns, games... anything.  You are incredibly observant.  When you watch a movie, you study their facial expressions, their actions, their tone of voice.  When you act out the movies, you have to get it right and ensure everyone else gets it right too!  For example, if we act out the first scene of Beauty and Beast, you have to hold the book just right.  As Gaston, I have to grab the book from you and throw it down just right.  We have to get the lines just right!  You definitely could be an actress or a director when you grow up!

As we drive in the car, you observe if we are on a bridge, what color car we are in, what color the cars around us are.  You observe so many things that most people just never notice.  I hope that is a trait you keep as you grow up!  I hope you always notice and enjoy all the beauty and wonder that is around you   like you do now!

You also make connections that astound me.  Like when we stopped at McDonalds on our way to Utah.  You asked me where the animals where.  I was confused until you stated, "Mom, we are at Old McDonalds!  Where are the animals?!?"  Also, one morning on our way to Jodi's, you pointed out the moon to me.  I asked you if the cow was jumping over the moon.  You looked closely and then replied, "Nope!  He must be at Old McDonalds farm!"  Oh, what a girl!

You are very dramatic.  Your daddy says you get that from me, but who knows!  Sometimes your drama is a little much, like when someone forgets to give you "warmer" apple juice and you totally  breakdown.  But your drama is also quite endearing.  Simple things will put a huge smile on your face and make your entire day, like when I told you I bought more pineapple.  You would have thought you had won the lottery with the way your face lit up and you told me, "Oh, thank you mom!  Thank you for buying me more pineapple at the store!  You're the best!'

You are so excited to be a big sister.  You talk to Liam in my belly all the time.  You tell him that you are his big sister and that you love him.  I can't wait to see you with him and see what a great big sister you will be!  Liam is going to be very lucky to have such a great big sister!

You do not like it at all when I am upset with you.  If I get frustrated or upset, you will ask me, "Mom, are you mad?  Don't be mad!  Just be happy!  Please, mom, please be happy!"

Oh, Gabbie... you do make me happy!  So very happy!  You have added so much to my life.  You have me and your daddy wrapped around your little finger.  You make me laugh.  Your laugh warms my heart and is one of the greatest sounds on earth.  You amaze me.  You make me see things that I didn't see before.  And more than anything, you make me smile... everyday!

I truly am so very lucky to be your mom.  It is such a huge responsibility, but one of the greatest blessings in my life.  I hope I do okay!  You have so much potential and I want to help you realize that potential and achieve all that you want to achieve.  I want you to dream big!  And I want you to always know that you are loved, so very very loved by me, your dad 

and so many other people who love you too!

Happy Birthday Gabbie Grace!

I love you!

Mom

Gabbie at 3 - 

She loves princesses, anything princess

She loves make-up

She can count to 15

She knows her ABC's and how to spell her name

She loves dance and tumbling

Her favorite color is pink - if you tell her your favorite color, she will never forget it

She loved our trip to DisneyWorld in September and always talks about "When we go to DinseyWorld again..."

She is a total Daddy's girl - still

She loves apple juice and would drink or eat nothing else if we let her - we don't let her

She loves loves loves her Snugs - still - and not just her snugs, but the special corner of her snugs.  Yes, she is that picky!

Uses words like frustrated, respect and antagonize.  However, at her 3 year dr's appointment, would only say "Baby---ehhhh"

Loves to have picnics and tea-parties.  She gets them all set up in her kitchen downstairs

Loves to hunt for monsters in the basement, but won't do it alone.  Has to have mom or dad go with her.  She loves to get scared

Loves to be different characters.  She will take on a part and assign you a part, and you better stay in character or she will get quite upset with you!

Has quite the imagination and loves to pretend

Likes to ride her bike down in the basement

She loves to read books

Loves snuggling with mom and dad in bed on the weekends

Likes to make messes, but not so fond of cleaning them up

Likes to help dad fix things with tools

Likes to exercise and lift weights with daddy

Likes to help make dinner

Loves to play with kids - any kids

Could not be sweeter if she tried!!!

Our Princess is 3!

Gabbie turned 3 years old on January 21, 2012.  She was quite opinionated this year about her birthday party - surprise, surprise - she is quite opinionated about most things now!

She wanted a princess party with ALL the princess, not just Ariel like she had when she turned 2! 

She also had very specific friends she wanted to invite.  So with her help, we planned a spectacular princess party for our princess!

 Gabbie's cousins, Jake and Paige, were able to come down from Boise to help celebrate Gabbie's birthday!  She just loves these guys!

Paige is so good to always play with Gabbie!  Jake is so good at teasing Gabbie, to which she tells him, "Stop antagonizing me!"

For her birthday party, the kids played princess dress ups and then we decorated princess cookies with all things sparkly!

Stella played the official role of Birthday Dog - thanks to Kiley and Jake!

After cookies, we had pizza!

And then we opened presents!

And ended with singing Happy Birthday and having cake!  

Gabbie was so tired from staying up late the night before with her cousins, Nana and Papa Charles.  She almost fell asleep with the kids where singing to her.

Gabbie got a special Snow White doll from Nana and Papa Charles.

 Gabbie with her Nana and Papa Charles!

Overall, Gabbie had a great birthday.  I can't believe my girl is 3!

The Big Sister and her Little Brother!

Since we first found out I was pregnant, one thing I was very excited about was to see Gabbie as a big sister.  She was so excited about having a baby from the time we told her she was going to have a little brother.  Although she initially insisted it was not a boy, but a little sister, she finally accepted that it was a little brother.

We would watch videos and look at pictures of when she was a baby.  I showed her some of right after she was born and she immediately responded, "Ewwwww, I was so icky!  Will Liam be icky?"  When I told her that yes, he would, she made it more than clear she didn't want to see him until he was cleaned up.

We also would talk about how Mommy would go to the hospital and that is where Liam would be born.  Every time we passed the hospital, she would remind me that is where she was born and that is where Liam would be born and she would get to go with Grandma to see him.

So, the day Liam was born, my mom told Gabbie that he was finally here and they could go see him!  She was SOOOOOOO excited!  My mom said she jumped up and down and couldn't wait to meet her little brother.

From the moment she saw him, she loved was in love!

Here are her first moments with her new little brother.

She keeps a close eye on him.

She also brought him his first snugs! 

She just loves this guy!!!

She loves to help with everything... baths, feedings, diaper changes, and anything else.  She hears him cry and immediately tells me what I need to do to make him better!  Even if we are in the middle of something, she wants to me to stop and take care of Liam.

When I was changing his diaper shortly after we brought him home, she was right there to keep an eye on him.  When he started to cry, she ran out to the living room and got a toy.  She brought it in and showed it to him, talking to him in her sweet little voice.  When he kept crying, she exclaimed, "That didn't work!", and ran to get another toy.  She did this about 4 times, to no avail.  

She is such a sweet little girl and has really adapted well to being a big sister. 

Some cute photos of the two of them...

I just love watching Gabbie with Liam.  She is such a vibrant little girl with so much personality and love.  She loves to share that love with her little brother, talks to him so sweetly, and just adores that little guy.

She is even willing to share her most prized possessions with him.  One day I was in the kitchen and Liam was in his bouncy seat.  When I came back into the living room, I found him surrounded with Gabbie's Snug and her Dora doll, all warm in her blanket.  If you know anything about Gabbie, you know her Snugs is the most important comfort item she owns.  Just a demonstration of how much she loves this little guy!

Liam has already been given certain roles to play, such as Prince Eric, Flounder, Sebastian, and others. I am sure that he has his work cut out for him in standing his ground with this sister.  However, I also think he is one lucky little guy to have such a great sister who loves him so very much!

Even more, I am one lucky mom!