Happy Memorial Day!!

May brought many exciting activites for our little gabster. The month began with a very welcome visit from G's Auntie Rae and her beau, Yaneev. It was clear that Rae was quite impressed with how far Gabby has come since her first birthday, and Yaneev was definitely smitten with our little girl. Aw shucks!

Thanks for the ride, Auntie Rae and Yaneev!!!

Gabby had the pleasure of sharing her cousin Kayla's celebration of turning 1-year old. She had a great time, and even tried to exchange kisses on the way out!

Kiss me and I'll kiss you back!

Last weekend, B spent a nice weekend with her friends in San Antonio, while Gabby had a spendid weekend with her Dada in charge. (As if he isn't in charge when Mama's around!) Among many activities, the two of us went for a nice long stroll around the Jamaica Pond and had a visit to the supermarket.

The joys of strolling the Jamaica Pond! Thanks for the apple Dada!

On the Friday of our weekend alone, I experienced an awesome thing while picking up Gabby at daycare. She was in a great mood, then I told her, "Gabby, it's time to go home." She replied, "Go!" That's my girl. She's been excited about "go" for some time now. But then she waved to each toddler, and each teach and said, "Bye-Bye." I was speechless. Literally. It was amazing. Of course, it's been a little over a week now, and she's an old hat at "Bye-bye." She says "bye-bye" to people, fruit, and garbage. She's so unjudgemental.

Later, we travelled to Taunton for a celebration in honor of Auntie Marta's College Graduation! Yay, Auntie Marta. Gabby was put to work cleaning the deck in preparation of the party! So obedient.

Fiesta! Congratulations, Auntie Marta!

A little girl's work is never done!

James often spends time with our little Gabby. On a recent occasion, the kids spent time cruisin' the playground. They see-sawed. They swang. Nice.

James and Gabby sittin' in a tree... Nah!

Memorial Day, Gabby made her first visit to our local zoo. Gabby saw peacocks, prairie dogs, pigeons, squirrels...and that's not all! There were zebras, a lion, kangaroos, ostriches, emus, tapirs, fish, a hippo, sheep, goats, a cow, ponies, and goats... My favorite was the family of gorillas. There was a father, mother, and a baby just two months older than G. So cute. I'm sure I forgot something, but hey...we'll be back!

Show me the gorillas again!!! Again!!!

Look very closely. There's a gorilla in the picture. It's not Gabby.

For a full albums of 29 photos, click on this link!

Thank you Auntie Martha!

Due to chilly and rainy Boston spring weather this week, Gabby got to wear her special green sweater again today. She got so many compliments on it, that I wanted to show you all how cute it is.

There's a story that goes along with this sweater, too. Before Gabby was even born, Gabby's Papa's cousin Martha K. in Argentina (did you follow that?) knit a sweater for the baby. She mailed it to us, via Babci and Papa, but sadly, it must have been lost in the mail, as we never received it. A while later, longtime friends of the family travelled to Argentina and spent some time touring with Martha...she sent this sweater up with them, to ensure that we actually got it. She told them that if we had a boy, they should cut off the flowers. Well we're glad we had a girl, because that sweater was made for Gabby!!! 

A molar and a butterfly

We have four little anecdotes for y'all:

1. Well...for months and months, Gabby has only had a mere 6 teeth (4 on the bottom and 2 on top). Today, while she was having a bath, she was reclined and giggling, and I saw a white dot, far back in her mouth. Upon further investigation, it looks like she's cut her first pre-molar (top right). Who knew??? Joe tried to feel for the molar...but found nothing. That doesn't mean it's not there though. Go Gabby!

2. Gabby's signing has been taking off even more lately. In the past couple weeks, she's started doing signs for "moon," "mouse," "fish," and "butterfly" and she now uses "more" to signify more of an activity she enjoys (i.e. more tickling, more books to read, etc.) instead of just more food or milk. On Sunday afternoon something amazing happened. Joe, Gabby, and I were in the car. We were stopped at a light and she started doing her baby sign for flowers (a sniff with her nose), which she's been doing for months. As always with these random signs, we eventually find what she sees or hears, and she teaches us that we are certainly not observant enough. This time, we looked out the window and saw the flowers she was looking at and acknowledged her sign. Then it happened. All of the sudden, she started wiggling her hands in the air. It was her sign for butterfly. Joe looked out the window, and there was a little butterfly outside with the flowers. Without us prompting her in any way, she recognized that the real butterfly was the same as the butterflies she's seen in her books and started frantically doing her sign for butterly! SO COOL!!! How amazing is that?

3. On Saturday we went to the double Bat Mitzvah for Gabby's second cousins Shira and Nikki. The young women did a wonderful job and we had a great time celebrating with them! At the ceremony at the temple, Joe and I took turns taking Gabby to the back of the santuary or out into the lobby whenever she got restless (which was pretty often). At one point, I was sitting watching the ceremony while Joe was out back. All of a sudden, I heard "Bah Bah Bah" and saw the top of Gabby's head running down the center aisle towards the Bima. Joe then ran after her, swept her up, and ran back out. Evidently, he'd turned one second to get some books for Gabby's cousin Kayla, and Gabby took that opportunity to make her getaway. A couple giggles from the congregation, and everything was back in order. Our little bundle of energy really keeps us on our toes!!!

4. Later Saturday afternoon, we were hanging out on Babci and Papa's deck enjoying the afternoon. Bobie, Rae, Yaneev, Dada, Marta, Megan, and Momma were sitting in a semi-circle admiring G. Someone had a fantastic idea... Let's do a wave! Starting in left field, Bobie began...on to Rae, Yaneev, etc. Gabby was amused, to say the least. She suddenly became the leader. She would face a few of us and throw her arms up...we would reciprocate. Then she'd turn to the rest of us, and repeat...back and forth. It was pretty impressive.

And lastly, since Joe does not approve of Ofoto, and wanted to add additional pictures...here's a new link!

Austin 2006!

Gabby just took her third trip to Austin! Gabby's Auntie Sara and Uncle Shaun had just moved into their new house, so we got to be their first houseguests! Gabby got her own room, painted a lovely burnt orange, and we all had such a great time!

On Thursday we visited with Erin and Martin, on Friday we visited with Laura and Elise, and on Friday night Gabby also got to hang out with her boyfriends Luke and Zach. After the kiddos went to bed in their multiple Pack-N-Plays, the Mommies and Daddies got to have some grown-up fun, too. On Saturday we spend the day with Auntie Sara, Uncle Shaun, and Uncle Jay and Gabby modeled her new dress from Uncle Jay, which she's evidently supposed to wear hunting in Texas, (but not when Dick Cheney's around).

On Sunday we visited with Chet, Maria, and Carolyn, and we all went to see Uncle Jay working at Rudy's while we enjoyed our super-yummy breakfast tacos. On Sunday night, Joe and I went to a wonderful wedding (Yay Lori & Jimmy), while Sara and Shaun had babysitting duty.

Monday was our farewell day, and Gabby was a trooper on the flight home, and even slept most of the flight, despite the screaming 5 month old in the row in front of us.

Check out a few of our Austin pics at this link.

Guess where G's been...

  

G & her new sippy cup...

 

We're trying to wean her from her bottle, but so far she simply refuses to drink any milk (for the most part) unless she gets a nipple. We're hoping these new sippy cups do the trick. Come on, G! 

Gabby goes to the Circus!

 

And she was so enthralled...she sat on our laps for the entire 2 hours...staring at the performers. During intermission, our precious little one mingled with the crowds. I am very proud to report that she did not ask her Dada for a single over-priced piece of garbage. Good job G!