9 months & counting

Today I took Gabe in for his well baby visit. Stats look like this -

Height = 29 in. (75%)
Weight = 20 lbs. (45%)
Head = 46.5 cm (85%)

No worries on his weight - he is extremely active for his age and is getting all the necessary meals. The doctor said we will just keep an eye on him to make sure he keeps taking bottles and eating his meals.

To celebrate his 9th month Gabriel decided to take 8 consecutive steps towards me yesterday at daycare....yep, I cried! I get wet eyed typing it now. Hard to believe it's been 9 months!!!

So, here are some Gabriel factoids -
1. 6 teeth w/ the 7th just poking thru
2. walking a bit
3. saying uh-oh often cuz he is dropping things, including himself like crazy
4. loves to play w/ daddy no matter what they are doing - flying baby, dancing, climbing on daddy, etc
5. has a different tone of voice when he speaks to Missy
6. reaches for us, claps his hands, points, picks up EVERYTHING off the carpet w/ two fingers
7. loves to push the laundry basket around the house
8. still loves hanging out in the window looking at the outside stuff.
9. chews, doesn't suck, his thumb!
10. loves to cuddle w/ clean laundry, blankets and his parents :-)

Halloween 2008

Sorry for the few day delay on posting Gabriel's first Halloween.....Keith and I have been a bit sickly.

Gabriel worn a cute sweatsuit to school for their little parade and was a big spider for the evening events. We went over to the Hill's house for pizza and such. We pushed Gabe halfway around the block and he was asleep. Hopefully he will enjoy it more next year.

Mom's Day Off

I was lucky enough to get a day away - 31 hours actually. I went to Chicago and hung out for the day and spend my first night away from Gabe. It would have been more traumatic if I hadn't been up until 1 a.m. and then out the door at 7:30 to meet Carrie for coffee.

Shelly and I went to lunch and then shopping on Armitage. We spent part of the afternoon lounging at the hotel and then hit Michigan Avenue. Around 7 we met up with Tammy and Becca for dinner. The dinner conversations went on past midnight. I had a fabulous time.

Carrie and I got to catch up over coffee - she is pregnant w/ her first child and had recently had her baby shower. The joys of figuring out where all the new stuff is to go and what you are going to need first.

I took my camera to Chicago but left it's battery in the charger at home so no evidence of the adventure. Next "Mom's Day Off" will probably be around my birthday in May (post holidays and post home purchase).

Keith and Gabe had a nice time together.....boys watching football and playing at the house. I believe they had lunch w/ one of K's employee's and his wife at Chic-fila - Gabe loves chicken!

Next post will be all about the Halloween extravaganza!

Vail

Well, there really wasn't much snow in Vail but we had a great time. Gabe got to meet Aunt Diane and Johnny.....and see Mindy again. The weather was fabulous - lots of sun and as you can see Gabe wasn't the biggest fan! Oh and that coat is a 12 month but for 35 degree weather it was the best we could do!

The mountains are just breath taking and we really need to spend more time up there!

First word, I think

So, does uh-oh count as a word? If so, Gabriel is saying his first word and using it appropriately. Yesterday he dropped something and said uh-oh!!! It was very exciting....for us, not so much him. I also noticed this morning that he has started standing unassisted. Last night he started walking holding Keith's hands and if Keith stopped Gabe growled! Hilarious.

We are taking him up to Vail this weekend to hang out with some Busby's and there will be snow - which means there should be some pictures next week.

Hilarious

I have laughed at many people and their children due to the child finding something fun to explore....baby powder, toilet paper and lotion. Well, Gabe loves to use the wipe container as a drum.

If you turn your back for a minute it turns into a kleenex box and a snack.......

bath time fun

I keep saying I will be better at this and now it's been over 10 days since my last post. Really not much has happened around here except....Gabe got his 3rd and 4th teeth, a double ear infection, feeding himself all sorts of food, drinking from a sippy and is working on standing unassisted......oh and can clap open handed and play peek-a-boo by himself. It's been amazing to watch him grow and learn. We now understand the idea that each month/phase gets better. I cry at each new thing he figures out.....it's going to be a long haul and I should buy stock in Kleenex now.

The best thing that happens every night is bath time. He starts to get cranky so Keith will go, take down the gate, turn on the bathroom light and start the water......Gabriel will then crawl his fastest to the bathroom and stand the the tub's edge....it is so cute!!!


Keith and I are doing well. Still trying to find a babysitter for some grown-up nights out.....hopefully soon because we want to go see Jersey Boys during the holidays!

First MLB game & 2nd Jessica Visit

Jess rocks....she took all of us to the Rockies game last weekend and is the only person to come to visit us twice since Gabe was born! I am hoping to go visit her in October for an overnight away from my boys.

Gabe had a blast at the game....then slept for over half of it. After the game we found a cute place to grab a latin snack before taking Jess to the airport.

Third tooth

The third tooth has made an appearance....not a big enough for pictures to capture it but trust me, it's there. Upper left

He is doing better with eating off his tray....loves the puffs and banana pieces. tonight we was all about the sippy cup and actual drank from it too.

Random Gabriel Fun

He is one busy boy.....happy as can be but busy. He is starting to notice and care if he can't see us but still could care less about going to daycare. He has an entourage there of friends that he pals around with all day.
playing so hard he fell asleep on the floor

Bath time is so fun.....Missy even likes it....she gets to drink the water too!

He loves to stand in his bedroom window so Keith went outside to get the view in.

Charity

We walked in the Colorado AIDS walk last weekend. Gabe had a great time checking out the crowd and riding on Daddy's shoulders.

Gotta love his new hat we picked up in Iowa!

Uncle Scottie's return

We went to Iowa for Labor day weekend to welcome Uncle Scottie back to the good old US of A. On the way we stopped in Omaha to see Pete and the kids...who ended up coming to Des Moines for the weekend. Rob was also in town for the visit. Saturday I met up with some old and dear friends....it had been way too long. Then the afternoon was full of a family party.
Sunday we had another family outing to the Icubs game.
Julie and the kids joined in the fun too.
On the way home we stopped back in Omaha to visit with the Parks family.....gotta love Mike and Nikki!!!!

Standing

Gabriel has taken to standing any chance he gets.....and then walking along things.....the couch, the window, his exersaucer. It's amazing to me how much he is doing each day. Still the happy child too. We are blessed.

climbing & sitting

Gabe is doing something new everyday. We moved him to a regular car seat and were using his infant seat as a barricade....he decided to crawl into it and thought he was funny. We put up a gate and got rid of the infant seat gate.....so he crawled over to Missy's mouse toy....luckily, she will share. Today we heard from daycare that he would sit up so we tried it tonight....they were right. they say he can get that way on his own but we haven't witnessed that yet. I don't have a picture yet to prove it but the kid pulled himself up to standing at the couch tonight.

work is going well. Gabriel has so much fun at school that I don't feel so bad working. We will see how it goes. Looking forward to the trip to Iowa.....then it will be full 5 day work weeks!! Yikes!

Photo shoot

Okay, so we all agree I have too much time on my hands right now....luckily I am going to work next week.....anyway, Gabe has really been entertaining so I took way too many pictures yesterday. We usually play in the living room but I decided we needed a change of scenery without leaving the apt....so we played in Gabriel's room. We crawled there - he is up on all fours and using his legs but isn't using his arms "correctly". Oh and today I realized he can sit by himself!!

Mama's little helper

He couldn't stop looking at himself in the mirror

that's my Iowa boy (it vibrates when he chews on it!)

all these toys and I want the rug strings

My kids :-)

the only dog he can have right now

26 weeks

Six months....wow! I can hardly believe it's been that long....but then again we have had a few changes.

Stats:
Weight - 18 lb 5 oz
height - 26 1/2 inches
Head - 45.6 cm

He use to be 75th percentile all across the board but now his height is 50th and his head 90th. He is a monster! Here's a couple pics from today - he was trying to grab the wrist strap to the camera :-)

Friends Forever

Gabe and Mommy self-portrait :-)

Gabe's favorite "person" right now is the cat, Missy. He lights up like a Christmas tree whenever she is in the room. He has even shared his toys and sleeping space with her (keith is standing there). It is so cute...we will have to get some video too.

Today Gabe couldn't decide between his seahorse toy or one of his socks....this debate went on for a long time!

Better pic of teeth

some people weren't impressed with my last picture of Gabe's teeth so here's one from this morning.

Rockin' & Rollin'

Gabe is definitely getting ready to move.....he is up on all fours and rocking.

And now the swing is a toy, he doesn't actually ride in it anymore.

I also thought there hasn't been a bath shot in a while

Gabe's Girlfriend

Last Friday Keith, Gabe and I were able to watch the McGuire kids while Michele and Brian attended a rehearsal dinner. They made the long drive from MN for a wedding so we were thrilled to see them. Gabe however is a fast mover and is already trying to hook-up. Paige is an older woman, by 5 days, so Keith was very proud.

here's how the relationship developed -