Mom's Day weekend

I am the lucky recipient of a g.c to Massage Envy as my Mother's Day gift. I can't wait to use it.

Although it was Mother's Day weekend right after my birthday - it was really all about Gabriel :-)

He pointed out my eyes and nose while saying the body parts correctly. He ran into the kitchen yelling ma-ma and gave me a hug!! And he had a Christmas revival - we put fresh batteries in all the toys that were "dead". Finally, we hit Toys-R-Us for the first time - he isn't a baby anymore, folks.

It was the best Mother's Day weekend I could have ever asked for!!!!

Rediscovering the Elmo sing along toy

Showing off his toofs

Gabe and his BFF Missy in the new tunnel w/tent we found at TRU

Missy LOVES this helicopter thing Keith got Gabe last weekend when I was really sick and they went shopping. Gabe and Missy run around with this every night!

Mommy's bday

I had a great birthday. Mani/pedi, girly movie, Chinese and hanging with the boys. The next night we had a grown up evening of baseball, beer and fun. Not bad for 33.

flowers from my mommy and husband

mani/pedi

Gabriel eating from my chopsticks - he loved California roll!!

15 month doctor visit

Gabriel is doing great - healthy, happy and a great sleeper :-)

Stats:
height = 31 inches (50%) (12 month visit was really 30 1/4 inches)
weight = 23 lbs (25%)
head = 49.1 cm (90%)

Our monster baby boy is now evening out a bit - well, except for the big melon!

He is one the best eaters ever - even started trying sushi! We are very blessed to have such a fabulous little boy. I feel like everyday is an adventure that puts a smile on my face. Oh don't get me wrong, he can be a real turkey but it doesn't last too long :-)

April at a Glance

Gabriel is very busy. His vocabulary is growing everyday and we are always amused! So here are few of the highlights from April that I captured with the camera.

Starting him young - loves playing with Daddy's football helmets


Gabe feeds himself - always! He is working on the art of using utensils for but now we end up with days like this.....Easter Sunday Mommy made homemade lasagna and he loved it!


Mommy's little helper - those drawers are full of towels, napkins, potholders and bibs so he can go nuts and does almost every day!

Iowa Trip

So, I haven't updated this in a long time.....my updates are on Facebook but I will try to keep up a bit better here too.

We went to Iowa at the end of April to visit friends, do a Pampered Chef show and see Daisy, Kate's horse. It was a nice trip and we had tons of fun seeing everyone. Gabriel got to show off all his new tricks for Gma/Gpa Busby - and they taught him some new material.

I unfortunately we sick almost the entire time we were there......darn spring cold! Luckily, while I was down and out, Keith had help from everyone around us.

I have become a horrible picture taker in the sense I forget to take them......sorry.

Here's a couple from our visit with Daisy. Rob and Branden came over to Ankeny to see us and join in on the horse fun.

Trip to the Zoo

We took Gabriel to the zoo over the weekend. It has been a year since his last trip....boy how things have changed....


It was a beautiful weekend so lots of interesting people at the zoo, along with the animals. Gabriel seemed more interested in the geese than anything else. The seals were really active so he was explaining to Daddy what they were doing.....


I also took Gabe for a nice long walk yesterday on the trails around our house. The thought was he might sleep since napping wasn't really going well (darn teething!) - it didn't work - instead Gabriel was telling stories to all that could hear....it was hilarious. But before he could get cozy in his stroller, he needed a hat.....sucks being so pasty!

First Haircut

It was time to cut Gabriel's hair. He looks so different as you will probably see better as we post more pictures....today he wasn't very cooperative.

Monkey Bizness

Gabe and mommy went on their first play-date today. Daddy would rather it be called boys-day-out cuz there weren't any girls on this date. Whatever. We went with some daycare friends to Monkey Bizness - an indoor playground type place. It was really fun and we learned it pays to be there when it opens and only stay a couple of hours. Here's some pictures to show how busy they were....these are all from the little kid area (2 and under). I was too busy chasing Gabe in the big area to snap photos.

Party - bday/baptism

Thank you all for making Gabriel's first birthday and baptism so special. We are truly blessed!

On February 15th we had Gabe baptized at our church. There will be video of the whole thing posted as soon as Keith breaks it up into chunks that can be posted on here.

After church we had a little get together at the house to celebrate this wonderful event and his first birthday. The party was a ton of fun - it was nice to have our friends over to the house for food and stuff.


Gabriel wasn't much on opening presents but he did play with everything - or at least one of the kids did!


As the afternoon wore on, Gabriel didn't. He needed a nap! When he went down for his nap the Timmerman's made their getaway back to Iowa. We will miss them and hope they come back soon.


I have to admit I don't have a ton of pictures from the party. I know other people do so I just need to get them and post some more later.

Valentine's Day

We spent our Valentine's Day at home with the Timmerman's. Amy & the boys brought over treat bags and gifts for everyone which was super fun too. That evening we baked heart shaped sugar cookies - Elizabeth had a blast and was very creative.


Also, we purchased a dining room set from our realtor - it's not new but it's new to us - so Keith & Erik went and picked it up Saturday. Gabriel wanted to help daddy put it back together.

Timmerman's

Our good friends the Timmerman's drove from Des Moines to Denver to see our new house and be here for the big celebration - Gabriel's birthday and baptism. Erik and Melissa are Gabe's godparents and we were thrilled to have them visit with their daughters, Elizabeth & Emily. Emily and Gabriel are about 5 months apart and were two peas in a pod all weekend. Gabe even taught Em how to throw your arms in the air for touchdown. Elizabeth is going to be 4 this month so I decided to spoil her rotten while she was here - it might be a good thing I don't have a daughter. Of course there were Valentine's day presents, birthday presents and well, just cuz I said so presents.

While they were here we went to visit the Children's Museum and it was a big hit w/ all 3 of the kids.
Train conductor Gabriel

Deep sea fisherwoman Elizabeth

Basketball rising star Emily (sorry for the back of the baby shot - oh and that is Erik!)

Feb 5th - another year, another big day

What a difference a year makes. Gabriel is walking, talking and getting into everything. Last year all he could do was eat, sleep and make a mess in a diaper (all things he still does well). He went for his well-baby visit and here is what we found out -

Height - 31 inches
Weight - 21.6 pounds

Our 9 lb 10 oz monster is now on the small side for his age. He is a very active boy with a healthy appetite but it just isn't sticking to his bones. No worries though - he is a very healthy boy. And here is my moment to brag - he is in the top 10% for his age developmentally. He is able to stack blocks, put toys away, sign a few words and speak 4 words. We never know how he is doing unless someone else points it out....it's nice to hear. We, of course, think he is just amazing but it's nice to know he is moving right along the way he should be.

So, the other portion of February 5th is that we closed on our house. It was a great day! Our closing was a bit of an episode of Jerry Springer (short version - the couple are divorcing and the wife showed up w/ her girlfriend!) but at least we walked away with our new home. We moved in on Saturday and quickly unpacked since we were having house guests on Thursday for the weekend.

Tubes

Well, after many months of battling ear infections we put Gabriel under the knife for tubes. The whole experience took less than an hour from arrival to departure. We did really well before he went in but the waking up from the drugs part put mommy in tears....it wasn't fun. Gabe was a trooper and since the surgery we have been to the doctor twice (ped & ent) with reports of clear ears. That is so nice to hear after being told they got snot like stuff out of his ears when they did the tubes.
Playing before surgery

Dressed for success with his moose slippers - he is sad they don't fit anymore

Standing Tall

I think we have a toddler on our hands........

Our First House

The Johnson's are finally grown ups - Keith is part of management, we have a child and a family pet AND are about to take on our first mortgage. The process has definitely been a learning experience but all in all we are having a blast. Dawn had been doing tons of research online about houses on the market in our price range so it was pretty simple to meet with our realtor and start touring the properties. We are under contract, thru the inspection and finalizing all the lending documentation. So for Gabriel's first birthday (February 5th) we thought we would buy him a house - so we close that day!

After we close and move, Keith and Dawn will be taking the following week off to settle in before the next big family event - we are having Gabriel baptized February 15th. On that day we will also have his 1st birthday party!!! So much excitement in February for us - second year in a row :-) It's hard to believe Gabe is just about a year old...wow!

Here's a couple pics of the house - with other people's stuff still in it but it's the best I can do for now.
Front living space

front living looking back

Family room

Outback Bowl fun

New Year's day we had the Hill's come over for the Iowa game. Kickoff was 9 a.m. so it was interesting to be eating wings and such before noon. Hawks won and we had a great time.

Keith with Holden and Zooey chilling during the game.

Christmas 2008

Gabriel's first Christmas was wonderful. We are in the apartment so we needed to go get a smaller tree - but it was cute! Gabe wasn't so sure about all the presents until he realized he could rip paper w/out getting in trouble. That afternoon we went over to the Hill's for Jesus' birthday cake and exchanging gifts.

Random December Pics

Naked baby drooling


The kids helping organize baby clothes


Sporting a little KC Royals love


When you hands are full just use your mouth.


The "Champ" has battled ear infections