Merry Christmas!

Gabriel met Santa and Mrs. Claus for the first time today.  He behaved wonderfully and is enjoying his first Christmas season so much that he has decided to stop sleeping well at night.  That could also be because are at my parent's house, so he is in a different bed and a different room.

Kristi and I hope all of you have a joy-filled Christmas!

Almost 7 Months and A MANIAC!

Here are a few pictures of some crazy things I have witnessed lately.

Our sweet baby is growing into a crazy boy. This guy can not sit still. For example, yesterday I was visiting my friend Katherine and when getting ready to leave, I put him in his car seat, ran to the restroom and when I came back, he was on the floor playing. Yes, he climbed out! He is crawling, climbing, standing on his head, rolling everywhere, eating everything he can get his hands on, and talking up a storm (baby talk that is). I sometimes feel that he is trying very hard to explain some very important things to me (he uses his hands and everything)... if only I could understand the gibberish.

It is amazing how soon you can see a personality emerge in such a small person. I can already tell that Gabriel has a curiosity about life "beyond his months" and is super determined in achieving goals... he stops at nothing when he makes up that little mind to do something. He also has a sweet gentle side because as busy as he is, he loves to cuddle and be close. As Patrick says, "He is perfect. It must be because he has perfect parents!" Haha. Yeah right... just wait. He is only 7 months. We have the terrible twos to get through and I do not even want to begin to think about having a teenage boy in the house. We'll see how perfect we are then!

As always, I am so grateful to be a mom. Patrick always asks me if I am happy. I think that is good to consider, because being happy is important, but on the other hand I think having joy in your life is even more crucial. I have found that nothing has brought me more joy in life than being a wife and mom. Glad this was God's plan for me.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Yesterday was my daddy's birthday! I was so happy to celebrate with him. He even let me help him blow out the candles. I prepared by hanging a birthday sign, picking out a card, helping mommy wrap his gifts... well, I kinda just ate the wrapping paper... and by singing really loudly to him. I tried to be really good all day long, so mommy could make him a yummy dinner and clean up the house from our crazy Thanksgiving trip. I LOVE BIRTHDAYS. I even got to stay up past my bedtime! Now that I know how much fun this is, I can't wait to turn ONE in May. Happy Birthday, Daddy. I love you.

Our Crazy Man is Growing

What a man! Watching TV and holding on tightly to that remote...
he must get that from his Pop-Pop!

6 months and 10 days old. Today our trip to the doctor gave us some new info ... our little peanut is 15 lbs even, getting super tall at 26 3/4 inches, much more active than most 6 month old babies and very laid back. Our doctor called Gabriel a "she" about 3 times (being corrected by Patrick every time, of course!) and by the third time, he said, "I am so sorry I keep doing that. Honestly, he is just a real pretty guy." Patrick and I took no offense and said thank you to him. The doctor also kept asking if he is always "like this?" Letting the doctor throw him around to check out his vitals and then looking in his ears, moving legs to check reflexes, etc... Gabriel just kept smiling at him. We responded and told him, that indeed, Gabriel is always chill and seems to get along with everyone, nothing bothers him and he rarely cries. He truly is going to trick us into having another baby much sooner!

We are so enjoying this new phase Gabriel is in right now. He is up on all fours, rocking back and forth, army crawling everywhere, and loving his solid food... sometimes he grunts while I am feeding him, indicating I am not dishing it in fast enough! He loves shiny things and chews on ANYthing he can get his hands on. There is a video below of him going after the camera... a shiny thing... he stops at nothing till he can grab it.

As always, being a parent just gets sweeter and sweeter. I thank Jesus daily for giving us the opportunity to love and teach one of His children.

Halloween Fun!

Is it really November already? Well, we came in town to visit Uncle Paul, Aunt Jeanne and Cousins Paul and Catherine for Halloween and we trick or treated around the Forum... going store to store was easier than truckin' up hills with all the babies. Gabriel had a great time and was chill as always, just hanging out while his dad and I tried to get candy for him ;) to eat! I thought I would be able to stand it like before and eat loads of candy, but after my 3rd Kit Kat bar, I retired for the night. I guess I am getting old. Enjoy the pics below!Gabriel as the Puffy Puppy (with his pumpkin socks).

Gabriel as a pumpkin... this time we lined the pumpkin with towels...
he didn't do so well when we didn't and he was sitting in all the mush.

There we are acting like Gabriel was going to eat the candy!

I Squashed It with My Bear Hands!

Ok, so you're probably thinking, "Kristi does not know how to spell" but I meant to write "bear hands," although I did squash that mosquito with my bare hands... they were also my mama BEAR hands.

The other day I was sitting at the kitchen table doing some work and Gabriel was on the floor next to me, talking away and chewing on what he chews on these days... anything he can manage to get his hands on. Since it was such a beautiful day, I had the door to the balcony open for some fresh air. It was just growing dark and I had not closed it yet.

I guess a mosquito had managed to squirm its way in. I HATE bugs. Not only did it squirm in, but it managed to fly right onto my sweet little guy's back. His shirt had crept up some from scooting across the blanket on the floor and the bug landed right on his little love handles. The next thing that happened was truly a miracle, because with NO HESITATION AT ALL, I jumped up and squashed that mosquito right between my fingers.... ahh gross, the chill down my spine I get just thinking about it. But, in the moment the Mama Bear came out of me. And all because of a tiny bug.

I am growing into a die hard Mama Bear. I will protect my child with no fear. No fear of bugs. No fear of guts. No fear of bug guts between my fingers. Ewww. Chills. I think it is a true sign of motherhood.

I believe that this is just a silly circumstance, but in all seriousness and in the reality of life, our biggest protection over our children is prayer. Every night when Gabriel goes to sleep, we pray over him and every morning when he wakes up we ask that his guardian angel protect him. It is the grace of God through our request before His throne that places a wall of armor up around our sweet innocent soul. I hope I may always remember to protect his spiritual well being as quickly as I do with his physical... with no hesitation and with a sense of heroism.

Professional Pictures: 5 Months

Love that bath!

I hate losing.

Can you tell that my gums hurt?

On Saturday Gabriel turned 5 months old. The time has seriously flown. He is about 14 lbs, rolling over from his back to his belly constantly, scooting himself across the whole floor, sucking on his hands, giggling, and totally in love with the song "Sherry" from the Jersey Boys soundtrack. He can not stop smiling when we play it! He always makes us laugh and there is truly never a dull moment. We so love his big blue eyes and feel blessed to have such a chill baby. He never cries... unless he is in the car or is getting rice cereal wiped off his face! Gabriel has been a true blessing to us, teaching us selflessness and a sense of simplicity in this complicated world. Patrick and I grow more and more in love with him every day, while we like to think he is doing the same.