Home two years and potty training

Two years ago today we returned home from Guatemala with Gabbie. She was exactly 5 months and 1 week old. The pick up trip was rough to say the least. She had a hard time separating from her foster mother. Pretty much the whole trip was spent with her crying and Steve walking her around in the carrier to calm her down. The flight from Guatemala to Dallas was really rough. She cried the first hour and finally fell asleep. Poor Steve had to hold a blanket up for over an hour to keep the noise and commotion to a minimum while she slept because we were in the last row of the plane and right by the restroom. It was quite noisy there.

I will never forget getting off the plane in St. Louis with Gabbie and seeing our family and friends waiting. It was such an emotional moment. It was so obvious to me how much Gabbie was loved even though no one had met her until then. I think it is pretty safe to say she has brought us more joy than we ever could have imagined.

Now Gabbie is 2 years, 5 months, and 1 week old. I don't really know how that is possible. She has grown and changed so much. The newest thing is potty training. She has been wearing underwear since last Wednesday or Thursday (I can't remember) and she is doing great!!! We tried this a month ago and it failed miserably but I think she is ready now. We are so proud of her and love her so much.

Now for the pictures.

This was the first photo I took of Gabbie in Guatemala. It is one of my favorites of her.


This was taken the morning of her embassy appointment. I normally don't do frilly dresses but I did for this occasion and she was such a princess.

Steve and Gabbie in Antigua. This was pretty much her way of transportation this entire trip. She was happy facing out and kicking her legs. Look at how little she was!

This is the last picture we took in Guatemala. Steve and I wanted a picture with Guatemala on it somewhere but couldn't find one in the airport. We were running out of time so we hopped in front of this and had one of the workers take it. Not the best picture but that's okay.

These next pictures were taken back at our house the night we returned home.

Grandma was pretty happy to have Gabbie home!

Peyton and Gabbie - Apparently Peyton ate something blue that night and in all of the pictures she has a blue mouth! Peyton was quite excited to finally have her cousin home. I think we have it on video but at the airport she first said to Gabbie 'hi Gabriella I am your cousin Peyton". How cute is that!

Here is daddy bringing Gabbie up the steps to see her new room for the first time.

In her crib for the first time. She liked it and thankfully still does! I loved this perfect little shirt!

Finally these were taken this morning. My baby is getting so big. Ignore the lack of pants. It is easier to get undressed and on the potty without them!

My little snow angel

Today was a snow day. Unfortunately I had to work but daddy's school was cancelled so he got to stay home with Gabbie. Around 10 they ventured out to buy her first sled. Apparently she loved it! Also during sledding she dropped to the ground to make snow angels. We watched something on TV a while back where 3 people were making snow angels and she remembered and even told daddy what she was doing and what he should do! He denied her request though as he did not want to get wet.

I was very sad I missed her first real time playing in the snow but fortunately daddy took some pictures so I feel like at least I got to see some of it. From the looks of it I am thinking she had fun!

Snow angel time

I think she is closing her eyes to be silly.

Check out those new boots. I bought these for Gabbie a couple of months ago but besides wearing them around the house once or twice this is the first time she actually wore them out. Apparently when they went to buy her sled she had to walk around the store because of her new boots. This kid likes new shoes let me tell you! Daddy took this picture to show how snowy her booty was. Once they came in he bundled Gabbie up in warm clothes and they had princess chicken noodle soup!

My silly princess

Gabbie is really silly. Steve and I find ourselves laughing at her all day. She knows how to push our buttons and make us laugh. I always say to her 'Gabbie you are something else". She responds with "no you are something else mama". We can go back and forth for 4 rounds of this. That's my baby girl.

Not a whole lot going on. In two shorts weeks from today we will be celebrating Gabbie's 2 year homecoming anniversary! I cannot believe that much time has gone by. I would love to freeze her at this age for sure if I could. She is growing and changing so much. It is great to see her blossom but sad that she is now a little girl. I didn't think it was possible but every day I love her more and more.

Here is my silly princess. This weekend's outfit consisted of PJ's with a tutu on top.



Cousin Peyton came over to play Saturday and the girls had a blast.

I'm here

I am still here. I am fortunately feeling 100% better but Steve is sick and has been for a couple of weeks. I have been telling him to call the doctor for over a week but he hasn't. Tonight he finally said he guesses he should call the doctor. Hmm... I do recall a genius wife mentioning that a while back.

Gabbie is sick now. We had kind of hoped after this last set of tubes and getting her adenoids removed she wouldn't get sick as much but I guess that is not happening. I took her to the doctor today and somehow she has an ear and sinus infection. The doctor said the ear infection is a weird one too. The fluid isn't draining like it normally does. She is coughing a lot and not sleeping too well so it stinks. She is now on 3 meds so I am hoping by the end of the weekend she will feel better. On a positive side she was such a big girl at the doctor and didn't cry at all. When we went to Target to get her medication filled she landed popcorn, an icee, a princess ball, wonder pets phone, and 2 Dora snow princess babies. All she had to do was cross her hands and say please! She is getting good at playing us let me tell you!!!

Other than that nothing is really new. We are coming up on a very special anniversary which is Gabbie's 2 year homecoming. I cannot believe she has been home 2 years already. It seems like just yesterday. I cannot imagine my life without her.

Here are a couple of pictures from last weekend. They are not the best as Gabbie was a little sick but it's all I got. We went to visit the J family. Of course Gabbie had a blast playing with all of Jack, Jacob, and Jordyn's new Christmas toys.





Sweet baby Jordyn. She is already 10 months old. That is crazy!

Gabbie waiting patiently for play dough.

Gabbie and Jack

The party's over and I'm sick

Vacation has come to end. It sure is going out with a bang as I am super sick. I cannot stop coughing and am really congested. To be honest it is gross and tomorrow I return to work. I am praying a miracle occurs overnight and I wake up feeling better because this has to go soon. Fortunately I can shut my office door but with the walls being paper thin I am sure to gross someone out. Also, the constant coughing is killing my stomach and back.

Now for a couple of pictures. One day last week we took Gabbie to Monkey Joe's which is a jumping on inflatables type place. At first she was not happy because daddy couldn't jump with her. Eventually we got her to go on the toddler jumper and she loved it. She even tried a couple of other ones too and when it was time to leave she didn't want to go!

Jack redefining the cool-aid mustache! He sure liked that slushy!

I love being on vacation!

I absolutely love being on vacation with my baby girl! We haven't done anything spectacular at this point but we are having a great time and enjoying our time together. Steve and I are even more enjoying staying up late. Now that Gabbie has been going to bed later she is sleeping until 7:00-7:30 which means mommy and daddy are sleeping in too! Getting back on schedule next week is going to stink but I am enjoying it now:)

Here are two pictures from Saturday night. Gabbie had her new Hello Kitty shirt from Grandma on that she loves.




Today we went to the golden arches with the J family. Gabbie and Jack had a blast together. They are so absolutely cute to listen to and watch. Now for some pictures.


Terri and Tim - told you guys you would make the blog:)

Gabbie playing on the germ breeding grounds at lunch.

Jack or Baby Jack as Gabbie calls him

Gabbie and Jack on the computer at the golden arches. Seriously they have computers for kids at McD's now!

Doesn't she look guilty of something.

Gabbie and Jack again on the computer. Jeff also making a blog appearance.

Christmas

Christmas was a blast. Gabbie seemed a bit overwhelmed Christmas morning with all of the presents Santa brought her but she managed to open them all and got a little play time in before it was time to go to Grandma's for yet again, more presents! This child got so many presents I couldn't even begin to count. Tomorrow is clean up and get organized day!

Now for pictures. I took 200 pictures this Christmas! I won't bore you with all of them though!

Gabbie opening her house.

She loves her house! We made the mistake of letting her open it first though which meant at the beginning she wanted to open all of her presents in front of the house.

Gabbie's Tinkerbell pillow. This is her first real pillow.

Tinkerbell shirt

Playing with her house- this house is so cool if I may say so myself. It came with almost everything you would need for a house, except a couch. Isn't that odd?

At Grandma's house opening her Tinkerbell slippers

Here is Gabbie opening her Hello Kitty radio from Grandma