Trip to grandma's house

Today we went to grandma's to celebrate cousin Joe's 11th birthday. As usual Gabbie had a wonderful time at grandma's house being spoiled with tons of treats, playtime, and most of all attention!

After our active day yesterday Gabbie went to sleep at 6:40 (yes, that early because her nap was from 8:30am - 10:15am and she was really tired) Gabbie then slept until 7:15 in the morning and napped from 11:30am-2:30pm today. One would think after sleeping 15.5 hours out of 24 she wouldn't be tired right? Not Gabbie! After playing so hard at grandma's house she was out at 7:00pm. Ahh what a life!

Gabbie is starting a new daycare tomorrow as my friend Jenn is due next month with her third child. Please send positive thoughts and prayers our way that Gabbie does well at her new sitters.

Cousin Joe decided to share some of his ready whip and Gabbie loved it!


Going down the slide loving this too!




Here is Gabbie with her cousin Joe. She really likes him a lot and he seems pretty crazy about her too!


More ready whip!





Here is Gabbie doing one of her favorite things at grandmas, playing in the tupperware cabinet!

A day of firsts

Today Gabbie got her first haircut at The Plaid Monkey. Her hair is always really wavy and wild so we decided today was the day. I must admit I was super nervous but in the end she loved this place and her hair turned out great. Not only did she get her first haircut today but she had her first dum dum sucker at The Plaid Monkey which she loved, she had her first Sprite soda in her very own kiddie cup at dinner at Red Robin after her haircut, and her first strawberry milkshake when we got home. Grandma came along today for the fun too. Gabbie was just so good during her haircut that we decided to spoil her after.

Here is a before picture. She is eating a pretzel and showing off her belly.


Another before haircut picture from behind.


When she first got in the fire engine chair.


Sitting in the fire engine watching Thomas the Train while her hair is getting cut.


The finished product. We decided to let them put sparkles in her hair too.



A behind shot of her newly cut hair. It is definitely shorter!



One last picture for grandma.

One year ago today

Today marks the one year anniversary of Gabbie being placed in our arms forever. Sometimes it feels like she has been home forever yet I remember that day like it was yesterday.

I remember the nervousness and excitement as we were walking down the hallway to get her. I remember walking in the tiny room at the Westin and seeing her foster mother Lucy holding her in the right corner of the room with tears in her eyes. I remember Lucy handing Gabbie to me and me crying as I held my daughter and knew I would never have to give her back and hugged Lucy to try to console her. Lucy loved Gabbie like her own daughter and I am so grateful for her. Lucy and I still keep in touch and write monthly. She has written some beautiful letters about Gabbie and most recently said she still loves her today like she did a year ago when Gabbie was with her. Let's just say it was a tearful goodbye with Lucy. Steve and I hope one day to be back in Guatemala, perhaps adopting again, and to meet up with Lucy so she can see the beautiful girl Gabbie is growing to be.

Gabbie is doing wonderful. She has gone from a little 5 month old baby who was just learning to roll over, to an active toddler who is now running and talking up a storm. Last Saturday night driving home from grandma's house Gabbie talked the ENTIRE 30 minute car ride. I am not even exaggerating, she talked from driveway to driveway. We couldn't exactly understand everything she was saying, only some of it, but what ever it was did the trick because she managed to keep herself awake all of the way home! She is always being silly and loves to make people laugh. I am amazed by her every day and grateful that I am her mommy.

Now for the pictures!

My silly girl tonight with her toothbrush hanging out of her mouth. She loves to brush her teeth!


My silly girl again sticking her tongue out running away from the camera. I know in this picture she was thinking "ha ha mommy, you can't get a good picture of me" as she ran away.


Here she is again with her tongue out and walking on her knees. I am not sure where this came from but she was doing it a lot on Sunday.


Playing with her potato head. This is the first time I put her hair in a pony tail on the back of her head. I thought it looked cute.


Gabbie loves to sit at her table. She tries to push the computer chair over to her table so we will sit with her. She will pat the other chair that goes with this table and try to get you to come sit on it. She loves it when we sit on each side of her. It is so cute!


Just this past week or so Gabbie has started sleeping with not one, but two stuffed animals. She loves to have elmo and big bird and has to have one on each side. Every night we lay them out and put her right in between them. She then sleeps this way. It is so adorable.