Easter Eggs

Yesterday we went to grandma's house to dye Easter eggs. I totally thought Gabbie wouldn't get into it but I was wrong! She loved dying eggs and even carried one around in her hand after it was peeled eating it.

Here is Gabbie before dying eggs and completely dressed


We told her it was time to get naked and she was ready! I love her eye lashes in this picture.


My little angel


Gabbie and grandma

Having a good time!

Showing off her orange egg. Notice the bowl. Somehow we ended up with a bowl with all different colors in it. It was not so pretty.

Notice the egg in Gabbie's hand. She normally isn't a big egg fan, but enjoyed these!

Gabbie and Chloe my mom's dog. She is such a mooch that she was begging Gabbie for an egg!

Beautiful day

Today we went to Grandma's house. It was a beautiful day here in St. Louis with temperatures topping at 77 degrees so we spent some time outside. Unlike her mommy, Gabbie loves to be outside. I know I need to get over it because I have a feeling this spring/summer we are going to be spending a lot of time outside.


Here Gabbie is before going to grandma's house.




At Grandma's house in her backyard

Drinking grandma's baba. Gabbie loves drinking out of grandma's water bottles and always with a straw.

I love the profile pictures. Gabbie just has the cutest nose!

Chloe and Gabbie.

I love this sweet picture.

Notice the broom in the background. Gabbie got it out and was sweeping away!

Showing off her teeth!

We had dinner at IHOP with GG (Gabbie's great grandma), grandma, aunt Sherry, and cousin Joe. Gabbie ate bacon, pancakes, french toast, saltine crackers, and cheddar cheese. Here she is after dinner zoning out.

Yep, definitely tired!

18 Months Old

Yesterday our baby girl turned 18 months old. I cannot believe how fast time is flying. Gabbie started going to her new sitter 2 weeks ago and has been doing pretty well. She is definitely doing better than we expected. According to her new sitter she runs and giggles all day. I believe it because she is one tired toddler when 6:30pm hits. A couple of nights this past week she actually went to bed at 6:45 and slept until 6:30 the next morning!

Gabbie now has 16 teeth. She is 21.5 pounds and 31 inches, definitely petite. She is such a sweet baby girl. She loves to give hugs and kisses. Dora and Diego are her favorite TV shows and she has found a new love, chocolate milk. Now for some pictures of our active toddler.

Here are Gabbie and Jack from last weekend. Since Gabbie switched sitters they don't see each other nearly every day. I think they missed each other. They are so cute to watch together!

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.