Our little helper

Gabe is such a little helper these days! He has always loved to help me make dinner or cookies (dumping in each ingredient is so fun!) but now he is helping me unload/load the dishwasher, fetch ingredients for baking, and clean the bathrooms too! Seriously, how nice is this?! I'll admit that he isn't the most efficient worker yet (not for lack of trying though) but it feels great to have his sweet smile and helpful attitude around while I do my chores. He is just adorable when he tries to wait patiently for his turn with the rag while I'm cleaning the sinks in the bathroom. Hearing "is it my turn, mommy? Is it my turn?? Gabe's turn!!" the whole time is really a great motivator to work fast! And it is so sweet when he reluctantly but obediently gives it back when I remind it it's my turn now. I can tell it's hard on him but he will brightly say "Mommy's turn!" and then almost immediately start asking if it's his turn again! haha! I'm not the only one that is benefiting from Gabe's willingness to help! He is Daddy's little helper too as you can see! We went to Costco and bought some trees and plants for our yard and Gabe helped load them on the cart and push it out to the truck. Luckily I had my camera and could capture the moment. He LOVES to help Daddy - especially outside in the yard. Last night the three of us were planting trees in our backyard...in the rain, I might add. Eric was attempting to dig through straight rocks and clay (uh, where's the awesome soil I thought would be here?) and so Gabe and I were collecting the rocks and putting them in his little wheelbarrow. It was such an adorable picture of him hunched over in his rain coat, industriously picking up rock after rock and piling them up. What would we do without our little helper??!

*I have to add that yesterday as Gabe and I were weeding, he was helping me by placing the yanked out weeds in a pile. Every time I would hand him a weed, he would say "FANK you!!" as if I had handed him an unexpected treat! It was so darling! At one point I needed to use a shovel to get at a stubborn weed and Gabe stopped what he was doing, stood there watching me curiously and said: "What on earf you doing, mommy?" It was hilarious!! What a cutie pie!

smiles

Nyah is smiling now... a dangerously intoxicating event for me since she gets in the happiest moods right after nursing - usually in the middle of the night and early morning when I should be sleeping! I can't tear myself away for a minute until she is completely smiled out! My cheeks start burning about half way through because I'm trying so hard, heehee!! I love it! She is the most adorable little sweeting on the earth! She smiles so big it takes over her entire face and her countenance just beams! Then she wiggles and squirms like she can't even contain her happiness! It is so adorable that I get a lump in my throat sometimes! I love this little girl so much.(ok so she isn't smiling here but I had to include it anyway...she is just too precious!) (Oh my... she looks like such a chubby checker in these pics!! I love it but it's not accurate at all. I guess everyone gets a second chin when the camera is 6 inches away!)

*Side note: Gabe just walked in from his nap upstairs and was counting 7 "foots" on his bear (wow) when I noticed his entire lap was soaking. (Yes, we are starting potty training again - updates coming soon!) Anyway, so I say...

Me: Uh oh, did you have an accident during your nap? Did you peepee in your underpants?

Gabe: No, that's water. That's water, Mommy.

Me: Hmmm, I think it's peepee honey, let's get these off and get you some dry ones.

(We are starting to remove the questionable item of clothing...)

Gabe: OH!! That is peepee!! You're right mommy, that's peepee.

(He is genuinely surprised and graciously concedes that I was right!! He cracks me up!)

3 years old!!

Gabe is a whopping 3 now!! What a big boy! We had such a fun day... It started out with a very serious, complicated cake decorating session. Gabe wanted a train cake like "James-the brightest red engine on Sodor" (that's Thomas the Train for those of you without toddler boys!) Unfortunately, our James turned out more pink than red, despite my liberal use red dye! Gabe didn't notice though and of course I made no comment! :) The rest turned out pretty cute and Gabe was thrilled with it. Well, look at all those cars full of candy... how could he not be excited?! It was such a fun activity with my birthday boy.
After naptime we headed to the zoo!! Eric took the afternoon off and met us there - what a treat! We had a great time exploring the Woodland Park Zoo - the weather was gorgeous and the place was not busy at all. Gabe's favorite was the giraffe (which unfortunately I didn't get a picture of, sorry babe!) I couldn't leave out the picture of the homeless orangutan! He looked so funny hunched under a piece of cardboard in the midst of a gorgeous rainforest enclosure!
Then we headed home for a pizza party and presents!! Gabe got a big boy bike from Mommy and Daddy! It felt wonderful spending a whole day celebrating our little man. Gabe has been such a joy in our lives... there aren't words to describe how much we love him. He is so full of life!
Happy Birthday Gabers!!

Mother's Day

Nyah looked so beautiful at church this Sunday! She wore a gorgeous little dress that Mindy got for her... she has never looked so adorable! Thanks sis!!I had the funniest conversation with Gabe that morning. (And no, Dad, Eric had nothing to do with this conversation - it was all Gabe!!) I had just finished getting ready for church and came out to get Gabe dressed...

Gabe: Mommy! You're all dressed up! You're dressed up like a prince!

Me: you mean a princess?

G: ya, you're dressed up like a princess!

(here he wants to touch my earrings and bracelets)

G: mmmm, what's that smell Mommy?

Me: it's my perfume.

G: I LIKE it!

Well, at 2 years old, he has already figured out all I need for Mother's Day (with a little help from Daddy)! Breakfast in bed (when he actually fed me my scrambled eggs!), a beautiful glittery card, and lots of enthusiastic approval on how I look! Heehee! :) What a great day. I LOVE being a mother!!

Maifest at Leavenworth

On Saturday we packed up the kiddies and their strollers, blankies, treats, and toys and made the 2.5 hour trek to Leavenworth for Maifest! Leavenworth is a small Bavarian-style town tucked into the mountains NE of Seattle. All of the architecture is so quaint with the gingerbread house carved wooden railings and eaves. I loved it! It reminded me of Matt's townhouse at the Zermatt in Midway! We had a great time. Some of the highlights were... a grand parade, countless Bernese Mountain Dogs (some pulling little flower carts!), a traditional dance around the Mai Pole, yummy lunch of Bratwurst and German potato pancakes, a beautiful walk around an island and best of all... a ferocious hailstorm!! Of course that hit while I was sitting on a little stone wall watching Gabe play on the grass and attempting to nurse Nyah. Eric was gone fetching us some lunch when it started to rain. I managed to get the umbrella covering the baby and stroller while somehow keeping myself covered and her latched on. (Gabe couldn't be persuaded to join us!) By the time the hail started Eric had returned (thank goodness) and we all huddled together underneath the tiny protection of the umbrella. Gabe was looking like he wasn't too certain he liked the experience so Eric and I were making it sound super fun! (Oh boy-what a blast. haha!) Eventually we made a run for it and got under the eaves of a building across the street. Drenched, we ducked into a restaurant for shelter mostly, and also lunch. By the time we were done, the sky was clear and the sun was out - it looked like a different day altogether! Before heading home, we had a wonderful walk along the riverand over into an island. Gabe thought it was loads of fun to push his own stroller. I had to take a picture of him giggling hysterically while zigzagging back and forth on the path! He pushed that thing the entire time too - it felt like a mile although I don't know for sure how far it was. What a fun adventure!!

snapshot moments

There are moments in time you want to make sure you never forget - those snapshots of life that are precious. As a parent, they seem to happen pretty regularly! Gabe and Nyah bring so much happiness and laughter to our home...

Gabe's Precious "bb"

All of his blankies are dear "bb's" but the "bugs bb" has been his favorite this past 6 months - thanks Aunt Erin for making it!! :) He takes one corner (his favorite being the ripped corner for some reason) and holds it to his mouth as he makes a soft sucking sound - like he is sucking on an invisible binki. Gabe has always found comfort in this, usually when he is tired... even as a newborn he would nuzzle his face into the blankey and do it. It is one of those unique and endearing things about him that Eric and I will always treasure. We are already sad for the time when this quirky habit fades!

The Milk Coma

Nyah drunk on milk!! :)

Family Time

Right after FHE one Monday evening. I am cuddled with Nyah (in her milk coma aftermath) while Eric reads to Gabe before bed. I love this picture because it reminds me of how I felt at that moment: utter contentment and happiness with my family.

Too Tired to Play

This was a monumental discovery... finding Gabe asleep on the couch one morning! He has never fallen asleep outside of his bed, ever! I guess waking up at 5am every day is starting to wear on him... thank goodness! On this day, story time had been interrupted by Nyah needing to be nursed. I told him I would return to finish reading to him and he fell asleep as he waited for me. Poor tired little guy! Unfortunately, this 10 minute snooze spoiled his real nap, darn it! No more sleeping on the couch Gabe!