Sunday, February 25, 2007

2 Years Old!

Today is Gabi's Birthday! Happy Birthday Gabi!

We were busy celebrating with our little lady today, but we should have lots of pictures from this weekend. Lolo and Lola came to visit and were snapping pictures eagerly.

That's all for now.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Back in January...

Gabi and Martin continue to be good friends, since Martin comes over to play every Thursday. Daddy likes to refer to Martin as "Gabi's boyfriend."

Martin and Gabi hugging at the Aquarium.

This year, Gabi started taking gymnastics. She loves it! It is amazing to watch her progress, too. On the first day, she was scared of everything except the balance beam, and I was convinced the classes were a waste of money.

On the second day, she started swinging on the rings (well, rocking back and forth while holding onto the rings, but without pulling her feet off the ground). She is so little that her feet fit side-by-side on the balance beam, so to encourage her to take steps on the balance beam rather than just shuffle her feet forward, the instructor placed bean bags on the balance beam for Gabi to step over. Gabi was still too scared to stand or even sit on the trampoline, but the instructor helped her lie down on her tummy and kick her legs and drum her arms to get used to the vibration.

At the third class, she grabbed the rings and lifted her legs and spent most of the class swinging back and forth. She also started tumbling on the floor and got slightly braver on the trampoline. Now she will run back and forth on the trampoline, which is great for developing balance, and she climbs on the rock wall and hangs from the bars and does all sorts of tricks!

Gabi's first day at gymnastics class.

Gabi has become a bit finicky about bedtime. Sometimes if she doesn't want to go to bed, she will pull her pillow onto the floor and lie on the floor to sleep instead of staying in bed. Once, she crawled out of bed and climbed into the rocking chair during naptime. Of course, that was before she learned how to open the door to her room... Now she'll drag her pillow and bear into the hallway instead.

Gabi napping on the rocking chair.

Gabi received an alpaca sweater from Peru for Christmas, and her friend Sam also has a Perusian alpaca sweater!

Sam and Gabi in matching alpaca sweaters from Peru.

North Carolina
At the end of January, we drove to Boone, NC to visit our friend Joe. Our friend Katie even drove up from High Point, NC to meet us! It was a fun weekend. Joe spent a couple years with the Peace Corp in Tanzania, so he has lots of African artwork decorating his place.

Can you find the giant sponge from Florida?


Gabi loved playing with Joe's hat collection and his lion.


Gabi riding Joe's stuffed lion.


Gabi and Daddy listen to Joe play bagpipes.


Gabi "played" Joe's bagpipes!


How fun! It makes noise!


Joe helps Gabi play music on the bagpipes.