Zoo Atlanta

We went to the zoo the other day...

Gabi really likes the zoo! Here she is showing off her new wrinkly-nose smile while checking out the living treehouse. There are usually lemurs that climb about on the ropes and such on the other side of the fence. Unfortunately, they aren't featured in this particular picture. But we know that you're really here to see the cute baby, right? Of course right. If you want to see some lemurs instead of this cute baby, might I suggest this PBS website? You might also want to check out this movie, which has quite a few of them.

Gabi met some kangaroosies! Right, so our friends Down Under might not find this especially exciting, but you must understand that kangaroos aren't as common in the southeastern US as they are on the other side of the world. As such, Gabi really enjoyed watching these little fellows hop-hop-hopping around. Whenever they'd start a-bouncin, she'd join in. Very adorable, as you can imagine.



Interestingly, with all the exotic animals on display, Gabi's favorite part of the zoo were the... um... fascinating... goats. Yep, the petting zoo with its barnyard critters certainly scored the most smiles of the outing. I think it's mostly because they let you get up-close and personal with the goats, whereas, understandably, you can't get quite so close to the tigers and elephants. You see, it's much less likely that you'd be mauled or squashed by a baby goat.

Texas for the New Year

Gabi and Mama took a trip to Texas over New Years.

Gabi really likes to open and close things (doors, lids, drawers, anything), and she also enjoys putting objects into containers and taking them out. Here she is in action:

Gabi storing things in the table.

Gabi investigating the box.

"But Gramma, I wanted to open that drawer!"

Uncle Scott helps Gabi play the trumpet.

Gabi petting Rex.

Gabi liked meeting Rex.

Gabi swinging at the park.

Gabi playing with the orange during our picnic.

Gabi and Uncle Stephen

Merry Christmas!

First, and early Christmas with Mama's family...

Uncle Brian and Gabi


Uh-oh! Gabi is already interested in power tools!
Gabi helps Gramma Jane and Grampa use the
elctric stapler to reupholster the couches.


Gabi finds the presents under the tree.
Then, Papa's family visits to help celebrate the holidays.

Gabi plays with her shape blocks.


Tita Chrissie and Gabi


Gabi looks at the tag on this gift. Who is it from, Gabi?


Lola and Lolo enjoy helping Gabi open her present.


Mama and Gabi view the nativity scene at church.


Gabi and Papa in front of the tree.


Gabi investigates Tita Chrissie's present.


Gabi reads her new book with Papa.


Gabi smiles at her Christmas present.


Gabi enjoys a ride on Papa's shoulders.


Gabi laughing with Lolo.

Catching Up

We have quite a collection of pictures that hadn't been posted yet, so we're trying to catch up a bit. In addition to the Kindermusik and aquarium pictures just added to this blog, we posted a bunch of pictures on the playgroup blog. That'll take us through November... and soon you shall see Christmas pictures!

11/1/05

11/8/05

11/15/05	11/22/05	11/22/05

Georgia Aquarium

Thanksgiving week, the brand new Georgia Aquarium opened, and we have already visited twice. (We would have gone more, but it was so crowded over the holidays.) Come to Atlanta, and we'll take you to see the Beluga whales, sea lions, penguins, whale sharks and other sharks, sting rays, starfish, and all the other marine life. It is fantastic! More pictures are sure to come after future visits.

Lolo and Lola visit the new Georgia Aquarium with us.
11/25/05


Lola and Gabi check out the Leafy Sea Dragons.
11/25/05


Gabi and Mama with the Beluga whales.
11/25/05


Mama and Gabi in the penguin tunnel.
12/5/05


Gabi watches the Amazon River fish.
12/5/05

Kindermusik

Gabi took a Kindermusik class at Callanwolde Fine Art Center during the Fall semester. As these pictures show, she was able to explore many different percussion instruments and the noises that they make. Her favorite was the drum (pictures are in the post when Gramma Jane and Grampa came to visit a class and when we attended a Kindermusik at the Atlanta Symphony Celebration).


Gabi explores a rainstick.
Sierra, Nathan, and Gabi -- 10/6/05


So many noisemakers!
Ava and Gabi -- 10/10/05


Shake, rattle, and roll.
Nathan, Archer, Sam, Ava, and Gabi -- 10/20/05


Gabi can make the bells jingle by shaking her arm.
Gabi and Archer -- 10/27/05

Gabi tells Mama that the chime ball makes noise. 10/27/05

Gabi and Papa dance the Cha-Cha-Cha. 11/11/05

We also danced to different types of songs, using movements that helped the babies feel the different rhythms, tempos, and styles of music. Gabi especially liked a jazz song called Hop to It, which has a smooth swing section where we sway back and forth alternating with a bouncy syncopated section where we hop from one side to another. She also enjoyed the Mockingbird Dance, which had one verse legato and the next staccato and more variations in subsequent verses. She loved the changes in the feel of the music and movements. This dance picture is from the day that Papa was able to come by class. More pictures with Papa at Kindermusik are on the crawling post.

Gabi watches the water fountain at Callanwolde. 11/11/05 (click on the picture to see a larger version)

So Big!

We apologize for the long delay in posting new pictures. Gabi is growing so fast! She is 9 months old now; she'll be 10 months on Christmas Day. She can crawl, wave hello, feed herself Cheerios and Veggie Puffs, climb stairs (slowly, and under supervision, of course), drink from a glass (with assistance), pull up, cruise (walk while holding onto furniture), watch where things fall when she drops them (Papa's friend Tim from work calls it the make-grown-ups-pick-things-up-off-the-floor game), and find trouble wherever she goes.

Gabriella really interacts with other people more these days. Every day when Papa comes home from work, Gabi smiles so big and waves hello to him, which is certainly a wonderful welcome home gift for him after a stressful day. Gabi loves to wave at us and see us wave back. She does the backwards wave, where she's really waving to herself--except when she waves to the mirror, and then she figures out that she needs to turn her hand around. She's so smart! At playgroup, Gabi tries to pass toys back and forth with the other babies... or sometimes just take whatever toy she sees someone else playing with. She is even starting to sign, putting her fingers in her mouth for "eat" (so it isn't exactly what we have been modeling, but it's close) and touching her fingertips together for "more," although she still throws her Cheerios on the floor to signal "all done." She laughs and giggles the most when she sees little girls, any age from walking up to 5 years old. For some reason she is entranced by these little people who are close to her size but can run and jump and twirl around and pay all sorts of attention to Gabi. I think Gabi's greatest desire at this point is to be a three-year-old girl some day.

Here are a few pictures from the past month. In the first one, she is enjoying the "So Big" game where Papa asks "How big is Gabi?" and then raises her arms and answers "So big!" She had just been crawling on the kitchen floor and found Papa's shoes, which she thought would be a fun toy.


Gabriella is so big, she's wearing Papa's shoes!


Gabi is so proud of herself for pulling up on the couch.


Gabi smiles at Mama in the morning sunlight.


At Lola's request, Gabi models her "My First Christmas" outfit.


Gabi, in her Christmas dress, dances to the music as Mr. Snowman sings.
Did you notice the new fabric on our couches? Gramma Jane reupholstered them for us! We are very excited.