One Year Old!

Happy First Birthday, Gabriella!

Look for more birthday pictures in this space later today! Feel free to leave your well-wishes and expressions of amazement at how much our little girl has grown up already.



Gabi's learning how to stand up all by herself! (Sorry we don't have any better pictures of this yet.... She only does it for a few seconds at a time and it's hard to catch her on camera.)

From the Aquarium to Snow

Here are a few pictures from our most recent trip to the Aquarium (2/3/06). It's cold outside, so the aquarium is a favorite outing these days.

Gabi pointing to the golden trivali.

Gabi making a fish face at the giant Southern ray.

Gabi loves the colorful tropical fish.
Did you know that they feed these fish bok choy?


Gabi sticking out her tongue
as she crawls to investigate the tropical fish.


Gabi discovered the little sharks swimming overhead.
(Gabriella must be a true Filipina; she's pointing with her lips!)


Gabi at Grayson's first birthday party.
2/4/06
Last week, Martin came over to play.

Gabi strikes a pose. 2/10/06

Gabi and Martin playing with her door.

Martin and Gabi play with the walker.


Gabi loves to flip the pages in her books.
2/11/06


Gabi's wild hair reminds us of a peacock
when she first wakes up.
It snowed in Atlanta! Yesterday, we saw snow flurries in the air, but it didn't stick. Apparently a bit accumulated over night but melted early with the sun. This morning, we awoke to find snow dusting the yard! (Yes, the ex-Indiana resident in me is laughing at myself, but I'm back in the South and this may be Gabi's only chance to see snow until we take her up to an ND game.)

Mama took Gabi outside before breakfast
to get pictures before the snow melted.
2/13/06


The neighbor's garden had more snow than our yard.


Gabi laughs at Doc, a neighbor's dog, as he walks past.


I had to bribe Gabi with string cheese
to get her to pose for these pictures.


Gabi contemplates the string cheese,
oblivious to the snow.


But now, even a pirate ducky cannot distract Gabi from her distress.
It's cold! Take me inside!

A Tooth and More!

After two weeks of little to no sleep, we can finally announce that Gabriella has her first tooth! It appeared on Tuesday, January 31; Mama noticed it about 5 AM when she was feeling to see if that is what was keeping us up all night.

Gabriella has also mastered two signs: more and finished. Currently, the more sign is very specific; it means "More food, please!" She has generalized the finished sign very well, though--"I'm finished eating" and "I'm finished having my nose wiped" and various other reasons that she wishes to signal "all done!"

Gabi showing off her wrinkly-nose smile as she eats Veggie Puffs. 1/3/06

Gabi stands up to reach the star on her door. 1/18/06

Gabi and Ella bundled up
outside the coffee shop after music class.
1/18/06


Gabi eating a tomato slice.
Finger foods are fun!
1/18/06

Gabriella walking and talking; she has so much to say! 1/31/06	Gabriella loves to walk with her walker. 2/1/06
Gabi signing more to ask for more string cheese. 2/2/06	Gabi signing more again; she's so good at communicating!
Mmmm... string cheese is yummy!	Gabriella playing with her door --it's her favorite toy. 2/2/06