Notre Dame Reunion 2006

Gabi's first trip to Notre Dame was last weekend. She had an ear infection and cut her first molar Thursday night, so we didn't sleep well. Friday, she didn't get a good nap because of all the traveling. She very excitedly watched out the window as we drove on the tarmac and made great use of her new airplane sign. She was enthralled by take-off, and at the end of the flight, Gabi forced herself to stay awake to watch us land; then she crashed as soon as we hit ground and slept through the taxi and disembarking.

Gabi taking a nap at the Midway airport.
In addition to her ear infection, new tooth, and severe lack of sleep, Gabi was thrown into a room with a bunch of strangers who all wanted to hold her. Despite the odds, she was quite the trooper and ran around laughing and entertaining all of us until 3:15 AM!

Here with Papa and Gabi are
Mary Beth, Virgil (in back), George, Maig, and Cathy.


Gabi and Papa on South Quad with the Dome in the background.


Mama, Papa, Mary Beth, Gabi, Tim,
Cathy, Virgil, Maig, George, and Patrick


Papa helps Gabi eat a push-up on North Quad.


Kimba lets Gabi borrow her sunglasses.


Gabi steals the soccer ball from
Stephen, Papa, George, Caitlin, and Kimba.


Gabi tosses the ball to Virgil.


Mama and Gabi at Stonehenge.


Papa and Gabi walking on God Quad.


Gabi with some of Papa's Glee Club buddies.


Trevor, Mama, and Gabi outside the Basilica.
Saturday was full of activity, too, so Gabi's nap was delayed until 4:00. (Actually, Mama tried to put her down at 3:30, but she was so wired that it took half an hour for her to fall asleep!) Then Gabi was nice and rested to run around shrieking with joy at the all-class banquet. (Good thing our class was seated in the back!)

Gabi met a friend named Ella at the all-class banquet.
There were so many people willing to read Gabi books! She thought it was great fun. What could be better?

Caitlin reads Gabi her Curious George and the Bunny book.


Mary Beth reads Gabi one of her German books.


Gabi shares her Wheat Thins with Tim.


Gabi gives Mary Beth a goodnight kiss
after reading her Snuggle Puppy book.
Tim helped Gabi make her first foray into photography.

Gabi took this picture (with Tim's help).
Sunday, we attended Virgil's ordination at St. Andrew's Orthodox Church in South Bend. The Greek Orthodox ceremony was very formal and a new experience for all of us. Congratulations, Virgil!

Gabi attended Virgil's ordination to the diaconate of the Orthodox Church.
(That means Virgil is a deacon now.)
After lunch at Reckers, we took a quick walk around campus to get some pictures before heading back to Chicago to catch our plane.

A bunch of us at Reckers with a '46 grad named Bill O'Neill
(because the dorm O'Neill is in the background).


Gabi at Reckers.


Mama and Gabi at Main Circle.


Gabi on South Quad with the Basilica in the background.


Mama and Gabi walking around campus.


Gabi walking on South Quad.


Gabi let George borrow her hat.


Tim, Gabi, and Mama in front of Jesus on God Quad.


Gabi inspects the flowers along the path to the Dome.


It looks as if Gabi is wearing a Dome hat!


Gabi and her new friend Cathy in front of the Dome.
Gabi wouldn't let go of Cathy's fingers.


Gabi likes the flowers by the Dome.


Gabi tosses her hat on the ground.


Gabi at the Grotto.


St. Mary watches over Gabi at the Grotto.


Papa and Gabi on the path from the Grotto.


Papa and Gabi watch the ducks by St. Mary's Lake.


Mama and Gabi in front of the Dome.
By this point, Gabi was so tired that she fell asleep in Mama's arms as we walked around campus. Finally, we took her to Knott Hall to meet Father Jim. Unfortunately, Brother Jerome was out of town, and we couldn't find Sister C because Farley was closed for renovation.

Mama and Gabi with Father Jim and most of the Knott Hall crew.


Gabi, Mama, and Cynthia with the new statue
of Fathers Joyce and Hesburgh.


Patrick, Tim, Gabi, Mama, Cathy,
Cynthia, and George in front of Touchdown Jesus.


Mama and Gabi by the reflecting pool.
And so that concludes our short visit to the ND campus. Next time we take a trip to Notre Dame, we'll have to plan fewer things! (But there is always so much to do! As it is, we didn't get to see the new DPAC!)

Gabi wears George's shades on the car ride to the airport.


Gabi presses her face against the window to watch the airplanes.


Gabi points out the airplanes to Mama.


Gabi enjoys looking out the window as we take off.
Gabi was great during our visit and was happy to meet all our friends. However, the plane ride home was rough, and the MARTA trip home from the airport was even more difficult. We all slept well Sunday night, though (except poor Papa didn't get much time to sleep before he had to get up to go to work).

Gabi drinking some apple juice at the Atlanta airport.


Gabi walking around the baggage claim with the cup in her mouth.

First Haircut

Scott Park
We played in the sandbox at Scott Park at playgroup this week.

Gabi playing in the sandbox at playgroup.

Decatur Concert on the Square
Mama and Gabi ate a picnic lunch, listened to some live music, and watched the other kids running and climbing trees in downtown Decatur during the last May concert on the Square.

Gabi clapping after a song at the Decatur Concert on the Square.


Gabi pushing her stroller around the Decatur Square.
Gabi's First Haircut
Gabi got her first haircut on Wednesday, May 31, 2006. We went to Salon Red Kids, where she sat in a little car and watched Baby Neptune on TV while Miss Lisa cut her hair. Since we don't let Gabi watch TV at home, she was enthralled and sat perfectly still. Now her hair is all even and doesn't fall in her eyes.

Gabi at Salon Red Kids, ready for her first haircut.


Gabi driving the car and watching a Baby Einstein video
while she gets her hair cut.


Gabi's new haircut is beautiful.
She sat so nice and still!


Gabi told Mama about the fish and puppy and duck that she saw on the TV.


Gabi playing ball with her hair dresser after her first haircut.


Gabi found a puppy to hug at Salon Red Kids / Hoopla.
Softball Practice
One of Papa's co-workers brought her two-year-old daughter to softball practice today, so Gabi had a playmate.

Ana and Gabi playing with balls during softball practice.

15 Months

Gabriella playing with her door. This toy is still a hit!	Gabi pulled the chopper out of the kitchen cabinet.
Gabi got a package! Gabi loves to read books.	Growing Toddler Here's how Gabi measured up at her 15-month check-up: 30 inches tall (25th percentile) 21 pounds 3 ounces (25th percentile) head circumference of 48 cm (90th percentile)
Gabi has also taken to carrying a purse around.	Such a big girl!

Decatur Arts Festival
On Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, we went to the Decatur Arts Festival. In the children's area, we heard storytellers and listened to a concert and did some artwork.

Gabi watches Papa make bubbles.

What fun it is to stir the bubbles!

Mama helps Gabi make handprints.

Mama and Gabi do sponge painting.

Gabi makes a mess with finger paints.

Papa and Gabi draw with sidewalk chalk.


Gabi chases a butterfly.


Mama and Gabi admire the doorway artwork in the Square.


Our refrigerator proudly displaying
Gabi's art from the Decatur Art Festival.
WORDS
Gabi can say 21 words now! I could probably add "cat" and "hair" to this list, too. Plus, she can roar like a lion and pant like a dog. Gabi has also used some two-word sentences, such as "more rice."

ball banana bear bird boo book duck

hi hot juice Mama more Papa puppy

purse rice shoe slide stairs uh-oh yes

Gabi reads a book after her bath.


Gabi likes her first taste of chocolate milk.


Yea! Cheeseburger!
Zoo Atlanta
We took Papa to the zoo over Memorial Day Weekend to play with the Fisher Price toys in addition to all the regular exhibits. It sure is hot outside!

Gabi rides the car at the Fisher Price exhibit at the zoo.	Honk! Honk!
The queen drives the dump truck.	All aboard!

Gabi pets the lion fur at the Wild Like Me exhibit at the zoo.


A little lady in red pushing her stroller.
SIGNS
Gabi's signs count as words, too. Even if she says a word and does the sign for that word as well, it counts as two words because her signs are like a different language. Bilingual children who learn the same word in two languages have actually learned two words. Gabi uses 15 signs, and there are some others (drink, elephant, lion, and Papa) that could probably be included here as well. She recognizes as many more when we model them.

all done bird bye cat dog

fish hi hot milk more

no rabbit stand up Where is it? yes

What a mess you made with your oatmeal, Gabi!


"Mmmmm!" Gabi says when she tastes her ice cream.