Busy Wed Mornings

Gaby started a gymnastics class last week and is really enjoying it! They get to jump on the long trampoline, hang from bars, walk on the beams and learn to tumble and stand on their hands. It's a parent participation class so I really only got this one picture.

We also started back up on her swim lessons. After the first two classes, they decided to move Gaby up a level b/c she was swimming so well. She's swimming w/kids a year plus older than her. You know I was bursting with pride!! I promise to get video soon. And the great news is she still loooves swimming and is always so happy to be there.

The best thing about our super busy Wed mornings is that it poops her out so she takes extra long naps. Mommy likes that :)

More Dance Class Pics...

Three classes down and so far, so good!! We've slowly been leaving the room earlier and earlier as the girls get more comfortable being in there without us. And they look like they're having a blast! "I'm a Little Teapot" is their favorite song and they are just soooo darn cute dancing to it. I have to admit, seeing Gaby in her little dance outfit makes me smile from ear to ear- she's my precious little ballerina :)

Movin' on up!

Gaby little spanish school is year-round. She went to school all summer, but today was the first official day of the fall semester. Our little cutie was moved up to the three-yr-old room so it actually did seem like a first day for her. She now officially has to wear a uniform... She has a new teacher and is in a new classroom and got to meet back up with some of her old friends that had moved up throughout the year. She was a little apprehensive at first, but stayed with no tears and Ms. Sylvia said she had a great day! I really like her new classroom. It is bright and fun and has all sorts of learning posters all over the walls. I'm sure she's going to learn so much this year. Being one of the youngest in her class should really be great for her. Hopefully, she will continue to enjoy her school :)

Summer Fun w/ Ellington

We've had a fun summer with Gaby's BFF, Ellington. We met Tiffany & Elli at Gymboree over a year ago. Once the girls got too old for Gymboree, we started meeting up at the park on Wed afternoons. This summer, we decided to swim at Elli's house on Tues afternoons (both girls are great swimmers!!) and meet up at My Gym for some indoor fun on Wed afternoons. Well, now the girls are just the best of pals. They loooove seeing each other and play so well together. We look forward to watching these two sweeties grow up together! After swimming, there's the obligatory naked time... Which usually involves some naked vaccuming for Gaby :)
I love my sweet friend!!!

Daddy's New Office

Byron and his partners bought an old historic house, renovated it and turned it into their new office building. It took a little while to get all the zoning permits and the renovation finished but they finally moved in mid-July. They are really enjoying their new digs! This weekend Gaby and I decided to stop by to take some pictures. And for once, I had a very cooperative model :) This is one of the fun exam rooms... The big man in his new office... Byron has been very busy this whole summer. Even though, we miss him when he's working late or on weekends, we know that means his practice is thriving and that can only mean good things for the future. We are very proud of Daddy :)

Also, check out their new website.

(see if you notice a familiar face on it)

The Snuggle is Back!

Gaby has always been so easy to put to bed. We really are very lucky. We give her her bath (which she still looooves!), get her in her pjs, let her play for a little bit, then hugs and kisses all around and you just drop her off in her crib w/ Mr. Bunny, her paci, a little classical music and you're done. No long drawn out routine. Really. Very simple.

Well, suddenly the last couple months things have gotten a little more involved. She doesn't want to go to bed. No huge drama, just some whining really. And how is she mostly appeased? She just wants to have a few books read to her and then a little snuggle :) Now I tell you what, that part I don't mind at all and actually kinda missed a little. She smells all clean and yummy and she starts breathing slowly and carressing your face.

Ahhhhh....the snuggle is back and, selfishly, I love it!

Funny Conversation

Here is a funny conversation I overheard
between Gaby and her daddy:

Gaby: "Daddy, where's your shirt?"

Byron: "I don't feel like wearing it."

Gaby: "Daddy, you need your shirt"

Byron: "Why?"

Gaby: "You need to cover de boobies."

Heehee!! That's my girl :)

Little Buckaroo Ranch

Gaby's good friend from swim class, Gertie, had her third birthday party today at the Little Buckaroo Ranch. Gaby and I went and had a fun time pretending to be cowgirls :) There were baby chicks that had just hatched... And lots of miniature ponies... Helping to give the ponies water... Gaby & Gertie were a little unsure about petting the bunny... Tractor rides... Feeding the goats is always a blast! Yeehaw!!! There's no better way to end the day than a hot pink cupcake :) The only thing Gaby didn't want to do was ride the pony. She's either really into it or not interested in the least. Today, was on off day. Oh well. Maybe next time?

And so it begins....

Gaby has begun to ask, what I'm sure will become, the all-consuming question...

Whyyyy???????

Watch out world.

I will attempt to try and come up with an explanation for everything.

Should be interesting :)

Dance Class

It's amazing what a difference six months makes (and having a friend along helps too)! Remember what happened last time we attempted dance class?? Well, this morning Gaby and her BFF, Ellington, had their first day of dance class! They'll be learning ballet, jazz & tap. Here's our little ballerina...

They let us moms hang out in the room for the first half of the class and I think that helped ALOT. A little shy at first, eventually, the girls started having a blast tapping, jumping, twirling and waving their arms around. It really was soooo precious! After a while, us moms left the room and watched the action on a TV in the waiting room...

It's so much fun doing stuff w/your best bud :)

I am so proud of our little Gaby. It's so neat to watch her do something on her own and see the joy she gets out of accomplishing something new!

Playa Del Carmen Pictures

Puzzle Master

Gaby is a HUGE fan of puzzles. Always has been.

Remember this post?

She has moved on to the much more difficult 25 piece puzzles and finishes them in no time. It's fun to watch her work through them and put them together.
And she's always very proud of her accomplishments. As are we :)
I bought these at the dollar store and do believe they are the best, most entertaining couple bucks I've ever spent :)

She's cute!!

It's back! It's back!! It's back!!!

I finally got my camera back!! It took long enough, don't you think?!? About six weeks. And in the process, I killed our old point-and-shoot. It was pretty obsolete these days, anyway, with it's measly 5.1 megapixel capacity. But as you can imagine I'm so happy to have my Nikon back and am excited to take lots of fun pictures! And, of course, a certain someone is NOT allowed to touch it ;)

YIPEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Playa del Carmen

We made it to Mexico and back! We had a great time, had some good weather (although a bit steamy at times) and had fun w/my parents, my sister and the kids.

Getting to Cancun was a bit of a challenge. I'll give you the cliff notes version- late check in, bumped from our flight, stuck in standby hell, decided to separate, and poor Byron didn't make it to the hotel until 11pm. That about sums it up!

After that mess, though, everything else went pretty smoothly. Gaby swam her little heart out and really had a blast w/her cousins. Lulu and Carlos got to do some pretty adventurous activities (parasailing, zip lines, ATVs) that Gaby can't wait to be old enough to partake in. The rest of us took advantage of the relaxation aspect of our vacation. I'm always so grateful to be able to create awesome memories with our family.

PS- Since I didn't have a camera, I'm still waiting on the files from Marcie. I'll post a slideshow when I can...