Gobble Gobble

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I'll spare you all of the "I'm thankful" stuff, because I know that each day is a gift and I try and cherish each and every moment, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad.  So I really don't need to make a list of what I'm thankful for because I do that everyday, in my head.  Plus, it's not that fun hearing about how great someone else's life is.  Moments of thankfulness don't have to be spoken. Instead, I'll share my excited about the family gathering.  It's comical.  There's nothing like getting a bunch of relatives together, mixing in some alcohol and strong opinions, and letting the fun begin!  Sometimes it can be like watching a train wreck.  But they're my family and I love them and I'm looking forward to it.  Plus, I'm making some oyster stuffing which just might be my favorite thing to eat, ever.

Okay, and maybe I'll say just one thing I'm thankful for.  These toes.

Our Delayed First Easter

Due to the trip to Philly, we celebrated Easter a weekend late.  We had our own egg hunt with the cousins, which only one of them understood, but all had fun.  The funny thing, to me at least, is the last few pictures.  Trying to get them to all sit still and look at the camera is impossible, but makes for some entertaining photos.

Gabriel, You are One!

My Dearest Gabriel,

I've been struggling to write this blog post for quite some time.  Hmmmm, maybe because Mommy is in denial about you turning one?  Anyways, I did have a plan for celebrating this big day.  I thought it best to have a small, intimate family celebration.  That way, I could relax and spend as much time with you as possible (and not worry about entertaining guests).  I decided to make your birthday cake and found a Blue's Clues cake pan at a thrift shop.  Blue's Clues is your favorite tv show these days.  Your cousins were invited to come over and have cake and open gifts.  Easy peasy!  Your birthday was Sunday, March 4th.

Turns out, the cake was a little more challenging that I'd planned, so Saturday while I baked and iced, you were mostly ignored.  =)  Luckily, your birthday wasn't until Sunday!  Here are the first pictures I took of you on that momentous day.

You woke at your usual time of 7ish and we headed to the kitchen for a special birthday breakfast of homemade pancakes!  You were very helpful in the process. 

After breakfast, we had some play time.  Mommy had her coffee and we camped out on the living room floor.  You love to point at my coffee mug and say "ot!"  (Hot).  I let you gently touch it just so you can get a feeling of what hot actually is.  Unfortunately later this day you really learned the meaning of "ot."  =(  More about that in a bit.

After your morning nap, we did a little shopping.  We went to Party City so we could pick up some balloons for your big day.  You've really taken an interest in them, especially in the ones displayed at checkout line in Publix.  Regretfully, you didn't get to enjoy said birthday balloons until Monday after your birthday, because Mommy forgot about them and left them in the trunk. 

It was time for your afternoon nap and while you slept, I worked on the appetizers for the few guests that were coming.  There was Grandpa and Grandma Snyder, Uncle Edmund and Auntie Melissa, Uncle Andrew, Cousins Benjamin and Matthew, Grandpa Les and John, Uncle Al, and Mom and Dad.  I prepared a black-eyed pea dip, stuffed mushrooms, and finger sandwiches on ciabatta.  We served wine and beer.

Once everyone showed up, you and Benjamin played with toys while the adults had drinks. 

Man of the Hour

Party Favor Fun

Then it was time for presents!  Benjamin was kind enough to help with the opening.

Some gifts you recieved were an activity tent and beach toys from Grandma, a toy helicopter from Grandpa, a safari truck from John, books, baby computer, and a framed handmade picture from Aunti Melissa.  Mommy and Daddy got you musical themed gifts including an xylophone, drum and tamborine, a musical interative center and a Blue's Clues musical dvd.  Aunt Julie and Aunt Ellen sent treats from Atlanta including cute outfits and bath toys.  And finally, Dad and Uncle Al built you this amazing rocking horse (pictured here several days later).

 
And finally, CAKE TIME!  Why don't I have a picture of the Blue's Clue's cake?  Cause I forgot!  But I did take one of the smash cake I made you.  So here's the senario.  We all gather around you and get ready to sing.  You're such a good baby toddler and you were very excited and smiling.  I'm sitting right next to you with the camera ready to take the perfect first cake picture.  We light the candle and put the cake right next to you and start singing then BAM!  You grab the candle, burn your little baby finger and the moment is ruined.  I am so sorry Gabriel but I guess you live and learn. 

After burning your finger.  =(

So that about sums up the big day up!  All in all, I thought is was perfect, even including the injury.  You've become quite the little, dare I say, toddler (tears) and I couldn't be more in love with you.  You make me smile and laugh and learn each and everyday.  Here are some tidbits about your personality -

• You are walking!  You were very unsteady on your feet and still crawled a little the past several weeks and then on the day of your birthday, it's like you realized you were older and immediately started walking everywhere.
• You have a routine when we first wake up.  You like to feed the dogs, give them a treat, then go into the nursery and look at all the stuff on your walls.  You point at everything and go "dis (this)."
• You take your socks off and insist we all smell them.  You giggle when I say "shoooooowee!"
• You still are a boob man.  While you only nurse 3 times during the day, you still insist on nursing all night.
• When I'm holding you in the kitchen, you insist on turning on the ipod so we can dance, even if it's first thing in the morning.
• You are a cuddler during the nights, obviously still in Mommy and Daddy's bed.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  If you "wonder" too far away from Mommy, you get upset and make this "huhuhuhu" noise until I retrieve you.
• You love playing in the toliet.  You've began testing your limits because when you try and stick your hands in it and I say "No Gabriel," you get a mischievious grin and see how much more you can get away with.
• You love playing with the hamper in the closet.  You usually pull it down and climb on top. 
• You also love closing doors. Then Mommy will knock and open it up then you close it again.  You could play that game all day long. 
• Seriously, your all time FAVORITE thing to do is play in the dog's food and water bowl.  So because it was your birthday, I let you do it for as long as you wanted.  Until it was time to get cleaned up.
• Your favorite song is "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and you follow along with the hand movements.
• You sign "more, baby, dog, finished," and "stop."

Here's to another great year, my son.  Thank you for brightening my life.

With love,

Your Mommy

Have I mentioned?

I am now a mother to a ONE year old?  Holy smokes!  I received an email from Baby Center telling me he's no longer a baby and is now a toddler.  Yup, that brought on some tears.  And I've been trying to find time to post about his birthday celebration all week, but we are seriously swamped with Kirk working in Orlando, seeing homes, Dr. appointments, and pretty much life, so the time has escaped me.  But I will accomplish that one small task this weekend.  In the meantime, here are a couple of shots of us celebrating.  More to follow shortly.

My Valentines

Dinner with my guys!

We decided to celebrate Valentines Day a little early.  We enjoyed sushi last night and it worked well because the restaurant was empty.  This allowed us to actually relax and not worry if somebody misbehaved (Kirk).  AND we were also celebrating Kirk's new position!  Congrats Husband!  I love you!

I'm 32!

Last week was spent celebrating and celebrating some more!  January 4th, I turned 32 (and January 4th, Gabriel turned 10 months)!  Unfortunately, I had to work but I was able to sneak away and meet my Mom at lunch for some burgers at Red Robin.  After work, Melissa, my sweet nephews, my husband, my son and myself all celebrated!  Kirk made me us dinner of steak and crab legs with a cake and my gift was a Keurig coffee machine. 

While I was lunching with Mom, she gave me a birthday card from my late Uncle.  He had purchased tickets to Wicked for my birthday before he passed and when Mom last visited at Thanksgiving he signed a birthday card and informed her of the tickets.  This was truly a special gift.  So Sunday, Mom and I headed to Jacksonville, Florida to watch Wicked at the Times Union Center.  We lunched on Mexican food waterfront, then headed to the show.  And what a show it was!  It's now officially my favorite!  Thank you so much Uncle Ronnie.  XOXOXO.

We I got home from the show we celebrated once more with the entire family.  I can't seem to shake these guys.

So here's to 32!  And just because I've been slacking, here are some pictures of my TEN month old.  Yikes.