Happy New Year 2014!

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Happy New Year!

Comfort

Little One hurt his finger and reached to his big bro for comfort.

Milano!

Well, we miss our boys so much, but Milan is really a cool place.  P's conference reception was very nice this evening, and we spent a long time walking around and visited a couple of great cafes.  Here are a few photos of our day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A very happy Thanksgiving to you are yours, from all four of us!

A Better Pic

Nap Time

It's time for a little nappy nap while Big Bro plays in his tournament. 

Buddies

It's nice to travel far and see a friend on the next field!

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"Fuzzy Baby"

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Feast Of Thanks

Today was our Thanksgiving feast at Ollie's school. We are thankful for so many things, including the nurturing atmosphere that surrounds Oliver even when we aren't near him.

Inventive Play

Little Chef

Little One whisked, stirred, and added to make these tomato, spinach, and Parmesan scrambled eggs. We had fun making them, and now we are having fun eating them!

Working Like Mommy

He is hard at work! And yes, that is a HUGE shiner in the middle of his forehead. He pulled his high chair on top of himself last night.

First Word!

Ollie said his first meaningful word today, other than water and banana! It was the first time he wanted to show us something and used the word to point it out to us. It isn't much different than asking for water or a banana, but to us there is a distinction. And it is definitely different than the handful of words he can repeat after us.

His Papa had gotten him a ride-on Jeep when he was in South Carolina on Saturday, and he brought it over yesterday. Ollie didn't get a good look at it until today, and when Daddy got home, he ran to the door to greet him. He pointed around Matt into the garage and very clearly said, "Truck."

We are excited for this milestone, and we can't wait to hear what he says next!

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"Practicing math facts together"

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Ten Years!

Today is our ten year anniversary, and we couldn't be happier. We started by watching the sunset with a very special view of Atlanta. Then, we went to Baraonda in Atlanta to celebrate and had a great time. It was nice to be able to sit and take stock of the past ten years and enjoy our successes, and to think about the future, happy to be in this journey together.

Little Drooler

Looks like we have a jokester on our hands.

Sweet And Caring Boy

While I was at school, G did this. He arranged the bed so that I would have my iPad and "magic blanket," (it really is magical), and he put the tissues there "like they do in the apartments." He also straightened up all of my folders and papers and things on the desk. It looks wonderful! It was one of the greatest surprises I have ever had, and it was definitely one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me.

Banana Moon

On our way back home during our family walk this evening, O pointed to the sky and said, "Banana!" We looked up and saw that the moon was a very thin crescent. From now on, in our household, the crescent moon shall be known as the Banana Moon.

I Can Work Like This

I like looking over and seeing him there, nearby.

Even Goofy And Pluto Had It Backwards

Silly us - we thought the bed is for sleeping, the great room is for entertainment, and the bathroom is for potty business. This little curlyhead decided to poop (and possibly eat, we don't want to know for sure) in bed this morning and save his sleeping for the living room floor. Perhaps we should move the television to the bathroom.

Eighteen Months!

Our sweet baby is eighteen months of age today, and he got to wear some autumn clothes, as it was quite chilly. He took a great nap in the car while Mommy and Big Bro went to mass, and then he spent the rest of the day playing at home and getting lots of cuddles from all three of us.

Here are some of O's favorites:

Favorite foods: bananas, waffles with syrup for dipping

Favorite television shows: Little Einsteins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Third and Bird, Henry Hugglemonster - basically anything on Disney Jr.

Favorite Books: his small farm-themed board books; his wooden Melissa & Doug ABC puzzle book; Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?; 101 First Words (from Big Bro); The Big Shiny Sparkly Book of Things That Go; Where Is God?; his Lift and Look Nativity puzzle book; My Best Word Book by Richard Scarry in Ukrainian; Danny and the Dinosaur; and he just discovered One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish last night and loves it. He loves to read, and he reads all day. In fact, he would not relinquish a reindeer hide-and-seek book and is reading it aloud in bed right now!

Favorite music: He prefers to listen to classical music, but he is a bit more of a rocker when he turns his electric guitar to auto-play while he jams on his red Schoenhut piano. He is even sometimes moved to stand on his bench like Jerry Lee Lewis!

Favorite toys: his Fisher Price Little People zoo and any puzzle

He is every bit as perfect for our family and as wanted as he was the day he was born, and we love him.

Little Rocker

We think he is part classical, part rock and roll!

First Day Of Fourth Grade

Our big boy started fourth grade today.  This school year, we are in a new neighborhood, and our street is right next to the school.  As a result, we got to walk to school this morning!  It was so much easier than driving, and we all got to sleep in much later than we did last year.  G has the same teacher as last year, so it will be an easy transition, and we think he will enjoy having lots to do throughout each day again.  What an exciting day!  Enjoy the photos, and watch the interview below.

Lunchtime!

Carrots and hummus for lunch!

Just Like Big Bro

Ols imitates his big bro today. G always puts a chocolate chip in each square of his waffle, so when I turned aroundin the kitchen, I saw Ollie imitating him.

Everything A Toy

He loves playing in my nail polish. We have to watch him closely so he doesn't eat or drop one!

The List

When Gabriel was born, we weren't sure what his middle name should be. Here is our list that we made before we left the hospital. 

You can also see where we made a note of a pediatrician who was recommended to us. He is still our pediatrician, despite two moves and almost nine years. 

Under The Table

We guess he is making this spot his own little fort. He just climbed in and dragged the book in after him.

A Rainy Fourth

This is what we do when it rains on the Fourth of July. Happy Independence Day, everyone!

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"Ready"

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Look Who Discovered Matchbox Cars!

Future Hide-And-Seek Champ