Christmas morning

First of all, Gabby slept until 10;30 Christmas morning and we had to wake her up.  She is not normal.  We got her a little guitar, a saxophone, and a big tent - she loves to sit in it and play music.  Kumbahya! I jumped the gun and got her a bike called a Skuut.  It doesn't have pedals, but it's supposed to help them develop balance. Even on the lowest setting,  she's too short for it, so she got all excited and then I had to take it away from her. This was by far the best Christmas Pat and I have had in our 11 Christmases together!  Gabby's 3rd Christmas, but the first one she really got into it.  After it was all done, she was doing sign language for "more" with her little hands (which I didn't realize she remembered) and saying "More presents please."  

These were taken at my parent's house on Christmas.  I am having a lot of trouble getting the photos to upload. My parents got a table and chairs out of their attic for Gabby that both of my nieces and one other little boy used.  It looks brand new.  I don't know how they manage to keep things in such good shape!  I like the 32-piece tea set, but it's getting hard to keep up with all these little things that come with toys!  My house needs an organizational overhaul.  Someone help!

p.s. notice there are 8 people in my family gathering.  If we had a group picture of Pat's it would be more like 50 just in immediate family!!!

Christmas Day

These were taken before we went to my parent's on Christmas Day.  I'm still trying to figure out my camera.  Pat bought me a DVD series for the specific model.  I think it will be better than reading the user's manual.  Just have to find some time to concentrate!

picture problem

I can't get my pictures to upload.  It keeps saying Error 400.  Has anyone else had this problem?

Makeup mess

This is what happens when you think your husband is watching your kid & she decides to give herself a makeover.  

Car for Sale

2001 Jaguar S-Type

only 66,000 miles

Excellent condition - asking $10.200  

Do you know of anyone interested??  

Also need to sell my Canon Rebel camera & telephoto lens.

These would make great Christimas gifts. :-)

Baby Maddox

Had fun photographing this 7 lb. baby boy this morning!  This is my friend Erin's baby.  Our pregnancies and births were so similar it's scary.  We had the same due date (2 yrs. apart), used the same Dr.,both induced, etc.  She is taking to motherhood very well!  Her mother keeps telling her that the dog is going to eat the baby, but she refuses to kick him out.  Our dogs weren't so lucky!  I told her to cherish these newborn days.  Gabby was telling me "Bye Mama!" before we even got into the building at Children's Day Out this morning.  It almost hurts my feelings that she doesn't want me to stay. :-)

New camera

Pat & I agreed to get each other a Nikon D90 for Christmas.  After a trip to Bedford's and a sweet talking salesperson (one of Mrs. Amy Robinson's friends), he came home with a Nikon D700.  I have been so intimidated by it for two days I've been scared to experiment.  After doing some online reading about it today, I went outside on the deck and took these pics of the dogs.  (We have three dogs, but not sure where the other one was).  I can tell it is going to be an amazing camera after I figure out what I'm doing.  Luckily a class is included with the warranty that was purchased.  Anyway, this is my new goal.  To learn how to use this bad boy!  I am taking some pics of a friend's newborn tomorrow.  That should be fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL

Gabby had her birthday yesterday and we opted to just have our parents over for dinner and cake instead of doing a big party like last year.  It was so nice!  She loved being with her Mimi, Pop Pop, Mema, and Papa.  Pat and I both got emotional thinking about how fast 2 yrs. has passed and how thankful we are for our families.  

Friday

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Today Gabby had a little b-day party @ Children's Day Out.  I bought her this cute dress at a new children's consignment shop / boutique for $20.  I saw the same one at another store today for $75!   I'll have to get the pics from the party off the other camera.  

Doing another 5k tomorrow morning.  Let's hope its not in the 20's again.  It's an hr. later, so maybe it won't be.  

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

DECORATING COMPLETED!

So excited to say that house is deorated in & out!  I forgot how much I missed having them up last year.  Also excited to say that Gabby hasn't gotten into one package or taken any ornaments off the trees.  Amazing.  I felt like Martha Stewart today putting pinecones on wreaths and making bows.  Now I am ready to start cooking!!!  I'm having a girl's Christmas party on Dec. 9th if any of you ladies want to come!  6:00 ---bring a $10 gift.

Christmas decorations - jumping the gun??

I have been working my butt off on Christmas decorations!!! Pat thinks you should wait until after Thanksgiving, but it's only a month away.  Yesterday I did lights outside and it took me pretty much all day.  Pat swaddled Gabby up last night to show her what I did.  She just looked at all the lights w/ her mouth open and said "ohhhh."  Life is so different with a little one!  Last yr. I didn't put anything up because she was crawling and into everything, so this yr. I really wanted to decorate.  Today I worked on a tree in the kitchen and then the big tree in the living room.  We decided instead of using all the glass ornaments I've used for the past 10 yrs. we should replace them with unbreakable ones.  After a trip to Michael's and $90 later, I completed the project.  I am too tired to get those pics off my camera though.......

Breakfast w/ Santa

Well, we took Gabby to see Santa for the first time Sat....she got scared and I had to stand behind her in the picture (can't pick it up until Wed.)  The event we took her to had a children's singer, so she had plenty of fun dancing.  It was a nice surprise to see Sarah and Kate there!  This is the cutest baby girl!  Reminds me of Gabby with those pretty big blue eyes!  It was very cold Sat.  My friend Deana and I got up and ran a 5k in 28 degrees.  I am beginning to think we are not very smart.  We finished in under 30 min though - that was our goal, so we were feeling good, even though we could not feel our feet!

We had to bundle Gabby up like an eskimo that night to take her to her Mimi & Pop Pop's.

AMEN!

Sawing toothpicks

Aren't sleeping pictures the best?  Gabby's almost 2 and I still love to sneak into her room and watch her snooze.  

Last week I took her to get a flu shot.  I was totally dreading it and wondering if I was doing the right thing.  The nurse was so good - she did not cry one bit.  She even said "Thank you" as we were leaving!  The nurse was cracking up saying that was a first coming from a toddler.  

I have already got all her birthday gifts wrapped for Dec. 7th.  I am getting sad that she's already turning 2.  Wish they'd stay babies longer.  

Nature Center

Yesterday we made an outing to the Janet Huckabee Nature Center.  Gabby had a great time exploring inside and outside.  We got there before they opened, so we walked some of the trails and then we were able to go inside we were the only ones there.  Like a private showing!