The Nashville Zoo

When we went to TN for a week in March, one of our stops was the Nashville Zoo. Jeremy had never been with us so it was a treat for Gabe to have his Dad there. Gabriel was so excited when we got to the zoo!! He was running around trying to look at everything at once. We saw the monkeys first and they always make the craziest noises. Then we stopped at the bird exhibit.
We were able to go inside the exhibit and watch the birds fly around. Jeremy got some food to feed them and the birds began landing all over him. Gabriel was not afraid of the birds at all and kept putting his arm out so the birds would land on him. We then saw elephants, alligators, tigers, a jaguar, and some other neat animals. Gabe enjoyed looking at the map of the park and directed us where to go next. After a few hours of walking and looking at the animals, Gabe began throwing a professional temper tantrum, so we knew it was time to go. We enjoyed a picnic lunch outside the zoo and then made our way home.

Newbie

Since finding out that I was pregnant I have been very nauseous, but not nearly as bad as I was with Gabe. I am already showing some and things just seem to be happening a lot faster. Yesterday I had some bleeding, so I made a doctor's appointment. Everything turned out to be fine but I was told to rest as much as possible, which is not very easy when I have a child that goes 100 miles an hour all day!! I had an ultrasound and was able to see the baby and even hear the heartbeat. Everything looked normal and I amamazed at the miracle of a child. Even though I have gone through this once already, it still stuns me that there is a human inside me with a heartbeat faster than mine. This pregnancy is totally different from my first and I keep thinking, "Maybe this means it's a girl." I know that there is really no connection, but I am hoping!! Jeremy has been wonderful to me and has eaten many sandiwches and left overs since I do not have the stomach to cook. Gabriel does not really notice any changes so far, he is more interested in the Doodlebops and playing outside. Hopefully I will be feeling better soon.

Mardi Gras 2006

Mardi Gras has always been something my family participated in. I remember when my Dad and uncle built a tall seat for us little ones to sit in so we could see the floats and actually catch some beads. It was so much fun going to the parades and seeing all the costumes and amazing decorations on the floats. Of course when you are little, you don't realize all the crazy adult things that go on during this time! This year we wanted to take Gabe to some parades and let him experience it for himself. I knew he would not understand much about what was going on, but I wanted him to see the floats and have some fun with us. The first parade we went to was in Biloxi. Jennifer and her daughter Peyton were in this parade. They are in our Mommy and Me group and so we wanted to cheer them on. It just so happened that this Saturday was one of the coldest and nastiest days of the winter. It was so windy!!! But we were there and cheered on our friends. Gabe was very intimidated and did not seem too interested in what was happening. The only thing he really responded to was a little weenie dog dressed up. He cried when the police came by and were blaring their sirens. We got him a few beads, but he would not even wear them. Thank goodness he was more receptive to the second parade we attended.

Mom was here for a few days and we went to the Diamondhead parade with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Keith, Victoria, Meghan and DeLance. Gabe ran around with Jeremy and Mom and seemed to be really enjoying himself. We had fun just hanging out and seeing all the kids anxiously waiting for the parade. Once it began, Gabe seemed scared. But after a few minutes he was putting his head down every time Jeremy caught a bead so he would put it on his neck. When it was all said and done, Gabe looked like Mr. T with all his beads! We all had a great time and I was so glad that Mom got to spend time with Gabe. And a few days later he found them in his room and decided to put them on again and show off his "shinyyy beesss."

Our Busy Life

Since meeting several families over the past few months, our whole family has gotten a lot busier. From playdates every Wednesday, to hanging out at someone's home we are two little social butterflies. Gabriel certainly has blossomed and really gets along with most of the children. And of course, the friendships have been great for Jeremy and I as well! We all have definitely gotten into a routine, which is very comforting. Jeremy works plenty of hours and when he comes home, he belongs to Gabe!! I get such a laugh from watching them run around and scream their heads off. Gabe and I are usually at the library, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center and anywhere else other moms and kids are during the day. Other times we just stay home in our pajamas and watch PBS all day. I am so thankful for my Mommy and Me group that I started along with another mom. Most of us have just moved to the area, so it has really helped everyone. We also spend a lot of time with my Aunt and Uncle in Diamondhead. They have Gabe over to spend the night often, which is nice for Jeremy and I to get some alone time! I cannot believe that we have lived here for almost eight months. Gabriel's 2nd birthday is quickly coming and we will be celebrating big time. I cannot believe that he will be 2. He is becoming more independent and tries to dress himself and dress me too. And with another baby on the way, I need him to be as independent as possible! When Jeremy told him there was a baby in my belly, he stuck his paci in my belly button and said, "BayBee." I cannot wait to see him doing his big brother duties. The way he hugs on babies whenever sees them, assures me that he will be protective of the baby and maybe a bit unwilling to share mom. We definitely don't know how long we will be in Gulfport, but for now we are content here.

Gabriel's Obsession

I have never seen a toddler love dinosaurs or King Kong as much as Gabe. He carries around the movie covers and even sleeps with them. That may sound strange, but Jeremy and I think that it's sweet. He gets extremely excited when he reads a dinosaur book, sees them on TV or when someone even mentions the word dinosaur. My Uncle introduced him to King Kong this past week and Gabe is having a hard time choosing his favorite! Whenever Jeremy comes home from work, Gabriel runs right up to him and shows him the movie and starts yelling, "Dino" or "Kin Kon!" It's amazing to us that he does not get scared of these animals. They are scary to me! But my little boy is truly obsessed. It is so wonderful to see Gabe's imagination developing more and more everyday and to watch his mind "connect the dots." He also loves Sesame Street and looks for "Bi Bir" wherever we go. But the dinos and King Kong are first in this kid's world (besides mom and dad).

Gabriel's New Friends

Recently I met Arianna at Barnes and Noble book reading. She and I hit it off right away and have become good friends. She has two children Julian is almost 3 and Ivan is 1. We have spent lots of time together lately and the children have quickly become friends as well. Julian and Gabe get along so well, always running around screaming and laughing together. Their favorite game right now is shouting "Boo!" at one another and then running away. Little Ivan plays as well, but he is a bit slower on his feet than the other two so he is usually tagging along. Arianna is from Miami and she speaks to her children in Spanish as well as English. So Julian does the same to Gabe, but he just looks at Julian like he's crazy! But they do communicate quite well and it's so sweet to see them having their own "conversation". They also love playing with bubbles. These three eat all the time and are usually getting into trouble of some kind. Including the other night when Ivan stuck his finger in Gabe's mouth and he decided to take a bite. Oh, what a sad face! But Ivan soon recovered and they were friends again. I am so glad that Gabriel is comfortable around the boys and I love that he has so much fun with them. Arianna and I have begun a new mom's group, so Gabe will have lots of little friends soon.

Like Father, Like Son

Gabriel follows Jeremy around everywhere. It's so amazing to see how their relationship has grown and changed just since we have moved to Gulfport. When I watch them together it feels so great to see the bond between them. Gabe says Dada about fifty times a day and talks to the pictures of Jeremy around the apartment. And then when he gets home from work Gabriel is constantly trying to get his attention and show off for him. Gabe has also begun to copy little things that Jeremy and I do such as how we walk, laugh, tickle one another or how we sit. One afternoon Jeremy and Gabe were going to eat lunch in front of the TV. Jeremy had already laid down with his plate and Gabe followed suit. He placed his plate right beside Jeremy's and laid down just as his Dada did. Gabriel stared intently at the television and then would take a bite as Jeremy did. He kept staring at Jeremy to see what he would do next and then would look at me and say "Dada, Dada". I love these little moments!

Gabe and Mommy

While Mom was visiting we went to New Orleans to hang out. We walked to the aquarium which was closed! We were so disappointed. But the big windows in the giftshop were full of stuffed animals, t-shirts and pictures. We let Gabe look around while we cooled off in the shade. Mom wanted to take some pictures of Gabe and I together because we really don't have that many-I am usually the ones taking the photos. I think the pictures came out great, even though Mom has never really been that talented with a camera (she fully admits it!). We also walked around the Riverwalk and checked out all the shops. Gabriel entertained himself by looking in ALL the shops' windows and running around us. He was very well behaved and I know that I am really lucky to have such a happy toddler!

The Golf Cart Carries On

Grandma and Grandpa Kolb bought a golf cart when they moved to Diamondhead and the cousins drove it all the time. We crashed it into the ditch, up on their back deck, and flung each other off of it. Jessie usually drove and kept Victoria and Kimberly in the front. Kristyn and I would sit in the back and we would make poor Meghan hold on for dear life on the side. We have so many great memories of the "golf cart days;" riding around the big circle, listening to music and picking up the neighbors' kids. We also found a dead turtle on one of the side road and gave him a proper little burial fitted with an american flag! We laugh and laugh whenever we talk about it. Now Aunt Debbie has a golf cart and there is a new "driver" in town. Gabriel absolutely loves the golf cart and will sit in it for hours pretending to drive. The other day he just sat in V's lap while she drove him around the yard over and over. I jumped in for a quick ride and Mallory ran beside us.

Growing Up So Fast

It is hard to believe that Gabe will be 18 months old in just a few days. It seems not long ago when he was sleeping in our bed, sucking down a bottle and wrapped up like a little tortilla! Now he is running around yelling "Mama!" and eating everything in sight. He loves wearing hats and going to the pool, where he shows off for all the sunbathers. Gabriel is also becoming an expert at throwing temper tantrums. But he is also one of the sweetest children I have ever been around. I see him with others and he brings a smile to all their faces, including his parents'. Jeremy and I feel so blessed to have Gabriel Edward in our lives. I see us both in him and it is a strange but proud feeling. I love my little man more than anything and can't wait to see what he does next!

Cute Babies!

Gabriel and I came to visit in Murfreesboro this week and got together with several friends. We got to spend some time with Kara and her daughter Karlee. Kara and I have been friends since college. She had Karlee on December 31, 2005. The babies are 9 months apart and are both full of personality. Gabriel was skeptical of Karlee at first, but then he really warmed up to her! Gabriel is definitely a charmer and Karlee is so curious. It's amazing to think that Kara and I met in class 6 years ago and now we have these cute babies! I am so grateful to have another Mom to talk baby stuff!

Gabriel's first swim

Just before we moved to Morristown, Mom bought Gabe a baby pool. He absolutely loves water and I wanted to see him in his cute swimming trunks. Of course he really didn't do all that much swimming, but he loved splashing around in the water. He soon began to climb in and out making the water filthy. But he did not care at all! After a little while he began chasing the dog and cat around and lost interest in the pool. He sure did look adorable in those trunks!

We are moving!!!

Well, we are making the move to Morristown, TN. It has been quite an eventful year, and now we are adding even more events. As most of you all know, Gabriel turned one on March 16th and enjoyed all of his cake and then some! Jeremy has been in East TN since January and Gabriel and I are joining him this weekend. We are renting a duplex for now until we can find some land and build a house (but that will be a while). Packing is always fun (haha) and Gabriel knows something is not right because for the first time in his life he is fussy all day and hanging from me like a little monkey. But soon we will be in our new place.