Nothing major, just a few blocks over. We'll still be in Crystal City, but only a one block walk from the metro. We seem to have this trend of moving to smaller and smaller places. See for yourself:
1. 1700 sq ft 3 bdrm 2.5 bath house
2. 1200 sq ft 2 bdrm, 2 bath condo
3. 1051 sq ft 1 bdrm, 1.5 bath apt
4. 919 sq ft 1 bdrm (plus den), 1 bath condo
Our current apt is HUGE but we decided after one year, that we should probably have a little space just for Gabriela. Also, a lot of the square footage of our current apt is closet and more and more closet space. We are going to have to get a storage unit for Christmas stuff.
But we're glad to be leaving the building - currently we are paying as much ast $200 utilities. This is a sore spot us because our bill is not based on our usage, so there's really no incentive in our 2 bldg 12 floors each apartment complex for people to conserve energy. It also doesn't help that they keep the common areas as warm as a sauna in the winter and ice cold in the summer. It became a really super duper sore spot for Lane when we saw the apt complex is offering a special to new tenants - 6 months no utilities!!! We get to pay for it! Yippee!!
Anyway, we aren't moving until August 1st and we're moving to a place where we pay based on our actual electricity usage. There's a balcony (herb garden, here i come), a washer and dryer in the unit, and the owner offered us $150 less /month than the listed rental price. We'll actually be paying less than what we pay now. The den has a window and closet and french doors. I think it will work out perfectly for Gabriela. Now I just have to make that quilt.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
More Teeth
Gabriela has had her top two front teeth for a while. Last week she got the tooth to the left of her front teeth, and now she has the same tooth on the opposite side coming in AS WELL AS another tooth on her top left side.
Poor baby has been extra fussy. Fussy for us, at least. She wiggles around a lot more in her sleep when she is teething. Every once in a while Gabriela lets out a little frustrated cry.
She also was very upset with Daddy last night because he didn't let her stand up for her bath in the big-girl tub. sheesh!
Poor baby has been extra fussy. Fussy for us, at least. She wiggles around a lot more in her sleep when she is teething. Every once in a while Gabriela lets out a little frustrated cry.
She also was very upset with Daddy last night because he didn't let her stand up for her bath in the big-girl tub. sheesh!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Happy FIRST Father's Day, Daddy!
Early this weekend, we happened upon a Cooks Illustrated magazine at Costco. We wondered whether we should get it, but when we saw that they had a recipe for Best Buttermilk Pancakes, Lane said we needed it and we decided we'd try them for his Father's Day breakfast.
Lane feasted on these buttermilk pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, fresh peaches and strawberries and a berry smoothie for breakfast. After breakfast was done, Gabriela put on her special My Heart Belongs to Daddy outfit and she handed her daddy his gift. She picked out lots of special pictures of her daddy and her from the day she was born up until last month and made a special photo book for him. She's very tech savvy for an 11 month old.
Father's Day was also Cooks Illustrated day for us. For dinner, I tried a tomato almond pesto. It was very impressive. After cuddling with Gabriela and reading some stories, we made the brownies from Cooks Illustrated. Delish!
Lane is such a caring, fun, patient, and loving daddy. Gabriela loves all the stories, shoulder rides, daddy snuggles and cuddles, peek-a-boo games, and giggles she shares with her daddy. Sweetheart, you are the best!!
p.s. sorry i've been a little sucky at taking pictures lately...
Lane feasted on these buttermilk pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, fresh peaches and strawberries and a berry smoothie for breakfast. After breakfast was done, Gabriela put on her special My Heart Belongs to Daddy outfit and she handed her daddy his gift. She picked out lots of special pictures of her daddy and her from the day she was born up until last month and made a special photo book for him. She's very tech savvy for an 11 month old.
Father's Day was also Cooks Illustrated day for us. For dinner, I tried a tomato almond pesto. It was very impressive. After cuddling with Gabriela and reading some stories, we made the brownies from Cooks Illustrated. Delish!
Lane is such a caring, fun, patient, and loving daddy. Gabriela loves all the stories, shoulder rides, daddy snuggles and cuddles, peek-a-boo games, and giggles she shares with her daddy. Sweetheart, you are the best!!
p.s. sorry i've been a little sucky at taking pictures lately...
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Gabriela "reads"
About 5 minutes after I organized all of Gabriela's books in the living room, I caught her doing this.
Gabriela signs for you
Here is Gabriela doing some signs for you. The "more" sign is officially two cupped hands together. Water is a W hand back and forth a couple times at the side of your mouth. Of course, Gabriela doesn't know what a W is, or that water starts with one for that matter, which may be the reason HER water sign is a bunch of crazy waving. The point is that she's communicating what she wants and we understand. We are so proud of her!!
Eleven Months (and one day) old!
Gabriela seems to be understanding much more lately. She says dad, mama, ball, and her personal favorite, dog. She also loves puppy dogs! We always see them on walks and at the park. We have a library book right now that has a photo of a dog and every time we get to that page, Gabriela gets really excited, KISSES the book, and says dog. She won’t kiss us, but she’ll kiss a dog in a book. We’re not jealous.
In the past week or so, Gabriela has really picked up with her signs. Her favorite sign is MORE. She used to just sign for more food, but she’s started signing for more books recently too. Last week we realized this wavy gesture Gabriela was doing was actually her sign for water. And just last night, she actually signed "more water". Her first combo sign! She signs for milk all the time too. Another favorite is waving bye. Gabriela signs bye to everyone that gets off the elevator and everyone we pass on the street (usually when they are already out of sight and missing out on the supreme cuteness). When I pick her up from daycare, she crawls right to me, and the instant I pick her up, she is already waving goodbye to all her little friends.
She also started pointing her finger to her ear when she hears a loud noise. She raises her eyebrows, does the sign and looks at us. Usually it’s an airplane, so we tell her we heard it too and do the sign for airplane.
Gabriela is eating more and more table food – pretty much whatever we eat. And it’s finally getting easier again to put her to bed at night. We were totally easy breezy until Gabriela learned how to stand up. She used to take a little rest when she got home from daycare, but we axed that nap and she cuddles with her Grover doll after story time and mostly goes right to sleep.
She loves to take walks in the baby carrier and look at all the trees and flowers and watch the birds. Gabriela is just fascinated. She points to everything, asks to see more flowers, and even shows me birds that she notices before me. She gets so excited she practically laughs when she sees all this fabulous nature.
I’m a little freaked out that 30 days from now I will have a ONE year old. It’s time to start planning a birthday party.
In the past week or so, Gabriela has really picked up with her signs. Her favorite sign is MORE. She used to just sign for more food, but she’s started signing for more books recently too. Last week we realized this wavy gesture Gabriela was doing was actually her sign for water. And just last night, she actually signed "more water". Her first combo sign! She signs for milk all the time too. Another favorite is waving bye. Gabriela signs bye to everyone that gets off the elevator and everyone we pass on the street (usually when they are already out of sight and missing out on the supreme cuteness). When I pick her up from daycare, she crawls right to me, and the instant I pick her up, she is already waving goodbye to all her little friends.
She also started pointing her finger to her ear when she hears a loud noise. She raises her eyebrows, does the sign and looks at us. Usually it’s an airplane, so we tell her we heard it too and do the sign for airplane.
Gabriela is eating more and more table food – pretty much whatever we eat. And it’s finally getting easier again to put her to bed at night. We were totally easy breezy until Gabriela learned how to stand up. She used to take a little rest when she got home from daycare, but we axed that nap and she cuddles with her Grover doll after story time and mostly goes right to sleep.
She loves to take walks in the baby carrier and look at all the trees and flowers and watch the birds. Gabriela is just fascinated. She points to everything, asks to see more flowers, and even shows me birds that she notices before me. She gets so excited she practically laughs when she sees all this fabulous nature.
I’m a little freaked out that 30 days from now I will have a ONE year old. It’s time to start planning a birthday party.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Brusha, Brusha, Brusha!
In the last couple of weeks Gabriela has learned what a hair brush is for. It is so darling to see her pick up a hairbrush and aim it toward the back of her head. She does this with her own brush, as well as the giant hair brush that is as big as her face.
Lately, I've been giving Gabriela her toothbrush to chew on and play with while she watches me brush my teeth. When I told her to brush her teeth, she immediately took her toothbrush out of her mouth and started trying to brush her hair!!
Lately, I've been giving Gabriela her toothbrush to chew on and play with while she watches me brush my teeth. When I told her to brush her teeth, she immediately took her toothbrush out of her mouth and started trying to brush her hair!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
My little wiggle worm
Yesterday morning I told Gabriela I was going to evict her from our bed, she was so squirmy over night. But then I noticed a new tooth had poked through the next day and last night she slept so much more soundly. Poor little sweetheart.
I'll try to get some new pictures soon!
I'll try to get some new pictures soon!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Just a Regular Weeknight
Tonight Gabriela got her first pedicure while she was taking a little nap. It was really tricky getting a pic, this was the best I could do.
Gabriela and Daddy played Peek-a-Boo with Mommy while she cooked dinner in the kitchen
Too cute for words
Gabriela and Daddy played Peek-a-Boo with Mommy while she cooked dinner in the kitchen
Too cute for words
After lots of tickling and giggling and a scrumptious dinner, and tons of stories, our little angel went off to sleep without a peep snuggling with her Grover doll.
awww.
Want to see some cute pics?
Gabriela had some pictures taken one day in California while I was at work. Thanks to my mom and Theresa who brought her to the studio, and Becky, who I have known since I was like 7 years old, they got some super duper sweet pics of our baby girl. It's going to be soo hard to decide which ones to order!
Click here then click on Custom Album Designs and enter Gabriella (with two Ls) to see the pics. And in case you're wondering, the handsome kiddo at the end of the session is my sweet nephew, Andrew.
Click here then click on Custom Album Designs and enter Gabriella (with two Ls) to see the pics. And in case you're wondering, the handsome kiddo at the end of the session is my sweet nephew, Andrew.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
My Weakness
Getting a good deal. Do you ever spend way more on stuff than you wouldn't otherwise, just because it's such a stinkin' good deal?!?!
Well, I kind of went a little out of control in the makeup department today. My sister gave me the 411 on an out of this world special- Nordstrom's bought this brand of makeup e.l.f. (eyeslipface) and is repackaging everything. This means they are selling all the makeup at DIRT CHEAP prices. People, we're talking one dollar cosmetics!!! How can you say no to that?
See for yourself! www.eyeslipsface.com enter CAROLINA for an extra $7.50 off (you have to spend at least $15 to get this offer). I had such a blast and was so excited by my amazingly good deals that I went back for seconds. Oh, yeah!
I can't wait for all this girly goodness to arrive.
Go makeup shopping!
Well, I kind of went a little out of control in the makeup department today. My sister gave me the 411 on an out of this world special- Nordstrom's bought this brand of makeup e.l.f. (eyeslipface) and is repackaging everything. This means they are selling all the makeup at DIRT CHEAP prices. People, we're talking one dollar cosmetics!!! How can you say no to that?
See for yourself! www.eyeslipsface.com enter CAROLINA for an extra $7.50 off (you have to spend at least $15 to get this offer). I had such a blast and was so excited by my amazingly good deals that I went back for seconds. Oh, yeah!
I can't wait for all this girly goodness to arrive.
Go makeup shopping!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Summer Fun Weekend
As you can see, we had a delightful, sunshine filled weekend which we spent at the park and at the pool. I am so glad our apartment building has a swimming pool. There's even a shallow kiddie pool which is normally empty. I was just dying to take Gabriela to the pool. Mostly because I thought she'd get a kick out of it, but let's be honest: I really wanted to get her in that stinkin' cute bathing suit and matching dress! Unfortunately, the water was cooler than we BOTH expected it to be. She didn't enjoy it as much as I thought she would, but I'm sure her excitement will increase as the temperature of the pool does.
In other exciting weekend news, Gabriela seems to have finally gotten the sign for milk! She has done it on occasion before, but never consistently. Saturday she was staring at her hand and intently doing the sign. I said milk, signed back, and started nursing her. She continued to sign milk, and would even stop nursing to show me the sign. She's done this almost every time I've nursed her since then. Once, as I was getting ready to buckle her in the carseat she did the sign for milk so I gave her some, but I'm not sure if she was really hungry, or if she just didn't want to get strapped in the car seat. Nevertheless, I'm pleased that she has added to her signing vocabulary. I'm hoping she'll quickly get the idea that these gestures have meaning and start paying more attention to the other signs we are showing her. We're trying to keep it to a minimum until she catches on. Next signs to master are eat, water, and up.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Gabriela's Astounding Communication Skills ;-)
During the Camp Out, we learned that Gabriela understands the meaning of No. Whenever someone told her "no, no" she'd shake her head no. Auntie Adrienne let Gabriela hold her iPhone but told her not to eat it. Gabriela would shake her head no and then bring the phone up to her mouth and shake it no again, as if to remind herself despite the temptation. She also did this same thing with Uncle Nate's glasses.
With Hoover around all weekend, Gabriela learned doggie too. She said "daaah" every time she saw Hoover. Of course, anyone else hearing her say this would probably think she was just making unintelligible baby sounds but we parents knew what she was saying :)
Since we got home, Gabriela has started signing more. When she signs more, she looks just like she is clapping her hands, and sometimes does one hand straight out and the other hand in the proper formation. We can't tell if she's catching on more, or if she only does that when she's holding something in her hand.
It's pretty cute. She practically signs more after every single bite of dinner. She also says something that sounds like "maaah" when she wants more.
With Hoover around all weekend, Gabriela learned doggie too. She said "daaah" every time she saw Hoover. Of course, anyone else hearing her say this would probably think she was just making unintelligible baby sounds but we parents knew what she was saying :)
Since we got home, Gabriela has started signing more. When she signs more, she looks just like she is clapping her hands, and sometimes does one hand straight out and the other hand in the proper formation. We can't tell if she's catching on more, or if she only does that when she's holding something in her hand.
It's pretty cute. She practically signs more after every single bite of dinner. She also says something that sounds like "maaah" when she wants more.
Post Camp Out CA Shennanigans
We left El Grover Rancho early Monday morning. We stopped in Paradise at a gas station before heading out on the road and by the time we left Gabriela was completely passed out. She slept the entire drive to San Francisco - all three hours! Seriously, best baby ever! I was so nervous we'd hit Memorial Day weekend traffic with a fussy baby, but there was no traffic and no fussing. yahoo!
Noal hosted us at his apartment where we visited and introduced Gabriela to her Auntie Cati. We went out for Thai food. Gabriela could not get enough Tom Ka Gai soup - you know, the spicy coconut milk one? She leaned forward and kind of screeched until we gave her another bite to guzzle down. We ended the evening with a visit to to Mitchell's Ice Cream where we got decadent chocolate covered cones. It was really nice to spend some extra time with the SF Grovers.
The next morning Meliss said she'd help me get started on my quilt!!! woo-hoo! We cut all the triangles and I even started sewing some squares together on her machine. We made a ton of progress in just a couple of hours. Now I have to continue on my own.
It was so relaxing to leave in the afternoon and not be rushed at all. It was totally worth arriving to the ridiculously long Jet Blue check in line, the extra airport security check, and even the guy on the bus ride home who told the driver not to stop if a fight started in case our suitcase landed on him. (seriously)
Noal hosted us at his apartment where we visited and introduced Gabriela to her Auntie Cati. We went out for Thai food. Gabriela could not get enough Tom Ka Gai soup - you know, the spicy coconut milk one? She leaned forward and kind of screeched until we gave her another bite to guzzle down. We ended the evening with a visit to to Mitchell's Ice Cream where we got decadent chocolate covered cones. It was really nice to spend some extra time with the SF Grovers.
The next morning Meliss said she'd help me get started on my quilt!!! woo-hoo! We cut all the triangles and I even started sewing some squares together on her machine. We made a ton of progress in just a couple of hours. Now I have to continue on my own.
It was so relaxing to leave in the afternoon and not be rushed at all. It was totally worth arriving to the ridiculously long Jet Blue check in line, the extra airport security check, and even the guy on the bus ride home who told the driver not to stop if a fight started in case our suitcase landed on him. (seriously)
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