Cousin Love

 Gabriela had a blast in Santa Barbara with her cousins. This was probably the only day in the nearly 3 weeks we were there that the weather wasn't gorgeous and summer like.  Seriously - while Lane and I were in Mexico, they had some 90 degree days! Warmer weather than us!

Natalie is so sweet.  She got a new journal and this is one of the first things she wrote in it.

My Little Gabby " I had to write Gabby because I didn't know how to spell Gabriela"

My little Gabby is so so cute. She says my name Nany, like just rite now when I wrote like that's what she said, Nany. She's the cuteist of all time I can't stand her. She runs so cute. She talks so cute. She eats so cute. She swims so cute. She sleep so cute and that's the end of this story.

First Time Away

Lane and I took a trip to Mexico to attend a wedding at the beginning of the month. We had a great trip, but it was also our first time away from Gabriela. I've only ever been away from Gabriela for one night, and there's never been a time when both Lane and I were away.

Ian and Adie and Claire and Natalie took great care of Gabriela while we were gone.  A few days before we left I broke down in tears afraid that Gabriela might just need her mommy, and I wouldn't be here. Lane said, "oh, this is going to be a fun vacation."

But I got it out of my system. For a while before we left for Santa Barbara, we were telling Gabriela about all the fun she'd have during her special time with Auntie Adie.  It was also helpful that we arrived in Santa Barbara and were there with her for a while before we left. 

I made Gabriela a chart with the days of the week when we'd be gone, and drew some happy faces and hearts on the day we were coming home.  I also made Gabriela a list of the fun things she could do while we were gone. I drew lots of pictures on this list so she could read it too.  We reviewed our lists when we'd talk about it. I was feeling good. 

Then, when we were getting ready to leave at 5 in the morning, Gabriela said, "no, Mommy. Lay in the bed with me!" oh no.  I told her that her special time with Auntie Adie was starting and she started getting out of bed. When I asked where she was going, she matter of factly told me she was going to go cuddle with Auntie Adie in her bed.  And then, when we said goodbye, she didn't even cry (and neither did I).  Huge sigh of relief.

We had regular video calls where she'd tell us all the fun things we were doing, and I got her a couple little presents to open while we were gone so she'd have new fun things to keep her busy.

It was such a relief to not have to worry about her the whole time we were gone.  When we got back, Gabriela came to the airport to meet us.  She thought it was the coolest thing ever that she got to watch our plane land and see us walk off the plane. After we got in the car, I asked her what she did during her special time. Her response? " Um, I just waited for you. I missed you. I love you THIIIIIIIIIIS much!"

Wow, this kid knows how to work it.

halloween

Okay, so this posting is a little belated, but what can I say? We left for Mexico just a few days after Halloween, and things have been busy since.

By the time Halloween actually rolled around, this girl was a professional trick or treater. She was ready to go and get some candy!

Just look at this cute little pirate. 

 Here's the gang of kids we went trick-or-treating with.  The boys were hilarious. They were running from house to house so much that they started asking for water at some of the houses. Yeah, their parents weren't at all embarrassed about that.

 I got really nervous about traumatizing Gabriela on her very first trick or treating house ever. Just look at the place!  It was super cool. There was a coffin in the garage, a mock car accident scene in the front of the house with goblin drivers, and you had to walk through this dark tunnel to get to the candy. But for a two year old?! Even some of the older boys were too nervous to go through.  Lane said we shouldn't skip it. He took Gabriela, she was so brave, and apparently the guy at the house was super sweet and not scary to Gabriela. AND she got a giant candy bar.  Not bad.  Lane took over the trick or treat duties after that.

 This is still that first house.  So many houses were decorated like this. Every one in this neighborhood went all out!

 Since she was with so many big kids, Gabriela didn't get many chances to actually ring a door bell all by herself.  She finally did it, and it must have made an impression on her because as she was walking away from the house, she exclaimed, "That was COOOOOL!!!" Gabriela was so polite, and thanked everyone who gave her candy.

On the way home, Gabriela started talking about her Roller Skates. We were confused -she doesn't have roller skates.  We thought maybe she was talking about her cousin Mina, who just got roller skates for her birthday. But that didn't really make sense.  When we looked through all her candy at home, Gabriela exclaimed, "ROLLER SKATES!!!"  and grabbed a bag of Skittles, and it all made sense.  I guess she was scanning her brain for words that had the "sk" sound or something.  She still calls Skittles Roller Skates. I don't really want to correct her, it's so cute.

Gabriela must have enjoyed herself, because the next day morning she asked if she could dress like a pirate again and go trick or treating again.

Pumpkin Carving

The weather here in Santa Barbara has been incredible.  It's like summer here! So we set up tables outside for pumpkin carving and everyone got to work.

Gabriela helped scoop the seeds out of her pumpkin, but she wasn't too keen on sticking her hands inside and getting them all slimy.  "Mommy, wipe my hand!!!"

Gabriela is so proud of the face she drew for her pumpkin!!

Adrienne carved a super cool Grover pumpkin

Here is the pumpkin family!

Halloween Extravaganza

On Friday afternoon we took our little pirate for some early trick-or-treating with Claire and Natalie to a nearby shopping center. Gabriela will tell you that pirates say, "ARRR, Matey!" and sing the pirate song for you if you ask "Yo, Ho, Yo, Ho a pirate's life for me!"

 

We visited the firefighters and their cool blue fire truck. 

Pirate Claire and Princess Natalie

Gabriela also went in a bounce house twice, but her favorite part was the pony ride!!!  Free pony rides, can you believe it?  We weren't sure if Gabriela would be too scared, so I showed her the kids riding the ponies beforehand.  She agreed, so we hopped in line.  While we were waiting, Gabriela exclaimed, "I'm so happy to ride a horsey!!" much to my relief. I was starting to freak out about whether or not she would freak out.  But no need.

I was lucky to get any photos of her looking at the camera, she was too mesmerized by the fact that she was on a pony!  She just stared very intently at her horsey the whole ride.

 Before she had even gotten off the pony at the end of the ride she asked if she could "please do that again"

What a lucky girl!

Friday mornings around here

There's almost nothing more exciting than a visit from the garbage man.  Gabriela was in the middle of brushing her teeth when she heard the beeping and screamed at the top of her voice (with toothpaste in her mouth), "HEY GUYS!!!!  THE GARBAGE TRUCK!!!!!!"  We watched, we waved, and are waiting til next week.