The Series: Why Did He Spit Up On Me????

The photos say it all. 

New Year's Day

Okay, so it's a little late to be posting about the new year.  We actually went to a New Year's Eve EVE party at Nate's house this year.  He hired babysitters so the kids were busy and entertained while the adults enjoyed adult conversations and beverages.   We spent New Year's Eve eating popcorn, sipping hot cocoa, and playing games with Gabriela - you know, like Go Fish and Old Maid and Zingo!

The next day, after Lane made us pancakes and smoothies, we decided at the last minute to hop in the car to San Francisco to go to the Academy of Sciences.  We were afraid it was going to be crowded, but we had found parking right away and enjoyed our day together. 

Gabriela was especially excited.  The other day she asked me, "Mom, what's the name of that one building?  It's white and it has walls?"  Finally, after asking her who we went there with, what did we see, please give me some other detail, anything... she told me, "you know, it has a rainforest!"  Of course, the Academy of Sciences.

First, we watched a little trivia show while Easton nursed. Gabriela went up on stage to answer a trivia question. I was so proud - she was on stage!! and answering trivia!!!  

It's official: This is my daughter, people!

 Just look at her concentration as the question was read to her.  It was a true/false question about whether or not ginger comes from the ginger root grown in Indonesia.  She answered true, very seriously and she was right!

 Here are all the kids who answered questions. Notice Gabriela is the only one bowing.  All the other kids did theirs a while ago. Gabriela observed and then did hers when she thought the time was right. 

 Gabriela giving some love to Claude, the albino alligator. 

 Then she rushed to the rainforest.  C'mon guys!!!  She really wanted to see this little froggy. 

 Gabriela and her Daddy after checking out the giant anaconda in the swamp.

She loves the touching pool.  Gabriela got to touch this starfish.  See its little tentacles feeling around? It was on the move!

 We arrived at the aquarium just in time to see these guys give a cleaning to the glass, talk about the giant tank, and observe a feeding.

 Here's Claude, the real deal.

 Gabriela and I went to the kids area to play while Daddy checked out the penguins.  It was then that we realized we didn't have her beloved Hello Kitty bag anymore.  We retraced our steps, asked around, and then Gabriela realized it was gone.  Thank goodness someone turned it in to the lost and found and she got it back.  Otherwise, our day might not have ended on a good note.

 We also saw a show all about snow and how it forms inside a giant tent of a snowman. Gabriela was very impressed.

We had a great time at the Academy of Sciences.  Gabriela and I have been 5 times in the last year, but only once with Daddy. What a fun-filled way to start the new year.

Easton is 2 months (and one day) old

I can't believe how quickly time is going by.  Easton is such a darling little guy! Right when he was 4 weeks old, he was making little cooing sounds. The next week, he was totally grinning, he snuck in a few laughs the following week, and has just been giggling and smiling all the time since then.  Easton gives most of his giggles on the changing table where we have many conversations and where his mama can be found making all sorts of goofy noises trying to start the giggle fest.

Easton still detests having clothes put on him...ooooh, he gets mad!  We are also hit and miss with car seat torture, although he is definitely doing better.  Gabriela talks to him and, on some trips, he just gazes at his big sister, smiling back at her.  She gets super excited and asks if I saw the smile too. But other trips have been regular scream sessions.

Easton still really likes to be held, but also will hang out now in his bouncer for a while.  Thank goodness Heather brought us over a swing.  Easton loves it!  He will even sleep in it, which has afforded me the opportunity to take normal length showers again.  Our co-sleeper isn't being used for much other than a nightstand these days. Easton is sleeping right in the bed and goes straight to sleep after a little nursing at bedtime.  I nurse him during the night, and he just starts fidgeting when he's ready to eat, so we are all resting well at night. for now. phew.

He really has good control of his head, really likes to put weight on his feet, and seem to have recently discovered his hands.

It's been a busy month for Easton.  He had his first Christmas, attended a New Year's Eve EVE party, had his first trip to the Academy of Sciences, and his first Friendsgiving Dinner/Partay.

Gabriela - in the mind of a 3 year old

As we were driving by Thompson Avenue the other day, Gabriela announced that we were passing Christmas Tree Lane.  How does she know this?!?  This little lady is ultra aware of her surroundings.

The other day, I asked her to be considerate. Without skipping a beat, she informed me that the word 'considerate' is in the book Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse.  It sure is.

On the way to Fairyland (as we were passing a lake with a nice walking path around it), Gabriela said, "Mom, when you exercise you hold your phone and put little ear plug things inside your ears and wear shorts". Quite the little observer, although she certainly didn't observe ME doing that.

But this last one just completely blows my mind.  We talk about daycare every once in a while, but mostly just that Mommy used to work, and she met her friend Keady at daycare.  Well, out of nowhere, Gabriela told Lane and me, "Remember when I used to go to daycare and they would put us all in white highchairs and give us bowls of cheerios to eat?"  What the heck, people?!?!?  She was 22 months old when I took her out of daycare.  Now she is 3.5.. that's 42 months old!!!  

She never ceases to amaze me, that one.