Here Comes the Tickle Monster!!!

This is, hands down, my favorite sound in the whole wide world!!

El 4 de Julio

We spent a lazy Fourth of July together. We baked a nectarine crisp to take along to a party in DC where we grilled it up, and enjoyed some celebratory beverages. When it was time for fireworks, we all went up to the roof top where we had a spectacular view of the DC fireworks show, without the massive crowds. Someone brought up a stereo so we could hear the National Symphony as they played along with the fireworks show. The view was awesome. We had a 360 degree view of all the surrounding city fireworks as well.

I was really upset with myself that I didn’t think to bring our video camera or regular camera up to the rooftop. By the time I realized it, the show had already started and I didn’t want to miss it by going down and back up three plus flights of steps. But Gabriela stayed up for the show. We thought she’d be putting her hand to her ear like crazy with all the noises she’d hear. Instead, she clung as tightly as possible to daddy. She was nervous, yet in awe. She watched the whole show with those great big brown eyes of hers while sitting on her daddy’s shoulders and once in a while even pointed to the show. It was precious.

And I just want to end this post with a little note to self.

Self,

Next time you attend the fireworks extravaganza in DC and you notice a number of fire trucks converging upon the very metro station you are approaching, think twice about going down the escalator and trying to board a train. You might walk downstairs and notice a bunch of smoke. As the firefighters walk back and forth and not one single train shows up, your husband might volunteer to check to see when a train is coming, but he might be prevented from going back down the escalator to you. You might have to go back up, exit the station, walk past all the fire trucks that are still there, and walk to another metro station all together, only to find that someone had the “bright” idea to set off fireworks INSIDE the metro station. And THIS was the cause of your commuting delay. SERIOUSLY, people?? Fireworks IN the metro stations???? Classic.

Bop

Gabriela has started saying BOP regularly, and with purpose. It’s a shame we have no idea what she means. Between bath and ball and bye-bye and button and bubbles and book and bird and belly, it could be anything really. For sure she says it for book and ball, but we think she might mean something else also. Only Gabriela knows.

Friday

Our LONG baby and her daddy admiring the jelly fish
Sweetest little baby Gorilla

On the way to the zoo

We were so happy to have an extra day off from work this week. Lane and I still got up early and tried to arrive at the zoo before the masses. We succeeded. We spent the whole morning at the zoo and were leaving just as stroller after stroller after stroller after double-wide stroller arrived. We just can't get enough of the baby gorilla! We checked out the animals, took a little break for snacks and diaper changes and crawling, and then Gabriela napped the whole way home.

We played together and then spent some time later in the evening by the pool. What a relaxing and enjoyable day together.

Kisses For Daddy

Gabriela Feeds Herself

Yesterday, I put Gabriela's lunch on the table and ran back in the kitchen for a second to grab something. By the time I got back, Gabriela had reached across her highchair, grabbed the spoon, and started feeding herself. I haven't really tried letting her feed herself before, so I was surprised she did so well.

Here's a video of her in action, as well as learning how to make water squirt out of her sippy cup. uh oh.

All Grown Up

Do you mind, Mom?? I'm on the phone.