So last night we opened gifts with the Welsh's - all adding to our considerable travel loot. I think we'll need new luggage to make it home! Among (many) other things, Gabe got a kid-proof camera that he held backwards and walked around saying "cheese" for an hour - hilarious. He also informed Ryan that that was HIS camera, and if Da-da touched it he would have to sit in the bad boy chair. "Got it, Da-da?". Can't make this stuff up. Here are a couple of pictures I downloaded - more to come.

And ONE Patridge In A Pear Tree

Merry Christmas and greetings from The Sunshine State! We just spent a week in NC with the Garlands and crew, and had a great time. Let me say, its a good time of year to be pregnant, especially when every meal has at least one element each of sausage, chocolate and cheese. So I'm probably up a good another 5 pounds, but at least this year we can blame it on baby. Gabe was a hoot opening presents this year. We weren't sure how he would react to the gift orgy, but he was very good at taking turns and really appreciating each gift. At least the first day. By day 3 he was tearing through gifts with record speed and whining when there were no more to open. Ah, the challenges of parenting in our culture of excess. At least there was plenty of sausage, chocolate and cheese. So now we're in sunny Florida with Ryan's family, and having a good time relaxing by the pool. Gabe is a little too comfortable in the water: he really is doing his own thing now, paddling around with a life jacket keeping him afloat, as opposed to someone holding him the whole time like on previous visits. So his independence and confidence is making us all a little nervous that he's just going to jump on in when no one is watching. So we all watch. A lot. So a few funny quotes from our main man this week, including him getting highly agitated during the Twelve Days of Christmas when "3 french hens, 2 turtle doves" wasn't followed by "and 1 partridge in a pear tree". And informing us that he only likes one letter, G for Gabe, and NOT any more letters. Take that, M. More to come, including pictures of Santa Garland!

Almost Christmas!

So we've been busy preparing for our upcoming 2 weeks of travel, going to lots of Christmas (and Hannukah!) parties, buying gifts, sending cards, baking (and eating, and eating) cookies, and slowly going insane with stress of it all. Oh, and work too. Yes, those of you who know me well are no doubt snickering at the baking reference, but I did manage 4 dozen cookies (3 ingredients!) for 2 different events this week. And they say it couldn't be done! It is, after all, the most wonderful time of the year. Anyway, here are a few pics from a gingerbread house event at church, a kids Christmas party (with a surprise visit from Santa), and the lights at Longwood Gardens. Enjoy! p.s. the favorite Gabe quote this week was when we were at the ECC Hannukah party, and the rabbi walked in wearing a red ski jacket and red yarmulke (that's yamaka for you Gentiles in the crowd), and my PC son yells "Look, it's Santa!"

Turkey Day

For Thanksgiving we flew to Minneapolis to visit Ryan's sister Megan and her husband Dustin, and by "visit" I really mean ruin their new awesome loft condo by letting a 2-year old run wild. They were great hosts, even scrounging up a crib, exciting toy supply, and plenty of organic milk to keep their youngest guest feeling right at home. We took in a few Minneapolis sights, including the downtown Razzle Dazzle Christmas Parade, the Mall of America and the famous Heim house (which was also complete with toys for my main man). I forgot my good camera but here are a few pictures I managed to take with the old one. More to come when I get Papa Joe's pictures downloaded.

The newest member of the family (but for the record, that does not make me her aunt!) Gabe learns hide and seek

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Three hungry Welsh-men

my night last night

gabe's new mission in life is to forget his stellar sleeping habits over the past 2 years and instead prepare me for life with a newborn. his handiwork last night: 8:15 bed for gabe 10:40 bed for me 12:00 loud noise, go to crib 2:20 loud noise, mama’s bed 3:00 not asleep yet 3:14 not asleep yet 3:15 back to crib 5:50 time to get up, mama 5:51 not a chance, back to big boy bed. threaten candy in trash 6:20 where’s my water mama 6:21 here’s water, to back to bed 6:30 its light outside mama, time to get up! 8:20 arrive at day care. overhear “he has so much energy! someone must have had a good nights sleep!” feign deafness. 8:40 leave day care. look for blunt objects. settle for caffeine.

spelling lessons

previously i mentioned that gabe's vocabulary keeps us laughing, so i thought i would share a couple of recent things he said. you probably won't find it quite as funny, but bear with me, keeping in mind that a few short months ago i was impressed when he said "more milk". 1 - (while drinking his first smoothie in the back of a shopping cart) "mmm...this is yummy! you should try it, mama!" 2 - (reading the letters on his personalized stepstool) G-A-B-E, that spells gabe! (reading the letters on my sweatshirt) A-P-P-A-L-A-C-H-I-A-N-S-T-A-T-E, that spells mama!