It All Started with a Little Skittle...

Every parent or maybe it's every speech pathologist (I don't really know the difference) knows the way to a happy child is a structured routine.  Children love to know what is going to happen next (admit it you are like this too because you are a human ) and this helps improve their behavior.  Well, Gabby definitely has a very structured routine which was actually implemented at first by her daddy to help her transition to sleep better.  Gabby's structured life has taken on a life of it's own and I am afraid that we have possibly encouraged O. C. D. tendencies in our little ray of sunshine.  The most obvious of these would be 'get get' and 'Meow.'  Get-get, also known as a 'blanket' in your world, is a specific blanket that has patches of a lovely variety of textures that she enjoys rubbing while drinking her warmed milk before bed (I know really I still warm her milk?).  Don't think you can get off this easily putting Gabrielle to sleep...oh...

We took Gabby to a park I discovered earlier in the week.  Gabby LOVES the park because it has toddler appropriate slides and swings. It's a beautiful place less than a mile from our house so we can walk and enjoy the scenery of the Greenbelt as we walk there. First Gabby wanted to swing. So of course we pushed her on the swing for a very long time before she lost interest.  Then she pushed Mommy, Daddy and Meow.  Later she tried swinging on her stomach which wasn't successful, but I think Michael enjoyed watching me model on the miniature swings of to swing on your stomach.  He even took pictures of me making a fool of myself (which I am not posting).  Once we finished sliding and swinging there was still plenty of fun left to be had for a one and a half year old.  You see, there were beautiful leaves of various shades of reds and browns literally falling from the trees as we played.  Gabby was highly concerned about the falling leaves and insist...

 Uninterested in the water pad, more interested in the people. She laid her head in different positions of the brick wall walking all the way down it.  She loved doing this for some reason, so cute!  Discovering the water....  Completely soaked. No one like wet jeans. Going back for more fun in the sun!  Gabby escaping with nothing but a diaper.  Can you believe it's this hot in January in Texas?! "Meow" after running through the fountains with Gabby Gabby and I had a Mommy/Daughter day while Daddy was at the Texans first EVER playoff game.  We went to the Woodlands to hear about my friend Erin's honeymoon and then we met up with my long time friend, Genny, for a little catch up time.  Genny took us to this water pad while she ate her lunch.  Who ever said you needed to spend money to have fun didn't have kids. This was a really fun (and free) day where we made great memories.  Gabby had a blast in the...

The other day Gabby grabbed my finger and pulled me toward the light switch. She made me push each switch, but each time I flipped the switch she would say no and complain until I turn the switch back off.  After about five minutes of her dragging me to each switch in the house I finally turned off the living room light and Gabby cheered and clapped her hands.  I had turned out the light she was looking for!  After the light was off Gabby hopped out of my arms, hastily went to her baby, said "shhh" and "night night,"and then repeatedly came back to cover her baby.  After a few minutes of the light being out she wanted stars.  Apparently she expects her baby to have the same routine as she does.  What a good mommy!

The Friday after Christmas we celebrated our "second" Christmas of the year with Michael's family. It was a wonderful intimate affair.  We woke up and while we were still in our pajamas we went to the Christmas tree, Emma passed out the gifts, (for the viewing pleasure of Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy, & Daddy), and then Gabby began opening her gifts with the assistance of Emma.  The celebration went wonderfully.  Since Gabby practiced opening gifts, she was a professional at it.  It was adorable, Emma would start ripping the paper for her and the she would go after it like opening gifts was the most fun she'd ever had in her entire life.  Gabby seemed to comprehend what each gift was and once it was all over she screamed for Daddy to assemble her mini-coupe. After an hour of rebuilding the new coupe it was finally done and Gabby took it for a test spin.  Daddy pushed her and helped her drift around corners and do doughnuts. She LOVES her mini-coupe and it's ...

Christmas morning was fun.  We left Gabby in our room watching Peppa Pig while we made cinnamon rolls and she drank her morning milk.  Then, we called Michael's parents, Grandma and Grandpa, but they didn't answer.  After our second attempt to call so they could watch  Gabby via Skype, we decided to just allow her to see Santa's gifts. Gabby walked into the living room (Michael and I were very excited to see her reaction), walked directly to the kitchen Santa left, and began cooking.  No squeals, no excitement, nothing.  It was as if there had always been a toy kitchen in the middle of our living room.  We explained to her that that along with the food, pots and pans, and shopping cart were from Santa.  Still no reaction, instead there was the passing out of delicious "apple" meals to Michael and I.   Although she didn't really have a reaction to the surprises left in the living room it was apparent Santa made good choices. After ...

Since December has begun Gabby is ecstatic every time she sees Christmas lights. Today (Christmas Eve) on our way back from Grandma and Papa's house Gabby saw Christmas lights with a Santa Claus in the front yard and she exclaimed, "Ho, ho, ho!"  Michael and I were surprised she said it on her own.  While at Grandma and Papa's she was allowed to open one gift, her Christmas pajamas.  We were concerned that she would be disappointed after the 5 minutes of meticulously unwrapping the gift, but instead she seemed excited with the gift and made us put the pajamas on over her actual clothes.  Before we left they allowed her to open a fun bubble bath toy, because it's too hard to not let such a magical time be drawn out as much as possible.  When we arrived home, we allowed Gabby to choose one gift to open.  She chose Uncle Mark and Aunt Danielle's gift.  She opened it with very little help and then we all sat on the floor and had a lovely tea party with...