The Great Wide Big Back Yard

Do you remember the television show back in the 1990's "American Gladiators"?   I always loved watching that show.

Well, Jeremy decided to create his own AG in our back yard with Nerf guns.

Dear Gabrielle (9 Month Update)

Dear Gabrielle,

Today you turn 9 months old.  It's crazy to think that in just three months you'll be one year.  Up until now, I have felt that time was slowing down.  You haven't been that tiny baby we brought home from the hospital in a long time.   You've grown up so fast in the last month and it still is very bittersweet.  

So what things are you up these days?

• You've mastered rolling over, and now your latest accomplishment is "scootching".   Not quite crawling, but definitely spinning yourself around and getting from one part of the living room to the other.
• You're still working on the sitting up part, but you're getting more confident in keeping your back straight.
• No new teeth yet, although we're expecting more anytime now.   
• You still enjoy your Exersaucer, but you seem to be enjoying your tummy time and taking full advantage of roaming freely around the living room.
• We always look forward to getting you from your crib.  You're always so excited to see us and frankly, we think it's quite humorous that your crib is an absolute mess when we come get you.  You have so much fun playing with your blanket and your animals.
• You're still testing out the volume of your voice and SCREAM for the fun of it.
• You still continue to stop everything your doing when we say "grace" before each meal.   Although now, you're talking very softly as if you're following along with what we're saying.
• You still love plastic cups and most times prefer them to your other toys.
• You have some very sweet belly laughs.
• You still continue to love yogurt, and we've added blueberry and apple flavored.

It has been such a pleasure to watch you change each day.  Your sisters will be starting school next week.  Normally they're excited to start the new school year, but this year, they're actually sad because they won't get to see you during the day and help out like they do normally.  You're so tiny and are loved by so many so much.    

We love you Gabrielle.  You're an amazing daughter and we could not be happier that you are part of our lives and part of our family.

Love always, 

Mommy and Daddy


Here is how I am looking today at 9 months old!

Summer Vacation 2015 - Part 5

Today was our last day in Maine.  We've had such a great time that it will be difficult to head home.  We had wonderful weather the entire time and had a great time spending time with Jeremy's family.

Goodbye Maine!

Finally home!

(Jeremy's allergies finally caught up with us)

Summer Vacation 2015 - Part 4

Today we had another fun filled day.   This time we spent it in Glenn, New Hampshire at Story Land with our sister-in-law Cathy and her children.   The Madore-ables had a great time playing with their cousins all day.

Samantha loved the old cars

Gabrielle enjoyed the fresh air

Polar Coaster!

Bamboo Chutes!

Gabrielle is hoping to hit the roller coasters when she's tall enough.

Gabrielle loved being able to roll around

Summer Vacation 2015 - Part 3

The fun can only continue.   We kept today wide open with zero plans so we could just do whatever we wanted as a family.   Seeing that it was a beautiful and sunny day, we decided to head to the lake.  Some of the Madore'ables aunts and uncles joined us, and the girls loved holding their brand new baby cousin who is just a few weeks old!

Gabrielle loved playing the role of "Beach Baby"

 Samantha holding Lucas

Sarah holding Lucas

Gabrielle napped like, well, a baby today.

A date with Mommy and Daddy while Samantha and Sarah had a sleep over at their cousin's house

Summer Vacation 2015 - Part 2

Today we celebrated our nephew's birthday as well as the baptism of his baby brother: our God son.   We were so blessed to be able to be part of the day and of course the girls loved playing with all of their cousins.

I love them.

Summer Vacation 2015 - Part 1

This year, we decided to do our family Summer vacation in Maine.  It's a great place to be seeing that's where Jeremy's family is from.  It's a huge state with beautiful scenic landscapes and honestly not that far away.  So we decided to make the most of it.

We started off our vacation trip with a phone call before we left our house from Jeremy's father saying that his father's truck broke down on the side of the highway.   So, we stopped by on the way up the Maine Turnpike and waited with him for a little bit while we waited for a tow truck.

We finally made it to our hotel and of course the girls loved the transportation that the hotel provided for us...

Gabrielle loved the fact that she had her own bed!

Oh A Biking We Will Go

Last Summer, we bought ourselves some bicycles and this Summer we decided to start taking advantage of the rail trails in our area.

We figured the day would be perfect after we saw this

We had a great spot for a picnic lunch

Might I add that I found Gabrielle's bike trailer for $20.00 on a Facebook Yard Sale group?

S C O R E!