Escaping the paparazzi

Not much to say this week. My Dad got a new camera, and he won't leave me alone.

Starting November Off with Some Fun!

Well, I have become quite the little explorer. I really enjoy running around and checking out everything that I can see. Oh, and in the video below my dad had to stop taping because I decided to taste-test the wood chips.

Before going to play on all the playground equipment, I went to visit the donkey. He really liked me and wanted to give me a big kiss!

At the playground I decided that while I could not ride the real thing, the donkey ride was the next best thing and lots of fun!


Giddy-up donkey!!!

While I was at the park I had a great time playing with my ball in the sand box.

At home I have been having a great time as well. It finally got cold here in Cali, and so I was pretty shocked to have to put on my sweater to head outside!

Before my dad left for Japan, he ordered me a kiddie sleeper sofa. Well, I have found it to be quite fun to sit on it and to climb on it too!!


I have also discovered just how strong I am - I can lift my sofa and rearrange my play space quite effectively.


Until next time,

Gabe (I love the swings!!!)

Busy October: Travelling near and far

Well, this has been a really busy month.

First, I went with my parents to DC and Philly. I got to sight-see and then visit with family.

Here I am with my mom at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History:


Here I am in front of the White House:


Here I am cruising the halls of congress:


And watching protests in front of the Supreme Court:



Oh, and we stayed at a really modern hotel, so I got to have mood lighting in my room!!


I am missing photos from Reading where I stayed with my aunts and Bobbie. Hmm, I will need to check with my dad.

I went to my mom's cousin's wedding and had a great time, although I was a bit tired. I hung out with my grandma and abuelo.


Then, back in CA, I got to go pick a pumpkin with my mom and feed some goats.





Unfortunately this past week I fell at school (climbing out of the sandbox) and gave myself a shiner. So I will skip the school pictures this week, but don't worry, more pictures to come.

Until next month,
Gabe

Walking

Well, for those who may be wondering, I am walking!! To prove this grand claim my parents have captured me taking a strut across my play space. In a week or two everyone back east will get to see me in action firsthand. Until then, here is some video to tide you over:



In other news, I got my ear-tubes this past Friday and am doing very well. All I wanted to do after surgery was eat. Well, that is what happens when you make me fast for 8 hours!!! My poor daddy had to hold me and bribe me with Sesame Street for those long hours. In the end it was all worth it because now I won't get so many ear infections. If I do get an ear infection, I only have to have ear drops rather than oral antibiotics... and the ear drops are much easier on my tummy.

I'll write more when I return from Philly in two weeks.

Gabe

Born to Play

Hello everyone! Sorry for the long absence. Apparently I've inherited my parents' procrastination tendencies. I've just been too busy playing to hunch over the computer lately. I'm sure you'll agree after you see the action shots below:

Here I am getting warmed up...



Here's me after going down the slide and trying to decide what I thought of it...

And here's me deciding it was a lot of fun...

Sometimes, I'll get my folks involved...



Especially when I need to be carried...
Other times, I need them to document me at play or just acting cool...



A number of you have asked how the walking has been coming along. As I always say, "you have to learn to walk before you run, and you have to learn to dance before you walk."






This will be my last post as a little baby. By the next post, I will have turned 1, so you'll have to let me know if I look any different.


Until next time,
The Gabe

T-shirt reads "Party, my crib, 3 am"

Hi,

Well, it has been another month! I am such a big boy now... looking forward to cracking the big 22 lbs (10 kgs) and wearing big boy clothes. My mom and dad decided that now I am big enough just to wear separates: no more onsies (at least during the day; I think I will keep wearing them at night for a while longer). I fit 18-month old clothes; well the pants are a bit long, but the waist and the arms fit just right!

I also have 4 teeth and 2 on the way!!! I can't believe it.

I got a new tub: it is an inflatable duck that quacks if you squeeze the beak. I have to say, I bet I have the coolest tub of all the kids in my class!


My Abuelo and Grandma came out to visit. It was great to see them and take them to the park near my house. I think that they really enjoyed these outings all around my neighborhood. As you can see below, I am a big boy now and can even sit in the swing all on my own!



My parents took me to the California Academy of Sciences in SF. I got to go to the roof this time and saw a green roof in action. I'll have to ask my cousin Rob more about green roofs when I get older.





My mom is trying to teach me to say "mama". So, if I want her to pick me up, I need to say "mama". Hmm... maybe it is working...



As you can see, I really love to stand. My activity table is great and can speak both English and Spanish. There is nothing my parents love more than to listen to the tinny chimes of my toys twice in different languages each time.

My mom is also teaching me about Starbucks; I think we may start making a trip there on the weekends when I wake-up early to let Daddy sleep. I really like their paper products (I am too young for their beverages, but the cups make a great toy). On the way home I learned about not littering: I can't just drop the cup once I am done with it.


Until next time,

Gabe
(the big boy with the 4, and soon to be 6, teeth)

Months 7 and 8: reaching for the stars (or whichever shiny object I can see)

Hi Everyone,

It has been a while since I had time to write my blog. My parents have been keeping me very busy with new toys and trips. Below you can see the play mat that my parents got me - I think that my mom must be trying to make everything educational as even my mat has the alphabet and numbers on it!


One skill of note - I learned to use a straw. Yes, I can now use a sippy cup with a straw. Again, my mom read somewhere that the straws were better for oral motor development and speech and so no sippy spouts for me - I have to learn while I drink!


In addition to my new drinking skills, I graduated from my old stroller / car seat. Yep, I am too big for it. So now I have a great new stroller ride. Below I am channeling my mom's Philly side while chillin' on the way to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.


I got to see an albino alligator and lots of other cool animals up close.




I have also gotten really good at bath time. Now I try to help my daddy clean me up by trying to stand while in the tub. Since standing in the tub is not safe, my parents got me a couple of rubber duckies to distract me while my dad keeps me from becoming the stinky kid in class.


We went to Lake Tahoe for the long holiday weekend. I really enjoyed my time at the lake.


There are such pretty views, especially from the lookout off Mt. Rose highway.


At Emrald Bay in the south you can see a castle on an island. It is actually a tea house, but it still looks really cool!


When I was done with all my sightseeing, it was time to rest on the beach with my daddy. He can be a great wind shield from the cool breezes coming off the lake.





Right after my trip to Tahoe I went to Orlando with my mom. I got to see my abuelitos (great-grandparent) there. I had a great time with them for a day.


I also just got to meet my grandaddy on my dad's side. I impressed him with my singing and dancing routine, though to see it, you'll have the buy the authorized DVD of the theatrical production.

Even though I am pretty shy about them, you may notice that I now have some teeth. Here is a picture of my two front bottom teeth when they were just nubs.



I will write more later.

Take care,
Gabe