Fun times

Gabe went to my mom's for the first time today. She told me that there is already competition between Jaden and Gabe. They went to Target today to pick up a few things and on the way there Gabe screamed and Jaden thinking to himself I can scream louder screamed. Gabe screamed again and Jaden sighed and screamed again and so on. :o)

Working again

This last week has been very hard! I worked PT my first week back to work. I'm glad that I did that, but it was sort of just a tease, you know. I worked in the morning, was home by 1 and got to spend the rest of the evening with my little guy. I wish that I could just work PT...well, I take that back I wish I didn't have to work at all, but since I do it would be great if I only had to work PT. NO such luck. Yesterday was my first full day of work. Bryan and I both got up at 5:45 and I got ready while he fed Gabe. They took me to work and Gabe talked the whole way there. He was in such a great mood. I just love his little voice and when he spits bubbles. It's so cute! I love him SO MUCH! I am so sad! When we got there I got out and opened the back door to give him a kiss goodbye and I started crying. They left me there to go home and I just watched them go trying to hold back my tears. THIS SUCKS! I tried to get as much quality time in with Gabe before going back, but it just doesn't seem like I got enough. He is growing so much and I don't want to miss it. I don't want someone else watching him. WHY can't I be home with my baby??? I am, however, thankful that I got to be home as long as I did.

I am no longer on the Target team that I was before I went on FMLA...I am now working with the Safeway team which is a lot smaller (a team of about 8 verses a team of 30) They have a lot of work for me so the morning flew by and I also had an admin meeting in the morning. Gabe and Bryan came down to have lunch with me so I got to see my guy for about an hour which helped and the afternoon went fast too, thankfully! I forgot how tiring working is. I am REALLY tired physically and emotionally! Thankfully Gabe is still sleeping through the night and I just love our mommy/Gabe time before he goes to bed at night. He's so sleepy and snuggly. I wouldn't trade that time for anything!!!!! When they picked me up at the park and ride I got in the back and sat with Gabe and he looked at me and gave me the hugest smile. My heart melted. I don't think I have ever loved someone this much! Well, Bryan of course, but it's different. Gabe also gave us another surprise last night...he rolled over for the first time. He HATES being on his tummy and last night he was done so he just rolled over. We all clapped and cheered. He was just looking at us with big eye's like WHAT?! HEE HEE When he went to his appointment on Monday his dr said OH he's going to roll any day now. I was so afraid that he'd do it when I wasn't with him, but nope he saved it for me. It made me so happy!

Today was a little harder for me. I was missing him so much and I just felt so depressed. I was ok busy today so the day went a little slower and when I called Bryan to see how they were doing I could hear Gabe in the background and I just wanted to ball my eye's out. I am glad that he can be with daddy BUT I WANT TO BE WITH HIM DANG IT! Plus, on top of that I was sort of feeling depressed about my job. I really do like my new team and job, but I sort of feel shafted from my other team. Seems childish I know...I don't know why I was feeling like that. Maybe because they made the change while I was gone and I wasn't there and there wasn't an announcement...I don't know?!?! Stupid.

We're still praying about a job for Bryan. It's getting kind of scary and frustrating. It's been 5 months...why won't someone hire him. He's hardworking and is good at what he does. I just don't understand?! I'm just laying it in God's hands and trying to have a peace about it and wait and see what God has for him/us/our family.
SO, right now Bryan is Mr. Mom. HA He's watching Gabe when I'm at work and doing a pretty good job of keeping up the house. No offense to him and I'm in no way saying that he's not doing a good job because he is, but I still feel like the house is a pigsty. It's been really nice to get input from Teresa because she's been here and knows what it's like. She told me that it'll probably take a few months to get into a routine and that we'll find what works for us. Then when Bryan gets a job we'll get into another routine. I hope this gets easier! {{{Praying}}}

Offically weighing in

A year ago yesterday, I found out I was pregnant with Gabe.

What a great memory!

Gabe had his check up today and boy has he grown. He is growing too fast! :o( You would have never guessed that he was a preemie.

16 pounds 8 ounces (50-75%)
26 1/4inches (50-75%)
42.5cm HC (25-50%)

All is well. Gabe did really well at his appointment. He was a happy camper, talking away. He loved the paper on the table. heehee Dr. Mary tried to get him to smile, but he was being a little booger and just kind of smirked at her.
It's been a difficult day for him though. He got his shots and he has a slight fever, his legs definitely hurt (he starts to shake when I hold him SNIFF) and he's been pretty fussy. I hope he sleeps good tonight and feels better tomorrow.

FIRST REAL LAUGH

Gabe has giggled before, but not as he did today.
We were at my parents for a little while. Gabe was under the playmate and I said "hey Gabe, can you giggle for Aunt Julie?" and I started to tickle him. He is very ticklish, it cracks me up. Well, I wasn't expecting the full on belly laugh that I got. It was SO cute. I just love the little sound of his voice. I wish that I could have gotten it on video camera.
I have tried to get more laughter so I could capture it with the video camera on my phone. I wanted to send it to Bryan and show him, but no such luck. hee hee

Halloween Fun

These are the costumes I am thinking about for Gabe. Which one?

Turtle

Lion

Cow

Tiger

Puppy

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Hope you're having fun on your little get-away!

Cousins

My family has never been very big. On my mom's side my uncle never got married or had any kids. On my dad's side, one uncle also never got married or had kids, the other uncle got married and had two girls and my aunt got married and had a girl. Cousins went like this:
Me (first born)
Naomi
Jessica
Miriam
Julie
Janell

We all pretty much got along, but Naomi and I were the best of friends. Even though we lived in different states you wouldn't know it when we were together. I loved the friendship we had and I miss it/her dearly. Some background...my aunt and uncle got divorced and I haven't seen or talked to her in years.
I can't wait to see Gabe and Jaden play together, fight together, be the best of friends and I hope that they won't ever let anything come between them and brake that family bond. I wish that I still had my cousin in my life.

After work today Bryan and Gabe picked me up and we drove home. I fed Gabe and waited for Julie and Jaden to pick me up in the van. My parents are in Canada for their anniversary and they left the van at home and took Nathan and Julie's Honda. It was nice to be able to go in one car. Anyway, I went with Julie to the mall to pick up Jaden's pictures at JCP. They turned out great especially with Jaden getting scared out of his mind. Poor little guy has been getting scared over a lot of things...must be a phase or something? Julie and I went to the mall together with the kiddo's back in June and it was not such a successful trip. We had a successful trip this time. (((thumbs up)))

Side note:
Bryan left to go to Dan's for the weekend and he took the camera.
SO...
These pictures are from my phone so they're a little blurry. This was Gabe's first time sitting up in the stroller. I think he liked it a lot better then his car seat. We had a good time walking around window shopping. I did end up getting Gabe a book from Barnes and Noble.

Gabe's first camping trip

My little chick magnet

So this was my last little brew ha before going back to work. Let me tell you I am so glad that we were able to go camping (first time this summer when we usually go 3-5 times) and that the Sedey's let us barrow their tent trailer. I don't think I can ever go camping in just a tent again. ;o)
The weekend was perfect! It's the little things that make life so so happy:

-Getting to go camping (which I love).
-Borrowing a trailer from some very generous people.
-Beautiful weather.
-Great big fires.
-Clear skies at night with billions of stars.
-Gabe sleeping through the night all weekend.
-Laughing in front of the fire with friends.
-Eating yummy camping food.

The little things that I was missing:

-A bathroom (toilet and a nice hot shower)
-My bed
-But mostly a bathroom

I ended up staying up pretty late Thursday evening getting everything ready to go camping. All we needed to do Friday before leaving was finish packing up our clothes, get ready, run to the store and get ice and pack up the truck. We left around 1 and got to the campground around 3. Nate called us as were were driving through Sandy and told us the easier way to get to the campground which I am glad because it would not have been fun trying to make the turn that you have to from 26 with a trailer. We arrived just before they did.
We set up and then made some dinner. Bryan couldn't get the trailer leveled and when I came to bed that night I asked him if he was sure it would be ok. He had already been sleeping and told me "to be quiet and go to sleep" ha I totally thought the tailer was going to tip over though...I even had a nightmare that it did. Thankfully the next day Nate and Tim helped him get it leveled.
Gabe did so well. I am so impressed with how well he did. He does have a new nickname from everyone though. Pipes! Because he has some lungs!

We came home Monday and cleaned everything up then went to my parents for a relaxing Labor Day BBQ.

Alexis just loved carrying and holding Gabe all weekend


Crazy hat and slippers



My sleepyhead


The boys helping Bryan level the trailer


Lee's new camping chair

Blessings

I am seriously in the best mood.

We just got home from our "family night" with my uncle and got three blessings.
1. In the mail was two free movie tickets from my work for referring Bryan for the Graphics position.
2. Also, in the mail (FINALLY) a check from unemployment. God continues to amaze us with how he keeps providing.
3. AND last but not least, we're going camping this weekend for the first time with Gabe and The Sedey's (a family from our church and parent's to one of the girls in the Jr High group) are graciously letting us borrow their tent trailer.

Weighing in...sort of

I am SO mad at myself (WHERE IS MY BRAIN?)...Bryan and I got up this morning, got ready and headed to Gabe's 4 month appointment. When we got there the conversation went like this:

Receptionist- Dr. Mary doesn't work on Tuesday's
Me- OH? Well, today's the 20th right? That is when they made the appointment for him.
Receptionist- No, today's the 21st.
Me- oh crap I missed his appointment and I'm off a day.

SIGH

Now we have to wait till September 10th because that is when Gabe's Dr. is available again.
I think I must be emotional or something because I cried all the way home. I was so looking forward to seeing how much weight he's gained and all that.

SO, I weighed Gabe on our scale--14.8 pounds.
He was 11.10 pounds at his last appointment so if that is correct he's gained about 3 pounds in a little over a month.

Family Beach Day

I'm going back to work soon and although this summer has been great getting to stay home with my little man, I did want to get some fun day's in before the summer is over and I'm back in my routine at work.
We haven't gone camping at all this summer and Family Camp was this weekend and now that it's here I was thinking to myself that maybe we should have gone and that it probably wouldn't have been too bad in a tent with a 4 month old. I have to say though I changed my mind and am glad we didn't go...Bryan came home early Saturday because it was raining...I can't imagine being crammed in a tent with Calie and Gabe waiting for the rain to stop. eeks I'm not much of a risk taker...I think that's part of the boring side of me. Maybe we'll go Labor Day weekend????
ANYWAY, Friday, Fun Day #1...
We left early Friday morning and headed to Lincoln City. I LOVE this beach...I think because as a kid, we went to this beach a lot. I went camping with my Grandparents and on vacations with my family too. When we got there we got settled on our blanket on the beach and I fed Gabe. It was really windy and Gabe HATED that. I had his hood up and and pretty much had a blanket around his head the whole time. For the most part though he did fine. We relaxed and talked on the beach for about an hour or two and then we packed up and drove to the outlet stores. As the day went on Bryan got redder and redder, pretty much turned into a lobster. OH and BTW the weather said that it was supposed to be 56 and cloudy and it was probably 70 with blue skies! Why are the weathermen always wrong? I'm glad they were wrong though...it was such a nice day! I think maybe we need to invest in some sunscreen for Bryan too. DUH right?! I of course don't look like I got any sun. After we shopped for a while we went to McMenamins Lighthouse Brewpub. We were going to go to Mo's, because Bryan has never been there before in which I say "you've never been to Mo's before?" every time we go to the beach and yet we never go. HA After dinner we went back to the beach as the sun was setting and sat and talked and played with Gabe. It was such a nice fun family day at the beach. I so LOVE the beach...I would love someday to have a beach house that we could go to all the time. I feel so peaceful there and just take in the greatness of God's creation. I think Gabe liked his first trip to the beach too, he was exhausted and slept the whole way home and all through the night.

Street of Dreams

Bryan and I go to the Street of Dreams every year or at least we have gone the last 3-4 years. I love going to these. When I was growing up we would sometimes take an afternoon and just go look at new houses, just for fun. I don't know if it was a sick joke my parents liked to play on us, but us kids thought we were going to move into each one of these houses and would pick our rooms and have the whole place furnished. It was FUN even if we never did buy the house.
These houses are amazing some better than others of course and I know why they call it "Street of Dreams" because in our dreams would we ever get a house like that. HAHA This year wasn't really all that special, but it was still fun. We like to go in the evening because there are less people and cooler on the hot August day's.

This year they had Dream Dog Houses. SO funny!

I love weekends!

I LOVE weekends! Saturday was a wonderfully typical Saturday where I ran some errands, did some chores, had some good friend time and then hung out at night with my family. I say typical, but really we're separated a lot, so it wasn't so much a typical Saturday, as an ideal Saturday in my mind. Bryan might disagree as he did homework and yard work. We did get child-free evening together (my dad tagged along), but let me first start at the beginning of the day.

I didn't eat any breakfast because I was meeting Marcia along with her two girls at Red Robin for lunch and then we were going to go to Old Navy to do some shopping. I had talked to her Friday for a while and we don't know what we were thinking us going out with three kiddos two under the age of six months. We said it was going to be our adventure for the week. :) Oddly enough the kiddos did great and we were able to get some fun time in together.
After I left them at Gresham Station I went to a laundry mat by our house and washed our down comforter. I fed and played with Gabe while waiting for it to get done. On my way home Gabe fell asleep in the car and so I took his car seat up to the office while Bryan continued to work on homework and I washed both vehicles and did some laundry. Gabe slept he whole time I was out doing that and woke up just before his next feeding time.

All month the Fairview park is putting on a "Flick in the park" every Saturday evening. We went to the first one and it was so fun sitting in our lawn chairs rapped up in blankets (cause it did get cold) watching a movie. Actually, it reminds me of something you'd see in a movie not actually get to do it. The first flick was The Sound of Music and that movie was a tad long IMO to play, but I have always LOVED that movie. I remember every year it would come on TV and my mom would make me take a nap so that I could stay up on a school night and watch it. Don't know why we just didn't buy the stinkin movie? Anyway, the second movie was Happy Feet. Mom hated that movie and we didn't really have any desire to see it, so just Jacob and Janell went and said that the park was actually packed and that when the penguins would dance all the kids would stand up and dance. HA Instead though we had dinner at my parents and then mom and Julie watched Gabe while Bryan my dad and I went to see Bourne Ultimatum. That was an AWESOME movie! In fact I loved all three!
I think we'll go see the other two "flicks in the park" which should be fun!

Sunday we went to church and then Bryan had more homework so Gabe and I stayed at my parents and hung out there. It was a mellow time. Gabe and I took a nap, mom and dad cleaned out their garage and we all just puttered around and talked. After Bryan was done with his homework he came and got Gabe and took him home and I went to see Pirates 3 at Mt Hood with mom, dad, Jacob and Janell. I guess this was a movie weekend for me. Bryan and Gabe had good father son time though and Gabe was sound asleep when I got home. The movie was pretty good, but the Bourne Ultimatum trilogy was way better IMO.
A couple weeks ago my parents were in a pretty bad accident and it totaled my dads car. A couple in their small group from church is letting them borrow one of their cars which is such a blessing, but it's a pretty old car and when it's cold it keeps dieing. It was quite an adventure going home last night and we had some good laughs!

It was a good weekend.

Just a recap

Thursday night was date night. When Bryan got home from the church office we fed Gabe and packed up to go to dinner. I have been really craving McMenamins lately so we went out to Edgefield and had dinner. It's so beautiful there. We walked through the little garden area and had a wonderful dinner. After dinner we went to Safeway to get a few things and then went home.

Bryan's office at the church is really nice. He's got it set up and organized and he works on Jr high lessons, games, meets with Randy, looks for jobs, does homework etc. Last Friday was our first trip to the new Ikea and he got a few things to put in the office. I LOVE that place BTW! Can't wait to go back!

Yesterday was CRAZY! We got up and got ready fed Gabe and then left for my work to show off Gabe and talk about work. It's SO weird going back there. I haven't been there since March and there are new people, changes in seating arrangements. It was just weird. Everyone loved Gabe. Thought he was the most handsome little guy. Said he looks just like his daddy of course. It was fun to see everyone and even though I am not looking forward to leaving Gabe to work I'm glad that I popped in and didn't just start back at work cold turkey. I need to ease my way back in.

After we left my work we met some people at Rob's (guy from our Young Marrieds class at church) sisters apartment to help her move. She was moving from a small apartment to an even smaller one and she has a butt load of stuff. The old apartment at least had a garage that she could store stuff in. That took forever. It was fun meeting new people though and Lori (Rob's sister) was very grateful I think. I had a much needed haircut and color at 2:30 that I was 10 minutes late too. Bryan wanted to make a 2nd trip while Gabe and I stayed at the new apartment and helped put things away. I started panicking at 1:45 though and he wasn't back. We were all the way out in Lake Oswego too and had to drive to Clackamas where my salon is. Luckily I was able to call Marcella and tell her that I was running a little late and there wasn't too much traffic thank God! Bryan took Gabe home after dropping me off and I just relaxed and had a great time catching up with Marcella while she did my hair. I just love her!
Bryan and I didn't do much the rest of the evening...we got pizza for dinner and then Gabe, Calie and I went on a walk while Bryan took a nap.

Gabe has been sleeping so well lately! (9 hours the last two nights) and this morning he was just talking and sucking on his hand for a while so I went and got him and we all snuggled in bed until he screamed basically telling us he was hungry. Gabe is so funny lately too...he's talking and cooing more and he's started giggling. He is such a joy and I love him so much...I feel so blessed that God chose me to be his mom!

Looking forward to enjoying the rest of the weekend!

Random Pictures

A few weeks ago we adjusted Gabe's straps in his car seat and the straps keep leaving marks on his neck so my sister gave me these to try out. Didn't work as you can see.


Poor guy was all squished and didn't like it one bit.


First bath at Grandma's



Smiling at cousin Jaden

Promise of a PRODUCTIVE day...

I popped out of bed this morning at 8:56am... I totally felt like I could sleep 10 more hours. I had heard Bryan and Gabe talking and playing and thought I'd better get up. Gabe didn't sleep very well last night. We couldn't get him to sleep until midnight last night and he was back up at 4ish.

We moved Gabe to his room last Wednesday night. :-( That was hard, but all three of us have been sleeping better.
Last weekend was heaven.
-Sat night 8 hours
-Sun night 7 hours
-Mon night 9 hours
I think he likes his room and crib huh?! heehee

Bryan was really sick last weekend! UGH Praying Gabe and I don't get it. I sort of feel sicky and Gabe sounds stuffed up sometimes but doesn't seem sick!?
Bryan washed and sanitized his hands and wore a mask every time he was around Gabe. HA

I think it's going to be one of those very productive days...
I'll keep you posted about all the very productive things I do today. It'll be interesting to see where the day goes from here.
9:00am
-Stripped bed and started cleaning the whole upstairs
-Dusted
-Vacuumed
-Made bed
-put away Gabe's laundry
-Bryan is hanging out with Gabe so I can clean

11:30am
-Started on the kitchen
-Cleaned bottles and such
-Cleaned counters
-Cleaned out microwave
-Cleaned up dishes
-loaded the dishwasher
-Swept kitchen Floor
-Started laundry

12:00pm
-Made lunches (and blogged)

12:30pm
-Ate Lunch
-Mopped kitchen floor
-Cleaned dinning room table

1:15pm
-Put Gabe in swing
-another load of laundry
-Bryan fixed pipe underneath the sink
-Bryan clean basement

1:30pm
-Dust living room

2:00pm
-Fed Gabe
-Snuggled and played with Gabe
-Bryan dusted and vacuumed basement
-Bryan vacuumed living room

3:00pm
-Gabe on baby Einstein play mat (almost rolling over)
-Cleaned bathrooms
-Bryan washed car inside and out (Gabe, Calie and I hung outside while Bryan washed the car...it's such a beautiful day out!)

3:45pm
-Showered, got dressed, did hair & makeup
-More laundry--yipee!
-Took a little reading break. *Sigh*

4:30pm
-Hung out with my Snugglebug

5:00pm
-Fed and snuggled with Gabe
-Bryan showered, washed Calie and got dressed

6:00pm
-More laundry
-Started dinner (Honey Mustard Chicken, potatoes and cooked carrots mmmmm)
-Made dessert

7:30pm
-Gave Gabe a bath and put his pj's on

8:00pm
-Bryan started to feed Gabe
-I ate dinner then finished the feeding so Bryan could eat

8:30pm
-Bryan left to hang out with Dan
-I rocked Gabe and just enjoyed my little guy

10:15pm
-Gabe asleep in his bed
-Cleaned up dinner dishes
-Started the dishwasher

So that was my very productive day. I'm not going to fold and put away the laundry...I can do that tomorrow. I am DONE SPENT! We were going to maybe hit Ikea tonight, but we were already tired from the days events and so we decided to wait and go another day. Plus, I am just not sure if Gabe has Bryan's cold or not? I have the humidifier going just in case. I sure hope he doesn't. What am I doing tomorrow? Not sure if we'll (me and Gabe) go to church tomorrow, but if we do probably not a whole lot of anything else.

WHOOO-HOOOOO

My very own local IKEA opens today!
It makes me SO HAPPY just thinking about it.
MUST.... GO..... SHOPPING!!!

Someday...

Studio Portraits

Love that you can look at these online. I pick up the order next Tuesday. It took freakin forever, but Gabe did well.

Gabe (3 Months)




Darogers