We've finished with swim lessons. Unfortunately, I only made it to the first two. The third week, Gabriel was sick and I was not feeling very well and the final week, I was sick AGAIN! So it's been a few years since I've had anything but a bad cold, but this year I've had the stomach bug three times! I'm calling an unfair on this one . . . :P Oh well. Better now, not fully recovered, but much better.
The Bookers and Grandma Foshee visited us for about a week and we had a lot of fun! The kids really enjoyed all the extra attention. We had Gabriel's 1st birthday party with everyone here and it was a lot of fun. We grilled out, and had some of Gabe's favorites on the side, including macaroni and cheese, baked beans and cantaloupe. He also had his first taste of sweets. He was pretty excited about the cake, but not so much about the ice cream. Kind of funny.
Gabe also started walking on his first birthday. Yesterday, he stood up for the first time in the middle of the floor instead of pulling up on something so he's quickly moving along! Sometimes it seems like he's almost running, but he still holds his arms out for balance. He's pretty cute to watch!
He's also very clever. On Sunday, he woke up screaming. He was very upset. I ran in and was trying to comfort him and I told him, "Gabriel, Mommy's not far away. All you have to do is say Mama when you wake up and I'll come get you." That's all I said, I didn't mention it again. The next morning, I heard him through the monitor "Mama! Mama!" and he was all smiles when I went in to get him. He did the same thing again this morning. So clever! :) He's been very into saying "Mama" ever since then. Yesterday, he was also making laps around living room saying "Mama" and I would say, "What honey?" and he would say, "Hi!" and wave at me. I would say we did that at least 20 times.
He's also very into animal sounds. As you probably saw on my facebook page, his first animal sound was the duck which he surprised me with at the doctor's office for his 1 year check up. I pulled out the bag dispenser for his diaper which has a duck on top and he immediately said "Quack, quack!" He of course, wouldn't perform for the doctor, but he says it a lot for me. I've heard he also does a good pig, horse, and cow, but I have not heard that for myself.
Speaking of the doctor, Gabriel is now 22 lbs. 5.5 oz and 30'' tall. He's moved up from the 10th % at his last appointment to the 50th % on all accounts. The doctor commented that he didn't think he'd ever seen a baby so perfectly proportioned as all his measurements were almost directly on the 50th %! :)
Callie is doing much better with her behavior. Not that we don't have trying times every once in awhile, but I think we've ingrained "Listen and obey" in her head. The other day, she went to the park with Granny Great and she climbed up to the top of some playground equipment but couldn't figure out how to get down by herself. Granny told her to listen and follow directions and she would help Callie get down. When Callie got down to the bottom, she exclaimed, "Wow! Listening works!" So proud of her.
In Sunday School, Callie has been learning about baby Moses. She has the cutest way of saying Jochebed (Moses's mother). She says, "That's a funny name!" Callie also makes up songs all the time. One of her latest ones is very simple, but I love it. She sings, "Listen to God, listen to God" over and over, and then when she decides it's done she holds it out "LISTEN TO GOOOOOOOODDDDDDD!" with lots of vibrato. It's adorable!
I have a lot of fun watching and listening and observing. I am so blessed!
Right now we have more visitors in Roanoke. Aunt Pat and Uncle Jon (Dad's sister and brother-in-law) are staying with my parents currently. We're so excited to have them visit! Callie warmed up very quickly to Aunt Pat and Gabriel kept bringing things to Uncle Jon. :)
We still have room on the calendar for more guests! Please let us know if you'd like to visit, we'd love to have you!
I think that's about all the new things going on with our family! We're on the move all the time it seems like, even at home! It's a lovely and exhausting experience. :)
God bless you and yours this week!
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