Dress Up

Today Gabrielle and Samantha played dress up together for the first time. I guess it was more like me playing baby doll with Samantha, dressing her in Gabrielle's dress up accessories, but it was too cute and Gabrielle had a good time. Plus for the first time I think Gabrielle realized that Samantha would indeed get bigger and be an actual playmate one day.

In the beginning of playing Gabrielle was not too excited about Samantha wearing her things but after a few wardrobe changes, some picture taking, and some encouragement she eventually warmed up to the idea and had a lot of fun with it.

Missing Grandmom

Over the weekend we met Ed's brother and his family at Granddad's house. It had been a little while since we all had gone for a visit on the same weekend. Gabrielle had fun playing with her cousin. The dads took them to the park while me and Aunt T stayed at the house to play with Samantha. It was a short visit but still a very nice one.

Being there with Samantha for only the second time since she was born, however, really got me to thinking about Grandmom. Ed's mom passed away last October. Even though she had been sick for a while, for me the last two weeks of her life caught me off guard. It happened just too quickly to even try to wrap my head and heart around it. We had only known we were expecting Samantha for about a month and Gabrielle had just celebrated her second birthday. I was too caught up in the happiness of the moments to even try to deal with any other possibility.

Being at the house and seeing all the photos of Grandmom with the other grandkids made me really sad. I couldn't help but wonder what she would think of Samantha - who by the way has Grandmom's name as her middle name. Would she think Samantha looks - like me or Ed? I could imagine what Grandmom would say when she heard Samantha's little giggle and saw her sweet smile. I knew Grandmom would find Gabrielle's dancing and singing and all of her performances as sweet and amusing as I do. I'm sad that Gabrielle is too young to have the memories of Grandmom's weekly visits, each time bringing her a new book. I'm sad that while we at least have pictures to show and the stories to tell Gabrielle, we won't have the same to show and tell Samantha.

Even though I am sad about all the moments Grandmom will miss, I know she is in a better place. I also like to think she can look down on us from time to time to watch her grandkids grow.

Grandmom, Gabrielle, & Granddad - October 2007

Mini Vacation

Last week my daughters and I spent the week at my mom's. It was a much needed break for myself and them and we had a great time. For me it was just nice to be with my mom everyday and to have those extra set of hands to help with the girls. I was able to get some work done but also to relax. I did not get caught up in every day stresses that I then got impatient with my girls and I was able to play and have fun with them.

The week was probably the ideal vacation for Gabrielle. She had a tv and dvd player in "her room". She watched for the first time "Bambi" which has now become her current favorite. Not only did she watch it for the first time but also the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th,... Seriously she watched the movie about 8 times while we were there. It is no longer available for purchase so my mom let Gabrielle bring it home with her. She has only watched it once since we got home 3 days ago but has asked several times every day if she could watch it. My little drama queen likes to re-enact various scenes from her favorite movies and what is her favorite scene to act out from Bambi? Well the most tragic scene of the whole movie of course. Yes, my future actress keeps acting out the scene when Bambi loses his mommy.

Gabrielle loved that she was able to play with play-doh every day. I just wonder why she can play so well by herself at my mom's but at home she needs me to play with her every second of the day!!









We went to Vacation Bible School at my mom's church every night. Gabrielle called it church school. Gabrielle just loved being in a class and being around other kids. She literally cried every single night when it was time to go home. The theme was Boomerang Express and boy did Gabrielle love the theme song. She really got into the motions to the song. I need to get a copy of the dvd for her to sing and dance along to at home.

Bible Story time

About to fry fish (goldfish) like Jesus did for his disciples

Riding the Boomerang Express

About to get her certificate on the last night of Bible School

On Wednesday my aunt and Granny came to visit. I love seeing Gabrielle with Granny. Gabrielle is typically shy around everyone at first and we don't see Granny that often. But the last couple of visits we have had with Granny Gabrielle has really warmed up to her. Gabrielle kept bringing Granny toys and books to play with and coloring pages to color. She really just has such a good time with her Granny which I think is so sweet.

On Friday we went to the aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and a really neat park in Morehead. I've taken Gabrielle to the aquarium the past three summers and it is amazing how much more she loves it with each visit. During this visit, however, she kept asking where the dolphins were. While we didn't get to see in any dolphins unfortunately Gabrielle did come home with a very cute stuffed dolphin. Samantha even liked watching some of the fish and she came home with a purple sparkly sea turtle which her sister keeps trying to take for herself.

At the aquarium:

At the park:

It was nice to get away for the week and spend some quality time with my mom. We have been home only a few days and already I miss my mom. She will be here visiting and babysitting for us in just a couple of weeks and then will be here again in September for Gabrielle's birthday. But I really think I may have to make a long visit with her a semi-regular thing - if she will take us!!

While we had a great time at my mom's we did miss Ed and wished he could have been with us. The last real vacation we took was the summer before Gabrielle was born. The past year Ed has worked nonstop. Up until Samantha was born he was working 12 hour days, 7 days a week. There were days that Gabrielle never got to see her Daddy. Now his work schedule is starting to get back to a normal pace. I'm really hoping in November we can take a long weekend trip and get the relaxing family vacation we need.

Catching Up

For the two or three of you out there keeping up with my blog, I know it has been a while since I've posted. I wish I could say it was because we have been keeping busy doing fun and awesome things. We've had some fun but for the most part we've just been busy with everyday life sort of things.

Gabrielle finally after almost a year learned how to ride her tricycle. We bought it for her 2nd birthday last September. Once the weather turned cooler and the more pregnant I became the less I felt like playing outside unfortunately so she did not have too many opportunities to learn. But finally in the kitchen one day she started pedaling!! Now we have to master steering. We did take her outside and got her on video. If I can ever find my fire wire on this cluttered desk of mine then I will upload and post a short clip of Gabrielle riding her tricycle.

We went to a friend's pool yesterday and had a great time. This was Gabrielle's second experience in a big pool. She really does love it. I am hoping before the summer is over we can all go to the public pool in Wake Forest but taking Gabrielle and Samantha by myself is not an option so we'll have to wait until Daddy has a day off work. Maybe next year we can do swim lessons.

Today we have a busy, busy day. I'm taking the girls to my mom's tomorrow for the week for Vacation Bible School. I have to finish up laundry, pack, straighten up the house, return library books, exchange a top at Kohl's and finish up some data entry work and still get to bed at a reasonable time so that I can leave early tomorrow morning. I don't know why I overwhelm myself with impossible to-do lists!