Just Random

 There isn't anything specific that I wanted to write about, but along with a couple other things I wanted to put down a few of the funny things that Gabriel has said recently because I don't want to forget them.  I can't believe that he's about to turn two.  Wow.

Poor Loki.  Just wants a bite.  Gabriel really loves her.  Although he picks up on how we talk to her sometimes.  He often says "Loki STOP.  She's naughty" or (on a nicer note) "Pet the Loki."  He likes to "pet" all kinds of things, like our heads, arms, stache stache (Taylor's mustache), puddle duck (touch and feel book), etc.  He says "pet the _____" and the proceeds to gently touch it.  It's very cute.

I found two of his dinosaurs in the dishwasher yesterday.  In our bathroom I also found a flour sifter with Woody, Buzz, and Jessie inside.  I never thought I'd be ok with such a clutter but what else can you do?

The other day he picked up one of his diapers from Costco that has a tiger printed on it.  I guess he thought that it looked like Gnocchi the cat from Curious George, because he said "Gnocchi Cat! So cute! Give her a kiss.  And a hug."  He then carried the diaper around hugging and kissing it and wanted me to do the same.  He likes to hug and kiss so many random things (the animals in his books, his toys, Loki, his pillow case, and thankfully us too)

A boy in a box

When he hears the train near our house he stops and almost whispers "Train? Hear it?"

He often says, in the high pitched voice, "What happened?" or "Oh no"

When he was at the Children's Museum with Taylor yesterday he found a play guitar and was fiddling with it saying "I play music" 

Boy coloring his legs in a box

Realizing that he can crawl into Loki's crate and then getting stuck (multiple times)

Halloween.  While he didn't have too much fun being at a crowded festival he liked the big slide and watched kids from church perform.

We went to see a Hokie basketball game last week.  Actually, we mostly just watched warm up and then about 15 minutes of the game.  Gabriel mostly sat looking stunned, which was not surprising.  There was a lot going on and he was taking it all in.  He did, at one point, want to go and meet the mascot and "Give the birdie a high five."  He did just that, but a moment after I think he realized how scary that huge bird is up close and he started crying.  Overall I think he had fun, especially since he got popcorn. 

Someone now sleeps without a side rail on his bed.  I was more worried about the transition than I needed to be.  He fell out once while napping (oops), but other than that not much has changed with his sleeping.  He loves to be able to climb in and out and read books in bed.  He loves putting his stuffed animals in and out too.

We picked out this bedding sure that he would love it.  And while he certainly loves the pillow case (he likes to choose between sleeping on Rex and sleeping on Woody/Buzz on the other side), his first reaction was not what I expected.  He examined it very closely and then said "where's Jessie?".  He loves that cowgirl.  All that's required to get him hyper and running laps through the house is to pick up Jessie and say "Yee-haw!" He has may times shouted "Jessie!!!  I love you!!"

So happy and wide awake in the morning (I can't say that I can relate to that)

He still loves to play with his pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, and also some corn that we decorate with.  We're trying to teach him how to "pretend eat" things and I think he's getting the hang of it.  He also really likes pretending to cook and play with food.  I've been saving random containers from stuff in the kitchen for that purpose.  Maybe he can start making me meals soon. . .

Pretending to eat some corn.  He often says "Corney!  I love you!"  I'm not sure if he's referring to corn or something else since he says it very randomly. . .

Making pretend muffins

Getting on the counter and trying to swipe food.  I'm glad that he knows to push a chair up to the counter because he's thinking through steps to accomplish something, but this is not what I'd prefer.  It least it only happened once.

I'm really enjoying seeing him learn how to pretend.  He was building with his blocks the other day and I asked him if he was making Monsters Inc for "Agee" (Mike W).  He then kept building and said that "Agee" was going to work.

Enjoying being outside a few weeks ago because it got SO COLD.  I'm ready for spring

Being silly

Sinkland Farms

We took the youth group to Sinkland Farms this last weekend.  Gabriel had so much fun.  Here are a few pictures from last year for comparison.  How did he get so big?

So, on to this year.  It was COLD.  Poor little dude was turning into an icicle, but he didn't want to go inside where it was warm.  He was too busy having to touch every single pumpkin that he saw.  One of the workers there said that we have a future pumpkin farmer on our hands.

Watching a pumpkin get launched from a catapult

Talking to the pigs.  By far his favorite animal there.  He gently touched his nose at one point and thought that was so funny.  When he went to bed that night I asked him what he liked best about his day and he said "Pumpkins!" and "Touched the piggy's nose."

Petting a tiny goat

The closest we can get to a family picture with Mr. Wiggles

Look I can fit my whole hand in my mouth!

And it's not the best picture, but we have very few together so I'll take when I can get.  He loves his little white pumpkin.  He has been carrying it around the house with him putting it random places since we got back :)

Oh the silly things he says

I don't have anything too specific to share, but I was thinking today about all of the cute and random things that Gabriel says and I don't want to forget them.  Also, sorry that none of these pictures are "still" shots.  We don't spend too much time being still around here. . .

When Gabriel wants to run he can't simply do it.  He yells "Run Run!" as he darts through the kitchen (or through a bunch of ducks as he did this morning)

Often when we're leaving the house to go somewhere Gabriel says "Let's go! Come on!" in a really excited voice and runs for the door.

For some reason Gabriel thinks that saying something is "funny" is the same as saying "I like it."  Therefore, as of this morning, the following things are funny:

"Mommy funny"

"Duckie pond funny"

"Rabbit funny"

"Jesse funny" (Toy Story)

"Shorts funny" (Pixar short videos)

"Kelsey so funny" (his babysitter from last night.  I'm not sure what 

she did to earn the "so" part but I'm glad that he had fun)

This bed is in a local toy store.  If anyone would like to build
him one please do.  He was a big fan :)

Other random things that Gabriel likes to talk about:

"Romp and ROLL" - which he suddenly wants to go to every day

"Hannah Kate" - he may be just slightly obsessed with his cousin.  He would Facetime with her every day if he could.  He pretends to call her often.

"Nursery" at church - I think that it's so cute that when we're going to church he talks about the nursery and names people that he knows that he'll see there.

"Kroger" and getting "groceries" - I told him on Wednesday and we were going to stop at Kroger and get some groceries and then we'd go to class at Romp and Roll.  He kept repeating "Stop at Kroger.  Groceries.  Sticker.  Romp and Roll class."  He had the whole thing all pieced together in his head

Playing at the Children's Museum.  He got
very upset when we had to take the hat off

 One of the cutest things that he started doing the other day is praying.  We were sitting outside yesterday and he randomly folded his hands, bowed his head and said "Corn. Beans. Amen" (the boy still loves his vegetables).  He's done that some other random times too although I'm not always entirely sure what he's praying about.  I'm pretty sure that it usually involves food or eating.

 On another note related to talking, I still can't understand more than half of what he's talking about, and sometimes that really breaks my heart.  Sometimes whatever he has to say seems so important to him and you can tell that he just really wants to make me understand and I just don't get it.  Equally frustrating for him is when he communicates clearly and can't have whatever it is that he wants ("You understood what I asked, so why can't I have a cookie!?!").  As much as I want to understand him and be able to have actual conversations I'm really going to miss the rambling and babbling though.  Everything is so exciting that it's hard for his mouth the keep up with his brain.

Bathtub fun

Summer Fun

Time for an update in pictures.  I wish that I had more energy to write more, but oh well.  I feel that I have many thoughts about the state of life with a toddler, so maybe one day I'll type it up.  But let's be honest, that might not happen ;)  

Summer has brought with it many chances to get outside and do fun things.  Our typical weekly activities include the pool, the park, story time at the library, class at Romp and Roll and playing the the yard.  It has been nice to explore some other things too though like the duck pond, the fair, the zoo, and berry picking.  While I'm not going to write a whole lot, for my own memories sake I have to note that Gabriel loves BEANS (green and edamame).  The other night he had the choice between a bite of a brownie and a cup of beans and he chose the beans.  He also loves "Old McDonald" and "BINGO", books, his bed, making a pretend "shocked" face, Loki, putting the groceries on the conveyor belt, and of course anything Toy Story.  He's a funny guy.  

Here he is with one of Mommy's headbands.  I call this photo "I want to be in a 80's workout video."  Move over Jane Fonda.

Play Doh is fun

And so is feeding Rice Krispies to a stuffed dog

He loves to play in the kiddie pool.  And by "play" I mean throw Sulley, Mike, Woody, and Buzz into the pool, climb in and throw them out, then climb out and throw them in.  The process continues until he decides that it's time to climb on the patio furniture.

Gabriel loves his Daddy.

He also loves berries

Gabriel loved having his cousin for a visit.  He still occasionally wanders around the house saying her name and looking for her.  If only she lived closer. . .

Feeding the ducks.  While we have gone a couple times I sadly have no good pictures.  To note, however, Gabriel would much rather feed the very large squirrels than the ducks.  And when he does feed the ducks he prefers the say "Hey duck!" and then throw a whole piece of bread and watch them all fight over it.

Gabriel started doing a couple things while his cousin was here.  The first was really getting into giving a "hug" and a "kiss."  He smothered that girl in kisses.  He also kisses his toys and random furniture.  The new habit that I'm not so fond of is his wanting to suck his thumb all the time.  He's always sucked it when falling asleep, which has never really bothered me.  Honestly, if he'd always had this habit during the day it wouldn't bother me so much, but it's too late now to start this habit if you ask me.  We're trying to discourage him from doing it, but what do you do when multiple times every hour he flops down and sticks in it his mouth?  Not sure what the outcome of this will be.

Building tall towers

I found this little Toy Story bag at a consignment store.  He loves having his own bag with pictures of his friends on it.  And while part of me is loving not having the diaper bag anymore, another part of me isn't ready to have a child with a backpack.

Another shot of the "pack pack."  Apparently when he was just with Taylor the other day he was showing random people his "bag."

We saw lots of new things at the zoo!  And rode a train!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

The local fair had a petting zoo and Gabriel liked seeing the animals and feeding them carrots.

Big boy on the swings.  I thought he would get scared but he seemed to enjoy it  And when we rode the ferris wheel every time it was going down he said "Whheeeee."  So cute.  Getting way too big.