click, take a pic.

Not too much going on here these days. Cold outside. Getting ready to move. Being lazy. Elliot walks all over and now has 6 teeth. Gabrielle is really into taking pictures, mostly of Elliot.

STEPS!

Here is Mr E doing some steps tonight! He took his first steps without anyone even trying to get him to, on December 22 and has been taking a few at a time daily. He is officially 8 months and 5 days old in this video of tonight! I figured I would keep up the image of my kids never wearing clothes.... we have been so bundled up the past few days this was his few nekid minutes before getting in pajamas for the night. The temperature is something like 23 in the morning and with windchill it is 6, BRRRRRR! We had ice on the INSIDE of our window yesterday, thank goodness we are moving in a few weeks to a house with better windows (I hope!) This wobbly stage is exciting, but so nerve wracking too. He bonked his head today, giving himself an ouchie on the eyebrow.

Christmas!

Gabrielle got a veterinarian dress up outfit, which is a big hit so far. If around during this play time be sure to watch out for random "shots" from her and be prepared to have her listen to your heart. Some of her other favorite gifts include Ariel and Eric wedding boat from Auntie Molly and Uncle Danny, wooden play food from Baba and Nene, Snow White the movie from Aunt Robyn and the doll from Aunt Michelle. New jewels and musical princess jewelry box were the excitement of the day when we let her open it early from the Ross cousins. The clothes she got from all her Aunties are a huge hit, she has been changing her clothes during the day and even in the middle of the night into new jammies just because! Elliot had a fever during the night of Christmas Eve, so he was not as happy as usual in the morning. He was more interested in trying to eat the wrapping paper and less into the actual presents... the blocks will probably be good for chewing on- he is quite the chomper. Working on tooth #5 at the moment, and I have the bite marks to prove it (yes, my nail is dented with teeth marks from trying to use the finger brush on him last night!).
We couldn't decide what to have for Christmas Eve dinner, being just the 4 of us and not wanting to do anything to fancy or time consuming my sis suggested pizza. It was a fantastic idea, and we all got our favorite toppings; Clay had ham and pineapple, plus a little red onion. Gabby had pepperoni with LOTS of olives and I made a "white" pizza with artichoke hearts, mushrooms, yellow pepper, olives and a sprinkling of onion.
Gabby loved putting it all together herself!
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I didn't get as many good pictures or videos as I hoped. I will try to get a video of Elliot taking STEPS! Yes on the 22nd he took 4 steps by himself and ever since then takes 1-3 every now and then! I am trying to recover from the stomach bug and body ache that hit the other night.... lets hope no one else gets it!

Christmas Eve!

December

Oh, the things we find to keep ourselves entertained on frigid winter days! This is Clay's ID arm band holder. Gabby and I both were laughing when she put it on. I didn't take any pictures of her fashionable underwear hats/masks she put on while I folded laundry tonight.
Yum, Gabby wanted to bake today (what else is new, she is so my daughter. When bored, bake!) so we had our first attempt at making almond roca. Not the traditional kind like Auntie Carm made, but the easy kind where you use saltine crackers. It is good, a bit too sugary but good.I bought a gingerbread kit, too lazy to do the real deal. I started it but quickly got put on cranky boy duty. Gabby and Clay made it, and it turned out perfect!
Grandpa and his lovies! These kids adore him, and it is pretty mutual I think. Right before bed the night before he flew home, I realized I hadn't taken any pictures- how did that happen?

Elliot's favorite thing to do, crawl down the hallway with whoever will do it with him!
You would expect the sibling of GABBY to be quiet since she is so loud (when would they get the opportunity to talk) but this is not the case. Elliot is a talker too, he competes with her already to be heard! They do love to make music and sing together too!
Elliot has begun standing up all the time. He does it totally on his own, and gets very excited about it. We do too! he lasts up to about 10 seconds before he plops down- but then he pops right back up it seems. Other new things E is up to, when I say "drum!" he pats his hands on whatever he is in front of- the toilet lid while I brush my teeth, the couch, the rubbermaid full of Christmas decor (now used as a gate to keep him in the living room). When we play music on his Mozart Music Cube (very cool toy) he conducts! Gabby started saying it "look he's conducting!" and yes he does. It may be more of an excitement thing and a semi clap but we like to think he is a musical genius!

Gabby is very much into Christmas. She loves to touch the ornaments on the tree, and is learning to sing a few songs, and she got to open one present last night and that was VERY exciting. Today she asked if she could tear into another- nope, not until Christmas. I am very happy to report that she is into the true spirit of the holiday, she adores our Nativity scenes. She kisses them all and talks about them. I remembered about her felt nativity people that Clay's Aunt Maxine made for us and got them out for her to play with (they were not in the Christmas stuff, because they were out after everything was put away). She knows who everyone is, and still calls Mary "the Mother Mild." She talks about Great Grandpa Bill being in the nativity, because he is in Heaven with them. We have been doing lots of talking and discussions about Heaven since GG Bill passed away, I am amazed at what she knows and remembers and figures out. We had a teary talk yesterday about her Uncle Scott, and she knew exactly who he was and his name ("Scott, not Spock" in her own words, as she is very into Captain Kirk and Spock after watching Star Trek with Clay) and that she was so sad she didn't know him. I cry just thinking about it, but I am SO thankful and feel blessed that both Elliot and Gabrielle have many wonderful Aunts and Uncles that they know and love! Along with Grandparents and friends too! Even though we live so far away, I am truly thankful for the close relationships my family and I share with all of you!

Roar!

Stop, pajama time!

I got really into crafting a few days, my obsession was freezer paper stenciling. This is the shirt I made for Elliot. Gabby promptly spilled spaghetti sauce on her bird shirt I made her.

The kids in their coordinating Santa jammies, I tried to get a nice picture, but neither child would cooperate with my wants that night.

My beautiful girl!
Grandpa is here visiting, YEAH! Notice Elliot using a bottle to drink water! Grandpa is a great sport and the kids climb all over him. Elliot is teething right now (AGAIN!) and will crawl right up to you and bite your knee, or holding him he attacks your shoulder!

Clayton is off at school again this week, due home tomorrow. The weather is wonky, 32* one day and then 70* (yes yesterday it was that warm out, in December!) and poured down rain. Today it is 53* with blue sky and sunshine, but a frigid wind. We walked Trashmore today (one of the 10 people there) and I put the rain guard on the stroller to keep the wind from freezing the kids.... it worked because Elliot took a wonderful nap.