Thursday, August 20, 2009

Mary's Shower


When I moved down to the resident manager's apartment 2 years ago my first job was to fill my newly vacated apartment. I knew I would never be able to find someone to replace my cousin Natalie - whose position I was filling - but I also never dreamed I would find someone to rent the apartment to who would become my friend so quickly and so permanently. I met Mary 10 days after Natalie's departure and I couldn't have asked for a better tender mercy. Mary has been my friend to talk to about anything and everything, Sarah's friend when Mommy needs a break and my friend I can call on for anything - whether it be a cup of sugar or some goodies she's just baked. (The best goodies ever by the way.) And, of course, she's the one who introduced me to Twilight. How can I ever repay her?

So naturally, when Mary told me she was pregnant I was so excited for the opportunity to throw her a baby shower. Cyndi, of course, was the best hostess.


Her sisters-in-law and mother's friend made fantastic decorations.



It was so fun to share in her special day.









I couldn't resist ...


Now just don't talk to me about Mary leaving ... I'm really trying hard not to cry.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Milestones

I really tried to post last week for Will's 9 months and Sarah's 2 1/2 years milestones. I even tried taking pictures, but as you can see that didn't work out so well ...




On top of that, I forgot to ask the doctor about William's height/weight/head circumference percentages when I went in on Monday. I had to wait 3 days for a nurse to call me back with those. Now that Will is napping and Sarah is watching Care Bears (not in Spanish) I will give some updates and some pictures.

William 9 Months (August 11, 2009)


Weight: 20 lbs 4 oz. - 50th percentile
Height: 29.5 inches - 75th percentile
Head Circumference: 45.5 centimeters - 50th percentile

It appears William is leveling out. He's pretty tall but fairly evenly dispersed. And lucky him, his head is average.


Other milestones - things to note:

* Eats pretty much everything in sight. He is LOVING the freedom of feeding himself. His favorites are bits of fruit - particularly blueberries and peaches - bits of bread - pizza bread is sooo good - and noodles. He still insists on pureed veggies to fill him up. And of course there's nothing better than cream. He loves it so much he thinks he needs to have it in the.middle.of.the.night. ugh.

* Still wakes up at 2 am or 4 am. I know. I know. He doesn't need to eat in the middle of the night. I really just need to tough it out and listen to him cry himself back to sleep. That's my goal this next month. Hopefully when I do his 10-months-old post I can happily say he's accomplished that.


* Babbles. I love to hear him say dadadadadadada and mmamamammmmmamamama in addition to his pterodactyl squeals.


* Loves to crawl, climb and pull himself up - especially up over Sarah. It's fun to see him able to interact more with her. They really are so fun together.

* Wears size 3 diapers and size 12-18 month clothes.

* Eyes are getting darker. He may be a brown-eye boy after all. Mommy's genes are pulling through.


* Loves blocks, little people and anything with wheels. He loves to make the wheels spin. Will also plays a game where he knocks a toy in front of him, crawls after it, and then knocks it again. Just like a puppy. So so so cute.


* Has got his first tooth! You can see the little glint in the above photo. Sorry, it was the best I had. Will's bottom-right-middle tooth broke through just after we got back from the family reunion. I am definitely not complaining that my kids are later in the teething department. I'm glad the little bugger has come in and hope that the following ones are a little less painful.

Sarah 2 1/2 Years - August 13, 2009


Weight: 29.6 lbs - 25th to 50th percentile*
Height: 35.5 inches - 25th to 50th percentile*
Head Circumference: 51 centimeters - 95th percentile*
Percentages calculated on baby center.

These pics just typify my little princess:




Now about Sarah:

* Loves to do anything princess and fairies.

* Loves "Belle Song" and "Aurora Song." I had a request for "Snow White song" the other night and couldn't think of anything but the chorus from "Heigh-Ho." Luckily, it worked. She loved it. Apparently, the platinum edition of Snow White comes out this November. It's in our Netflix queue.

* Would watch Sleeping Beauty all day every day if I let her. However, sad for her, she won't be watching it for a while. I think it's making her too scared. I may bring it out again down the road, but for now, we're sticking to more light movies, such as Care Bears and Word Factory.

* Loves Makeit (make up). Her glistening self in the above photos is a direct result in her putting her make up on her neck. I'm not sure why the neck, but whatever makes her happy, right?

* Is talking up a storm. Most of the time, she talks just to make sure I know she's independent. Here are a few of the phrases I've heard lately:
** It's my turn. My Turn! (When she doesn't want any help with her prayer, singing a song, or any other activity.)
** Sarah dos it. (ditto)
** Sarah's a friend. (when I put her on time out and she wants to come out.)
** No YOU TIME OUT! (also, when I put her on time out.)
** No Sarah's awake (typically when she doesn't want to take a nap or go to bed.)
** Sarah helps.
** I want more Mommy. I want more.
** That one.
** Daddy's work.
She also is quite the parrot. We need to be a little more careful with our vocabulary these days. On the last day of our reunion, I heard Sarah say, "Oh Shoot!" (Which I am guilty of saying from time to time.) But when we turned to my sister Kim and asked where Sarah learned that, Kim said, "I don't say that. I say, 'Oh Crap!'" (A favorite Gubler phrase I'm sheepish to admit.) Instantly, Sarah chimed in, "Oh Crap!" We all gave her such a great reaction, she repeated it 8 more times. Awesome.

* Loves to be a helper. She is really good at helping me put in different ingredients in whatever I'm making.

* Loves the pool. She often pulls out her swimsuit from her drawer and ask to go to the pool. Someday we'll have a backyard with a baby pool for you to play in Sarah.

* Loves to turn on music. She often turns on my clock radio to find a fun dance-music station. She loves to dance.

* Loves to play dress up. I love that she can't get enough of necklaces, bracelets, high heels, make up, ruffly dresses, etc.

* Is a great runner and jumper. She absolutely LOVES to run. run. run.

* She can't get enough of playing with the kids. She loved hanging out with her cousins and looks forward to playgroup and nursery.

* Loves to give Mommy, Daddy and Brother kisses. She even uses her arm to wrap it around her kisser's neck and pull them in. Love it.

* Sleeps without a sleep sack. She gave up her sleep sack this last month. She's been doing great without it.

* She's hit or miss with her naptime. If she does have a nap it's usually closer to 2-2:30 before she's out, making a later bedtime. I'm still deciding whether it's worth having her have a nap and go to bed at 8 or 8:30... or not having a nap and go to bed between 7 and 7:30. hmmmm.

I'm sure there's more, but Care Bears is over and William is up. To end, here are some fun pics of our two munchkins together:





Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Happy Birthday Owen!


Sarah's friend Owen is exactly 1 1/2 years older than she is. We get to celebrate Sarah's half-birthday on his birthday every year! This year Owen invited us to celebrate with him at Chuck-E-Cheese. This was our inaugural trip and it was so much fun! Sarah loved playing all the games and going on all the rides and getting her picture taken. She even got to pick out a pretty bracelet and a sucker with all the tickets she won. William was mostly there for the food. He LOVED his pizza.


This ride was great, but we never knew when the photo was going to be taken.






I didn't get a picture with the birthday boy as I broke my little camera a few weeks ago, but hopefully Angela will send us some of the pics she took. Happy Birthday Owen!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Girls Day Out


Almost every night around bedtime this week either Roger or myself had somewhere to be. Mostly me. By Thursday, Sarah was so distraught that she didn't get to go with Mommy. She ran after me with shoes in hand yelling, "Sarah's turn NOW!" It just broke my heart. Friday night Mommy stayed home, but Daddy was out. So we decided that it would be Sarah's turn NOW today. Cyndi was great and let Sarah tag along on our girls shopping trip. The goal: Find a chocolate brown bridesmaid dress for Cyndi.

Rog went for a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge with his friend Garrett, but was back by 10:15 so off we went at 10:30. We left sleeping William with Rog so it was just a girls trip. We headed to the Tanforan Mall in San Bruno. We hit JC Pennys first and Sarah LOVED trying on all the pretty bracelets and necklaces. Every time she put one on she would say, "So cute" or "so pretty." Cyndi and I got the same reply for the dresses we tried on. Next up Dress Barn, Old Navy (not really for the bridesmaid dress, but Cyndi and I both had gift cards) and Target. Cyndi and I both ended up with dresses. I can't wait to wear mine tomorrow.


We then took a break and played in the play area by Target, got a little toy out of the toy vending machines and went to lunch at BJs. Sarah L.O.V.E.D. it!!! Sarah was all into her pizza and my lemon water. It was so fun to see her recline and people watch. I made a vow to do more Mommy-Daughter dates with her. It's just so fun.



And this is how she looked after a long-hard day of shopping and eating out:


Thanks for giving us a fun reason to do a girls day. We'll have to do it again soon!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Uh Oh Cheerios

A few days before we left on vacation, Sarah thought it would be nice to give William some Cheerios. Since William likes to eat things off the floor naturally Sarah thought it made sense to put them within his reach. He loved it. Lucky me.






I promise vacation photos are coming ...

Thursday, August 6, 2009

My Do It!


Sarah wanted to pray all by herself tonight. When I tried to help her start the prayer, she said, "My do it." My little independent daughter! I do have to say her little prayer melted my heart. When she was done, Roger asked when she started saying her own prayers. Well, she said her own lunch prayer earlier so I guess that was her first. It's so fun being a Mommy.

"Dear Heavenly Father. Thankful for the day. Bless Sarah to sleep good. Thankful for Daddy work. Thankful for Cyndi. Thankful for Mommy and brother. (I then was allowed to help her with a few other things and then she ended) ... name Jesus Christ Amen."

Oh and another "My turn. My do it." instance came up yesterday. Sarah wants to sing the Belle Song - the theme song from Beauty and the Beast - all by herself. We listen to it in the car on repeat so she's got the words down pretty well. It's so fun to see her independence blossom. Well, at least sometimes ...

PS I am working on my trip posts. I promise.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

I'm back, but ...

I'm still trying to catch up on unpacking and getting back on a schedule. I have lots of fun pictures to post of my family reunions trip. (Yes, we hit 4 while in Idaho.) I need to get some sleep so I can be a happy mommy and happy wife... Posts are coming I promise.