Christmas Time...

*This blog was meant to go up yesterday.. Just a disclaimer so it makes more sense...

Josh and I were snowed in this morning and it was wonderful. I wish today, and all of its beauty, had not gone by so fast. Josh made us French Toast to begin the day, and then, while Gabriel napped, we sat down together and reflected on the past year. It is amazing how much can happen in one year, but at the end of the year your left wondering where the time went. Where did the hours, weeks, and months go. The times when I held Gabriel in a Sleepy wrap while I worked. When we could lay him anywhere and he couldn't get away:


When he would fall asleep on us and not squirm away:


I remember his first teeth, his first bites of solid food, him sitting up, crawling, and walking. His first word, and the first time he signed. It all happened this year! In ONE year I have watched my son grow so much. I look back at the pictures and I can remember each moment like it was yesterday, but it wasn't. I don't know where time went. Time passes and leaves us memories that I hope are burned into my mind forever. I never want to forget Gabriel's eyes lighting up when we plug in the tree. Never want to forget this Christmas. It wasn't his first, but so far it was our most memorable. As I sit remembering yesterday I am filled with so much love. Josh, Gabriel, and I are surrounded by so much love. We are so blessed to have our family so close! There is nothing better than spending time with the people you most love and care for. We are also so happy to have Gabriel. Josh and I were happy before he came along, but our hearts are overflowing now that he is here. He has shown us a love and joy that we couldn't have imagined before his birth! We thank God for him constantly. He is so precious:








I hope everyone had as great of a Christmas as we did =)

Christmas Cookies!

The Woman who says "NO"

Lately I feel like the only word that comes out of my mouth is, "NO!" Gabriel grabs for the dog's water dish, "NO!" He grabs for the ornaments on the tree, "NO!" Zig zags to the back of the tree to hit it, "NO!" Drops food to the dogs, "NO!" Tests me and just puts his hand over the edge of the high chair sans food, "NO!" NO, NO, NO! haha! I feel like such a life stopper. Like my son can't even live life and touch things! AHH! I know I'm training him, but it is SO hard. I want to let him experience everything, but at the same time I want him to respect me and my things. I'm not the type of person to pick up everything he can hurt so he doesn't get in trouble. I would rather him learn his boundaries. What he can and can't do. What he can and can't touch. He is so precious too! He is such a good boy! I tell him no and he walks away. Sometimes he will shake his hand and stomp his feet, but he will walk away. Sometimes he will also test me to learn more about his boundaries. He will put food over the edge of the high chair for the dogs. I will say "no" and he puts the food in his mouth instead of dropping it on the floor. He'll then put his hand off the high chair with no food in it. I don't know what to do at this point! He IS after all allowed to put his hands out to the sides right?! But is he testing me????? haha! So right now I am not swatting him for putting his hands over the edge with no food, only with food. He watches me though. He'll watch me go into the kitchen to wash dishes. He wants to know if I'll catch him even across the room. It's tough training him but I know it has to be done. I'm just thankful he is such a good boy and listens the majority of the time =). I am truly blessed! Just wanted to share...

Just a few photos =)

We have such a great time with this guy =). Rachel, we hope to see you soon for that banana contest ;)!

Music Man!

The past two weeks have been full of new developments for "DG." One I wanted to note was his singing =). He has always loved listening to Katerina and Mylena play the piano, so we knew he loved music from the beginning, but lately he has also really enjoyed singing along with my Josh Groban Christmas CD. I started singing to him as I got him dressed, and he copies my "la LA la La LAAAA" in his own beautiful voice. He will also copy his daddy, Mylena, and Katerina. It is the cutest thing ever to hear him in his car seat signing away. Tonight was a little different then his "la La la la LAAAA" though. Tonight he tried to harmonize with Josh Groban. It was an "ahhhhhh," and it was adorable! My parents tell me I used to do the same thing, so this does NOT mean he will be a great singer. Haha! I just think it's adorable and wanted to note it in case one day he decides to sing =).

Christmas cookie pics coming real soon!

Gabriel and Santa

Here is a picture of Gabriel visiting with Santa Claus in Orlando, FL =)





He actually enjoyed Santa and the Disney experience! We did not go to Disney World, just Downtown Disney for now. Josh and I aren't exactly fans of the Magic Kingdom, although I am sure we will visit when Gabriel is old enough to go and have fun. He loves his Mickey Mouse Doll and that is enough for right now ;).

Christmas Cards!

With Love Blue Christmas 5x7 folded card

Create beautiful photo Christmas cards at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Mommy's Helper...Christmas Mouse!

Over the weekend we decorated our house and Christmas Tree. Josh and I enjoyed the last bit of his vacation with warm drinks, the Grinch who stole Christmas, and our curious little guy! It was the best! I always love this time of year..At times, though, it makes me sad because I know it will only last a few weeks. I try to soak up every second, and not to think about it coming to an end, but for some reason that is always hard for me. I love the love and joy at Christmas time, and it is so much more special to have a baby to share it with! I guess that is why I don't want it to end... His eyes light up every time I plug in the tree. I love to hear his little voice, "tree, tree!" I hope I never forget that!

Here are a few pictures of my Christmas mouse:








Other words Gabriel is adding to his vocab: eyes, fish, door, and pa pa. His favorite is still DOG though!!! He definitely loves his dogs!

Sunny Florida!!!

Josh, Gabriel, and I set out on an adventure last Saturday to FLORIDA! We had SO much fun soaking up a little sun (until Wednesday it was 80 degrees), spending time with family, and visiting some pretty cool places! I took about 300 pictures.. I usually am bad about taking pictures on vacation, but having Gabriel has turned that around. I want a picture of him here and there, with grandma, with grandpa, with the fish, and everything else! He brings such Joy to our lives! Our family in Florida miss him already..and we miss them too... We have memories, though, that we will take with us forever.

The Lost Maternity Pictures!

As a photographer I don't get to edit my own pictures as often as I would like. SO, we took maternity pictures and I never got a chance to edit them. People with kids know how surreal the time is after baby arrives. I enjoyed that time and then it was time to jump into wedding season. Anyway, as we begin trying for another baby I REALLY wanted to get my maternity pics done. Here they are at 39 weeks pregnant with David Gabriel!