Invincible

My little angel is walking. For the longest time I kept wondering how I would feel when he started walking. I definitely thought I would break into tears when Gabriel took his first steps. Instead, I was completely elated and excited for him. Every time I thought about him walking, I kept looking at it like it was a sign of him getting older, and more independent. Which is an exciting thought. At the same time, it's a reality check. Gabriel is getting older. In fact, he will be a year old in a month or so. I have adored seeing my little baby grow up. I have also cherished every single second with him as my little baby. I have made the best of late night feedings or cuddling because I realize that when he is older, and no longer a baby, he will not need night time feedings or cuddling. I have preferred to rock him or cuddle him to sleep rather than just placing him in the crib to cry, because a good friend told me once, he will only be a baby for so long. Cuddling, and rocking him are sweet expressions of love, and let him know that I will take care of him, good care of him. I'm just lucky that he is a cuddler too.

Back on the subject of Gabriel walking. Well, it's such a symbolic thing. Little by little, Gabriel has learned how to walk. It started with rolling himself over, then by sitting up, then by crawling, then standing, then taking a couple wobbly steps, then taking a few more steps, and then fully walking. For him, it was a 10 month journey to get there. Babies are so persistent, aren't they? I'm just so amazed at how it all works. How someone so small can go around our house walking everywhere. We take care of our babies, and so they are dependent on us, but in reality, we are raising them to be independent from us. It all goes hand in hand. I love how it works. I think that's the reason i'm not as nostalgic as I thought I was going to be, about him walking. Instead, I feel so proud of him. Proud that he is becoming his own little person; walking around, babbling about who knows what, pointing to things, smiling, laughing, walking over to me to hold him and then walking away from me to explore this or that. It's amazing. There is so much that is going on in his little world and he is taking it all in. That's why he walks all over the same places, he really is just taking it all in. He is absolutely loving this new walking phase. He wanders around our house so focused sometimes, as if he does not realize that he is walking because he is so enthralled at something, and other times, he looks at me with a smile from ear to ear. He smiles from ear to ear because he is just so proud of himself for all the cool stuff he does, and he wants me to know it, and acknowledge it. I have fun acknowledging how amazing of a baby he is. How great these last 11 months with him have been!

This is a video of Gabriel taking his first steps. We were lucky to have our camera around to capture this moment. He was 10 months old here.



And this video was shot TODAY, at 11 months now. He feels so invincible.

Two Thousand and Nine

2009 was a busy busy year. It has also been the happiest year of my life. The year started in pure bliss with the birth of our beautiful son Gabriel, born February 16th. Our entire year has revolved around raising our son and enjoying the new dynamic as a family of three. With 2010 here, I'm excited to work on building new memories, strengthening my relationship with David, upholding my duties as a mother, and enjoying life with friends and family. I thought it would be nice to chronicle parts of 2009 with pictures of our favorite memories.

One of my most treasured memories of 2009 were the first few weeks at home with our new baby. Our house felt complete, cozy, safe, and full of love. I long for another baby, and being able to relive the experience of adding another member to our family. The happiness felt those first few days is indescribable. Just like the above picture shows, I would just stare and smile at how perfect Gabriel was (and still is).


The first night home, Gabriel was so curious and instead of sleeping, he would make noises and look around at his new home. As typical first parents, we were afraid he would stop breathing, and wanted to be as close to him as possible (the bassinet next to our bed was not enough). We slept with him in the middle, propped up on a pillow that first night. I treasure that memory. That next morning, my sister came into our room, and we were dead asleep. She ran to get the camera, to capture the precious moment. I'm so glad she did!

Also, I have enjoyed making fun memories on holidays. It seemed like all the holidays this year were more special because we had Gabriel to share them with. Below you will see pictures of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Halloween

Thanksgiving

We made thanksgiving paintings by using our hand to make the body of a Turkey! Gabriel's was so fun to make, his is the one with the three turkeys, we took his hand print 3 times and there is three turkeys to represent the three of us!

Christmas

Gabriel putting the first ornament on the tree


Tacky lights tour!






On one of his Christmas gifts


Opening gifts!

He loved his new toy.

So much that he climbed on it to sit on! Haha.





Loved seeing my niece Danica

Gabriel loved to see his cousin Danica and Beck


I got to have a 5 year roomate reunion! I miss these girls so much. I could use such good friends like them in Richmond.

Graduation

After taking my last final

My other favorite memories this year consists of all the milestones Gabriel reached, all the ones I have already blogged about, like switching to solids, flipping over, learning to smile, laugh, and crawl. Currently he is trying to perfect the art of walking, which I will blog about later. In reality, my favorite memories are also the everyday things that he does. Gabriel is an adventurous child, and he gets into everything and wants to explore everything. Below you will see various pictures of his adventures that I was able to snap pictures of.

Yup, reading the paper.

Always getting into the T.V. stand!

I love his smiling face

Taking boxes apart

He gets under anything if he sees something he wants

He loves other kids, and here he is with his friend Ariel

While I was studying for finals and very focused on my studying he decided he was going to entertain himself by getting into the desitin and have a party with it. I had no idea until he came up to me with a smiling face. He got it all over our carpet and himself. It was such a funny and precious moment!

This is one of my favorite outfits

He always opens stuff on his own. I found him having a puff party, he was quite happy.

His first experience with snow:

The first night it snowed.

Looking out the door onto the snow the next morning.

He would keep saying "Oooo" at all the snow.

My favorite memory has also been taking him to the park. I can't wait for this Spring!

2009 was a great year! And 2010 will be even better.