Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Two Year Anniversary


David and I just celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary on April 25th! After thinking for forever on where we should go (we just love the mountains so much), we decided on a nice trip to Virginia beach for the weekend. It was so nice to celebrate our anniversary with the three of us. We stayed ocean front, and hearing the waves all day and night was just so relaxing. I didn't want to sleep, it just felt so nice to look and hear the ocean. It feels like we have been married much more than 2 years, that's probably because we had Gabriel before we even got to celebrate our 1st anniversary!! Having a baby certainly ages and deepens the bond that you share as husband and wife. I'm so grateful for my sweet David.

We were lucky to have better weather than we initially thought. We got to enjoy nice walks on the boardwalk, a family bike ride, letting Gabriel play in the park, sand, and in the pool. Traveling with a baby is very different than a romantic getaway for two, haha...but I would not have it any other way. It was so much fun to be with my little family. Gabriel brought so much fun and happiness to the trip. He was fascinated by the sea gulls, and could care less about anything else. He also made it clear that he wanted to walk on the boardwalk on his own. Which was hilarious. He would just take off like the little man he is. Everyone would comment on how cute he was and laugh at how resolute he was on walking the boardwalk. They were having the March of Dimes on the boardwalk and Gabriel really wanted to participate as well! It was too funny.

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

















Happy 2nd Anniversary babe! Thank you for all the great things you do for me.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

A Testament of Gabriel

Our poor Gabriel just got over being terribly sick. Like I have mentioned before, Gabriel has been all sorts of sick this past year. He's had all kinds of colds, viruses, the Swine flu, ear infections, and strep throat in the last year. Being sick always interferes with his sleep and play. Despite the fact that it wipes him out, he tries his hardest to be happy and also puts a smile on our faces.

Last week he was the sickest we had ever seen him (besides the swine flu maybe). He developed a fever Saturday the 10th, and by Sunday we could tell it was super high. When we took his temperature it was 104.3 f. He only wanted to be held. So I held him all day Sunday. The high fever was his only symptom. We assumed it was a fever virus. But he was so lethargic, sad, and was burning up, so we decided to take him to an after hours emergency pediatric practice. We were shocked to find out that he had a really bad double ear infection. The doctor also decided to do a strep test, just to make sure he did not have strep (apparently it's been going around). To our double surprise, he also had strep throat. Poor Gabriel never seems to catch a break in the sick department. We were so shocked at how sick he really was. We felt so bad. They forced all sorts of stuff down his throat that Sunday evening. It traumatized him of all nurses and doctors, and medications (which he normally loves to take, he thinks it's a treat). Of course, forcing medicines didn't work, and he threw all of it up a few minutes later. Consequently, they also had to vaccinate him with a strong antibiotic. Luckily he was not allergic to the medication. Despite all the medications he continued with a super high fever Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday. His fever was 105 f. We were so scared! I would just hold him all day long. The antibiotic that we had to give him made him really nautious and his stomach would hurt. Tylenol and Motrin would not drop his fever by much. After three days with fevers of up to 105, his fever disappeared. He continued to be extremely lethargic until Saturday the 17th. So my entire week consisted of holding him all day long, which I enjoyed. I just cuddled and loved on him as much as I could. My heart just broke to see him so sad; he would whimper and whine through out the day, and all I could do was just snuggle him.

The reason I'm sharing this story is to document how amazing Gabriel really is. On Monday, while his fever was 105 f. he suddenly jumped out of my arms, with a smile from ear to ear, and decided he wanted to be his happy self. He wanted to push away how sick he really felt. He cheered himself up and us also. He ran around, laughed at nothing, cheesed at David and I. He just wanted to show us that he was still happy and ok. We actually really needed that, because we were so worried! While he was playing around, I decided to snap some pictures of him. He played with me and the camera. He would take his golf clubs and point them at the camera, playfully. I felt like I was literally documenting a testament to his character. I am so grateful for the wonderful disposition that Gabriel always has, even when he is so dang sick. He's got such a funny, happy, kind, strong-willed character. Nothing in life is ever going to stop this child.

Below are the pictures I took while he was burning up in a fever. I think they are my favorite of any pictures I have ever taken of him, because they mean so much.


In an attempt to cool him, we kept him in a diaper most of the time.




The final picture below says so much. After all the playing and cheesing, he finally had a thought to himself, "Mom, why the heck are you taking pictures of me?? Don't you know I'm soo sick!" Haha. This is a true Gabriel expression, which is so hard to capture on camera.
I'm so glad I did. After this picture he played for a little longer and then went back onto my arms and I loved on him all over again for the next few days.



Aside from getting all the colds etc., that many little kids his age get, Gabriel is a super healthy, resilient, happy boy. Every experience brings forth new treasured memories. I am so grateful for the joy he brings into my life. We are so lucky.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter Weekend 2010


Spring is here! Spring in Richmond is absolutely the best. Everything flowers and it's such a beautiful place. On Saturday, to set off our Easter weekend we went to Easter Day at Maymont, one of Richmond's prettiest and most historic parks.





My sister came and spent part of her spring break with us, and we had so much fun. I love being able to have my sister close. She is such a great friend, and auntie to Gabriel.


David at the Animal Farmhouse that Maymont has.

Gabriel's 1st Easter! (we didn't do anything last year)

We had some of our good friends over for Easter on Sunday, and had some good food, and an easter egg hunt. The kids all had fun, but would get annoyed at each other the whole evening, it was kind of funny. It was fun to share this easter with our friends The Williams and Souters. It was such a memorable easter, mainly because we had Gabriel to plan for. I loved buying him things for his easter basket which consisted of candy that we didn't let him eat (mean I know), silly putty, and a color it yourself easter puzzle (which I will let him color tomorrow).


Gabriel and his buddies. He did not want to sit down for the picture.



We did let him eat some jelly beans that he took out of his easter egg that he found.

He was so hooked! I guess that's what happens when we deprive him of sweets.





Running to find more eggs!



Happy Easter to all our friends and family!