Summer is Here!

That means the smell of sunscreen, dinners outside, sleeping with the windows open, BBQing, camping, boating, corn on the cob.....

Almost 1 - 11 months old!!!

Gemma is already 11 months old!!!!  We can't believe it.  She's changing every day and is so much fun.

On her 11 month birthday, we got a boat!  A budget-friendly, used, fun, family boat.  We took it out to Lake Berryessa for the day where this little lady rocked a sweet life vest that she hated all day long and was captain of the ship.  She loved standing up and pointing to things along the way. 

 It was so hot out (over 100!) that she even wanted to get in for a dip - she played in the water splashing and swimming around for 15 minutes or so without even a shiver or a goose bump.

And then she got a fresh, dry outfit and got to shed the lifevest and hat which was probably her favorite part of the day.  Too bad it lasted only a a few minutes before those pesky items came back on.

Here's a little more about 11 month old Gemma....

- She can drink from a straw

- She loves MEAT

- She likes to climb on the toilet and beat the seat lid like a drum

- She can point at things

- She can climb the stairs

- She can eat veggie burgers like they're going out of style

- She can drink cow's milk in a bottle or a sippee cup

- She can climb over Riley's back and back again

- She can open drawers and empty them in 30 seconds flat

- She can cruise (walk while holding onto something) on just about anything

My First Mom's Day

This year we got to celebrate a new holiday for a new reason - because I'm a mom now!  I was very much looking forward to this Mother's Day.  For an early celebration, we went to Brian's mom and Gemma got to spend a few hours with her Grandma while we made a yummy Mother's Day Eve dinner.  On Mother's Day morning, I got to "sleep in", then I got a steaming cup of coffee brought to me and a smiling, chatty 3-toothed baby.  Then it was off to brunch...

 We went to Postino in Lafayette for a delicious brunch outside with my family.  Gemma was in a feisty mood, but everyone enjoyed her smiles. 

Then in the afternoon, I got a nap (when was the last time I got a nap??????) followed by some quality family time with Brian, Gemma and Riley and then a delicious homemade (by chef Brian) dinner.  A Mother's Day success!

10 Months Old

Guess who's 10 months old?!

This happy, happy baby!  Who's latest nicknames are...

Gemmacita

Gemmaline

Tooties

Tootsies

Choochie

And what is this big girl doing at 10 months old?

Getting into everything.

Eating anything and everything she can get her hands on - her favorites are the tiny treasures she finds in the nooks and crannies of our house.

Eating food with her fingers - baby puree is not a favorite for this big girl!

Pulling up and climbing on everything and cruising along on furniture.

Throwing mini-tantrums when things she shouldn't be playing with are taken away (like Riley's food and water bowls).

Fighting naps.

Showing off her snaggle tooth (yes, her first top tooth is NOT a front tooth, but the one next to the front tooth).

Practicing standing without holding on to anything for milliseconds.

 

 We are so lucky to have such a happy, busy baby.  Looking forward to summer adventures with this chubby cheeked love-bug.

First Friends

Watching Gemma make her first friends is so fun! Her friend Katelyn's mom captured this gem yesterday at daycare when she dropped Katelyn off - she went in to hug her friend!!! Too cute! These two little tots are with each other almost every week day and on daycare BFFs!! Let's just hope Gemma doesn't bite or hit her like she does us and Riley!

Goodbye, Grandma, We'll Miss You

Rest in peace, Grandma (June 3, 1932 - April 18, 2012).

My grandma passed away peacefully in her sleep last week.  We'll miss her so much, but I know she's not suffering any more and she's taking deep breaths of heavenly air.  Lots of Grandma memories came to light over this past weekend during family time for the Rosary and Funeral - Grandma always used straws and had them around the house....she had a little candy dish on her side table in the family room where she kept stale candy, she made the BEST jello salad, she never swore ("oh, sugar!" was the worst you could hear come out of her mouth), she liked her white zinfandel, especially from a box.  She made the most delicious Christmas cookies.  She cooked Thanksgiving turkeys in a bag and her pot roast was delicious.  She always taped checks into cards for birthdays/Christmas/special occasions.  One of my most vivid memories of Grandma is from my 9th birthday at Chuck E. Cheese...I walked into a shelf/stage and cut my eyebrow and was bleeding everywhere and Grandma took the $5 bill out of my hand and made sure to wipe it clean of all the blood!  She also always put a piano bench out for holiday dinners and us grandkids would fight over who got to sit on it.  She also kept cheese balls around which were so good as a kid!  Lots of great memories that will live with us forever.  Grandma, I know you're watching down on us from above....

Ready for the Easter Bunny

Eggs are cooked and dyed!! Gemma says thanks fort cards, Grandpa Tim and Great Grandma Althea! And thanks, Grammy for the egg holder!