Trying to take a picture

We've all done it...try to take the perfect picture of ourselves and there is no one around to help you take that shot. I came across this pic in my photo archives and saw the many attempts Rob and I made to get a shot of ourselves with the kids. The good news is that the picture is blurry and you cannot see my any skin flaws.

Have a great Labor Day weekend! More about our weekend to come.

When it rains, it pours!

Just has Natalia is crawling the 100 meter dash, Gaby is now interested in the potty. This is so exciting for me. Last week, as I attempted to put her diaper on, she said, "no...Natalia's diaper" and pushed it away. She wanted to wear her new princess panties, but we were getting ready for school and I had no idea what to do. Rob told me to put the diaper on her with the panties over it. This is what we have done for those "accidents." On several occasions during the time she is home, we ask Gaby if she needs to go pee-pee or poopies and we go in and sit on the John. I read 1-2 books each time and have set the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see? to memory. We switch out books everyday for a variety.  This is so exciting for me because we can't wait to get her out of diapers.

Quiet comes with a price

As I was adding my last blog, I noticed it was amazingly quiet. I entered the room to find a suspect, evidence of a "no-no" crime, and a witness. Can you guess who did what? Grandma brought over ice cream and Gaby saw me put them in the freezer. Since it is a bottom load freezer, she opened it and began eating it on her own. OMG!

I really want Gaby's hair to grow, but was noticing that her hair was all different lengths. She's never had a haircut. Usually by the end of the day, her hair appears unmanageable and she looks like wild woman. We took her to Lions and Tigers and Hair in Petaluma to get her first haircut. Gaby played with trains and dollhouses before her cut. She was very content, that is, up until she had to get her haircut. Don't get me wrong. She sat down and even let Chris put the cape over her new Aurora dress. As pieces of hair fell, she was quick to scoop them off. All in all, about 2 inches came off the back and even even added bangs. As you can see, Gaby gave no smile during the entire experience.

I had to add this one

I noticed this pic wasn't added the first time so I thought I'd share. You gotta love this expression.

I'm back at work

Since I'm a Nealon girl, I can share my stuff too. I'm back at work. On the first day, I had 21 students, then 20, then 19...but 19 is good, really!!! Don't send anymore. I have my hands filled.  Chocolate, donuts, candy....everywhere. It is completely ruining my diet to be back at work but I have been lucky as I haven't gained a pound, but maintained for the week. I must channel my inner Susan Powder and get over this hump. So far, it has worked a little as an army of ants arrived to completely cover the gingerbread man we make and search for at the beginning of the school year. When my principal "found" him, we had to attach a note on top of him that said, "please don't eat me. I've been running through the bushes and got ants all over me. I brought you some cookies instead." Thank God I though to bake gingerbread man cookies last night.

Crawl to a stand

This week, my little Nati worked some Marathon crawling. Could the Bejing olympics be inspiring her? She crawls across the room. over the step to get into the kitchen and completes the journey by standing.

Summer is almost over for me!

Long days of summer will be over for me in 6 days. In the meantime, I am in the kindergarten classroom cleaning up the mess I escaped on the last day of school and getting rid of things I thought I needed my first year in kindergarten. So far, my enrollment is a safe 18 students so if it stays at that number, I am good for another year. I have a set of twin girls and a kid who has been "red flagged" - more details to follow.

I've also been keeping up with the intense workout routine and have been very successful keeping the almost 10 pound weight loss since I begin in early June. Lots of cardio (community center workouts, dvds, and timed walks around the neighborhood.) The goal is to continue to lose another 10 pounds and keep this great exercise plan going. I will need to keep in the best shape possible if the academy is in my future in coming January 2009.

Friday Rob and I will be going up to the Santa Rosa Training Facility to volunteer for the scenarios senior recruits have to complete before graduation. Hopefully, high school acting classes kick in as I will possible role play a public drunk, murderer, etc....who knows until Friday. With this, more to come. 

Guess who is crawling?

Natalia is crawling. It is adorable. What is even more amazing is that she is also pulling herself up to a standing position too. Here is another thing....she is "tonguing" an area on her gums so I am guessing there is a tooth that is coming up. This baby is growing up fast.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Rob and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary this year. This year, instead of the tradition leather gift, I gave Rob The Perfect Pull-up. In Nealon tradition, we headed out to Monterey, this time joined by our wonderful kids. I will admit it was not as relaxing as we hoped, but still had a good time. We are both exhausted now and will have a nice rest in our own bed tonight. We stayed at the Sanctuary Beach Resort and had a view of the coast to die for. We visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium and had clam chowder in a bread bowl on Fisherman's Wharf. 

On our way home, we went to Gilroy Gardens and suffered through a few of Gaby's infamous tantrums. 

Welcome to our new website

After two years at http://www.babygabrielle.babywindow.com/, I have decided to cancel the website and begin a new one that will include slideshows and video of both my girls. Unfortunately, closing the site would also mean losing lots of documented history. I pulled a few pictures from the website just to have so they are not lost. So I begin our new blog with this one taken days after Natalia's arrival. Gaby is very lovey toward her sister so this is a typical picture of the two of them.

The Cousins

This is Kendelle, Gaby's younger cousin by three weeks. Gaby and Kendelle fight like sisters, but they call for each other all the time. Hopefully, they grow up to be best friends.

Children's Fairyland

This picture was taken at Children's Fairyland in Oakland, California. I went there frequently as a child so it was very nostalgic. Gaby enjoyed herself too despite her big toe toenail snagging and falling off at the park...doesn't it make you cringe thinking about it.

One of the first pics

Here is another pic that is our favorite taken days after Natalia was born.