A Very Merry Christmas

You celebrated your first Christmas today! We went to church last night and you were a champ even though the mass started at bedtime. You slept well too, so Santa could make his appearance...and he didn't disappoint! You and your sisters made out like bandits. (Daddy always likes to take a picture of the "aftermath.")

The three of you looked so cute in your matching pajamas too. These are some of my all-time favorite pictures of my girls!

You were smiley and happy despite the cold that you were fighting. You helped open your presents a little, but left most of the work for Daddy and me. Though you got some new clothes, a few toys and teethers, I think your favorite part of Christmas was our tree. You haven't been able to spend much time around it since it isn't particularly sturdy, so you loved your time under it today.

I don't blame you. There's something magical about the glow of the Christmas tree lights as they reflect off of the garland and ornaments. You and your sisters help keep the magic alive for Daddy and I...thank you. Merry Christmas sweet Gabrielle, we love you.

Who's That Cute Baby?

I think that's what you were trying to ask me today while we were doing a little tummy time on the floor; who's that cute baby?

I don't know, but I sure love those cheeks of hers! It took a lot of restraint not to start chewing on them while you were working hard to keep yourself up.

You had a very in-depth conversation with that doppelganger of yours. I'm not sure what you two were saying, but I think it had to do with how hard it is to hold that heavy head of yours up.

This has become our daily routine while your sisters are taking a nap. I look forward to it again tomorrow. Who wouldn't love a second view of you? :)

A Smiley Conversation

You have gotten very social these past few weeks, but every time I put a camera in front of you, you just stare at it wondering what in the world it is. So, today I left you on your play mat where there were toys there to distract you from the camera, and I was able to capture at least a little bit of what I enjoy every day. :)

Trimming the Tree again, and again...

I can't wait until next year when this picture includes all three of you girls. The house just isn't ready for Christmas until the tree is up and decorated. Your sisters did a great job putting up ornaments while you watched the magic from afar.

Later that day I had placed you in the Bumbo to sit and enjoy the view as I read books with Eleanore while Charlotte was still asleep. You started getting a little fussy so I picked you up to read with us. It's a good thing I did!! Only five minutes after I got you out of the seat the tree fell right on top of it shattering ornaments left and right!!

As devastating as it was to lose some of our favorite ornaments, I was more upset that you had just been sitting where the tree was now lying. I swept up the mess, salvaged the ornaments that I could, and your Daddy helped me put the tree back up in our old tree stand (since the new one had bent).

An hour or so later I noticed that the sheets underneath the tree were soaking wet. I took a closer look and realized that the old, plastic tree stand was leaking all over our wood floor. So, you, your sisters and I headed to Menards to pick up a new one. We got the best one they had, but it was only $17 and still made of plastic. We brought it home and Daddy and I put the tree up...again.

While you three were sleeping, I finished trimming the tree for the third time and went back into the laundry room to fold clothes. Not five minutes later I heard a crash. You guessed it...the tree had fallen again. I woke your Daddy up who was growling and cursing at the tree under his breath.

This time we didn't take any chances. We brought up Daddy's weight set and set it in the corner behind the tree. We tied a rope through the tree and attached it to the weights and set an extra set of 35 pound weights on the base of the tree stand for good measure.

We may have bought a dud with a curved trunk, but we jimmy-rigged it enough to last through Christmas. It has a considerable lean to it, but that just gives it character, right?

Moral of the story, Gabrielle...NEVER buy a tree with a curved trunk, and spend the extra money for a good, solid tree stand! We won't be making that same mistake again!!

Our Family Tree Tradition

One of our favorite things to do as a family this time of year is pick out our Christmas tree. This year we headed to Dale's Tree Farm to find the perfect evergreen to put up in our family room. It was overcast, but the rain held off for us.

You were nice and cozy in the Moby with me and Daddy pulled your sisters on the tree wagon as we headed to the back of the field of trees in our search.

The trees had been trimmed, so it was hard to find a nice full, fat one like we normally do, but we finally found one to take home with us. Daddy cut it down as you, your sisters and I watched him work.

Another family tradition logged as a family of five. Now to get it home and set it up!

Zoo Lights

Since Daddy was gone for the weekend, the four of us went on a wintry adventure to the Columbus Zoo for Wild Lights with some friends. We weren't sure what to expect, but it quickly exceeded anything that I had imagined! Just about every tree in the zoo was covered in beautiful Christmas lights. They even had a show every 15 minutes where the lights were synchronized to the music and would "dance!"

I had the best seat in the house, looking down at those rosy little cheeks as your eyes took in all of the beauty that surrounded us. You were completely mesmerized...and so was I. :)

Our Three Month Beauty

I was finally able to capture a few snapshots of your beautiful smile this month with the help of your two sisters. :)

You've gotten a couple of nicknames that the girls, Daddy and I love calling you. Besides the obvious Gabby, Daddy started calling you Gabby-goo which has quickly become our favorite name for you. It seems to fit since you're a delicious little bundle of baby goo.

My nickname for you is "Smiles." Before this post it may not have been obvious why, but just look at that beautiful grin! You almost always grace me with a smile right after you've finished eating, or when you wake up from a nap, and definitely at night time when I tell you it's "get-the-baby-naked-time."

Your sisters wanted you to have some of your "friends" in the pictures, so here's Joy. Daddy has given each of his girls a Disney doll just after they're born - yours is Joy. It fits you perfectly!

You've got a couple of great big sisters that love you so, so much. They may have strange ways of showing it sometimes, but they are over the moon about you. We all are, Gabrielle. Happy 3-month birthday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Unfortunately you have already outgrown the Thanksgiving outfit we had picked out, that didn't stop you from joining in the celebration though!

 

Happy first Thanksgiving, my Gabrielle! It was a memorable one surrounded with all of the chaos, craziness and love of your extended Messmer family.

Thank you to Nonna and Ga for treating us to a fun stay at the Great Wolf Lodge!

Dreaming Together

At almost three months old you finally got to meet your "twin cousin," Alden. You also met your older (by a year) cousin Jonathan. I have a feeling you three are going to have lots of fun together as the years go by...and maybe cause a little trouble too.

Right now, though, you two are enjoying a little shut-eye together. I think my favorite part (aside from those cheeks and the two sets of little scrunched-up lips) are those four little hands.

Sweet faces, sweet dreams.

A Whole Lot of Meet and Greets

With all of the Messmer family staying at The Great Wolf Lodge for Thanksgiving this year, you had a lot of people to meet! These are just a few of the faces you got to know this holiday: your Aunt Melinda, Aunt Megan and cousin Alden, Aunt Amy, and Cousin Tommy and Jackie.

The list goes on though! You actually met ALL of your aunts, uncles and cousins on your daddy's side of the family, plus Uncle Fred, Lauren, Natalie, Danielle, Uncle Pauly and Aunt Diane. They loved you and your gorgeous cheeks. Thank goodness you're Aunt Jess was there to take pictures or I would have had almost no pictures from this huge gathering!

A Grin

Your full, toothless, open-mouth smile still eludes the camera, but I was able to catch this little grin! Those cheeks!! If you look closely, you can see the hint of your adorable little dimple on your lower, left cheek. I can't get enough!!

Two Months Already?!?!

How can that be?? At your doctor's visit you were measured at 23 inches long with a weight of 13.3 pounds. You are growing beautifully.

More exciting is the fact that you are sharing your smile with us more and more each day. :) I will never get tired of making that clicking noise if it means getting to see your big, toothless grin and hear that sweet giggle!

Of course, whenever I break out the camera to try to catch a glimpse of that smile, you're too curious about the big black contraption I'm holding for me to get you to smile your big, beautiful grin...but I've caught a couple small ones.

You're already wearing 6 month clothes (although they're a little big, but 3 month is too small!). I can hardly keep your dresser drawers stocked with the right sized clothing!

I'm also loving the little conversations we're having. I haven't recorded any because I'm just too drawn in and focused on you to even think about recording anything. I've got plenty of "video" saved up in my memory though. :)

My favorite, though, is how much your two big sisters love you. They sometimes have a rough way of showing it, but they absolutely adore you and want you to know it!

Faces of You

I just can't get enough of this face. I only wish I could capture a true smile of yours because it is absolutely breathtaking.

But who can't keep from smiling at this face?

Halloween 2015

Here are my three little sweethearts: a cow, a fox and of course, Queen Elsa. I know it's adorable to have a family Halloween costume theme, but I love how unique and independent each of you are. Of course, you didn't have much of a choice this year. I've had this cow costume since Ellie was little, but you're the first one to be able to fit in it at Halloween.

Ellie was trying to convince Charlotte to be Princess Anna, but Charlotte was deciding between a fox and a ninja turtle...the fox won. Your two-and-a-half-year-old sister wanted to be a fox for Halloween, how could I tell her no? I hope you have as much independence and spunk as your two sisters do; you're going to need it in order to survive around here!

For now, though, thank you for putting up with your cow costume all evening. You didn't collect any candy this year, but you were a trooper as we weathered the chilly October air so your sisters could go trick-or-treating for the first time. You were observing contently from your cozy spot in the sling, the cutest little cow around. :)

Tummy Time is Exhausting

...as you demonstrate here. :) You're doing a great job though! Keep up the good work and you'll be rolling around in no time!

A Keeper

You love being held so much, and Daddy was getting jealous that I was getting all of the cuddle time, so he decided to join in on the fun. He was so excited to have you snuggled up in the sling while he wore it.

Can you blame me for loving this guy? He is such a great daddy to you three girls. I mean, just look at that face. Definitely a keeper.

Taking Advantage

The weather has been absolutely beautiful this fall! And we have been taking full advantage. We went to Jacquemin Farms today for fun in the sun...and grain bin. Unfortunately, you're not old enough to have your first vaccine shots, so I wasn't ready for you to get down and dirty just yet.

You were very alert and aware, though, as we spent time digging and playing in the grain bin.

I promise, next time we go, you'll get to dump corn over your head and make "corn angels" too!