April Action

"April Action" is an appropriate title for this month's post as Gabriella is moving, and she's moving fast! The 15-month-old will decide on her own time when she's ready to let go and take her own independent steps, but for now, she can go everywhere and anywhere she wants to. She can get up; she can get down. And this month, she became stable enough to walk with the help of just one adult finger. Will next month be the month she lets go??

Her language also continues to develop beautifully. She babbles more than ever, and her babbling surprisingly sounds like real words (but aren't). This month, she started using several new signs and will ask for "more please" without prompt. She can sign milk, water, more, please, thank you, help, all done.

Gabi is most certainly turning into a little toddler, throwing tantrums if she is the least bit frustrated and being pickier about the foods she allows herself to eat (and then throwing the unwanted food on the floor). While those fun times can be super frustrating for her parents, she continues to dazzle, smile, laugh, and charm her way into everyone's hearts and keeps us entertained throughout the day.

At Gabi's 15-month check-up, she weighed in at 21 lb 6 oz, putting her in the 53rd%, and she measured at 31" long which is in the 67th%. She continues to grow beautifully, as long as we can get some food in her from time to time.

Gabi is becoming quite helpful around the house. She helps with the recycling, both putting in and taking out:

In other attempts to be incredibly helpful, Gabi has offered to help empty the dishwasher. (Mommy had to quickly grab the camera to take the cute baby pictures before gently reprimanding her that climbing into the dishwasher is not ok to do...)

As long as Gabi was offering her services, we thought we'd take full advantage:

We went to the Thinkery one afternoon with Gabi's friend, Jax, and these 2 lovebugs flirted away!

"artistic"(?) shadows of our cute little family walking together

showing off our amazing package from Uncle Harris and Aunt Gail

The empty bathroom cabinet, once discovered, became one of Gabi's favorite new spaces.

These are professional pictures taken at Jared and Marni's wedding from last month, but they made it to the blog a little late.

Your kitten fix for the month. We still love them too.

And some sweet moments from the month captured on "film":

Surprise surprise, Ms. Independent wants to start feeding herself with a spoon. She's getting there!

Someone didn't get to see inside the cabinets like she was used to.

Giggle Monster

Mommy Monster Meets the Giggle Monster

Passover 2014

We certainly had a lot going on with Gabi's 1st Passover last year. While there was no conversion or baby naming to celebrate, there is certainly never a dull moment with 17 members of the family staying in one house for one week. Lots of fun and food was guaranteed to ensue, and this year was no disappointment! 

getting some last little bit of chametz in before the holiday begins

Within 5 minutes of cousin Mira's arrival, Gabi bonds to her immediately. Girl cousins gotta stick together.

The week of family togetherness - of course - commences with COUSINS BATH! This combination of cousins in one bath has NEVER been done before.

But then, 3 cousins in 1 bathtub were not enough. Along comes Mira!


Hanging out around the house with baby Sammy:

Aunt Syssa with her youngest nephew

Gigi with her youngest great-grandson

At dinner, my pastaholic daughter decides to be fed like a baby bird. Then again, I was enabling it. Then again, it was HILARIOUS.

Just our entire family out at a restaurant getting alongly-like (minus late arrival Jon):


At breakfast, big cousins Mira and Noah help Gabi practice walking.

Gabi hangs out with Aunt Mandy, Uncle Mitch, and cousin Sammy under the umbrella, watching Zayde burn the chametz in the rain.

The first seder arrives:

even baby brother is represented

a classic "Aunt Syssa shot"

Jacob and Gigi

cousin Daniel, Noah, and Uncle Mitch

Aunt Mandy, baby Sammy, and Aunt Syssa

Zayde and Aunt Sandi

Aunt Syssa shows off some amazing artwork from Passovers WAAAAAY-past

Not even 3-year-old Noah is prepared to recite the Mah Nishtanah with accompaniment from his big cousin, Jacob.

Mira rocked Mah Nishtanah this year, reading it from the Hebrew text!

Big cousin Mira loves spending time with her youngest cousins.

silly Uncle Craig

Zayde shows the maror to his grandchildren. They don't seem to be terribly interested.

The next day, we take all 5 cousins to get their 2nd annual professional pictures taken together. The other cousins each got great individual shots and family shots...one of the cousins (no names mentioned) may have not enjoyed her experience as much. Enjoy the series of pictures, and make special note of Jacob's face as the screaming increases in volume:

Hanging around the house in the afternoon:

Big cousin Daniel did a fantastic job all week at entertaining multiple little cousins!

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With the 2nd night of Passover comes the annual entire-family picture:

(And how do you entertain 17 people while they're waiting for the camera to be set up for the picture?)

Each of the 4 "kid units":

Nana and Mira

Aunt Susan and cousin Daniel

Gabi and Gigi

Some final scenes from the week:

What holiday is it?! Gabi is so confusing!

Big cousin Noah helps push Gabi in the stroller.

Being only 7 months apart, these 2 little ones looked QUITE different the last time we saw Sammy when he was only 8 days old!

This is how Gabi and Nana's kitty Tani got along (/this is how Gabi tortured the kitten):