So, this weekend I convinced Nick that we should each open a Christmas gift from each other so that we didn't have to take them all with us to KS/NE. I got a purse and some chocolates, Nick got three shirts, and Gabi got a shape sorter. At first, she was was more excited about the wrapping paper, but now she plays with the singing "cookie jar" every day.
Since we had some success with the Gerber puffs last week, I thought we would try the Gerber "Biter Biscuits". As you can see from the pictures, she liked to eat these too, although we learned that we'll need to use a bib next time. And, once again, Nick and I ate a HOT meal together! :) The last picture shows Gabi's new thing for the week--wrinkling up her nose to laugh/smile at us...one of Nick's new "favorite" things!
I was emptying out the dishwasher this week when Gabrielle crawled into the kitchen to "help" me. At first I told her "no" and put her back on the floor several times. But, then I decided that every kid needs at least one picture in the dishwasher...
Gabi's learned to "double-fist" her toys...when she gets tired of one, the other toy gets chewed on for a while, and then switched out again.
I think that she's trying to find all her pacifiers, and stash them away for when she may need them (or at least when she thinks she needs them).
I was getting dressed the other day, and let Gabi crawl around our bedroom. She obviously climbed up to our standing mirror, and I thought these pictures were just toooo cute!
We've "mastered" using the timer on our digital camera. So, I couldn't resist taking another family picture before church, especially since we were all wearing brown clothes.
We tried feeding Gabi some of those Gerber fruit puffs for the first time. At first she wasn't for sure what she was supposed to do with them.
But, just like most everything else, she tried sticking them in her mouth. Then she gave us a "yucky" face, which I think was mostly due to a new texture she was unsure about.
At the end of lunch, Nick and I figured out that we could eat our food while it was hot with little distraction. AND, Gabi started to get used to them and actually enjoy their taste too.Gabrielle and I get to spend a lot of time together, and we have lots of fun during the week. Here's a few pictures we hope you enjoy!
Gabrielle likes her toy cel phone that Grandma Martin bought for her. It makes all kinds of sounds, including "hello" and "goodbye", which are her favorite! Sometimes though, it just tastes better than anything...
Gabi likes to give me kisses (open mouthed for now) on my cheek...it's quite slobbery, but I do enjoy them a lot anyway!!!
Racing down the hallway to Gabi's room.
Sitting on the box that we got in the mail...perhaps we shouldn't get her any toys for Christmas and just let her play with the wrapping and stuff!?
Trying to tickle daddy's feet, but it's ending up being more like EATING daddy's toes!!!
Taste-testing one of daddy's remotes. She must think that this one is okay since she tries to get it all the time!
Daddy did Gabi's hair after her bath the other night. I think that Mommy will stick to doing her hair when we go out in public...what do you think?
This was probably one of the funniest things I have ever seen Gabi do so far. She was "exploring" the basket and it tipped herself over into it...funny thing was that she was laying perpedicular over the top for a few seconds, but I wasn't fast enough to get a shot of that. She ended up "dumping" herself out the other side to get out. :)
Doesn't she make a great mime?
Standing with only one hand makes me a bit nervous when she's beside something that she could hit her head on. And, she's already tried standing without holding onto anything for just a second!
Always enjoying playtime with daddy.
More adventures pulling herself up and standing.
Just one more beautiful smile from our little girl.
Grandma Reinke is holding Gabi while she's trying to figure out who this boy is...
Gabi's still not for sure what's going on, although Matthew (my sister, Katherine's son) is trying to give her a gentle hug (great for an 18-month old little boy!).
Matthew at one of his happy moments...he ended up getting sick (and so did his dad, Dan), so the smiles didn't last all weekend, unfortunately.
Here's a picture of our house on Thanksgiving Day...yes, it is snowing! I couldn't believe it, but it snowed again on Sunday too, enough for kids in town to build some pretty neat-looking snowmen! 
Just another view of the snow from our front porch.
I have to brag about the pie that my mom, my sister, and I baked for Thanksgiving dinner. It actually looked like the one in the recipie picture, and it was delicious! If Carmel Apple Pecan Pie sounds good to you, I can send you the recipie...yummy! :)
Gabi had to check out the "Toys R Us" ad to see if there were any good deals on Black Friday. We had to give her the pacifier, otherwise, she was eating the paper (since everything goes in her mouth right now!).
Gabrielle's first experience with Santa, which I predicted would be like this because of the "stranger danger" she's developed lately. Matthew was giving Santa a dazed-and-confused look, and Gabrielle just bawled...
After our Santa time with a candy cane. Don't worry, the wrapper's still on! 
Lookin' pretty cute with Grandpa Reinke's hat on...reminds me of a picture that I took with my grandpa growing up! 
