STILL A PRINCESS

2 weeks old in her tutu

1 year 2 weeks old - Still a princess

This is my favorite

We took some recent pics of Gabriella in her new princess tutu that are similiar to pictures taken in a tutu and pearls when she was two weeks old. Wow, what a year! She is so big. The pictures are darling and it is crazy to think how quickly she has grown.

Enjoy.

GABRIELLA'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Gabriella had a memorable 1st birthday. Of course her Abuela is still here from Kansas Citys so it was very special that she was here. Wednesday, St. Pat's Day which was her actual birthday was celebrated with immediate family. We enjoyed a trike ride outside, a great dinner cooked by her Abuela and special presents and cupcakes. Saturday was the party with close friends and family. We had a house full including some little friends. Everyone had a great time and Gabriella was her charming self.

It has been a wonderful year and she continues to bring us so much love and so many smiles. She is an amazing baby and SO easy. She is pure love and joy! She is walking all over the place and getting into plenty of things that she shouldn't but we take it all in stride since she has been so good this past year.

Gabriella, mommy, daddy and Caroline love you so much - you make our family complete - well, maybe a little brother some day would be nice but for now you complete us!

GABRIELLA'S FIRST BIRTHDAY SO CLOSE

Nice hair!

It is so hard to believe that Gabriella will be one on the 17th. Not only is is St. Patrick's Day but also my baby's first birthday. What a fun day for a birthday. I so vividly remember 1 year ago. I was HUGE and so ready for her to be born - I was also scared to death. Now a year later I can't imagine one second without her. She is such a wonderful baby, so funny, and so sweet. More pictures will be coming of the birthday events.

On her birthday night immediate family will be over for dinner and cupcakes. We will have a birthday / St. Pat's Day party and let Gabriella go at her own cupcake. This girl LOVES to eat and I can't wait to set her loose with a cupcake.

On Saturday we are having a party with family and close friends. There will be some other kiddos here so I'm sure Gabby and Caroline will have so much fun. I'm sure the new playhouse will get some action.

Check back after the weekend for birthday celebration photos.

Love,

Gretchen

GABRIELLA'S WALKING

Gabriella has been so close to walkin in the past couple of weeks but has still been too scared. Well, SHE DID IT. Of course I was out of town this week and missed it but Junior sent me a video on my phone so I could see her. She takes about 5 or 6 steps at a time until she reaches her point of destination. She is so proud of herself - she has the biggest smile while she is doing it.

11 months old and walking. I put it in her baby book this morning - she turned 11 months old on Wednesday. I can't believe she will be 1 in a month. And now she is walking, what happened to my little baby?

I'm sure by the end of this weekend she will have it down to a science and will be walking all over the place. I know that we are in trouble with her - she is so determined when she wants something and is in to EVERYTHING. Caroline was not like this. I did not have to put things away and she has always left things along, not Gabriella. We need to do some new babyproofing this weekend.

We are so proud of her, both of them actually.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Happy Valentine's Day to all our family and friends - those we love so much. We have a nice long weekend ahead of us - I don't work on Monday for the President's Day holiday. Tonight Papa and Nana are coming over for dinner, tomorrow I'm finally trying to get some junk out of the garage so that my car can get back in the garage so we are having a garage sale. Hot dinner date planned with my #1 Valentine (Junior of course) and Sunday we will just have a family day with the kids and their grandma's. Monday we may venture to the zoo or the train park - I'm sure they will both be packed with it being a holiday and the weather is supposed to be low 70's. It is so nice here right now - sorry for those of you getting hit by more winter weather.

We have a new baby in the family. My sister Julie had a baby boy on Wednesday - another nephew for us - mommy and baby are both doing great. Can't wait to meet little Gunnar Gray Tangeman. Thank God for my sister Julie - without here there would only be neices for me and Junior. We have 6 neices on his side of the family, our 2 girls make 8 grandaughters for his mom. No boys to speak of. Maybe we will have to try for a boy some day......I can't believe that I just said that......

Abuela bought the girls matching dresses for Valentine's Day - they looked so cute. You will see the dresses again in our Easter pics.

Enjoy and hugs and kisses to all on Valentine's Day.

WE ARE STARS

I received a call from our adoption agency today requesting permission to use a picture of me and Caroline from our first meeting for the Adoptive Parents Annual Adoption Guide publication for 2010. This is a national publication. Wow, I feel so honored. Here is a proof of the ad that will go in the publication. And yes, I do believe in love at first sight thanks to my beautiful daughter. She is a dream come true. I remember this moment so vividly and I always will (Aunt Amy was the photographer who captured this precious moment). This picture still brings tears to my eyes and always will - we fell in love immediately. CWA feels that this picture will capture the hearts of many who are considering adoption or in the process. We are so thrilled to promote adoption and what an amazing thing that it is - it has touched our family in multiple ways. I'll let you know when the publication is available.

FLASHFORWARD

The girls have really been having fun playing together now that Gabriella is getting older. Of course, all we hear is "No Gabby" coming from Caroline's mouth as Gabriella is most interested in anything that her big sister is playing with. Caroline has a lot of patience with her and is so good to her. The other day Gabriella was standing at the coffee table and Caroline touched her back and said "I hold her mommy and keep her safe." So sweet - I know that she will always keep a watchful eye on her baby sister (just as Amy did to me). I love the relationship that they are developing.

Here is a great pic of them the other night - they love to "drive" around the house giggling and crashing into things. It is a scary thought that 13 years from now this will be real, in a real car, and Junior and I will be so worried. For now we will enjoy their innocence and do our best to keep them safe.

Gabriella just got her two top front teeth in the last few weeks - prior to that she got her two top eye teeth but the very front ones were not in yet - she looked like a vampire. She now has 6 teeth and is using them to her advantage. We found an array of bit marks on her crib last night. We think she is such a good girl and she will be away and stay in there playing - little did we know that she was eating her crib - little monster!

Caroline started soccer last Sunday and it was so cute. The won't have "games" but they will learn the rules and skills for soccer and have some play games. She will get her team t-shirt in the next few weeks and I'll post a picture. She is really good with the soccer ball - that is why we put her in it, she stays right on the ball and can dribble it for a long run in the grass. She also is pretty good at kicking.

Nothing else new with us - just working, enjoying the girls, and having a great time with Junior's mom here.

Talk soon!