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!

OUR NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION

She loved her "champagne" (don't worry it was sparkling cider)
Cheers Mommy

What a beautiful presentation :)

Happy New Year Gabriella - our best gift in 2009

Daddy and his baby

We had a nice New Year's Eve at home with the Brennan/Gill family. Kelleen, Adam and their twin boys came over, hung out, ate, and spent the night. It was fun to have a slumber party. We enjoyed great Puerto Rican food, cocktails and games. The babies all went to sleep early but my little Caroline was in it for the long haul. She made it until 11pm and when I finally made her go to sleep there was a massive temper tantrum which finally knocked her out - she was so tired. She loved sitting at the table with us so we popped our champagne and sparkling cider a little early so that she could play with the adults. She loved the cider in the champagne glass. She keep clinking my glass and saying "Cheers Mommy"

I couldn't have thought of a better way to bring in the new year than with my wonderful family.

Happy 2010 to everyone.

CHRISTMAS BEHIND US - ON TO 2010

Beep, Beep
Caroline holding a bunny on Christmas Day

Help me - who is this guy?!

Gabby's new car from Aunt Amy & Uncle Brian

Caroline and her new bike from Santa (Papa)

Caroline and her cousin Kylie - always giggling

Gabriella and Abuela

Nonnie & Gabriella - great picture

The Silverios Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas - Caroline was really into the Santa thing this year. We put out cookies and milk for Santa before she went to bed on Christmas Eve and she was so excited to see in the morning that he ate almost all of his cookies and drank all but a drop of his milk (just what I needed, more cookies). We all feel very blessed this Christmas and of course the girls got way too many gifts - I swear no more gifts for birthdays or holidays. They don't need anything, I have nowhere to put all this stuff and some of it I haven't even opened yet until they get bored with some of the other new things. It is just so hard to say no when buying for them. SPOILED!

We are having some friends over for New Years Eve - Kelleen, Adam and their twin boys. They will spend the night - hopefully we can get all the kids to bed early and we plan to play some cards / games and enjoy a night with friends. Junior and laugh that we have no desire to go out on New Years Eve - we want to be home with the kiddos and it is fun just to hang out with good friends.

We are having a great time with Carmen here and it is such a big help - especially with the girls out of day care these past two weeks. Wow, I don't know that I could do it all day every day - it is nonstop. Of course I love the time with them but I miss some quiet time and my days working. Work is very slow right now as is typical during the holidays. I'm looking forward to a busy and successful 2010. Junior is out of town for a few days for work and hopefully their business will continue to be busy in 2010. We look to 2010 as the year to get back on track after both of us being laid off for several months.

Caroline is talking nonstop and is so close on the potty training - we have about 5 diapers left and I have told her that I am not buying anymore. She got a new bike for Christmas from Santa (Papa) and we will be spending a lot of time riding that. She starts soccer on Jan 17th. I think she is a natural - she is so good with a soccer ball - I can't wait to see her in action. It is hard to believe that she will be 3 in 4 months. She is such a big girl. She is still having some Terrible Two tendencies but I have been warned that these often last through the 3's - GREAT! We will make it through - I have to remember to be patient - she is a VERY strong willed little girl and wants all things her way - kinda like her mother :).

Gabriella is so close to walking - she walks around furniture, and can walk behind a walker. I would guess in the next month or so. She is still the sweetest baby in the world and is so funny. She makes the funniest faces and she has such an amazing personality. She loves to copy anything that you do - it is so cute. Of course she is most interested in her big sister and they crack eachother up - it is the best sound, hearing them giggle. Gabriella has such a great laugh and she laughs so often - she is such a happy baby.

We look forward to 2010 with our girls and I of course can't wait to spend another year with my wonderful husband.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Enjoying a wagon ride on a warm AZ winter day
Gabriella and daddy sharing a candy cane

Oh Gabriella

Caroline helping mommy mash bananas for banana bread

She is so fast on the bike

The girls with Nana & Papa at the train park

Mommy and her girls at the train park

A night out at a holiday party - no kiddos :)

We are gearing up towards Christmas and very excited. Shopping is done and 95% of the wrapping is done. We will spend Christmas Eve at dad's with the whole family, including Junior's mom. Amy and Brian will of course be there too along with Brian's brother Steve, his wife and 2 of their 3 children. It will be a great night with family. Junior's mom has been making some traditional Puerto Rican food that we will all enjoy along with some Italian from Kathy - it will be a good mix of holiday traditions. Christmas day we plan to wake up with the girls and open Santa presents and spend most of the day relaxing at home.

Carmen has almost been here a week and it has been great. It worked out great because we have had several holiday parties to attend (the last of them tonight) and Carmen has been here with the girls. Caroline is warming up to her and Gabriella LOVES her Abuela. I wonder if she remembers her voice and touch from when she was first born - she sure acts like it.

Here are a few pics from the last several weeks. More to come of course after Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all if I don't have time to post before then.

XOXO,

The Silverio's