The Birthday Boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABE!

It blows my mind that Gabe turns one today! In some ways it seems like he was just born yesterday, and in other ways I have a hard time remembering a time in my life when he wasn't a part of it. And in still other ways I have a hard time remembering him being a newborn - that seems like a lifetime ago. So it's a big bunch of mixed emotions for me - it feels weird!

I wasn't home this morning at 10:18 to really celebrate exactly when he was born last year. (I was getting all of my shots for my upcoming trip to South Africa). But I asked Cory to take a picture of Gabe right around that time - to show what a little boy who is EXACTLY one years old looks like :). Cory thought I was a nut - but he complied (He realizes that he still owes me for buying that Ranger!). I thought they were just going to be at home - and he'd snap a picture of Gabe. But they were out running errands, and Cory was an awesome dad/husband and carted my camera out with him. So here's what Gabe was doing at precisely 10:18 am on 8/7/06.

The next picture also really signifies what our real live 1 year old looks like.....throwing a fit. Gabe has gotten really frustrated in the last couple of weeks because he can't communicate to us what he wants. He knows EXACTLY what he wants - but can't express it to us so that we understand. Or if he doesn't get his way he'll also throw a fit. He's become an expert at arching his back, screaming, screeching - and carrying on. So here's proof of that:

For instance, today we had to run to Walmart for a few things. We were checking out and Gabe started pointing at something and screeching that he wanted it. I could not figure out what he was lunging towards. Then I finally figured it out - he was dying for a loaf of French bread. (And yes, we are creating a carb-lover - this little guy LOVES bread). Since we weren't planning on getting any French bread I told him no and he absolutely screamed. People were staring and they probably thought I was pinching him or something. I ended up having to take him out of the store while Cory paid. He screamed all the way to the car, and for several minutes after we got to the car. Poor guy. I'm hoping we can work on language skills in these next months.

I recently realized we had probably been contributing to the problem. He will point to the things he wants, and in an effort to figure out what he wants I'll go around picking stuff up and ask, "This?" As in "Is this what you want?" He'll nod his head yes, or scream if I'm wrong. Then he's started pointing to things and saying, "This?" So yesterday I realized that I need to point to the items and say, "bread?", or "juice?" That way maybe he can figure out the words and we won't hear incessant screams of, "THIS!"

Anyway - this has become a very long post - when all I wanted to say was HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GABE! We love you, we are blessed to have you in our home, and we look forward to many, many more birthdays to come. Hugs and Kisses!

(Edited to add: I am planning on taking pictures of him eating his cake, and opening presents after nap-time, I'll be sure to post them when I can)