Pretty Pictures for a DAD who's too far away

July

July has been a whirlwind. It has or will include 3 moves (everyone to "summer cottage", Brian to TX, our stuff to TX - Gabe and I will join Brian in TX in August - that will be move #4) and 2 trips for Gabe and I to visit Brian. We're all exhausted, but feeling blessed. (Well, I don't know how blessed Gabe feels. I think he just feels exhausted and a bit confused.) Here are some pictures of the month.

Gabe's been in the pack-n-play all summer and he mashes his face against the mesh at night. He'll wake up with marks like that one in b/t his eyes.

Fourth of July/Pioneer Day

This was Gabe for about a week after we moved into the summer cottage. He was a fixture on my leg or my hip. He's since adjusted and is back to his happy self.

The above two pictures capture two of Gabe's favorite activities right now. Climbing into things about his size, and trying to put every item of cloth over his head as though it's a shirt.

He tried to trick Brian into taking him to TX with him by packing himself in the suitcase. Luckily we found him out just in time.

Gabe loves the tub. He also loves to climb out of the tub (with help) just to get right back in.

Gabe and I had some downtime in NOLA while Brian had training, so we did pudding finger paint in the tub. He ate most of it, but did a little painting.

He also had a lot of fun with his cousins all weekend. I think his favorite activity with them was playing on the slip'n slide. They didn't do much slipping or sliding, but lots of splashing, and sunbathing in their "pondos".

Little Swimmers

Little Swimmers don't work the same as normal diapers. Especially when you use them overnight because you ran out of normal diapers on a Sunday.

In other news, Gabe and I went to the splash park with my friend, Jen, and her kids. Gabe started kicking his legs with excitement as we were walking to the play area from the parking lot and as soon as I put him down, he ran right into the middle with his arms up in the air while screaming. Then he got blasted with a surprise shot of water from the ground. Fun was had all around.

And here's a series of Gabe playing with his Dad

AND OTHER BIG NEWS...
BRIAN GRADUATED (OFFICIALLY) FROM EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY THIS LAST SATURDAY!!! CONGRATULATIONS BUG!

(And here's where I brag and it might get embarrassing). Brian has fit about two and a half years worth of classes into the last year and a half. ***THIS PORTION HAS BEEN EDITED OUT*** All that, and he has been totally present at home with Gabe and I - always helping at home - and of course being cheerful and forgiving of my impatience. Whenever I met any of Brian's professors who worked with him closely, they described him as the "superstar" and "dynamo". Yea for Brian! A big thanks to everyone who gave us encouragement and support during this crazy couple of years.

And there's actually more big news: Brian has accepted a position at Entergy, an Energy company that services much of Texas, Lousiana, Arkasas, and I think some other states. There have been a whirlwind of events and Brian will be starting July 6th in Beaumont, TX. Gabe and I will follow him down in the middle of August, after I fulfill some commitments I have up here in Michigan.

Drinking and Sleeping

Gabe likes to have both sippy cups to choose from during meals - one with water and one with milk. He'll alternate between the two as the pictures below indicate.

These next two pictures were taken on 2 consecutive nights. Most nights we'll walk into Gabe's room and find various limbs hanging outside of his crib.

Those Mean Old Sidewalks

Before
(doing sign for "all done" or "get me out of here")

After
(doing his sign for "drink")

More Walking

Sleeping