Oh the sweet sound of laughter

This is the first time that Gage has laughed for us and I don't know who was laughing harder, me or Gage.

Make sure your speakers are on.

Merry Christmas - 2008

Wow, what a Christmas! We had an amazing day and I'm sure that Gage had a blast.

Wednesday Gage spent some time with me at work before we headed off to Christmas eve service at church. Then Christmas morning we got up, had breakfast and then opened our presents. Then it was off to Grandma Gore's for lunch and presents. As always we had a great time!

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Catching up

I am so sorry. It's been awhile since my last post. Let's see where to begin.

As of Dec 1, I started back at work and Gage started daycare. Both are going well. They love Gage at daycare and are always gushing about how he is such a good baby. Makes me smile everytime. We've been trying to get into a good routine and we are almost there.

We've been getting ready for Christmas this coming Thursday. I just made our traditional Chex Mix (3 batches for work, home, and Mom's house) and a new goody for me, cinnamon glazed pecans. They are so yummy.

All of the presents have been purchased and are now wrapped and under the tree, just waiting to be opened Thursday morning. We will be going to Christmas Eve services at church Wednesday night with mom, get up Thursday morning to open our presents, get ready and then head to my Mom's for Christmas there.

I hope to take lots of pictures (fingers crossed) to share with you all. But in the meantime here are some form the past few weeks.

The color version of the picture on our Christmas card

Daddy and Gage sleeping while I was getting ready for work

Playing in his bouncy seat



He loves to sleep with his hands on his face



He was asleep holding on to this toy



Getting ready to leave

Rolling update

A couple of days ago we posted about Gage trying to roll over. Last night was the night!! Kelly and I were both watching him try to get over and then all of the sudden.......

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree.......

For the first time in a very long time we got our tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving (we were still too stuffed on Friday).

Here are some pictures from this weekend.

Our new Christmas Tree

Our stocking hung on the mantle

Gage sitting in his bumbo in front of the tree

Gage with his "1st Christmas" hat on

On a roll

A new milestone is in our future (I'm hoping before I go back to work Monday).

Gage is trying to roll over. He has figured out how to roll up on his side and if he could just get that bottom arm out of the way he would be on his belly.

Today he has figured out how to try and get momentum by rolling from his side to his back, back to his side trying to go fast enough to just flip him self over. Here are so pictures of him on his side. He's too cute for words!

Beautiful

I just have to share these pictures of the Bradford Pear tree in our front yard. Kelly and I were out doing yard work today and I just noticed how beautiful this tree has become changing colors.

So much to be thankful for

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect in ones life for the things that they are thankful for. Every year that I can remember at the dinner table we have gone around and said one thing that we are thankful for. So here I sit, thinking about what I'm going to say when it's my turn to speak. It seems like when it comes to my turn I always say the same thing - Family. While this is so very true, I am ever so thankful for my family, this year has been a year that has reminded me how thankful I am for my family.

I am so thankful for that little bundle of joy who is right now is next to me sleeping so peacefully. I feel so blessed that God has given Kelly and I such a beautiful, healthy, sweet, and amazing little boy. It is such an amazing gift to be a mother and the love for this child is so amazing.

My husband is such a great and loving husband and again I'm so blessed to have found him and been able to share the past 10 years together. I look back all we have gone through and think ahead to all that we still have to experience. I couldn't think of anyone else I would want to do it with.

My mother is such an amazing woman and mother, that I don't even know if words can express how thankful I am that she is my mother. I thankful for everything she has ever done for me and all the things that she has ever taught me.

My brothers and sisters, are some of the most amazing people I know and I'm glad that they are my brothers and sisters. They have been a huge support system and I'm so glad that we have each other.

Every member of my family, extended family and friends included, are all amazing wonderful people and I am so thankful for each and every one of them.

So this year as we go around the table and talk about what we are grateful for, I know that when it comes to my turn I will again say "family". Because with each year I am more and more thankful for my family.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

It's almost Christmas Time!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I can't believe that the holidays are already upon us. Amazing how fast time flies.

Last weekend Kelly and I went out and got a new Christmas Tree. I am so excited. We haven't decorated for Christmas since we've moved into this house. So we have a new tree, new ornaments, and it's our first Christmas as a family of three.

This week I got Gage's "Baby 1st Christmas" Ornament at Hallmark. I think that I'm going to try and make it a tradition to get him a new ornament each year. This one is so cute, I've just got to print the picture out for it.
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I can't wait to put the tree up. I think that I'm going to try and get it up this coming weekend. After I get it up I will post pictures.

Learning to play

We received an activity gym from Gage's Aunt Angie as a shower present. It's similar to this one:This has become Gage's favorite activity. We used to put him down there an he would just look at all the colors. Now he has started hitting at the toys that are hanging down and he get so excited and starts "talking" to them. I have video of this and couldn't wait to share.

Gage is learning so many things so quickly, I just can't believe it. It hasn't even been 3 months and I could spend hours listing all the things that he's learned in such a short time. I can definitely see why they say the first year goes by so fast.

First trip and first picture with Santa

Recently we went to see our family in Springfield, MO. Gage had a blast and didn't want to sleep throughout the day since there was so many new things going on. He loved meeting new family members. We had a great time, ate great food, and played cards (yes, even Kelly played). Thank you for having us Aunt Donna and Uncle Nolan, we love you!

While in Springfield, I was lucky enough to get to meet the newest member of our family, Ms. BrookLynn Faith. She is so gorgeous and I can't wait to see this little one grow up. Congratulations Kasie and Brock, she's amazing!

Kelly and I went to Bass Pro Shop since Kelly had never been. While we were there I noticed that they were doing pictures with Santa and the picture was free. You can't beat that. So the next day we bundled up Gage (it was freezing that day) and got his picture with Santa done. He's so cute and so little next to big ol' Santa. It actually snowed (flurries, but it's something) on us on the way back out the car.

2 month Stats

Gage had his 2 month well child check up yesterday. He now weighs 10.5 lbs and is 23 1/4 in long. He had grown 3 1/2 inches and gained 3 1/2 lbs. The doctor said that everything looked good.

Gage was not a fan of the three shots that he got yesterday though. Poor thing didn't know what hit him until it was over.

2 months old

Today Gage is 2 months old. Where has time gone. I know it's not a very long period of time but it feels like we just came home with him last week.

He's getting so big. In the past month he has starting smiling at Mommy and Daddy. And will coo at us for about 5 mins at a time. I love to hear the sounds that come out. So sweet. Sometimes he even suprises himself with the sounds that come out. He's found his hands and loves to try and get his whole hand in his mouth at once and after awhile gets upset when he can't. He has developed a love for the celing fan. Any time he is being fed or just laying around he loves to stare at the celing fan whether it's moving or not. Although tummy time is still not one of his favorite things he is getting better at holding his head up while laying on his tummy. I can't wait to see what the next month has in store for us and what he will learn.

Tummy Time


Worn Out

Laughing at Daddy

Mommy and Gage

Birthday Party

Today was Dakota's 8th birthday. We went to Stephanie and Bryan's house for his party. Gage had a blast seeing his cousins bouncing in the bouncy castle and seeing Aunt Steph, Uncle Bryan and his cousins Lily and Dakota.

I can't believe that Dakota is already 8 years old. I remember when he was Gage's age and loved to cuddle and wouldn't let his daddy put him down.

Here are some pics from his party

Aunt Steph with Gage

Dakota opening his present from Aunt Manna and Uncle Kelly

Hulk hands

It's the simple things in life that please them....rope

Remote control Wall*e

Man all this excitement wears a boy out

Dancing the night away

Awww the sound of music. Gage is obviously a big fan as well. I came home last night from picking up some dinner to Kelly playing his accustic guitar to Gage. Below is the reaction I caught from Gage listening to Kelly's playing.

Happy Halloween!

Today is Halloween. We didn't take Gage anywhere to trick-or-treat but we did have in his trick-or-treat oneie (see attached video). We had bought him a costume but he was a little small for it, maybe he will be able to wear it next year.

This week Gage has been "talking" more and more. He's awake for longer stretches of time and he loves to look around and talk. He loves to stare at the ceiling fan whether it's moving or not. We call it his best friend.

Here is Gage in his Halloween attire talking to the camera. Sorry that it's sideways, still getting use to this camera and what I can and can't do with it.

Smiling!

I wanted to share some video of Gage smiling. He starting doing this a couple of weeks ago and we just love seeing it. Sorry about the shakey camera work. I'm new at it. :)

Catch me if you can

So we've been trying to capture a picture of Gage smiling but it's been a challenge. We've gotten close. We also wanted to be able to look back and remember what he was like at 6 weeks when he smiles and coos so we went out and bought a camcorder this week. So hopefully in the next few weeks I will be able to get some video up on here so everyone else can hear him "talk" and see that beautiful smile as well.

Here are some pictures that we took this week in our quest to get that smile.

Baseball

We had received an outfit as a gift for Gage not too long ago that is baseball themed. Since it's a summer outfit I wanted to make sure that he wore it at least once. So as our tribue to baseball and the World Series that is going on, here is Gage in his baseball outfit.

We can't wait until next summer when he will be able to wear his Cardnial gear and hopefully get to go to his first baseball game to see the Travs play!

Smiles and Colds

This has been a good week although I think that we are getting colds. With the new beautiful fall weather comes crazy messed up sinuses. I started feeling sick Sunday night with a runny nose that has now progressed into a cough, sneezing and the works. Kelly now sounds like he might be getting what I have. Let's just hope that Gage doesn't get it. We are washing hands and making sure not to give kisses right now. I can't wait to get better so I can give him lots of kisses. The nurse from his Doctor's office called this week with his blood re-test results and they came back completely normal which is such an answered prayer.


This week Kelly and I got our first real smiles from Gage. It's such a great thing to see. He is also starting to coo and working on finding that voice of his. I am working on getting a picture of that beautiful simile to share.


Other than that we have just been hanging out around the house this week. Although I did get to run by Kohl's to spend the rest of a gift certificate that I got from my bosses at work for Christmas. I was proud of myself. I only spent what was left on the card and got $10 of free Kohl's cash to spend at a later time. Here is what I got for Gage for to wear at Christmas.

Daddy and Gage

Last night after my birthday dinner I took some pictures of Gage and Kelly watching TV that I wanted to share. They are so cute!!

Oh yeah and these from the night before!

Happy 29th Birthday!

Well today was my 29th birthday. My last year in my 20's. It feels weird, I don't feel like I am 25 most of the time. It's hard to believe that life moves so fast the older you get. You would think it would be the other way. When we are young we are so eager to get to a certain age, 13, 16, 18, 21. We wanted life to hurry up and move along faster so we could get where we thought we wanted to be. But now I wish I could slow everything down it's all moving so fast. Here I am married for 6 years, I just had my 10 year High School reunion, I just had my first child, how did we get here so fast. I hope that this year I can slow down just a little to enjoy life. Make sure that I watch Gage in his first year of life with so many new and exciting things he will be doing and experiencing.


So I woke up this morning to check on Gage and in his bed with him was a card that said To: Mom. I started to tear up (dang hormones) as I opened this card.


This is my first card from Gage. It was so sweet of my husband to think of doing this.

Today I spent the day over at my mom's with her and my sister in law Angie and my niece Heather. We had a really good time just sitting around talking. My brother showed up later that afternoon. Gage was the center of attention everyone passing him around getting to hold him. It's so great to see my family with him.

Tonight Kelly and Gage took me out to eat at Olive Garden. I have been craving Calamari since the Doctor told me I couldn't have fried foods due to my Gallbladder acting up. It was so good. For dessert I had a glass of Sangria which was great as well.

Today was a great birthday. Next year we will be celebrating Gage's 1st birthday in September and then my 30th in October. Crazy to think of.

One Month Old!

Gage, It's hard to belive that you have been in our lives for a whole month. You have already changed so much in 4 short weeks. Your daddy and I feel so blessed to have you in our lives and now we are truly a family. You have already met so many people that love you so much and can't wait to watch you grow.

You are starting to stay awake longer to look at this new world around you. You are holding your head up more and more these days. You can follow mommy and daddy with your eyes and now are starting to turn your head to sounds that you hear. You learn something new each day and you also teach something new to mommy and daddy as well.

We love you Gage!

Mommy and Daddy

Bath Time

Gage had his first real bath yesterday. Since the cord fell off earlier in the week it was okay to now give Gage a real bath. We didn't think that he would like it too much but he actually did really well and didn't cry through most of it.