Happy 4th Birthday, Gabe

My Baby Boy, the morning after you joined our family, 2009

Dear Gabriel,

Where do I begin? Except to tell you that if nothing else, you've taught me the lesson that time goes by far too quickly.


There hasn't been a milestone of yours that stayed long enough... there hasn't been a stage that you went through that lasted as long as I wanted it to.


You've proven that your Momma is mushy & that I'm actually a real softy.


And there are lots of reasons you've stolen all our hearts....





You still love Spiderman & have already claimed it as your Halloween costume.


You love cars & all things with wheels.


You have a penchant for tools.


You love your Momma.





You hate day care. You actually already "dropped out."


You don't like being away from your Momma.


You dislike being petted on uninvited.


And don't ever want to get your hair cut.


You just finished with speech therapy & went from 2 word sentences to us not getting a word in edgewise.


You love your sissy & hit her in the same breath.





You absolutely love church. If you think we're headed there, but aren't, it brings tears to your eyes.





And boy, are you handsome. Everyone who sees you & your Daddy, know exactly where you get your good looks. You tower over the others your age but can't keep your pants up with that skinny waist.





You have your Momma's sweet tooth & are the recipient of everyone's sneaky chocolate-giving.





You have my heart. You always will. And you make me proud every morning when you stumble out of bed & my heart bursts.





And if my love keeps growing with every year, I better have an ocean-full.





Happy 4th Birthday, to my Baby Boy,


Love,


Your Momma

Gabe, July '09, Not too sure about this posing-with-princesses thing

Touch of Magic

This is just a teeny tiny portion of the photos we have to preserve the awesome memories we made on our Orlando trip.

What fun. And I'm quite certain that the kiddos aren't forgetting anytime soon.

I'll share more later. But for now, here's the line up:

SUNDAY 2nd day of driving, arriving at our AWESOME condo (thx PeePaw & Gammy), swimming, a wicked trip to walmart, & a late bedtime.

MONDAY a trip to the beach. the kids' first time in the atlantic ocean & a parking ticket.

TUESDAY a trip w/ the WHOLE family to SEA WORLD, BREAKFAST w/ ELMO (compliments of Aunt Stef), & swimming again.

WEDNESDAY a time share schpeal for cheap disney tickets, an afternoon/evening trip to the magic kingdom.

THURSDAY another trip to the magic kingdom...rain again.

FRIDAY a trip to DISNEY'S "Quest" (a pimped out dave & busters)...downtown disney...rainforest cafe.

SATURDAY tie-dying shirts, swimming, downtown disney, the mall, late bedtime as we say goodbye to vacation.

A Week Of Firsts

Holy cow. It's rapidly approaching.
My baby girl, leaving the nest, leaving Momma Bird, & spreading her little kindergarten wings.
You didn't think I could have this milestone approach & not blog & cry about it, did you?
Also leaving his Momma Bird is my little Baby Bird. You know, BABY Bird. The one who wants to stay in his Momma's nest - like - forever.

Also a first is Momma leaving her own nest & going back to the schoolhouse. Momma Bird is soo excited about this.
Not excited: Baby Birds not being with her everyday. All day.
Well, kind of.
Sort of.
Don't get the wrong idea.

Okay, so last week was the first week back in the classroom .... meetings, getting the classroom ready.
Bubs starting day care.
PS Bubs hates it.
PPS Bubs told everyone yesterday @ his party (& everyone today @ church) that HE LOVES HIM'S NEW 'CHOOL.
Him does NOT like it. Trust me. Just ask me. Just ask his teachers. Just ask everyone within a 10 mile radius on Friday when the teacher pealed him from my leg & shielded her ear as he shrieked,
"MOMMA!!!!! MOMMA!!!! DON'T YEAVE ME!!!!"

Then ask me again... about how I went to my car & cried. And cried. And cried.

We'll get through it tho! It's the summer of the Perrys! And all those times we were passed up for this & that, it's all sand in that hour glass. The times have come to us now.

I want to "publicly" (is a private blog ever considered 'publicly'?) give God all the glory for how He directs our paths. How he keeps them straight. And how He not only considers what's best for us -- but He does what's best for us.
Thank You Father for doing that.

Birthday Boy

Ever had someone blog in reverse? That's what I'm going to do.

The party ended w/ some water balloon'ing.

It's good to have a BFF.

It's really good.

It's also good to appreciate cards & really enjoy your gift-opening session.

Especially when you have good help.

Looking good (hot, red cheeks, chocolate frosting, summer boo-boo scars) is also essential.

A "pida'man" greeting card is much appreciated.

Hello, anyone there?

family...and friends who you love like family.

"Catch me Momma" (because even when you're almost FOUR, you still need to be caught).

Got some help (from God) blowing out the candles.

fan club.

an out-of-this-world birthday.

Can't Believe My Boy

is going to be 4.
I just can't believe it.

Right now his favorites are
pirates (thanks to Disney World)
legos "yegos" (thanks to the Lego Store at downtown Disney)
Handy Manny (thanks to last year's gift from the Bartosch fam)
Spidey (altho he seems to be fading fast)

He wants to play soccer. fight bad guys. love on his momma. hang out with papa, peepaw, grammy, & nana. pretend he doesn't love getting tickled by "de grls", go to church, play with the zustiak's marble works, wear the same colors as daddy, & brush his teeth.

He goes to sleep with the body pillow over him & a pillow on his face for good measure.

His feet stink like his dad's.

He likes movies. And cars. And movies about cars.

He cries when I leave him. He doesn't like strangers. And people who don't follow the rules.

Green (or blue) is his favorite color. And he wants to know why boys don't paint their fingernails.

He loves babies.... wants to hug them briefly, then go about his business.

Can't stand anything warmer than room temperature, tomatoes, pepper, olives, & peas.

Never looks straight at the camera when you're taking his picture.

And he's going to be FOUR.