Miss Busy Body...

Hi Everyone! Here are a few pictures from the past week or so. Enjoy!

Gabi is very dramatic when she says "Maaaama" or "Daaaaada," as she is doing in this picture.

These overalls have to be the cutest ever...a Christmas gift from Grammy and Papa.

Gabi spinning and trying to jump!

Gabi has had a few sleeping issues lately. After a 48 hour period of about 10 hours of total sleep, this was the result during dinner. She just wanted to play and be held and not be in her crib. We're back to normal now (knock on wood).

It was so warm last week -- 60s and 70s, so Gabi and I got out everyday and went for long walks to the park and to run around on the golf course. It was a nice break from the cold of winter. We're back to 20 and snow today.

Meeting a llama at the National Western Stock Show.

Petting a sheep. Gabi likes all animals, but I think horses are her favorite.

Gabi is a little animal herself, so we thought about leaving her in this pen, but ended up letting her out and taking her home. ;-)

That's all for now! Have a great week!

Joe, Tara, & Gabi

A Year Ago Today...

We held our daughter for the first time. My tears are flowing remembering the feeling of finally getting to see her beautiful smile and look into her eyes. We can't believe it has been a year already since we visited her in Guatemala. She wasn't quite 4 months old yet, but had the same smiley, giggly, easy going personality that she does now. Every minute that we spent with her was treasured, even that first night when we just laid awake and listened to her breathe. What a gift we had been given.

And even though we had to say goodbye for a couple of months, we know it was worth getting to hold her, feel her, play with her, and fall completely in love.

Today, a year later, we celebrated by taking a long hike on South Table Mountain. It was 60 degrees today, so we couldn't help but get out and soak in the sunshine. Gabi loves the backpack and has learned how to spur Joe to make him "giddy up". Jackson was grateful for the exercise as well.

We're headed to the National Western Stock Show with some friends tomorrow, so I'm sure I'll have some more pictures to post from that soon. Have a great weekend -- hopefully it's a 3-day like mine is! Yea!

Love,

Joe, Tara, & Gabi

Gabi's Daily Doings...

Hi Everyone! We hope everyone's 2009 is off to a great start! Gabi is growing and learning so fast! Here are some of her favorite things to do:

• Not just walk, but RUN everywhere!
• Spinning around in circles
• Trying to jump (quite cute)
• Kicking and throwing balls
• Reading books and pointing out things she knows (Dora characters and animals).
• Playing with her baby doll and taking it on walks in the stroller
• Sunglasses!
• Giggling, especially when tickled
• Doing yoga with mom (she's a pro with downward facing dog and thinks it is so funny whenever I raise my arms above my head)
• Eating with a spoon
• Feeding everything crackers or her milk (book characters, the cat, the dog, her baby)
• The snow!

Do you think this snowsuit is a little big? ;-) All she wants to do is eat the snow!
Big sister in training!

She likes to read books to herself, but we read her lots too!


Applesauce...yum!

Gabi went to see Dr. Julia this week and passed with flying colors. As expected, she is extremely tall for her age (34.5 inches). This is way over the 100th %ile and is about average for a 2 year old. Somehow the Hall genes must have rubbed off on Gabi!

On the other baby front, everything is going well. We had an ultrasound yesterday and all is normal! It was so amazing to see the baby moving around and it's heart beating strong! I've been feeling great too, so that is a plus as well. The belly bump is starting to be obvious now and it is a little strange to be around highschool kids while pregnant...they have so many questions! Fun stuff, though!

Love to you all,

Joe, Tara & Gabi