Happy Belated Easter!

Hello Everyone! We hope you all had a wonderful Easter! Ours was fairly low key, but fun nonetheless! The Easter bunny brought Gabi a sandbox that she LOVES! We're glad that it has decided to be spring again, so she can enjoy it as much as possible.

Since Easter Sunday was rainy, we built Gabi a playhouse out of an old box. Funny how free stuff is way more fun than those expensive toys!

Gabi in her Easter dress:

Joe's idea of sympathy weight (it's a beach ball)-- ha ha! The only one around here putting on sympathy weight for me is the dog. He's going to be the one losing it too once we can start running together again!

About 5 more weeks or so until baby #2 is due. We have another ultrasound next week, so hopefully I'll be able to post the pics and you'll get your first glimpse of him/her as well! I've had a very healthy pregnancy and still feel great (except for that belly that is always in the way!) When Gabi is asked what is in mama's tummy, she says "baba," and gives it a nice little pat and then pokes my now outie of a belly button. It is very cute.

Love to you all,

Joe, Tara, & Gabi Girl

Fun at Grammy & Papa's!

Gabi was very fortunate to spend the last 2 weekends with Grammy and Papa at the ranch. All 3 of us went up the first weekend and Gabi played a lot with cousin Gio. We had to cut that visit a little short due to the weather, but Joe and Gabi headed up again last weekend with some of Joe's buddies that he works with and their boys. I stayed at home and put my recent "nesting" instincts to good use by getting a lot done around the house! I sure missed my Gabi and my Joe though! Here are some pictures from their visit last weekend:

Dying Easter Eggs with Ella & Kate (2nd cousins -- Natalie's kids!):

I thought this was a really cute picture of Kate!

Wrestling with Jerry's twin 7 year olds and 5 year old boys:

From all accounts I've heard, Gabi held her own against them. Maybe this will have her hoping for a baby brother!

Wrestling with Papa:

Giving Grammy's huge cat a hug:

Petting one of the lambs:

She loves saying "Baaaa!" at the top of her lungs. Whenever she heard the lambs bleating, she new dada and papa were on their way inside!

Propped up in a snow bank:

It sounds like everyone had a great time last weekend even though it was snowy. Joe's friends, Jerry and Yung, and their boys really enjoyed their first taste of ranch life -- they got to see all kinds of stuff including the new calves and lambs, the horses, a sheep being sheered, the lambs getting docked, and lots of other daily happenings. I heard there was a great snowball fight and lots of sledding as well.

On the home front, Gabi is doing great and saying more and more words each day. Today she has said, "dirt," "trash," and finally, "ruff ruff". It is fun to listen to her try to say other things as well. For example, chicken is "cha cha" -- very funny. She has been having fun with her Easter eggs and basket and we finally got to go outside in the sunshine today because it has decided to be spring again instead of this bout of winter we have had the last couple of weeks.

Finally, here is a little video for you of Gabi trying to walk in Joe's size 12 shoes!

Have a very Blessed Easter!

Joe, Tara, & Gabi