A little crowded in here?

We've been debating about when to move Gabe from his crib to a big boy bed.  For now we've decided to wait until after the move, so he has something familiar.  In the meantime, it's going to be pretty crowded in his crib!  Lately Gabe has insisted on sleeping with his big Pooh Bear from Nana, in addition to his monkey from Aunt Lisa he's slept with for forever.  Today I checked on him and he'd piled all of his stuffed animals up around him, and made sure they were under the blanket with him.  Now THAT'S love! 

snug as a bug

snuggling up

Happy Birthday "Uncle Woogles"

Today Michael's younger brother, Wilson, celebrates his birthday.  Gabe calls him "Uncle Woogles", and we think that's pretty cool.  Wilson spent the first month that Gabe was born visiting us, and helping take care of all of us.  He did fast food runs, and even went to Walmart at 4 am to pick up baby Tylenol.  We also loved having him here with Nana this past summer for another visit.  Wilson gets married this winter, and we're so excited to have Jess be Gabe's newest aunt.  Happy Birthday Woogles - we love you!!!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Today is Nana's birthday.  We enjoyed having her here this past summer.  She is Gabe's little buddy.  We hope you have a wonderful birthday today Nana!

New York, New York!

(insert Frank Sinatra's New York, New York song here....)

da da da da da....

Start spreading the news,

We're leaving next month,

We want to be a part of it

New York, New York....

Big news!!  We're moving to Albany, New York next month!!  

Michael has been traveling to Albany quite a bit to do various photography and video work this past year, as well as taking educational classes which he has really enjoyed.  He will be continuing to work on various projects and build his photography business as well.  I was offered a job with an Accounting company (which I'm thrilled about!), and we've decided to leave our dear Buena Vista and move up to Albany.  This move has happened very quickly, largely in part to my not wanting to move while hugely pregnant, with a newborn baby, or in the freezing cold winter time.  So it's now or next Spring... and we decided now!  We'll be about 3 hours from New York City and 2 hours from Palmyra, so if anyone wants to take a road trip, you're always welcome to stay with us.  New York... here comes the Eldredge Family!

Bath time!!

We recently moved Gabe from his toddler sized bath tub into the entire tub - and he LOVES it!  He loves to splash around in the bubbles, and try to drink the water from the faucet.  He's already started swimming around and making funny car/boat noises with his rubber duckies.  (I swear, motorized noises are innate in little boys!)  I think he'd stay in the bathtub for an hour every night if I let him.

his bubble crown, courtesy of daddy

getting ready for a swim

not sure why he loves to drink the hot water...

my little boy who is half fish

In Daddy's Shoes

Gabe loves all things daddy, especially having shoes like daddy.  He has a pair of small red crocs that match daddy's, and two pair of slip on shoes that are like daddy's too.  Today he skipped the shoes that only look like daddy's and went for the real thing - daddy's shoes.  Here he is playing outside in Michael's shoes.  

Mess maker, mess maker, make me a MESS!

Yesterday was an impressive day of mess making for Gabe.  At breakfast he kicked his highchair tray off and spilled his yogurt, strawberries and entire glass of orange juice all over the floor.  We mopped the floor.  Twice.   Gabe helped.  :)

At lunch he knocked his bowl full of torteloni covered in red spaghetti sauce on the floor.  We mopped the floor again.  

During dinner, mommy decided to move away from what appeared to be the "cursed" high chair and eat his happy meal in the living room at the coffee table.  (Apparently, mommy's logic has gone out the window!)  He spilled his chocolate milk all over the rug - and on the only white portion of the rug... not the grey speckled part that would have hidden the stain better. Gabe was a good helper and helped scrub the carpet.  Twice.  

I was grateful to get him to bed and hope for a better day today.  Until he spilled his milk all over his highchair this morning... I'm in for it!!  

Mopping up after our breakfast spill

Scrubbing the living room rug

What a good helper!

Gabe in the DIRT!

Outside our cabin at Lake George was the perfect dirt pile for Gabe.  One day he discovered it and covered himself in it!  He even threw it on his own head!  It was quite hilarious to watch.  Thankfully he was pretty willing to take a bath afterwards.  

Throwing dirt on his head

Laying down in the dirt

A close up of the dirt monster

Mommy and her dirt monster

Our camping trip to Lake George in New York

For the past 2 weeks, we have been attending a summer camp in upstate New York (hence the total lack of posts!).  We had a blast!  Michael was busy doing a lot of photography and video work, so Gabe and Nana and I got to hang out together a lot.  The camp is very family-friendly and organized a lot of fun activities for the young kids.  We painted on a Tee-pee and roasted s'mores, went kayaking (which Gabe didn't think was too fun.  We were in the kayak a total of about 3 minutes, and he cried the whole time) and played at the playground.  They also had an ice cream machine, and Gabe was introduced to ice cream cones with sprinkles, courtesy of Nana.  We had a great experience at V-week, and will definitely be going back next year!

Painting the tee-pee

Roasting s'mores with Nana

Getting ready to kayak

Playing outside of our cabin