Gabi turns 4!

November 7th 2012 marked Gabi's 4th birthday! I can't believe my sweet little Gabi is already 4, and as she reminds me everyday, "Mom, look! I'm growing bigger. I'm growing up!" It's so cute how she says it, almost like we should be able to see her grow by the second. Thank goodness that isn't true!
True to form, Gabi woke up to the house decorated with crepe paper, Happy Birthday banners strung throughout the house, and a plethora of balloons scattered on the floor. Birthday utopia.
We made special birthday pancake shapes including the letter "G" the number "4" a candle, and of course an "M" for Madi and a "2" for her as well. Madi was pretty convinced that it was her birthday too.

We had a super fun day all day just as a family. We made Gabi's favorite dinner, at her request, and" opened her birthday present. She was super excited because she got her very own digital camera and she had a blast taking pictures of everything that was important to her. She took a lot of Madi, which made me smile because they are such great friends.

 

 

I had mutual that night for Young Women's, and had Gabi come with me as a special treat. She had a ton of fun and was constantly reminding me that she's "not shy like madi." She's really not shy, just a little reserved at first. She's really good at assessing situations before she acts. She reminds me a lot of me when I was little, except for the fact that I was ultra shy.

The next day we had a little birthday party for Gabi with her friends. It was tons of fun, and I think all the kids had a blast. We had an "under the sea" theme. As the kids came, they were given paper and crayons and got to draw fish, which they then cut out. While they were coloring they got to snack on fishy crackers. After they were done, we took the paper fish over to the "pond" and they got to "go fishing" for their candy that went into their treat bags. That part was tons of fun because I got to be on the other side of the "water" and attach their fish with their treats. They all enjoyed pulling up their fishing pole with candy and putting it in their treat bag. After the big "fishing trip" was done we headed to the table for cupcakes and presents.

I always love when little kids open presents at their birthday party, and the other kids get so excited they either tell them what it is before they open it, or they help them open it. It makes me laugh every time! Gabi was so sweet and thanked everyone for her presents, and was eager to share all that she had gotten, I love that about her!

It was a ton of fun, and Gabi sure loves being 4!

Brynlee's 9 month appt

I can hardly believe that my littlest baby girls is already nine months old! She is growing so quickly and changing so fast, I can barely keep up with it. I wish time would go by slower so that I could just drink in those wonderful moments and keep them with me forever.
The doctor said she looked great. She's 27.25inches tall (25-50th %), weighs 14lbs (3rd  %), and her head is 17.75inches (75th %)- which explains why she's so smart! With a noggin' like that!
So, she's still just a skinny little thing, although she eats like crazy. She eats at least three of the big jars of food every day, usually, half a banana, a graham cracker or two and puffs. She is not lacking in the appetite department! She just appears to have a fast metabolism, she'll appreciate that later!
She isn't crawling yet, but the doctor wasn't worried. He looked at me, dead serious and said, "Well, no wonder she's not crawling yet! With a head the size she has and a body the size that she has, it's probably difficult for her to hold her head up." I totally thought he was joking, but no, he wasn't! Hehe!
Brynlee loves watching her sisters and loves playing with them, she started clapping last week, she loves to babble and pretend like she's talking but already can say mama, dad, ga, and duckie. She is fascinated by cords (we'll have to take care of that before she starts crawling!) and loves being around people. She is smiling constantly and loves to laugh. We've been teaching her sign language, like we've done with all of our kiddos, and she gets so excited when we sign to her.
We love our little Bryners!

Eating goldfish crackers

 Ready to go on a walk

 Showing off her first tooth! (she seriously has longest most beautiful eyelashes!)

 Waiting to go on a walk, wanting the camera- love her blue eyes!

 Eating pancake for the first time!

 Eating a roll

 Eating pancakes at the hotel- such a big girl!

 Hanging out in the stroller while her sisters ride bikes

 Trying on her tutu for Halloween

 

With mama on my birthday (I had just let her lick one of my candles,

so she's eyeing it on the table)

Love ya little bryners!