116/365 Date With Oma

115/365 French Braids

I didn't think it was possible quite yet, but yesterday I managed to coax Gabrielle's baby fine hair into some very cute little french braids.  As I predicted, they didn't stay in very long (she pulled out the elastics within half an hour) but they were cute while they lasted.  I was hoping they would at least stay in long enough for Gran's birthday dinner at the Old Mill restaurant, but no such luck.

Dinner at the Old Mill is usually reserved for our anniversary.  Jeff and I were married there almost four years ago, and we've made it a tradition to go back there every year either for dinner or an overnight stay.  This year Gabrielle's gran requested that we go there for her birthday dinner and we were happy to oblige.  Gabrielle especially enjoyed the fact that she could sit at the table (in a booster seat) with the rest of us, instead of in a high chair. 

114//365 Counting Snowmen

My little girl has become very interested in the concept of counting lately.  Most of the time it comes out as "two, three, two three, two three" but I'll take it for now.  After all, it is a step up from the "one, two, one two, one two" I was hearing a week or two ago.

113/365 Visit With My Grandparents

Putting away records at Oma's house



Gabrielle snuggling with her great-grandmother



112/365 Christmas Intermission

I've been thinking about how best to sum up our Christmas.  From my own perspective, quite a lot has happened during these past few weeks.  We took a nice long holiday to visit my parents in northern Ontario.  My sweet daughter has definitely entered the two year old phase of life and is figuring out how to use to words to express herself and get her needs met.  I've thought a lot about how to get the most out of this coming year and have started to make some changes.  Regarding Gabrielle, I think it was the moments like these that were the highlight of her vacation.  She certainly got her share of presents this Christmas, but it was all the love and attention that she got from both sides of the family that was the real treat for her.