Animal Crackers

When I initially started giving Gabe animal crackers to eat, I would walk them across his tray & make the corresponding animal noises.  Not too long after, Gabe started mimiking me & playing with his crackers as well.  His current favorite noise is "Neigh" (like a horse), so apparently that is all these crackers know. 

Gabe the monkey

Gabe has been trying to climb a lot more lately.  We have a small wooden step stool in our kitchen that he has basically just sat next to until now.  He pushes it against the bench seat & trys to climb up onto the table.  He has yet to do it, but it will only be a matter of time.  He will also move his activity table or his lego box so that he can climb onto them to climb onto something else.  David said there was one day Gabe moved them both next to the desk so he could climb from the lego box to the activity table to reach the papers on the desk.  His other big goal is to be able to get INTO the tub (but not OUT).  I have seen him rest one foot on the ledge & try to wiggle it over.  :)   I'm just glad he can't climb out of his crib yet! 

Reaching into my work bag for my sunglasses

Playing under the kitchen table (he no longer fits standing up)

Cardboard Box

David got a new charcoal grill about a month ago & left the box inside for me to recycle.  Before I got around to it, I decided to let Gabe play for a little while.  He was on & off this box for at least half an hour, taking his time smashing it down for me.  Here are a couple pics & a video.  He had a great time!!

Garage Sales, Gifts & Grandma

It seems that Gabe has gotten a lot of new (to him anyway) things lately....ok mostly toys!!!  In mid May, we attended several garage sales near our house & managed to pick up a few random things.  Not only did we get Gabe a Halloween costume for this year, but we found him some outside toys & an activity table to enjoy.  I try to take him out every couple of days in the evenings when it isn't too hot, & we will walk down the street to the mailbox or pickup around the garage.  He even managed to play by himself while I trimmed the bushes & swept out the garage.  He loves being outside & generally has to be dragged back inside no matter how hot it is.  

Grandma Dawson came to visit for Memorial Day, & she brought a small play kitchen for Gabe she had found at a really good price.  He loves the kitchen at Grandma Timm's house & at the sitter's so I was very excited for him to have one of his own.  The only place we had room was his walk-in closet, so we periodically have to go sit in there with him as he opens & SLAMS all the doors & throws the dishes around.  He has no play food as of yet but still manages to have a good time.  Grandma also brought a play lawn mower that can blow bubbles.  Gabe is of course fascinated by bubbles (who isn't?) & was very intrigued when they started coming out of his lawn mower.  :)

A coworker of mine has a 4-year-old grandson & has gotten in the habit of offering me items when he outgrows them.  So, a couple weeks ago, she had a small plastic table & chairs and one of those small plastic blue swimming pools.  I was very grateful for both!  David has been talking about getting a slip-n-slide or a sprinkler so Gabe could cool off with water.  The pool was a much better solution.  Gabe went swimming last weekend & stayed in the water for over an hour!  He had a great time with minimal toys & didn't even attempt to climb out.  I'm sure this will be an every week thing & maybe even during the morning with Daddy.  The small table & chairs went into Gabe's closet too so he has a nice little restaurant if anyone wants to stop by....just don't expect food!!

Riding his dolphin.

Playing legos in his chair.

Gabe's restaurant

Sitting on Daddy's dumbbell (it weighs about what he does)

Playing in his pool