A Walk with the Gibbs Girls

We had a nice, sunny day today so I decided to take the girls out for a walk. There is a park not far from us, so it makes for an easy trip with Taylor in the stroller and Nevaeh walking along with me. Today, Nevaeh wanted to "be like you" and push her baby in the stroller too. I was hesitant, thinking that I'd end up carrying her baby and stroller while also maneuvering Taylor in her stroller, but as the pictures show, Nevaeh had a great time pushing her "Baby Tay" and made it all the way to the park, around the block, and back home. Taylor lounged in her seat, content to be shaded by the stroller cover from the chilly wind, and snuggly with her sleeper still on, and a fluffy blanket around her.

She's smiling behind her binkie, in case you can't tell.
Nevaeh saw the park and started running.

Walking her baby next to Mommy and Baby Tay.

Taylor was a little unsure of being confined to her seat with the sun in her eyes, but after she was shaded, she didn't make a peep. Her eyes were open the entire time, taking everything in, though.

Ready to go!

Taylor and Zwieback Toast: Love at First Taste

When Nevaeh was around 6 months old, we treated her to some Zwieback toast. She loved it...

To be fair parents, we treated Taylor to the same goodies once she got big and strong enough. Here is our little 6-month-old eating her zwieback toast. Yummy! She still has no teeth, but she loves to sit in her highchair and just gnaw and gnaw of these. They just melt in her mouth. I love just watching her figure it out and really get going. It's so funny. What I don't love is the HUGE mess it makes. Little soggy bits and pieces all over her, the seat, the floor, and me.

She's all smiles when she gets her toast!

Nevaeh asked for one, too...but settled for taking a picture and some popcorn for her snack.

I just can't believe how cute they are in their own, unique ways. So precious!

Taylor and Diogie

Here are some pictures of Baby Tay and our kitty, Diogie, bonding. If you were around when Nevaeh was this little, you know how much she immediately loved Diogie...and it looks like her sissy has the same attraction for our fat cat. Taylor was smiling at her, laughing, and grabbing her tail. And sweet patient Diogie just plopped down next to her to "enjoy" the attention.

Oops! I'm still working on sitting by myself!

"Aren't I such a cutie? I promise I am being nice to this kitty, Mommy!" What will we do when Diogie is no longer around? I have no idea, because I am sure that no other cat would put up with the kind of attention and "loves" that Diogie tolerates!

We play together!

We are so excited that Nevaeh and Taylor are finally able to play together. Taylor is just beginning to sit up on her own, and has gotten a little tougher so we aren't as nervous about Nevaeh playing too rough. They are so cute together, and that reinforces our decision to have them close in age. Kaleb took these pictures of the girls in their tent in the playroom. They had puzzles and blocks in there with them. Blocks are their toys of choice. Nevaeh always wants to "build a house" and Taylor enjoys chewing/drooling on them...so they sit next to each other and do their own thing with the blocks. Sometimes Nevaeh grabs them out of Taylor's hands, but I have a feeling that kind of thing will only happen more and more. :-)

Park!

Kaleb and I took Taylor and Nevaeh to the park last week, and they both had a blast. Nevaeh loved, loved, loved the big girl swings, but was intimidated by the big slide. She didn't want to go on it. Later that week, we went to Storytime at the Library and went back to that same park afterwards. Nevaeh finally mustered up the courage to climb up the huge structure and go down the slide. Then she was all about the slide, climbing up and sliding down, over and over.

Way up high!
Holding onto the rails.

So smiley.

Sleepy Taylor just napped...she's too little to really enjoy the playground, but she did enjoy the warm sunshine.

I love swings!

Backyard Fun

We have had really nice weather recently, so one day I set up a tent shaped like bus (From Grandma Alice and Grandpa Daniel) outside on the patio. Nevaeh had a blast playing in it because Moka came into it too.

Nevaeh also played hide-and-seek with Moka, hiding in the tall weeds in our backyard. She got nice and sweaty and dirty out there, but had tons of fun!

SUCCESS!!!!

At dinner last night Nevaeh was just sitting in her highchair as usual. She was just starting to act like she was done eating when she looks at me and said, "I go potty." So I asked her if she needed to go, to which she said, "Yeah!" I took her into the restroom with a book and let her read it for a bit before going back in there and reading it to her (she kinda likes some privacy...). During that time my big girl went pee-pee and pooh-pooh on the Big Girl Potty!!! Of course she immediately asked for her M&M's, because that's what we use to reward her. Needless to say, we are thrilled! Still can't believe that our little girl is already old enough to go on the potty, but grateful to (hopefully soon) only have to buy diapers in one size!

House Update:
Kaleb set up a gazebo and patio furniture my grandparents gave us. It looks so nice on our patio. We need to go get Nevaeh some outside toys, though. With this gorgeous weather we've been having, all she wants to do is play outside! I'm thinking gardening tools and a T-Ball set... We still haven't re-done the front or back yard, but we hope to do that in the Spring. It'll be so nice to have grass out there. A couple days ago we were outside and Nevaeh was hiding from Moka, in the weeds. From the back door all you could see was her chest and head. Kaleb would have freaked out because she got all dirty, but I loved seeing her playing so hard! Taylor is really good on her tummy and in her Exersaucer. This morning she even started to bounce herself while she was on her tummy, and moved a bit to the side, trying to turn. Can you believe it?!?!