The Paladinos

Thank you Lord for this cool, beautiful weather!  We’ve been playing outside all morning and are looking forward to a weekend spent out of the house.  Some of the pics below are from our much appreciated day out today.  Gabby has started to enjoy her brother now that he’s getting mobile.  She takes his hand and helps him walk and will run with him sometimes.  Today she was loving on him out on the swing.  I think she’s really going to like having someone else to play with when he gets bigger. 

Peter is walking up a storm and has just about mastered it.  He’s into everything but I’m so thankful he’s not crawling around now and can get down when we’re out.  He can now say cheese, quack like a duck, blow all sorts of kisses, make a kissing sound and give real (slobbery) kisses.  He is going to be such a little helper and throws things away when I ask, put things away (although sometimes he gets this confused with throwing away) and take people things.  He loves to get Gabby’s drink or toys and take it to her.  He’s the sweetest little thing and is still full of smiles.  He’s been having stomach problems but has finally worked those out and is eating everything which is wonderful after wondering if he would starve to death.  We’ve got a ways to go if we’re going to make him into a big, solid football player.   

Gabby is still doing well in school.  She’s been crying at drop off but yesterday she did well and I think has gotten past it.  She really likes her teacher and her friends.  She goes to chapel one day a week, the library, and recess.  They have been learning name games to help remember each others names, how to write letters, and about the calendar.  She’s also in the big girls class at church and really likes that.  We think that school and the older class at church has already had a good impact on her. She doesn’t seem quite as shy or hesitant to try things.  She’s still of course into princesses at home and her thing now is to print off pictures from the internet and cut them out. 

Michael and I are enjoying getting back into a schedule with Fall activities starting up.  Our Wednesday night group is meeting again and I’m in a Tuesday bible study.  It’s been so nice and refreshing to be out of the house and busy again.  Michael’s work is busy as usual. 

She’s really not trying to strangle him here, just holding on to him to keep him from flying out the swing.

Ellie enjoyed the nice weather today too.

 

Gabby let me take pictures of her today so I just kept taking them.

 

This is of course what she did when I asked her to smile.

 

Just hanging out in the doll stroller.  The kids love this thing.

Reading with his big bear.  He has just started loving books and will bring them to me to read to him. 

She just got this tutu this week and of course loves it. 
          

Peter is obsessed with Ellie.  He yells her name all over the house and loves to talk to her.

This is why she was sitting so calmly on the rug with him.  He gives her a treat every time she comes in from outside.

He can now also tell us yes.  He nods his head and opens and closes his jaw in a yeah, yeah way.  It’s pretty cute and is so nice to have him tell us what he wants. 

Peter has developed his own language.  His walking is getting much better.  That’s his main form of transportation now and he is into EVERYTHING! 

I’m sure everyone is as sick of this heat as we are.  The kids haven’t been able to get outside much so we let them play in the sprinkler while Michael watered the grass.  They had a blast as you can see below. 

Gabby started back to school today.  She was hesitant this morning but after being promised a new toy she was ready to go.  We don’t usually bribe the kids but this was a special occasion and it helped her make it through the day with something to look forward to.  She loves her new teacher and seems to like the new school.  And of course she loved the new toy which was a Cinderella carriage. 

Peter has been working hard on his walking and is really getting good.  It’s pretty funny to watch his unsteady little legs and hands always up in the air.  He made a tour from the kitchen, through their bathroom and back to the kitchen tonight without stopping or dropping.  The video is from tonight.  He does wear clothes most of the time but refused to wear a bib at dinner so his shirt was toast.

We were trying on some new outfits from our sweet friend Michelle.

Sweet big sister wanted to help Peter walk.

Peter Michael took his first steps Friday before last (July 16th).  He pulls up on everything and can stand by himself well so we knew he was close but one night we were all playing in the bedroom and Michael yelled he just took a step!  You can definitely tell this is our second child though when it takes us almost two weeks to post a big milestone like that.  :)  Just in the last two days he’s started to get the hang of it and takes 2-3 steps at a time and is standing up all the time.  He “talks” a lot but the only words that we know right now are Sissy, Dog, Ellie, Uh Oh, This, Cat (sometimes), Duck (sometimes) and his all time favorite Daddy or DaDa.  Everything is DaDa!  A few nights ago he patted Gabby in the tub and said Sissy.  I then patted my chest and said Mama.  Peter stood up in the tub, patted my arm and said DaDa.  We repeated that pattern a few times before I gave up.  He can say Mama when he wants to be taken out of his crib though.  Right now he likes to drink milk and eat cheese and fruit.  He refuses veggies or meats.  He wrestles and likes to fall back on the bed.  So far we’ve only had one bumped head from that when he missed the bed and hit our bench instead.  He loves to hit himself in the head and says Oh then laughs.  He also loves to hit others so we’ll tell him “nice touch” and he then starts petting us.  He has been sleeping great and still taking two naps a day.  He had his second haircut last Thursday and it’s getting really full and blonde.  Maybe he’ll be a cotton top like Daddy (if you can believe Daddy used to have blonde hair let alone hair at all).  :) 

Gabby starts her first day of her new preschool on August 12th.  She’ll be going every Tue and Thur from 8-3 which is two hours longer than before.  It’s a private Christian school that goes up through 12th grade so she’ll have access to all of the real school things like a PE teacher and librarian and they attend chapel once a week.  That should be interesting and hopefully she’ll like it.  She loves to play princess right now and asks “Will you play princess with me?” ALL DAY LONG.  She also puts on little “shows” for us on our bed while we watch from the floor.  Usually it’s singing and/or dancing routines.  Sometimes she asks for crowd participation and will hold a microphone for us to sing after her.  We always said we couldn’t imagine what Gabby would be someday but it’s getting pretty apparent that she’ll be in the arts/entertainment somehow.

We’re getting ready for Fall so we can go back outside again.  Gabby is having trouble deciding between Cinderella and Ariel for Halloween.  I’m hoping that Peter can fit in the duck costume. 

Goofy Girl
  

This is what happens after 5 seconds with a marker.

Check out that physique. 

This is the first time Gabby wore her swimsuit this year.

Big boy.

Peter likes to smash his face into the pack n play wall.
 

Just wanted to say that I know it looks like we’re being biased with all of the videos of Peter Michael below but Gabby refuses to let us video her.  We have to sneak in videos if we want Gabby included.

This video might explain the behavior in the next video.  The noise you hear is Michael knocking himself in the head with a cup.

Peter loves crawling in and out of this chair.  Notice the leaf is Daddy, the train is Daddy and everything he sees along the way is Daddy.

Leading up to the big first step video we have basket walking.

And walker walking.

And finally, real walking.  It’s not much but it was just after he had taken his first step so this is his second step ever.  

This is Peter taking steps this morning.

And not to be outdone, this is a video of Gabby “reading” from her Rhyme Bible last night.  She gets a little worked up so it’s hard to understand her.  She knows the entire story of David & Goliath from her bible and can say it word for word.  It looks like she’s reading it because she knows what words are on what pages.  The first few words are “Just shook his head.  Then David turned and left the King he took his staff and took his sling and walked on down to a little stream and found five stones that were smooth and clean.” 

As you’ve noticed I haven’t been posting much lately so I have some videos and pictures from the last couple of months that I never put out.  There isn’t anything too exciting to share.  We went to Silver Dollar City a couple of weekends ago and enjoyed that.  We’ll go back in the fall when it isn’t so hot.  Gabby liked all the shops and few rides that she went on.  Peter did really well hanging out in the stroller.  Other than that we’ve just been doing whatever it is that we do. 

Ok so this is way back from Uncle David and Aunt Jennifer’s wedding in October.  I just don’t think I ever posted the pictures of our flower girl.  A little random, sorry.

Cuttin’ a rug with Grampa and Hoppy.

Peter in one of Gabby’s necklaces

Peter in a pink boa.  This is what happens when you have an older sister instead of an older brother.  :)

Mother’s Day in Berryville. 

Gabby and Cousin Brooke at Wal-mart getting their Barbie Mermaid’s. 
 

Peter and Papa Pitts

Sweet sleeping boy

Gabby getting ready to go fishing with Papa Dino and Daddy. 

This is what Gabby thought of me taking pictures at this point (Silver Dollar City).

Gabby and Daddy got thrown in the slammer.
 

On the swingin’ bridge.

So thirsty.

Don’t they look so happy. 

That’s better.

Hmmm, something looks odd in this picture.

This is when we decided to leave.
 

Our graceful little tinker bell.  And for the record that pile of clothes was on the bed because I was interrupted while folding clothes.  We’re not complete slobs.

Peter Paladino in Concert

This is what happens when Michael mows.

This is Gabby’s favorite song from her dance video (light light light video from over a year ago).  Isn’t that a beautiful voice. 


This is how Peter dances (after the spin move). 

It was so funny “hitting” daddy with the door.

This weekend we celebrated Peter Michael’s 1st birthday.  I can’t believe he’s a year old now!  The past year really has flown by.  We had a great party with all of our family here.  Even GranDeb flew in to see the birthday boy.  Friday morning we had fun picking her up at the airport and Friday evening Papa Dino came up to take Gabby fishing.  Saturday was party day and Peter had a great time and loved all the attention.  As you can see from pictures he liked smashing his “smash” cake but wasn’t really interested in eating it.  We all enjoyed his big cake for him though. 

Big sister Gabby had the best time with all her family and loved playing “rough” with the boys.  At one point she was actually stabbing them with a plastic knife.  So we won’t be surprised when she gets kicked out of preschool for being the kid who says “I’m gonna knife you” to everyone.  She woke up Sunday and wanted to know where everyone was.  :( 

We had a nice lunch with Aunt Peggy, MeeMee, GranDeb and Papa Dino on Sunday.  And finished off our fun weekend with a Naturals game Sunday night. 

It was an excellent birthday weekend and we enjoyed everyone so much.  Thank you all for coming to celebrate with us!  (There are a few videos below.  If you’re on Facebook you’ll have to go to the blog to watch the videos.  Sorry!) 

Yummy cake from Ricks Bakery (moms favorite)!

 

Party favor cookies.  Thanks for helping roll and cut these out GranDeb! 

Mimi and Peter

Snacking with Papa Mike

Papa Dino getting in on the action.
 

GranDeb and MeeMee Skyping Bill.  We missed you Bill!
 

Gabby beating Jeremy with a plastic golf club.  She’s such a delicate little flower. 

My manly man grillin’.

Even Ellie enjoyed the party.

He went topless early on at the party :).  He wouldn’t wear a bib and I didn’t want to get his party shirt dirty just for the record. 

Uncle Chris sporting a Dino hat.

Playing with cousin Arleigh.

We really didn’t mean to match.

Wait a minute….that’s not Grampa with Gramma.

The tongue always comes out when he’s really thinking.

Opening presents.

 

He even took the time to read all the cards.  :)

Big sister helping play with toys.

This is what happens when the hat strap snaps the birthday boy in the face.

First contact with cake.

Then he remembered that stupid hat again.
 

Now we’re getting into it.

Ohhh… cake in the eye.

This is what I found after I finished cutting the big cake.  He made a lot of progress from just poking the cake.

After a nice bath we took some family pictures with the Great Grandparents. 

And the grandparents (sorry we missed you Papa Mike and Mimi).

Showing off our new word Uhh…

Ohh.

“I’m so funny”

Gramma and Grampa with the kids

The Paladino/Uhiren family

Uncle Chris, Aunt Shelley, Sean and Jeremy

You know who we are. :)

Gabby with Papa Dino’s massive fish.

Enjoying the Naturals game.
 

Isn’t she a dainty eater.

The end of our exciting weekend.

Showing off Uhh Ohh for his grandparents.

Yesterday Peter learned how to crawl on his hands and knees.  He’s been working on it all weekend and can now sit up from a tummy position (video 1) and can crawl on his hands and knees.  Now that he’s mastered that I’m ready for him to walk. :) 

This is Peter’s favorite thing to do right now.  He sits in front of the open window and just goes up and down looking outside. 

This is his other favorite thing to do now. 

This weekend we went to Berryville to hang out with my parents.  Saturday we went to Gramma and Grampa’s and Sunday we went to church with Papa Mike and Mimi then out to Roaring River.  We had an excellent weekend with perfect weather.  And since both kids had clothes on and it was so nice outside we got a little picture happy.  :) 

Gabby with Gramma and Grampa’s new dog Roxie.

He did NOT want to sit in the grass.

 

 

 

Gabby with Papa Mike at the fish hatchery.

 

Saturday we took the kids to the Mayors Easter Egg hunt.  It was crazy how quickly those eggs got snatched up.  I guess there are some aggressive kids in the 0-3 age category around here.  :)  Gabby got three eggs but was thrilled that one of them was a princess egg.  She also got to talk to the Easter bunny and show him her toys.  Today we enjoyed our Easter church service then went to lunch at Mimi’s.  Good food but yikes!  We won’t be doing that again unless Peter has had a good nap.  This afternoon we dyed Easter eggs and played around the house.  It was a very nice weekend and the weather was perfect.  We are some Spring loving fools around here.

Also just as an update, Gabby has been doing well without Finger Hoppy but has asked for him some this week/weekend.  This is the first time she’s asked for him since he left for Hoppy Land though so she’s handling it well.  Peter is still working on his crawling.  As you can see from the below video he is still crawling the same way but he can move faster now.  And he is working his walker.  He can get into all kinds of things in that.  I had to take the knobs off my china cabinet after he discovered those doors.     

Getting ready to go to school on Thursday where she had her first Easter egg hunt.
 

 

Bubba waiting in the car for his sister.

Gabby hiding from the camera at the Easter egg hunt.

Gabby and Daddy waiting for the action to start.

There they go.
 

Gabby showing off the princess egg.

Showing the Easter bunny her toys.
 

Gabby with her Easter basket. 

Yummy Easter candy!

How’s this for an Easter picture.

Miss Sassy

Which lead into this shot.

Don’t worry, we didn’t leave Peter out.

 

The kids beating up on Daddy.  Peter is really getting active in his play now.
 

Our happy boy.

This is really the first time that Gabby and Peter have really played together without us instigating it or being involved.  A glimpse of fun things to come!  And yes, that’s him laughing crazily while he’s going after Gabby’s cup.

We’ve been waiting for months for Peter Michael to crawl and today he FINALLY started his broke leg crawl.  It’s the funniest crawl I’ve ever seen.  It looks like someone broke both of his legs and he just has to pull himself along.  He can get up in position with his legs in the “normal” crawl position with no problem but for some reason he prefers this.  I know he’s going to be into everything but I really am ready for him to crawl so that he isn’t so frustrated.  We’ll see what I’m saying in a few days. 

For an update on Hoppy, Gabby has been doing good with it.  She slept fine last night and hasn’t asked for him too much today.  It’s just when she’s feeling whiny that she wants him but she hasn’t actually gotten upset over him.  She did not want to take a nap today but I don’t think that has anything to do with Hoppy.  She just wasn’t tired.  Tonight she went to bed with no problems.  I know it probably sounds cruel to take away her lovey but we just felt like it was holding her back a little and we wanted to see how she did without him.  We would bring him back if she really got upset over it but so far so good. 

This was his second crawl a few seconds after he did it for the first time.  Luckily Michael was home for lunch and got to witness the miracle.

He’s already improving on his broke leg crawling skills.