Pages

Monday, December 12, 2011

Gabriel - 14 months

Gabriel is a little over 14 months old now.

He's such a climber - can't hold still for me to snap his clothing.  I've got to catch him on the go.


He really, truly doesn't like toys.  He just wants the computer keyboard or the mouse, 
or the light switch or the bookshelf  or the phone or anything with buttons.

He has ten teeth and is in the process of cutting two more.
He hasn't been too hard of a teether - at least not in comparison to some of my children.
He says a few words, laughs a lot,
does so many cute things to make us laugh.



He wears 18 month clothing.  (I say this here because I haven't been too good at writing in his babybook or at scrapbooking.  I like to remember these things.)  
He loves to take baths, loves his siblings.
I can't imagine how it must feel to be SO adored.  :)
Often, I wonder what is going on in his head.  What does he think of having so many people around?
What, especially, does he think of having so many big people around?
He seems to clearly be aware of distinctions - when he's hurt or tired, he wants mama.
He saves his best smiles for when Daddy comes home at night.

When he grows up, I wonder if he'll think the big kids were more "sibling-like", or more "parental like?"
(There's 18 years between Gabe and Jake, 16 between he and Nick.  How will that play out, what will that look like when they are older?  I *think* that they'll be close, but I can't know that.  I'm fascinated by larger families where the kids are all grown - I run into people from large families all of the time.  The other day I at Gordon's Food Service the man that scanned my groceries told me that "You're just like us.  There were seven of us."  Yes, I always get asked if I'm buying for a business or for a family.  :)  And today, I spoke with an Amish boy who came from a family of nine boys and three girls.  People from larger families speak of themselves as "us."  I love that - it tickles me.  :)  We received a Christmas letter from a 95 year old man who had seven siblings.  All but three of them are gone now, but they remained close for all of their lives.  My daughter Emily caught me with tears in my eyes and a huge lump in my throat over that one - "Oh, Mommy.......," she said. 
I'm so glad they have each other.

 (Finally got that kiss.  He's hard to pin down.)
Gabe still loves to lay between mama and daddy for his late night nursing - seems to settle him and give him such comfort to be able to reach out and touch both of us at the same time.
(And I'm so thankful to the Lord to be able to give that to him.)
Gabe is a fun, busy, wonderful little guy.  
We're thankful, every day, that he's ours - all of ours.  :)

Posted by Picasa

8 comments:

  1. Oh Holly, he is getting so big. <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't believe how big he's getting! Cute wiggly boy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. When our dauther was 18 we had another baby.
    We had two others between them. And we often felt compelled to "tell" people why our children were so "abnormally" spread out in age. It was how God gave them to us. And all of the years in between each baby, broke my heart!
    And while my pregnant last time. Someone once commented about how "unfair" it was to have done that to my children.
    That they would never "know" each other or be close.
    I was crushed by the comment.
    It had never occured to me in all of those years of trying for another baby, that I was somehow messing it up for my children!
    I lost a lot of sleep over this.
    But you know what?
    My littlest boys are adored by their older siblings.
    And my daughter was at times like a second mama.
    And when she comes home and that heads back to work and college....those boys grieve for her.
    Course I do too. :o)
    Having such a spread in ages has made me the best mama.
    I appreciate every thing so much more now.
    I linger longer and hold on tighter.
    They will all have the relationship that God has chosen for them to have, no matter their ages.
    I feel that he will bless us because of our desire to please him and not man.
    We are so, so lucky.
    My kids are.....perfectly imperfect and I cherish this life.
    And at 41ish....would take another baby in a heartbeat.
    Love your postings lately.
    Merry Christmas~

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kristin - that is so, so beautiful! Thank you for telling me that. :) You're right. Your family is perfect for you! :) And mine is perfect for me (for us.)

    I remember a friend who said something along the same lines. "Can you imagine having 13 years from your oldest to your youngest? Doesn't that seem CRAZY?" And I was thinking...do you realize the spread in ages between my children? :) Ah well...no big deal. They just don't know. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just wanted to say that I really appreciated your recent comments on Patheos.

    Blessings to you and your family, and Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you, Hillary! Merry Christmas to you, too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. It is SO nice to see pictures of you, friend. You are never more beautiful than when you are wrestling down a toddler and trying give him a smooch! Gabe is precious...and so fortunate to have so many siblings. The age gap? Wonderful! There's no way my littlest will get away with anything she's not supposed to. :)
    Christmas blessings to all.
    Julia

    ReplyDelete
  8. He's such a beautiful wiggly boy! I can't believe how big he is already! The time is flying by!

    He's bit stingy on the kisses thought, lol. Might have to steal some when he's not looking. ;)

    ReplyDelete