"Mama", First Aid & CPR, and Gabriella's First School Photos

The night before last, Tuesday night, Gabriella finally said "mama". She repeated it several times, and I was so proud. The next morning, though, I tried to get her to say it again but, to my disappointment, she has not said it again since Tuesday night.

Last night Ken and I took five hours of Pediatric First Aid and CPR. We hope we never have to use it but, now that we are responsible for a precious little life, we felt we had to learn it. He and I were the only two in the First Aid portion of the class, so I felt free to ask lots of questions. I most fear choking, but feel like I am equipped to handle it better than I was before the class. It got us thinking of things we hadn't previously considered, like putting an emergency phone number list next to the phone with the number for poison control, her pediatrician, our numbers, etc. They also suggested not keeping antibiotic cream in our first aid kit since Gabriella is allergic to Penicillin and may have a reaction to an antibiotic cream. Great tips. Ken and I are now "certified" in both First Aid and CPR for two years.

Gabriella's first school photos were taken today at her day care. They took individual picture as well as a class picture. She was so precious in a cute red jumper but, wouldn't you know, another little girl in her class was wearing the same exact dress. What is the probability of that? I don't dare say out loud who looked cuter in the dress!

Please Consider Helping

It is traditional in Guatemala to eat Tamales at midnight on Christmas Eve, yet, so many families in Guatemala cannot afford such a meal. Mayan Families is a non-profit group working in Guatemala and runs an annual Christmas Tamale Basket Program. I know times are financially very tough here in the Unites States, but a $35 donation through Mayan Families will buy a Christmas Tamale Basket and feed a family of 12 or more. For many of us, a $35 donation simply means forfeiting one meal out at a restaurant and eating at home instead. Ken and I donated 4 Tamale baskets. Please consider brightening a family's holiday by buying a Tamale Basket.

From "Mayan Families":

"IT IS THE SEASON FOR SHARING.

At midnight on Christmas Eve 2005, two of our sponsored students went door to door hoping someone would give them a tamale to eat. This is the traditional meal at Christmas in Guatemala. Their single mother could not afford to buy the ingredients to make Tamales. We wondered how many other families could not afford to celebrate Christmas and how many other children were sad and hungry at this time of the year.

In 2006 we started the Christmas Tamale Basket Program. We gave out 215 baskets of food. In 2007 we gave out 650 baskets.

We are asking your help to feed more families this Christmas. Food prices have risen an exorbitant 38% this year. There are lots of families needing help. Please consider feeding an impoverished family this Holiday Season. Many families in Guatemala do not have enough food to eat this year. Many of the families that we work with cannot afford to have the traditional meal at midnight on Christmas Eve.

Please help us bring them a Christmas this year. For $35 you can give a Christmas Tamale Basket and feed a family of 12 or more. Our Christmas basket is made of plastic and will be used afterwards by the family to stack and wash dishes, hold food etc. The food items will include: Oil, 15 lbs of Rice to make the tamales, a block of drinking chocolate (this is traditional to drink at midnight), a loaf of bread with which they eat the tamales at midnight, raisins for the tamales, grapes, apples, sugar for the Tamales, 5lbs of meat, tomatoes, one pound of coffee and leaves to wrap the tamales.

To make a contribution for the Christmas Tamale baskets please go to our website http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=43873690&msgid=552677&act=FD91&c=316576&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mayanfamilies.org%2Fchristmas.htm to send a donation. If you would like to nominate a special family or a sponsored student to receive your basket please send us their name or student number by e-mail to Sharon@mayanfamilies.org

If you would like to pay by check please send your donation made out to Mayan Families to: Mayan Families, 2609 Hartford St., San Diego, California 92110-2315.

If you would like to give this gift in Honor of someone special, please send us an email giving us the details and we will put them on our IN HONOR OF Blog.....if you would like to include a photo of your "someone special" we will also post their photo.......to have an e-card sent to the person you are honoring - please send us their email address.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM OUR FAMILIES TO YOURS."

Gabriella's First Step

Gabriella took her first step at school today. It appears that she will be walking soon!

Gabriella's Christening

Today was Gabriella's Christening. Gabriella's Christening dress, shall, and crown were especially special because I purchased them in Guatemala during our pick-up trip.

Getting ready:

She looked like the little princess that she is!

She loved the new bracelet that Grammy and Grampy bought her and she was sure to point it out to everybody!

Gabriella's Godparents, Tio Michael and Tia Candace:

Gabriella was all smiles sitting in the Church:

"Hanging out" at the alter before the Baptism:

Chatting with the Deacon before the Baptism:

A Blessing:

The Baptism:

While the Deacon was praying Gabriella was trying to give him a high five!:

During the ceremony she kept waving to the "audience"!:

Grammy and Grampy hosted the party after the ceremony:

Enjoying Grammy Floyd's fabulous cheesecake!:

Playing Outside

We decided to take advantage of the mild fall weather and play outside for a bit today.

Gabriella and Tia:

This is Gabriella's first time playing on her slide.

Ta-dah!:

She had so much fun on her little slide that we decided to take her to a local playground to play on some bigger slides. She loved it and had a great time. For the first couple of times on the big slide she went down on Ken's lap, then she went by herself. She would wiggle her bottom to scoot herself a bit to get some momentum, and then slide! It was so much fun to watch.

She liked playing in this tunnel...

...because she loved peeking outside through the holes.

Gabriella with Grampy and Isabella:

Gabriella's First Halloween

Gabriella had a very busy day today celebrating her first Halloween. She and Ken went to the Little Gym in the morning, as they do each Friday. All of the students in the class wore their costumes:
Trying to catch the bubbles at the Little Gym:

Playing with the bells at the Little Gym:

Gabriella with her "sister" Ava and cousin Isabella:At around 5:15 we walked to a few houses for Trick-or-Treating. She looked so precious walking around in her little cheerleader costume and carrying her treat bag. She really loved her pumpkin treat bag and would often carry it around the house in the weeks leading to Halloween. While she was walking, she had a smile from ear to ear and was breathing heavily with excitement! She had no clue what we were doing or what Trick-or-Treating was all about, but she was just having fun.This was the first house we visited. Gabriella scored a Tootsie Pop and was thrilled! She wanted to hold that lollipop and even as new candy was added, she kept pulling out that pop. On the way back to our house we put her in her stroller. She was still holding the lollipop. When we got back to the house we realized that she had chewed through the paper of the lollipop and was actually getting to taste the candy!We went to the mall at 6:00 for more Trick-or-Treating.Grammy bought Gabriella a new doll and Gabriella had to give her new doll a big kiss! Gabriella and her cousins:

There is a family in town that decorates their barn fabulously for the holidays. At the end of the evening we drove by the house to show Gabriella the pumpkins. There were tiki torches lining the perimeter of the property and Gabriella was fascinated with the fire. She was also quite interested in the crow in the pumpkin scene.Gabriella and Grandma Floyd: