The Pantry

Who's that in my pantry?









I think she wants some juice.

Target Tradition

After leaving TCBY we headed to Target to shop around. If Daddy is with us, it is the tradition to buy some popcorn and a coke to give us the fuel/energy to shop. And the kids love this!
When leaving Target, Daddy decides to give Sophie the 'almost empty' bag of popcorn. Mommy didn't think this was a very good idea... well, let's just say that Daddy learned a good lesson! :)

Silly Boy!

Oops!

Ice Cream Sunday

Zach has been doing such a good job on the potty, that we decided to take him for ice cream (on Sunday). We went to TCBY and he got to pick what he wanted. He chose vanilla ice cream (well, I guess it really was yogurt) with oreo cookies on top! He ate every single bite... and he even shared with baby sister. Such a sweet big brother. :)

Who Needs Boots... I Have Dora!

We have been busy this weekend... Zach potty training and Sophie taking her first steps! YES, you read right... she is walking! I was sitting on the couch and I hear her coming from my bedroom, but just thinking that she was crawling (as usual). But then I see her come around the chair holding her Dora doll and walking. I couldn't believe my eyes! She has been showing a little more interest in walking by herself, but I didn't think she was quite THIS ready. She is full of surprises! I thought maybe after the first time, that she wouldn't do it again, that it was just a spoof. But a little later she did do it again. I was standing in the kitchen and here she comes... walking towards me. Luckily, I had my camera right there. And what's funny, she always has Dora with her. Maybe she gives her the little extra courage that she needs.

Yea, Sophie! Mommy is so proud. :)

Bubbles

To celebrate Zach's awesome accomplishment, Aunt Becky bought him a surprise. Check out the video to see what he got! Thanks Aunt Becky! They were gone in about 15 minutes. :)

Potty Training Success!!

YES, finally!! Zachary is finally going on the big potty and wearing 'big boy' underwear! It is a happy place in the Gonzalez household. :)
It all started a week, or so, ago. We ran out of diapers, but I had some pull-ups that I bought a long time ago (because they were on sale). He was wearing these instead of diapers. Last Wednesday, I told him not to have an accident in his pull-up. Meaning, don't go #2, or Mommy will be very mad. Well, let's just say, it happened and I was not a happy camper. I told him that that was it, no more diapers or pull-ups during the day. That he was now a big boy and needed to wear underwear (or chones) like everyone else. So I guess it just took me finally putting my foot down and maybe him finally being ready.
So now we have our routine. He wakes in the morning, he puts on underwear. For naptime, he wears a pull-up, wakes up- underwear, bedtime- pull-up. And he is really good about telling you when he has to go to the potty. Almost too good. I think he feels it coming, or is afraid of having an accident, so he will go to the potty and nothing happens. This will sometimes happen two or three times before he actually goes. But hey, I'll take it. He has made awesome progress!
I am so proud of my little man!

Happy Valentine's

For Valentine's Day, we met our friends, The Wittschen's at Shogun's- which is another version of Benihana's, where they cook right there at your table. Neither one of us had sitters available, so we decided to make it a family event. And we were even smart about it and made a 5pm reservation to avoid the crowds. Dinner was good, but the babies did not want to cooperate. We were there for TWO hours... don't quite know what took so long, but the kids did not appreciate it at all. And we attempted to take a family photo, and well, you know how that goes... we tried! :)

Take 1
Take 2

Take 3

Guitar Hero Rockstars!!

Danni and Tyler came over on Friday night and brought along Tyler's game "Guitar Hero World Tour" for us to all play. This was the first time that I had ever played... let's just say, that I need some practice. It's a lot harder than it looks! :) But I tried my hand at everything: the drums, the guitar and of course, the singing.
The kids really enjoyed playing along too. Sophie knew what to do with the drumsticks, without us even showing her! What a genius she is!! :) And Zach was very upset when he no longer could play and had to go to bed. Poor baby.
Now this is all Gabe talks about buying!!! Thanks Danni & Tyler! I have to admit, it was pretty fun. Shh, don't tell Gabe.

Hood Rat

This is the cutest little outfit... and it has a hood on the back, which Zach likes to pull up on his sister's head. The funny thing, is that she leaves it there. And yes, she found another sucker... however, this one was not opened! :)

Mark Another Mall Off of the List

On Sunday, we made a trip to the Katy Mills Mall. Believe it or not, that was our first time there. Zach and Papo enjoyed looking at the fish in the Bass Pro Shop's giant aquarium. We did a little shopping, bought some new shoes for the kids, ate some lunch, and enjoyed the afternoon together.

This is what I found in the backseat, on the way home. Two tired, little babies! :)
Don't worry, he straightened out shortly after I took the picture.

One's Loss is Another's Gain

Zachary left his pinata candy out on the floor and look who found it... she found a sucker and did not want to part with it. I gave in and let her keep it for a while. I think she liked it!

Princess Birthday Party

Yea! It's My Birthday!

One Year Ago

I got this idea from a friend of mine...

One year ago today, I headed in for just a normal doctor's appointment, thinking she would just say, "Okay, see you next week." But much to my surprise she had ordered a sonogram. The sonographer asked twice if I had lost any fluid. With her asking twice, I grew uneasy. Was there something wrong? Apparently, my fluid was low- which can be harmful to the baby. It can inhibit the baby's growth and development. I was not due for another few days, so the sonographer suggested that I have the baby that day!
Oh my gosh... I was not prepared for that. I did not expect that at all! I couldn't even leave to go home and get my bag, or anything. I couldn't call Gabe right away, he was in class. I called my mom, who luckily was in town already, at home with Zach. Finally, Gabe called me back, and I told him, "We're having a baby today!"
I checked myself into the hospital and got situated. I couldn't be induced again because I had already had a c-section, which meant that I had to have another c-section. I was a little disappointed by this, but I wanted whatever was best for the baby. It all seemed a little surreal because I was there by myself, getting nervous about everything. I was going to have surgery, my husband had to pack my bag for me, did I have everything ready for the baby, how is Zach going to react, etc. My mind had a million things running through it. Finally, my family showed up. Now we just had to wait for my doctor to show up. It felt like an eternity!
I was wheeled to the operating room at 5pm. Here I was again... about to become a mother once more! At 5:33pm our beautiful baby girl, Sophia Nicole, was born. Welcome to the world, Sophie! We were so happy to finally meet our baby girl!

Happy Birthday Sophie!!

Can you believe that my baby girl is now a year old? This year has literally flown by for Gabe and I. It seems like it was just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital, had sleepless nights, midnight feedings, watching her every move to make sure everything was just right, etc.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE! WE LOVE YOU!

Giddy UP!

Mr. Serious

I just don't know where he gets his attitude from. :) But isn't this the cutest "mean face" you have ever seen?

Dane's Party

Saturday, the 31st was Dane's (Sophie's boyfriend) first birthday! It was a beautiful day for a birhday at the park. He had a John Deere party, so we all dressed the part. Sophie wore hot pink (as seen below), Zach had a t-shirt with a tractor, Gabe wore a hat, and I wore a shirt that said, "A woman's work is never done," with a tractor on it also. Which is hilarious that we found that shirt, because I say this quote to my family ALL the time! :) How fitting. Sophie taking a swing

Mommy & Zach swinging

MMMMM, mom's cupcakes!

The Birthday Boy!

I have to wait to get copies of other pictures that were taken... there are more to share!

Sophie & Dad

Daddy's girl (when she wants to be).

Play Time

After lunch, we let the kids play outside. Zach loved the playground. He got to play with Danielle and Abigail (Dallas' girls), while Dane and Sophie got to catch up. Aren't they cute together? :)