Time Flies When You're Having Fun

So... where exactly did this summer go?!?! September 8th already??? The kids (and Eser) are reluctantly back in school, Halloween candy lines the seasonal aisle at the grocery store, pumpkins are adorning the tables at all the roadside produce stands, and this unprecedented, historic mad dash for the White House is officially underway (O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!)... It all seems absolutely impossible to me. Equally unbelievable is the fact that the wedding is less than 2 weeks away. Now that's just plain crazy. Though we didn't go to the trouble of hiring a photographer, I have specifically asked (and if I didn't ask you, consider this my asking) the few guests attending to bring their cameras and snap away. I'll make sure not to dilly-dally as far as posting the photos is concerned.

This is Eser's second full week back in school, and we are slowly getting into a routine. Gabe now spends the majority of his day with Ethel and Carl. I drop him off at 9:00, and Eser picks him up at 4:00. I know that I have said this before, and I'm sure I will say it again and again, but we are oh so fortunate to have Ethel and Carl. Gabe loves them so much, and I know the feelings are mutual. The first thing Ethel said to me this morning was how much she missed Gabe over the weekend. He has so much fun over there, and rarely (it might have happened once or twice) gives me a second thought as I walk out the door. He reluctantly gives me a kiss, says "bye-bye" in his sweet little voice, and then runs off to look for Carl. He just can't get enough of Carl. If Carl is around, no one else exists - it's as simple as that.

To my dismay, Gabriel is becoming quite the big boy. He is climbing onto and over whatever he can. Not only does he climb, but he does so with lightning speed. One minute he is playing in the kitchen with the magnets on the refrigerator, and the next minute he is in the living room on the couch digging through my purse. He has recently discovered how to twist things, such as lids and caps. If it isn't specifically a childproof lid, then it definitely needs to be kept out of his reach. He's quite the strong little guy as well. I have held on to Gabe's walker for the purpose of keeping him in one location in order to feed him if we happen to be eating in the living room. Before, I would keep one foot on the base of the walker to prevent him from scooting around while he ate. Occasionally that still works, but now Gabriel picks up his walker and runs around the living room carrying it (thank you, Eser, for teaching him this little trick). Refer to the footage below...

Well, speaking of big boy, we went out and purchased Gabe his first "big boy" bed yesterday - an adorable little toddler sleigh bed. We are slowly working on transforming his room back into just that, his room. When Eser's mom had her accident in Mexico, she came to stay with us for a bit. We turned Gabe's room (since he pretty much still rooms with us anyway) into her room so she didn't have to go up and down the stairs to use the bathroom. Anyway, Gabe is reclaiming his territory. Besides the new bed, I am in the process of going through his clothes, putting away what he's outgrown, and moving what he currently wears into drawers that he can't open. I feel like folding laundry is a lost cause sometimes - I fold it and put it away, Gabe opens the drawers and takes it all out. It's a never ending battle. Anyway, once we get through the wedding and such, we are going to work on changing his room from the current jungle animal theme to an aviation theme. Gabe is absolutely amazed with helicopters and airplanes. For those of you that don't know, our house is almost directly across from where the emergency helicopters land on the roof of Lancaster General Hospital. Whenever Gabe hears one coming, he's eyes light up and he gets terribly excited. Eser usually grabs him and they make a mad dash for the front porch where Gabe stares in amazement while his dark little curls blow in the helicopter's breeze.

Well, time to call it a night. Gabe's next doctor's appointment is the 23rd, so, while I'm sure we'll "talk" before then, check back in for the chunkey-monkey's latest stats.