A long overdue congratulations

My sister Mena met her boyfriend Miguel when she was going to Berkeley and they worked together at Ned's Bookstore. They became friends, and then began dating. That was in 2001. They have spent most of their adult lives together, shared some of their biggest moments both happy and sad, and lived together in Beirut while my sister pursued her master's degree. It's hard to imagine one without the other, and I think of Miguel like a brother. In the fall, as they celebrated 10 years together, Miguel proposed and Mena accepted. We are so happy for them, and can't wait for the wedding!

At the Plumas County Fair, 2002

Beirut, Christmas Eve, 2005

The Bay, summer 2006

Our wedding rehearsal, 2008

Lake Tahoe, 2009

Six months!

Our little Pumpkin turned six months old while we were in Michigan! At her six-month check up on Monday, she weighed in at 15 lbs., 6 oz. (50th percentile) and measured 27 inches (97th percentile). Her doctor said she moves as much as most 9-month-olds.

She is getting to be so big and is even sitting up! She can't get there on her own yet, but if we sit her down she stays for quite a while.
Just before Christmas she started eating solid foods, and seems to enjoy everything. So far she's had carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli and spinach.

It is so much fun (and a little sad as the time seems to fly by so fast) to watch her grow from a baby into a little girl. She is so happy and such a joy.

The Mitten

A couple weeks ago, Team Gabel headed to Michigan for a wedding and Pumpkin's first (six) flight(s)! Chris's cousin Brad, who lives in our 'hood, was marrying Linda, who hails from Michigan, and so off we went!

Pumpkin was great on all of our flights. We changed planes in Oakland and thought we were flying straight to Detroit until the pilot informed us we would be stopping in Phoenix. This wasn't on our itinerary as it wasn't a plane change, but the even bigger surprise was that Rita was getting on the plane with us! It was fun to have Grandma on the flight to help keep Pumpkin entertained. We discovered the best toys are empty plastic cups and cardboard coffee cup sleeves.

This is maybe my favorite picture from the trip. Pumpkin enjoys looking at the mirror, but usually we have to hold her up on the sink - in the hotel, the mirror came all the way down to the floor - what fun!

The little charmer was pretty adorable (as she always is) in her little dress and bonnet for the rehearsal dinner. She met all kinds of new aunts, uncles and cousins over the weekend.

The wedding was in the evening and the ceremony and reception were beautiful. Here are the official new Mr. and Mrs!

Here we are with Alison and Rita at the wedding reception. We had lots of fun during our trip, and even found time to have some Middle Eastern food in Dearborn - a delicious excursion! It was really great to see the extended family and share in a beautiful wedding.

Buddies

Earlier this month, we enjoyed a visit from Jeremy and Andrea who came from D.C. for a late holiday visit with family and friends. We were pretty excited that they brought Pumpkin's little prom date with them - their new addition was born in September but is is quickly catching up to Pumpkin, he's such a cutie and very strong!

This is their first meeting, at Jeremy's mom's house.

The next morning, we hosted brunch at our house and Kat and Matt, college friends of Andrea who have now become friends of ours, joined with their little one, who is already 14 months!

The adults had a great time visiting and catching up, and the kiddos had fun getting to play together. We look forward to many more of these gatherings.

Goals for 2012

So, 2011 was pretty great for us. Chris, Scoop and I were a happy little family before our little Pumpkin arrived, but since then our world has become sweeter, more fulfilling, more joyful and, well, more pink.

I'm looking forward to what 2012 will bring. Here are some of my goals for the year (in no particular order):

Dress nicer (especially at work, but not only at work). Buy new makeup (and wear it sometimes). Make nearly all of Pumpkin's food from scratch, buy organic, try a variety of new vegetables (us and her). Get back to my wedding weight by Pumpkin's first birthday. Get outside, go walking, go hiking, bring Pumpkin. Tell Chris more often how much I appreciate all that he does for our family every day. Cross some more items off my 2010 Nevada Resolutions list I never completed. Be better about filling out out Pumpkin's baby book and work on her scrapbook. Don't let filling out Pumpkin's baby book and scrapbook get in the way of good, quality Pumpkin time. Read to Pumpkin every day. Sing to her. Engage with her. Get down on the floor and play with her. Bring healthy snacks to work and lay off the ever-present peanut M&Ms. Be a better news consumer. Read a book for fun. Decorate our bare walls. Finish some of the projects taking over the guest room. Find some time to make jewelry again. Don't wear a ponytail every day. Be on time more. Be in the moment.