Benefiel Reunion @ Lake of the Ozarks

2 weeks ago we loaded up and headed out for a 17 hr trek to the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Gabi withstood 12 hours of torture before we had to pull over and spend the night in Oklahoma City. When we arrived the gang was all there. We were spoiled for 7 days, livin' it up, literally on the lake. My mother-in-law fatted us up with homemade breakfast, lunch, and dinner EVERY day. It was awesome! All of the cousins played and splashed around in the lake. Gabi even got a brief cruise on the jet ski around the dock AND in a life jacket with my arms strapped firmly around her.

Gabi sprouted a tooth (was MOODY) and took her first steps while on vacation, too! Daddy tried to spear a fish like he was Piggy from Lord of the Flies...it was hilarious!!! The adults hung out in the evening after the kids went to bed. Aaron and I are the ranking 2010 Hand and Foot Champions w/ Hollie and Shaun winning at badminton and ping pong. Heather and Ryan take the gold for being the best sports about it all...especially Ryan who sat quietly as Heather and I ranted about the Real Housewives of New Jersey. The day before we departed David drove us all out to a small beach near the house and we had a blast. I'll never forget the look on Gabi's face as we watched her Daddy skimming waves on an enormous inner tube. He needed that!!!

Thanks for a wonderful time guys. We can't wait to do it again!

Gabriella FINALLY walks!!!

We apologize for being out of the loop for a few weeks but traveling w/ a 13 month old is seriously, NO JOKE!!! Gabi made her walking debut while we were vacationing in Missouri. But today after much prodding and pleading from Mama and Daddy, her Papa finally coaxed her with a vanilla milkshake! Sucker!!! Now she's roaming around all over the place! My heart just melted!

ALSO.....don't ask us why but we decided to give up the chupy AND bottle the week we came back from the Ozarks. We are proud to say Gabi has been bottle and chupy free for 2 weeks! !It took 3 days, one in which we would have given in to our poor baby's cries (had we not pierced and thrown everything away already).Oh, and she has also grown two more teeth this month (11 TOTAL)! Every day we give thanks for the small miracles we see as our baby girl grows...it's soooo awesome!

Catwalk & 1 Year Check-up

We are headed to the Ozarks on Friday but we wanted to give everyone an update before we left. 2 weekends ago we got bored (imagine that w/ all we have going on) so we decided to take Gabi to the Catwalk. The Catwalk is a very special place for Aaron and I because it's the first place we said "I loooove you". Awww Ok, enough mush...

Gabi had a blast backpacking on Daddy's shoulders and Aaron and I burned some fatty cals!

Today I took Gabi for her 1 year check-up. As you can see she arrived all smiles, chatting w/ the nurse and girls at the front office. Gabriella is in the top percentiles for weight and height. She weighs 23 pounds and is 31" tall! Dr. Hernandez said she is doing great and we will attempt to break her from her bottle habit when we get back from Missouri. I still can't believe she has not been sick ONCE this whole year+!!! We have been so blessed!

The visit quickly went sour...Daddies should be in charge of shot visits. During the 1st shot, Gabi didn't make one peep but she gave the nurse the DIRTIEST look I have ever seen! I was

instructed to hold my daughter's legs too because she was kicking her. That's about the time that we both LOST IT! I can handle a tantrum, even a little tumble, but Gabi was screaming in pain and my heart broke (3x)!!! She's been in bed for awhile now and seemed to be doing fine when we kissed her goodnight. God bless your boo-boos my sweet baby girl...