Gabe the Babe!!

We finally had to go get some new clothing for Gabriel. He just doesn't have very many things that fit him anymore. Going shopping with Gabriel, however, is not at all like going shopping with a "normal" kid. It is more like taking a combination of a monkey, a donkey or mule, and a bull with you to a china shop. The result can be catastrophic if you aren't sufficiently grounded in your purpose and your determination (and if you don't hold his hand constantly). From running back and forth through the store, to refusing to cooperate, to yelling and screaming, to grabbing items off the shelves and doing who-knows-what with them, to opening the fitting room without knowing what or who is on the other side of that door--a shopping trip with Gabriel is never boring!!!

This morning, however, the success of our shopping created a new-looking little guy with bright new black dress shoes and pants. Of course, by the time the day was over, things weren't quite as shiny and clean as when we started out. But you should have seen and heard him sing with all his heart in Primary!! He is finally beginning to show interest in singing and playing with others and being part of a group. It is great to see the changes.

Something I think is quite amazing: Every Sunday after Sacrament Meeting, Gabriel heads for the building library as fast as his little legs can go (and they CAN go). He goes right in--not shy at all--grabs a set of scriptures or talks a librarian into giving him one, then heads for the Children's Meeting Room, where the main Primary is held. He has to have scriptures in his hands or he is not happy going to Primary.

The one thing I wish he would change, though, is this: I sincerely wish he would sit down some time during the meeting so I can take just a tiny relaxing breath.

He knows we love him and we do kiss and hug attacks all the time. He does them back, too!! Then there are the times when we re-infant him by feeding him at the table or cradling him in our arms like a baby. Besides being our only six-year old son, he is also our little baby boy.

What a fun little one we have in our home. We just love him a lot!!

Sometimes I think about Grandma and Grandpa Hoffman, my dad, Hazel, and my mom and Lin. I hope they are looking down on us and seeing a beautiful little boy and sending their love his way!! I am certain that if they were all here, they would love him with all their hearts!!