Gabriel has become quite the well photographed boy. Here are a few shots from the beginning until today, his seventh day of life. 

 Day two.

 Day two.

 Day four.

 Day four.

Day six.
Yesterday, we had some paint fumes in our home, so the boys and I hunkered down on our bed with my mom to escape. Here is a photo from that time together. I love the big smile Charlie is wearing. He is being such an amazing big brother. I'm so proud of him. Now, if he could sleep through the night wakings of Gabriel, then life would be wonderful!

Can you name that baby?

Several people have asked me if my two boys look alike. So, I thought I'd post a little game of sorts. Can you guess who is who in the following pictures? Two are Charlie as an infant and two are Gabriel. Then, there is one with both boys. I'll give the answers at the bottom. 

 Picture A

 Picture B

 Picture C

 Picture D

Well, let's see how well you did...Pictures A & C are Charlie. Pictures B & D are Gabriel.

Welcome baby Gabriel!!!

GABRIEL RAYMOND WAGNER

Born: 12/24/2011

Weight: 7lbs 8.5 ounces

Length: 18.5 inches

Born into the Wagner family, earlier than expected, but joyfully welcomed comes Gabriel. 

 This is the only decent shot I have of Charlie first meeting his little brother. He had told us that when Gabriel came he would come say welcome to him and give him hugs and kisses. He was true to his word and did exactly what he said he would do. What a wonderful older brother!

 I love this picture of the older Wagner's looking at Gabriel. This is only a few hours after his birth.

 Here is our first family "portrait". Too bad Gabriel doesn't have his eyes open and Tom looks a like he had too much wine.

 A very happy, cozy boy. This is one of the new blankets that Charlie gave his little brother. He takes his own blankets like this almost everywhere he can. So, he figured Gabriel may enjoy them as well.

 One of the first times that Charlie was able to hold Gabriel all by himself. It is amazing how all of a sudden, a two and a half year old grows up in the span of 15 minutes. Charlie looks and feels like a giant to us now that Gabriel is here!

Gabriel had his first bath at our home this evening. Charlie asked to wash him, but accepted watching. I think he was a little scared off by all the crying coming from Gabriel while he was in the bath.

Pre-Christmas Moments

Here are a few pictures from late November and December. We had lots of fun celebrating Thanksgiving this year at Aunt Wendy andUncle Don's home on Lake Tapps. Below is a picture of Charlie with Don looking at the boat. Charlie loved the boat, but did not want to climb inside.

 One Monday Charlie and I decide to make sugar cookies. He impressed me with his rolling skills as wells ability to cut out the cookies. He is becoming my baking and cooking assistant chef and loving it!

After telling story after story (at his request), about getting a Christmas tree, the time finally came. Not quite certain it lived unto the stories of going into the woods to cut our own tree, but we did score a great tree.

 Tom and Charlie decorated the tree together. I sat, very pregnant watching.

 Tom took Charlie up to Seattle for a daddy/Charlie day. They both enjoyed the time together. I especially heard about the train ride into the city. Trains are what floats his boat these days. This is one shot from the day that is pretty dang cute.

 We received a package in the mail from Grandpa and Grandma Wagner for Christmas. We allowed Charlie to open a couple gifts before Christmas from the box. He sure was happy to open this truck.

Milestones

We now have a two and a half year-old keeping us very occupied. Here are a few updates of what is happening around our home:

1) "I do it." -- This is a saying that we hear almost every 15 minutes.
2) Charlie loves to do the dishes and actually helped me clean out the dishwasher today by putting all the utensils away by himself!
3) Roughly 90% of the time he can correctly identify his left and right hand, feet, leg, arm, etc.
4) Charlie loves to play ball with his dad as well as race cars and choo-choo trains.
5) We have started to let Charlie watch a little TV and now he asks to watch cartoons about 15 times a day.
6) Charlie is very aware that his little brother is coming soon. He talks often about "baby brother", including where he will sleep, how he will hold him and more.
7) We have a very polite child, he says please and thank you almost all the time. He also likes to check in with us to see how we are doing by asking "how are you mommy or daddy?"
8) Charlie has lots of fun at daycare, but also really gets wound up for a mommy, Charlie day or a mommy, daddy, Charlie day as he calls them.
9) Charlie survived his first bout with Strep Throat. He came down with a 102 fever on my birthday (Nov 18th). As he kept pointing to his head saying it hurt, I called the doctor and they had us come in to visit. It was lucky we made the appointment as it turned out he needed antibiotics.

OK. I have to run, Charlie just woke up from his nap. Which reminds me, he is now always saying "Mommy, get me." when he arises. Pretty cute. This is often accompanied by "I want to read books. I want a steamer and snack."

Halloween

Well, isn't the saying "better late than never"? I'm hoping that is true for this post. Charlie and I did carve two pumpkins for Halloween this year. We weren't too imaginative, but I think they were cute. 

 Charlie wanted to dress up as a dog this year. Scooby Do was the only dog costume that I could find for the kid. Here he is getting ready to head out for our three house trick or treating experience.

 We arrived back home with a few treats and lots of fun memories. He did a great job saying "trick or treat" to those few neighbors we met. I was a proud mom.

October 2011

I haven't taken my camera out too much this month. However, I did snap a few pictures last weekend at a pumpkin patch with Nonnie and Boppa. My parents came to visit for the weekend and we had a great time together. It was unfortunate that Charlie came down with a cold, but he rolled with it and enjoyed himself. Apparently, in the photo below, only Nonnie knew I was taking the picture and looked at the camera. 

In order to get a smile out of the little guy, Tom is tickling him. Too bad he is looking and smiling in the opposite direction!

Charlie scored the comfy ride with the pumpkins and food. He is a lover of popcorn. Probably because I ate so much popcorn when he was in my belly.

 This past week, Tom had to leave home around 7am each morning and returned close to 6pm. In order to keep Charlie occupied while I got ready for work, I brought out my makeup and jewelry. As you can see from the photos below, he was kept busy. This day he didn't have quite as much eye makeup as the day I didn't keep a close eye on him. That day he was very colorful!!

The reason for our visit to Cheektowaga, NY!

After spending a fun week in Cheektowaga, playing, resting and visiting, we are left with wonderful memories of our Wagner family. Although we wish we could still be there, we hold our memories in our hearts as precious. It was SO WONDERFUL to hug these folks and see Grandpa home from the hospital, in remission!!!! Here are three generations of Wagner men. Andy, Grandpa (dad, Ray), Charlie and Tom. 

 Nicole won many points with Charlie for coloring with him. Aunt Debbie did as well, however I didn't catch them with the camera. Much laughter was had during coloring time. Now, when Charlie looks at this picture he says: "her bike." After coloring we all went outside to say goodbye to Nicole as she rode off on her new bike. Charlie certainly liked that bike!

 We often had a two-man band at the Wagner house. Charlie and Grandpa would switch off instruments. Either the "trumpet" or the piano.

 Several of Grandpa's siblings came to visit. This is Mary and Millie. Charlie slept through most of the visit, but woke up in time to say hello.

 Aunt Debbie had to teach during the week. However, she took us to the Farmer's Market on the weekend. Charlie ate the entire apple while we were there and held tightly to the dog balloon aunt Debbie got for him.

 Grandpa is working on getting his strength back. One of the assignments he has been given by Physical Therapy is to walk 30 minutes a day. He had a route that he would walk around the house. Most times that Grandpa walked, Charlie walked with him, either leading or following. If you look closely, you will see Charlie is leading this time.

 Charlie seems to have a little crush on both his Grandpa and his Uncle Andy. It was really fun as a parent to watch him in connection to these two men.

Now, the only person who is missing from these pictures in Rachael. Rachael is a typical teenager, out and about with friends or working. Somehow, when she was around I missed grabbing my camera and getting a picture. Bummer!

Niagra Falls, NY

One outing that Tom knew he wanted to take with Charlie was to Niagra Falls. Charlie started out a little frightened, but then warmed up to the mist, noise and boats. He really wanted to ride Maid of the Mist, but that will have to wait for a future visit. You may be able to see why there is a height limit from this picture. 

 Here is Charlie climbing with the American Falls in the background.

 Three Wagner's posing for the camera. Grandma and Tom look a little more excited than the small guy in this shot.

 I finally get in a picture!

 Something is quite fascinating down below. Probably a boat or two.

 A small boy can't just walk by a digger. He MUST drive the digger!

Buffalo Zoo

This is Charlie's second visit to the Buffalo Zoo. The little guy was funny this time. He would look for a short while at the animals and then say "more animals please." We kept zipping around the zoo and actually saw most of the zoo at Charlie's pace. The photo below is of the boys looking at the bears. 

 On the bridge in the Amazon/rainforest exhibit.

 This polar bear really put on a show for us in his pool. He was having a good time that day.

Delaware Park, New York

One morning, we took an outing to Delaware Park to find some swings and a slide. Not only did we find what we were looking for, but a beautiful lake as well. This park is quite close to where Tom attended college. He also likes to talk fondly of the many foot races he ran in Delaware Park.

 In the past, Charlie hasn't been real fond of swings. However, here he stayed on for a long time and kept asking to be pushed higher and higher. Although I didn't capture his smiles in photo, he certainly smiled lots on the swing.

 Charlie became a climber at Delaware Park. This is a child version of a rock wall. He may have some rock climbing in his future.

 Here is boys being boys, throwing rocks in the water.

 This car could sure bounce. Too bad we didn't try it until right before we left.