Remembering the Past Year

Daddy text me this afternoon and asked if I remembered where I was at that particular time one year ago today. I had to laugh, because there is no way of forgetting those memories. I started the day today with a picture with my best friend Bridget. I remember telling her that something felt different today and I thought I was going to go into labor. I was so excited and spent the day at school with a big smile on my face! At my 1:00 doctors appointment, the doctor said that I was having contractions and that I needed to head to the hospital soon, because they were pretty close together. I didn't feel much, and I thought these contractions were a piece of cake! I came home and gave daddy the news, and he was stunned and a silly smile came across his face. He was just as excited to meet his boy as mommy. At the hospital I was hooked up to machines and monitored. Unfortunately, the contractions slowed and my labor stopped progressing. I walked the halls all night trying to get them back, but you weren't ready. Thursday morning I asked to go home. I was starving! Grandma and Grandpa brought Easton to meet daddy and I at Crispy Waffle where I think I ate enough for four grown men! .....to be continued:)

Our Little Helper

11 for Gav and 3.5 for Mommy!

It is almost impossible for us to believe that Gavin will be turning one next month! It seems that with each child you add, the rate of time doubles! I can’t say we haven’t enjoyed this past year, and can’t wait for next month when we can relive it.
Gavin is just at the point where we can say he is officially walking! He is choosing more and more to walk instead of crawl and can stand from a crawling or sitting position without holding onto anything. He is SO proud of himself and starts clapping as he is walking, congratulating himself early. It is fun getting Easton involved in the process. At times, he feels a little put off at his brother’s milestones, but we try to recognize this and find something he does well, and applaud it. Gavin’s talking is turning into continual jibber jabber, and one of our favorite things to do is to see how long we can carry on a conversation with him. He is most talkative during meals….as is mommy and Easton, because even though they don’t look like her, both her boys enjoy food and eating constantly just like her (not so good for our budget). Gavin is doing a great job using his hands to feed himself, and prefers it to the mashed, spoon fed option. He is also drinking from a Sippy cup. Just like Easton at this age, Gav is in love with his dada, and bounces and grunts when daddy pulls into the drive. He says, “hi dada” .
Easton is our little charmer. I say this often, but his genuine personality is something we are so proud to have in our child. He constantly tells us he loves us, that I am beautiful (except if I have my hair in a bun. He then says that I look kinda bad), daddy makes the most awesome pizzas and asks how our day is. He is a please and thank you man, and cleans up his area after dinner, making sure to scrape his plate in the garbage before putting it into the sink. He learned this all by watching, because it is honestly not something we taught him (although I don’t mind and do take the credit when we are complimented). As of right now, Easton is into dramatic play and make believe, and loves for his mommy to be the princess in distress. He continues to be a great big brother, and helper. He has mastered holding down his own wiener when he pees (yippee!!)! As odd as it sounds, he has been potty trained for a year, but that thing had a mind of its own, and could not be controlled whenever he peed. He has finally mastered the hose and no longer needs mom or dad
We are excited to say that our family is growing! We are due with baby #3 this September! We always say that when we look at our dinner table, it always seems as though it’s not as full as we would like it to be Wonder when…or if that feeling will change!

First (two) Steps!!!!

Gavin took his first two steps unassisted today in front of mommy, daddy, Easton and Grandpa!!!! Way to go Gavin!! Not surprised too much, as he is the strongest most determined baby I have ever seen (not to put you aside eman, you have qualities that make you just as amazing). I can't wait to see how he starts taking off from here:)

Gavin turns 9 months!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked at our blog and saw that the last time I posted was in early November! There is so much going on, that it seems that I will never have time to get to these little things that someday are going to mean so much to me. It makes me glad I have boys:) If I had girls, I could guarantee they would scrutinize how often mommy wrote on each one. SO much has been going on with our little guys, who are not so little anymore. At Gavin's 9 month check up, he weighed 18 lbs, and is 85 % for height, and 50% for his head and weight. The doctor told us he already has an advanced vocabulary, but then turned and looked at the chatterbox in the corner, and said he could see why:) Gavin has 9 or 10 words he can say( obviously not perfectly, but understandable). Brabra(brother), mama, dada, nana(banana), tht(light), eta(easton), ma (more), baba, di (diaper). He is all over the place, and has got to start walking any day now...we are excitedly awaiting that. We think it will be the cutest thing to see him chasing after his brother. Gavin is an awesome baby. We have been blessed, because just like Easton, he is a calm and even mannered baby. He plays well on his own and with Easton, although he loves to shake the bologna out of train tables, firehouses, whatever those hands can touch! Gavin loves to smile, be lovied, and has a very jealous side. He does not like it when mommy holds Easton, or when Grammy holds Gavin's cousin Lilliana. Gavin is working at eating some table foods and with the four or so teeth he has, he is doing well! Easton is amazing in his own way as well. He has the kindest heart I have ever seen in a child. Sometimes to nice, but what can you do. He is quite the big brother, and has taken on a whole new role of big helper around our house. We are very proud of him. We recently took Easton to view preschools for the fall. It blows my mind that we are there already. He will have a hard time going. He already tells me he doesn't want to leave me. He is very needy and emotional about things, but it is what makes him Easton. It will be a difficult transition for all of us, but it will also be something I will smile about in 5 years when I think about it.

Back to Work and Reality

Wow, I had it good being off! Cleaning and cooking and time with my kids were manageable, and I even found time in my day for some mommy time. Now, if I stay up till 10:00 or 11:00, my chores are done and I can get some me time around then. Me time consists of me, my pillow and my mattress all wrapped up into one cozy ball!
In general, thing have been crazy around our house, but we couldn’t love it more. The swine flu made its way through the family, luckily missing Gavin. He was put on the medication along with the rest of us so he wouldn’t be vulnerable.
Easton has adjusted much better to mommy being at work this time around. He does have his moments, but they are nothing compared to last year! Easton is very passionate, genuine and needy all at the same time. He wants to be home and he wants to be around his family. He likes to be held and cuddled (although he gets hot quickly and cuddling doesn’t last long) and kept close. He is a homebody, but so are Shawn and I. He loves to talk, and can fill up a 45 minute car ride with no problem! He just wants to know everything! He is a great big brother and very protective of Gavin. I can't set him on the floor or give him a bath without Easton making sure I'm watching or supporting him enough. Easton allows Gavin to climb on him and grab at his hair and face without too much of a problem or fuss. He says he is ready for another brother, and doesn't want any girls.
Gavin is doing really well to. He doesn’t even know I’m gone! I enjoy coming home though, because as soon as he hears my voice, he squeals and smiles and plants big wet kisses on my cheeks. Although he is now 7 months, at his 6 month appointment he weighed in at 16 lbs. 7 oz. and is 23 in. long. He is hard to recognize anymore. He has the army crawl mastered and can get around the house pretty quickly that way. He gets up on all fours and will take a crawl or two forward, but then realize the army crawl gets him to his destination much faster. Unbelievably, he is also crawling to things and at times pulls himself up to a kneeling or standing position. It makes us smile to walk into his room when he wakes and find him hanging onto the crib bars smiling! So far, the words include: ah dada(hi dada), mummmmm(mom), ato(Easton), and baba. ...and this just in! He is now crawling up the stairs! He made it up two steps before he lost it:) Time to break out the gates!

Hopefully it’s not another three months before I can get to this again!