Your First Thanksgiving Gavey Boo!

Honestly I haven't really been in the "blogging" mood lately. I should be because I feel like you've done so many little milestones lately and I'm slacking, but ughhh Gavin I just don't have it in my lately. Although now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, at this rate it will be Christmas before I write anything again. Yikes. I'm the worst.

We had the best Thanksgiving ever at home with Grams, and the family. You ate sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and then more sweet potatoes :) Mom wasn't on top of things so I packed tons of sweet potato baby foods, and a couple other things. Then when we ran out because again Mom wasn't on top of things, we had sweet potatoes at your Aunts and Uncle's for Thanksgiving and then again at gram's house. If I wake up tomorrow and you're orange, we'll know why. Oops! We also didn't get any pictures! We need to because you had the cutest "My First Thanksgiving" shirt with a little turkey on it. I just might have to dress you up in this again and take your pic. Ok it's decided. Thats what I'm going to do. If I remember.



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Like Father Like Son. Ha



You're my little walker! Ok well maybe not walker since you still prefer crawling over walking, but you can do it at least :)You like walking around everything holding on to it, and then when that doesn't work you'll either take a couple steps or crawl like a crazy man.

We've had the most fun ever playing catch. I swear. Mark my words. You're going to be a little athlete. You love throwing a ball at me, and then I throw it back and we play over and over again. Then you crawl away, find a new toy. And we play catch with that over and over again. Funny little guy!

Throwing it to you

Wait for it...Wait for it...

I have to say I was a little nervous to take you back to New York now that you're a man on the move. Constant move! Ha. Everyone was saying they couldn't beleive you were only 7 months because you were into EVERYTHING Mr. All Boy. I'm actually a little thankful for it because you're keeping me on my toes, which honestly is probably not a bad thing :) We had such a good time spending it with the family. The night before Thanksgiving, you stayed over night at Brian and Tricia's with a new babysitter! You were SOOO good! You ate your food, drank your bottle, and then I got a text that you laid in your back in play, rolled over, and popped your butt in the air. Ha. That's my cuddle monkey.I was nervous you were going to have a tough time but you adapted, and I'm so happy! Your mom and dad had the best night out with our friends, and then I regretted our 2:00 night out the next day when you were ready to hang at 7. Ughhhh. You confirmed that we will be getting a sitter our next night out, and they'll keep you over night. Or i guess we could learn to be more responsible at not stay out so late?! :) That would probably be the right answer.

On the way home we got to stop in Cleveland and see Val. We had a great time because we love seeing our favorite little Val, except she hit your head at the restaurant on a light, and then you spilled my mimosa. I forgive you, although I could have used it after your dad made us stop 1993239 times between Cleveland and Lansing. We didn't get home until way too late. I was a little crabby, but you my friend were so happy to be home. We let you stay up late because you were having so much fun crawling around and playing. It was so cute, and we were heartbroken taking you to daycare today. You seemed so happy at home with us.

Oh and you have your 1st tooth!!! It's sharp, and you love to feel it with your tongue. I have a feeling tooth 2 will be here in the morning. You've been a drooling little bear so let's hope it gets here and as painlessly as possible :)

And the last big news is you've graduated from your infant seat! You're getting way to big to scrunch in their so thanks to your mom (and not so much your dad) you'll be sitting in your Cowmoflouge seat in no time! I'm normally not a fan of Cow Print, but seriously it's so adorable. If it was up to your dad you would have been in the black Britax, but thanks to your mom, you'll have some style, and it will be stimulating. Haha. Ok maybe that was my way to convince him you needed it?! :)



Bye Bye Chicco!


Alright. Here's to your Thanksgiving Post. Kind of boring. Can we blame it on the Nyquil?! Ughhh get me over this cold. But it's done. Your cousin Alexa should be happy now :)

One Step at a Time...

Waitttt....I forgot I wrote this the day you took your first steps! I wrote this on 11/17 so here. Ok I'm not as much of a slacker as I thought, I just didn't post it. I'll add pics later to spruce things up a bit :)

I think a BIG congratulations is in order for a Mr. Gavin Pants. Or should I say Gavin Walker Pants? Ha. Ok I'm obviously tired and should not be writing anything right now. BUT I do feel the need to make it a point to note that our Gaveyman took his first steps 2 days ago at exactly 7 months and 1 week. Woo Hoo over achiever. I'm so proud of you! You took off at Cindy's house not even realizing what you were doing. She turned on the fireplace, and you were mesmerized, and just needed to get close and check it out Sooo you took 2 big steps and were on your way! Until you realized what you were doing and then you sat on your booty. I was afraid it was a fluke but you did it again today for momma! Ahhh! Wow. It makes me SO happy and So sad at the same time. I don't want you to be a walker yet. I think it will be awhile until that's your main mode of transportation, you're still a knee guy and prefer crawling everywhere. As. Fast. As. You. Freakiiing. Can. Ugh! You literally make us chase you silly boy. We broke down and bought more gets yesterday. I really didn't want to close off basically every pathway but thanks to you, we have no choice :) I guess I'll let it go this time. It's either that or consistently try to beat you to the water dish and the cat food. Your not a cat so please stop trying to eat like they do.

We have an exciting week coming up!! New York!! Woo Hoooo. I can't wait! I'm in DIRE need of a little time at home with my family and my best friends. I miss them so much. I have a lot of great friends here in Lansing, but there is something about my friends in NY that just make things seem like they're suppoed to. If that makes sense? :) We're going out the night before Thanksgiving, while little Gaveypants stays home. I have to say, I'm not sure how I'm going to handle it. It's a tradition that we do every year but I'm getting too old for this nonsense. I went out with friends last weekend, got home at 1:00 and was literally WORTHLESS alllll day on Sunday. It was so pathetic. Thankfully for me I have the best husband in the world who let me lay on the couch and watch movies all day, while he chased Gavin everywhere. Seriously I don't know what I would have done without him?!

I just booked my flight to San Diego for my NSM. I'm actually pretty pumped because I've never been there. I wish Brybear was going with, but it will be a nice time away with friends I only see a few times a year. Plus it's in California which is SO much better than Florida which is where we've gone the last few Januarys...Wait I think last year we were in Phoenix. Ok regardless. I'm just glad it's not Florida again. Bryan and I also found the best resort ever for our little couple get away this summer. It's in Punta Cana which I've never been to but seriously, I need something fun and exciting to look forward to. Granted we will of course miss you Mr. Gavman but the thought of a week laying out on the beach, drinking fun cocktails, and no e-mail, or cell phone sounds fabulous. I think I should just book it now and be done with it?!

Ok...Once again RANDOM. I just felt the need to mark Gavin's little walking moment down in history :)

HAPPY 7 Month Bday Baby Boy!

Geeze Gav! 7 months?! That's wayyy too crazy! I seriously cannot believe that time is going by THIS quickly. I used to get so sad at the thought of you getting older but, honestly I'm not as sad as I used to be about it. Why is that?! Because every little stage gets better and better. We have so much fun together now as a family. You're so sweet, funny, and laugh at everything. I can see you starting to become this crazy little active boy and I love every thing about it! Now let's move on to the highlights from this last month, k?!

• You are SOOO freakinggg fast!! You crawl everywhere, under things, over things, through things. You're always on the move. Your favorite game is throwing your ball and chasing after it, and throwing it so it hits the wall, bounces off and then chase after it more. Cindy told me the other day you're ALL boy because you're moving constantly and you have a bad habit of crawling over to the kids when they're napping and crawling over them...They have to tell on you! Ha. Ohhh Gav. If that's the most trouble you ever get into I'll be one happy mom :)


• You clap! You just started doing this a week ago but you love it. You are so proud of yourself everytime you do it. You crawl away, sit on your booty then clap and smile. It's one of my favorite things you do because you smile so big I can't help but smile so big right back! Can you do me a favor and not stare at me like I'm crazy when I start clapping back. You always stop and stare at me blankly.
• You are now a pro peek-a-boo player! You used to just love when we would put something over your eyes and then pull it off. Now you're the one who covers your face up with your blanket and then quickly pulls it off. Then you put it up. Then down. Then up. Then down. Sometimes I think you could play this game all day long.
• Youre in love with yogurt! Although I bought you the baby yogurt becacuse I was getting a little possessive over our yogurts. You also love pancakes, and you'd eat everything that we eat if we'd let you. You still have 8 oz every 3 hours during the day and cereal and baby food mixed together twice a day. You're so good at eating it now. I used to dread feeding you because it ended up everywhere. Now you eat it like a champ. Big boy! You're also SO good at eating paper. It's your favorite thing ever. While at the Dr's this week you ate about 20 pieces. You also think that mom's work folders taste phenomonal. Stop. You're not a goat.

• You're "Crusing" as the Dr called it. You pull yourself up no problem, and can stand on your own for a few seconds before falling on your cutie patootie booty. You're crusing in the sense that you walk everywhere as long as you can hold on to furniture. You walk around the ottoman holding on with one hand and you go around. and around. and around. We think you're going to walk soon because you reach out for us when your standing and act like you're going to take a step but then you decide not now mom and dad and sit on the floor. What a little jokester you are!



• You've REALLY found your voice. Now you talk and babble non-stop at daycare and at home. It's so sweet and so cute. I love it. I swear you say da-da but I know it's in my head. Although you do say it whenever you see your dad...hmm...Could you figure out how to say Ma-Ma.I'd love it! You love your daddy by the way...You two have the sweetest relationship and I love it!

• You're still sleeping through the night, and teethless. Although you went through a week where you woke up 4-5 times a night! That was last week and I was ready to get used to the newborn schedule again. Thennn one night your mean parents let you cry it out from 12:00 midnight-2:30 am and then you never did it again. I think that means we won that battle huh Mr. Stubborn?
• I can already tell you're very strong willed. You get your mind set on something and you get so mad if you can't do it or we take it away. You throw yourself on the floor, and kick your feet. You definitly have a temper and I pray that it goes away soon!! I don't want you to have my temper. Please no Gav...Be like your laid back daddy! K?!
• You stayed with your first baby sitter ever 2 weekends ago while your mom and dad went out with the Lenon's for Halloween. You did so good! Plus she treats you like the little cutsey woots that you are so I think our search for the perfect local baby sitter is over! Whew! Your grandparents can breathe a sigh of relief that they won't have to make the trek out here a million times this winter because you need a sitter, thanks to Carly :)

I feel like I'm forgetting some things?! Oh well judging by the length of this, that could be highly unlikely! Ha. I'm a rambler. Get used to it my friend.

I love you so very much Gavin. You truly are the light of my life and you make me so happy. I was just talking to someone today that the feelings and love I have for you are undescribable until you have a child. We read the book Someday tonight, and it made me realize that I'm going to cherish every moment with you. You are so great and so much fun. I'm so blessed that you're mine and I am so thankful for you. Cheers to the next 7 babycakes! I love you!

All about Perfect Timing

For some reason lately I've been thinking all about timing, and how everything happens for a reason. I know it's so cliche, but I guess the older I'm getting the more I'm realizing it... Case in Point- (Gavin don't be mad, k?! :) BUT, when I found out I was pregnant I was anything but happy. I was terrified, and cried, and cried and cried for weeks. I didn't want a baby, all I could think about was how much my life would change, gaining weight, and how my shoe/handbag obsession would quickly be replaced by diapers and formula. I really wasn't one of those pregnant girls who loved being pregnant either which didn't help. Maybe the 2nd trimester I did because I felt great, still had tons of energy, had just a little bump, and was somewhat excited, but then it hit again around the 3rd trimester where, I realized wow this is really happening. We're going to have a baby, I've never changed a diaper, I don't really like kids, babies make me nervous bc I never know what they're thinking, and what if I'm one of those people who have a baby and then never loses the weight. Then I started thinking about the whole process of giving birth, and the thought of pushing a child out of me was absolutly terrifying...We then had him and I didn't feel this overwhelming sense of love that everyone acted like I would feel. I was tired, exhausted, and honestly just relieved it was over. It felt like an out of body experience, but then agian 36 hours of labor felt like an eternity so I think part of it had to do with my lack of food, sleep, and the whole labor side of things. We had so many friends and family come visit and the thing I remember most is when Nate and Neena came by and Nate said Gavin has a dirty diaper, do you want to change it? and I just shook my head no and starting crying. I realized at that moment my life had totally changed, this baby is dependant on me and I have no freaking idea what to do. He ended up changing Gavin's diaper, while I just laid in bed with tears rolling down my face not knowing how I could ever take this baby home with me.

Fast forward to now. I honestly can say Gavin is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I feel bad, like I should be saying Bryan is, because technically he should be first and foremost than Gav but Gavin is my life. It's so cool to me that even though I had no idea I was missing something so great in my life, God did. We weren't trying to get pregnant by any means, Gavin was a TOTAL shocking surprise, I guess you could even say a gift. It's like I never knew how empty and shallow my life was untl he came along. Now, I would be ok if you took everything away from me, but not my child. Or Bryan :) What's important in my life is no longer having the latest whatever, but knowing Gavin is healthy, happy, and feels so loved. He can drive me a little crazy at times, like last night when all I wanted him to do was eat his peas and cereal and he kept hitting my hand away and spitting them out, or the fact he screams like a crazy man whenever I try to put a shirt on him, but he is the cutest, greatest, best thing in my life. I love you so so much Gaveyman. All I want for you is for you to be happy, healthy, God loving boy and my life will be complete.

Along with timing, it's funny how so much has changed in a year. Friends I used to talk to so much, I hardly talk to, and friends that I thought I would never talk to again, we're talking. Then there are the people who I didn't know before this last year and now they're some of my closest friends yet. It's so crazy how friendships evolve, and I'm realizing that the saying, "There's a reason why people in your past don't make it to your future" is true. I'm not the same person I was then, I'm a mom, I'm someone who's trying so hard to be the best wife I can be and really make my marriage a priority, and I'm someone who is developing such an awesome relationship with God that I will never be the person I used to be. I'm so thankful for my friends, my family, Riverview, my new (and old) small group, and all the ways that I've been blessed. I have so much to celebrate that on days when I feel overwhelmed, stressed, or anxiety about something I need to step back and really recognize what matters in life and realize that I have it all.

Now on a FUN note...We can't end a post without pics of Gaveypants, right?!




Daddy's Little Monster...Guess who picked out this shirt?! Ha



Mommy's Little Giraffe all ready for Halloween!

Are you seroiusly making me go to daycare like this?!



Making Fish Lips!



Heyyy Big Boy!!

My little Bubble blower who thinks he's so funny



Love these lips!!!