Christmas Round One!...Ok I guess Take 2 :)

Love You Gavey Boo

Seriously, talk about such a great Christmas back home in New York with my family!! Although the last few days have been a complete whirlwind, AND I probably gained at least 1000 lbs AND Schmesh and Chig are mad at us for leaving- it was all worth it!

We left Thursday night for a night out in Ann Arbor. I met my District there and we had dinner at Gratzi's where I had the best filet ever- anything that is on top of a portabello mushroom and goat cheese is A-ok in my book! The Poma Martini's weren't tasting too bad either :) We then went to a Comedy Club and ended the night at a martini bar. So much fun! I work with the best people ever, and my manager is great- Coach purses for the girls, and Tumi wallet clips for the guy. She knows how to shop! Ha. I also have the best hubsters ever, who came with, and entertained Gavin all night in the hotel room. We stayed at the Dahlman Campus Inn which is nice but the rooms aren't ever big enough when you have an 8 month old on the go. They walked around Ann Arbor, ordered room service and were tucked away in bed by 9:00. Good job Big Daddy!! He did this all so I wouldn't have to drive back to DeWitt the next morning, and then pack up to leave for New York, it saved me a trip and saved us some time- esp when we didn't get started for NY until 10 the next morning. Oops! I needed a little sleep after being out until 2- yikes! I'm too old for this nonsense :)

Thennn we spent the last few days at home. So great! Gavey- you did so amazing!! You traveled in the car really well- I think you did better than your momma who was a little exhausted and crabby :) The first thing you did when you saw your gram was give her the biggest smile- hands down it was the sweetest thing I ever saw in my life. You love your gram so much and you remember being there just a few weeks ago- you could so tell, and I loved everything about it. We spent our first day home just relaxing, and I took an amazing nap. Thennn the next day we went to Altons by the Galleria where we had the BEST Chicken Finger Subs, and Pizza Logs. Seriously the two things I miss the most besides friends and family! Ok that and Jim's Steak Out at 4 in the morning. We'll save those stories for when you have kids because I don't want you to get any ideas Mr. Anyways gram had lamp chops, which I think are so gross, but we ate up and then came back home. We got the house ready for Christmas, and watched Christmas movies and called it a night. Perfect! Sunday morning, we celebrated Christmas, and your dad and I went to Wayne's church and got to see him and Julie. It was so great, and you sat through the whole thing like such a champ. Although you were flirting with several of the ladies behind us. Mr. Roll told us we better watch it, you were really flirting with his wife. Ha. Oooh you're a little mr ladies man already. We came home, and then the family came for our traditional lasagna dinner, garlic bread, antipasti, and daddy's cookies- well in your case grandpa's cookies. You were a little spoiled with the clothes, and toys that you got but you didn't care because all you watned to do was eat the paper, and climb the stairs. Gram did something SO special this year...Saturday night she brought out all of her jewelry, and we went through every piece. She then divided it up among all 25 of us and thoughtfully considered who should get it. It was so special and I'm going to cherish every peice she gave me. I have her baby bracelet, several necklaces, and a gorgeous diamond antique wedding ring that was her mothers. It's stunning and I'm so honored she gave it to me. I wanted hers, but she couldn't find it in the safe...So hope she didn't lose it :( She also gave me a few rings and earrings, and a couple pins she would wear. Beth had the best idea since we don't wear pins anymore to take it to a jeweler and have the stones made into a ring or neckalce- love it and I might have to do just that. From everyone else we got cookies, gourmet coffee, gift cards, and and a gorgeous jewelry box that my Aunt and Uncle gave me. Love it and much needed especially after gram gave us so much. When everyone left we cleaned up and then literally collapsed- we were so exhausted!! You did a great job on our way home too- you slept like the WHOLE way! When you weren't sleeping you just talked to yourself, played with your books and watched out the window. What a good little guy you are!!

A few new things in the world of Gav-

• You say MumMum!! FINALLY! Not just dadada. We first heard it when they were passing you around the breakfast table and you looked around for me, and say MuummmMummm! Awww! Sweet baby! You did it!
• You are SO obsessed with throwing things. You actually have a little arm on you, mr strong man. Your aunt and uncle bought you a little toy story ball and you made us play catch and roll it back to you over. and over. and over.
• You can drink out of a sippy cup and you're obsessed with it. Although I don't like you drinking out of it unless I'm right there because you start to play and tip it upside and then splash the water everywhere.
• You ate jello, cottage cheese, and ice cream this weekend and loved every bite.
• You discovered gram's stairs and had to try and climb up them every chance you had. Speaking of which, when we got home I thought your dad was watching you, he thought I was watching you, and next thing I know I heard you laughing to yourself in the upstairs bathroom! Apparently you seized the moment, climbed up the stairs in a matter of seconds and made your way into the bathroom.
• You love splashing all of the water out of the tub. Ok well not all of it, but if you could you would. I hate giving you baths now because I get soaked and you just laugh. Thanks.
• The cats officially don't like you. No offence. I think they used to tolerate you, now they hiss and run. Even after not seeing us for a few days. I think you scarred them.
• You now not only push your little walker up and down the living room, you get going so fast it looks like your taking little running steps. We'll be running the streets of DeWitt in no time Gav! Your dad better step up his game or he's not going to be able to keep up!

I think that's it for now? We're celebrating next weekend with dad's family in Mt. P with your cousins and we can't wait! Until then I will be making the rounds and scrounging for every dollar I can to make my number this year. In that respect, I miss last year. This time of year was so not stressful, the biggest stress in my life was finding a maternity dress to wear to our awards night.

Hanging with Daddy

Trying to fit as many in your mouth as you can.

Smarty Pants drinking from Mr. Sippy

Love my Family

Snuggling with my BFF.
PS Don't mind the greasy hair. Just had a facial and massage so I'm a bit shiny! Yikes!!

The Best Feeling Ever Is...

Coming home and seeing my hubsters and my Gav after 4 days!! Gavin starting squealing and laughing and kicking the minute he saw me. Seriously it make me smile just thinking about it. He wouldn't let go of me and just stared and smiled. It melted my heart and I'm sitting here smiling just thinking about it! It really was the best feeling ever. Maybe I should go away on trips more often?! Ha. Kidding. Although I should admit I've spent the last hour googling all inclusive resorts in the Carribean! We're going somewhere fun next May or June, but we can't figure out where??  I just need something to help get me through this next selling season, and I think a va-ca is just the thing! Plus it gets me that much more motivation to get my booty to the gym. Although the thought of leaving Gav without his mom AND his dad for a whole week sounds so terrible and sad. But I need to get used to it since I have to go 2 times a year to sales meetings anyways. Our next one in January is in San Diego and I already can't wait! I think I just might have to go a day or two early or stay late. I've never been there before, although I know the time difference will suck.

My meeting went really well. I missed my boys terribly, but it was good to hang out with people I only see a couple times of year. I ate great food, drank too many drinks, and learned all that there is to know about textbooks, mylabs, and selling. Woo Hoo. Talk about fun times?! :)

I also FINALLY got my hair cut today. Wow talk about long over due. I left Gav with our friend Neena so I could just go and relax. This was the first time he was with anyone other than his grandparents without us and he did great!! He slept there, and smiled and had the time of his life. Either that or Neen is just telling me this but, he seemed like a happy little bear cub when I went to pick him up. He then proceeded to scream the whole way home. Thanks a lot Gav Gav. I broke down and got 3 cute little feather extensions in my hair...Although they blend in so well I'm not sure if it's even noticable. Maybe it will be when I wash my hair and make it look normal. Right now it's allll curly. My girl always curls it like crazy before I leave, and never lets me see it until she's done. I want it just straight, but she likes to make me "look like one hot momma" those are her words! Ha! I'm not too sure what I think of these but for now it works. Maybe I'll take a pic and put it up later. Speaking of which, I've been meaning to add pics to my last few posts...I should do that. Sometime.

Then my last big news is- Gavey Gav has God parents now! Is that what you call it?! I mean if something happens to Bryan and I both, he has a wonderful family that will take him in and raise him. Wow what a relief. I mean heaven forbid anything happen to us and I pray to God nothing does, but it's a relief knowing if for some crazy terrible reason something does happen to us, Gavin will be taken care of. I hope our families understand, but we spent a lot of time thinking, and praying about where we'd want him to go. The people who are going to take care of him we have so much respect for and we love so much. They have kids that Gavin already spends so much time with, and they seem like family to us as cheesy as that sounds. Gavin you are so very loved, by so many people. If something did happen to us, which I hope like I said it never does, know that your dad and I want you to be raised by two of the best people we know because we know you'll be in good hands. Your future is SO important to us, and I've been stressing about this for so long, I'm glad we came to a desicion and they agreed. It's so creepy even writing this (ha maybe I'm just morbid?! Yikes!) but, I just want you to know that this was a big deal to try and figure out and we have such peace about this. I love you Gavey Gav and you're so lucky to have SO many people who love you so much too!! Whatta special little booga boogs you are!!

I guess in other Gav news...what else have you been doing that's new?! You love grabbing your feet, inching all over the place!! You can no longer just hang out on your play mat because you end up across the floor with rug burn on your face (oops!!), You love pulling my hair out of my head, squealing, trying to put your feet in your mouth, and sitting on your booty and trying to reach everything in front of you. You can also stand with me hardly holding you and sit up with my hand sitting on your back. Strong little boy!! We go next week for your 4 month appt and I can't wait to see how much you weigh, Mr I wear 9 month sleepers to bed at night :( Stop growing, I have so many more outfits for you to wear!! Well I guess keep growing bc I don't want you to be a little person your whole life.

Ok that's it for now. Time to stop being anti-social and hang out with the fam. SOOO good to be home and just chilling! Love it!