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!!

HAPPY (belated) 6 MONTHS BDAY!!

Ok so I'm  a few days late on this.  Is it wrong if  I blame you Mr. Busybody?? You're SO active and so busy now. Wow so much has changed in a month...And can I just say it's not easy to write this or do e-mails when you crawl over to me and pull my screen down and then hit the keys?! Ha How about I do that to you in 15 years when you're trying to write your papers?? :) Just kidding Mr.  (PS idk what you did to my screen but you hit something and now the letters are superrr tiny and I'm  squinting to write this...yikes)

For example this is you now:

This is you the last time I tried to write it:



And this is your mom  getting smart and distracting you with your toys so I can get this done:

So what's new in the world of Gavin this month?!

• You're officially a crawler!!!! You started a couple weeks ago but you woudl only do a couple crawls then face plant. Now you're off and going! Because of this major milestone your dad and I are forced to go baby gate shopping sometime this week! Woo hoo. We also need to get locks for our cabnet because you like to try and get itno everything...Could someone tell me why Bryan and I ever thought it was logical to keep our Cutco knives set in the bottom  drawer?! Dumbbb. But no worries Gavin hasn't been able to pull that open yet, and we will be dong a bit of kitchen drawer rearranging this week. When did my life get so exciting?!

• You can pull yourself up and stand on your own two feet all by yourself! Well you have to be holding something, but you can hold on with one hand and stand there. You did this for the first time on your 6 month bday and then you let go of the side of your pack and play and stood by yourself without holding anything for a couple seconds. Good job! We were so proud of you. Last night dad lowered your crib so you wouldn't pull yourself up and fall out. However it looks like when papa comes over this weekend they will have to lower it again because last night when I was watching you on the video monitor you crawled to the side, reached your hands up, and pulled yourself up and stood there! Stinker! You're one step ahead of us Mr. Gaveyman.

• You hold your own bottle which makes life nice because all we have to do is make it, hand it to you and sit back and catch up on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Perfect!
• You babble, squeel, yell, and fake cough all the time. You also are such a happy little guy. Well for the most part. When you get mad you get maddddd. Mr. Temper. You throw yourself on the floor and kick your right food against the ground.
• You are still so obsessed with the cats. Whenever you see them  you start laughing and if they get close enough you grab on and don't let go. You also love to crawl around and chase them...until one of them  (usually crabby Schmesh) turns around and hisses and tries to get you. No worries, she's declawed and if she ever hurt your cute little face she'd get the boot.
• We now give you baby food a couple times a day...Your favorites seem  to be applesauce, squash and green beans. You're not a huge fan of sweet potatoes unless they're the real thing or bannanas anymore...Although you love pulling your bib off every time I put it on...I usually lose at this game. We are getting smarter and just undressing you down to your diapey so we stop ruining your clothes

• You spent the night at Laura's this weekend with your grandparents well we went out to celebrate our friend's bday and you went right to sleep at 8:30 and slept until 8:30 the next day. Good boy! I wa so happy you slept somewhere else without us without a problem. Granted, you could always throw in a fit here and there to show you miss us, but that's ok. I think you were having so much fun hanging out with your big cousins!!
• Your new favorite game is when dad's holding you and I'm  nearby you reach out for me, and then when I have you, you reach out for your dad. So we can go back and forth. and back and foth. Apparently we like it as much as you do because we stand there and play along. And then we play along again. and again.
• Everyone thinks you're going to be an early walker bc you are so determined to get on your feet! Even when you're crawling you'll stop, push your booty in the air so you're on your tiptoes and try to push up. Take it easy little man. One thing and a time. Your mom  can't handle all of these changes k?! I want you to be my little baby boo forever.
• You also are a little busy body and I'm  afraid our days of going out to eat as a family are coming to an end :( We went to PF Changs this week and you kept trying to grab our glasses, we were at Bravo and you ripped up the table cloth and tried eating it...Looks like we need to find a new DeWitt babysitter for you! Your grandparents are great but it was tough having you gone all night last weekend...it'd be nice if  we could leave for a few hours and come home and see you. Thankfully papa is coming over to watch you for a few hours so we can go out and tailgate for the big MSU vs UM game! Although I know we'll miss you every second big boy!

I have to say Gavin, each month gets better and better. You really keep us on our toes now but I love it. Watching you grow and learn things every day is so cool. I feel like it's such a privledge to be your mom  and I'm  proud of you in so many ways. I can't wait to see what the next 6 months, 6 years, 16 years, have in store for us. Although I would appreciate if they didn't get here too quickly because I want to cherish and enjoy every second I can. You've chagned me so much. Before you, my biggest goal in life was to be a hard worker, be sucessful and buy the nice things, and you know what Gav. None of that matters to me. Well I guess it does but it's not my focus. You are. Your happiness is. I used to come home from work and keep working. You've taught me that, that's not what life is about. It's about enjoying my time with you, and work can wait until after your in bed sleeping because I don't want to go through life working so much I miss the little things wtih you and the big things too o course! You're so special to both your dad and I. Your dad couldn't be a prouder daddy. He talks about you when we're out and his face lights up, he wants to constantly play with you, and sometimes the only thing that can make him  feel better is giving you a biggg hug. Cheers to the next 6 months when we're celebrating your big 1st birthday Gaveyyybaby.  Crazy. Love you so much my little bugaboo. (Or Morty as your dad has been calling you lately...seriously what's wrong with us?! Ha!)