A Fun Day at the Lake

I got to enjoy a lot of quality time with Gavin during my Spring Break from work. We were busy every day! Towards the end of the week, we went to Canyon Lake to visit a good friend of mine who has a son just three months younger than Gavin. We decided to have a picnic by the lake and the two boys had a great time! They loved playing in the sand, sharing snacks, and splashing in the water.

The boys waiting to ride in the golf cart down to the lake

Sharing a snack before the ride

Gavin offering to share his graham cracker

The boys enjoying the water

Playing in the sand

Gavin and Mommy

Gavin and Mommy (sorry for the poor quality - had to lighten it up due to shadows)

The boys sharing snacks

The boys playing

Playing with the sand

Gavin

They were so content just sitting by the water, playing in the sand

Gavin being silly with my hat

2nd Birthday Party

To celebrate Gavin's 2nd birthday, we had a party at our house. It was the first time we had ever had such a big crowd at our house and we ordered a bouncer for the kids and had sandwiches, pizza, and various snacks for the guests. Unfortunately, I ended up spending most of the morning and the first 2 1/2 hours of the party at the E.R. due to a miscarriage. It was my second miscarriage and the timing was probably worse than my first, which was on my 26th birthday. I was very sad because not only had we been trying for baby #2, but I was missing my first baby's second birthday. But, I know that everything happens for a reason and we will just continue to try and hope that I will be pregnant again soon.

So, on a happier note, thanks to our wonderful and supportive family, Gavin's party went off without a hitch. He loved having his friends over and thoroughly enjoyed opening each gift. He received so many fun toys and cute clothes! We are so thankful for such wonderful friends and family! (Thanks to Dad S and Courtney for taking all the pictures, especially before I arrived!)

My Dad and good family friend, Dee, talking before the party

My sister, Matt's stepdad, and my Dad decorated the whole backyard in limited time!

The bouncer

Cute Costco cake

Sandwiches and pizza from Costco

Gavin enjoying the bouncer with his buddies

We got Gavin a sandbox for his birthday and it was a big hit the day of his party

Guests enjoying the party

More guests

And more guests

I finally arrived - straight from the E.R. to the backyard!

Guests watching Gavin blow out the candles on the cake

Family and friends

Matt cutting the cake

Gavin wanted to sample the cake

Ready to open gifts!

Opening gifts with a little help from some friends

Gavin was so focused

He loved all of his presents!

Carefully opening a card

Gavin even received money from good friends of ours

One of our best-dressed guests!

"Is gift opening time over???"

Putting some gifts away

At the end of the night, Gavin tried on the Lightening McQueen helmet he received as a gift and said, "Ride it, Grandpa's motorcycle!" It was so cute!

2 Years Old!

My sweet boy,

You are now 2 years old and what a wonderful 2 years it has been! You continue to be such a sweet, loving, intelligent, fun little guy! Every day with you brings new joys. You make Daddy and I laugh each day. You have the best personality and are happy almost all the time. Every night after I put you to bed, I walk away from your room smiling to myself and thinking, "It just doesn't get any better than this!" So, here are some new things about you this month:

• Your new favorite show is Calliou and Daddy and I could probably recite some of the episodes because we've seen them so much!
• I came home from work one day to find that you had gotten your first tattoo from your Aunt Evie. Oh boy!




• Your favorite meal is "Pudder Jelly" (a.k.a. peanut butter and jelly).
• Your vocabulary is growing so quickly. You have so many new words on a daily basis that Daddy and I can't even keep track anymore.
• You love to help Daddy in the garage and constantly ask for screwdrivers with particular colored handles.
• You are very good at using two-word phrases, such as "Help Mama."
• You also use a lot of two-word phrases using the word "it" such as: "want it," "reach it," "have it," and "like it."
• You love anything with wheels and will try to ride your toys even if you're just a bit too big!

I love you so much, Gav!

23 Months Old

My sweet boy,

Just one month away from 2 years old!! You continue to amaze Daddy and I with all the new things you know--like your incredible vocabulary! You are so very smart and we just adore every moment with you. With all of your new words, you say the funniest things and keep us laughing all the time. Here are a few new things about you this month:

• We took a trip to Toys R Us and I bought you a pack of Thomas the Train underwear. Once we got in the car, you insisted that I open them. While I was driving, I looked back at you, and you had a pair on your head and you said, "Hat?" I laughed so hard I could hardly keep my eyes on the road! That night, you continued to wear your new "hat" around the house.




• You love to draw and will often want company when doing so. You will say, "Mama, draw" or "Dada, draw" when you want one of us to join you.



• One day while we were drawing, I drew a picture of a sun and you covered your eyes and said, "Bright!" It was so funny!
• You love to cuddle and will often say, "Mama, cuddle." Whenever possible, I will drop everything I'm doing to cuddle with you because there is nothing I enjoy more!



• You love to help around the house. We recently had an ant infestation (yuck!) and you wanted to help with the vacuum any time you saw an ant. You were the cutest exterminator ever!



• You are such a ham and you love to laugh. You will often do silly things and you can have Daddy and I in tears because you make us laugh so hard!





• If you're tired you will still fall asleep anywhere, even in the middle of eating your favorite: peanut butter and jelly!



• One day after you woke up, you wanted to stay in your room, so Daddy and I went back to rest in bed while you remained there. We heard you talking through your monitor so we peeked in and saw you sitting in your glider-rocker "reading" one of your favorite books. It was so cute! You were on the page with a dinosaur crying and you were saying things like, "Dinosaur crying. Tears." You are just so smart!







• You have great manners and are learning to use "please" and "thank you" regularly. After you woke up one morning, Daddy went in to get you and he said, "Do you want to go see Mama?" And you replied, "Yes, please!" I heard you through the monitor and it just melted my heart!
• You recently discovered fish sticks and you loved them! Thank goodness we found something else for you to eat. You are so picky!!!



• While I was getting my hair done, my friend/hairdresser asked you what you wanted for your birthday and you said, "Ummmmmmm..... Cookies!!" We laughed so hard!
• Two more teeth popped through recently so you now have 10 teeth. Thank goodness they're finally coming in!
• You are growing out of some of your 18 month clothing and moving into size 24 months.

I can't believe you are almost 2 years old! These past 23 months have been so wonderful. You truly are the sunshine in my life. You are just the sweetest and most easy-going child. Daddy and I adore spending time with you and we are excited for what the future holds. We love you so very much, Gav!