33 Months Old

My sweet boy,

You are growing up so fast!  Three is just a few months away!  You continue to amaze everyone with how smart you are and how incredible your speech is.  Daddy and I love every moment with you and cherish the time we get to spend together.  You have such a big heart and that makes us so very proud.  Here are some new things about you this month:

• One struggle that we still have with you is potty-training.  We don't want to push you into it, but with 3 just around the corner and a baby on the way, we want you to stop wearing diapers soon.  Well, one day, I referred to you as "baby" and you replied, "I'm not a baby!"  So, then I asked why you still wear diapers if you are not a baby and without hesitation, you said, "Because I don't want to be naked."  Oh, makes sense to me!  Ha ha!  Guess we need to explain that we would provide you with some other form of underwear if you no longer wear diapers.
• You continue to be a super picky eater, it amazes me that you even gain weight at all!

Feeding the ducks with Daddy

Mommy and you

• When you do something sweet, you tell me that you have made me feel "all fuzzy."  Close enough.
• You are excited about having a new baby sibling and one day you rubbed your little hand on my belly and said, "I wanna help the baby grow."  So sweet!!!!

After a bath 

• You always tell me, "I want Mommy, Daddy both home" in the saddest, sweetest little voice ever!  It absolutely melts my heart!  Oh, how I wish we could all just be home together all the time too.  Work really puts a damper on our family time.  Geesh!
• One morning, I woke up to a large bug in the kitchen area.  Being the incredibly big chicken I am, I just put a box over it, weighted it down, and put a note on top informing Daddy about the contents before I left for work.  I figured when you and Daddy woke up for the day, you guys would take care of it.  When I returned home that afternoon, you said, "Thanks for saving it for us in a box."  No problem, Gav.

Enjoying a Christmas treat

We love you so very much, Gav!  I know you are going to be a wonderful big brother!  You continue to make us such proud parents.  Thank you for being an incredibly great kid!

I love you, Gav!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Once December arrived, it was time for Matt to drag down my ridiculously-large-number of boxes filled with Christmas decorations (part of the tradition that Matt hates most).  And every year, there simply isn't enough room in our home to accommodate my massive Christmas decoration collection; so every year, two or three large Rubbermaid boxes of items get stuck back into the garage to be used when we purchase the big mansion I've been planning for.

Of course, the main-attraction of our Christmas decorations is the tree.  And for the past few years, this part of the decorating has started off the same way - with Matt trying to put together our pathetic and cheap tree stand while yelling, muttering choice words under his breath, and stating that we are DEFINITELY buying a new tree stand for next year.  Yet, somehow, the tree stand reappears every year and causes a little extra stress for Matt during the holidays.  At least now he has an adorable little helper to assist him.

Looks like someone got into the chocolate

Once the tree stand was put together, Matt and Gavin brought the tree inside and added the water.  Gavin was such a great helper!

Then it was time to add the star and the ornaments.

Finally, the boys wanted to torment the dog by putting antlers on him.  What a way to finish the evening!

Mt. Rubidoux

We decided to hike Mt. Rubidoux as a family since Gavin and I had never taken Daddy up there with us. We had a great hike and the weather was just perfect.  We took it easy since I'm pregnant and I didn't want to overdo it.  The day would have been wonderful, except for the fact that when we returned to our car, we had a nice little parking ticket waiting for us on the windshield.  Ugh...  That turned out to be one expensive hike.

We made it to the top!

Gavin and Daddy

Gavin and Mommy

Family picture

Gavin loves exploring the mountain

Someone had decorated one of the trees at the top of the
mountain with ornaments - so cute!

Thanksgiving 2011

We spent Thanksgiving at my brother's house in West Hollywood.  Of course, he had an amazing feast for us and a beautiful table setting.  We had a such a great time playing board games and spending time together that I didn't take many pictures, but I was able to take a few before we began eating.  I just love how he had our names written on rocks for our place settings, it was so creative!

The beautiful table settings

I love the gold pumpkins!

Matt's place setting

My place setting

Gavin's place setting

My brother, Jason, working hard in the kitchen

Gavin loved Uncle Jason's funny hat

Gavin and Erick

Visiting the Dentist

After visiting the dentist at 18 months, they requested that you be seen again a year later at 2 1/2.  Well, that time came and you had your second visit to the dentist.  Your first visit was a difficult one, since you were still terrified of doctors and screamed the entire time.  However, this visit went much better and you did amazingly well!!  I was so very proud of you!  You let the hygienist clean the "sugar bugs" off of your teeth and then let them do x-rays.  You are even looking forward to your next visit and always enjoy brushing the "sugar bugs" off your teeth at home.  Hooray!

Waiting for the hygienist

Laughing during the cleaning because it "tickles"

Ready for x-rays!

Showing off his clean and shiny teeth!

32 Months Old

My sweet boy,

Although I am still so very far behind on posting, I try to keep track of funny stories and things you do so that I can post them on the blog.  At this point, it is mainly funny things you do and say that I am keeping track of, since you do not have as many major milestones now.  The most remarkable thing continues to be your speech!  You speak so well that anytime Daddy or I take you somewhere, people comment on how amazing your speech is.  For only being 2 1/2, people are astonished to hear you hold complete conversations and use words some adults don't even know!  We are so incredibly proud of you, Gav!  You are such a good kid!  Here are some new things about you this month:

Wearing Mommy's boots

• While you were trying to put your ice pack away, it slipped out of the freezer and landed on the floor and you said, "That's the funniest thing I've seen in my whole life!"  Really???  The funniest thing?  Wow, kiddo, if that's the funniest thing you've seen, Daddy and I really have to get you out more!
• One day, you said to me, "I like you.  You're pretty."  It was the sweetest thing!  Hearing "you're pretty" from you made me feel like the prettiest woman in the world!

A grainy phone pic of you sleeping

• When you got hurt one day, you said, "The boo-boo ruined my day..." in the saddest little voice.  Ha!  You really crack us up!
• You were particularly gassy one glorious day and I told you that you were quite the "tooty-booty" to which you promptly replied, "I'm not a tooty-booty, I'm a Gaaaaaaavin!"  Oh, excuuuuuse me, you're "a" Gavin.  I'll make sure to get it right next time.

The "Mad Hatter"

• You are very interested in knowing where everything comes from and one day you asked Daddy where his big white truck came from.  He told you it came from the Chevy dealership and you replied, "Oh.  It was little like your blue truck and then it got BIG!"  (You were referring to Daddy's little blue Chevy S-10 for work and his huge white Chevy Silverado with gigantic tires for daily use.)  I guess you think all things start off little and get bigger.
• We often tell you that we love kisses from our "little man" and one day, you gave Daddy a kiss and said, "I love kisses from my little Dada!"  It was too sweet!

Driving Grandpa's Chevelle at the True Connections Car Show

Enjoying the view

Happy to be at a car show

You love hot rods!

• You love to help me with laundry and while transporting a pile of clothes one day, I said, "Oh, I dropped the socks."  So you replied, "It's okay, Mama.  It was an accident."  Phew!  Thanks, Gav.  I was worried there for a minute.
• One morning, you said to me, "I love you, you know why?"  And when I asked why, you said, "'Cause you're the best!"  I think my heart melted right out of my chest!
• When you are done eating, you will tell me, "I'm full - see?" and show me your "full" tummy.  I love it!

"I'm full, Mama.  See?"

• After cuddling one day, you told me that you wanted to cuddle again another time and of course, I said that we could.  So you replied, "That sounds great" in the sweetest little voice.  I just adore your phrases!
• While jogging quickly into the house with you in my arms one day, you gave me some very sound advice.  You said, "Don't run while you're holding me, you might drop me!  Walk slooooooowly."

Happy to go to the drag races with Daddy!

You and Daddy

• I was having a tough time making the cheesecake for Aunt Evie's birthday and feeling very frustrated and overwhelmed.  Luckily, you were there to cheer me up when you told me that you were going to go to the store and get me some "new patience."  Wow, you always know exactly what I need!

You are such an amazing kid, Gav.  Daddy and I love you so much!!  Thank you for being such an easy-going, intelligent, wonderful child.  We cherish every day with you and look forward to all the days to come!

I love you, Gav!!