Our baby boy...growing up

I don't think we have a baby anymore. This kid is more and more toddler every day. Just look at this face -- a real boy!

This past month has been so exciting for him. He's learned to walk and there's no stopping him now. Just last week he figured out how to get himself to standing from sitting without holding onto anything. Without any training, he has figured out stairs, different levels of cement (cute little crab walk) and is bravely testing out new terrain. It's like he's always known how to do it. He just needed the chance. He falls 50 times and it doesn't bother him at all. He just gets back up and keeps on going.

He talks to us now...sometimes I feel like one word with him is an entire conversation. It's crazy to think that he actually knows what he's talking about! I know that's how it works, but it still is just fascinating to me. He says "mama" and "dada" and will bang at the door if he knows we're somewhere else. He says "up" when he's done eating or wants to be held and "nana" when he needs his favorite yellow treat. He says "bye-bye" with a wave and has said "hello" a few times. So sweet. I love his little voice. It's still so new that I'm the proudest mama anytime one of these comes flying out.

I love Gavin's interest and curiosity. He recently has developed a love of the outside. Only a few weeks ago we could leave him on a blanket out there in the backyard and know he would stay put -- he didn't want that gross grass feel itching his legs. Those days are long gone. Suddenly each leaf needs to be explored and fun-shaped rocks need to be tasted. Dirt is grabbed and dropped, again and again. Dirt mixed with water from the hose is even better. Only I'm thinking about his fingernails...but I'm quickly getting over that. He finds things out back and carries them around the yard...his treasures. Don't even think about taking them away before he is ready. Not a pretty sight.

I can see we're in a new phase of life. No more holding still for anything - there's just too much to see! I've got to gear up and get some more energy, because that's what it's going to take from now on. Hopefully I've got it, because our little boy is ready to go.

Twenty-first Century...Here I come!

This is me posting, for the first time EVER, from my very own home. No kidding. We finally got the internet! I think I'm going to like it. No more trips to the library - sitting in the car in the parking lot waiting for my bars to show me I've got a connection. The worst part was the worker guy who had to trek through the office only to not find a phone jack. Oops. The last choice was the bedroom. Yikes. Bed unmade, laundry unfolded, underwear on the floor. Someone please tell me your room looks like that! I just wasn't expecting a stranger to be sludging through it!

But, we do what we've got to do to be (finally!) technologically with-it. Hooray!

Lyns...This one's for you!

He is "Fang" no more... Two front teeth came in this month. :)

What we've been doing...

1) Putting up a vinyl fence – a serious undertaking. Literally hours and hours and hours and weeks and weeks of work. Thank you, thank you to our neighbors, family and friends who have helped us. It would have been done next year (maybe!) without you. It looks so good! And Wilson has stopped barking at everyone walking by. He has, however, gotten accustomed to digging his way under into our neighbor’s yard. I swear – if it’s not one thing, it’s another.
Jason & Brian

Grapevines coming out

Rhett and Gavin

Actual completed vinyl fence coming soon...a few more touches left.

2) St. George - Robinson Family Annual Trip

Like father, like son

Gavin loves the pool

Rockin' the hair

Pooped


3) Cabin retreat with the Nelsons. So fun and beautiful! Brian and I are convinced we need 20 acres and a cabin. We'll work on that.

Jason, Karen, Ethan, Kate, Lily, and Elsa Nelson

The kiddos

Enjoying the outside

Petting the goats. Very nature-like.

Cleaning my cupboards. I was too embarrassed to take a ‘before’ picture. But I was too proud to not take an ‘after’ shot. Just think of the most cluttered, gross, unorganized thing you’ve ever seen. And multiply that by 12. It really is so pretty now. Sometimes I open the door just to see.

4) Working on a six-week meal plan. This will ensure that I actually do cook meals and will help me to get my food storage going. What an idea – store the stuff you eat. Huh. How could Brian not be happy about this? He’s eaten better and healthier in the past month than he has in the past five years.



5) Bread baking. Along with my food storage kick, I’ve decided to feed Brian and Gavin real, homemade wheat-full bread. Gavin loves it. But then again, he loves anything you can put in his mouth. Thank you Meredith! You are inspiring!

6) Visiting with Bart & Krista who were in town. BBQd at Michelle's house. So fun. I LOVE these girls. Two of my very favs.




7) Sleep training Gavin. Moving from two naps to one. Takes more than a day or two. But...I think we've got it! :)

8) Preparing for two courses I will be teaching teachers in a few weeks.

I may just break down and get the internet. I am so out of the loop! Qwest may be giving us a deal I just can’t refuse. Here’s hoping that 1) we can get it and 2) that I can control my computer time when we do.

That was my fast way of catching up an entire month. It's the very best I can do right now. :)

Gavin turns ONE

My baby is one. I cannot believe it. Is it possible that it’s been one year since we brought him home? I do remember life without him, but those days are slowly slipping away from me as life with him is now the norm. He is such a sweet boy and, like I think every other month, is really coming alive.

He shakes his head no, tilts his head to the left, puts everything up to his ear, still has two fangs (the front ones are coming!), snuggles into my neck when someone new talks to him, waves hello and goodbye, does pattycake and “so big” on command, has walked 12 steps in a row, loves when his daddy comes home, loves to be with other kids, and can’t get enough attention. He is playful and loving. Just lately he’s been a little clingy to me and may be turning into somewhat of a mama’s boy. That was good timing, with school just getting out and all. Now I can be with him for many, many days in a row.

We celebrated his 1st birthday with three others – cousins Maddi and Nick and uncle Matt. We had a BBQ at our house with Brian’s family. Gavin had a great time and loved to be around everyone.

He wouldn’t touch his cake. I was surprised. He liked it though when I put it in his mouth or he buried his face in it instead. He’s no dummy – chocolate is good! This was no AmyJane’s friend-made cake (I need to learn!), but my best effort. I thought it turned out pretty cute.



He got several books, a swimming pool with toys, blocks, and a xylophone. Brian made sure I got him some sort of hammer so he could start hitting things. No boy of Brian’s will be unfamiliar with tools. In fact, the two of them watch (and record!) Handy Manny all the time. Funny.


It was a great day and fun to celebrate Gavin. Gosh, we love this kid. I feel like if I’m not careful I will wake up and he will be graduating from high school. Time is so short and it passes so quickly. I hope I can remember these seemingly insignificant days, because they really are the ones that matter most.


This picture cracks me up. Sums up our year of both mom and dad focusing on this little dude 24/7.

Summertime

School is out – hooray! I’ve been waiting for summer for a very long time. Right after school got out Brian headed to Clear Creek to be a counselor at the district’s 5th grade summer camp. Since it’s no fun to be at home for that long, Gavin and I took off for Arizona to see the fam. My three-year-old nephew took this picture for us. BTW, I chopped 8 inches of hair to donate to Beautiful Lengths...my grandma said I could do something else for cancer patients...

We went swimming, visited aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents and great-grandparents, strolled around the mall, and ate at yummy Arizona restaurants. My sister Lynsey dropped everything and hung out with us every day. We had a fun time – even with three carseats in the backseat.



This boy is not meant to be an only child. In fact, I think he’d be a really great younger brother, but it’s too late for that. ☺ He loved being around his cousins and was totally entertained by them. I actually got to sit down and visit.


Gavin started walking while we were there – something he hasn’t done tons of since we got back. When we left Utah, he had only taken one step. By the end of the trip he was up to 12. I emailed Brian his daily progress so he wouldn’t feel left out.


It’s always nice to see everyone and think Gavin and I will do it every summer so he can know his Arizona family.

St. George

Early in May we traveled down to St. George to spend the weekend with my sister Lynsey, her husband Matt, and their two boys. We saw Brian Regan at Tuacahn. I had never appreciated him before – he always seemed overly goofy when I saw him on comedy central. But he really is funny. I laughed the ENTIRE time. It was like doing a million situps. I needed that.



It was fun to have my sister’s family with us and I’m learning what a funny thing it is to take a bunch of kids to a restaurant.

That weekend Gavin had his first swim…and loved it. He sat on the step of the baby pool and dove right in. Good thing we were sitting right there! I think he thought it was a giant bathtub.

It was fun to see him smile and have so much fun. We’ll be headed down to St. George again soon and I’m excited to take him again. While Brian and I played a game of shuffleboard, Gavin sat in his stroller and people watched for about a half hour – perfectly content. Sweet boy.