Merry Christmas to All!

Twas the night before Christmas,
and all through the house a creature was stirring, he wasn't a mouse;
the stockings were hung all willy nilly everywhere,
In the hopes that no one would notice they hardly made it there;
Too excited our child was not nestled quietly anywhere not even his bed,
Once he was there visions of sippy cups poured through his head;
Dadda in his plaid PJ bottoms and I in my spit up stained PJ's,
had just settled in for a long Christmas nap (because that's all you get)!


Our Christmas this year was last minute and rushed. My family waiting until the last minute to see if they could brave the roads while a winter storm warning was out. Finally they felt like they could leave so I scurried around to plan dinner, clean and wrap presents. Why wait you ask? Well to be honest I was so depressed about the whole situation I couldn't bring myself to do anything but watch Lifetime, ABC Family and Hallmark channel Christmas movies and yes I loved them all. Now I wait for my family to wake while I watch the ever busy, into everything, drive you crazy toddler version of Gavin. I love him even when I look at my Christmas tree which isn't decorated on the bottom half, even while he pulls every magazine from my beautifully piled stack and throws them on the floor all while pretending to not understand the phrase "don't touch that!" This isn't the Christmas I imagined and I know that it isn't for some of you out there the snow, among other things, threw a curve ball to our Christmas and some of us struck out. I am thinking of all of you this morning as I hustle to put Christmas dinner together. I pray we all make the most of whatever Christmas is this year and hope for a better Christmas next year.

To our health, happiness and abundant blessings in the New Year!
God bless you all!

The James Family

This was Gavin with Santa, a little creepy,
Gavin made the weirdest faces and this was the best one.
Still handsome I think.

P.S. Maybe I'll send out New Year's Cards?

Home again Home again!

After 10 wonderful days in Maui we are home. We had a great time seeing family and hanging out with our friends. Gavin loved the beach, especially the sand. I loved the sunshine and warm weather. Thankfully this time it wasn't as humid as it can be there. Mike I think just enjoyed not working and being somewhere tropical. Other than the fact that the airline broke our stroller (which we never needed anyway thanks to the wonderful ergo baby carrier, have I mentioned that I love that thing and if you don't have one and you have a baby between 0-3 and under 40lbs you should have one) we didn't have anything eventful happen. We whale watched, went to a luau, ate everything from Italian to Vietnamese food and everything in between and loved it! I had the chance to visit my Grandmothers grave twice. The first time I was untouched I felt nothing. I thought that it was strange. The second time it hit me and I bawled like the little girl I am deep inside. We had a great time but I have to say after 10 days I missed my bed. We were welcomed home by single digit weather and a day or two later lots and lots of snow. The kind of snow that breaks every record that we had previously had kind of snow.

I hope you all are safe and warm!

Laziness has settled into a deep corner of my being. I can't shake it. I made a list which almost always motivates me. We leave for our trip at 4:30am day after tomorrow. I am excited, but usually about now I am flittering around the house cleaning and packing and when all is done that can be done I start inventing new things to do. This time though I am not flittering or inventing I am not even cooking myself dinner. Mike left town yesterday afternoon for Missoula and will be back tomorrow and I can't say I have fixed one meal for myself. What is wrong with me? I have had a little cold, Gavin has the beginnings of an ear infection and has been a little clingy but really whats gotten into me. I walked past a sink full of dishes a dozen times today and while a friend of mines voice played in my head "I can't even leave one dish in the sink I have to clean it" I just kept walking. Usually I am awaiting the time that Gavin will go down for a nap or will be eating in his high chair so I can get those dishes clean. Toys are places in my house that only a toddler could put them, yet I don't pick them up. Two enormous suit cases lay half packed on the dining room table (and yes Mom and Auntie your gift for Auntie Lorraine did manage to make it in nestled nicely between swim diapers) and normally I would be putting anything and everything that I could possibly live without for the next day or two in them but I don't. I can't find Gavin's shoes anywhere! He went to his doctors appointment today without shoes. For those concerned he wore a thick hooded jacket and thick socks but no shoes and yes he walked around the doctors office in his socks, I am sorry I couldn't find any shoes anywhere. Usually I hate losing things I freak out and I can't stop thinking about the lost item until it is found or replaced but hopefully found. You know I didn't think twice about my shoeless child today.

I have been in a funk for about a week I can't figure it out. I could speculate and analize but again too lazy or would apathetic be a better word. The only thing I can figure is I need a vacation. Sunshine, my husband, Gavin, family and friends. I hope that I will come back to blogland in about 2 weeks (with lots of pictures) and be back to myself. I will come home and buy and decorate the tree that I don't trust my brother enough to water while we are gone. I will open and nicely display the Snowman collection my Mom and Auntie Liz so nicely gave me a couple days ago (sorry I have no excuse just an explanation and your reading it), I will make Mike hang the lights outside I will go buy the wreath I have been eyeing at Costco (the wreath hanger has been on my door without a wreath since well probably last Christmas if I am honest), I will plan my Christmas shopping (nope not done not even started, lazy remember) and dig out Christmas dinner recipes and all will be right in my world. Yes, a vacation is what I need!

I will be back in more than one sense! Back from Maui and back to myself I just need a vacation or at least that is what I am telling myself. So long for now! I'll be back to blogland soon!

Hugs!
Laura

I should get the boy a back pack for our trip
he was loving this one at Sharon's.
I woke up one day and baby was a toddler.
Everyone says it happens fast and it does!

So right about now you are expecting to see pictures from Thanksgiving Day. Maybe Gavin eating some turkey or maybe a beautiful picture of the delicious holiday fixings. Sorry you are out of luck unfortunately I was too busy stuffing my face with food. We had a great day and we hope all of you did as well. Thank you friends for opening your home to us we had a great time and the food was outstanding.

Here is a family photo from Gavin's first Thanksgiving. I just realized that Gavin's second Thanksgiving will also be his second birthday how exciting next year will be.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It is easy to forget what the concept of Thanksgiving is when you start thinking about all the yummy food and get caught up in packing and traveling, even if it isn't far. I am guilty of forgetting. Not until I sat down to write this blog and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving did I really think about it. I must admit that this month has been a stressful one for our finances. Between a $400 brake repair, Gavin's birthday and our anniversary our money was stretched to the breaking point. And while I have been very successful in my weight loss efforts I am 5lbs away from where I wanted to be when we leave for Maui which is only next week. Gavin hasn't slept well the last week and is a phone call away from having tubes put in which I know is what is best and shouldn't be a big deal but still am not excited about. All of these things have put me in a funny semi-stressed out mood. I haven't felt like myself all week. Yet as I sit hear and realize that tomorrow is Gavin's birthday and the day after that is Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for. We have great family and friends all of whom are happy and healthy. I have been able to spend my time at home with Gavin without having to work and I realize what a blessing that is. Our cars are running and now $400 dollars later stopping too. We are going to Maui! Even if I am 5lbs heavier than planned I am 5lbs lighter than when I got pregnant. I am also thankful that I get to keep up with all my friends and family here on this blog and I am thankful for each and every person who stops by to see what we are up to. There is a lot to be thankful for and to look forward to with Christmas and a brand new year just around the corner.

Tomorrow we are traveling down to Lewiston for a Thanksgiving brunch with my family. My Mom and Aunt have to work that afternoon making a dinner difficult so we decided on a brunch. Then we are traveling back up to Moscow to have Thanksgiving dinner with our good friends. My brother has selflessly volunteered to watch our dogs since all other alternatives fell through. He wasn't all that excited about a rushed Thanksgiving brunch and didn't mind staying here with the dogs, it doesn't hurt that we paid him in food and cash. Let's face it he is way cheaper than a kennel or doggy daycare.

So eat lots of turkey, it has lots of protein and you will sleep really well, and don't forget to be thankful! Happy Thanksgiving!

A picture of Gavin stuffing his face seemed appropriate for Thanksgiving!

Happy 1st Birthday Gavin!

This year Gavin's birthday lands the day before Thanksgiving. Next year Gavin's birthday will be on Thanksgiving and I will always be thankful for Gavin no matter what day his birthday is and no matter what day we have to celebrate. This year it we celebrated on November 15th. I went back and forth over where to have the party. There are not a lot of options for winter one year old birthday parties. I happened to find that McDonald's was an excellent option. It includes set up, take down, a birthday cake and ice cream as well as happy meals and party favors for the kids. What more could you want as a mom. The kids all had a great time and all we had to do was show up. Gavin ate the majority of a very large piece of birthday cake. Everyone said "oh he will just smear it everywhere they never really eat it." Oh he ate it and then he ate some more he was generous enough to offer a handful to his friend Alyssa who is 6 and saw this half chewed piece of chocolate cake extended to her and politely declined it. He had great friends, great food and great fun! I would call it a success. He now has so many toys that I don't intend to buy him much if anything for Christmas since he won't remember or know the difference. He received a very cute toddler 4 wheeler from his Aunt, Uncle and Great-Grandpa that he has taken too quite nicely. At first he didn't know how to drive it but then one day I was just sitting in the living room and he came zipping past with a very large smile on his face. So cute! The only bummer of the party was that I, the planner, forgot of all things to charge the batteries in my camera and video camera we got a lot of footage but we missed some of the cake. If you are out there with any photos of this please send them my way.

Traveling fools

So Mike landed his company a big project in Missoula, MT with the University of Montana. He has a great job opportunity to lead the project which unfortunately means he is going to be working 5 day weeks in Montana. Which started in October and will run through January or February. The blessing is that since I don't work we can pack up Gavin and I and go with him. It is a lot of work and sometimes Gavin doesn't sleep well but at least we get to be with Mike. His company pays for the hotel, gas mileage and all Mike's meals so since Mike and I split all our meals when we eat out anyway it costs us very little. Between Montana and going to Maui in December I will be a pro at traveling with a young one. Which I guess suits me since my childhood nickname was "bye-bye girl" well I can't lie the name followed me and is still used by close family.

Tonight I am listening to the unwelcome music of my little man screaming in the other room (our hotel accommodations have two rooms a little living room and a bedroom with a kitchenette). Gavin won't fall asleep he is seriously tired but so excited to be in a new place he wants to stay up and play. Also, since he started walking or should I say running it is all he wants to do. He doesn't care where he is going, he thinks it is even more fun if he carries something heavy like a pillow or a large toy. It is so cute! Mike and I just love watching him walk all over the place. It is so surprising to come around the corner and see him wobbling towards you. I still expect to see him crawling.

Other new things he says Mama now. I waited and whined that he wouldn't say it then he finally did and I wasn't really as excited as I thought I would be. I think it was more fun hearing him say Dada for the first time being it was his first recognizable word.

Well since the crying has subsided in the other room I think I will relax with a book like I wasn't able to do with the wailing coming from the other room.

Signing off,

The Traveling Mama

If I only had good ears...


Free picture taken at the mall.

This Halloween Gavin was a Scarecrow and a cute one at that. We started the day with a follow-up visit to his doctor. After 3 double ear infections in 2 months the doctor warned that if Gavin had another in 2 weeks we would need to see the ear, nose and throat doctor. Of course that means Gavin could need tubes. Which I can't help but be concerned about. So that same day he comes down with a cold. Whenever he has gotten a cold he has gotten the ear infections so of course I have spent the last few days concerned. The upside is Gavin doesn't complain. The daycare attendant at the gym was shocked to find out about his last infection she said "he was so happy and showed no signs" and he doesn't. So at least there is that.

So as we struggle to make it through the time change with a child who has a strong internal clock that doesn't "fall back" we wake up at 5:30am. So much fun for me.

I hope you all had a safe and Happy Halloween and that those bite sized candies aren't haunting your homes too much!

He walks...



I have a routine in the mornings. I have to. I am just that kind of person. If only I could fit cleaning the bathroom into my current routine. It used to be there but some how since I got back from our trip to California it just hasn't happened. Anyway, I wake up to the sound of Gavin playfully talking in his crib and once he reaches "Hey get me out of here now," status I get out of bed and head to the kitchen. I dump as many finger foods as I can find on his high chair, strap him in and pour myself some cereal. I usually turn on the Today show and make an effort to wake up. When I finish eating cereal we move into the living room where I let the Today show echo in the background while I play with Gavin. Today they were featuring a man breaking a world record for walking and then riding a bike across a tight rope several (I forget how many) stories above the ground with out a net. While he is attempting a death defying act my son decides to take a few daring and wobbly steps of his own and of course I was proud. In parallel to a man walking a tight rope stories above the ground makes Gavin's first steps nothing to blog about but in my world they mean everything. I am just glad to say that he might not need a safety net for these kind of feats but he has one, me! I can't say how thankful I am to be here for these moments and then to share them with all of you. If there are any of you still out there since I never seem to update this but if you are out there reading this thank you! It means a lot to share the small moments in our world. We don't break any world records or even neighborhood records but no can say we enjoy the small the things like 3 tiny, wobbly and hard earned first steps.

Blog Tag

I got tagged by and Niki and Nicoly so here goes.

Here how it works:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Write six random things about yourself.
3. Tag six people at the end of your post.
4. If you are tagged, JUST DO IT, and pass the tag along.

Now for my six things:

1. I have never met anyone famous but I would like to and I really don't care who.
2. I never finished college because I couldn't fathom spending that much money when I had no idea what I wanted to do. So I said when I knew I would go back to school. Several years later and I still have no idea. Guess I won't go back to school anytime soon.
3. I have been known to cry watching commercials. Yes, sad and pathetic I know but I do. I also cry almost every time I watch Biggest Loser especially when they get messages from home or when they get to call home or better yet when they get to go home for a visit.
4. I managed basketball in high school because I love the sport but can't play. I joined the high school golf team, I figured I could probably golf. I was #1 on the girls team for a while too. Then I went to college and have golfed maybe a handful of times since. If I had more time and more money I would golf more. I really love it! Except for when I do badly then I just hate it. Golf is kinda that way.
5. When I was young my brothers and I went to some church event where we got to make sock bunnies. Not long after I found my sock bunny pinned to a hay bale in the back yard where my brothers were using it for BB gun target practice. Why couldn't they use there own sock bunnies, will someone please explain?
6. My first car was a 1967 Volkswagen Bug. My second car, a 1965 Volkswagen Bug. It was later named "The Death Trap" someone even made me a CD with a theme song for the car. I don't remember how many times it tried to kill me but it was more than a couple. I was young and well let's face it really stupid...oh and broke which is probably why I drove it longer than I ever should have.

Tag, you're it!

Olga Smith Blog
A Cottage Family

Every other blog I know has already done this so I guess I need more blog buddies huh?

Ever make a really bad financial decision? Have a weak moment and give into temptation? I have and it was last weekend. It had been a long hard week for me. Let's face it month. Gavin has had back to back colds and I have spent half the month trying to get him to sleep through the night. After about 5 days of sleeping through the night I think it is safe to say we have conquered, finally! Mike was in and out of town, he had a sinus infection as well so when he was home I didn't really feel like he was much help or company. Then most of the friends I get together with were out of town so I found myself feeling lonely, tired and bored. Our computer broken I also felt cut off from the outside world.

Then I had an idea. Why had I resisted my husbands urgings before? We rushed out Saturday and bought what Best Buy claimed to be "the last one." A Nintendo Wii. Yes, the solution to my boredom, answer to my loneliness, a companion. Some of you might be wondering right about now "did they get their computer fixed?" and the answer would be "No." The thought never entered our little heads as we rushed around buying up extra remotes and very expensive games only 2 to be exact. Soon after we got it home and had played happily while Gavin napped. The rule is we can only play while Gavin is sleeping. After a while buyers remorse set in. We don't have the money for this. What were we thinking? Well to be honest we weren't but in the words of Mike "I refuse to let buyers remorse ruin this for me." So I happily conquer Tiger Woods golf now after my chores are done and while my son sleeps blissfully unaware that his parents are a little crazy sometimes.

This morning it is early 4:35am to be exact. I should be getting ready to get on a plane and fly to L.A. but I sit here typing and eating cereal instead. My Mom, Gavin and I are going to my nieces 1st birthday party. I am a little nervous about flying with Gavin and since last minute my brother got a job in Louisiana and won't be there a little apprehensive about the trip. I know it will be great and I think will include Disneyland. So in the words of some Super Bowl hero that I can't remember "I'm going to Disneyland, baby!" and I will tell you about it when I get back.

Love ya all! Oh and if you have never made a bad financial decision feel free to not tell me about it. Ignorance is bliss, misery loves company. You get the idea. :)

Updates...

When I first had Gavin and he was tiny and fragile and I wasn't making enough milk and worried that he would always be scrawny I remember people stopping me in public and saying "Look how small he is remember when ours was that small, they grow up so fast." Now I hold a 24lb kid who crawls and cruises from item to item with ease and can eat more than you would think possible for someone his size. I wondered if the boy would ever have teeth and at 8 months he popped his first tooth without so much as even a peep.

Gavin had his 9 month check up about 2 weeks ago. He had a cold but otherwise was happy. During his appointment the doctor said "Are you aware that he has a double ear infection?" No he didn't even complain. If someone else hadn't noticed I might never have known he popped a tooth the child just doesn't complain. So we started antibiotics the next day he started to pop another tooth. The only reason I knew was because he kept biting me so I felt around and sure enough tooth number two. Two ear infections and he is popping a tooth and the boy is laughing and smile. How could I be so lucky you ask? He makes me pay in other ways. Prior to the ears and teeth he was still waking up at least once a night and then with the teeth and ears twice to three times a night. Yes I pay in other ways.

At his nine month appointment I asked his doctor about the sleeping thing and informed him that the only way he would go back to sleep was if I fed him 4 oz of formula. The doctor gave me a very scientific answer for why he kept waking. He was hungry. No matter how deep a sleep he is in his body will pump blood to his stomach to alert his body that it is time to eat and he has no choice but to wake up and scream for food it is how he is programed and there are two options. Options I love options! Seriously I am all about the options. The doctor continued to tell me he is healthy and happy so you could just keep doing what your doing it isn't hurting him. I looked and him and said the words I have come to dread now. "I want the sleep through the night option." He says "Ok it will take about 5 nights of not feeding him. Just get up with him hold him, rock him , help him back to sleep and then his body will eventually reprogram to not need food at that time and he will sleep. I did it with my son and it was rough but it works." Ok I said I will try it.

I have to start by telling you I love my sleep. Love it! I have missed my sleep this last well lets be honest who sleeps really well during pregnancy. So lets just say a year. A year of sleep deprivation makes you think you will do anything for it. Until you have to hold a screaming baby in the middle of the night for over an hour then you think "Just give the kid a bottle and go back to sleep!" But I am stubborn and I keep telling myself it will only take 5 nights so staring down night 4 after a rough night I think no way this is going to work. But I will keep trying. Mike took him at 6:45 this morning and let me sleep so I am recharged to fight the battle again.

So for other little tidbits. He says "Dada", "Hi" and now "Duke" which comes out more like "Du" but he points at his doggie friend and says "Du" in the cutest voice you have ever heard. I am sure his next word will be "Jemma" (our other dog) and then he will start singing the alphabet before I ever hear "Mama." Doesn't he know I am the one who takes care of him all day?

So he is growing up. He loves to make goofy faces. He loves to make you laugh. He is very happy, except for when he isn't which is only when he is hungry or tired. He loves to go out and see the world. In less that 2 weeks Gavin and I are flying with my Mom (affectionately referred to as Grandma) to Southern California to see my neice for her 1st birthday.



A silly face showing off his two front teeth which he loves to do. Don't you love the scratch and the boogie?

Unfortunately our computer is dead, powerless, lifeless. I don't know what we will do to remedy this situation or how long that will take us but it is time. To quote myself a week ago when my computer was acting up, "I want to chuck my computer over a cliff and watch it die a glorious death!" It is time. It lived a long life. Well not really I mean 4 years is that a long time for a computer? If anyone knows of a good laptop solution let us know we are in the market. So lets hope soon we have a new computer because that has been a lot of the reason these posts have been slower and slower to come because my computer has been moving slower and slower over the months.

Hope to be back soon!
Laura

Picture time!

It is time to catch you all up on the weeks that I haven't been able to post pictures because my computer and my camera were just not seeing eye to eye. Hope you enjoy our little moments as much as we have. August flew by and I can't believe it is already September.

When an Olympian waves to you

What would you do if an Olympian waved to you, especially if you are a boy and it is a pretty female who just won a gold medal? Well I know what Gavin would do he would say "Huhhhh"(which sounds a lot like hi) and smile really big.

While watching the Olympics my son who rarely even registers that his parents own a 47" flat screen looks up at the screen just in time to see the US gold medalist from a track event, I believe the 400 meter, smile and wave at the camera. To an almost 9 month old who doesn't know the difference it probably looked like she was right in our living room waving at him. So cute!

I will have to come back soon and share photos my camera won't sync with the computer so I need to get a new cord but for now a cute story.

Why I am a bad blogger...

Because life just seems to fly by and so does my son. Crawling everywhere, oh and eating everything if you can't tell by the following pictures. Including a tiny twig that the dogs brought in with them. Fun! He started this little sit crawl thing with one leg cocked under him and he kind of bounces on the leg bent under him and then crawls normally with the other one. So funny! I didn't realize he could get very far and then one day he disappeared and I found him in the laundry closet with the garbage tipped over fliging dryer sheets and lint. Uh Oh! Then we decided to eat dinner at the coffee table and before we knew it he was sitting on the floor next to me eating a sweet potato fry. It was small and soft so no problem but boy he is fast and dangerous. He has turned into a little beggar. I feed him little bits of things from my plate that I think his little toothless mouth can handle and now if I don't give him anything he gives me this "are you gonna eat that" look while glancing back and forth from me to my plate, then if I don't give in right away he follows up with a lound grunt. Taking lessons from the dogs? Hmmm.

Well here are some pics from recently. Enjoy and I will try to get better about blogging. This one took me two days to complete, such is my life and I am loving every second I wish I could freeze time for just a little while.

Daddy love

Gavin a few weeks ago fell into this lovely napping routine. He would take an hour and half in the morning and an hour and a half in the afternoon. It was perfect. I could get lots of stuff done or just be lazy and take some needed mommy time and read a book or watch tv. Naps are like God's gifts to Mommies and Daddies. So when the weekends roll around I think "How great will this be?! Mike and I can catch up on some favorite shows or do a couple projects around the house, heck we could even play a game or two while Gavin naps." Then Saturday morning 9:30 creeps up and he would normally be begging me to take a nap with major eye rubbing, crying fits and laying his head on my chest. Nothing! Nothing at all not even one eye rubby. What is going on? I decide it has to be the fact that on the weekends our schedules can be really random what with going out with that friend or running this errand or that so maybe he just picks up on that. Then 4th of July comes around and Mike has friday off and I quickly realize the problem Gavin won't sleep if Mike is home. Not only that but if Mike leaves the room that Gavin is in he totally breaks down and begins to cry. The poor kid wants nothing more than to spend the day with Daddy and I can't blame him I feel the same way. All week he is out earning us a roof over our heads and food on our plates and when he is here we just want to be with him. Gavin you are so lucky to have such a great Daddy and Mike I hope you feel the Daddy Love!

Happy Birthday to me!

Today was my birthday. I know some of you can relate to me when you truly and sincerely believe that you don't want anyone to do anything it isn't really important. Then the day comes and it is really important and you told everyone to do nothing. Bad idea. Who can you blame? Well I did that with Mike but he learned from Mother's day not to do nothing. So Wednesday night he brought home flowers and a card and said he had to do something and that was enough for me just to be remembered and thought of but it didn't end there. We were having dinner at our friends house as well. They had invited me over so I wouldn't have to cook or clean up dinner on my birthday. She casually mentioned maybe having pizza. Then for the rest of the week I thought I don't want pizza for my birthday. I begged him to tell them we should go out and he did. So a few minutes before we leave Mike turns to Gavin and says "don't tell Mommy but I might just have done something really thoughtful for mommies birthday," then turns and smiles at me. When we get to our friends place he had prepared a 3 course meal starting with ceasar salads with fresh grated cheese followed by sauted mushrooms and onions. Then for dinner we had rock salt prime rib (which was delicious), baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and French bread. Then for desserts turnovers that I couldn't even touch I was so stuffed. Then our friends watched Gavin while Mike took me to see Get Smart, which was a really funny movie.

Earlier that day my good friends took me for a picnic in the park to celebrate my birthday. I also received 4 birthday cards in the mail. I had a very special birthday.

Thank you everyone!

Today was picture day. It didn't go as well as last time. He was not comfortable with the gal that did the session. I don't know why he is usually a very happy kid but itw as difficult to get a smile out of him. As you can see in the first picture of him full out screaming.

Enjoy!

Yard work

I have a love hate relationship with yard work. I love to dream and plan and look at plants at nurseries but I hate doing the work. I hate weeding. I hate planting and I hate getting dirt on my hands. Yet Mike and I managed to do a little yard work a few weekends back and it really spruced the place up.

Before...2 years ago with all the shrubs



Half way there...last year.



And finally...I would be happy to never touch another ounce of dirt and I am sure Mike would be glad to never see another shred of bark.



I would love to plant a few more things though and maybe some iron pieces hanging on the side of the house. I guess we aren't done. Let's not even get started on the back yard. Maybe I will save up and pay someone.

There once was a toy named fishy.



He came with us everywhere we went.
If Gavin had teeth fishy would have a lot of bite marks.
Fishy saw a lot of drool.
He was also good friends with the floor.
Fishy was loved dearly.
Fishy was lost in JC Penny today.
Mommy almost cried.
Not really but if it were the right day she most certainly would have.
Knowing how much Gavin loved fishy toy Mommy searched high and she searched low.
When fishy was not found she tried to replace fishy.
There were no fishy toys to be found.
At least not at Target or Toys R' Us.
So she bought a toy named buggy.





Then Mommy searched the World Wide Web.
She found one really overpriced fishy toy.

So now we will replace the words of the old veggie tale classic "Oh where is my hair brush" with "Oh where is my fishy."
We will hope that we will run into fishy during our travels.

Until then "Oh where is my fishy, Oh where is my fishy, Oh where oh where oh where no fair oh wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrre is my fishy?!"

Doggies Day Out



A short time ago in a land not so far away the kidless versions of Mike and I decided, okay I decided and Mike went begrudgingly along, to get not one but two fury creatures to call our very own and love like the children we weren't going to have in the near future. The plan worked for the time being. I loved and spoiled and cuddle and treated them like the two hairy children I had always wanted. Then I became pregnant and I swore to myself those two golden fur balls would always remain front and center loves of my life. Reality check, they didn't. They went from the furry children I loved so much to the dogs I never really wanted, not really I still love them and still want them but they were definitely demoted the day Gavin came home from children to dogs.

Today, they were in great need of a bath because my time is spent bathing more important beings like myself and Gavin. So we paid, and paid dearly, to have them groomed at a big box pet store. At a quarter to one today I quickly loaded my two golden fur balls into the back of my large eco-unfriendly SUV and dashed to the PetSmart I leashed up the dogs told them to stay one hundred times and quickly struggled to unload the stroller that was nestled between my two impatiently staying dogs. I tried to quickly but smoothly load Gavin into the stroller without waking him, HA! He was awake and then quickly the dogs were pulling me towards the store. I marched with a whole lot of stares with my stroller being pulled by the golden ones. I marched in there and confidently told the young looking girl in her blue smock that the James dogs had arrived for their bath. She looked at me puzzled. Thats when I knew, even though I had asked 3 times if it was at the PetSmart a simple miscommunication had led me to to the wrong store. I not so smoothly shoved, literally, my stroller and my two dogs through the very narrow doorway and procured even more strange looks ranging from poor woman with too much on her plate, to what a fool trying to juggle two large dogs and a baby. Before I knew it Duke and somehow come out from the leash and was wondering off by himself procuring even more strange looks. I had images when I left the house of how capable I was and how I could take on two large dogs and a baby without thinking twice. I'll tell you what I didn't think twice about calling my husband to tell him how upset I was that I was now going to have to load and unload the dogs and the baby at yet another pet store thanks to his slip of the tongue. Yes when you are trying to drop your dogs off for a grooming appointment it does make a difference if you say PetSmart or Petco.

I should have known when I dropped them off at Petco and they didn't want to go that something wasn't right. When Mike picked them up the girl was calling them names and obviously didn't like our dogs, which we have never had a problem with usually everywhere they go people love them and they behave well. They came home and drank 3 big bowls of water leading me to believe they hadn't even given them water in the whole 3 hours they were there. I wasn't impressed. So our hairy friends won't be going back to Petco in the future maybe we will try PetSmart next time.

So it's May, not just May the middle of May. A time when the sun should be shining and the birds chirping and the warmth of spring should be soothing my skin and making me itch to go outside on a walk. It's the time I dreamed of while pregnant. Loading my beautiful baby boy up in his fancy stroller and taking a much needed spring walk in my pre-pregnancy jeans with my cute pre-pregnancy shirt that I wore this time last year. Pride and joy would be beaming on my face. I woke up this morning to realize that dream had been shattered and into many pieces. It isn't just that the sun refused to shine and then when it finally does we have a bacterial infection causing us all to pile up on the sofa with enough cough drops to feed a small tribe in Africa but it is also the fact that my fancy stroller that my Dad so nicely spent lots of money on locks up and makes this awful clicking sound that by the end of a walk makes me want to check myself into a mental hospital. Then there is the case of the pregnancy weight that I think while I was putting it on decided to adhere itself to my body using some form of super glue so no those blessed pre-pregnancy clothes aren't even close to fitting. So this morning I had a reality check. I looked around my house and wondered why I had made it to spring and not one of the indoor projects I thought should be done weren't done so I could move to outdoor projects. No the pile on the computer desk with a sticky note about half way down "To file ASAP" is still gaining in height. The cluttered entry closet is gaining shoes and dog toys and chemicals for the hot tub and anything else I can't imagine where else it would go. The babies room looks like the baby gap exploded in there with clothes from this person and clothes from that person and the clothes I bought there and the cute swim trunks from Target and the great onsie from Auntie and the cute outfit from Grandma all with no place to go because the closet is draining out into the room with the Baby Bjorn Gavin is just to big for and the sheets that didn't fit the play yard and the baby books that need a bookshelf and the tons of blankets that I don't know where else to put. I wander around my house wondering why none of this is done what have I been doing these past 6 months and then I hear him "ummm" "hmm" "BAH" and remember That is what I have been doing taking care of that cute little bundle of joy that I love more and more each day. So instead of tackling one of those piles I do a load of dishes, dust a few of the surfaces in the living room and dining room and take a moment to tell you all about how I might never catch up with all these messes and it might take me hours in the gym to get back to my pre-grenancy weight but you know what Gavin is worth it.

After a round of antibiotics we are feeling better. Since I am still catching up on life here are some pictures taken over the past couple weeks.

A BAD CASE OF THE SICKIES!

Just to let you all know we are still alive, not necessarily well but alive. Saturday night on our trip in Seattle Gavin started running a fever and acting fussy by Tuesday I had a sore throat and by Thursday Mike had the bug too. Between sore throats, fevers, aches, coughs and restless nights I haven't had a chance to update the blog or the energy but as soon as we are all up and going again I will be sure to update you all on the toothless grin chronicles. It is tough when we are all sick at the same time because no one is well enough to take care of anyone else. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

In case you can't see it very well that is snow and tulips. It is mid-April and snowing. What is wrong with this picture. Lord, what I have done to bring this upon us. HELP! I can't take it any longer. I endure winter, suffer through it hoping for the day the sun comes and warms us to the core. I don't live here because I love it I live here because I love the people here. My friends, neighbors and family. This snow makes me want to pack up and move south. Far south.

I was reviewing the pictures I had taken during April so far and since I had none with Gavin I made Mike take one.

When Daddy feeds me cereal

When Mommy feeds me cereal I can lung at the spoon grab her hand with mine and pull it into my mouth. When Daddy feeds cereal I get my head held in place and he doesn't like it when I grab his hand and direct it to my mouth. Either way I still like to get it all over the place. Silly Daddy!

As a Mom I have come to learn that if you like something your child is doing say a sleeping or eating routine or a funny look or a certain funny noise you make that gets them giggling every time. Don't get attached. Likewise if you hate something say they are in weird screaming stage or waking up several times a night or they hate their car seat and scream like you have just committed the worse sin you could possibly commit every time you even let the thought of putting them into the car seat or anywhere near the car seat cross your mind, this to shall pass. If I could give a new mom any bit of advise about the first few months of parenting it would be it all changes daily so relish the moments you love and don't fret the ones you hate.

So this morning when I awoke at 6am for the umpteenth day in a row knowing that just like the day before today and the day before that and the day before (you get the idea) we were up for good despite the fact that he went to bed late and woke up during the night to eat. No it didn't matter that because he wakes up so early he will be grumpy all morning and possibly throw off all chances of good napping today. I chanted my "this too shall pass" motto as I reluctantly and sleepily climbed out of bed. I fed him and then decided to try something new I put him back in bed, wide awake. This isn't the first time he has been put into his crib awake. Lord no! I have tried that a dozen times hoping that one day he would magically fall asleep on his own but this was the first time at 6am I didn't put him in the swing and let it do its rhythmic magic. As I walked out of his room and climbed back into bed with a heart full of hope and love for sleep I heard the beginning of what would soon fill the next hour. "ooooh" "uh uh uh" "AahaAh" Yes happy talk filled his room and drifted sweetly down the hallway into mine. I laid there no longer hoping for slumber but instead listening to the sweet melodies of my son.

More than just Mommy...

I needed to be reminded that I am more than just a Mommy. I love to read and decided to read a classic a month. This month I chose "Jane Eyre." At first I struggled with the old time English and must admit a few of the big words got me. I usually read books like that with a dictionary and enhance my vocabulary and help me understand what is going on but this time I didn't have the luxury. I fought through a few sections where the old English really got the best of me and a few sections that I must admit the legendary book drug on a little and found by the middle of the book a truly memorable story. If you have never read it and enjoy the classics I would highly recommend this one.

While I am more than just a Mommy I am mostly a proud Mommy so I leave you with some new pics.

Something really shocked him. Maybe it was the camera in his face?

I love sleeping pictures. So darn cute!

So cute with the drool dripping off his chin. I can't get enough of him.

When my world is right...

There are a million things that can worry my mind every day. The billions of germs that lurk on every bathroom counter, restaurant table or grocery cart. The cars wizzing by me on the freeway that I have no control over. Mike making long commutes throughout the week with those same vehicles. I could go on and on about the things that I worry about but at the end of the day when I snuggle up on the couch and look over to see a man that I love with all my heart and my sweet baby boy snuggled up in his arms safe and sound all my worries pale by comparison to the joy I feel at that moment and that is when I know my world is right.

The view from where I sit.

Pictures!

These are pictures collected over the month. Enjoy...

Where are we?

I don't even know where to start. The last 3 weeks have flown by and so much has happened. My Dad and his girlfriend, my brother, his girlfriend and my niece, as well as my Aunt from North Carolina all came to visit for part of a week. After that we loaded Gavin up and headed to Lewiston to visit with my cousin and his family who were here visiting from Maui. When we got back we had a message that Mike's Grandma wasn't doing well and we should head down for a visit. So we did. Gavin had his first plane trip. He did great and slept most of the way there on the way back he refused to suck on a bottle or breastfeed or suck on a finger or pacifier on the decent and so cried the whole time but was an angel the rest of the flight. They let us take a few picture in the cock pit since it was his first time. We are home now and it will probably take us a few days to get back to normal Gavin is a bit fussy today and well let's just say I am still in my PJs and it is after noon.

Oh by the way Gavin rolled over for the first time on Sunday.

Pictures to come...

It's Picture Day!

So today we journeyed to Sear's and had portraits done. I bought the CD so I could have rights to the photos and share a few of them with you all. Next time we shouldn't have such a cute baby it would save us so much money on pictures. We couldn't decide. Needless to say I spent a ton of money. I am a sucker!

And the winner is...

This week Gavin had his first overnight trip. Mike needed to work in the Palouse area so we spent the night with our gracious friends and fabulous hosts Vic and Sharon. I wasn't sure how Gavin would do. The night before we left he had cried for 3 hours straight without reprieve. He turned out to do great. Vic and Sharon even watched him Wednesday night so Mike and I could have a little Valentine's Day date. In the evenings he slept like a champ a loud one but a champ. I tried to let him sleep on my chest like he used to do but that lasted about an hour. I quickly remembered why he sleeps in a different room and we don't turn the monitor on, as I can hear him just fine in our little house without it. Gavin is the hands down the loudest sleeper I know. He squeaks, wiggles, squirms, talks and yes even snores. It has the potential to be absolutely adorable except for the fact that I too would like to get a little shut eye. So the winner of the Loudest sleeper in the James family goes to .... Gavin!

Spare time...

Ha! What is free time with a little one? Does it really exist? I have this free moment brought to me by a lovely play gym bought by my co-workers. He loves it! When he kicks just right it plays music and if he bats at the little ducky it makes a special little noise. I sit here a room away listening to him talk and play while his gym makes all kinds of noises too. What a blessing both he and his play gym are.