Baby Playdate

Donovan, Gavin, Carson, Braden, Lexi, and Zoe

Don't report me...

I saw a picture another teacher had taken of her son like this and thought it was adorable. Gavin was intrigued by the inside of the dryer. I love how these pictures turned out in black and white!

What is on my finger?

Gavin had to have blood taken to check his iron levels, and he was fascinated by the bandaid!

First time in the snow

While I was going through some bins of Gavin's clothes, I found this snowsuit Grandma Pate picked up for him while I was still pregnant. I figured I'd take Gavin out for just a few minutes to get some pictuers of him sitting in the snow. But, he wanted nothing to do with sitting! He immediately took off crawling across the yard. He wasn't too smiley but really seemed to like it. He didn't want to go in!

On a mission...

...to fatten up this little guy! Gavin's 9 month check-up was today. He hasn't even gained a pound in the past 3 months! He went from the 35th percentile to the 10th. Keep in mind, he's been sick 3 times since then, but we're going to try hard to get him to gain some weight!
I wish I had to try hard to gain weight!

Mad about a snow day???

I never thought I would be upset if they cancelled school, but here I sit, at home for the 6th day this year (our 3rd day off in a row). Because of the power outage in the fall, we're now over our limit for calamity days. We already go to school later than usual for some reason this year, and now we're just going to be adding days on to the end. So far, we're at June 11 for our last day. And, they're predicting more snow tonight, some Monday and Tuesday, and we're not even into February yet, which is when we usually use most of our days! I'm glad I'm not out driving on the slippery roads with Gavin, but I'm still not happy about prolonging my reunion with Jarrod.

Recent fun times

Gavin decided to use his carseat as a "roller coaster" ride. He climbed in the top, I helped him ease it down so he didn't land on his face, and he happily crawled out the other side. Then, he turned around and went right back in the way he came out. Yet he cries when I put him in there... Funny how that works out, huh? Gavin finally got a chance to meet his new friend, Carson Knopp! But, as you can see, he wasn't very cooperative for the picture. Carson did so well and sat patiently. Gavin, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with it!

Saying bye to Daddy! We miss you! See you on February 6th.
Discovering Shirley water bowl for the first time! Mommy was doing dishes, and Gavin was sitting on the kitchen floor playing. But, when she turned back around, he was gone. I found him with his arm soaking wet. Now, it's one of his favorite places to try to crawl to.

Ice cold spoons are my new favorite teethers! It was so cold outside this day, so I was all bundled up. Mommy submitted this picture for a cutest baby contest. Hopefully we win!

Perfect timing

Jarrod was home this weekend, and I think Gavin must have known it would be the perfect time for a new trick. Thursday night, we were making dinner while Gavin was playing in his high chair. Just as Jarrod was coming in from the grill, Gavin started "Dadadadada!" Jarrod just looked at me with this huge smile on his face. It was the first time he ever said dada and it was the best timing possible!

This is Jen, your Tastefully Simple consultant...

That's right! I signed up to be a consultant for Tastefully Simple. I thought it would be a great way to make some money on the side right now to help us with saving more for the move. And, my hope is that it will be my job in New York so that I can stay home with Gavin. So, let me know if you'd like to place an order or host a party! I would love to help you out. If you don't know what Tastefully Simple is, just ask me!

A Year of Change

I found this questionnaire online, and wanted to take some time to think about the past year. Maybe you'll want to do the same!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

~Gave birth, saw the horrors of cancer up close, went to New York

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

~I don't even remember if I made resolutions last year, so who knows if I kept them. I did make resolutions this year. I want to lose the rest of my baby weight (though I haven't done much so far to work on that) and I want to get the most out of family time (now that Jarrod's not here, I cherish those times even more)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

~Many friends - Jen had Andrew, Kelly had Ethan, Megan had Lexi, Martha had Alexis, Jill had Braden, Lauren had Giovanni, Lindsay had Carson (Wow...that's a lot!)

4. Did anyone close to you die?

~my sweet grandma

5. What countries did you visit?

~Our quick (and horrible) trip to Niagara Falls, Canada

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

~strength to get through our move to New York, money to help pay off debt

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

~April 29: our life changed forever when two became three; December 23: Gigi left us to go see Grandpa in heaven

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

~Being a single mom for November and December

9. What was your biggest failure?

~Being more supportive when Jarrod was first offered the New York position

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

~Nothing major that I can recall

11. What was the best thing you bought?

~A car that has windows, locks, and a stereo that actually work! (Even if it does mean another car payment...) For Gavin, definitely a Boppy...where would we have been for the first month or so without a Boppy to sleep on.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

~Probably Megan, for always keeping me thinking clearly, and Lindsay, for showing me how I want to live my life.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

~Can't think of anyone who appalled me that I know personally (which I guess is a good thing!)

14. Where did most of your money go?

~Same story, every month...credit card debt! I can't wait to get them paid off!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

~Our third trimester and the approaching birth of our son

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

~Probably Sugarland's Stay...it was pretty popular this year, and I LOVED it! Whenever it came on and I started singing, I wondered if Gavin heard me in my belly.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? So much happier

b) thinner or fatter? Fatter ~ still about 8 lbs of baby weight that I need to try harder to get off

c) richer or poorer? Who knows...we've paid off debt, both got raises, but we now have 2 car payments, student loans, etc...

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

~More exercising

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

~Less stressing about money and the New York move

20. How did you spend Christmas?

~With our families, celebrating Gavin's first Christmas and remembering Gigi

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

~Twice - at 9:45am on April 29, I completely fell for the 6lb 10oz little bundle of joy that Dr. McCullough placed on my chest...and once again with Jarrod, when I saw him as a father.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

~So many...Two and a Half Men, Biggest Loser, American Idol, Jon and Kate, Real Housewives of Orange County...I probably watch too much TV

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

~No

24. What was the best book you read?

~I don't think I finished a complete book the whole year! I was too caught up with baby stuff...but I started another Jodi Picoult book Megan bought me for Christmas (Perfect Match) and I'm loving it!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

~No idea

26. What did you want and get?

~My new car, a coat with a hood that actually fits!

27. What did you want and not get?

~Jarrod to get the Columbus position

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

~Don't think we got to see any movies this year (that I can remember!) I know we rented some...but seriously, my memory is horrible.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

~I turned 26 in '08. Again, that was 11 months ago, and I can't remember what we did! I know we went to dinner, but I don'tk now what else. (Can I go back and change my resolution to improving my memory???)

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

~Winning the lottery so that we can be debt free and I wouldn't have to worry about that anymore

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

~Maternity clothes, work clothes, jeans...nothing too exciting

32. What kept you sane?

~Knowing that I was a mom and had to do things for Gavin now...talking to Megan...being in Jarrod's arms

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

~I could really care less about celebrities really...but I started to enjoy Ellen a lot more, and I really "fancied" Kate Gosselin...just watching how she manages 8 kids inspires me

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

~I know I need to be more involved in politics now, but I still don't really get into it.

35. Who did you miss?

~I miss being closer to Angie, Heidi and Lauren...I love spending time with them. I miss grandma and grandpa. I miss my hsuband so much! I can't wait until we are together again.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

~I knew her before 2008, but having Tori join our first grade staff and getting to work with her everyday has been great. New friends are always a blessing.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

~Life is too short to worry so much. Things happend for a reason, and I'm strong enough to get through the rough patches.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

~Wow...that's hard. I'll have to think about that one for a while...

On 2 Feet!

Jarrod just asked me today if Gavin was pulling himself up on things, and I told him up to his knees but then gets stuck. Well, he wasn't quite ready for bed, so we read another book. I put him on the floor to look at the book, went into the kitchen, and came back and he was standing by the ottomans! I was shocked. The picture is dark because I was in a hurry to grab my phone and snap a picture before he fell and didn't flip on the light. He's getting so big!!! It makes me so proud and so sad, all at the same time.

RSV sucks

Gavin tested positive for RSV today. The poor boy sounds so horrible. He coughs so hard that he throws up if he's recently eaten! On top of the low fever, runny nose, horrible cough, and loss of appetite, the doctor said his gums look swollen and he'll be getting several more soon. Fun times!

Some updates

Well, I promised some updated pictures from our trip to New York and Niagara Falls, so I'm finally following through! Notice all the snow...Gavin was sitting in front of the patio door. The snow was that high on the covered patio! I don't think I've seen 2 feet of snow on the ground ever before! Can you tell he loves my Vera Bradley purse? He asked for a new one for Christmas, but didn't get one. Maybe for his birthday :)

In other news - Gavin's been sick the past few days. Started out running a fever, then cold symptoms... I'm going to take him to the doctor tomorrow since he's now coughing so hard it makes him throw up. He has also finally cut his first tooth...though it's not the typical bottom front tooth. He's getting his upper side tooth first! My little Dracula :)

Goodbye, Gigi!

Where do I even start? My grandma was so wonderful. I have more memories of her than I can even begin to list. She was our only babysitter growing up. Grandma and Grandpa moved next door to us when Megan was born and never left.

She watched us when mom and dad worked, through the summers, and at night when they went out. Megan and I loved spending the night with her and grandpa. And the funniest thing was...we always packed a suitcase for the night, even though we were just walking next door!

She taught me how to play Solitaire, Rummy, and of course, Bingo. We had so much fun going to McNick on Sundays together for Bingo night. She never got a driver's license so she needed someone to take her to Bingo. When I got my license, I took her a lot. She was always prepared with her Bingo bag full of good luck charms!

I'll always think about her every time I drink a cup of hot tea. She started every morning with hot tea and toast. I don't remember my grandma ever going to a movie theater, yet she couldn't live without "her movie"...Days of Our Lives. She watched it daily, right up until mid-December. She knew the Brady's and Horton's better than anyone!

Grandma became Gigi the moment we found out we were expecting. I knew I wanted Gavin to call his great-grandma Gigi. And seeing Gavin was what lit up her life. She could be in pain and not be able to do anything, but the moment I walked in with Gavin, she perked up and reached for him. Her last days were spent with her in bed, surrounded by frames filled with pictures of Gavin, her little man. It makes me sad that Gavin will not be able to really get to know her.

After Grandpa died, it was weird to go home to visit my parents and pull in the driveway and not see Grandpa sitting on the porch. Now that Grandma's gone, I can't imagine what it will feel like that first time I pull in their driveway and see someone else living there. It won't be the same.

These are some of my favorite pictures of my grandma. I love you so much, Gigi. Remember, you have to keep our baby girl name a secret! You're the only one that knows. :)

You have to hear this...

Megan had a small paper bag that her lunch had come in, and she was using it to make Gavin giggle. I could listen to it all day long!

Back to reality...

What a winter break! I left our house on December 20, and I'm back today for the first time. In the past 2 weeks, I drove to New York (with a stop in Cleveland), flew to Cincinnati for the holidays, drove to Niagara Falls from NY, drove back to Cincinnati (with another stop in Cleveland), and finally back to Dayton. Gavin and l loved spending so much time with Jarrod over the holidays. It was really great to have family time again.

Unfortunately, over our busy holiday break, we lost a fabulous woman. Gigi (my grandma) passed away after a 14 month battle with cancer on December 23. I already miss her greatly.

There's so much to catch up on, and so many pictures I want to share, but I'll have to do it later this week. I'm exhausted and I have to get up early for work tomorrow.