Sound Machine

Casey recently came home with a sound machine for Gavin's room. I sent him to Wal-Mart expecting he would not find the one I wanted. But he brought home a great Conair sound machine that has about 10 different sounds. One of which is the sound of a train. It's interesting because I personally don't find it to be particularly soothing but I guess if you grew up next to train tracks perhaps the sound of a train going by is relaxing. :)

Gabe decided he wanted to listen to the train sound. So for the past 1/2 hour we've been listening...it is oddly calming.

Destin 2009

Finally getting this posted. We went to Destin, FL on a family vacation at the end of July. It was so much fun! My family started going to Florida when I was 10, going to Disney World, Panama City and Pensacola. Every year after that we visited a beach in Florida settling on Destin the last few years. I love the crystal water and white sandy beaches! As my mom says, this is my happy place. :) The last 2 years we've gone to Galveston so Gabe is familiar with the beach, but of course this was Gavin's first vacation. We had a blast and plan on making this an annual destination!




My little Sugar doughnut!

God is good...

I'm annoyed at having our house burglarized. I'm more annoyed that they took my two digital cameras and our video recorder that had all of the video of Gavin beginning to crawl and Gabe's program...he was singing "This little light of mine." I loved it that they chose this song for Gabe's class. I have sung this song to him since he was a baby! He was so animated holding his finger up and waving it around. It was so precious. (Gabe's sweet teacher Miss Jenny has a video she is going to share with us).

But with the annoyance I am reminded at God's sweet love for us. He protected us on Monday. We left to run errands and were not at home when they came crashing through our back door. Perhaps they saw us leave. I actually almost turned around to get something out of the house to return to the store. I stopped just down the street but decided to go on.
When I was surveying the damage I was putting the situation into perspective. We were all safe and alive. I thought of everything we have gone through and we have survived a lot. We are alive. We have each other and these two precious children on earth. That's all that matters. Believe me...I have had moments of unrest and fear. But God reminds me in my spirit that He is there protecting us. A lot of people have commented that we must feel so violated. Somehow I do not. I can't speak for Casey.
When we went to Hawaii and were staying in a house with several friends, we were burglarized. At that time I did have that feeling of violation. It's strange that in my own home I don't feel that way. Maybe once the shock subsides I'll feel that way. I'm only upset about the video and pictures we lost.

Gavin is crawling officially!

He started crawling today! So sweet! He hasn't coordinated the movement exactly but is making forward progess!

Gavin is crawling...almost

Gavin has been "almost"crawling for the past month or longer. Everytime I see him get up I think, "this is it...he's going to crawl." He startedout getting up in the plank position. But yesterday he really did it! He got on both knees and rocked back and forth and then later he put one knee in front of the other. Crawling or not he gets around. He's been rolling and moving with his arms all over the place. The cutest thing is that if a toy is just out of his reach he'll get on his knees and then bury his face in his hands on the floor, like he's really sleepy. Then he lurches forward just enough to reach the toy most of the time.

He is a rambuctious little thing. He is not like Gabe in this way...When Gabe was a baby he could fall asleep anywhere...if he was tired he would go to sleep. Gavin on the other hand fights sleep forever...he'll get so tired that he'll end up crying himself to sleep most of the time. Of course this is really only when we are away from home. If he's at home he is really good...if I see him rub his eyes, that is my cue...I'll lay him down and put on his Baby Einstein turtle toy and he'll go to sleep. I love my boys!

Funny thing he said

A funny thing Gabe said...
I picked him up from school the other day and asked him what his favorite part of the day was. He first said, "My played." I said, "What else did you do." He replied, "My not play basketball. My do the Hokey Pokey." I laughed out loud.

I was walking into our closet a few Saturdays ago and I heard him singing the Hokey Pokey song. I was surprised because I'd never heard him sing it and it hadn't even occurred to me to teach him the Hokey Pokey. So I took him into the office where Casey was and we all proceeded to do the Hokey Pokey.

Camping with Friends

Casey and Gabe went camping with friends from our church this weekend. They left after the March of Dimes walk and came back Sunday. They had a great time! The pictures are hilarious...with background information. Casey grabbed some folded clothes from a basket and without looking took a shirt of Gavin's... size 12 months. He did not take any shorts or short sleeves and it got up into the upper 70's lower 80's Saturday afternoon.
He made an "executive decision" to cut off the arms of a shirt and legs of pants so Gabe didn't get too hot while he was playing. He ended up cutting up Gavin's shirt. It's hilarious to me that my now 3 year old can still wear something so small...but even more hilarious that my husband didn't notice it wasn't his size. :)
I'm teasing Casey here, of course, but in all seriousness, he is a great daddy and husband...the best in the whole world!

Oh and Onesies are supposed to be buttoned and tucked under the pants, right. See red long-sleeved onesie picture below.

Gabe's favorite part of the trip "sweeping in da tent."
His 2nd favorite part was throwing rocks in the lake.

Easter 2009

We went to 11 o'clock service at church and then went to my sister's in-laws. The Easter bunny made an appearance and the kids loved it!

Help me reach my goal!Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

Gabe's 3rd Birthday

We had a family party at home on Sunday and a friend party the following Friday at the Choo Choo Station at Grapevine Mills Mall!
Gabe and his friends had so much fun!!

On Sunday, before everyone came over for the party, we met the grandparents out at Greenwood to say Happy Birthday to Nathaniel. I can't believe it's been 3 years already. It is amazing how time really does heal. I had some moments this month, but for the most part, there were not a lot of tears like the previous years. It's interesting how grief can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

We had a special "Cars" cake for Gabe on Sunday. And on Friday it was Thomas the Train theme.

Gavin is 6 months old and Gabe is almost 3

I cannot believe my baby boy is 6 months old. And my big boy is growing up too! I cannot believe Gabe is almost 3.

My heart is heavy this evening as I learned of my friend Amber's friend who lost her husband, Brad at the age of 34. They have a 5 and 2 year old. I'm also sad about a couple who just lost their baby a week ago.

Life is so precious... and so fragile.

A verse I was reminded of this week... 1 Cor 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Gavin is 5 months old

My little baby boy is already 5 months old. He started sleeping through the night about a week ago! I'm starting to feel normal again.
Gabe will be 3 next month! I cannot believe how fast he has grown. The last 3 years have flown by. It's crazy!
Everyday he says something that makes me laugh. I absoultely love that he still speaks of himself in the 3rd person. But he has started using the word"my" to describe himself. The other day he wanted to play soccer inside. He said, "Dabe be on my team."

Gabe was playing in the living room and had found a box to climb on. Casey said, "be careful. You are going to hurt yourself." Gabe replied, "Dabe no hurt yourself."

Gavin rolled over 2 times in a row at 12 weeks but the Dr. told us it was a fluke. Well he is officially rolling over from front to back and back to front. He also can situp and support himself with his arms. He can stay in this position for a minute or so without falling over. We will be getting the high chair out of the attic and start feeding him rice cereal in the next couple of weeks.
They are both so precious to me and I feel so blessed.

I do believe I'm up for a mother of the year award. hee hee
Gabe was sick last week. Casey was out of town so I let Gabe sleep with me and we had gotten in bed pretty late. Right before we went to sleep he said, "my tummy has an owie. get a band aid." Now before I go on I should say that this is the boy who cried wolf. Gabe has had trouble sleeping in his own bed so he has ended up in bed with us several times. (we actually have started just letting him sleep on the couch in our room so we don't have to get up every 3 hours.) But I digress. While in bed with us, ealry in the morning he would say, "my foot hurts. get a band aid." We would put a band aid on it and he'd be all better.

So I got a band aid for his tummy and he rolled over and went to sleep. A half hour later he yelled out and threw up all over the bed and pillows. Luckily not on my favorite pillows. ;)

So I was up all night with Gabe and just prayed that Gavin would not wake up. He didn't. Finally about 4 Gabe and I were getting settled into bed again and right as I was going to sleep. Gavin woke up. I was thankful that it was then and not earlier.

Happy Halloween!

The dragon and pea in a pod. Those were my two boys this year. Gabe dressed up like a dragon (also mistaken for a dinosaur). :)
We went to Abby's B-day party mid October and dressed up and of course dressed up again on Halloween. We went to Nana and Papo's house and trick or treated over in their neighborhood. Then we headed to Mimsey and Grandpa's house.

The dragon

Gabe was a Dragon for Halloween.

Mommy and the Pea in a Pod

Mommy dressed up as a witch with her Pea in a Pod (Gavin).

Pictures of my cutie pies!

Gabe flies a kite

It was so windy on Sunday that we decided to go down to the school's big playground and try to fly a kite. So fun!

We loaded Gabe into the wagon and Gavin in the stroller.

He did a great job and had a lot of fun!

A friend's birthday party

Gabe's friend Camryn.

Gabe with some other friends.

Here are some pics.of Gabe at his friend Caroline's Mickey Mouse b-day party.

The Zoo with 2

I ventured to the zoo with both boys on Friday. It wasn't too bad because Gavin slept the whole time as I carried him in my Peanut shell sling. Love that thing. :)
We went with our friends Liz and Brody.

Bradshaw Reunion

We have an annual reunion with my grandmother's side of the family. It's all of her sisters and cousins and their families.
We went while Gavin was just a couple of weeks old.