Ah, the smell of pachouli and the sound of acoustic guitar. We went to Earth Day in Columbia last weekend & met up with Grandma & Grandpa V and Uncle Garritt. Gav was pretty tired as we had a full weekend. But, it was fun. He got to play in mud, get a bug tattoo, catch a crawdad, draw with markers…and drag his Grandpa around from street to street. We had dinner at Shakespeares again this year and it was good as always. I think this is becoming a nice spring tradition. 
One time, I climbed up a tree, then I fell down, then I tried and tried and tried again, and I did it…I fight that monkey, and I get his banana and I ate it…and it was yesterday, yeah, yesterday I did.
One day, when I get little & little & little, I can get in this straw and I’ll be really little.
We went to Carthage for Easter this year. On the way, only about an hour from St. Louis, Gav says Over there, I see their house, we’ll be there soon. And I told him we weren’t there yet, it’s far, far away. So, for the next half hour or so he did his best Shrek & Donkey impression and Nate and I took turns playing along. It went like this
“Are we there yet?”
“No!”
“Are we there yet?”
“No!!”
“Are we there yet?”
“No!!!”
“Far, Far away, donkey! That’s where we’re going! Far, Far Away!”
Once we pulled in the driveway he started saying MeMe, PaPa I’m back, I’m back. PaPa was asleep, but woke up once we were inside and as soon as their eyes met, Gav said I’m back, PaPa, I’m back, it was sweet.
Gav colored eggs with his NaNa and had an egg hunt on Saturday. He was sooo tired and after picking up maybe 3 eggs, he started saying after each egg I’m done, I have all the eggs I ever need and we’d point him in the direction of another one.
Of coarse he had a few back hoe/tractor rides. On one of them he decided to abandon ship (as PaPa was stopped & talking to a neighbor)he RAN probably a ¼ mile back to the house. And, he played in the dirt with his little tractor, took a turn on the swing by the river and ate as many sweet nothings as he could get away with!
There was a new addition at Nate’s grandparent’s house. A cute little mama cat, named Bobette (was Bob until they realized he was pregnant) and her 5 kittens. Gav got to pet her and her kittens, she’s a really docile cat. We had a great visit and as always never have enough time while we’re there!
Gav has finally graduated to kid movies, we still have to censor, but he likes Shrek and Ice Age now. He really likes Princess Fiona and came to me yesterday and said “Mom, I need to be a princess, what can I wear?” and I said I didn’t know if I had anything his size he could use, so he grabbed a pillowcase and held it around his waist like a dress It was cute, and yes pics will come, eventually.
We were talking about Easter and how we’ll dye eggs and the Easter Bunny will hide them and Gav piped in saying “I want to be a duck for Easter”, I’ m not sure where he got this, I looked around for a duck costume with no luck, no time to order online either, so I hope his bunny ears will do. hehe. As we were at Schnuck’s grocery shopping, we saw some Easter Bunnies, I asked him which one he’d like and he said the pink one. So, now he has a Superman easter basket, a pink bunny, a dora chocolate egg and matchbox cars for easter. A nice collection of “girl” and “boy” things
Naptime has become not only a challenge but nonexistant. He will fight to the end when just months ago he’d go to nap willingly. So, he may be giving it up. I have a feeling once he hits preschool, he may be wore out from the activities that he’ll be ready for a short nap again. And, maybe he’s just having a phase, who knows!
I know it’ s a few days away, but Happy Easter Everyone!
Gavin is 3, as of Monday. Now he can legally play with things like matchbox cars, crayons, and toys with little pieces. And…potty training is in the works now, his dr. said to wait until he was 3 and he is so, here we go! We bought him the Kandoo soap and wipes that are easy for him to do & some undies to iniatiate him into the world of no-diapers. He’s pretty excited. He really had a great birthday, or birthday’s, actually. He got to spend time with both sets of grandparent’s, Aunt Tori and had a children’s party with Corbin, Teller, Jack, Adda & Whit. So, he celebrated 3 or 4 times!!! Congrats on being a preschooler now, Gav!!!
(as always, pics to come)
Gavin has a double ear infection, eczema and strep!!! Shortly after he was born we suspected lactose-intolerence (lots of digestive problems) and took him off cow-milk based formula. The first two years of his life he had no infections of any kind, only seasonal allergies and the flu once. I’ve read on peta’s website as well as on other vegetarian websites that cow milk is linked to ear infections, ezcema and other things with babies/toddler’s, well adults too for that matter. I’m sure many people will beg to differ, but I’m pretty sure Gav has an allergy to cow milk, so we’re switching back to soy, nuff said!
I had a dr. appt. (one of many lately) and Nate couldn’t work his schedule around it, so Gav went to the child care center at Nate’s work yesterday. I don’t think it was a horrible experience, but when I walked in the room most of the kids were crying or bored, not much happiness and laughter going on. Gavin was sitting at a table with a little girl and they were working on a puzzle when I got there. I asked him when we got to the car how his teachers were, the other kids and if he had fun, his response “it was really different” and “I think I’ll find another school to go to”, hehe. I asked if he made friends with the girl he worked on the puzzle with and he said “no, hers was really sad, she missed her mama so I sat by her”. He’s got such a good heart 
I’s a girl… Jack asked Gav if he could have a turn with a ball tonight and Gavin said, no it’s for boys, and Jack said excitedly “I’m a boy” and Gavin said “I’s a girl” and Jack said “No, Gavin you’re a boy like me” and this went on for a while, for about a month or so Gavin’s been insisting he’s a girl, he doesn’t do many girlie things but if you ask him…he’s a girl.
We were having one of our many dance parties at Jack’s house in the basement rec room yesterday, Gav starts dancing to some oldies song and Jack cracks up and says “Gavin, you can really dig it”.
“My higha song”… almost on a daily basis Gavin requests “Higher Love” by Depeche Mode, I don’t mind, they’re one of my obsessions right now. It’s funny, he gets out his guitar and sings and dances like Dave Gahan. I’m sure I’m not doing the PG thing properly, but hey, life is short why censor everything to nursery rhymes. Actually some nursery rhymes are pretty sadistic, come on “when the bow breaks the cradle will fall..and down will come baby cradle and all?” who thought up this stuff?
Oh yeah, one more story… Nate generally does the bedtime routine, just something we set up when Gav was 6 mos. old. So, the other night we’re sitting in the living room and I knew Gav was tired so I suggested Nate start the routine. Nate wanted to chill for a bit, so he was like okay just a min. Gavin generally doesn’t request going to bed, however, this night was different. He said “dad, I’m gettin really tired, I want to go to bed” and Nate said okay, just give me a second. Gavin started drawing on his magna doodle and I kept nagging Nate to get up and take him to brush his teeth and get ready for bed. Nate says, I’m not sure I believe him, I need more evidence… then Gavin showed me what he was drawing, I was like I like your drawing, what is it? And, I’m not kidding, he says “a bed” looking up at me with groggy eyes! Nate about fell off the couch.
That’s all there is for now…
So, it’s been almost a month since Christmas & a post will eventually come, but here are some pictures. It works best if you click “view as a slideshow”, otherwise you have to click each thumbnail.
Well Gavin and I got back from another fun day of swim lessons. He has come so far since we started several months ago. We are in our 4th or 5th parent child session. I think Gavin is naturaly gifted when it comes to swimming. He already knows how to paddle and kick. I just barely hold him up by his stomach and he pretty much does the rest. He also knows how to paddle and kick on his back. He is so much further along than the rest of the kids in the class. I seriously think he should have probably graduated to the next level a couple of sessions ago and the instructors can not believe he is only 2 years old.
This will be our last session with parent child. Next month he graduates to preschool and then he will be one on one with the instructor. I think he will do great. He must have been a fish in a former life
I took Gavin and Jack to see Santa last week. Jack is a pro at this he knows exactly what to tell him and how the whole process works. Addison suggested the boys go at the same time, so they did. Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas and Gavin said “A Blue Christmas”, it eventually turned into a blue basketball. It was just funny watching Jack interperate what Gav was saying & he introduced him, “Santa, this is my friend Gavin”. Jack knew exactly what he wanted for Christmas and reported that he had been a good boy, but that his sister, Whitney, has not been very nice to him lately so she shouldn’t get any presents! Adda stepped in and assured Santa that Whitney loved him very much and deserved her presents. It was a memorable experience and Gavin knows who Santa is now.