Our Weekend with Michaela

Last weekend we had my niece Michaela stay with us. We had a great time! Thursday we went to the park, Friday to the zoo (no pics, sorry...not enough hands), Saturday morning swimming and Saturday evening to the carnival!

Me and Michaela playing on the floor!

Gavin lovin on his puppy!

A Report by Michaela!

Swimming Fun!

The Carnival with Jason, Gavin, Michael, Josh and Dani!

The Lost Dutchman

Last Saturday, March 14th, we went hiking with our friends the Niederhausers. It was a gorgeous day to spend outside enjoying the beauty of the desert. It took a couple years for me to recognize the desert's beauty (I was quite upset to have to move to such an ugly place), but on our hike I honestly was in awe at how majestic the Superstition mountains looked and the adaptability of the wildlife to thrive under such harsh conditions. Looking out over the valley I was surprised at how the desert moved me. It was so fun to see how much Madison and Jackson enjoyed romping around discovering new plants and animals. Sugar had a great time as well. We had to hold Gavin the whole time since we don't have a carrier, but he had fun too with so much to look at. That evening we ate at The Mining Camp Restaurant where they had killer ribs. All in all, a GREAT day!

Gavin's favorite part of the hike...chewing on the trail mix bag!

Hooorahhhh....A TOOTH!

As many of you know Gavin has been SICK since last Friday with a stomach virus. He has had CONSTANT diarrhea and frequent vomiting. Poor guy has been miserable. He's lived off of pedialyte and formula all week. Every time we try to give him cereal or baby food he VOMITS. Let me tell you, I am so TIRED of washing blankets, sheets and pjs! Tuesday, Gavin was feeling a little better but was unusually fussy. I chalked it up to the pukes and diarrhea. On Wednesday, he woke up so FUSSY and without even thinking I felt inside his mouth. LO AND BEHOLD...Gavin had a TOOTH on the bottom! What's more, his two top teeth were big and swollen and almost broken through too!! POOR KID, on top of the pukes, diarrhea, and his first sore bum he is cutting THREE teeth at once. We've done better the last two days with tylenol, motrin and oragel on board. YAY, my sweet little boy for being such a trooper! Mommy LOVES you!

Spring is in the Air

I love perfect spring days like today. It was overcast but the sun was shining through the clouds. It was warm, not hot, with a slight cool breeze. The birds were chirping in the trees and the air smelled of honeysuckle. I've found that smells more than anything bring back vivid memories of the past. One whiff of the honeysuckle and I am 6 years old, in Magna (no one can help where they live when they're little, so don't judge!) playing by a huge fence covered in sweet honeysuckle vines. The smell permeates the air as we pluck the flowers from the vine and lick the small amount of honey from the center. I LOVE the smell of honeysuckle! It seems to make everything else sweeter with it. There's something about spring that rejuvinates the soul, quiets the tempests inside and renews a sense of joy, hope and lightheartedness. Especially here in Arizona, you have to treasure the beautiful spring days that come and go so quickly, soon becoming a faint memory engulfed in the overpowering, sweltering heat of summer. So, today I bask in the beauty of the earth.

Little Tidbits

Here's some fun facts about our sweet little Gavin!

1. He LOVES to grab his toes when he's drinking a bottle...nope no bottle holding here
2. He ALWAYS pulls off his LEFT sock...then sometimes hours later...his RIGHT sock
3. He thinks Sugar is HILARIOUS and laughs when she walks by him
4. His FAVORITE stuffed animal is a black and white spotted dog Jason's boss gave him
5. He kicks his legs, twirls his feet & waves his arms up and down when he's EXCITED
6. He LOVES when you sing to him. We have a diaper changing song, a pj song, and a ride in the car song all made up by Jason!
7. He LOVES the cougar fight song. When he's crying, if all else fails, start singing that song and he immediately stops.
8. He LOVES Baby Signing Time! Thanks Grandma Niece and Grandpa Jerry!
9. He LOVES to talk and squeal all day long...I'm forgetting the meaning of the word quiet
10. He ENJOYS walks in his stroller and just looks at everything without making a peep
11. His FAVORITE books are Llama Llama Red Pajama and Humpty Dumpty
12. He WIGGLES non-stop. You have to almost sit on him to change his diaper
13. He is a MOMMY-EATER! He loves to climb on me and eat me. I forever have wet spots on my pants or shoulders! He loves to eat my hair too...TURKEY
14. He's so GLAD when daddy comes home...and loves to play with Jason
15. He LOVES to hang out in his diaper...no clothes needed
16. He LIKES his back rubbed when he gets hurt :(
17. He's an EQUAL opportunity food taster so far and mommy couldn't be HAPPIER
18. He LOVES shoes...I am forever stopping him from chewing on them...gross
19. He SQUISHES his face against the mesh side of the play pen and LICKS it every time we put him in there...it's quite funny
20. He LOVES to take baths and splash the water. He crawls once (moving like 5 inches)...sits...and splashes again