Trick or Treat

Well, our Halloween was super fun! We started our day by cutting up our pumkins and scooping out the seeds to roast! Instead of carving our pumpkins this year, we decided to make a pie out of them. Yes, I made a REAL pumpkin pie, from scratch! We cooked the pumpkin and even made our own crust! It took a long time, but it was fun and worth it in the end.
After dinner we headed out for the candy portion of our evening. Gavin loved it and had so much fun getting candy from all the houses. His costume was a hand me down from my sister. I am pretty sure that it is an alligator, but Gavin totally thought it was a dinasour, so we went with that! Halloween in Dearborn is AWESOME! We were pleasantly suprised. Everyone pulled out their firepits and sat in their driveways to pass out candy and hang out with the neighbors. There were only about two houses on each block that did not participate. It was a fun family event. There were kids everywhere! I really could have done without the gaudy and scary lawn decor at some houses, but the rest good. Gavin lasted for about four or five blocks. At every house he would say, "trick or treats" and then "Tank you" and then as we were walking away he would say, "We trick or treats at another house?" He filled up his bucket twice. At the last house we went to as we were walking back down the driveway Gavin said, "no more trick or treats. We go home now." At lease he knows when enough is enough!
So we came home and ate some of the candy and had a peice of our pie. Gavin was on such a sugar high. He ended up not going to bed until 10:00! He was such a crazy boy! Here are some pictures of our day!

Funny Sayings

Gavin is always saying the funniest things, as I am sure all kids do. I love to write down what he says and read it few months later. It is amazing to me how fast I forget things ( although this should come as no suprise to Anne). So, anyway, here are some of the things that he has been saying lately.

On the way home from BSF (which Gavin refers to as Play dough Bible class), he just blurts out, "My Teachers not love me, mamma" and said, "oh Gavin, thats not true! I am sure your teachers love you" and he simply says, "No, they not."

The other day he grabbed a sticky note off of my board that had a phone number and an e mail address on it and he brought it to me holding it up with both hands and said, "I read you story, Mamma." So I said, "Okay, lets here it." He put on a very serious face and looked at the paper as if he were reading it and proceeded to say, "God loves me. God loves us and sent his son." and then he said, "Touch my God story mom, touch it." So I touched it and he said, "Nice God story!" Then he went on to quote some more scripture! It was so cute.

When he does something wrong and we start to talk about it leading up to the spanking Gavin will say, " You not spank me, mamma. You just teasin' me."

As I was typing this he says to me, "You a big girl mamma. I'm getting big too. Am I getting bigger?"

He still can't pronouce quite a few words and I love it. Here are a few of the best ones.

Sandwich is Mondich.

Love is Lub

Video is Bideo

Pooh Bear is Kooh Bear (although he can say other P words)

well, I could go on, but I am sure you are tired of my kid stories.

Gavin's Package

Annie sent Gavin a package in the mail so I video taped us opening it so that she would be able to see it.

Spicer Orchards

I spent a few days out at my mom and dad's house to help watch my two nephews, Jonas and Mason. My sister in law suprised my brother and took him on a suprise anniversary trip to their honeymoom spot - Main. So, we got to spend some time with their boys! I was so thankful for the time with them. I was able to get to know their baby, Mason a little better. He is such a sweet boy and we got a lot of bonding time. Jonas and Gavin had lots of fun handing out together. They are the becoming best buddies. On Friday morning my mom and I decided to take the boys to Spicer Orchards. It was a chore with all three boys but definately worth it! They loved it! Here are some pictures from our weekend!

Our latest battle

Apparently it is impossible for a two (practically three) year old to sit still. I have about 15 pictures in this same spot and this is the best one. Pathetic, I know. But thats a boy for you! (thanks to J and K for creating a perfect photo op in front of their CUTE house)

Being an only child must be rough. Gavin has resorted to Elmo and Pooh Bear as constant companions. Actually, the Elmo stuffed animals are new to the sceene, but Pooh has been going everywhere with us and Gavin has been treating him like a human being. We set him a place at breakfast, we wipe his nose when it is runny. Gavin attempts to change his diaper ( even though we have no diapers in the house . . . maybe I should have Gavin potty train pooh so he knows what it is like!!) , he gets buckled into the car when we go places(poor pooh has to sit in the car a lot, I refuse to let Gavin take him inside). Pooh even gets covered up at night and gets his back rubbed by Gavin. When we ask Gavin why he loves pooh so much he simply says, "We are buddies!" So there you have it, the desperate measures my son takes to have a playmate - I guess it isn't always that much fun to play with your mom! I know this pooh story is dragging on forever, but I just have to add this one last bit. The other day Gavin wanted me to play trains with him, but I couldn't so I said to have pooh play with him and Gavin says, "But he doesn't have any hands!" Okay, enough with the pooh stories . . .

Gavin got to take a bubble bath today. I think its his first ever. He liked it. It was a must after our morning craft . . . (see picture below)

This is our craft today. It is supossed to look like a tree with fall leaves. Does it? He sure had fun getting paint all over his hands and arms. We made about six of them. Suprisingly, this was the best one. We like to make them for everyone in the family! Gavin even picks which one goes to whom (is it who or whom?).

Anyway, thats what we've been up to . . .

Horrible Blogger

I am terrible at keeping up with this thing lately. My entire family went to the Great Wolfe Lodge a few weeks ago and I am just now blogging about it! We had tons of fun. We did the lodge on Friday and Sat. morning and then did Cedar Point on Saturday afternoon and evening. We had so much fun. Gavin had a blast with his cousin Jonas. They were little buddies and were copying off of each other the whole weekend! Here are some pics of our trip!

Chicago

This past weekend we went to Chicago to see some friends. We had a great time! We didn't get to stay very long and we enjoyed ourselves so much we are headed back this weekend! I wasn't able to take many pictures, but this is my favorite one from the trip. It was taken while we were at the Lincoln Park zoo!

Gavin

Gavin has been so much fun lately. He has started so many new activies this September. He is now a Cubbie in Awana and he loves it. I was a little nervous that he wouldn't be able to learn the verses b/c he is a little young still. But, since Ryan and I are the awana commanders and there is no nursery during Awana, I had no other choice. It took us all week, and I do mean ALL week to learn our first verse - God loved us and sent His Son. But, he learned it. I about cried when he first said it. I was so proud! The picture is a little blurry. He would not sit still and it was taken with my phone.




He has also started attending BSF with me in the 2 and 3 year old class. If you don't know about Bible Study Fellowship, you really need to check it out. It is an interdenominational, International Bible Study. This year we are doing a study on the book of Matthew. Anyway, I was sitting down at the kitchen table this morning reading my Bible and answering my BSF questions and Gavin was outside playing on the porch. He kept on saying to me "what are you doing, mom?" and I would reply, " I am reading my Bible. " Well, finally after he had asked me a few times, he said to me, "I read my Bible too, Mamma!" So he asked me to put a chair out on the porch for him and I gave him his Bible and he really sat there and looked through it for quite awhile. Of course, I had a take a picture! It was so cute!

New House?

Ryan painted the house, with the help of his brother Jason, over the Labor Day weekend. It turned out so good! I love it. It looks like new siding was put up! I love my house, it is so cute! Here are the before and after pictures.

It's Potty Time

Well, this post goes out to Alicia who is in the midst of potty training as well! Gavin and I have been working hard at it for a few weeks now. He is doing really really well with only a few set backs. He still does not tell me when he has to go, but he holds it in until I take him. He definately has control over it, but I have to take the inititive or he'll have an accident. If I forget to take him, he tells me as it is happening! There have been quite a few yucky times over the last few weeks, but we have not had one overnight or naptime accident! Yeah for Gavin! I am so excited to be in this phase of life. I know it means my boy is growing up, but I am so ready for that. It is hard work and I am sweating most of the day. I feel like I can't leave the room or else he will go. I have been running around like mad trying to keep up with my chores while still keeping an eye on him. Yesterday we had a really good day. I knew he had to poop so I took his underwear off and started to tell him if he had to go to just sit on the potty and do it. A few min. later he ran to his potty, threw up the lip and did his deed all by himself. He was so excited. He kept on saying, "get my prize now!" It was so cute. I got a great deal on some wooded Thomas Tracks off of Craigs List and have been rewarding him with them. He LOVES them and they are just what he needs to motivate him. Anyway, this potty training stuff is hard work but I can see dollar signs in my head as I think of all the money I am saving on diapers. I wont EVER have to buy them for Gavin again! THAT is MY motivation!

Check this out!

A friend just e mailed me this link. It is really cool. I can't really explain it so you'll just have to watch it. It is motions to the Casting Crowns song "who am i?" But it is really, really cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT7x3VnrqbA

What in the World?

I just want to start out by saying that I LOVE my OB Doctor. He has been my doctor for about five years, he delivered Gavin and a few of my nieces as well. If anyone is ever looking for a Doctor, I would recommend him and proudly declare that he is the best Doctor EVER!
However, I have run into a small problem. I don't think that this "problem" is exclusive with my doctor. I think that it is just a trend in our country. Anyway, here is my "problem" . . .
It all started with my first prenatal visit when I was preggo with Gavin. I was a teeny bit emotional (okay, I was crying hysterically) because I had these hormones surging through my body and I was just adjusting. I wasn't at all mad about being pregnant, it just caught me by surprise and everything was happening so quickly. Anyway, because I was acting that way in his office, he proceeded to tell me that I was a HUGE candidate for postpartum depression and that I would need to be monitored after I had the baby. At the time, I was shocked and didn't quite know what to think. I mean, I was just an emotional pregnant woman not at all nearing depression. Anyway, eight months later I had Gavin and all was well. Never got brought up again. I was happy and healthy and normal.
Well, after I had the miscarriage I was afraid that it was going to come up again. I have had to go back a couple of times to monitor the hormone levels in my body to make sure the Hcg goes back to zero again. Well, the first visit was a little interesting. Dr. told me that we needed to wait for about two more cycles before trying to get preggo again. I told him that we would most likely be waiting well beyond the two cycles. He looked at me and then went into this long ordeal about the miscarriage and explaining that it wasn't anything that i did and that there was no reason that I shouldn't go on to have a normal pregnancy again. I think that he must have thought that I was emotionally distraught and couldn't even think about getting pregnant again. When in reality, we just aren't ready, simple as that. I was just nodding my head and listening him out and agreed whole hearted in everything that he said. No big deal, I left feeling pretty good about things and just thought that the next time i go back I will just be very confident and very secure in myself and my decisions to give him no reason to monitor my emotional stability.Well, the last week or so I have felt super hormonal and really felt unable to control my inward emotions. I just feel super moody and have had to work EXTRA hard to keep myself in check and not say or do anything out of control. I knew that I needed to bring it up to make sure that it wasn't too abnormal and I just had a lot of questions about when my body would go back to normal and all of that. I thought that I was back to normal b/c physically, I feel great, but I just feel like my emotions are all over the place. Well, I go on to tell Dr. all of this and his first instinct is to pull out that pad and write me a prescription for Lepraxo - an anti depressant! I was shocked because I was just feeling a little moody, I wasn't in the depths of despair and it wasn't even affecting my actions or my functionality! He decided in a matter of minutes that I was going through postpartum depression. It was so weird and surreal. And he told me that if I start to take them I have to take them for six months and to not even think about coming off of them before that! He did say to wait a few days before I started to take them to see if I got any worse. I feel like anyone could walk in and get those pills with a small story, true or untrue! He said, I just want you to walk out of here with the prescription, weather you take them or not, I want you to have that as an option! I understand that post partum depression is a very real thing and a very serious thing that people suffer from. I have a good friend that actually suffered from it and it was very real! However, I think that it needs to be diagnosed most carefully and more extensive questions need to be asked! Because, after all, here I am happy as a lark holding a script for Lepraxo!

New Link

Today, as I was browsing topics on the internet, I found this amazing link - Facts about Miscarriage. I starting reading through the site, because when I was going through it, it seemed as if I could find no valubable information about the topic. No one would tell you exactly what, when or how. My doctor didn't even really give me any of the real, hard facts about what to expect. Anyway, I have added the link to my sidebar because I think that it is an amaizng site. A mother who lost her baby at 20 weeks started the site. It gives you tips on how to explain it to others and how to feild hurtful and stupid comments. I feel like I could write a book, or a pamphlet at the very least, on what not to say to someone during a miscarriage! She tells you what to expect before, during and after. There is even a page about coping with your feelings towards God. It really is a fabulous site and I would recommend you check it out!

http//www.pregnancyloss.info/

A Weekend of Up and Downs

We had a fun and busy weekend! We started out on Friday night with going out to dinner at Panera. It is in downtown Dearborn and it was such a beautiful night, so we just walked up there. We had a nice quiet dinner then we headed out to the mall, just to walk around. We took Gavin into the Disney store and found some things on clearance. We spent $2 and got Gavin a Buzz and Woody from Toystory. He was pretty pumped and it is so nice to treat him every now and then just because!

On Saturday morning we woke up and got ready and went downtown Detroit again and did the Eastern Market. We used to go a lot, but we haven't been since we moved to Dearborn. They have TONS of great deals on produce and meat and stuff. I got a quart of strawberries for $1. It is just fun to go and see all the different kinds of people. I wish I would have taken some pictures of it, but I felt funny snapping some shots.

Anyway, on Saturday night we decided to go to Greenfield Village - Americas Greatest History Attraction. It is about 1 minute away so we figured we should take advantage of it. We bought a years pass so now we can go anytime! Gavin had fun riding the model T and the train ( He thinks it's Thomas) and we saw quite a few people that we know, so that was fun. We got some custard and sat and listened to some RagTime band. It was a lot of fun.

Then the drama started this evening. We had Kyle and Laura over for dinner and as we were cleaning up the dishes Ryan was outside with Gavin and I heard Gavin screaming in terror! I started running towards them and Ryan ran inside with Gavin in his arms and all I saw was a face full of blood! It was horrible. I immediately panicked because I didnt know what happened and I took Gavin and sat down on the ground with him and he was just crying and crying and everyone was rushing around getting ice and cold wash clothes. Then I realized that I needed to settle down and everyone else would too! So I calmed myself and cleaned up all the blood and found all the cuts and scrapes and found nothing major so I just cuddled my boy and he let me put ice on the big bump. He calmed down completely within 10 minutes and 20 minutes after the accident he was cracking up and playing with everyone again. Ryan said that he was walking down the front steps and he just fell down the last two and did a complete face plant. I am pretty sure that he fell directly on his face. He is sleeping now, and I hope he sleeps soundly all night. Right before we put him down he was saying, boo boo hurts, boo boo hurts. I hope he doesn't wake up in the night crying. Poor little guy. This is the damage. By the time I took the pictures the bump had gone down considerable, but it is still pretty big.

Caesar Land

As you know, I havw been babysitting all summer for two, and sometimes four, kids. My mother in law also watches four of the grandchildren every Tuesday and we try and get all the kids together as much as possible. This past Tuesday we took all the kids to Caesarland. My sister Laura came with us and brought her baby Owen, my favorite little buddy, and one of her friends kids as well. We had nine kids total! We loaded all the kids up in two vans and headed out. We ended up staying there for three hours. It was a blast! It was a rainy day outside too, so it was the perfect place to take them. I didnt get any pictures of the day, but Laura took a ton and posted them on her blog - you can check them out here. Laura is new to blogger, so be sure to leave her a welcoming comment!

Pictures from my phone

I finally took the time to put the pictures from my phone onto my computer! I am so glad I did now, because they are so funny! I never thought I would like having a camera phone, but when you forget your camera, they sure do come in handy!


I took this picture last night. We walked up to the railroad tracks and put some pennies on them and then walked back later on after the train came and picked up our flattened change. Gavin loved it, he thought that it was so cool. Ryan used to do it all the time when he was little.

This was Gavin first time eating ice cream out of a cone. I know, he is two and half and has never had a cone. I didnt think that he would like it because he hates to be sticky. Well, he sure doesnt mind when ice cream is involved, obviously. By the time we got home from our walk he was asking to take a bath!

This is one of the kids that I babysit for, Margaret. We were in the car and when we stopped at a red light I looked back to see this. I had to snap a quick pic. It was so cute to see them do it all on their own. I bet Gavin was the one to initiate it, He loves Margaret.

This is our little guy helping out around the house. He alwasy likes to be just like daddy! I wish I would have gotten a picture of Ryan too, they had on the same outfit, by cooincidence of course!

This is when Gavin wrote all over his face with a pen. I was laughing so hard so he thought that it was a funny game. He would run downstairs, write on his face and then run all the way back upstairs to see his face in the mirror. It was pretty funny. I took the picture, washed his face and put the pen away. We have since had the conversation "we don't write on our faces, just on paper", but I am so glad I took the picture!

I can't really remember when this was. It is just so cute I had to throw it in there! Hope you all are having a great week!