"Firstborns tend to be type A's who don't cut themselves any slack."
I know this is true for me. There are some benefits from this but it does come at a price. I'm going to do my damnest to help Gav succeed but let him know that it is ok if we don't get it all right. The October issue of Parents Magazine talks about the book "The Power of Birth Order."
Don't think I'm running out to get the book but I do know the kids will have love above anything from me. I hope the rest falls in place =)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Back to school
Gavin started back to school on Tue after Labor Day. It was cute. Him and all his friends hugged each other in a big group. He's a big boy now. In pre-k, I still can't believe it. Saturday is the back to school picnic with chili and dessert cook off... I'm going to place!
We put Austen in at Tutor Time. When I knew she was going to be in Amy's class (Gav's first teacher) I said ok that's where she is going. Last Thur was her unofficial first day. Its called a free day. She did great. It took some time for her to ease into moving away from us but once she realized it was ok A did great. Mon was her actual first day. We have her going M,W,F for 5.5 hrs (half time) a day. In a month or so she might go to 5 half days.
I start back next Thur (some vacay)! I have only one real class, lots of research, teaching 3 labs possibly 4 and I'm mentoring freshman for the first few weeks (the Dean's idea).
The new real estate office is done and I'm Ken and Marie are thrilled. The Grand Opening is next week (I think). With A in daycare Boom will start back up there.
Still busy peoples over here. Taking Gav to Kidspace Museum Friday for Pirate Night. Can't wait for our Mudrun Sat 25th. Its a 5k obstacle course in mud!
Our 10 yr high school reunion is Oct 1st. I can't believe it has been 10 yrs since I graduated (I'd rather 10 yrs since I first started high school haha). I'm not going. I really don't care. The people I love I talk to and the rest... oh well. Tiffany and Shawn did try to convince me to go to save her. Sorry babe, you are on your own. When it comes to the 30 or 50 yr I'm down guys and you can quote me on that (notice I said 30, 25 is still too soon hehe).
Besides all the fun madness, I'm tired. I haven't been sleeping well. I miss that window when I should have fallen asleep and then I'm up awake. When I do fall asleep, Gav has been doing this "Mommy" call in the middle of the night and he does it multiple times. Luckily A sleeps thru the night. It took yrs for Gav and he still has his moments (which I don't mind because it is extra cuddle time).
We put Austen in at Tutor Time. When I knew she was going to be in Amy's class (Gav's first teacher) I said ok that's where she is going. Last Thur was her unofficial first day. Its called a free day. She did great. It took some time for her to ease into moving away from us but once she realized it was ok A did great. Mon was her actual first day. We have her going M,W,F for 5.5 hrs (half time) a day. In a month or so she might go to 5 half days.
I start back next Thur (some vacay)! I have only one real class, lots of research, teaching 3 labs possibly 4 and I'm mentoring freshman for the first few weeks (the Dean's idea).
The new real estate office is done and I'm Ken and Marie are thrilled. The Grand Opening is next week (I think). With A in daycare Boom will start back up there.
Still busy peoples over here. Taking Gav to Kidspace Museum Friday for Pirate Night. Can't wait for our Mudrun Sat 25th. Its a 5k obstacle course in mud!
Our 10 yr high school reunion is Oct 1st. I can't believe it has been 10 yrs since I graduated (I'd rather 10 yrs since I first started high school haha). I'm not going. I really don't care. The people I love I talk to and the rest... oh well. Tiffany and Shawn did try to convince me to go to save her. Sorry babe, you are on your own. When it comes to the 30 or 50 yr I'm down guys and you can quote me on that (notice I said 30, 25 is still too soon hehe).
Besides all the fun madness, I'm tired. I haven't been sleeping well. I miss that window when I should have fallen asleep and then I'm up awake. When I do fall asleep, Gav has been doing this "Mommy" call in the middle of the night and he does it multiple times. Luckily A sleeps thru the night. It took yrs for Gav and he still has his moments (which I don't mind because it is extra cuddle time).
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Who knew... I didn't!
When Austen was around 8-9mon I out a 1/2 tsp or less of cinnamon in her oatmeal. Normally I put a little bit of brown sugar or maple syrup but I decided to give an extra treat. We all know babies love to feed themselves and they get it everywhere. Her face was covered in oatmeal and she ate it all. When I wiped her face, everywhere the oatmeal touched her skin was red from irritation. First I freaked thinking it was hot but I knew I let it cool and she would have screamed. I wondered why the oatmeal made her face inflamed, it had never happened before. I thought about the cinnamon being in there for the first time but I was like nah! Just to be safe I've never added cinnamon again and she was fine. At the AV fair, I gave A a piece of churro (oh boy did she enjoy it). Very quickly that skin irritation was back. I knew it had to be the cinnamon and yup there it was all over the internet, Cinnamon allergies! Something I believed was uncommon is common. I read that to wait a week and introduce the allergen again to be positive. I gave her a bite of applesauce with cinnamon and the skin irritation was back. Thankfully no anaphylactic reaction. She gets a skin irritation and it doesn't bother. No more cinnamon for A, I don't want to chance it. Oh, the reaction occurs almost instantly but goes away within 15-30min.
Side note: She is not allergic to strawberries, peanuts, soy, or any other common allergens
Side note: She is not allergic to strawberries, peanuts, soy, or any other common allergens
Treasure Box
A few months back Marie introduced us to Treasure Box. I highly recommend everyone do it if its in your area. Its a company that provides a box of food for $30. There's different boxes to choose from. I always get the protein box and either the month's box or the kid's box (each box is $30). There is seafood box and TV dinner box (which I don't think the TV dinner is that great of a deal) to choose from. We have so much food left over from Jul and Aug. Here's this month's menu. There's a set menu for every month. There's a set pick up day (usually last Sat of the month) at a local church. Check and see if you have it because it is SO worth it!!!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tired but having fun
Summer is coming to and end :( Not that I had much of one but is was fun.
This last week I've been having trouble sleeping and my kids don't wake during the middle of the night! But still having trouble. I should say one night A did have this weird waking every hour to hour and half. All she wanted was a hug and then went back to bed. I hate laying in the bed awake... it does no good. I remember Sara's post about insomnia. One of the comments I thought was to eat berries when having trouble. At 1am I was like ooh! I have strawberries. So I ate some and shortly remembered that it was supposed to be cherries. I had a good snack and decided to continue the snack with a red velvet cupcake mmmm! At least I was happy awake? Fell asleep around 3ish [yuck] and had to wake up at 615 [[double yuck]].
I think part of this is because Alyse and I haven't made it to the gym in a long while both busy and I'm tired. Besides the sleepiness we've had some fun playing, exploring and going out.
See us having fun at Universal... I love picture booths
The OC fair
Wed night I took the kids to market night. It was western night. Gav panned for gemstones, stagecoach with 4 big horses pulling it around and a live fake shootout.
Last night we went to the AV fair. There's a mutton bustin contest and out of a series of wins the child could win a savings bond for $5000. Gav was excited to ride the sheep. He did wonderful and in true rock star Gavin fashion, he tried riding with one hand. It was great! He would have won or took second if kept that hand on but the kid is all style =) That's my baby!
Side note. Boom rolled his ankle a couple times during his soccer game last week so the left ankle has been swollen :(
This last week I've been having trouble sleeping and my kids don't wake during the middle of the night! But still having trouble. I should say one night A did have this weird waking every hour to hour and half. All she wanted was a hug and then went back to bed. I hate laying in the bed awake... it does no good. I remember Sara's post about insomnia. One of the comments I thought was to eat berries when having trouble. At 1am I was like ooh! I have strawberries. So I ate some and shortly remembered that it was supposed to be cherries. I had a good snack and decided to continue the snack with a red velvet cupcake mmmm! At least I was happy awake? Fell asleep around 3ish [yuck] and had to wake up at 615 [[double yuck]].
I think part of this is because Alyse and I haven't made it to the gym in a long while both busy and I'm tired. Besides the sleepiness we've had some fun playing, exploring and going out.
See us having fun at Universal... I love picture booths
The OC fair
Wed night I took the kids to market night. It was western night. Gav panned for gemstones, stagecoach with 4 big horses pulling it around and a live fake shootout.
Last night we went to the AV fair. There's a mutton bustin contest and out of a series of wins the child could win a savings bond for $5000. Gav was excited to ride the sheep. He did wonderful and in true rock star Gavin fashion, he tried riding with one hand. It was great! He would have won or took second if kept that hand on but the kid is all style =) That's my baby!
Side note. Boom rolled his ankle a couple times during his soccer game last week so the left ankle has been swollen :(
Monday, August 16, 2010
School time
Checked out two schools today for Gav. I cannot believe my baby is starting pre-K. Yes his old school has a pre-K program but I wanted to check out some other programs. Gav's preschool felt more like a day care. There is actual instruction but all one big room. The two schools were an actual school! If that makes sense. An actual campus with an awesome curriculum. I work hard with Gav and he didn't use any of his skills at the old school. He was the only one in his class who stared in the fall able to write his name and ABCs and the teachers knew but didn't have him write it. It took numerous talks for them to get it. First was Redlands Christian School. We know a few people who send their kids their and enjoy it. The facility was nice and the class rooms were as well. The program was half dyd with a daycare til 3. Gav needs all day with his energy. You know how you give yourself choices but secretly know what you want already... hehe. We went to RCS first. It was nice and we were impressed. Then I took them to Valley Prep and blew Gav and Boom's mind =) The pre-K curriculum all the way to 8th grade is phenomenal. First semester the kids learn Spanish and the second French. BTW... there is an actual science lab and even at Gav's grade level they will do a science project. The Headmaster (such an official title) had to show me it on the tour and well as an art class, music class, language class, a publishing lab, computer lab and etc. The stuff Gav will be exposed to is outstanding! At first the Headmaster was going to schedule another appt with us for Gav's assessment to make sure he meets the level because it was late in the day and hot. Oh no my baby was ready to go! Of course he was more than ready =)
The school is a bit pricey but doable. Saying that, I'm still collecting cans and bottles and accepting donations to help out =) Now I need to teach a few extra classes or find a real job [[eek]]!
The school is a bit pricey but doable. Saying that, I'm still collecting cans and bottles and accepting donations to help out =) Now I need to teach a few extra classes or find a real job [[eek]]!
Texas
Texas was great. Though you know when you go on vacation and you feel like you need a vacation from the vacation??? That is what happened here! The only time I didn't feel like this after a vacation was when Gav and I went to CO =) Maybe it was because Jolie, Sara and I were all pregnant? Maybe because Sara and I had a child already? Maybe we just knew what we needed... rest and great company =) I cannot wait to visit again...
For starters, I LOVE my parents house in TX. It has to be on an half acre+ lot, with a huge lake (McRae Lake in Conroe, TX) steps away from the back door. It was serene (minus hot, humid weather that didn't go away at night). We were about 40min away from Houston (where my mom's family is located). Gav enjoyed fishing, watching papa burn trash (yes burn... so against my beliefs but enjoyable and anything seems to go out there), run around, find insects (as Gav says) and lizards. The neighbor kid was real sweet to let Gav tag along as they cleared around the lake and he, Lamar, collected critters for Gav to see and pulled out his fishing pole to fish with him. A ran around in the grass and pointed at the water saying "wa-wee" over and over. She looked so tiny in the middle of the lawn.
We only spent a couple of FULL days at the house. Most days we would wake up and the kids would explore outside while we waited for everyone to wake up (A was up by 7-730 everyday). Usually around noon we headed into the city to visit family and back home around 6 or 7. At night we'd hang outside watching trash burn with the neighbors or watch a movie. We didn't call it a night til around 11ish.
Some of the highlights was at Grandma Gena's and papa Tommy's house. Most of the family came there and it was kid friendly. Gav played on the swing and Bella and A were in the dirt. Anything that kept the kids happy and I didn't ave to worry about them breaking anything was great! We also spent 2 days in Mississippi. That is where my Grandpa Lee lives. This was A's first time meeting him and Gav's 3rd but he was too little to remember. With more open land and 2 cousins to play with, the kids had a ball. Gav had a great time riding on the back of my grandpa's powered wheelchair around the property and A spent her time pressing the button to honk the horn on it. Back in TX, we were supposed to take a trip to Galveston (beach) but the weather was hot and no shade at the beach so we went to the Banana Bend. Its a big lake with a beach side and covered picnic tables. I didn't see Gav much that day. He was a fish with all his cousins and A preferred the sand and ice chest... the water in that chest was a beautiful mess at the end of the day.
I forgot to mention the BEST part... My mom and I DROVE to TX. Yes we are crazy but it was crazy fun! We left Thur after I gave my class their final. Made to El Paso that night, stayed in a hotel and drove 9 more hrs the next day to the house, and did the same on the way home. The kids were awesome. We stopped for gas and maybe 1 or 2 extra potty breaks (definitely a lunch break). The kids watched movies and colored. Gav and I made sock puppets the night before so they were a big hit in the car. Sheila kept me company while everyone slept when I drove... the only time they napped was when I drove [[ugh]]. On the way home we enjoyed River Walk in San Antonio and stocked up on a few fireworks in New Mexico (the only place that sells them year around).
It was a great 12 days, not a dull moment. I can't wait to go back and sit at the house. I thank my parents SO much for this awesome trip. It involved me turning in grades immediately after the test, dealing with a few whiny students because they didn't like their grade and finding someone to cover my lab while I was gone but it was all well worth it =)
The Texas album is up
For starters, I LOVE my parents house in TX. It has to be on an half acre+ lot, with a huge lake (McRae Lake in Conroe, TX) steps away from the back door. It was serene (minus hot, humid weather that didn't go away at night). We were about 40min away from Houston (where my mom's family is located). Gav enjoyed fishing, watching papa burn trash (yes burn... so against my beliefs but enjoyable and anything seems to go out there), run around, find insects (as Gav says) and lizards. The neighbor kid was real sweet to let Gav tag along as they cleared around the lake and he, Lamar, collected critters for Gav to see and pulled out his fishing pole to fish with him. A ran around in the grass and pointed at the water saying "wa-wee" over and over. She looked so tiny in the middle of the lawn.
We only spent a couple of FULL days at the house. Most days we would wake up and the kids would explore outside while we waited for everyone to wake up (A was up by 7-730 everyday). Usually around noon we headed into the city to visit family and back home around 6 or 7. At night we'd hang outside watching trash burn with the neighbors or watch a movie. We didn't call it a night til around 11ish.
Some of the highlights was at Grandma Gena's and papa Tommy's house. Most of the family came there and it was kid friendly. Gav played on the swing and Bella and A were in the dirt. Anything that kept the kids happy and I didn't ave to worry about them breaking anything was great! We also spent 2 days in Mississippi. That is where my Grandpa Lee lives. This was A's first time meeting him and Gav's 3rd but he was too little to remember. With more open land and 2 cousins to play with, the kids had a ball. Gav had a great time riding on the back of my grandpa's powered wheelchair around the property and A spent her time pressing the button to honk the horn on it. Back in TX, we were supposed to take a trip to Galveston (beach) but the weather was hot and no shade at the beach so we went to the Banana Bend. Its a big lake with a beach side and covered picnic tables. I didn't see Gav much that day. He was a fish with all his cousins and A preferred the sand and ice chest... the water in that chest was a beautiful mess at the end of the day.
I forgot to mention the BEST part... My mom and I DROVE to TX. Yes we are crazy but it was crazy fun! We left Thur after I gave my class their final. Made to El Paso that night, stayed in a hotel and drove 9 more hrs the next day to the house, and did the same on the way home. The kids were awesome. We stopped for gas and maybe 1 or 2 extra potty breaks (definitely a lunch break). The kids watched movies and colored. Gav and I made sock puppets the night before so they were a big hit in the car. Sheila kept me company while everyone slept when I drove... the only time they napped was when I drove [[ugh]]. On the way home we enjoyed River Walk in San Antonio and stocked up on a few fireworks in New Mexico (the only place that sells them year around).
It was a great 12 days, not a dull moment. I can't wait to go back and sit at the house. I thank my parents SO much for this awesome trip. It involved me turning in grades immediately after the test, dealing with a few whiny students because they didn't like their grade and finding someone to cover my lab while I was gone but it was all well worth it =)
The Texas album is up
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who sent the FB, texts, emails, phone calls and birthday cards. I had a wonderful day with family. Jer, Dreaa, Clarissa and Thomas =) spent the day with us. Then I realized I didn't take any pictures of him. Imagine Jeremy head on an infant lol. Looks just like him.
I can't wait to see everyone tonight at Thai House =) Don is closing it down for the party... yea!
I can't wait to see everyone tonight at Thai House =) Don is closing it down for the party... yea!
Friday, August 6, 2010
He's here =)
Congratulations Jeremy, Dreaa and Clarissa!
Welcome Thomas! Born last night at 11:15, 6.14 lbs and 19.5 in.
I hoped he would wait for me but babies have their own schedule. Can't wait to visit the cutie.
We are enjoying Texas... a post to come when we return.
Welcome Thomas! Born last night at 11:15, 6.14 lbs and 19.5 in.
I hoped he would wait for me but babies have their own schedule. Can't wait to visit the cutie.
We are enjoying Texas... a post to come when we return.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Summertime
When I think of summer, I remember never being home has a kid. We spent all our time outside playing, staying with cousins or fiends and vice versa...
Those days have come with Gav now :( He seems so grown sometimes. He wants to be out playing, have friends over or stay the night somewhere.
I haven't seen my baby this weekend. Gav went to lab with me on Friday but kept asking to play with Izel. Finally Ivan calls and the boys talk. After their convo, they decided Gav was going over to stay the night. I take Gav to Ivan's and I hang out there for a few hours too. We went to pick Gav up and came home with Izel around 1pm. They played all day and I took them to Target. Ivan shows up around 6 and guess who decideds to leave again. Gav left with them to stay the night with Izel. Izel's parents are not together, so Ivan sees Izel every weekend. I know I'm sad over a couple days. I would be selfish and not want to share my son! Ivan is awesome dad!
We've been having a great summer. Last weekend my mom DJ, Gav and I saw Rihanna, Trey Songz, Timbaland and Keisha in concert. We had fun and of course Izel was there so Gav had the best time with his buddy. I wonder if A has been feeling a little neglected from Gav but he makes up for it with the time he does spend with her. The last few days they been coloring together and he builds bionicles for her. She LOVES to be with her big bro. I hope it stays like this forever
Those days have come with Gav now :( He seems so grown sometimes. He wants to be out playing, have friends over or stay the night somewhere.
I haven't seen my baby this weekend. Gav went to lab with me on Friday but kept asking to play with Izel. Finally Ivan calls and the boys talk. After their convo, they decided Gav was going over to stay the night. I take Gav to Ivan's and I hang out there for a few hours too. We went to pick Gav up and came home with Izel around 1pm. They played all day and I took them to Target. Ivan shows up around 6 and guess who decideds to leave again. Gav left with them to stay the night with Izel. Izel's parents are not together, so Ivan sees Izel every weekend. I know I'm sad over a couple days. I would be selfish and not want to share my son! Ivan is awesome dad!
We've been having a great summer. Last weekend my mom DJ, Gav and I saw Rihanna, Trey Songz, Timbaland and Keisha in concert. We had fun and of course Izel was there so Gav had the best time with his buddy. I wonder if A has been feeling a little neglected from Gav but he makes up for it with the time he does spend with her. The last few days they been coloring together and he builds bionicles for her. She LOVES to be with her big bro. I hope it stays like this forever
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