Gavin's 4th Birthday

 My sweet and extremely silly Gavin is four! He has been looking forward to his birthday for ever because he loves blowing candles out of birthday cakes.

Gavin is into all things Super Hero so for his birthday he got a Spiderman costume that he can turn inside out so that he can be Venom too. He loves it and wears it every day.

 He also got a balance bike. We bought him a bike for Christmas and in hindsight we wished we had gotten the balance bike instead. Now we hope that while Gavin is learning to pedal his other bike, he will learn balance with this one and be a good bike rider soon. Once he can ride a bike well, then I can start taking walks again with the babies in the double stroller. This balance bike is also for Lili. We lower the seat all the way and she likes to get on and try it out.

Gavin told me every day a different kind of cake that he wanted. I chose Captain America because it was the easiest for me. Unfortunately, my red food coloring didn't work so well. Gavin didn't mind his pink Captain America cake. 

We kept things simple this year and had a family party Saturday night.  Zane has been working crazy hours, we have had swim meets every Saturday, Zane and I both had to talk in church the next day, and I was doing singing time in church for the full Primary time (both singing and sharing time), so simple was best. Gavin's birthday was extra special though because his cousins have just moved back to the U.S. from the Netherlands and Gavin's party was the first he got to see them.

Gavin is probably the silliest boy I know and the way he dresses is always making me laugh. How cool is this Spiderman sporting Lili's pink sunglasses? Gavin loves his rain boots too and so they go with any outfit apparently.

Gavin is our most stubborn and independent child. In the past he has also gotten away with a lot because he would bat his eyelashes at me and I would melt. I'm paying for it now. He has become very mischievious and sneaky. He usually stays by my side all day, so if he is missing, I know he is up to no good. His latest antic, taking pen across four cushions on my couch. If he is bored and I can't find him, then I know he has sneaked up to Lili's room to wake her up from her nap. When I confront him, he just smiles and says she was awake. Ya right. His favorite books are the David series by David Shannon about a very mischievous boy. Gavin is David. (I said the same thing about Dallin at this age too. He is just following in his footsteps.)

Gavin found my stash of "emergency supplies" in my purse and found a new way to use a panty liner. He was walking around the house being the Hulk with a big gun and a panty liner over his mouth. See, he cracks me up.

Gavin loves wrestling with Dallin and follows Dallin everywhere. When Dallin plays at the friend's across the street, Gavin has learned he can go out the back door and out the side fence to get over there too. I'm onto his trick now so it is awesome when I'm standing in the front yard in front of the fence and catch him! He likes to do art and crafts and has an art class once a week. He isn't fearless like Dallin in the water, but he likes swimming a lot. He hates cold water though or anything really cold. Gavin is still my pickiest eater but he has started branching out. It is because of Gavin that I make a green smoothie every day. Gavin is a momma's boy and loves to cuddle up with me for stories. He loves playing with his daddy too, but Zane has to do some convincing at times to get him to realize how much he loves playing with his daddy (convincing meaning a wrestling match or being bounced around on a bed or the couch.) Gavin has one volume especially at church which is loud. His speech teacher is trying to teach him to be a voice box super hero protector. It works sometimes but only after you have talked loud enough for him to hear you. He also has an amazing ability to tune out Zane and me when we are giving instructions or corrections. We actually wondered if he had an auditory processing problem and had that tested when he was tested for his speech. He is just fine though and just has selective hearing. Gavin goes to speech twice a week right now to work on a slight stutter and word formation.

I love how close Dallin and Gavin are and I love watching his relationship with Talmage. Gavin is a great big brother. We are working on his relationship with Lili. He just doesn't see her as a baby and wants to wrestle her too. Lili follows him all around though and he knows just how to cheer her up with Ring Around the Rosie's. Gavin is amazing and we are so lucky to be his parents.

Talmage at 3 Months

 

 At 3 month, Talmage weighs 8 lbs 6 oz. Since we switched formulas, he has done better with eating. Talmage still looks like he is in pain a lot of the times and is fussy, but there are also those moments when he flashes his dimple at me. Love it. He smiles the most when you click your tongue and make faces at him. Talmage gets up one to two times a night. He is averaging 2 oz in his feeds and is still on the Nutramigen. We concentrate his bottle to 27 calories in order to help him gain weight.

Dallin is such a wonderful helper. He loves holding Talmage and doing tummy time with him. Dallin is especially helpful in the evening when I'm trying to get dinner on the table and of course Talmage decides then to be fussy. There is six years apart between the two but I think they will have a special bond because Dallin helps out so much.

 Gavin loves to hold Talmage and helps me remember to do tummy time. He is very aware of where Talmage is and likes to observe all the diaper changes (both boys do honestly.) Once they were fighting over who got to be the closest during the diaper change and then Dallin got hit with some poop that squirted out. This has stopped the fighting and allowed me a little more space during a diaper change. Both boys find the story super funny and like to retell it.

When we are putting the kids to bed, Talmage hangs out in Lili's bed. This time when I put Lili into bed, she moved over right next to Talmage and put her arm around him. It was super cute. By the time I got the camera, she was done holding him. Lili likes to know where Talmage is and if she can get into my room where Talmage sleeps, she runs over and tries to pull herself up to see him. She calls Talmage baby and gives him kisses now (although I doubt Talmage likes her slobber on him.) Lili also likes to give Talmage his paci back. She used to steal it but now understands to give it to him instead.

 

Talmage's cousin Capri came to meet him. She was born a month after him and right now can take him down. Talmage will catch up.

There will be four grand babies born this year, so Grandma and Grandpa will get plenty of baby time!

Talmage snuggled and ready for bed. He loves to be swaddled.

Talmage is starting to notice mobiles and toys.

 

 Daddy bonding time.

 We are so glad that each month Talmage seems to get a little better. He has brought so much joy to our family especially when we catch his smiles!

Enjoying Summer

 We have been busy playing this summer. We still are doing a little school every day but with all our friends out of school, we are doing a lot more playing! We head to the pool once a week. I wish we could go more, but Lili is pretty crazy and needs constant attention (even with her life jacket) and Talmage doesn't sleep well in his carseat so I usually need to hold him at the pool. It is just easier to go on the weekends when Zane can join us. Once a week all my friends get together for a play date at the pool and we try to go then. These moms are busy watching their own kids, but it is still easier/safer with more eyes on the pool.

We headed to the Children's Museum one last time before school got out. I'm not a fan of going there when it is super crazy so I'm glad we got one more time in before school got out. This last time my neice Ellery joined us.

Doing science experiments

 Dallin is getting better at rock climbing

We keep inviting people out to our pool and every time it starts raining. Our neighborhood pool is pretty awesome with a fun kiddy area and two water slides for the big kids. For Memorial Day, my family came out to our house for a BBQ and pool time. Of course it rained so we improvised with putting on swim suits and playing in the rain.

 

Lili's cousin Capri was wearing a dress that Lili had too so of course I had to change Lili so that they could be twinsies.

 I actually really enjoy when it rains because it is the only time the boys can jump on the tramp. It is just too hot during the day be outside without water on. Sometimes they play on the tramp and our new swing set with the sprinklers, but the best is when it rains, cools down slightly with the cloud cover, and they can just run free. There is something magical about summer. It is going to be hard to get back to a stricter schedule!