Fascinating

Somethings are just fascinating... especially to a baby.


Nothing is more fascinating than big brother.

Mommy and Me time

For some reason, having two children now doesn't mean double laundry, it means triple or quadruple the laundry. I'm lucky if I get the boys down for naps at the same time so that I can get some me time, but most days that is just wishful thinking. The house seems messier and as a family we just seem busier. For some reason, leaving the house to go run errands or to get anywhere seems to take twice or three times as long. Not all of it is to do with having two children, but we definitely have had an adjustment (a very good adjustment though).

I keep thinking that Dallin is adjusting just fine to the addition of a baby brother. He didn't regress in potty training (he is a champ at this) or in any other areas. He loves giving Gavin attention and is really cute with him. But...lately I noticed more and more there is some jealousy of having to share mommy's time. This week I especially saw it when I'm giving Gavin more time with his breathing treatments.

Tonight I put Gavin down to bed, ignored the dishes and clothes waiting to be folded and played with these.


Mater and McQueen raced around the house sometimes crashing, sometimes running from the Ghostlight (Dallin's favorite), and sometimes flying. Then instead of reading two stories before bed, we read four. At the end of the first book, the little boy hugs and kisses his mom. The next thing I knew I had a little boy hugging me tight and giving me one of his really yucky kisses. (Dallin calls all kisses yucky and if he gives a really good, long kiss on the cheek, then he tells us it was yucky.) What a reward and definitely well worth my time.

Bronchitis

Poor little Gavin is using a nebulizer four times a day plus three other medicines to help him breath and clear out his lungs. The first time he used one in the doctor's office, our doctor came in after wards asking where the crying was. Gavin was sound asleep. He has cried a couple of times, but most of the time he just smiles at me and makes faces. Maybe he is just enjoying his one-on-one time with mom!

Nurturers

There are times while I'm teaching preschool that Gavin has to just wait for what he needs like when nine 3-4 year olds are waiting for their snack and Gavin decides that he wants to eat too. Gavin will let us all know that he doesn't like being put second. On this particular day, Gavin was being very clear that he wanted something and one by one my 3 to 4 year old girls got up and started playing with him on their own initiative. If you know Gavin then you understand that if someone just looks at him let alone plays with him, he is the happiest of babies. He was in heaven when four girls chose to play with him.
Now where were the boys in our preschool class? Sitting at the table eating their snack. Apparently a crying baby doesn't make them jump up and try to help especially when there is food in front of them.

Girls will be girls and boys will be boys.

It's Official

Gavin is legally Gavin David now and part of our family. Of course he has been with us since he was two days old so nothing has changed, but now it's official. Although we like our adoption caseworker, she no longer needs to come into our home and observe us and ask us silly questions that she is required to ask like, "How do you feel about Gavin?" It just feels wonderful to know that Gavin is stuck with us no matter what!

Finalization was a little different with Gavin. (You can read about Dallin's experience here.) Dallin was born in the state of Texas, and he was six months old. Since Gavin was born in Florida, we should have gone back there to finalize. Florida is very nice though and will finalize over the phone, and it can be done earlier. Gavin is four and a half months old right now. Instead of heading to a courthouse, we went to LDSFS where our caseworker is a notary. We called a number that connected us to our lawyer and judge in Florida. We were sworn in by our caseworker here and then our lawyer asked us some basic questions. The judge then signed the papers saying Gavin is ours! The video below is a short clip from the end.

Now that finalization is done, we set a date. Mark your calenders because on December 23rd, our family will be sealed in the temple for all eternity. We can't wait!!!

To learn more about temples, go here.

Halloween Fun

Brace yourself for the cutest pumpkin ever


and a super fast, super tough Dash!


We spent Halloween weekend at two Trunk or Treats, our churches and my parent's. Dallin was really excited to trick or treat and get tons of candy until this girl showed up...Jessie. From then on, the star struck little boy followed her around everywhere. If she got away from him, he asked over and over and over again, "Where's Jessie?". He got up the courage twice to give her a hug and even a kiss. This took courage because when Jessie is around, Dallin is very shy apparently. This picture may get framed and we might need Jessie to autograph it. Can you imagine what he would be like if we took him to Disney World???

When Dallin wasn't chasing Jessie, he did do some trick or treating.

One car had bobbing for apples and Dallin immediately put his face in trying for an apple. I couldn't catch a picture because he would pull out before my slow camera could take it, so this is a friend doing it.

Daddy and Gavin passing out candy

All the grandchildren went to my parent's truck or treat on Saturday.

Two Stickin Cute Pumpkins! Gavin and Cousin Alex

What a fun Halloween!