My Birthday Present

After weeks of trying to convince Gavin that he should wear a shirt that he received for his birthday, I began with my award winning argument as to why tomorrow should be that day.  Tomorrow, I tell him, is my birthday.  The most wonderful present that you could give is to wear your shirt (I think he is scared that he will be too handsome).  He reluctantly agrees to this, not knowing what else he could possibly give to his mama until he pops out with this...

"Mama! I know! I could go to Emily's house and get her princess wand and get her magic so that I can make a lion to blow you into the sky and he will fly you in the sky with the other little kids so that you can see all the toys and it will be a good day."

"Wow, that sounds amazing Gavin! So, you want me to be a kite?"
"Yes, Mama, it will be a really good birthday."

Could I have wished for a better present? No, he nailed it on the head and I think he has gotten out of wearing the shirt.




Princess Wand +




Blowing Lion







= Mama is a kite looking at toys from the sky

Oreo and Chomp-Monster

Gavin has two pairs of Handy Manny pliers.  Tonight, he asked if I could play with him and he named mine "Oreo" and his "Chomp-Monster." Who could make up this story? Only a child.

Big Girls Don't Cry

Because they get a big girl bed! Today we thought would be as good a day as any to take the front off the crib and put up the bed rail.  We called in a handyman to get the job done, but he is charging us a fortune.  I think he wants us to pay for his college expenses too.  I mean, look at his face...he really plays hard ball.

So was ecstatic about her future as a big girl.  She spent many minutes jumping and squealing in approval.  She paid the worker with a "tay-you" and a big smile.  Although the first few minutes were cries of nervousness, she cuddled up to her new ugly doll, Puglee, and went to sleep in her glory.

What's My Belly Saying?

Each night, before bed, Gavin requests that I put my head to his belly and listen to what it has to say.  "What's my belly saying Mama?" It all began about 8 months ago when Todd and I were trying to get Gavin to have bowel movements, insisting that his belly wanted to be rid of all of that yuckiness.  Your belly said, "you need to make a poo-poo tomorrow."  He always listened to what his belly had to say. 

After a while, I thought it would be clever to make his belly crave foods that Gavin would never eat, broccoli, spinach, and anything he wouldn't just try on his own.  Every night, belly would speak, through us, dancing over his recent poo poo or singing songs about requested veggies.  Sometimes he is happy...if he receives all of his wishes (a.k.a. Mama or Dada are happy with the day) and sometimes he is sad...when he doesn't.  Gavin is always curious as to whether his belly is satisfied.

Cheers to you belly! You have kept our household sane and progressive. We hope you get better soon as your new story will be that you are sick and coughing due to Gavin's constant fingers in his mouth...let's hope this story sticks!

Swinging Pendulums

Just last month, you may remember that I posted a touching M & M blog about my two beautiful children sharing and caring with one another.  Well, let's just say it was a "just for the moment" phase. I have been told by many mamas that this does happen.  It seems as though it is about a 2 week thing.  I guess that the M & M phase was an all time record...2 days I think it was.  Well, not exactly, but the pendulum has definitely swung...

I can say that many moments, in this particular phase, is full of exact opposite M & M moments.  For example, Sophia is sitting so silently in her booster seat and Gavin comes up to her laughing and smiling.  I find out, seconds later, that this is a decoy to divert my attention so that I'll turn my head and believe that all is well with the world until he bites her finger for no apparent reason.  Sophia begins to scream like a banshee while Gavin runs for the hills, knowing his mission is complete.

Another fine memory includes Sophia watching Gavin play at the coffee table with his trains and cars.  She runs at full speed, grabs the first car she can manage to hold onto and bolts away with an eiree laugh that haunts me to this day.  Gavin, in turn, runs after her screaming "I need that one!" and pushes her onto the floor where it, meaning the floor, quickly meets her face. Sophia, then, pulls out a ninja move with her leg, sweeping him to the ground and landing him with a thud (pretty impressive I must say...I tried not to giggle during this, but I think one slipped out). 

After looking through her room, I found this amongst her belongings...I think she belongs to a club of some sort.

So after all of this, I've learned that I'll be putting So into ballet to teach her legs "good" and "not evil" and Gavin will be entering a corn on the cob eating contest to figure out better things to bite and earn some calories at the same time. I'm glad I'm such a great mama to figure this out on my own.

Chocolate Cheer

"Mama, Sophia needs her M & M." Looking back I notice Gavin reaching to just touch the fingers of Sophia trying to slip her an M & M between car seats.  I put my arm out to help and the M & M dropped into my hand, just in time.  I felt like the M & M middle-mama as many more were passed to little sis and greeted with a smile.  Who even asked him to do this? No one.  That was the beautiful part about it.  That was the part that made every mama fiber in me glow with excitement.  Gavin was thinking of Sophia. 

This was not the first time this week though.  Several days prior, Gavin and Sophia were eating dinner and each were told they would be required to eat another bite of vegetable before receiving a piece of chocolate popcorn.  Gavin gobbled his up quickly, knowing the reward was going to be yummy, but Sophia exerted her feisty attitude by turning over her dinner plate and giving an emphatic "no." Gavin received his popcorn, but soon realized Sophia would not be getting some of her own.  He tried to coax her into eating one bite, dangling a piece of carrot in front of her face in an attempt to entice a T-Rex to salad bar, not happening.  After several minutes and defeat, Gavin picked up his own popcorn and handed it to So, "here Sophia."

Being a mama is scary.  Especially when you are not sure how your babes will turn out in the end, dependent upon your guidance to help them in becoming the best they can be.  I pray, daily, that my two beautiful children will learn to take care of each other and give, whole heartedly, to the world and those within.  Even if it is their last M & M. Although it sounds cheesy, it's more than just sharing, it's caring.

The "Hopstital"

How is it that the scariest moments for a mama are when it will be for the best for your baby?  Friday qualified for one of these times.  Gavin was schedule for a tonsillectomy/adnoidectomy and tubes to be put into his ears.  In most cases, this is an outpatient procedure and kids go home within hours of the whole shebang.  Friday, the doctor prepared us to spend the night as she wanted to monitor him closely because he is younger than most other candidates.  We are so glad she made this decision as he was not eating or drinking and we would have, surely, been returning to the hospital due to dehydration. 

Prior to the surgery, it felt as though my heart was beating out of my chest as all I could think about was all the scary stuff that could happen.  Anxiety feels like such a weak word for the whole event.  It is a simple procedure, but a mama just worries.  There is nothing like watching your baby be miserable and hurting.  (It makes me reflect on another mama I know who has to endure so much more with her baby.)  After 1 1/2 days of hospital worries, we left knowing that all would be well, ending with this quote from Gavin..."thank you for coming to the hopstital with me, I lub you."  If we just hold onto each other and love, love, love, all will be right with the world.  "You are welcome my darling, I love you too." I wouldn't be anywhere else.