oops..

I just learned the hard way that it isn't a good idea to make my coffee and Gavin's bottle at the same time. I just poured creamer into his bottle and formula into my coffee cup. Then, I stirred his bottle with my spoon, and used his air fuser pump thing that goes in his bottle to stir my coffee. To add to that, once I realized I had done all of this, I started over with both his bottle and my coffee, only to pour splenda in his bottle. Wow-- this should be an interesting day.

Gavin and I are going to a birthday party today where he gets to play water games and then I'm off to cake decorating class! I had my first class Monday night and learned how to make homemade icing as well as different consistency's of the icing. I also have to bring a cake already made and iced to class today, with multiple cups of icing-- Brooks and I had a blast in the kitchen last night. I'm excited because my lesson today is a private lesson (it's a makeup class since I'm going to be in Belize next Monday) and we have to bring in a character shaped cake, which the whole reason I'm taking this class is so that I can make Gavin's 1st Birthday Cake.... and my idea for his cake just so happens to be from a character pan of a monkey. I figured the only way to learn is to practice!!!

King of the World

Last weekend we drove to Arkansas to visit Brooks family. It was a blast. We did a ton of stuff in a matter of just a few days. Let me start by sharing our traveling experiences. The last time we drove to Arkansas with Gavin, he was only 3 months old and still in the sleeping all the time phase so he wasn't bothered by riding in a car seat for 8 hours. However, now that he is 10 months and very active, Brooks and I were very curious to see how he would manage with having to be strapped into a car seat for so long. Gavin did great!! He is always so aware and inquistive about things as is, so it was no surprise that he only slept for 20 minutes because he was very busy looking out the window and watching things pass by-- not to mention our dog Maggie was in the back seat with him and he loves watching her. We stopped a few times for gas and potty breaks (changing his diaper, etc) and sadly to say... everyplace we went to gas station, grocery store, and even fast food place did NOT have a changing station in their bathrooms. how GROSS!! I had to change Gavin on the floor of the bathrooms b/c our car was so jam packed, there was no place to lay him down (even on the floor of the car). I was mortified and felt like the worse mom ever. But, that was our only hiccups on the way there. On our way home, believe it or not, we stopped at 3 different places and those 3 places did not have changing stations either-- this time though, I made sure to leave room to change him in the car. We stopped at Burger King to grab a quick bite to eat and Brooks found one of their crowns and put it on Gavin's head-- he wore it the entire time! He just thought that was the best thing ever-- that or he didn't realize it was on his head. Either way, it made for some very cute photos!!! I have to run-- the air conditioning guys are here... our air conditioner is messing up, AGAIN. I'll write later and post more pics of our trip soon. I tried downloading a video all night and it keeps telling me there is an error!
Oh yea, we stopped for dinner at a Chili's in Texarkana, TX and left Maggie in the car while we ate. Did you know it is a felony to leave an animal in a vehicle that is turned off, with no windows rolled down (yea, we didn't think about doing that for her). We came out of the restaurant and were welcomed by a police officer who received a phone call about animal abuse. He mentioned that he could arrest us because we committed a felony, but decided against it since we had our child with us and were traveling (we simply stated we weren't from around there and were unaware of this law). It was very interesting!

Yes, I'm Here!

Hi everyone! Once again, may I write, long time no post?!?! It has been a while since I've had a chance to sit down at the computer and write and even right now, I don't have much time. I visited a friend of mines blog yesterday morning and noticed that it said my last update was more than 2 weeks ago so I wanted to change my "status".

I have a list of topics to blog about with pictures and (cross your fingers) videos to go along with the post-- I just haven't found the time to download everything. But, I'm here to say, it is on my list of things to do, when I find the time to do it!

Hope all is well! We have been blessed beyond words the past few weeks and hope you have been too!

Happy 4th of July!!

We survived!!

So we survived our week!!! Are you amazed? Well almost, it's technically not over yet. Brooks and I got home from our Pool Dives last night and were excited about knowing we had today (Friday) off, except they moved our Sunday Diving Class to today, since Sunday is Father's Day. We're very exicted about that so we can spend Father's Day together as a family, yet... this means we don't have a day of rest at all until Sunday.

This week has been very long, yet short, very busy, yet calm. That's odd, I know. We're enjoying out scuba diving lessons-- last night we had to practice all the skills we learned in class i a pool, so that if you got in a bind you could quickly get out of the water.

I learned two things at class last night... Brooks is AMAZING and TALENTED at EVERYTHING he does. He successfully completed every single skill without any issue or problem.. I felt like I was married to SuperMan. I made sure to watch him do every skill so I could learn from him. The other thing I learned last night was that I am book smart, but have difficulty taking the knowledge I have in my head and applying it to real situations.. In the end, the Dive Master, with the help of Brooks, I was able to complete the skills without strugglng. Today and tomorrow's dives our going to be in a lake and this time there are no demonstrations first. We are told what skills to do and have to complete them on our own-- it should be interesting.

Gavin is doing great!! He decided he was tired of army crawling and has moved to crawling completly and totally on all 4. He completed his first week of swim lessons and really enjoys being in the water. He has been able to do each skill, but does NOT like floating on his back. We do this skill where he sits on the edge of a pool and we sing Humpty Dumpty. When it gets to the part that says HD had a big fall-- Gavin jumps in the water towards me. He loves jumping in so much he doesn't wait for the end of the song... It's really cute. Yesterday, we practiced "launching" where the swim instructor counts to three while he's on his stomach and puts him under but pushes him towards me and I catch him.. I think he likes that more than just being put under water. I can't wait to see what he learns next week.

And I thought I use to be busy...

Here is our schedule for the week:

Monday:
7:00-8:30- Learn Scuba Certification Knowledge Reviews 2 & 3 before Gavin wakes up
8:30am- Gavin will wake up around here: change and dress him for the day, give breakfast, play time
9:15- 9:40- Get dressed and ready for swim lessons, finish making grocery list
9:50- Drive to YMCA
10:00-10:15- Pick up ID Card, Dress Gavin in little swimmers, bathing suit, and sunscreen (is that necessary if he's in an indoor pool??!?)
10:20-10:50- Gavin's 1st Swim Lesson
10:50-11:00 Dry off and change Gavin's clothes. Feed Gavin lunch before leaving
11:00-12:30 WalMart Trip for groceries
--Pray that Gavin takes a small nap in the car before we get there
12:30-1:30 Pick Up Brooks Father's Day Gift
1:30-3:30- Gavin: nap time
Me: -Read Week 1 of Beth Moore's Bible Study: Living Beyond Yourself
-Do 2 loads of laundry and clean the bathrooms (I'm working on a daily to-do list regarding chores & cleaning in the house so that I don't have to keep spending an ENTIRE day to clean my house from top to bottom.
-Empty 1 bin from my classroom stuff and find a place to put it in our house.
3:30/4:00ish- Feed Gavin and have play time (He might even watch a little Baby Einstein if I need to finish my list from above)
4:30- Find out if Brooks is able to miss his Monday meeting:
if he can: I will then pack Gavin's bag, bath him quickly, and bring him to one of our friend's house so they can watch Gavin while Brooks and I begin our Scuba Certification Course.
5:30 Return from Micah and Stephanie's House, kiss Brooks hello, and eat Dinner
6:00pm Leave dishes in the sink, jump in the car, drive to Maximum Scuba for a LONG night of course work
10:00pm- Leave Maximum Scuba with an abundance of information- pick up Gavin from the Sperlings house
10:30/10:40ish- Arrive Home-- go to bed!

Tuesday:
6:00-7:15am- Work out Triceps, Biceps, and Shoulders with P90X video/Do AB Ripper X
7:20-8:30am- Shower, get dressed for the day, have a cup of coffee, read Chapter 4 of The Life You've Always Wanted for Group next week
8:30-9:30am- Gavin wakes up, breakfast, get dressed, play time
9:30-9:45am- Get ready for swim lessons
10:00am- Arrive at YMCA (repeat same schedule as yesterday)

OH WAIT--- JUST REALIZED TODAY IS DIFFERENT.... REWIND....

4:30am-Brooks and I wake up, get dressed (dress nice), have coffee and breakfast
5:30am- Pack Gavin's bag for the day
5:45am- Leave the house to bring Gavin to the Carpenter's house
6:00am- Arrive at Susie and Darrell's House (so she can take Gavin and her little boy (Cade) to the baby sitter's house at 7:30am)
7:00am- Brooks and I arrive downtown at the Renaissance Houston Hotel Greenway Plaza Ballroom for the SPC Project Orientation-- basically we begin our Culture Classes today to learn how we are allowed and not allowed to act,live, survive in Saudi Arabia with their people.
7:30am- Gavin arrives at the babysitters
8:00am-5:00pm- Learn EVERYTHING we need to know: the what if's, the how to's, etc, etc, etc
5:15pm- Leave the Hotel Ballroom and head to League City to Pick up Gavin from the Carpenter's
6:15/6:30pm- Go out for dinner somewhere- spend some time together as a family
7:30pm- Arrive Home: get Gavin ready for bed with bath and story time
8:00pm- Brooks reads Chapter 4 for Group, I clean kitchen (part of my weekly to do list)
9:00pm- Bed Time (maybe?!?!?)

Wednesday: Are you exhausted yet????
6:00-7:15am Work out Triceps, Biceps, and Back with P90X video/Do AB Ripper X
7:20-8:30am- Shower, get dressed for the day, have a cup of coffee, work on Gavin's 1st Birthday Party plans: theme, cake ideas, invitations, order bib, supplies, etc.
8:30am- Gavin wakes up: Play time (normal morning routine)
9:30-9:45am- Get ready for swim lessons
10:00am- Arrive at YMCA (repeat same schedule as Monday)
11:10ish- Leave the YMCA and GO HOME!!!
11:30ish- Have lunch (Gavin loves to eat what I fix myself-- maybe we'll have taco meat, black beans, and avocados). Start fixing dinner in the Crock Pot: Chicken Stroganoff (yummy!!) Take out rice cooker to remind myself to fix rice before dinner.
12:00-2:30ish- Nap time for both Gavin and Mommy
1:00pm- I wake up to clean Bedrooms- dust, change sheets, windex mirrors, etc (thanks to my to do list)
2:00pm- Finish working in Gavin's birthday party ideas: begin Gavin's Birthday Party Surprise (I'm not telling you what it is until he turns 1!!!)
2:30- Gavin wakes up, feed him bottle, pack his bag and get ready for our play group.
3:00pm- Arrive at The Carpenter's Neighborhood Pool for a play group with my teacher friends' kids.
4:30ish- Dry off, clean up, load up car and head to the Sperlings for another night of FUN!! He loves his Aunt Steph and Uncle Micah-- and their dog Gizmo (although Gizmo has started staying away from Gavin ever since Gavin has learned to grab on to hair and not let go) It looks like Steph is going to get to bathe Gavin tonight!!
5:15pm- Arrive Home: Make rice for stroganoff and prep salad (shower really quickly and get dressed for the evening)
5:45pm- Welcome Brooks Home with dinner on the table
5:50pm- Eat dinner
5:55pm- Finish dinner and leave house (with our Scuba information)
6:00pm- Arrive at Maximum Scuba for day 2 of course work
10:00pm- Leave Maximum Scuba with an abundance of information- pick up Gavin from the Sperlings house (again)
10:30/10:40ish- Arrive Home-- go to bed!

Thursday: okay, see, I'm already off my schedule from Monday-- it's 7:22am and I should be working on my Knowledge reviews-- I wonder if any of this is going to work out the way I've planned.
6:00-7:15am Work out Legs and Back with P90X video/Do AB Ripper X
7:20-8:30am- Shower, get dressed for the day, have a cup of coffee, work on Gavin's 1st Birthday Party surprise some more (I'm not sure how long it's going to take me to get done)8:30am- Gavin wakes up: Play time (normal morning routine)
9:30-9:45am- Get ready for swim lessons
10:00am- Arrive at YMCA (repeat same schedule as yesterday)
11:10ish- Leave the YMCA and bring Gavin to the baby sitter's house for play time with Cade, Luke, Keith, Adair, a few other kids.
11:30am- I arrive home to eat a quick lunch and then begin my activity for the day from my to do list: dust and pick up the living room, dining room, foyer, and family room/ office/playroom If I have time then I will begin vacuuming and moping!! How fun!?!? Now do you see why I needed to bring Gavin to the babysitters.
1:00pm- If I'm done then I will work on Gavin's Birthday Party Surprise for a little while (or I may take a quick nap)
2:00-3:00pm- Go pick up Gavin
3:00-5:00pm- Not sure what schedule Gavin will be on so he will either nap or we will play.
-Things to do during this time: play with Gavin, prep dinner, attempt to empty another bin from my classroom (I only have 3, but the problem isn't emptying it, it's trying to find a useful place for it to fit somewhere in the house)
5:00-5:30pm- Pack up Gavin, load up car, and bring him to The Acords house so he can play with Peyton (his "girlfriend" from the Palm Beach trip-- by the way- they shared a pacifier Sunday at church in the nursery) We really have to watch these 2!
5:30pm Arrive home to fix dinner (hot dogs, chips, and chili- I know very healthy huh?!?)
5:45pm- Brooks gets home, we'll eat, leave dishes in sink again, (I don't even know if Monday's dishes have been put in the dishwasher yet) and leave for our Shallow Water Dive Lessons at a near by pool- this should be interesting: we get to apply everything that we've learned on Monday and Wednesday.
6:00-9:00pm Scuba Diving Practice at Pool
9:00pm- Leave and go Pick up Gavin
9:30pm- Get Gavin, go home, and get ready for bed!
10:15pm- Lights Out!!

Friday: I'm too exhausted to even think what we have on Friday... I'll update you on these last 3 days some other time.. Plus, I hear Gavin tapping on the side of his crib (again, he's not scheduled to get up for another hour.. hmmm... we'll see how well my schedule works out.

possible activity: Brooks has the day off and we go to Moody Gardens with friends!

First Week Home

I have officially experienced my first week as a full time stay at home mom!! It was GREAT!!! Gavin and I had a blast all week-- we went grocery shopping and spent almost 2 hours in Wal-Mart, we both took 3 hour naps, we played games (peek-a-boo and giving high fives), we practiced waving bye bye, and started learning sign language. We spent an hour making, fixing, and eating lunch (Gavin really likes grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and nectarines). We went swimming at Palm Beach (in Galveston) with some friends from church where we soaked up the sun and went down a water slide. Brooks had today off so we went shopping at the Galleria and ran into Shaquille O'Neal (he talked to Gavin in a store).

Brooks is LOVING me being home-- the house is clean, dinner is ready and on the table when he gets home, laundry is caught up, and I'm actually not exhausted at night so we can work out together.

Our trip to Palm Beach was a blast. We went with our with our new friends, Che (who is one of our group leaders) and her daughter Peyton (who is one week younger than Gavin). It was a wonderful chance for us to get to know one another and hang out. Gavin and Peyton got a long great and bonded in the back seat of the car (Peyton put her hand on Gavin's car seat, and then once we were at the beach, Gavin put his arm on Peyton's shoulder. Looks like we are going to have to talk to him sooner than later. HAHAHA

Overall, this was the beginning of a BEAUTIFUL new chapter in our lives!!

Filled with Joy

Last week I ended my teacher career and experienced MANY different emotions. I'm sad that that chapter in my life has ended, but when I woke up this morning and walked into Gavin's room and he was standing up on the edge of his bed smiling (as if he was waiting for me) my eyes quickly filled with tears... I realized that I have officially walked into my new role as a stay at home mom. Never again do I have to leave Gavin to go to work-- it's the two of us day in and day out!! I'm really excited to hang out with him and we have lots of things planed for the summer!!! As I was changing his diaper he had the biggest grin on his face and made a look with his eyes as if he was saying, "Mom, this is going to be great!!"

Along with my busy week last week- my brother and his wife welcomed a baby boy-- David Lawson Williams. He was 5lbs 4 oz and 19in long. He is TINY!! but PRECIOUS!! He has very distinct features and looks like his mom!!