18 months

On Sunday, Gavin turned 18 months old... it's official, we have a year and a half old son.  Gavin had his 18 month old check up Tuesday and it went pretty well.  It seems that he has the height and weight of a 2 year old.  He is 34 inches long (no wonder I had to start buying 24 month pants) and he is 28 pounds (which allows him to start taking Children's medicine versus infant medicine).  Gavin is in the 90th percentile for his height and the 70th percentile for his weight.  His doctor could not get over how "cut" and muscular Gavin looked (she kept saying that over and over).  She also told me to be prepared for him to be much taller than me when he grows up.  All I can say to that, is I hope so!!  He got two shots today and did okay... he did cry, but it was more because I was laying over him to hold him down... he did not want to lay back for the nurse.  Once I picked him up he was fine and quit crying.

**Funny story... all the patient rooms have sinks in them and underneath the sink is a cabinet that stores supplies for the doctors and nurses to use.  When Gavin was about a year old he opened one of the cabinets and found these cups that are used for urine samples.  I remember him playing with one while we were waiting for Dr. Lee to see us and she had him put it away for her because she wanted to see him open, close a door, follow a command, etc.  Well, ever since then, any time we go to the doctors office and we walk into a room, Gavin immediately opens the cabinet and grabs a urine cup to play with.  It's so random and kind of embarrassing, but I can't get over how he knows those are there (we've been 4 times since he turned one).

How to eat eggs..

Growing up, I remember my dad always making himself eggs for breakfast.  On mornings when I was up early, I would watch him fix eggs, and he would make them the same way every time... he'd crack the egg in a coffee cup, use a fork to stir it, add milk then salt and pepper, pour into the pan and scramble.  Gavin was awake early Wednesday morning (we drove into Lake Charles Tuesday evening and surprised my family to go to my cousins 6th Birthday Party) and was in perfect time for some of Captains eggs!  Gavin watched my dad's every move and it was nice for me to remember experiencing that time with my dad and now my son was doing the same.   So, if you want to know how to eat eggs Gavin's style then take a look.....

Just finished watching the eggs being made and ready to eat some....

Going in for the first bite....

Inspecting his food... this is done before the first bite of EVERY food he eats

Determining the eggs were HOT... (notice he is saying HOT and putting his hand over the eggs)

Finally taking the first bite....

Hmmm.. he has an opinion about the taste....

But decides they are good and has another bite.....

Delicious! 

Fondant Cake

I'm still taking my Cake Decorating Classes and loving them.  I completed Course 4 Monday night and was very happy with my final cake.  This course focuses on using Fondant and Gum paste to cover and decorate a cake with.  We learned various techniques for handing fondant and gum paste, how to color it, shape it, etc.  I was really hesitant to take this course because the thought of using fondant made me nervous.  It's not something I'm familiar with and can be difficult to keep from breaking or tearing.  However, taking the course, I'm a little more confident using fondant and am going to try to make my own soon (so that it will be flavored).  

With this cake, everything is fondant.  I made a few gum paste flowers in class, but really wanted to learn how to make a bow so I decided to use this bow as my cake topper.  I covered my cake board in fondant  and used some flower expressions on the top part.  I had to make the pieces of the bow 4-5 days before class so they could dry.  Using the leftover orange fondant, I cut out round circles for the polka dots.  The yellow stripes were flattened using a pasta machine and cut evenly using my cutting mat.  I made the border using a clay extruder (it's a really easy tool to help make your fondant come out in a particular shape).

I'm looking forward to making my next fondant cake soon.  As far as cake classes, I have one more to take (Course 3)-- the instructor gives the classes out of order- so I will start again in April.  

Just like Daddy

Since Brooks has been home, Gavin has really been having a hard time adjusting to me not doing EVERYTHING for him.  He's become very emotional when I'm not the one fixing his meals, changing his diapers, or giving him a bath.  I think that Gavin got use to his mommy taking care of him that he doesn't "want" daddy doing anything.  Brooks and I are working "patiently" with Gavin through this, but it is a little trying.  We think that Gavin is going through a little phase where he realizes that I'm HIS mommy.... he doesn't appreciate Brooks hugging me or holding my hand.  He even gets protective if we sit on the couch side by side.  We don't know if this came about because Brooks was gone for 3 weeks and it was just Gavin and I.... or what.  We're helping him through this and definitely making sure that Brooks has ample opportunities to "take care of Gavin".  

HOWEVER, having said all of that, there is NOTHING like spending time with Daddy.  Gavin adores Brooks and is often right by his side (when he's not attached to me).  

I snuck this picture last weekend.. Brooks was going to put Gavin down for his nap and he ended up falling asleep too.  Isn't that the cutest thing you've ever seen? 

I took this picture Saturday morning.  Brooks has a presentation to make Tuesday at work so he needed to get some work done this weekend.  Gavin HAD to sit at the table like a big boy and having just a book to read was not enough.  My parents got Gavin this play laptop for Christmas and it was PERFECT for him to think he was doing the same thing as his daddy.  I think this might be THE cutest thing ever!

Now, while Gavin was "working" on his computer, the batteries died.  Of course, we had to change them, which required us to use a screwdriver.  When we were finished installing the new batteries, Gavin got down from his seat, ran to his toys, and found HIS screwdriver.  He then spent the next 10 minutes working on his computer.  It was soooooooo cute!  He knew what to do... he would only turn the screwdriver if there was a screw.  How amazing is that??  

Our little boy is growing up.  He has officially mastered the words "YES" and "NO".  He now answers us EVERY TIME we ask him a question.  Brooks and I are realizing how often we would ask Gavin something not needing or wanting a response, but he gives us one.  For example, instead of TELLING Gavin, "let's go night- night", we normally say, "do you want to go night night?"  Well, he now responds with NO by shaking his head!  It's really cute and funny.  We have had to change our way of talking to him since he can answer us now.  We're getting better at it everyday though.  Just something new for us to get use to.   

Mini Maple Pancake Muffins

 Brooks and I have a tradition where we cook actual breakfast meals and have family time on Friday and/or Saturday mornings.  We usually make puff balls, waffles, pancakes, muffins, biscuits, etc, but with this weekend being Brooks' first weekend home, I wanted to try something new.  I searched for some new recipes and found one on my favorite "baking" website (www.bakerella.com).  Mini Maple Pancake Muffins YUMMY!!  We made them Friday morning and they were delicious!

 The ingredients:

Getting to use my new mini muffin pan...

I added Chocolate Chips.. because, well, I love chocolate.

Gavin was waiting on the muffins...

and waiting... 

and waiting...

Yea!  They are ready! and H-O-T!

Gavin was so excited to eat them up!

Apparently, so were we.. we devoured them within 10 minutes.  

Children's Museum

This past Monday Brooks had the day off so we decided to take Gavin to the Children's Museum of Houston.  It was a blast.  When we first got there, I was worried that all the activities would be for older kids, but we found plenty of things for Gavin to play with, see, build, throw, try out, etc.  I guarantee you he was not bored for one moment.

We were in awe at all the fun things Gavin got to try and we were amazed at how into it he was.  Gavin "drove" a police car, recorded a news segment, shopped at the grocery store (my favorite), climbed up and around an obstacle course, and played on an outdoor playground.  Brooks and I LOVED watching Gavin move from one activity to another, checking out EVERYTHING.  He was very aware of what was going on and got involved in all the activities.  He would watch the other kids (such as in virtual dodge ball) and would mimic what they were doing.  He laughed and ran around.  He was definitely Mr. Independent, yet soaked up anything and everything we would show and teach him.

We packed sack lunches so we could spend as much time as possible at the Museum and found a picnic table outside to eat at.  It was a beautiful day and they had an outdoor playground and water works display so Gavin took advantage of them.  Gavin enjoyed going down the slides as well as climbing up the ladders.  We were so glad that we went and we know that Gavin had a great day!  

Bebo

When Gavin was born we got a package in the mail from some friends of ours from Colorado. They sent Gavin a book, called Barnyard Dance.  It has been a favorite of his for us to read to him.  This past Thanksgiving, we spent some time with these friends, where we learned that the author who wrote Barnyard Dance, Sandra Boynton, has written numerous children's books.  So, for Christmas, Gavin received several more of her books, and we now have a new favorite..... Bellybutton Book.

Gavin loves this book.  It's about Hippos, which are fun characters to read about, and throughout the book they refer to bellybuttons as "Bebo".  While reading this book to Gavin, we've been trying to teach him where HIS bellybutton is.  He really wasn't catching on until one day I asked Gavin where his "bebo" was and to my surprise he lifted up his shirt and touched his belly button.  It was PRECIOUS!!  It took a few days for us to teach him that "bebo" and belly button are the same thing, and now he will answer to either one of them.  Finding his bellybutton is a new favorite of his!  

**Scroll down to the bottom of the page and pause the music so you can hear him.