Silly Faces

This is just a silly face Gavin was making the other night that I caught on camara. It's the last of the pictures that I have saved on our blog. This will force me to upload more tonight, including photos from the Bluegirl Reunion Game.

Mommy loves:

• eating lunch with coworkers and forgetting about the troubles of the day!

Gavin loves:

• going pee pee on mommy in the morning so that she has to change her clothes and his as well.

Roll Over, Beethoven!

As mentioned in a previous post, Gavin has been rolling over. When he gets in the mood, he just will not stay on his back! Once he rolls over to his belly, he starts whining and can't figure out how to roll back over to his back. We then "help" him roll to his back and the whole process starts all over again! He also has his second bottom tooth coming in!

First, we grab our feet to arch our back.

Second, we fall to one side.

Third, we let go of feet and use our arms to get balanced.

Fourth, we wiggle around to get our other arm out!

Finally, we are successful!

WHEW! That was hard work!

Mommy loves...

• and misses her Bluegirl teammates and coaches and all their precious times together.

Gavin loves...

• playing with water bottles. We also found out this weekend that he loves playing with Grandpa Larry's big squeeze mug.

Mommy loves:

• cutting out and using coupons. I never used to actually use them, but with budgeting for a family of three, I am getting better at it!
• buying the generic brand. I try to buy the generic of anything I can. For example, we use Wal-Mart's Awesome brand toilet paper and paper towels. They're just as good as the others and much cheaper. We buy anything Sam's Choice that we can as well. I like to do this kind of shopping w/o Clint and Gavin because it takes me so long to find the best deal, but I enjoy it.
• JCPenny $10 coupons. You get $10 off of a purchase of $10 or more. I never used to use them before I had Gavin because I didn't shop there much. But now, I can basically get one or two free outfits for Gavin (depending on the price)! People ask me if I feel guilty not buying something else or something more expensive to actually give them a sale, and the answer is no! If anyone gets these and doesn't use them, PLEASE send them my way! Gavin and I will make great use of them!

Gavin loves:

• talking on his changing table. This is where he coos and smiles the most!?!?

Black and White

As I mentioned in my 100 things, I LOVE black and white photos. I have not been able to create b&w photos because my computer program has been down. Well, it's up and running now so here are a few photos to enjoy.

Mommy Loves...

• wearing her short, soft robe 24/7 (or at least when I'm at home) because the pockets make great storage compartments for binkies, kleenex, bottles, teethers, cell phone, remote, ect. It's all at my fingertips, plus it keeps me really warm!

Gavin loves...

• snuggling up with mommy's soft robe.

Let Me Help...

Gavin decided he could feed himself better than Mommy, so I let him give it a try. Not too bad for 4 months!!

Pimp My Ride

Gavin thought his ride was pretty plane jane, so mommy "pimped his ride".

Pre-Pimp

Here is a view of the front of his new ride, complete with a set of headlights and a license plate.


A side view of the artisic flames. As you can see by his expression, Gavin thinks he's pretty hot stuff now.

The rear view of the taillights and other license plate.

Finally, the other side and Mr. Coolness himself.

Ice, Ice Baby!

Yes, yes, yes...we've all heard about the horrific ice storm that hit the Midwest. I just wanted to put all concerns at ease as our family has suffered no severe damages due to the horrific weather. We were released from school at 1:00 on Friday and did not attempt to leave our home until Monday. Our driveway, lawn, and nearby street were a solid sheet of ice. Had we had ice skates we could pretended it was one big ice skating rink. My first attempt at getting the Explorer out of the drive was very scary. I came close to sliding into both the house and Clint's truck, even in 4 X 4 high. I was stir crazy and told Clint I would be the one to go to the store. It is not a situation I will put myself in again. Nonetheless, we have been blessed to have power the whole time and as I said, no damage to the house or vehicles. We wouldn't have minded another day off from school but were not so lucky. Hope everyone else out there are safe and sound as well!

5 things mommy loves:

• sleeping with the window open when it's raining
• sleeping in - a rarity nowadays
• Mom and Jess for being devoted blog readers and commenter's!
• the smell of baby lotion
• 4 wheel drive!!

5 things Gavin loves:

• wipes warmer
• the taste of Tylenol
• licking cold glasses
• pulling hair
• spending time with his mima and papa

5 Things Mommy Loves:

• Getting out of school early!
• Weekends - especially long weekends!
• My new camara!
• Pony-tail holders - it seems I rarely fix my hair these days!
• Nike Shox - they are a welcomed break from the dress shoes I have to wear to work everyday.

5 Things Gavin Loves:

• Bee crib mobile
• Biting people's faces
• Baths
• Putting his hands in his mouth when he has a mouthful of cereal
• Playtime with Daddy

My Poop Face

Ok, some babies have one, some don't. My baby certainly does! I finally decided to capture the moment on camara as it is all too comical! And boy was it a LONG moment!

Oh no! I think I feel something coming on!

Man this rice makes things more difficult!

Maybe if I stick out my tongue, I can push harder!

Ok, one more time!

Now I'm one happy camper! What until you see the surprise I left for you, Mommy!

Mommy and Gavin

Today we got out of school at 1:00 due to sleeting rain. YIPPEE! After a 2 1/2 hour nap with Gavin, I decided to try to take some pictures of us together. As you can see, I need a little work on this.

Ok, maybe a little too high!

Ok, maybe a little too low!

Ah-hah! Just right! Gavin had to help adjust my arms on this one!

Man, do I love this little guy! I could stare at that sweet face all day.

I had so much fun making the list of 100 things about me, that I decided I would try to come up with 5 things "Mommy" loves and 5 things Gavin loves each day. I may fall behind and I may run out of out ideas, but I'm going to give it a try. I may use names at times. Please do not be offended if you do not see your name listed first. I will firtst include the names of those of you who comment, because I know you actually look at it. Here we go!!

Five Things Mommy Loves:
* Parenthood
* The tradition of getting pajamas every year for Christmas - I have to admit that they stayed in the drawer for a couple of years because I would just wear t-shirts to bed. Now, I put them on immediately when I get home so I am nice and cuddly for Gavin.
* Slippers
* Matching bra and underwear - although I never have time to find the pair and wear them together!
* Hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows

Five Things Gavin Loves:
* "Taggie" made by Grandma Judy
* little bear security blanket
* binkie - although he STILL can't keep it in his mouth!
* stacking cups - the best $3.00 I've every spent!
* pulling at his socks!

A Day With Papa

A couple of weeks ago, Gavin got to spend a day with Papa because our sitter's kids were sick. We were very thankful that he could drive all the way to Monroe to watch our little guy for the day. As you can see in the pictures taken by Papa, Gavin was all smiles and having lots of fun! Gavin says Papa needs to watch him more often!

100 Things About Me

I got this idea from another blog and thought it sounded like fun, so here are 100 things about me that you probably know, but maybe not! I should have titled it 100 things that I love because that's mostly what I'm writing about. I am writing them down as they come so they are not in any order!

1. I love being a mommy to Gavin Vance!

2. I love being a wife!

3. I love to spend time with my family!

4. I miss my family that lives far away!

5. I love being an auntie to Gabriel Lane and now, Logan Xavier!

6. I can't wait until June when I will become an aunt again!

7. I would like to have a little girl one day.

8. I used to want all boys so they could grow up and be momma's boys and be protective of me.

9. I love to shop!

10. I love to buy Gavin clothes.

11. I love to find good deals!

12. I envy mom's who get to buy the adorable girl clothes.

13. I love to take Gavin shopping with me, even if it is a bit of a hassle!

14. I love shopping with my mom because she always has such great taste!

15. My favorite mall (within driving distance) is Chesterfield, MO.

16. Now that I am a mommy, I would much rather buy clothes for Gavin than for me.

17. I love to shop the day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas.

18. I love the holiday season!

19. I love to buy Christmas decorations even though I rarely put all of them up.

20. I always think I have to buy gift bags and wrapping paper when they go on sale after Christmas, but then I re-use bags I got from gifts the year before or bum some off of my mom.

21. I love snowmen!

22. I love driving around and looking at Christmas lights.

23. I love Christmas music!

24. My two favorite Christmas CD's are Jessica Simpson and Mariah Carey.

25. I love to buy other people gifts.

26. I love HOMEMADE mashed pototoes!

27. I love my mom's cheese corn!

28. I love our family's seven layer salad!

29. I love my grandma Judy's pecan pie.

30. I love crescent rolls.

31. I love DQ!

32. I love my grandma Annie's chili!

33. I love Linda's lemonade!

34. I love A & W rootbeer served in their frosty mugs. Do they even do this anymore?

35. I love Alfredo Shrimp Pasta from Ruby Tuesday's!

36. I love eating at Ruby Tuesday's with my family.

37. I love holiday dinners with lots of family!

38. I love watching movies in my parents home theatre.

39. I love going to the theatre to watch movies.

40. I am obsessed with watching the TV drama 24.

41. I am obsessed with watching Days of Our Lives.

42. I now enjoy watching shows on HGTV like Buying a Home and How Much is My House Worth.

43. I long for a house of our own.

44. I long to be a stay-at-home-mom.

45. I will spend hours looking up recipes and printing them off, but I never cook.

46. My husband is the cook of the house right now.

47. I am obsessed with blogging.

48. I love to read about the lives of other moms.

49. If we had the finances to afford it, I would have at least five children.

50. Sometimes I wish I had gone into cosmotology and owned my own salon.

51. I could never cut hair because I am too worried about what other people think.

52. I miss my garden tub at our other house.

53. I love to take baths!

54. I love to read romance novels although I have not touched one since Gavin was born.

55. I envy people who follow through with scrapbooking.

56. I love photography!

57. I love black and white pictures.

58. I wish I could create things with pictures in Photoshop the way my mom can.

59. I still haven't ordered my wedding pictures.

60. I had the wedding of my dreams.

61. Sometimes I put on my wedding dress to remember how it felt to be a princess for a day.

62. I still have not watched the 1998 State Championship Game.

63. I sometimes have regrets about basketball because I believe I could have done more.

64. If it weren't for Mackenzie Long, I would have held the all-time scoring record for the Carthage Bluegirls forever. (They are consolidated and will no longer be the Bluegirls after this year)

65. I can't wait to be the first to my kid's games like my parents were to mine.

66. I wish my girl(s) could have the awesome experience of being a Bluegirl like I did.

67. After being a coach myself, I am so thankful to Sci, Log, and Coach Lapp for all the time they put into Bluegirl Basketball. I have a great respect for them!

68. I am happy with my decision not to coach this year because I could not have spent the time I needed to to be a successful coach.

69. I close my eyes when I brush my teeth because I hate staring at the sink, especially if it's dirty!

70. I hate bright lights in my bathroom.

71. I like to have the lights off when I go to the "bathroom." If this isn't possible, I will usually cover my eyes.

72. I cannot go to the "bathroom" in a public place, even if it's an emergency.

73. I am hooked on Mt. Dew.

74. My favorite Mexican restraunt is Papa Chico's, in Keokuk, IA. It's a hole in the wall!

75. I miss Carrie's giant tenderloins from her restaurant bar in Basco, IL.

76. I can kill some breakfast no matter what time of day.

77. I put sugar on my pancakes.

78. I salt my watermelon.

79. I usually put around 6 tsp. of sugar in my coffee, plus cream.

80. I love the idea of drinking coffee in little outside cafes like you see in Europe and big cities.

81. I found that I love to take cruises. They are paradise!

82. I love beaches.

83. I love to snow ski.

84. I love being on lakes.

85. I miss Uncle Kirk's boat.

86. I would like to visit all 50 states.

87. I miss family vacations.

88. I don't wash my hair everyday.

89. I hate washing my face at night.

90. I miss eating out with the girls.

91. I was a Chi Omega.

92. I have never had a cavitiy, even after all that DQ and Mt. Dew!

93. I love country music.

94. I wish Clint could sing and play like Keith Urban, even if it was just for me.

95. I fantasize about singing and performing even though I've never taken choir or a musical class in my life.

96. I am a procrastinater.

97. I have to make lists in order to get things done.

98. Gavin still sleeps with mommy.

99. I pray daily for my sister to move home.

100. I can't wait until 3:00 when I can get back to being a mommy.

Q Comes For A Vist!

Daddy's friend Quentin came for a visit over Christmas break. It was his FIRST time seeing Gavin--shame, shame Q!! OK, we'll give him a break because he lives near KC and coaches football as well. He thinks he'd like to come stay a while in the summer to get the feel for changing dirty diapers, 3:00 am feedings, nightly baths, car seats, messy faces after cereal, spit up...ect. Grandma Rovene would love to hear about this!

Bumbo Basket

Well, the past few weeks have been pretty trying for mommy and daddy with Gavin teething, trying new foods, and having trouble with his circumcision. Some nights it seems we can't do anything to make him happy. So, Daddy came up with a fabulous invention! He put Gavin's bumbo seat into a laundrey basket and attached a rope so we could pull Gavin around the house. It has worked wonders!

** This picture was actually taken before Daddy got smart and attached the rope. We were just pushing the basket around at first. I think we probably burned more calories that way!

This Little Piggy...

Gavin has recently become very fascinated with his feet! No matter what he is doing, he has to hold on to at least one foot. If we try to stand him up, he wants to bend over and grab on! He absolutely must have a hold of them when he is on the floor. We have also begun to suck on our toes! GROSS! Here are some pictures of this for you to enjoy.

WOW! These things are great fun!

Hmmm..I love to put things in my mouth! I wonder if I can get these to fit?

Yep, I sure can! I get my flexibility from mommy! She can suck her toes, too!

Weeee!! I'm jumping in the air!

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Well, I turned the big 2-7 this year! I can't believe I will be 30 in three years! My husband and son sent me beautiful roses with a very sweet card. Clint had to tend to some football business that night so mom and dad met Gavin and I in Quincy to celebrate. It was our first time eating at the new TGIFriday's. It was pretty yummy and a lot of fun! Clint and I then celebrated on Saturday night together. We missed our little guy but it was nice to have some time to ourselves.

Although it was mommy's birthday, Gavin was still the star of the show!

Make a wish mommy!

Gavin thought blowing out the candle was pretty funny!

Mima and her little buddy!

Mima and I were a bit jealous as Gavin seemed to be fascinated with Papa! He was definitely his favorite that night!

Daddy's Team

We're trying to give Gavin a head start on handling the 'ole pigskin. He seems to enjoy the shape of the football and he also enjoys watching the boys run around in the games on TV. With his long fingers, we're hoping he has that slight advantage that Daddy was missing with his small hands.

"What's that, Dad? Put my fingers on the laces?"

Fumble! Looks like the ball must have been a little slippery from Gavin's drool. Don't worry honey, Daddy couldn't hang on to the ball when it was wet, either! :-)

"I think maybe chewing on the ball would be more fun! I've got several years to work on throwing it!"

Thank you!

Yes, this a boring post...but I just wanted to say thank you to those of you who have posted comments recently. I know it is hard to find time to do it, but we do greatly appreciate it and love to hear from everyone. It just makes all the time of posting the pictures worthwhile! (I leave my camara on 6mp at all times, so it takes forever to download each picture!) Thank you again and hope you have a great weekend!

"Hmmmm...what's in here?"

It's never too early to start reading, right? I want to get off to a good start, just like my cousin Gabe shown below. I can't wait until I can read the newspaper just like him! Papa, can I borrow your reading glasses, too?