Easter

We had a pretty laid back Easter. We had gone to Key West the night before, and got stuck for three hours due to an accident on US1. So we didn't even get home until Midnight. I got up for Sunrise Service and left my boys to sleep in, along with Grandpa, Jay and Nana 'Dina. We got home and dyed eggs, and did a little mini-egg hunt of our own.

Garrett had TOO MUCH fun dying eggs, it was quiet fun. He kept asking for "more". He wanted to dunk them himself. Adina gave him this great basket with chalk eggs and some adorable puppets that he loves.

Total picture overload below. Enjoy--maybe it makes up for not posting much in the past few weeks!! I seriously couldn't narrow down the picture selection any more than this, there were too many funny faces. And don't mind Garrett's "Sunday best"--we didn't even bother to get him out of his PJs, just took his shirt off! (I see all these pictures of kids in their easter outfits and can't help but laugh . . . if we aren't at church, we're lucky if Garrett has on a shirt and a pair of pants at all!!)

"Pretty"--like my bracelet?

If you blow on the eggs, they will dry faster!!

The egg dipper thing has been a big hit since Sunday!

I don't even KNOW what this face is :-)

Garrett says "Cheese!"

My two favorite boys in the world. I'd be lost without either of them.

With our CARS easter basket!

First egg hunt (it was raining, but Garrett didn't mind!)

He opened the egg, found the chocolate, and was trying to eat it with the wrapper on!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. As fowl as the weather was here over the weekend, the clouds parted for a beautiful sunrise for our church's sunrise service.

Garrett is 22 months tomorrow. I can't believe he will be 2 in just two short months. It seems like just yesterday I was thinking he would never GET HERE :-) Other than that, we're just recovering from a crazy few months of company and being sick. At least we have a few weeks of normalcy . . . in mid-April, my neighbors go away for a week and I will be helping keep an eye on their kids, then Brad and I are off to Costa Rica for one last hurrah before we add another kid to this family!

Visiting with "Grandma/pa", Jay, and Nana 'Dina

Garrett had a great visit with my dad, brother and step mom this week. Apparently, though, this is the branch of the family he has decided to take naming liberties with. For whatever reason, he decided my brother Ali would become "Jay" and that my dad would be "Grandma" Or "Grandpa". . . silly little man!!

We went to Pinecrest Gardens, which is where all the pictures below were taken. Even though the weather was poopy, we did plenty of fun stuff--beach, Key West, and just plain ole visiting. Ali took a lot more pictures of their trip than I did, hopefully I can procure them :-) Garrett had an absolute BLAST feeding bread to the fishies!

No new pictures . . .

But I had to post and say my kid is so much fun right now. He is talking SO much. Whenever we read or do flash cards, he repeats everything I say. He has this new DT book and LOVES repeating everything. "Dozer" "Forkwift" "Lights!". He'll bring it to me, crying "Dozer, dozer".

He can identify a ton of stuff now--different animals, trains, cars, trucks, lizards, birds. Its just amazing. I look at where he was a year ago, and the transformation is insane.

You really must see his bed. If he has a book or toy or stuffed animal he is fond of, he takes it to bed with him, and there it stays. We have his new toddler bed ready to be set up, and I honostly wonder if it will HOLD all of the stuff he sleeps with. His sleep routine is EXCELLENT right now. Naps aren't usually too much of a battle, and once we get him in his PJs, he'll get into bed after his books and just go to sleep. We have actually started leaving the gate open at night so he can get out when he wakes up and come to our room--he doesn't even get out of bed when we leave the room anymore. We'll see how he adjusts to changing rooms here in a few weeks. I have it almost cleaned out. Brad just has to find the time to start painting!

He loves to play with his friends. He'll just follow my fabulous neighbor kids around and do whatever they are doing. It is fun to have a big family right next door, and to feel like a part of it.

Garrett's other favorite thing right now is "people". He loves to say "People! Outside!" when he spots people. Or he'll ask for his little people for his car. He's just silly and fun. He'll ask about the baby, and point to my tummy (which is getting rounder!). He loves the dogs more now than ever. He will just walk up and pat Aspen. And occasionally he will walk up and jump on him. They are one of the first things he asks about in the morning.

So that's really all that's going on here. I'm back to feeling semi-human again, although insomnia has been a problem the past few nights. As evidenced by my 3am blog entry. Garrett is making fewer boogers, and isn't sleeping all day like he was there for a few days. Brad is just busy, like always, doing all those things daddys do. It's time of college hoops to get serious, after all!

I love where we live . . .

I've been feeling majorly frustrated lately, between being endlessly sick and not having a car. But today I managed to get Garrett and the puppies out for a walk, and saw the coolest thing. A bald eagle was soaring over our community. Not an every day sight, that is for sure!! Garrett loved it, he keeps asking to go outside and asking "Birdie, birdie?" He's such a nature buff.

Our trip to Atlanta

We went to Atlanta this past weekend for a Discovery Toys regional spring Kickoff. It was fun . . . the new spring products are AWESOME this year, and there is a ton of fun stuff I know Garrett is going to love. Brad and Garrett went to a state park in Northern GA for hiking on Sunday and had a blast. Garrett and I were both still feeling pretty sick, but we still had fun. Poor Garrett had a hard time sleeping at night, he kept asking for his own bed. Here are some pictures from their hiking trip (taken by Brad of course)


We received our vouchers for our Discovery Toys incentive trip last night. Looks like we are HOPEFULLY going to be headed to Costa Rica for a week . . . how sweet is THAT?

Nana and Pawpaw's visit

Garrett misses his Nana and Pawpaw.

Garrett, Xander and Logan

Finally some pictures.

Here are Baby Logan, Xander and Garrett from a few weeks ago. Garrett is so sad they aren't coming over anymore, he asked about them SO many times today. So we went to visit this evening, he was on cloud 9!

Quick Catchup

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately . . . believe me when I say it has been an insane month, and that this pregnancy is kicking my butt.

Things that happened in February:
1. I started having Xander and Logan over again, and more than normal due to their dad's training schedule at a new job. It has been IMPOSSIBLE on top of how tired and sick I have been feeling. Thankfully, this week is their last week here, they start daycare next week. Sad about it too, but it will offer their parents more flexibility. Garrett adores having both of them here though. He LOVES "Bebe Logie" and will be very sad when they don't come over anymore.

2. Potty training! Garrett got serious about sitting on the potty. That fell by the wayside with number 4 . . .

3. Brad's car broke. Again. So he has my Yukon, and I have no car. Sort of an okay thing due to #1 and #2, but I get so sick of not being able to do ANYTHING.

4. Brad's Grandparents came for a visit. Garrett loved having "Nana and Papa". Then poor Papa fell and got a hairline pelvic fracture, extending and totally changing the tone of their trip. the good thing was they got to spend a lot more time with Garrett. You have to know Dave to understand he can't stand sitting still for long, so recovery is extra hard for him. They made it home safe and sound . . . and only slightly worse for the wear.

So, that's February in review, very briefly. I am very sick right now, my midwife thinks the flu. I can hardly function. We are going to Atlanta this weekend for a DT thing, and my dad is coming two weeks from today. Busy, busy! I have a few pictures from the past month, will try to post them soon. I am 13 weeks on Friday, and ready to get out of my first trimester!!

At this moment

Garrett is playing peekaboo with Haylee. She is not impressed.

Last night, we took him towards his room, and he shut the door in our face so we couldn't follow him in!! After we knocked, he was kind enough to open the door for kisses. Then he shut it in our face again. Stinker!

My little coastie

Garrett went into the guest room today and pulled Brad's Coast Guard Aux. vest of it. He kept running around the house going "picture, picture!" And then he would pose, like this. I love having a digital camera, I took a zillion pictures and then uploaded them all, it only costs me space on my laptop, and there is plenty of that to go around.

Today was a seriously AWESOME day on the potty training front. We had zip accidents, and he even peed in the potty at church several times, despite the fact he had a diaper on. He says "pee" when he needs to go . . . I am so unbelievably shocked right now, it CAN'T be this easy. But then, I've heard repeatedly kids who wear cloth diapers train easier. Tomorrow, we may even try wearing PANTS over our undies all day long, lol! The neighbors must think I am raising a heathen, since all he has been wearing the past few days is his undies!

The words are pouring out of Garrett like you wouldn't believe. I was using the dremal (sp?) on the dogs nails the other day, and now whenever he sees it he goes "remel, remel". Keep in mind when I was doing their nails, he hid in the other room crying "puppies, puppies, oh noooooo . . . " I think he thought I was killing his dogs. He grabbed Aspen's feet at the next possible occassion and checked to make sure he had all his digits still. That dog's patience with my son never ceases to amaze me. When my neighbor's younger three come over, he just sits and observes them, ever the watchful grey dog. He rocks beyond belief.

Garrett's other big thing right now is pretend play. He likes to pretend to be a dinosaur, a monkey, and a dog. It IS possible that he actually thinks he is a dog, though . . . that was always a fear of mine, that he would act more dog than human. :-) Randon, the little boy next door, has lots of dinosaurs, and Garrett has become infatuated with them. "Roar", he says!! "Dino-sawr!" I can't even begin to list all of his words, its just amazing.

Scooter!

Garrett LOVES his new scooter. Can't go wrong for $5!! I took these pictures yesterday. He is quiet good at getting where he is going, and already can steer without any trouble.

We haven't done much of anything lately, due the potty training. He had been doing so great, this morning we went and played for a while, then he came in and immediately peed on the potty. I hate staying home all the time, but he doesn't seem to mind. If this actually works out and he is trained by the end of February, I will be thrilled. :-)

He slept until almost 9 this morning, which is insane for him. I think skipping naps has finally caught up with him. I'm glad he slept in a little, since we are going to church tonight and won't even be home until 8. Brad has a meeting, major bummer. I hate the evenings where we aren't together until after Garrett goes to bed. It isn't fun for anyone, but especially my poor hubby.

Other than that, not much else going on. We play outside at least 3 hours a day. I try to get Garrett to sit and watch some cartoons with me, just because I need the break. We usually watch the Backyardigans or Clifford. The other day we watched Finding Nemo. Work has been blissfully slow, although I am due to go in at the end of the week. Gotta find a sitter!

Oh, and my political blurb for the day--Super Tuesday bit the big one. I am not happy with how these races are going. Are John McCain and Hillary Clinton REALLY the best this country has to offer??

Sorry its been a while!

I know I haven't posted much lately. My son has decided he wants to do some potty training, and that has been keeping us pretty busy. Plus I have NO energy with this pregnancy. I am so ready to get to that 2nd trimester and feel human again!!

Not much new to report here. I got Garrett a cute scooter off craigslist for $5, its like new and usually retails for $30.00. He's a little mutant child, riding scooters and skateboards already!! Never a dull moment though.

The toddler bed is going well, he naps every other day or so. I can't believe he is considering dropping his naps all together!! Yikes!

Here are some photos for the past week or so. Leanne, you may recognize the socks :-)

Sitting in the clothes basket being goofy:

Our friend Maria made that Necklace for Aspen when Garrett was born. Garrett likes to wear it around, and sometimes use it for a headband!

This pic is blurry, but the only one I could get of him wearing it as a headband!!

Haylee being her princess self. :-)

Our neighbors gave Garrett these boots, which are a size 11 (he wears a size 6!!). He put them on all by himself and ran around the house. Note the big boy undies. Garrett says "unies, unies" and will bring them to me when he is wearing a diaper.

Other little tidbits . . . I bought THIS toy organizer at Target on sale for $41.98, I was so pleased with the find. I've wanted one for a while, but couldn't bring myself to shell out $60!! It helps organize my toy stash, which is getting ridiculously large. Logan and Xander start coming over again in a week and a half, so I need to get out all my infant stuff too. Fun, fun. At least it will help me get ready for this baby!!

Garrett's "new" room is half way cleaned out, I still have to go through the closet. Its amazing that in 7 years, Brad and I have accumulated so much STUFF. Three people in a five bedroom house, yet we don't have room for all our junk. That's just sad. I think we decided to get this bedroom set for Garrett, since it is a good value and is cute. I have no idea how we are going to paint the room yet. We're keeping "the nursery" the same, so we won't have to do anything new in there. Brad finished painting our bathroom, I'll try to post a picture soon. It looks really nice.

Oh, and its Super Tuesday. Can I just say that I am going to CRY if John McCain gets the Republican nomination?? We'll see how things look tomorrow. Go Mitt, is all I can say!!

Well, my kiddo calls. Time to sit on the potty.

Playing in the rain (again)

Garrett requested I go out to the car, in the rain, to fetch his Thomas train. He, of course, followed me out, and refused to come back in. He played out there for almost 20 minutes, then insisted on visiting our neighbors (after standing in between our houses calling "Nayna, Nayna, Nayyyyyna" for 5 minutes to no avail). He was playing with the water coming off the ginger plants, in addition to the rain and the water coming off the roof. No wonder he has a boogery nose. But he was having too much fun to drag in--I am a sucker for playing in the rain!!

My Gym pics

Garrett LOVES the ball pitThis thing is 5 feet high, he climbed it himself!

Bubbles, yeah!

Always loving the trampoline too!

Day 1 in the toddler bed, successes and failures

Success: He actually SLEPT IN the bed last night
Failure: He took a 30 minute nap and spent most of his allocated nap time wailing to be let out of his room. He even managed to dislodge the gate once. Not fun for pregnant mommy who has been up since 6:30.
Success: Tonight it took him 10 minutes to fall asleep--woot!

No more crib

Last night Garrett was not to thrilled about going to bed. As we were walking out of the room he climbed out of his crib using a stuffed animal as a step. So we took the animals out, DH swore he couldn't get out without that to stand on. Maybe 5 minutes later, we heard a thunk. Then Garrett's door opened and he came running out, pleased as pie with himself. No worse for the wear. Thankfully we already had everything to convert his crib to a toddler bed. He'll stay in the convertable crib for a few months, until his new room is ready, then he is getting a twin bed.

Thankfully Garrett didn't hurt himself. It took him an hour to go to sleep though, and then he got up at 6:30!! Yuck! He's in a FINE mood . . . I, on the other hand, am in serious need of a nap!

USCG Auxilliary Change of Watch

This past Saturday, Brad and I went on a BIG date night to the Change of Watch for his CG Auxiliary Flotilla. The USCG Auxiliary is a strange and unique beast--although they are volunteers, the directly and indirectly assist the Coast Guard. They wear essentially the same uniform as the "Gold Side", as they refer to the active duty members, but have no law enforcement capabilities. Anyway, Brad was instituted as a "Staff Officer" . . . he will take care of finances for his flotilla. Interesting stuff!! My man looks good in uniform :-) Dana watched Garrett for us, and her mom was kind enough to shoot a couple pictures of us all gussied up. Yay for a few decent family pics for a change.



I was very sick on Sunday. Fabulous . . . but oh well, small price to pay for a new addition. We didn't let it stop us from attending the local art fest at UM. But I have definately had better days! More later, we did My Gym again today. I need to SLEEP!

Busy day yesterday

We had a super busy day yesterday. Playdate in the morning, then off to the zoo with our friends Jessica, Alex and Gabriel. Garrett had a blast. He had so much fun playing with the boys! Gabriel is older, and Garrett is totally into hanging out with older kids these days. They played trains and had fun chasing each other around. Garrett walked a LOT while we were at the zoo, which was sort of a first for him. I just can't get over how big he is getting!! He went on his first train ride while we were at the zoo, the monorail that goes around the whole zoo. It was fun, but we did it in the afternoon and the two younger boys were just DONE and ready to head home. We had a minor meltdown, but everyone survived. :-)

Not much new here. We are going to an art festival at UM tomorrow. I am feeling decent, just a little morning sickness. I am exhausted, but can't even seem to get a nap it, even when Garrett does sleep well. Today we are just hanging around the house, trying to rest up.

Garrett and I at the playdate

Garrett enjoying the playground at Evelyn Greer

Garrett riding the train at the zoo

Gabriel on the train

Jessica and Alex