Baby Gavin is HERE!

Dear Readers, please "hear" my words with a deep Oprah sort of voice.  It's the voice I use when I am MOST EXCITED!  And why am I excited?  BABY GAVIN IS HERE!  He's out of my mommy's tummy!  He's all cooked!

Gavin Michael was born on May 18th at 3:16 pm.  He was 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and 21 inches long.

For anyone who cares to remember little old me, I was 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and 20 1/4 inches long.  We are comparable sized babies, but for some reason, I went immediately to size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes.  Mommy and Grammy had to buy newborn size diapers and outfits for Gavin!

Gavin's arrival was really quite convenient for me.  Thursday night, Mommy and Daddy hopped in the van and headed to the hopstable.  Grandma was already here to watch me, and it was my bedtime anyway!  Mommy read me some bedtime stories on the porch for a while first, which was really nice.  The next day, I got to play with Grandma and Grandpa.  We went to the Inner Harbor, and I got to ride in a DRAGON BOAT!  I named him Pete.  After we finished our ride in Pete, we went to the hopstable and I got to meet BABY GAVIN!

My reactions to Gavin are as follows:

He's so tiny!  He needs to grow.

I'm still little.  I grow big and big!  I am a big girl.  I'm still little.  (I might be confused).

Gavin doesn't talk!

I need lots of hugs.

Gavin needs to take turns with me so we can both share Mommy, Daddy and Grammy.

I like helping to buckle Gavin into his bassinet/swing/carseat/anything with buckles.

I think his tub should always have water in it, and that my dolls should take precedence for baths, and that I should fit in it too (I don't).

All in all, Gavin is so cute.  I'm very sweet and good with him, and have only had a few extra tears and tantrums.  I'm a big sister!

Busy Bees Bring May Flowers!

Where to begin with this past week?  Chronologically, I suppose!  We were very, very busy bees this week!  Daddy was all over the place early in the week, driving to NYC and Delaware for meetings.  His work ethic pays off, so it's worth a few bedtimes with just Mommy.  Daddy and I went to the park to make up for lost time, and had a lot of fun.  But I had an epic fall on the way home, as a result of Riesling trying to chase a bunny!  Ask to see my battlescar - I'm proud to show it off!  Grandma and I played all day on Thursday, and then Grandma and Mommy went to Babies R Us to pick up a few more things for Baby Gavin (who should be getting here very soon) and some play dresses for me. 

Friday was when the real action got going.  We started early, with a trip to the allergist to see why my nose is always so runny.  The doctor checked Baa's ears first, then mine.  Then a really nice nurse wrote tickly letters all up my arm!  I liked the ABC's on there, but was not a fan of the scratches that followed.  In good news (sorta), I'm not allergic to anything!  I just have a really, really runny nose. 

Friday afternoon, I hung out with Grandma.  Daddy went to work and Mommy went to her 37 week check-up.  THEN Mommy met Daddy at the car dealership to buy me a new car!!  Mom's Honda Civic has been wonderful for the past seven years, but just wasn't big enough for me, Riesling AND baby Gavin.  So they upgraded to a 2010 Honda Odyssey.  I really like it!  I thought they bought the car for me, and was pretty upset when Dad said it was Mommy's car.  Mommy offered to share it, and Daddy promised I can have it when I turn 16!  I can't even count that high yet (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-7)!  After car shopping, we drove up to Hunt Valley to have dinner with Grandma, Pop-pop, Andy and Maria.  I was exceptionally well behaved.  Daddy ordered the 54-piece "love boat" sushi platter, which was really pretty to look at.  I even ate some of the sushi rice!

My Mom's new van

Daddy had to work part of Saturday, so Mom and I drove the new van to pick up my friend Jackson and his parents to go to Derby Day at Pimlico.  There was live music, and food, and horses, and a HUGE field for me and Jackson to run around in.  Obviously, I kicked off my shoes as soon as I could.

Dancing

Daddy met us all there after work, and we had a great time.  I bet on Union Rags, and was disappointed.  But Mommy bet on Bodimeister to show, and won a few dollars!  After we watched the Kentucky Derby (and admired many hats), we skipped back to the van to head home:

Skipping

I was pretty exhausted, so I went to bed as soon as we got home.  I had yet another big day on the horizon and needed my beauty sleep!  Mom woke me up very early on Sunday so I could drive into Baltimore for a morning with Thomas the Tank Engine!!

My BFF Audrey's mom arranged it all, and we went just with our dads.  We had lots of fun, and here are some pictures!

Thomas!

With my BFF

Huggies!

On one of the stationary trains at the B&O Museum
(Daddy says I enjoyed those ones more than the moving Thomas one)

What a busy, but fun weekend!  We are all exhausted, but are back at work and school today.  Looking forward to more adventures this month!

Ice Cream!

I got my very own ice cream cone!  It was delicious, but I mostly liked eating the sprinkles. 

Daddy helped me to finish that HUGE cone of ice cream!  I didn't mind if he took bites, as long as he didn't get any of my SPRINKLES!

April Recap

Laura is as cute as ever.  I hope my recap posts don't get too overshadowed by the arrival of Laura's baby brother in the next few weeks!  Here are a few anecdotes I noted from the month of April:

My waffle wooks wike a boat!  Sure enough, Laura had bitten her waffle into a shape like a sailboat

Potato - play doh

We have been introducing some classical music with iPad apps.  So far, Laura really likes Verdi, but is not a fan of Tchaikovsky!

Laura got to meet her "Uncle Ruscle"

Laura loves playing with her cousin "Jamesman"

My fwends (any child she's playing with whose name she can't remember)

Sings twinkle, rockabye baby, wheels on bus, no more monkeys, Alice the camel

Recites humpty dumpty

Uses "Actually" and "probably" in correct context

Aw! He's so tiny! Laura says this to her dolls (all named Gavin) as she tucks them in and feeds them.  I take this as a great sign for Gavin's impending arrival!

Knows triangle, square, heart and star

Laura scolded me for saying "mm hmm" in answer to her, but has been using both "mm hmm" (affirmative) and mm mm" (negative) ever since.  That is a habit we need to break - I can't tell what she wants half the time!

Maleficent is tired. Needs a nap.  Maleficent (the evil fairy in Sleeping Beauty) probably does need a nap.  She is really cranky!

Gwammy and Bimpy!

Mom and I drove to the Hairport Wednesday night, where we found Gwammy standing outside the terminal waiting for us!  How exciting!  I really was overjoyed to see her, even if I got distracted by a Dora book at the worst possible moment. 

The best part of having Gwammy at my house is that we get to play together all day Thursday and Friday!  On Thursday, we had an epic tea party:

We went to the playground for a little while, then caught up on a little reading outside:

And blew some bubbohs:

On Friday, my Bimpy arrived!!  He was really busy on his laptop and phone all day, but not so busy he couldn't enjoy some delicious cookie soup:

Gwammy and Bimpy inexplicably disappeared Saturday morning (for the wedding of dear friends from their home), so I chilled with Mommy while Daddy was at work.  Then, Mommy went into the city for a taping of Jeopardy (look out for the one with Lewis Black!) while Daddy and I played late into the night (um, 9pm).

We all woke up bright and early Sunday morning, put on our party dresses, and went to brunch:

I really was a very good girl at brunch!  Brunch is nice, because you can eat as soon as you know where your table is.  Brunch is also nice, because they have a DESSERT BAR!!  I ate several marsha-mallows and then did some laps up and down the hall with the pink carpet.  I asked for more sugar, but didn't get it.  Eventually I told my dad, "I calming down," but he thought I said "I coming down."  Same difference?

Gwammy and Bimpy came back after brunch, and we got to play a little longer before they each had to depart again.  On the way to school Tuesday morning, I asked Mommy when I can see them again.  She said after Gavin is born, so I hope that is soon!

Showers!

We were back in PA the weekend after Easter for showers.  And not the wet, soapy kind (although I got one of those, too).  On Saturday, we went to a bridal shower for my cousin (more like an aunt) Jen, who is getting married to Jared.  The shower was really nice, with lots of yummy food and CUPPY CAKES!  Jen's brother, Russell, flew in from Alaska for the shower, which was really special.  I was most excited to see my cousin "Jamesman" (Jameson) Jamesman's cousins Laken and Lakota were also there.  I just called them "my fwends" because I kept forgetting their names.  I love my cousin Jamesman!  We played really nicely all weekend.  We even took a bath together! 

On Sunday, we went to a baby shower for Aunt Liz and Uncle Vinny for my baby cousin Nico.  Nico will be here just a little after my baby brother Gavin!  Two babies for me to look after!  Aren't they lucky to have me to watch out for them?  My Grammy says I'll probably be more jealous of Nico than I will of Gavin, because Nico will be stealing my Uncle Vinny's attention from me!  I don't believe it - I know Uncle Vinny loves me almost as much as I love him!  Lots of people came for the baby shower, and they brought so many tiny things!  I just loved helping Aunt Liz open the presents - I'm a pro at it. 

Baby Nico received many lovely things, including the same Baa Sheep play mat that I have!  I was a little confused and thought it was mine, so I took a little nap on it during the party with Jamesman and our friend Baby Lucas.  I'm sure there are pictures, but my photographer left the camera in Pop-pop's car. 

Even though it was a baby shower for Liz, Vinny and Nico, my mom and baby Gavin got a few presents, too!  I really liked the blankie and Blue Mickey Mouse that Gavin got as presents.  So I'm keeping them.  Mom says I'll need to share them when Gavin gets here, but we'll see about that!

Updated May 7, 2012: PHOTOS!!

The Mommy and Daddy to be

The soon-to-be newlyweds

Easter

Peter Cottontail has come and gone, but I am just getting around to posting about my Easter!  The short story?  Lots of egg hunts.  Lots of sugar. 

On Saturday, I went over to my friends' house for a fun egg hunt in their backyard.  My Grandma watches these two on the days she's not watching me.  We get along really well, even if I can't understand why they call her "Nanny Bernyce" and they can't understand why I call her Grandma!

 On Sunday, my mom put me in yet another party dress (wear 'em if you've got 'em!) bright and early.  As soon as I was dressed, I got to go on a "scabenger" hunt through Grandma's house!  Here's a photo of me with a fist full of clues, and looking for my next one.  I almost liked the clues more than the prizes.  Almost.  I really, really enjoyed all that "tato" (which Mom translates as Play-doh).

We went to church after my scabenger hunt where I was really noisy until I fell asleep just before Communion.  I told Mom I was a really good girl.  She disagreed.

After church, I got to eat LOTS OF SUGAR!  It was delicious.  I love sugar!  Mom and Dad ate yummy dinner with the whole family, and then it was time to go.  Cue meltdown.  I didn't want to leave Grandma's house!  I didn't want to get in the carseat!  I cried.  Then I told mom, "I JUST NEED MORE SUGAR!" and promptly fell asleep.  Happy Easter!

Extra! Extra!

I'm so cute, I made the front page.  Age two (and two months) and already famous.  That's how I roll.

(My friend is pretty cute, too.  I'll give him that.)

Strawberry Hugs

There is something about two-year-olds that just makes them completely, 100%, irresistably adorable.  Something in their mix of innocense, budding personality and imagination.  The mix is intoxicating.  I can’t get enough of it.

I got home somewhat late on Friday, having seen a matinee of Hunger Games* with some coworker friends.  Laura met me at the door with squeals of laughter and glee. 

Mommy came back!!  That’s my mommy!  Mommy home from work!! 

She jumped up in my arms as soon as I was through the door for the biggest, squeeziest hug of my life.  I love big, squeezy hugs.  They are the best, and I told Laura as much.  Laura responded by squeezing harder and harder, so she was dangling from my neck, as I set down my purse and moved into the family room.

It’s a strawberry hug, Mommy!  I make it for you!  I bake it in my kitchen!

Laura slid down to the floor, grabbed a bowl and spoon from her kitchen, and handed them to me.

Here Mommy!  More strawberry hugs!  I gib you strawberry kiss?

I snatched her up for another strawberry hug and this new strawberry kiss.  A big, wet, noisy kiss right on my lips.  And a few more strawberry hugs as my heart melted and I navigated us to the couch.

I heard from Nate a little later that Laura had told him strawberry hugs are much stronger than regular hugs, because she makes them special in her kitchen.  Strawberry hugs are the very specialist kind.  I was worried that strawberry hugs might be a temporary thing, as so much of being a two-year-old is fleeting.  Having received tons of extra squeezy strawberry hugs all weekend, I think they are around to stay.  At least for a little while.

I hope they stay for a long time.  Strawberry hugs are the very best hugs.  Ever.

*Hunger Games was fantastic.  I’m so glad I had a chance to be a part of it on opening day.  I loved the adaptation from the book.  But it was not nearly as awesome, in any way, as strawberry hugs.  How could it be?

March Recap

Some months I'm great at writing down all the hilarious things Laura says and does.  Other months, I start off strong... and then drop the ball a little bit.  March was one of those months.  Laura was absolutely hilarious and wonderfully TWO the whole month, but I was only able to jot done some of what "cwacked us up".  Here's what I have:

• Laura was wearing her backpack (a mouse), and "put" an imaginary backpack on Ries, saying "Ries hab a Dora packpack!"  This was one of those brief moments where Ries wasn't hiding from Laura (or stealing her food)
• Laura started reading a book to herself with "Hippopotamus time" - once upon a time
• I tried to get Laura to eat her dinner by saying, "Dora eats *her* dinner!"  To which Laura responded "My don't!"
• Laura is in a big girl bed!  She loves it, and has adjusted really well.
• I was being sarcastic, responding to something with "Oh! Who knew?"  Laura answered "Waura!"
• Nate was voicing Ries's thoughts: "you crazy kid." Laura says "I'm not a crazy kid!" (But she definitely is)
• After a few days of refuting her craziness, Laura started saying "I'm a crazy kid!"  (Because she definitely is)
• Laura has adopted a pair of "oben grubs" (oven gloves/mitts) for cooking with in her play kitchen
• Laura yelled at me to "Turn on the night, Mommy!" She was asking me to turn off the light.
• Laura has been showing some true abstract imaginative play.  In one example, she was feeding a stuffed dog, putting it outside, and buying it at store (the side table in the entry).
• Thinks number zero is the number "donut"
• Strawberry hugs.  Oh my, the strawberry hugs.  This needs a blog post of its own, the cuteness.
• Laura asked (so sweetly), "Watch Dora on the tv? Say yes?"  How could I say no! 
• Laura wanted help with something silly and shouted "Ayudeme!"  The Spanish phrase for "Help me!" which she learned from all that Dora. 
• Laura was sitting on my lap doing something ridiculous, and before I could say a word she put her pointer finger on my nose and said, "I cwack you up!"  Yes, Laura. You do cwack me up.

And since he doesn't have a place of his on (yet), Gavin started having hiccups in utero this month.  I'd forgotten how silly those feel!