Arts and Crafts

Well today was my attempt at being crafty. I was starting to feel like I needed a hobby so I decided to go to Jo-Anne's craft store and find some thing to do. They are having a sale on kids fabrics so I got a yard of curious george material and made a standard pillow case for Gavin. I sewed it by hand so it took a couple of hours but it was nice and relaxing. Then my friend across the street gave me a bag of random things that she said she would never use- A Beadazzler (so 1980s), a Candle Maker, and a stamp/laminating machine. We beadazzled some of my denim overalls and random things around the house, and I made a candle. I also got corn starch and corn syrup and a few other odds and ends so we can do some toddler crafts later this week. My hope is to do one craft a week. I would like to do more than that but it gets pricey buying all the materials and setting everything up. I never realized I could make my own chalk, finger paint, and bubbles at home. I don't know if it will be worth all the trouble, but at least I can try it out and see.

Gavin loves to help me cook in the kitchen so this morning I let him crack the eggs into the frying pan and then stir them. I let him use our little hand held blinder when I make mashed potatoes and he LOVES IT! I forget sometimes that little everyday tasks are so much more interesting to him, and he really gets a kick out of feeling like he's helped. Why is it always so easy to reflect on the day after it's over? Sometimes I look back at the day and wish instead of getting upset or raising my voice that I had just kissed him a little more, or shown more compassion.

Night Time Zoo

Yesterday evening we met up with a few friends at their kids at the Zoo. We had a great time. They had a live band playing Spanish style music when we arrived, something about it being Fiesta Week until the 1st? We ended up spending about an hour at the petting zoo and colored arts and crafts. A worker told me that they have arts and crafts set up only during the night time zoo. It seemed more busy than usual but there was also more going on so I can see why. I would like to make this a once a week regular trip. The only bad part was as soon as I arrived I started getting intestinal cramps and had to run to the bathroom a few times. I haven't had issues in awhile with my IBS, but for whatever reason it hit me hard yesterday. It's so embarrassing having to run to the bathroom so often and having to try to figure out what to do with Gavin while it happens. Luckily everyone was very helpful and Gavin didn't seem to mind.

I hope today I feel better. Not much more to comment on since I'm half asleep and need to start breakfast. I just wanted to recommend the night time Zoo and see if anyone else is interested in going with us sometime.

New Children's Museum

Wow, we just got back and I am totally exhausted! Gavin had a ball! I was a little bummed because all the fun things I would have liked to do, Gavin was not interested in doing. They had a huge car with paint brushes and tables with clay to mold, also an outside bubble area. I mean everything you could think of it had. He didn't want to paint, didn't want to play with the clay, and didn't want to blow bubbles. Normally he does enjoy doing those things, but I think it was a bit overwhelming to have so many options all at once. What he did want to do was climb up and down the stairs and play with the see through elevator. He LOVED the mattress room they have set up on the 3rd floor. It is an entire room with mattress on the walls and floors and even a queen sized mattress that is propped up like a slide so the kids could climb up and slide down it. He jumped all over the beds and dove into soft tires that were covering the ground. I think he could have just played there the entire time.

They have a rock climbing area for older kids. On the lower level there is a room with dolphins and fish projected onto the floor so the kids can run around and chase the moving fish. There is also a dress up area with clothes... an area with wooden sticks that you can stack, and play wooden cars that you can slide down a huge hill.

It isn't easy to park but I got there earlier enough and found a metered parking spot about a block away. I think it cost around 2 bucks in quarters for 2 hours (not bad). If you use the paid parking it is 10 bucks~~crazy!! It is also 10 bucks per person and kids over 1, so it would have cost 20 bucks just for today, so instead I got the 1 year membership. It's 75 bucks but pays for your entire family (not sure if there is a limit on kids), but that means the three of us can go as often as we want. I put down a guest pass as the alternate pass since I didn't want it to only be for my husband. This way I can bring any guest with me (Grandma, MIL, etc) when we go. When I think about all the paint and clay and supplies they provide you with it really is a good deal.

Now if I could just get Gavin to want to paint, lol. They provide smocks to wear but the paint can still dry and stain so it's best to wear frumpy clothes. I'm sure I forgot to mention other things that the museum has going on, but hopefully I got the main points across. We will definitely be going more often. It does get busy but it wasn't too bad going early and leaving by 11.

Men at rest

I don't know how much longer I have a quiet house so I may have to make this short and sweet. Gavin has amazingly been sleeping since 3pm, and so has my husband! Please ignore his pasty white skin, lol, since he works nights he hasn't had much time to tan.

So while they are both peacefully sleeping I cooked dinner, did the dishes, ate, and just baked a cake. I thought for sure that I would hear a cry or see a head peak around the corner at any minute. I know when Gavin wakes up it will be tough getting him to bed at his normal time, but it is soooo worth having some free time to cook . I love baking but it seems like I never get the time to do it anymore. Gavin seems to cling at my leg whenever I start any cooking projects.

This brings up a whole other topic. I want to start being more crafty and do some fun activities with Gav. I attempted to tie dye one of his white shirts this afternoon, but it wasn't as easy as I thought. I didn't have rubber bands so the string fell off and it looks more like a blue shirt with some light blue smuges on it. Oh well, it was my first try. So any craft ideas would be greatly appreciated! I found some easy sand ones and a few things we could make out of toilet paper rolls, but nothing that seems like a whole lot of fun. I think I'll take him to the New Children's Museum tomorrow morning so he can get crafty and messy there. I heard they have tons of paint and chalk activities for toddlers to do, and the fact that I wouldn't have to clean any of it up is a huge plus.

Better run now so I can ice my cake before someone stirs.

Which Goddess are you?

Which Goddess are you?

Which Goddess Are You?

http://www.quizilla.com/quizzes/7545936/which-goddess-are-you

37% Take another quiz!

You are Hera
You are closest in personality to Hera, the queen of the goddesses. Hera was lovely, elegant, regal and grand - in short, she was a true lady. Hera was also the protector of married women and Hera types tend to be somewhat traditional in love and value marriage, family, children and fidelity very highly. You are also practical and show good common sense.

It's A .....

BOY!!!

This time around he was dancing around doing flips so the tech found out he was a boy in a matter of seconds. It's amazing how she can see something so tiny... I still had trouble seeing it after she pointed it out to me. I was a little sad because I had slight hopes I would be the first to have a girl in our family, but a huge part of me knew it would be a boy. I am greatful that I have all the clothes and supplies for a boy so things should be a lot cheaper this time around. I also like the idea of the two of them sharing a bunk bed and having each other to bond with about boy issues. Now it's time to pick out a name. We already know his middle name will be my dad's name, Peter, but we're still not decided on first names.

As long as he's healthy that's all the truly matters in the end. Now time to prepare!

Will I find out today???

Tonight at 6pm I have another go at trying to determine what sex the baby is. Any tips on getting him or her to open his legs or roll over for me?? I really hope I can find out tonight... but if not I'll just wait another month for my 20 week ultrasound. Sooner or later I will find out regardless.

This morning Gavin and I went out to the beach and had a great time digging holes and splashing around. I hate dealing with the sandy clothes and cleaning up afterwards, but it's worth all the fun we have. I dug a large hole for Gavin to jump inside, but as soon as he sat in it, he decided to bury himself. It wasn't too deep so part of his chest and head were out of the sand, but it looked cute to see him popping up from the ground. AS soon as he was buried I ran to get the camera, but he decided he didn't want to be buried anymore and got out. I discovered later that he had buried his sandal in the hole too so I had to dig for awhile to try and find it.

The water is warming up nicely and the weather is just right. I decided I want to have a Beach Brunch next week or the week after that and invite everyone to come down and enjoy the water with us. Kids have so much fun getting wet and chasing each other around. I haven't determined the exact date yet, but anyone interested just let me know. We can all sit back (HAH!) and munch on fruit and muffins while our kids tire each other out.

It worked for me! Gavin is passed out and hopefully will sleep for a good two hours if I'm lucky.

Zoo

Haha, whoops, I guess I got side tracked and ended up not writing anything about our day at the Zoo. Gavin napped on the ride home so of course didn't nap the rest of the day. On days he doesn't nap, Mommy doesn't get time to write a Blog or check up on her e-mails.

Yesterday I decided to go out and do something we hadn't done in awhile. We have year passes to the Zoo so I thought I'd give it a go and see how much trouble we get into. Gavin was amazing! He didn't throw any tantrums or try and get lost in the crowds of people... he very happily pushed his stroller by each animal and stopped and posed for pictures when I asked him to. I really had the best time I can remember going out in public with him. I hate to say that but the past 6 months or so I haven't wanted to go anywhere with him. He runs away from me and ignores me, and in the end I feel like I drag him home kicking and screaming.

This was the first time we didn't go to the petting zoo or kid area, but it actually worked out better that way. We started with the Flamingos and then walked through the monkeys and Gorillas. We walked further and saw the Panda's, Elephants, Giraffes, Camels, and Koala bears. I don't think I ever walked as much as I did yesterday without some sort of issues arising. I brought ice cold water and snacks, so we stopped on the way and tried to stay cool (it was HOT!). I also ended up getting a soft serve ice cream and it was so sweet to watch Gavin hold it and try his best to lick it. People looked at me like I was crazy for letting ice cream melt all over his hands and arms, but what more fun can a child have then making a complete sweet mess of himself ? After such a good afternoon we got home... but didn't nap. Oh well.

I plan on going to the Zoo more often now. I realized that maybe he had a better time because I wasn't stressing to meet someone or trying to see certain animals. Gavin was glad to be in control of where he wanted to go and not have any time constraints or agendas. My little man is growing up... or maybe it was just a fluke, lol. We all have our good days and our bad days.

"OOO"

Yesterday (Saturday) I went and got my hair done. It's funny how when I don't feel pretty I always feel better doing something different with my hair or getting my nails done. My highlights were growing out and it had been a few months since my last cut so I decided to go short again. It's a little different than what I had in mind, but I'm getting used to it, and my husband likes it. It's so much easier having it short. I don't even have to brush it! The touch up highlights look a lot more natural than they did before (something about a toner and brown hues?), so I guess more natural is better. :D

Gavin spent the afternoon at Great-Grandma's tormenting her cats and chasing the tiny dog around. I guess he discovered how to escape out of her backyard so on two occassions they found him next door at the neighbors house. The next door neighbor is a cute 3 year-old named Sammy. I am really happy that he has a friend to play with when he goes to my Grandmother's house... but at 2 years-old he is a little young to be running off and ringing their doorbell by himself. We'll have to figure out how to keep the gate locked.

Gavin progressed a little more with his speech therapist. He now says "Boo, Moo, and Hoots like an owl." I don't know why it's all words with ooo sound, but at least it's progress. I think he'll start talking when he's ready, so I'm not too worried about it anymore. I have heard of a few boys in our family that didn't talk until 3 or even 4 years of age, and they ended up very smart (Dentists and such).

Well that's about it for now. I'm getting phone calls from upstairs so my train of thought keeps getting interrupted.

Today the only exciting plan is the monthly trip to Costco. YAY!