Wild Animal Park

I thought maybe a hilly walk around the animal park would get this child OUT... but I am still with child. We did have a good time. We have year passes, so we go usually once a week. It is a lot of fun for Gavin since he loves animals. And it is especially great for me because he gets so exhausted and takes a two and a half hour nap. I never bring the camera, so I decided to document a little of his favorite place today.

He is hugging the deer. I know it looks like he is smelling his butt!

"See little girl, you pet the deer like this."

I love the petting coral.

Walking through the log. One of his musts at the WAP.

And the ball. It is in water, so the ball is all wet, and there is water at the bottom that Gavin has to splash!

Horton Hears A Gavin!

On Friday we decided to do something fun for Gavin. We went to Ruby's on the pier for dinner. Gavin loved it. He liked to watch the surfers which made Kyle proud, and run up and down the pier. Then following a healthy dinner of shakes, hamburgers, fries and salad too we walked back off the pier and went to the movie theater. We attempted to see the movie "Horton Hears A Who". It was Gavin's first movie. I don't know what we expected out of him, he can't even watch a whole movie at home! So needless to say, we stayed for the first 25 minutes. He sat on Kyle's lap for the first 25 minutes, and then wanted his OWN chair. We put him in a chair between us and I am sure you can guess what happened, the chair folded him in! Then he wanted to say "hi" to everyone around, so he kept saying , "Hi Boy", "Hi Girl". Then he saw the stairs, and it was all over. He was running down and tried to run back up, but we caught him. We decided that Gavin just was not ready. So we went home and got our money back. I still think Gavin had a good time. He kept calling the "Who People" monkeys, pretty funny. I honestly can not give a review because I did not watch any of it, but it seemed cute!

The Baby Count Down...

Alright, I know many of you are anxious to find out if I had Parker yet... sorry no exciting news. I have been having a lot of pressure, though. I have felt a few contractions yestersday and today, but nothing consistent. I have been trying everything. On Tuesday and Saturday I went to spin class, the usual, and Wednesday and Friday I lifted weights. I did squats, lunges, pull-ups and push-ups...(my usual work-out routine), but nothing. I think tomorrow I am going to bring Gavin to the Wild Animal Park, and see what happens. A St. Patrick's Day baby would be fun. I do not think this kid can travel any lower. He is at the canal, still confused on his exit strategy though. It is however, bitter sweet, to have him in the belly a little longer. I am still terrified to have 2 kids. I will keep you posted. Trust me I feel like I am going to explode, I do not need to hear the famous last words anymore..."You look like you are going to pop!" or "Can you get any bigger?" Ya know, I probably could! And yes I will not forget to sound the alarms when I go into labor. The ones who need to know will! Until He comes!

"Jesus Love You"

This morning Gavin walked past the picture of Jesus on the wall and said, "Jesus Love You." He was implying that Jesus loves us. I have been singing him the old Bible School song, "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world." He loves this song and really grasped the idea. It was really sweet. 

Gavin Counting to 10!

Gavin has been practicing counting to 10. This is a video of his attempt. He always forgets the 4 and the 9, but hey for being only 18 months old, I am a proud Mommy. He also likes to call us by our real names, Kyle and Whitney. It all started when I was yelling for Kyle when he was down skateboarding, so from then on he likes to call Daddy, Kyle. He is a lot of fun, and truly a sponge. He repeats everything we say... needless to say, we have to be a little careful.

Random Pictures

Gavin loves his baths. He did, however, go through a faze where he was terrified, but soon got over it. He loves to change the color of the water, and color with his bath crayons. Baths, as you can guess, do go on for about a half an hour...too much fun!

Because of all the rain the lower lawn was a jungle. Kyle was so excited to take out the riding lawn mower and cut the grass. Gavin enjoyed the ride too. I know many of you are very surprised to see him doing yard work, that is why I took the picture, proof! Kyle has done an amazing job outside and he really enjoys his work outside, I do too.

The yard is like a blanket of grass, so pretty!

Today I bought Gavin's BIG boy bed. Nap time came around, and I did not want too make such a big deal about his bed, and put him in his crib...so I snuggled down with him for about 15 minutes, he just wanted to talk about his bed, no relaxation, so I left him all alone in his bed. When I walked out he was sitting up and crying. I was sure he would get up and chase me. Then 1 minute later he stopped crying. I attempted to get a peek, so I crouched on the ground and tried to look under the door...imagine a big fat pregnant lady crouching to get a peek under the door, pretty funny. Well I did not see any feet so I figured maybe he gave up. I gave it about 20 minutes and opened the door to see if he was really sleeping, and he was! What a big boy. I hope tonight goes as well, if so, I am so thankful! Good boy Gav! 

Happy Valentine's Day for Us!

Well we had an eventful, scary Valentine's Day. Gavin woke up a little sick with a fever of 102 and cough. Gavin and I stayed home all day away from the rain outside. Feeling yucky from being in our pajamas still at 5pm, we took a shower together. Gavin being a little sick, rested on my shoulder during the whole shower, try washing your hair holding a clingy baby...not fun! Then all of a sudden his back arched, his body began to shake, and his eyes were rolling back. He was seizuring! I don't know if you have ever seen someone have a seizure, but it is the worst sight, let alone feeling you feel watching your baby convulse, and being unable to calm them. I was shouting, "Gavin, Gavin!" thinking he was dying or something. I have never been more scared. He was gasping for air, he literally looked possesed. I immediately got out of the shower, naked and wet, rapped him up in his towel and called 911. Gavin still seizuring, I finally got connected with the dispatcher. She told me to calm down, easy for her to say, and lay him on his side, then the seizure ended. It lasted almost 2 minutes. It felt like forever. The hot firemen came and checked him out. They explained to me that kids up to age 5 can seizure because of a rapid spike in their temperature. So the hot shower was the last thing I should have done. :(  Something about the hypothalmus not being completely developed until age 3 to 5, their brain is unable to signal to the body to start to sweat in order to cool the body, causing their brain to freak out and they seizure. Note to moms and dads: keep your child cool when they have a fever, no blankets or heavy clothes, it will only keep the body heat in. (something we learned) So I am completely emotional, being 8 months pregnant does not help. They suggested we go to the hospital to make sure the fever was the only reason for this violent episode.

My neighors, and friends from church came over (Kyle called them and they came over and arrived at our house the same time as the firemen. Kyle was racing home as well) Our Bishop came over a few minutes later and gave us comfort and we said a prayer and headed to the hospital. I am so greatful for our church and the kind, selfless people we know because of it. It is so comforting to know that other people care about you and your child enough to come over and check on you. Not to mention, we had many phone calls as well.  Belonging to a church where people are truly striving to be Christlike is amazing, and humbling as well.

We arrived at the hospital, and were admitted quickly. They did blood work, cotton swabbed his nose to check for the flu, did a chest e-ray to check for pneumonia, did a rectal thermometer 2 times (is the butt really necessary, why not the ear?), and did the usual weight, ear, throat check. Diagnosis: Flu! Poor kid had to be so tortured. His reason for his lack of sleep the night we got home is because of his tramatic hospital experience, I am sure of it! So yes, we have not slept in 2 days, and we are crossing our fingers that we do not get the flu as well. 

We hope you all had a much happier Valentine's Day and were able to spend it with your special Valentine's. I know I am so greatful for my Valentine's, Kyle and Gavin. Kyle is the best husband and father to Gavin. I am constantly smiling in awe of his patience and pure love he has for his Baby G, or Gabino. And Gavin is truly our greatest blessing. No other being can capture our thoughts and hearts the way he does. Do we really have more love to share with Parker? I am sure we do, and can not wait to add him to our family.