Happy Hollow with Friends

Today Gavin and I went to Happy Hollow to meet some friends. We decided to get a membership there since Gavin is now old enough to love it. He actually loved it when he was one last year, but we did not want to start the membership at the end of the summer.  He is actually free until he is 2, so it was a great deal!

When we got there my friend Hilary and her daughter Madeleine (15mo) were already there. We have not seen them in a while, so it was fun to get together! M & G were off exploring immediately, and they had the most fun playing in the wood chips. Go figure. They rode the cars for a while, and went down the slides. Poor M had a little “Uh-Oh” as Gavin says. She went flying down the slide before we even realized, and hit her face on the slide at the bottom. Even with a busted lip, she calmed right down, and kept playing. Not much was going to stop her from keeping up with the big boys!

Gina met up with us soon after, with her 2 boys. Jackson (Almost 3) and Charlie (6mo).  We all ran around the park, and Jackson helped show the babies what to do. I got to hold sweet Charlie for a little while too:) (Gavin was a little jealous!) Charlie is the definition of an easy baby. He just watched the older ones run around, and would smile when I gave him attention. So sweet:)

We had lunch in the sunshine, while G and Jackson played and ran around. Then we went to see all the animals, and Jack kept yelling “See more animals!!!” each time we saw one. It was pretty cute to watch these two run around and laugh at all the animals. Gavin’s favorite animal was the perrot. Or “Birds” as he says. They were talking to each other, and Gavin & Jack thought this was hilarious. We also got to see lots of other animals like the lemur, turtle, monkey, capybara, pig (Not sure the real name of these things!), fossa, jaguar, deer, duck and meerkats! Gavin LOVES to see the animals. 

Right before we left we stopped at the swing that Gavin loves to sit on. He laid on it with baby Charlie, and it was adorable to see them laugh and smile at Gina. I can’t leave him on this too long, or he will fall asleep. His eyes start to get droopy, and he tries so hard to stay awake…that’s when I get him off to head home!

It was a really fun day with work friends, and their kiddos. Hilary, Gina and I are all relief nurses at LPCH, so its nice that we can all get together…Now only if we all lived closer to one another!

Gavin the teacher

What a busy past few weeks! I really wish I had more time to blog, but its been pretty busy around here. Well, and Gavin is a non-stop kinda toddler, so its HARD to find time to do this anymore! Anyways, I wanted to just write down a few things so I don't forget!

We have been busy with lots of things this past week. Preschool open house's, playdates with the playgroup, playdates with friends, LOTS of sunny park days, and lots of nice walks outside. I have also picked up a few extra shifts at work, so it has been a busy time!

Gavin has recently become obsessed with anything that has to do with planes, birds, trucks, or balloons. If he sees, hears, or knows we will see them, he tells me about 100 times. He loves to look at trucks while driving or walking. He says "truck" over and over. If a plane fly's by, Gavin knows it. I am always so amazed that he hears and sees them, even when I don't! He also spots any bird flying nearby...and tells me "Bird!!!"

Gavin has been climbing all over everything when we go to the parks now. Not just what he is supposed to climb on, but also what he is not. Just today he taught the other boys in his playgroup how to climb up on some big rocks at the park. There were a million other kid friendly things he could have climbed on, and he chose the big dangerous rocks. He does this all the time. If it is the right height to get up on something, he is there! I used to go run and stand right by him, but now I just watch, and keep my fingers crossed:) (If it was really dangerous, I would be close!) Anyways, he sure is quite the little teacher, or should I say influence, when he plays with his friends! Oh lord, I can only imagine what he will be like as a teen!

Gavin is Mr. chatterbox all day long. Most is Gavin language, but we sure can figure out what he is saying!  He says more, no, yea, book, bird, truck, balloon, ohh, dad, and ma about 1,000 times a day.

Gavin is also pretty obsessed with Baby Einstein on the computer. He likes to watch the Baby Animals one and makes the "Whoooo" sound for the owl, and the "Ruff-ruff" for the dog. When he wants to read a book he says book, and when he wants to watch the Baby Einstein he says book. Hmmm.

I think that's all for now, Gavin is asleep, and I am Exhausted! I really never knew how much a busy toddler could wear me out!

Boys of the park

This afternoon we headed to Kekoa's house for a park playdate! Since G is finally on the same schedule as Kekoa, we are finally able to get together in the afternoons for real play-dates:) 

We played for a little bit at Kekoa's house, and then headed to Bachman Park, downtown Los Gatos. It was a beautiful walk, through the most beautiful town. We arrived at the park, and the boys made a dash for the sandbox. I never knew how much boys loved sand! They usually don't really play together, but today there was some interaction! Gavin was practicing "sharing" the sand toys, and I was very proud of him:) Kekoa did the funniest thing, he thought he should sit in the little dump truck...so cute!

Of course, Hsiaolei and I were able to talk, and have a really nice conversation while the boys played. This was so nice, and I really enjoyed our time. There is nothing like some adult conversation with a great friend:)

After the boys played, we had some snacks, and Gavin shared his snack with Kekoa. He tried to stuff it in Kekoa's mouth, pretty cute! Gavin LOVES to share his food. All the time. I think it is because he is secretly hoping he will get more food in return;) I am only kidding, he really does love to share food. Even with strangers at the market! 

Towards the end of the day, the boys were pushing each other in the dump-truck, and it was so cute to watch. Then Gavin caught eye of the older boys playing in the woods. Gavin always gravitates towards the older kids, especially the boys. He always sees them climbing trees, and running in the woods, and ALWAYS wants to join. He was off, in the woods, climbing the steep hill! Of course Kekoa wanted to join, so we were all in the woods. Hsiaolei laughed about how Kekoa has NEVER been interested in the  kids playing in the woods....that is until he saw GAVIN doing it! Such a good little influence Gavin is:)

We had a lot of fun today, thanks guys!

Gavin's Choice!

The past few days, Gavin has really been into picking his outfits out. I will tell him its time to get dressed, and he will go pick out his clothes. And socks. And shoes. And hats. This week he spent a few afternoons in his snow boots, when it was 70 degrees out! 

Gavin and HIS bike!

This is one of Gavin's Christmas presents from the Lyons family and Uncle Pat. The weather here has been very sunny and pretty warm during the day, so we finally got it out. Gavin and his daddy put this together one morning, and off he went! He cannot reach the pedals yet, so we have to push him. And steer for him. We have gone around the block about 800 times in a week. My back hurts!!! I just love how proud he is of himself, such a big boy!

Mr. One Nap

That's right. My baby is no longer the baby who takes 2 naps a day. He is on to one. Not by his choice, by ours. We have been doing a lot of experimenting around here to see if we can get him to sleep a little later than 4am. And this one nap thing has helped!

5:30 AM EVERYONE! Yes, you might say this is early, but NOT in our house!

So, here is the new schedule. Although it has been a VERY HARD WEEK, things are moving in the right direction. Slowly, but they are. Awake 5:30am. GO GO GO GO till 11am. Nap. GO GO GO GO till 7pm, then bedtime. We are pushing the nap a little later each day, so that eventually he will take an afternoon nap, go to bed by 7 or 8 and GASP maybe sleep till 6ISH. (I am up by 6am anyways, so this would be perfect.)

Since we are not taking any trips anytime soon, we thought this is the time. To be honest, we need to stay put for a while, as Gavin does best when he is on his schedule...and traveling is hard in general. I HATE not being able to see my family more often, but it is getting harder and harder. Not to mention its quite expensive, and we are living on a little more than one income. So, we are here, AND WE LOVE VISITORS!!! (And Delta has some good deals now, hint-hint!)

Gavin is a very big creature of habit. He LOVES his routines and schedules. So do I. This is an adjustment for all of us but it seems to be going in the right direction. Although, this makes him even more a toddler...only toddlers nap once a day! Goodbye 2 naps!

Happy Birthday KK!

Today was Kaylin's 1st Birthday Party!!! This was such a special day, and it was soooo pretty outside! (70's!!!) I got to the party when it started at noon, and got to enjoy lunch with friends and even got to hold KK for a few minutes. G and Derek showed up a little after 1, because Gavin was still sleeping from his nap! (We are trying this one nap a day stuff.) Anyways, once G got there, he ate a ton of food (shocker) and had TWO cupcakes! Kaylin was so cute with her cake. She would get a crumb off, and eat it. Over and over. She was not messy at all! It was such a big difference from Gavin's cake eating!!! (I guess that's the difference between girls and boys;) Kaylin was then baptized in the back yard, and it was a beautiful ceremony with all her family and friends around. I think I got a little teary!!! 

After her party, we walked home and stopped by the park. Gav had to run off all the sugar he just ate! Such a beautiful day, Happy Birthday KK!