Life!

After retuning home from Mexico, the first part of 2013 was fairly relaxed around here.  I was busy with work, picking up extra shifts to make up for the time we were gone, and Jared was busy with TranquilMed.

Gavin has always been a social little guy, but especially lately, he LOVES playing with his friends, and is always trying to make new ones.  Since there are so many little ones in our ward, they have two nurseries, and after Christmas Gavin got to move up to the "BIG KID" nursery!  There's less playing with toys, and instead they do more puzzles and other activities, as well practicing sitting in chairs for a lesson.

One of Gavin's favourite places to play is at Provo Beach Resort at The Riverwoods.  Here he is bowling and playing with his friend Eden (Eden's mom Amy and I work at the hospital together, and take turns watching these two ever once in a while, which has been WONDERFUL!)

Eden and Gavin throwing snowballs

For St. Patrick's Day we didn't do too much (I think we even forgot to wear any green), but a few days before, Patti was up for a visit and did a cute St. Patrick's Day scavenger hunt for Gavin, which he LOVED!  Behind every shamrock he found was a special treat.

Later in March was Free Entrance Day at the Children's Discovery Museum in Salt Lake, and some Mom's were going up with their kids on the newly finished Front Runner.  Gavin loved the train ride, and the museum was a ZOO!  We'll maybe have to go back again sometime when it's not so crazy busy.  Before heading home we stopped to watch the fountains and grab an ice cream cone.

I wish I was better at posting more regularly, so I could remember all the cute little things Gavin is starting to do.  I know I'm missing a bunch, but here are some of the cute things he is doing and saying lately:

1) Drawing 'real' pictures - We were in church a while back, and Gavin showed me a picture he drew of a baby.  I really should post a picture of it, but it consisted of three circles, with a straight line underneath (eye's nose, and a mouth!)

2) Potty trained! - We were finally done with diapers by the middle of January, and now Gavin is only wearing diapers at night.  How I LOVE not having to change diapers!

3) SAVE MY LIFE!!!! - I'm really not sure where he got this from, but we'll be playing on the couch or his bed, or sometimes while he's at the table eating, and he'll lean over as if he's falling and yell, "SAVE MY LIFE!!!!"

4) BY MYSELF! - Gavin is so insistent on doing everything by himself.  That would be great, if he didn't scream for help when he couldn't figure it out, and also scream for me to go away when I DO try and help.  But it's getting better!  Gavin can now get dressed by himself (as long as he gets his arms and legs in the right holes - we've had pants and underwear on backwards, and heads trying to fit through arm holes!).  He can close his car door and buckle himself in his car-seat (sometimes waiting 5 to 10 minutes is not an option and we it for him).

5) Big Money's - Gavin knows that 'big money's' (or quarters) fit perfectly in all those machines at the exit of most stores.  Now whenever we go grocery shopping, he begs for a "big money to put in the candy machine".  Thanks Smiths!

6) Movies - Gavin has known for a while now how to put a DVD in the Xbox, turn it on, turn on the controller, and press play from the start menu.  This has been GREAT when Jared and I want to rest a little longer in the mornings.  Lately, Gavin has discovered some home videos that I've made, and LOVES to watch his own DVD about when he was born, as well as "Mommy and Daddy's movie" (the DVD from our wedding day).

I wish I could remember every cute thing he does, and sometimes I find myself thinking, "Oh I'll for sure remember that!"  Then of course end up completely forgetting the silly thing he was doing.  I want to keep a journal handy to write all those little things down in, especially as I realize that he'll be turning three so soon, and is just growing up much too fast!