GG's!

Yesterday afternoon we headed to Crossville, TN to surprise some of Jason's family. It was great! Jason's dad is in Israel for the week so Starla and Lindsey drove down to visit Bill and Maxine (Starla's parents). We were so glad we got to pop in one evening to visit. Gavin loves his GG's!

GG, can we go fishing again like last time?
I love when Gammy gives me a bath in the sink!

Mohawk man!

Oh Gammy, don't pour water on my head again!

Gavin loves to see Chief :)

Mommy thinks GG and Lindsey wanted me to be a girl! They keep trying to teach me about this crazy makeup stuff!

So, you're you saying I color around your eye with this??? You women are crazy!

GG LOVES her Gavin and Daisy!

(Gavin is telling them he's ONE)

We hate that our visit was so short, but tomorrow morning is Grandpa Graham's funeral so we had to get back to prepare for that. Great to see you GG's. Gammy and Lou - see you in October!

Enjoying the Porch

Yes, that would be a dead beetle he is holding!

It ended up in his mouth before mama got it :)

Triplets?

We often joke around that when you have the twins and Michael it is just like having triplets! Michael and Ella sure can get on each others nerves every now and then (ok, ALL THE TIME), but they were all loving on one another for this picture Wednesday morning!

My Wish

While driving home from dinner tonight, the song "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts came on the radio. It was the perfect song to sum up today for two reasons.

One, it puts so many of the hopes and dreams I have for Gavin into a song. I know Gavin will grow up so fast and become an amazing man just like his daddy. I have so many hopes and dreams for him.

Two, today my step-grandfather passed away. It was bittersweet, as he is 91, suffered Alzheimer's, a broken ankle, and so many other things recently. David got the call last Monday that this was the beginning of the end. All David's sisters flew in and they've been by grandpas bedside for a week now. Today he went home to Jesus. It's so sad he is no longer on the Earth, but such a great thing he's HOME now, with no more problems of the world. I just feel like while he was laying in bed this week surrounded by his wife and children that he was thinking all the words that this song says. He would want his kids to dream big, keep their worries small, and know that he always loves them!

"My Wish"

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Birthday Post #2

More pictures from Gavin's big birthday afternoon!

We we're singing "5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" as we got ready for dinner!
Kaylee and I ready for dinner

Dinner at "The Depot"

(a great little restaurant in Springfield, TN right off a train track)

I brought Gavin's high chair to the restaurant to make it easier!

Cupcake time!

(Cupcake & icing made special by nana!)

Dig in!

What a mess :)

Such a sweetheart, always wanting to share with mommy!

Touchdown!

(There was a football game on tv near our table)

Gavin and Mommy with a cupcake mess!

I just can't get enough of my LB!

Heading to the train tracks!

Gavin kept putting the phone to his ear saying "Hi Dad" - it was sooo cute and I hate that I didn't get a video of it!

He has this new laugh that is just a riot - he's doing it in this pic!

Having a talk with aunt Kaylee about all the rocks.

Birthday Boy

Covered in dirt, but still the cutest thing in the world.

There's that laugh again!

Snapshot of Kaylee...

...and Mike!

He was a little sad he couldn't bring that stick home with us.

I never knew how entertaining the train tracks could be!

Home and getting ready for bed.

Hope you had the best first birthday ever little buddy. It only could have been better if your Daddy, Gammy, Pop, and Aunt Lou Lou were here.

We all love you so much Gavin Barrett Smith.

Happy 1st Birthday.

You make your mommy so proud.

Birthday Post #1 (of MANY)

To read about our story 1 year ago today, click here: GAVIN'S BIRTH STORY

A photo just after midnight of the BIRTHDAY BOY!

Yes, I will be documenting this day from start to finish!

(Would you expect any less from me?!?!)

He sleeps so peacefully with his daddy dog.

Please excuse the pink pillow! He normally wouldn't use a pillow, but with his wheezing this week I like to keep him as propped up as possible. Since we're borrowing Ella's room, pink is all that was available! :) The blanket he's covered in is the one we brought him home from the hospital in!

Good morning to my favorite one year old in the whole world.

I put him to bed last night then went out and got him balloons and beads (2 of his favorites!) so he'd have them when he woke up this morning. He's not going to know what to do at his birthday party Saturday when there are 18 balloons all over for him!
Ready to go do his favorite morning activity!

"Stay"

Breakfast... his favorite cereal bar and some cottage cheese!

Here is his new way to wear a shirt!

Telling mommy he is "SO BIG!"

His birthday shirt is all ready!

An answered prayer... a call from daddy!

Gavin waved bye-bye to the phone when it was time to hang up, so sweet!

Man's Best Friend

Gavin is at an age where he LOVES taking the dogs outside to play ball. I always have to bring two balls out now, one for Gavin and one for the dogs. He tries to copy everything I do - he will say "Stay" and "Throw" then after we throw the ball he says "Go, go, go!" over and over while they run and get the ball. It's so funny! Then he gets so excited that he gets to talking in his own little babble. It cracks me up. These dogs are lucky Gavin is so into them, or they surely wouldn't be getting to play ball quite as much!

LT

Hogan

They LOVE to play ball.

Tired!

Could those tongues get any longer?!?

Weekend

Friday night we went to Nashville to have dinner at the Macaroni Grill. Gavin was full of energy and not wanting to sit at the table any longer after we finished so I took him outside to play until everyone else was ready to leave. Of course, he was having a great time greeting everyone that entered and was walking all over the place, until... he fell! And he fell hard! He busted his lip in 3 places and scratched up his chin. So much for some great 1st birthday pics this week, but at least the cuts & scrapes add a little personality and show just how adventurous Gavin is! He instantly started bleeding really bad so we went inside and our waitress brought out ice and let us take a linen cloth home to wipe the blood. No tears - he's a trooper! Too bad his daddy isn't home to see the battle wounds of his 2nd bad fall (he chipped a tooth in February from his first fall down a step!)

Saturday I loaded the kids up and went to a few yard sales. I found this great "Mega Blocks" Table for $3!!! The kids love it and have been playing on it since. We'll be able to have it set up at Gavin's b-day party next weekend for the kids to play! Hopefully we can fit it in the Yukon on the way home! Gavin will love having this in his playroom :)

Today (Sunday) we've stayed home in our pajamas all day! Gavin has been suffering through bad wheezing/coughing/congestion issues (we were in the ER earlier this week) and we needed a day for him to stay home and catch up on sleep. Tomorrow is the last day of his steroids prescription, so I hope he's feeling better soon. I was hoping he'd be a little more cleared up by now, but I guess these things take their sweet time. Reagan is now suffering through the same thing Gavin has. These boys and their lung issues - I feel so bad for them, as I know exactly how it all feels! I wish I could just take it from them right now.