Sept 16 - 2 Year Checkup

The morning after Gavin turned two we had his 2 year checkup scheduled!  We just love his pediatrician and he did fantastic at his appointment.  We had practiced measuring his height and weight at home so he was a pro when he was called back.  He is 36 inches tall (wow) and weighs 32.2 pounds (with clothes/diaper on).  They did a finger prick to check his levels and all were ok.  We reviewed his asthma stuff and realized that he hasn't been on anything but his Singulair in over 8 months.  It's great that he hasn't required any type of steroid in that long.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Fall doesn't bring a bought of asthma and we can keep it maintained with just the daily dose of Singulair.  He didn't require any vaccines, though I will take him on post soon to get the flu vaccine.  (Our office was out of the shot and I prefer not to give him the mist because of his asthma history.)  He's met all the milestones on the 2 year checklist.  He's sleeping as he should be (10-11 hrs at night and 1 1/2-2 hrs at naptime).  We have a healthy, happy two year old boy!  

We have now switched him to 2% milk and have started him on 1/2 a Flinestone's Complete Vitamin each morning.  He calls it his "candy".  

He's starting to love singing, and does it all throughout the day.  Favorites are his ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Little Bunny Foo Foo.  It's HILARIOUS to listen to him sing!  His counting is a riot as well, as it usually goes something like this: "One, two, pour, nine, ten, l'eben, twelve-teen" - I love it!!

He's losing his Elmo obsession, and everything is now about trains, race cars, and sports.  When talking about race cars, he likes to tell his Gammy "I no like Jr.  I like Jimmie Johnson!" (except Jimmie Johnson comes out more like "Danny Dalton". 

Hopefully I can get some videos uploaded soon of his singing.

Birthday - Part 3 - Dinner, Cake, & (more) Gifts

Nap time was a challenge, but it worked eventually!

More gifts :)

Baseballs from the Ware's

Us at 5:55pm, the time he was born!

Dinner at home with the birthday boy... meatloaf, rolls, baked apples, and pasta with veggies

Cake time!

He liked a little taste of the icing...

...and then said "All done!  I play trains now?"

Birthday - Part 2 - Roundhouse Museum

Birthday - Part 1 - Train Table

Beyond excited about his big gift!

He wanted nothing to do with breakfast or his other gifts for awhile!

Finally ready to open another gift

New potty with 3 pair of boxer briefs!
After our Tennessee trip, we are seriously starting potty training!

Blowing out his Blueberry Birthday Muffin

Dentist & Preparing for the Birthday Boy

Tuesday morning (Sept 14th) I had our babysitter come over from 8:30-11:30.  I had a dentist appt at 9am and wanted to run a few errands after.  It was so nice to get things done all by myself!  :)  The dentist appointment went as great as a dentist appointment can.  No signs of cavities.  The only problem is that this pregnancy is causing my gums to bleed.  It's very normal and I did the same with Gavin, so they told me don't worry about it at all.  Our insurance will cover exams every 3 months while you are pregnant so I get to go back in December for one more cleaning before Stella arrives!  

Next I went back to the dreaded Walmart to look for my lost keys again.  Still no luck.  I'm going to assume they are gone for good and go ahead and get a replacement.  I've been holding off because the replacement keys and remote clicker are SO expensive for my vehicle since I have the remote start.  Maybe it'll be my Christmas present to myself!  

I ordered Gavin a mini cake and picked him up a few extra surprises and then bought diapers.  I enjoyed my time alone, but was of course excited to return home to my big boy.  We played a little then he went down for his nap and I started cleaning and packing for TN.  (Didn't want to have to spend time doing that on his birthday).  

Later that evening we went to the gym for a short workout and then to post to meet up with the HHC ladies for dinner and Bunko.  Gavin and I only stayed for dinner and skipped on the Bunko.  They called to tell me Gavin's cake was finished so I wanted to get that picked up and get him to bed to start on his train table!  

Table assembly was a success, though I didn't finish until nearly midnight.  Gavin knew something was going on and fought going to sleep until 10:30pm!  But, it was worth it.  Presents were wrapped and I headed to bed myself! 

19 & 20 week Update on Stella

Things with the pregnancy are going great!  Today I had my 20 week OB appt and the big ultrasound where they measure and evaluate everything.  Stella was fantastic.  There are no signs of downs syndrome or a cleft palate.  She has everything she needs and all body parts appear to be working properly.  One thing is for sure - she's going to be a big girl just like her brother.  When they averaged her sizes on all measurements, the overall "gestational age" was 21 weeks 1 day, so about 8 days ahead. I am 100% positive on the date of my last period, so that means we've just got a big girl!  The technician said this is the point they start taking on all the genes of the parents so maybe she's gonna be tall like her daddy!  Her heart rate was anywhere between 145 and 150 through the appointment.  Gavin, as always, loved listening to his little sisters heart beat.  His face lights up when it comes on.  He's going to be so proud to take his daddy to an appointment with us after this deployment and get to show off his baby sisters heart beat!  He holds my hand through it and tells me I'm doing a good job and then claps for me when it's over.  It's the sweetest thing.  I've gained about 8 pounds the last 20 weeks.  Not bad, but I still hate seeing that scale go up!  My blood pressure was 93/59.  Everything seems great.  +/- 20 weeks to go... we're half way there!  Gavin was so well behaved the whole time that he was rewarded with chocolate milk and a trip to soft play!

19 weeks along

20 weeks (measuring very big!)
Still a girl!

Feet crossed

Another lazy, pajama day...

Yesterday we spent the day at home in our pajamas, still recuperating from all our travels and 3.1 mile run!  The day seemed to drag, which was nice, but at the same time I like the days to go by fast!  We found a Braves baseball game on tv and started tackling a project - Gavin's train table.  I didn't bring anything in with a picture, so he had no idea what we were doing.  I only put the bottom together and will wait until the night before his birthday to finish the rest.  He'll love it when he wakes on his big day, covered in tracks and trains!

Sept 11: 5k Run for Wounded Warriors/Go Buckeyes!

GO BUCKEYES!  Ready for the game!

September 11th we signed up to run a 5k for wounded warriors.  All the money raised went to the Wounded Warrior Transition Unit here.  The goal was to raise $5,000 but at the end of the event they handed over a check for $10,000!  What an awesome gift to the wounded warriors!  At the start they had a "family fun run" around the track, so Gavin wanted to participate in that.  He made it about 1/8 of a mile before wanting to be held.  He did great!  Next was the 5k.  I wasn't sure I"d be able to run the entire thing pushing Gavin, but we made it work and finished in 29:27!  We came home and both napped, then spent the rest of the day being lazy at home watching football!  Go Buckeyes!

Before the run, we were both still too tired from getting up early!

The start of the family fun run - Gavin was ready to go!

And we're off :)  He has such great form!

Still truckin' along!

...and DONE!  He looked up saying "Hold me mommy."  

Elizabeth and I at the end of the 5k.  Whew, it was a humid day!

How cool is the Pooler MOPS?!  They had a Diaper changing/nursing station set up!!!

Gavin and I all done with our runs.

Our first 5k with Stella in tow!

Playing a little soccer before we went home.