Birthday Bash

Aidan's 4th birthday party was last Saturday. A bunch of his friends were able to come, as well as some of the family. The weather was gorgeous, so we did everything in the backyard. He had a ball! He'd been asking for an Iron Man party for months...kind of random, but that's what he wanted. So, I ordered all the party supplies online because none of the stores had iron man stuff. He had a blast and made out like a bandit with all the presents! We need to get rid of all his old stuff to make room for the new! Here are a couple of pics from the day...

Playing with his friends as everyone was arriving


Swinging at the pinata!


Jason's turn


The cake


Blowing out the candles


Opening presents


Gavin and Jason with Cookie and Chris

A Big Day for My Big Boy

Aidan's 4 today...and I am at a loss for words. I cannot even express the way he has changed our lives...in such a sweet and amazing way! And, I can't believe it's been 4 years already...I remember his birthday in great detail as if it were yesterday...the feeling I had when I went to bed the night before, waking RJ up around midnight to tell him I thought I was in labor, taking our time preparing to go to the hospital, regretting taking our time preparing to go to the hospital, throwing up in the trash can because the pain was so great, RJ having to hold that trash can and not getting sick himself (that is a great accomplishment for him)...I even remember him making a joke during the whole ordeal...calling our parents in the middle of the night to tell them we were on our way to the hospital, getting the epidural and telling RJ I was scared, the doctor telling me I couldn't move while he was inserting the epidural needle (even if I had a contraction), the nurse telling us to get some rest before it was time to push and the doctor coming in a few minutes later to check me and say it's time to push, our little guy arriving about 10 minutes after that, and I remember every family member and friend that came to visit. I could go on and on. It was such a great day...we were blessed with one of the sweetest little boys ever...and he is growing up to be a wonderful big boy as well. Don't get me wrong...he tests us to the end of our nerves sometimes, but he is a good kid. We have been and are so blessed by him every day. I am proud to be his mommy!

He had a big day today. He woke up at 5:30...very excited that it was his b-day. Grammy and Grampy picked him up from school today around lunch time and took him to Chuck E. Cheese's for lunch...they played a million games while they were there. Then, they brought him back to the house to open his presents from them and also Aunt Candy, Uncle Bob, and Lacey. He loved each of those gifts and was playing with them when I got home. When daddy got home, Aidan got to open a little something from us and he enjoyed playing with that the rest of the evening as well. Aunt Mari and Bella came over with Happy Meals. They got to play and eat, and then it was time for bed!

His big party is this Saturday...he is pumped about that! It's the first time we've invited friends, so it ought to be really fun! Here are a couple pics from the day...more to come of the party...

Happy Birthday to my little guy...I love you, Aidan!

The birthday boy opening some of his goodies...


He's having an Iron Man party and is going to be Iron Man for Halloween...here he's wearing part of his "suit" as he calls it.

7 Months Old

Well, it's already been another month since my last post as Gavin turned 7 months old yesterday! I feel like a broken record when I say this, but he is getting so big! Those of you who have seen him can attest to that! He has already graduated to the next size car seat, and we had to drop his bed recently. He is wearing 18 month old clothes and size 4 diapers...he's a monster! But, he is the sweetest, happiest, most laid-back baby you will ever meet. He shares his smiles with everyone all day every day...from the moment he wakes up to the minute he falls asleep. He is really finding his voice these days..."talking" all the time. He "sings" himself to sleep every night. His Nani was visiting today...she was singing to him while he was in the tub and he sang right along...it was too cute! He is sitting up all by himself now and loves to sit on the floor and get all of his toys out of the basket. He has cut two teeth...the bottom middle ones...and continues to gnaw on everything, as well as drool up a storm. He is still sleeping really well, and I, of course, hope this is one thing that never changes! He has staid healthy this month, but is plagued with allergies...we have had tons of rain lately (which is great), but each new storm brings a runny nose and watery eyes with it. It doesn't get him down, though...he's such a trooper! He is still enamored with his big brother...watches his every move and adores him like no other! It's been another great month with a sweet boy...every day he digs a little deeper into our hearts!!!

Here are a couple of pics from his 7 month b-day. I promise to post more of the whole fam with updates soon!

Sitting on the floor with his basket of toys

My Baby is Already 6 Months Old!

Gavin passed the 6 month mark last Thursday...I can't even believe it! He is growing and changing every day! He weighed in at 23 pounds, 7 ounces (95th percentile) and was 27 inches long (50th percentile). So, he's still a BIG boy...the doctor and nurses couldn't get over the size of his thighs...they're pretty awesome! But, he is very healthy and right on track with all the normal milestones. He is still working on sitting up by himself. He is reaching for and grabbing anything and everything within is reach. He's getting a pretty strong grip and has already dumped a bowl of spaghetti on himself and me while he was sitting on my lap during dinner one night. Luckily it wasn't hot enough to hurt him...he just started sucking it off his arm! : ) He wasn't gonna let a good meal go to waste! He does love his food...he has gotten so much better at eating his baby food, too. He is babbling all the time...I love to hear his little voice. He's starting to be a little flirt when we're around strangers...flashing his blue eyes and his smile and then tucking his head like he's shy...it's pretty precious! He is sleeping like a champ...about 12 hours every night...it is awesome! He survived his first cold...he got it after the first week of daycare...then was home for a week trying to recover...it was pretty nasty! But, he is all better now and back at school. He still adores his big brother and is mesmerized by everything he does! I can tell he can't wait until he can play with Aidan and his cousins. He is truly a joy to be around and brings us many, many smiles and such a full heart...I am so thankful for my boys...all three of them!

Gavin peaking over his crib




Loving his big brother

First Week

Well, I survived my first week back at school...is was good, but I am very tired! I am so excited to be at my new school, though...so that makes up for the hurting feet, soar throat (from talking all day again) and stress from beginning of year stuff. This year is bringing lots of firsts...first year at a new school (again), first time to have to get 2 kids ready in the morning, first time Gavin has gone to daycare, first time for Aidan to go to this particular daycare, and this is my first time to teach geometry. I am still teaching Algebra I and II as well, so now I have three preps. And, on A-days, I have all 3 classes, so I teach three different things in a row...most days I teach two sections per class, so that is 6 different lessons in one day! I am not complaining though...it breaks up the monotony and keeps things interesting! I am enjoying it so far. I thought I would post a couple of pics of my room once I got it all decorated. I probably spent too much money on new decorations, but I figure I better like it because I spend so much time there! My new school is called Vandegrift High School...VHS, which is kinda funny considering I went to VHS. And, our mascot is The Viper...weird that my alma mater is now the vipers! Our colors are black and silver...so I decorated with black, white, and silver and added a magenta for some extra color!

"Viper News" Bulletin Board


Fun Chair and Pillow in Back Corner of Room


My Bulletin Board...complete with shrine to kids! : )


View From My Desk

First Day of School

Well, today was my first day back to school with students and the boys first day at their new daycare. While I was really sad to leave them this morning, the day went better than I could have hoped for. I knew Gavin would be fine with Mrs. Patty (their new teacher)...he's happy with anyone right now! I wasn't exactly sure how Aidan would react, though. But, he was excited to go this morning and at the end of the day, Mrs. Patty said he acted as if he had been going there for a long time...that he fit right in and played well with everyone. The first thing she said to me when I walked in to pick them up this afternoon was, "Could your boys be any more angelic?" So, that made me feel really good and reaffirmed our decision to place them both in this school! My day was also good...I am really excited to be at my new school, and I think it is going to be a great year!

I thought about a "first day" pic as we were leaving, so this was all I could get...a little goofy, but still cute...

Summer 2009

It's official...my summer break is over...I went back to work yesterday! Summer 2009 was a great one...I really enjoyed being home with the boys (and Bella when we had her). We got to do a lot of fun stuff...went to San Antonio with Grammy, Grampy, and the boys, went to DFW a couple of times to visit family and old friends, RJ and I went to NYC, I went to Houston for a girls weekend with my high school girlfriends, and we had tons of family times here in Austin. The number one reason we moved to Austin was to get closer to our families...I love how much we got to see both sides of our family this summer!

Here are a couple of pics that I didn't share yet of the summer...

Aidan and Bella in the Playscape at Chic-fil-A


My Girls Weekend




Going for a walk around the block with mommy


Celebrating Nani's Birthday



Grammy reading a book to the gang


Aidan and Bella taking in the sights in Grammy and Grampy's back yard


Going for a walk with Grampy


Enjoying a popsicle on the back porch after all that walking


Aidan making Gavin laugh (not sure if I should call it a laugh or a squeal or a growl...you decide!). Aidan can get him to laugh the easiest! : )



Many wonderful memories...thanks to everyone who shared in making them!