10 Month Update and 30 Things I am Thankful For

So I thought it would be fun to post 30 things I am thankful for. I've decided I would post 30 things, since there are 30 days in November.

1. I am thankful for my mom. She is my best friend, and I can tell her anything. She is always there for me no matter the situation and I can always turn to her when I am in need. She is by far the best mother ever. She took me in when no one else would, and even though I am not hers biologically she never made me feel so otherwise.
2. I am thankful for my husband. He is the most supportive, loving, caring person I know. This year has been a very trying year in our marriage and he has stuck through it with me. I couldn't be more proud of him and more thankful for all the things he brings to our family.
3. I am thankful for my children. They bring me joy and an overabundance of love.
4. I am thankful for Dave Matthews Band. They are my most favorite band ever, and how could anyone not LOVE Dave's voice.
5. I am thankful for The Twilight Saga and all the delicious fanfiction that comes with it. Yes, I am a twilight dork, and I don't care what you think.
6. I am thankful for my J.O.B. I love it. I seriously get paid to sit around and talk on the phone and play on the internet. Plus it helps JR pay the bills, and I love making his life a little easier.
7. I am thankful for American Eagle jeans. I have an akward shaped butt and they are the only ones that seem to make jeans that fit me right.
8. I am thankful for my car. I love it, enough said
9. I am thankful for my best friend Sarah Elizabeth Cook. I never laugh harder than I do when I am with this girl. She makes life complete.
10. I am thankful for my dad. He is the very best handy man there is. No matter where I am or what time it is, if I need something fixed he will be there. Plus, he has the dryest sense of humor which makes me laugh.
11. I am thankful for swiffer wet jets. They make my life 20 x's easier.
12. I am thankful for fancast.com. That website helps my overnight shift go by so much faster.
13. I am thankful for online bill pay. I am a weirdo when it comes to mailing out my payments, so basically if it's not done online it's usually late.
14. I am thankful for Dr pepper.
15. I am thankful for clorox disinfecting wipes, without them my house would always be grimey and slimey (oh wait it is always that way, having 3 boys stinks)
16. I am thankful for sour apple martini mixes that you can buy at the grocery store. They are so delicious and it's nice to unwind on the weekends with my hubby.
17. I am thankful for Nickelodeon for making cute little kid's shows so I can attempt to do some housekeeping during the day.
18. I am thankful for Maddie. If it wasn't for my live vacuum cleaner, I would have to sweep after every meal.
19. I am thankful for carmel brownies and cookies and cream ice cream. Best food therapy ever!
20. I am thankful for Old Navy, they single handedly keep my children clothed.
21. I am thankful for online classes at TCC. If I couldn't take them online, I couldn't take them.
22. I am thankful for my blackberry. I dont know how I kept on track with things without it.
23. I am thankful for Target. I LOVE that place.
24. I am thankful for the path that God has lead me on.
25. I am thankful for my friends. I seriously have the best friends ever.
26. I am thankful for scented bath and body works shampoo and conditioner. I love when my hair smells delicious
27. I am thankful for the pioneer woman and all her delicious recipes. Her and my tacos are the reason I'm still chubby.
28. I am thankful for laughter. Not a day goes by that all 3 of my boys are making laugh so hard I pee my pants.
29. I am thankful for passion. I truely couldn't imagine what my relationship with my husband would be like without it. We have been together for 8 years and still have raw passion. I believe he is my soulmate.
30. I am thankful for God and his faithfulness. Even in the storm I feel his undying love and compassion.

Also, as we know Gavin turned 10 months a couple weeks ago. He is still growing and learning.

• He can cruise.
• He loves crawling under stuff and just recently got stuck underneath our tv stand. It was quite hilarious, because he looked like the wicked witch from the west with his legs hanging out.
• He is talking a lot better and uses one syllable words for things. For example he calls Maddie and all other dogs ma. He says good good, but it comes out a breathy goo goo. He says thank you but it comes out a breathy tha u.
• I've noticed he's more advanced in his motor skills but lacks in his speech development compared to Jayden. At this age Jayden was putting together 2 word sentences and saying clear words. He also could point to body parts if you asked him to.
• He will only eat table food and if I am not watching he will steal Jayden's food. He's already accidentally had peanut butter, chocolate, lollipops, pop, and donuts. He's my little chunky boy.
• His hair is getting so long I am tempted to cut it but cant bring myself to do it until he is one. We put it into a mohawk the other day and it measzured 4 inches standing up.

Update and Gavin is now 9 months!

Our whole family has been sick on and off for the last month. It started with me, then Jayden, then Gavin, then J.R., and now its back to me. It hit all of us pretty hard, so it got kinda scary for a little bit, but thankfully none us had the flu, just little viruses.

Our BIG news of the month is Jayden is FINALLY potty trained! He's doing so good with it and rarely has accidents. He even just goes on his own without telling you. The only trouble I have had with him was when my friend Kristine and her little girls stayed with us. He refused to go potty the whole time they were here. I think he was a little embarrassed. I was so happy to see my friend, she is one of my best friends and I haven't seen her since a month after Jayden was born. She moved to Tacoma, WA because her husband is in the military and that's where he was based. She has 2 little girls; Isabel will be 4 here in the next couple weeks, and Amya who will be 2 here in December.

Gavin is now 9 months old! I can't believe it, I say that every month but really thats how I feel. He cracks me up so much! He really is just a goofball. His personality is really starting to come out. He's a lot like his older brother, but definitely has the big baby thing going on. He weighed 19 pounds last week when we took him into the dr, and his legs almost dangle out of the carseat. Some of his recent accomplishments are as follows:

• He can wave bye bye ( this just started yesterday)
• He can sympathize with your feelings (i.e. he cries when he sees Jayden crying and laughs, when we laugh)
• He can shake his head no in protest. Last night he was doing it while drinking his bottle.... I think he was trying to tell his bottle that he didnt want to go night night.
• He can pull up to standing. He's my little monkey baby.
• He's eating a little bit better. He loves, crackers, cookies, mac and cheese, and sweet potatoes best.

Gavin is 8 months.

I can't believe Gavin is already 8 months old. This year has flown by so fast. Gavin has grown so much and I really wish he would stop. I almost don't have a baby anymore and since he's my last it makes me sad : ( He hasn't really changed much from last month. He looks very tall to me and I'm curious to see at his next dr's appointment how much he has grown.



We have gone a little backwards as far as eating goes. He refuses to eat baby food and will barely eat a 6 ounce bottle. I think it has a lot to do with his teething. His top 2 teeth came in a couple weeks ago. So along with his barely eating during the day, he is now waking at night to eat as well. Thankfully J.R. is very helpful when it comes to that so we rotate feedings and on days I work and he doesn't he takes over the whole night. Things he will eat though are mashed potatoes, malt o meal, and melted marshmellow.



He's so silly, and such a happy baby. Still not crawling on all fours, he's done the army crawl thing for a while now and I don't think he realizes there are other ways of crawling. He does try to pull up on things but from your belly thats kind of hard so he doesn't achieve much and ends up frustrated. I've been trying to come up with ideas for his first birthday. I know I still have 4 months, but with the holidays coming around the corner I will barely have time to think about it. I can't wait to dig Jayden's old lion costume out for Gavin to wear. That costume was by far the most adorable costume ever made and I am so glad I get to use it again!



Oh, also a little update with our entire family. Our house is officially on the market! Yay, pray that it sells quickly and flawlessly. I'm so ready to start the next chapter of our lives and it finally seems to be changing. Hopefully when our lease runs up, which is in August of next year, we will be able to buy another house, and be debt free minus my car payment (which is my goal, fingers crossed). Oh, and J.R. bought a Jeep Wrangler, which I was completely against at first but he's agreed to sell his bike. Plus, we went mudding a week ago and it was soooo fun, so I've warmed up a little bit. I'm trading my car in soon, think I'm getting another Jeep Grand Cherokee but we'll see. Here is a pic to leave you with (another cell phone pic).

He loves playing in the laundry basket.

Bored Beyond Sanity

1. I've come to realize that, me and my family: are very, very close. I don't think there is a daughter and a mother closer than my mom and me.

2. I've come to realize that, I talk: at all the wrong times.

3. I've come to realize that, I love: brownies with chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream WAY more than I should and I could definitely cut back a bit.

4. I've come to realize that, I have: The most amazing husband in the world and I tend to forget that way too often. Oh and the cutest little boys ever made.

5. I've come to realize that, I've lost: a lot, I gave up so much to live the life I am living but I definitely gained so much more.

6. I've come to realize that, I hate how: some people only think of themselves and don't ever stop to think that the decisions they make effect the people around them.

7. I've come to realize that Marriage is: very hard! JR and I are about as compatible as it gets. We think on the same wavelink, and GET each other but even then it's still hard.

8. I've come to realize that, somewhere, someone is thinking about me and: knows that I try my hardest and do my best everyday.

9. I've come to realize that, I'll always have: my family.

10. I've come to realize, that my ex: Well I didn't really have boyfriends other than JR in highschool I just dated. So the last guy I dated passed away a couple of years ago and he was a really nice guy, and the other guy I dated around the same time is married now but he was a lying douche so that's all I have to say about that.

11. I've come to realize that, The last time I truly cried: was the day I thought that maybe we weren't going to make it.... it made me put my big girl panties on and fight harder.

12. I've come to realize that, My cell phone: will never make me happy, no matter how cool it is.

13. I've come to realize that, When I wake up in the morning: I beg God to just let me sleep all day, he just laughs and makes Gavin cry a little louder.

14. I've come to realize that, Before I go to sleep at night: is when I do ALL my planning and it usually takes me at least an hour to fall asleep.

15. I've come to realize that, Right now I am thinking about: how much I miss JR and the kids and that I would so much rather be there then here working.

16. I've come to realize that, Babies: are Pure.... they are the most enjoyable beings ever created by God. There is no love greater than the love for a baby.

17. I've come to realize that, I get on myspace: only when i am bored.

18. I've come to realize, that today: was a very lazy day, but I got to spend it with the boys so it was good.

19. I've come to realize, that tonight I will: be working all night while everyone else will be sleeping in their comfy beds.

20. I've come to realize that, school is:never ending in my life.. and VERY important to me. Nothing is more valuable than being educated. I believe everyone should get their degree.

21. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will:play with the boys, hang out with my husband, clean a little, and then go to work.

22. I've come to realize that, I really want: my house back.... We've got big plans for our future though and couldn't be more thankful for J.R.'s new job.

23. I've come to realize, that my last goodbye kiss: was short and simple and had a lot of love behind it.

24 .I've come to realize the last stupid thing i did was because: I was cranky.

25. I've come to realize that my true friends: are some of the greatest people in the world and I could not be more proud of them.

Just a Little Update

Wow the last month has been a blur for us. Actually the whole summer has been a blur, and sadly can't really say it's been very enjoyable either. J.R. and I have been going through a lot. Quick recap- J.R. lost all work in January, didn't find a job until March, Was promised to start at 20 an hour and then 2 weeks into it was bumped down to 10. I didn't find a job until May, leaving me to be the primary breadwinner because I made more, we had spent our entire savings on trying to get by and never "really" getting by, and then fell behind on our mortgage 2 months. We have been talking back in forth with the bank on what to do as far as our house is concerned and now we have to list it for a quick sale. We have moved twice in the last 2 months and I am just tired. Not to mention the strain this is putting on our marriage. Whew! Done complaining, but seriously just needed to get that off my chest.

Now for the update- Gavin is 7 months old! Sorry still no pictures, really haven't cared much about getting internet so I've been putting it off.

• He can "army" crawl. He can get up on all fours, but he hasn't figured out how to work his arms and legs in that position.
• He has 2 teeth, which he's had for a while but he's been teething sooooo bad lately that I had to throw that in there.
• He loves to "walk" if he had a personal walking assistant all day long he would be over the moon.
• Can say dada, mama (only when he's upset), and good good (which means hungry). I say he can say these things but really you have to be listening to him to know what he's saying.
• His favorite activities include- staring out the window watching bubba play, tearing up mommy's magazines and eating the leftovers, and chasing the dog anytime she walks by.

Jayden is getting so big that I can not even catch up with him. He could of started pre-school this year, but he is still not potty trained yet and he's already been through enough emotional distress with the moving that I decided it would be best for him to stay home. He doesn't understand why he can't go "home" and he has started calling his nana and papa's house his home. Oh and as far as the potty training goes we are just taking it day by day. I honestly dont know why they call it potty trained bc Jay KNOWS how to use the potty just fine, he just doesn't WANT to. This week though he's been showing a small amount of interest but I am not making a big deal out of it, I just want him to be happy and comfortable about it. He is such a sweet boy and I am so glad he is my son, he really brightens up my day.

As far as I go I haven't been doing much. I have been working so much that by the time I get home I do a few chores and crash. I have chose not to go back to school this semester, maybe (hopefully) next semester I will be able to resume, I can't stand not being in school. I work for OSU Medcenter and they do tuition reimbursment for certain classes so I will need to look into that since Im taking classes for Occupational Therapy. As far as J.R. goes he is doing well. He just got offered a new job with pier 51 Marina (he's a marina whore) and will start next week. We are so very thankful for this opportunity as he will be making more than twice as much as he is now and that will be a huge load off of our shoulders. I have set goals (all financial) for the family and hope that we can reach them by August of 2011. Goal #1 pay off all credit cards and close down all but 1 account. Goal #2 pay off motorcycle and barge loan. Goal # 3 have $10,000.00 saved. My goal is to be completely debt free minus my car payment and to have money saved up so we can purchase another home. Renting sucks royally and in 2 years I know we'll be able to reach our ultimate goal of buying another home. It's 5 am and time for me to get off here so I can get ready to go home, hope you all have a great day!

Gavin is 6 Months

Our little man is growing so fast. He turned 6 months a couple days ago and I am starting to get sad. No more babies for me.... guess I will have a new neice or nephew to love on instead, Congrats Brooke! Gavin had a doctor's appt yesterday and he is doing so good. Dr. Murphy said he was the cutest baby she has ever seen and she just kept kissing and hugging him :) Im a bit partial but I agree.

Gavin now:

• can sit up by himself (still wobbly though)


• has 2 bottom teeth


• rolls wherever he wants to go


• can say dada


• still sleeping through the night and now taking a regular 2 hour nap


• can give kisses.

(Took a pic of him sitting up on his own. Used my phone and had to use the flash on my phone so the pic sucks but it's still cute. Oh and he wouldn't let me take his juice away long enough to take a pic hints why I am holding the juice.)

Wave Your Flag Cheesecake

Though I can't take credit for this one I thought I would share in lieu of the 4th. I plan on making this for my family this weekend and encourage you to try as well because it looks fairly easy. Here is the link to the actual recipe if you would like.

INGREDIENTS
1 quart strawberries, divided
1 1/2 cups boiling water
2 pkg. (4 serving size) JELL-O Brand Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
Ice cubes
1 cup cold water
1 (10.75 ounce) loaf pound cake, cut into 10 slices
1 1/3 cups blueberries, divided
2 (8 ounce) packages PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 (8 ounce) tub COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

DIRECTIONS
Slice 1 cup of the strawberries; set aside. Halve the remaining 3 cups strawberries; set aside. Stir boiling water into dry gelatin mixes in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to measure 2 cups. Add to gelatin; stir until ice is completely melted. Refrigerate 5 min. or until gelatin is slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites).
Meanwhile, line bottom of 13x9-inch dish with cake slices. Add sliced strawberries and 1 cup of the blueberries to thickened gelatin; stir gently. Spoon over cake slices. Refrigerate 4 hours or until set.
Beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with wire whisk or electric mixer until well blended; gently stir in whipped topping. Spread over gelatin. Arrange strawberry halves on cream cheese mixture to resemble the stripes of a flag. Arrange remaining 1/3 cup blueberries on cream cheese mixture for the stars. Store any leftover dessert in refrigerator.

P.S. my mouth is watering!