Gavin Crawls!

A few weeks ago, our lives transformed again...Gavin is now mobile.

Though his form leaves a little to be desired (it has since improved), he gets where he wants to go and trust me, he gets into what he wants to get into.



Let the good times roll!!

Already a Rebel

So Gavin is a huge binky boy.

He LOVES LOVES LOVES his binky...so much so that I was worried he was too content with it and that he may not be vocal enough (yes, score one for the crazy mommy thought).  So, I decided no binky unless he was going to bed or as a soothing mechanism.

Well, within a day, Gavin started to do this...

What I read here is...."Take that mom. You take my binky...I'll make my own!"

I admire that.  This kids had a definite future ;)


PS - He has since taken the Ayden route....lots and lots of noise/talking/singing/babbling/laughing....he has figured out that you gotta speak up to be heard around here.

Grandma C and Pop-pop Joe's visit

As promised, some pictures from the Riley's summer visit.

The kids had a great time playing in the pool, swinging at the park and helping Pop-Pop Joe play his guitar.

In case you couldn't tell....these are some happy, well  loved kiddos =)

Gavin giving Grandma C his big smiles!

My boys!

The fam at La Paloma pool. This was J and I's 6th anniversary.  Wow what has happened in 6 years.

Look at that HAIR!!

Nana now has her very own song that gets sung every time she comes and goes....the kids love it.

THe boys are blessed to have Nana so close.

I'm not sure where these two huge boys came from exactly... but they are lovin' hanging with their Pop-pop Joe!

Ayden really enjoys music, which I hope continues throughout his life. Every time Joe comes to town, he plays and sings for the kids. This time, Ayden wanted to try :)

We will have to work on the 'smile for the camera' face. 

Birds of a Feather

Ayden's obsession right now is the movie Rio. He sings this song day and night, and in fact, he wakes up very morning belting it out at the top of his lungs...

This video doesn't quite do it justice...but lets say he has J's genes when it comes to singing :)




Here you see he gets into the dancing as well....his little arm starts to pump. And then he loves to try and mimic the bird squawk!

 

French Victory

For those avid readers, you will remember a video a few weeks ago with Gavin and my great aunt Odette singing a French children's song.

Odette has proceeded to sing this song over and over every time she sees Gavin...

Well, all the singing has paid off :)  Gavin loves to watch his hand turn and have someone sing the song to him.

Watch and enjoy....

San Diego Stragglers

These are a few pictures from our San Diego trip a few weeks ago.
These first two are my most favorite pictures in a while.  They were taken and edited by my lovely and talented sister-in-law, Dasha.  I just want to plaster them all over the place!!!!

 And then a few more to document the never ending cuteness ;).

Grandma C's Annual Visit to the Old Pueblo!!

This post is terribly over due, but worth the wait... 

This summer, my mother-in-law Corinne, made her third annual trip out for the month of July. She is a teacher in NY so she has the awesome perk of summers off. Since Ayden was born, she has taken advantage of that to come to Tucson to spend a month hanging out with our family and Jenna. This year her visit was enhanced by the addition of our little red head =) 

Grandma C’s visit is very special for the kids and us as it is unique in many ways. First, it is for an extended period of time. You might be thinking, ‘wow….4 weeks with my mother-in-law (or any visitor for that matter)….now way!” But what we have learned is that in fact, the length of the trip is what makes it so nice. There is no urgency to see and do everything in one day or weekend. People aren’t flocking to the door to get some face time. In fact, (and admittedly it has taken three years for us all to find this equilibrium), it is rather laid back. 

Secondly, Corinne does not stay with us for 4 weeks; it is not 4 weeks of a house-guest; it is as though she lives in Tucson. She comes over for dinner some nights; she takes one or both of the kids out some days for activities; she blends in with our everyday crazy packed lives. Please do not take this to mean that her presence is not special, because it is….it truly is. I personally look forward to the talks we have, the laughter we share and the chance to share our everyday life (that we LOVE) with her, so she doesn’t feel so far away. 

But most of all, I enjoy watching the time she spends with the kids. Call me simple, but to me there is nothing more quality than spending a typical day with the kids. Special activities/trips/etc are fantastic, but in the end, what maters most, is reading them a book, telling them stories, cuddling up with a movie, building a tower, eating/feeding meals, bathing, and tucking them in at night. These are the moments that they remember. These are the moments that mean the most. These are the moments that are most filled with genuine love. And because Corinne is here so long, these are the moments my kids have to share with their Grandma C. 

Lastly, as is evident from above and really a result of it, Corinne does not smother the kids or us. She is not with us 24/7. She is not constantly trying to have ‘quality time’ with the kids or force the creation of ‘life long memories’. She is realistic. She gives and understands the family needs its space to be a family 

This plan has worked wonderfully for J and I in keeping our lives manageable, expectations reasonable, and stress levels down and we are very thankful to Corinne for being flexible. But, more importantly, because J and I are not crazed by the visit [and don’t tell me you don’t know exactly what I mean, no matter who you have visiting…your lives are in a constant state of hosting, entertaining, concern for their enjoyment, plus everything else that goes into your everyday life], the time we spend with her and the time the KIDS spend with her is pleasant, peaceful and genuine. 

It is not easy to step into the lives of others and be able to go with the flow. When you visit anyone for an extended period of time, chances are they are not on vacation as well; they are tied up in their everyday routine, stresses, and schedule. Corinne has been wonderful at doing just this. More so, she has been more than open to understanding how she can help and how she can get the most from her time with the kids and us. 

I think the catalyst for this post is two fold: 

1 – I am often asked how this works for us….does it work for us….why it works for us... 

and, 

2- I don’t know that I (we) express our thanks and gratitude to Corinne enough. 

We were sad to see her leave. After 4 weeks you already grow to expect that she will be around. Ayden would ask about whether Grandma C was coming over. She had become a staple in Ayden’s everyday life and for this reason his relationship with her is deeper than would be expected of a grandparent that lives 3000 miles away……and that is just simply very cool. 

I realize that Corinne’s job is what allows her to make these visits and that most people do not have this luxury, but it is not that that we are thankful for…… it is the fact that she chooses to take a month of her time off and come spend it in little old Tucson (at the most terrible time of year) with her grand-kids (and dealing with her daughter-in-law!). It is this choice that says a lot about her, what is important to her, and makes her a wonderful Grandmother. 

Just another reason why my family is the luckiest family in the world [in my oh-so-humble little opinion!]!! 

** For those scrolling through the heart-filled babble to reach the pictures….you’ve reached the end of the line….but have no fear, the next post will have pictures from Corinne and Joe’s visit. 

Missing my boys.

Driving to the airport this morning I couldn't help but chuckle at the fact that this year I will take as many trips in the whole year (via plane) as I used to take in a month, maybe 1 1/2. Wow how life has changed.

The change is certainly for the better. Thanks to my new job I get the chance to take or pick up Ayden from school twice a week. I spend every evening with the kiddos and I even get to do lunch a few times a week with them.  Amazing.

But, it was still wiered how easily I fell right back into the travelers routine as soon as my feet hit the matted airport floor.

Most compelling of all though is that I haven't been gone but for an hour and I yearn for my boys.  Thank goodness Ayden wanted to call me and tell me to "come home now", but in the alternative, "to make sure I do my exercises" :) not even three years old and he already gets me ;)

I hope to make this trip a time to do some much needed blog catch up, so stay tuned.

Cabin door is closing.....