Living without the "P"

Did I mention in the blog post before this that when we arrived at our house and stepped inside- IT. WAS. AWESOME! I mean, I cleaned the hell out of this place before we left so when we got home it was so great...SOOOOO GREAT! Anyway-- 



Brandon and I have started to refer to the pacifier as the "P" as of our arrival back home from Michigan. Since we were all deathly sick (I say deathly but I know- it could have been worse I guess...maybe.), Brandon and I decided that we would just take the P away. Gavin's nose was stuffed up and so when he used the P, he had to basically have it hanging out of his mouth so he could breathe so we thought we would just take it away now while he couldn't really use it. 

I'm not sure how to put it lightly but EUREKA! I mean, Gavin was already whiny and crying about being sick (I'm sure as much as MY throat hurt, his did too) so we could barely notice the crying about not having the P around anymore. We had them on the counter to be washed (I'm not sure why we washed them...maybe in case we were to give in?) and eventually DID wash them but we never gave in. Not once. The last time Gavin had a P was November 24th right before he got a bath that night. It took me until last night to dig out all the P's and throw them in the garbage. It made me a little sad to let that part of him go but I guess better now than later. 


So, the first few days were rocky without the P. I don't know if it was more the fact that I so very much wanted to give in sometimes because he just cried so much (not sure it was all P related but the easy solution would have been to give in and give it to him)! But now, he talks so much more. He says things like rain, no, bye, uh-oh, oh man, "whats that" or is that, hi (with waving ALL the time), don't, now, more, pa-tah (peanut), water...basically anything you say, he tries to copy the words. I try to sound them out for him and the way he says things sometimes..cracks me up. He also has begun dancing like a fool since his dad charged an old cell phone and I pulled up the ringtones. Brandon showed him once how to play the song over and it was all over with after that. Over and over and over the songs get played and more dancing and dancing. 


 Before we decided to take the P away Gavin usually would point to the counter or just cry and we would toss one down or plug one in and be set with him being quiet..sucking his P and twirling his hair. Now days, I hate to tell everyone who knows Gavin but...he doesn't really twirl his hair anymore. That's right. As soon as we took away the P...his hands don't twirl- not his hair, not mine. A few weeks ago I would have given my left foot for him not to twirl/pull my hair anymore but now it makes me sad. I used to pick him up after my shower and he would run his hands through my hair but now that he is a "big boy" who doesn't use his P anymore... apparently he doesn't want to do this anymore. I used to pick him up when he was tired and he would twirl my hair around his fingers and rest his head on my shoulder- no more. I mean, not even his own hair! As most family (and friends) know, if you put that P in his mouth his hands went straight into his own hair, picking and twirling... no more. 


Yesterday he did take a nap with me and twirl my hair a bit and it made me smile but that has been the only twirling since removal of the P. 


R.I.P. Pacifier aka Paci aka "P"  and to Gavin being a baby...no more. He is a big boy :) Below are some of his pictures from recently- being a big boy.

Who needs toys when you have an ice cream bucket!?

Teaching this boy to clean now...while he likes to do it! ;)

Gavin hitching a ride

Our Vacation

November 8-22nd we visited family and friends in Michigan (well, mostly Brandon went for deer hunting). We drove straight through, leaving home at 8:30am on the 8th and arriving in Michigan at Brandon's parents at 11am on the 9th. Yes, with Gavin. And yes, we brought the dog. My mom stopped by to drop some toys off for Gavin to play with so we didn't have to bring a bunch with us- which was a bonus.

November 11th- Brandon, Gavin and I were "sleeping" (Gavin originally was in the other room but woke up bright and early- let's say 4:30am and we brought him back to bed with us) around 6am and Prints woke up in his cage YELPING like he was being killed and he just kept on screaming and screaming. Brandon and I were shocked and didn't know what to do, Gavin was crying his eyes out (it was very loud and scary). I decided the best option would be to take the dog outside but Prints couldn't really walk and just laid there on the deck outside. Brandon's dad was going to substitute teach so he was already warming up the car (It's Michigan- It was FREEZING!) so he was trying to help Prints off the deck to use the bathroom and Prints screamed and actually nipped at him- which is unlike Prints.

With everyone awake now, Brandon and I decided the best option was to take him into the MSU Veterinary Hospital to find out what was wrong with him. Of course Prints jumps right up in the truck like nothing is wrong and rides quietly all the way to the hospital and jumps out of the car and doesn't display any of his earlier discomfort for the strange doctors at the Vet Hospital. The doctors don't know what is wrong with the dog, they give him some xrays and some medication and we picked Prints up later in the evening (Cha-Ching $700+ later). 

We got pictures taken while Prints was in the Hospital. This was planned weeks before so we couldn't really reschedule. They turned out pretty good. We hadn't had Gavin's picture professionally taken before and now I remember why. haha (You had to be there!)

After all of this, Brandon and I actually got to go out and spend some time alone together. We went out to Cafe Sports and drank away our sorrows for the day with Long Islands..and whatever else beer Brandon was drinking.

November 12th- I took Gavin over to my friend Katie's house so he could play with the girls. It was great visiting with Katie and the girls and Gavin enjoyed playing with Morgan's hair but mostly he liked their dog, Sassy. Go figure. Oh and Logan is just adorable. Gavin and her...well...you know. They are going to love each other someday, whether he likes it or not.

November 13th- Brandon, his dad and his dad's friend Don all heading up to Beaver Island to prepare for hunting and I took Gavin over to my mom's for the day. I stopped over at Katie's for some girl chat, KID-LESS! After a while I left to go check on the dog (since he is on pills and such I have to make sure he takes them at a certain time and yadda yadda). I went to Logan's hockey practice at 3:00pm. It was nice to be able to watch him without having to watch Gavin. After that I went to pick up Gavin from my moms. My mom and Darrell took Gavin outside to play in the grass. He ran up and down the big hill at her house and learned to "SHHH" the dogs. After that, I made a quick swing by Jessica's parents house so Gavin could again- ignore the humans and play with the dogs. 

November 14th- I took Gavin over to my friend Stephanie's house to play with her son, Logan. Logan is 3 years old and didn't understand why Gavin wasn't talking to him. It was so cute. Gavin enjoyed watching Logan throw the nerf balls in the air and again- Gavin was interested in the dogs and the cat. (Mad that I forgot to take pictures!)

When we got back (on the 14th), Prints was not acting normal. He was yelping like crazy, EVEN on all the drugs they sent us home with for him. I packed up Gavin and the dog and finally took a video of Prints when he was crying out in pain to show the doctors in the event he wouldn't be acting the same when we arrived at the Vet Hospital. I didn't need the video though because Prints needed a gurney to even get out of the truck. Again- xrays and an overnight stay and no answers. ($400) They sent us home with more pills (not enough to last us even to the end of our 2 week vacation) and told us Prints needed an MRI ($800) and if the MRI showed something damaged or out of place...he would need surgery ($2500-3500). We opted not to do the MRI.

November 15th- I don't think we did anything at all this day. 

November 16th- I went to work! That's right. For the second year in a row I have went back to my old job in Michigan to help them with the end of the year things the secretary would do...if they had one. It was nice to be back in my old position, chatting with the interesting people that come in there and hanging out with my mom. 

November 17th- Gavin and I went to the mall. I had a store I wanted to go to so we just used this time off to do this while waiting for my friend Jessica to get around to come out to lunch with us. We met her up at Cancun (restaurant) and Gavin acted out and seemed like he was sick. Jessica and I still got to spend a little time together and chat and catch up.

We went back and took a nap. Both of us started feeling a bit sick, stuffy nose/runny nose...

November 18th- Gavin and I went to Meijer to get some items to make Grandma's Macaroni Salad. Later in the evening, I started making the salad and had a bunch of left over macaroni noodles left and I asked Pam (my mother in law) what I should do with them. Pam told me to put them through the garbage disposal. I said no. Last time I did that (in Austin), we plugged up the sink and had to take it apart. So, she took the noodles and started putting them in the disposal and guess what happened. I KID YOU NOT! Plugged the sink. Hilarious. Eventually she got it unplugged, after a few hours. After Gavin went to bed, I swung over to my sisters house to drop off the salad.

[Let me just say that since Prints went to the vet the last time, he was sequestered to his cage- a cage my mom brought over and is not to leave the cage for any reason but to use the bathroom- doctors orders]

November 19th- Got up early and headed up north to visit Gavin's great-grandpa's. First stop was Great Grandpa Moon (my mom's dad). Gavin has never met him before so it was a treat for both of them. Gavin was playing with the chairs and a stool- which he tipped over on its top and then tripped and caught himself in the cheek with one of the metal legs. Oh well, that's what I get for having a boy. :)  

After that visit- we zipped over to Great Grandpa McMasters (aka Grandpa Peanut- my dad's dad). We got together with Jamie, Kevin, Logan, Kris (dad's gf), my dad and my grandpa for a "Thanksgiving dinner." Dinner was great and it got late and we stayed the night. Gavin had a great time with Logan, playing and dancing...jumping off the beds. You know, boy stuff. 

November 20th-We left early in the morning to head home. Pam watched the dog for us while we were gone- pilled him and took him outside. In anticipation for Brandon's arrival that day, we stuck around the house. We were still sick from the days before and were trying to lay low. While waiting for Brandon to get there from up north, I took a shower and heard Pam and Gavin saying Boom Boom Boom! When I came out, Pam said she heard shots across the street (state land- people hunt) and out of the woods came this doe falling into the road and it laid there. It was so sad and gross. Then it got up on its elbows and knees tried to run again and landed in the driveway- of Pam's house! Then it got up and crawled again and again and finally got around the side of the house and was trying to hide in some trees. Pam told the hunter he couldn't shoot it on her property so she called the Sheriff's office to come shoot the deer. It wasn't long before the cop came and did the deed. It was so disgusting. 

The guys got back around 6pm and took their "winnings" out to the garage and while Gavin was asleep...I met up with Katie and Jessica at Cafe Sports. It was great! I miss the girls so much. We have so many hilarious stories. Ahh- I wish I could visit with them more. 

November 21st- Packing Day! Well, packing and gutting deer day. My mom got out of work early and met Gavin and I up at the mall to return/exchange what I had bought days previous to this. We ate lunch and my mom got to act silly with Gavin while I got to shop. WIN WIN! After that, we left and went back to packing. Pack. Pack. Pack. Later that night after the deer were all in pieces and the suitcases were sitting by the door, my mom and her boyfriend Darrell brought pizza over and Jamie and Logan came over too. We all visited and said our goodbyes. 

November 22nd- On the road again. We were packed up and on the road by 9am. This time we stopped at a  hotel mid-way in Missouri. It was a long trip with EVERYONE sick. I mean, snot and coughing and sore throats. Seriously, sick. 

November 23rd- We got home at...well- November 24th at 12:30am. It was a long LONG day of driving. With everyone being sick, I think it felt like the longest drive ever. It was better in my eyes on the drive up- straight through. But we made it. And here we are...still sick. The dog... still not ok. My hands..hurting from typing this story. 

That is it. I am going to bed.N

Our Adventures in Cloth Diapers!

So, we made the leap into cloth diapering... a little late but never-the-less- we leaped. We decided to go the cloth diaper route after using Pampers Cruisers and hearing about the formula change in the diapers (apparently the Baby Dry was causing blistering in babies- but not Gavin). Once we got a LARGE box of the Pampers Cruisers (minus the Baby Dry now) we started to notice something was up with Gavin's diapers. He started to get really rashy and then they would blister. This happened twice before we called it quits with Pampers and onto Gro-Via (cloth diapers- hybrid!)! 


We have 5 shells, 12 snap in soakers (what the baby poops/pees on) and 4 boosters (for overnight or whenever you need more pee soaking up power!)- along with a bag of biosoakers (which are like a woman's pads- for babies- throw them away), liners (to put over the soakers to "protect" them from the poop- you can flush these!), and some soap came with them. WHEW! Boy- it is a lot to learn. I can't wait to show everyone how to use them. 

But, one thing I did take for granted with the disposables is getting to spend just a little while not changing a diaper. I swear I feel like I am changing a diaper after changing the diaper- with only one kid! Disposables have chemicals in them to soak up the pee which makes you able to let the baby go maybe 4 hours without changing the diaper. I swear I am staring at the clock now- just like when Gavin was on a feeding schedule- waiting for his next diaper change. And- let me say, this is not because I am excited to change his diaper because...don't get me wrong- these diapers are cute but my patients gets thin when it comes to diapering Gavin anymore. It has become THE DREADED DIAPER CHANGE. Kicking and Screaming. Stiffening up. Flipping over half way through. Hands on his winky- then in his hair- then back to his winky. 


I forget what I am doing when it comes to the diaper change anymore. I have the baby powder out, wipes, California Baby (rash cream- just in case), the new diaper with the soaker snapped in and the liner for poops (becase you know if I don't put this on- he is going to crap like an elephant in this diaper). So, I get him down on the ground with all my might- in between kicks I can get his pants off and shirt up and diaper unsnapped...then it becomes the waiting game. I am waiting for him to reach down and grab himself.  I mean...why not? There is probably a heap of crap along the inside of his legs and around his winky...so why would you not want to grab onto that and then slap your hands around in a fit and run your fingers through your hair- I mean, that is what Gavin thinks I am sure of it. 


So anyways- so I get the diaper off, clean him up and I am struggling to pick him up and get the liner on the diaper just right so that it doesn't slide off when putting him down on it- all the while he is double fisting his winky or slapping it like nobody should ever be slapping something like that! By the time I get the diaper snapped on and he's all happy again...I look over and there is the unused baby powder and/or rash cream- D'oh! Too late now... off he goes. 


Sigh- so, it has been interesting to say the least. I am washing the soakers right now- which smell horrible. Yuck! Along with trying to get poop off the soakers when he goes #2 without a liner on- I would rather cut my arms off- well, that's what I thought the first (second, third, forth, fifth) day but now I just stick my hand right on it and get to washing it like when he was small and would poop out of his diaper and onto a onsie or a cute outfit you JUST bought- you had to touch that stuff, it didn't just come off on it's own. Brandon is in the middle of putting a diaper sprayer on the toilet in the spare bathroom (Gavin's bathroom)... he is making it himself from a youtube video we watched and it looks like it will work out. Those diaper sprayers are expensive to buy and you still have to assemble them! Hopefully, soon enough- we will be spraying the poop off in the toilet and laughing and holding hands while I have my cloth diaper baby on my hip ;) 

11 Months Old...already!?

Reflecting back on Gavin's life so far... I can not believe my baby is 11 months old already! It seems like just yesterday (wow, really...I'm saying this?) that I had my little baby in my arms...while he ate, pooped and slept all day (yeah right) and now he is throwing things at the windows or people or over gates, running after the dog or from the dog and saying "iz zat" and "sup" and I wonder where time went... here are some random pictures of Gavin- (mostly I want to post the ones of him sleeping last night)

 You know, just hanging around- upside down

 Gotta start him out young- do your own laundry!

 Gavin is holding the basket up while standing

 He went to bed awake... and fell asleep- midplay?

 Holding on tight- fast asleep

My big boy! :)

Cloth or Disposables...

I have to address this issue because today I was just pushed over the edge by some of these cloth diapering enthusiasts. I am seeing more and more disgust to people who use disposables from people who use cloth diapers and it is just appalling to me! For an example: on Facebook there is a post/discussion regarding Mickey Mouse using a disposable diaper on Goofy baby. The person posted asked if anyone else has seen disposable diapers on any tv shows lately and what do they think of them. Various people responded to this saying they either were impressed by seeing cloth diapers on Spongebob or the Muppet babies or in disgust that Tommy on the Rugrats wore a "saggy" disposable or that "if only the cloth diaper movement could have gotten to Pam and Jim on the show The Office at how huge that exposure of cloth diapers would have been" for those that themselves cloth diaper or make/sell cloth diapers. 


Please excuse me while I throw up. 


I would hate to assume that these people who cloth diaper should probably be vegan too. I know for a fact after reading some of their more personal posts on what they make for dinner that they are not in fact vegan people. I just would assume from the way they cut down people who use disposable diapers that they would be vegan and grow their own vegetables, use solar panels on their houses and ride a bike wherever they go. I think there are worse things to be disgusted in people in this world. How about those people who beat their children or drink/do drugs while pregnant? So, some people want to use disposable diapers...so what? My neighbors want to use my yard as their garbage can and so far there isn't anything I can do about it. In fact, one of their disposable diapers is on my lawn but I'm not going over there to slap them in the face with the one cloth diaper I have. 


That being said, I have nothing against people who cloth diaper either (besides them hating on everyone else in the world who isn't following in their footsteps). I would cloth diaper if we could afford to spend $200 at one single time to buy some cloth diapers right at this very moment. It would not be to save the environment because let's face it, I run my air conditioner all day and night, I use toilet paper and womens products every month that I throw away (I say this because many of these cloth diapering women use Diva cups or mama cloths- along with wiping their own butt and their babies butts with flannel pieces of fabric [probably one of their husbands old hunting shirts] and they no longer use napkins or paper towels). If we chose to cloth diaper, it would be to save us some money. That is the only reason I am looking into doing this. It does kind of weird me out to have to clean poop in my washing machine or use a sprayer on a toilet to try to spray chunks of Gavin's crap off before washing these diapers. But- if it could save us some money...I would gladly do it. That doesn't mean we wouldn't NEVER use disposable diapers again. Many of these people who are like "Ew, disposables on tv- gross" are then saying "I have a long trip to go on so I have to use disposables" or something along those lines where all these other "SUPER MOMS" chime in on  how to still use cloth diapers though you are driving from Maine to California without a washing machine. Um, gross. I hope those people put those used cloth diapers in a bag on their roof rack for crying out loud. 


The point of this is...whether you choose to use disposable diapers like MANY people in this world or choose to use cloth diapers, remember that we all live here together. I would like to say "hey thanks for lending me your space in the landfills for all my disposable needs (diapers, tissue, plastic tubing from the hamburger meat)!" 


And that leads me into my part 2 discussion of that Facebook post above regarding Mickey Mouse: someone actually said that they also were disturbed by the fact that Goofy baby was being given milk. They said "I saw that too & Goofy being fed a bottle of milk. I hope one day it will be cloth diapers & mommy's milk. Keep pushing for it!!!" What!? Are you saying the only "right" way to project the image of a baby is in cloth diapers and drinking breast milk? Are you kidding me? This is for another discussion later on because I have to go so I can give my son formula from a can (a powder even!). 


-Samantha

New Cloth Diaper

So, I won a cloth diaper on Facebook from a giveaway. I was nervous to try it though I really think cloth would save us some money! I'm not sure what to think of it yet. I think it looks funny on Gavin, but it might be just that it's different. I don't like the fact that I have to stuff it and I don't know what you are supposed to do with all the snap extras: 

It seems like the hidden snaps go inside where the winky is and that he's going to pee on them maybe? I don't know. I'm probably wrong and the diaper is probably upside down and backwards. Here are some pictures of Gavin wearing it this morning (I've waited til I thought MAYBE he wouldn't poop in it...since he's pooped twice already this morning and it's not even 9am).

Prints is not sure what to think of these diapers... he literally smelled every inch of it! 

Crying cuz he's tired

Pouting

Look ma! No hands! 

The only way to get him to stop crying was to give him the remote

Some say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

Gavin like to scoot his head on the carpet like this

Apparently- he is getting to be a little daredevil! 

This is for Grandma Kludt- Shake Shake!

Calling chicks with mom's phone

I just wanted proof that he isn't happy ALL the time! Especially when he's hungry or tired!

These 2 are up to no good! 

More Crying...

That's one way to get attention- inside the basket! 

Picking the basket up- to dump it

Sharing his toys with Prints :)

The dining room obstacle course! 

The new Tigger stroller we got Gavin :) Yay! 

2nd Anniversary cake! Awww :) Same as our wedding cake!

He keeps going and going and going....

I have nothing really to update on Gavin this time around. I always keep those who should be updated...updated by text/pictures/videos. Here are a couple pictures I took just today (our camera is full and I haven't taken ANY new pictures with it for what seems like FOREVER! We need a new SD card I guess!):

I LOVE THIS BOY!