Conversations With My Son

While running errands in the small town where Nana Cathy and Papa Rod live.

Gavin: "I wish Nana lived next door. Then we could visit everyday."

Casey: "It would be nice if our family lived closer and was not spread out all over the country."

Gavin: "Yeah, wouldn't be cool if our family lived on the same street?"

Casey: "Yeah, that would be cool."

Gavin: "What if our entire family all lived in the same neighborhood!?!"

Casey: "That would be very cool! We'd just have to walk outside to see our family."

Gavin: "What if our entire family lived in one big giant house?!?"

Casey: "I don't know about that. I think that would be too much."

Gavin was sad about having to leave Tennessee. He had a great time and is looking forward to his next visit.

Gavin's Christmas Program 2014

Gavin's Christmas Program 2014 was last night. He looked so very handsome and he has been working so hard with his classmates to memorize their songs and dance moves. Casey and I looked forward to this show and we were not disappointed. Although when Gavin first came out with his class he was pouting. "I'm kind of mad mama, because I wanted to be on the top row," he told me after the show. Bless his little heart. He's short, like his parents. He'll probably always be in the front row. Ha!

pouting

Sawyer was very busy while waiting for big brother's performance and then stayed engaged during the show. He liked all the clapping.

Art Lessons With Gavin

Gavin requested that we paint another Picasso for his Nana Kathy's art project. Picasso's work has been great for teaching Gavin how to see shapes when drawing and painting. I'm also very pleased with how much Gavin has improved since our first Picasso project.

When we reproduced Weeping Woman I sketched the outline of the painting and then we both worked on filling in the color. We used his craft paint on regular paper for that project.

This time he did the majority of the drawing and painting. I drew the back legs and tail and then painted outlines for him to stay between when adding color to his picture. 

We discussed color and I taught him how to work with high quality water color paints. He does great work when he wants to.

Santa Visit 2014

I was looking forward to our Santa visit. We don't make it every year. I try to avoid the mall or big stores. This year the library that Sawyer and I go to for baby story time hosted Santa Claus. It's a nice place and the line moved quickly. It was free and we were allowed to bring our own camera. This was Gavin's third Santa visit (fourth if you count the one that came to his school last week) and Sawyer's first.

Thanksgiving 2014

This year our family tried something different. The Kingston people gathered at a Jellystone Park and Campgrounds, camping for noncampers. It was alot of fun. Gavin was the most independent he's ever been, taking off on his bike to explore and entertain himself. The Luceks rented a golf cart, which was perfect. We celebrated dad's retirement with cake and cheer. Cousins enjoyed each other, ages ranged from 14 years old to 10 months. I hope we get to do it again!

Conversations With My Son

One of my favorite memories of the fall season is when my brother Clay built a zip line between our backyard trees. We raked up all the leaves into a huge pile at the bottom of one of the trees and either jumped from the tree into the pile of leaves or zip lined into it. I don't have many happy memories of my brother, so this one I cling to. 

Our backyard is FULL of leaves. I decided to build Gavin an epic leaf pile, for him to jump into from his favorite tree. I started in the morning and worked on it off and on between my other chores. Sawyer spent several hours outside exploring the backyard. 

Gavin came home and was excited and impressed with plan and progress. He began helping with the leaves. The moment I had anticipated all day was near. Gavin could hardly contain himself. 

"Can I jump now, mom?"

"Not yet. Soon. Let's add more leaves and I need to get the ladder."

"Ok, mama. I'll add more leaves."

"Ok great. I'll get the ladder."

He watches me start to negotiate the very long and relatively heavy extension ladder out from behind his fort. It took so reorganizing of yard tools and garden supplies to get the thing out.

"Mom, do you want to wait for dad to come home and do that."

"No son, I don't need your father for this."

"Are you sure, mom? Want me to go get Fernando (our neighbor)?"

"No son, I don't need your father, the neighbor, or any other presumably stronger-than-me man to get the ladder for me. But thanks for being considerate."

"Ok mom," Gavin said with uncertainty.

I managed just fine and it was good for him to see that.  Gavin has enjoyed several days of jumping into his 4'-5' leaf pile. It makes me happy to watch him jump and laugh with so much excitement.

 It's true, yard work and the lifting and carrying of heavy or cumbersome objects is not my primary chore. These chores tend to be Casey's. In some ways we have both embraced the traditional roles of men and women. However, on this day, Gavin was able to see his mother do something his dad usually does and do it well. This was good for him, I think. I hope there will be more lessons of this nature and that he will grow to appreciate women and what they have to offer outside the traditional standards put in place by a patriarchal society. 

Eleven Months of Sawyer

It's hard to imagine that a year ago today I was celebrating passing the 31 weeks gestation mark. I was enduring weekly progesterone shots and doctor appointments. I had gained about 20 lbs and varicose veins were causing me great discomfort. I remember being concerned about going into labor at work and having to navigate the Austin rush hour traffic. My worst nightmare was the possibility of having my baby on the side of the road. Fortunately, my nightmare did not become reality. 

A few weeks ago Sawyer took his first steps. Until today he had only taken 2-3 consecutive steps at a time. This afternoon he took five steps! He's growing braver and bolder everyday. 

Climbing

When we decided that we would go to TN for Christmas, we also decided not to go all out on Christmas decorations. Instead of buying a 6 ft real tree, I would just decorate our smaller 2 ft fake tree that I typically put in Gavin's room. I put the tree on the console table behind our couch. It worked out well I thought, because it also  prevented Sawyer from pulling off ornaments, etc. 

Little did I know that Sawyer's climbing abilities include being able to climb into the couch and reach the tree.

Conversations With My Son

It was dark in Gavin's room. Casey had just finished reading a bedtime Christmas  story. I walked over to his bed and kissed his sweet little head. He was awake. 

"I love you, sweet boy."

"I love you too mommy."

"I love you more."

"I love you most!"

"Well, I love you infinity."

"I love you 100,100 and 1,000,000 infinity."

"Ok, you win."

"Yesssss..."