Toddler Transitions

This will be a quick post.  I've been reflecting on big steps that Gavin is making recently, and wanted to document them on my virtual baby book (well, the blog's not just a baby book I suppose, it's my venting board as well!).

Potty training - boy, we're turning a corner!  Accidents are getting less and less frequent; in fact, rare would be a good descriptor.  Gavin is consistently using the potty, asking to use the potty (instead of us having to ask and remind him several times per day).  He is getting better at "holding it" until we're at the potty, which sometimes can be a 10 minute car ride away.  And at night, he is almost always dry now (95% of nights).  It's not a struggle to get him to the potty any longer.  And he is getting better about re-dressing himself post-duty (a major step to being ready for preschool in the fall).

Speaking of preschool - we've enrolled him!  Gavin will officially be starting a two day (half days) program in the fall.  Crazy!  We filled out the oodles of paper work earlier this month and sent in our deposit.  He's ready.  I'm excited to see how he blossoms, not that he needs blossoming, but it will be good.  On the playground or outside in our neighborhood, he LOVES to make new friends.  He's such a pleasant little guy!  Runs up to other kids, introduces himself, many times gives hugs (maybe a little creepy, but he's three, right?).  I'm excited to see him make friends at school who he gets to see regularly.  Given he doesn't go to daycare, preschool will be a good social opportunity for him.

And my final thought for this quick post - the pacifier fairy!  She visited!  After our trip to Florida, it was time.  Really, it was probably time a year or more ago but we had other things going on that were more important than a silly pacifier.  We knew the time would be good - no major events or trips planned when he might want his "bye" extra (this is what he's called his pacifier since he first started talking).  I've heard horror stories of other parents who finally took their children's paci's away.  We planned ahead.  The day after getting back from Florida, we began to tell Gavin that a pacifier fairy would be coming soon for his "bye's".  She would be bringing them to littler babies who needed them more.  Gavin quickly decided that the fairy was Tinkerbell.  So, we went with it.  I guess part of me liked the idea of Tinkerbell since I don't have a daughter to overplay the princesses and fairies with - gosh, wish I did - so, Tinkerbell it was. 

We spent a couple of weeks talking with Gavin about how Tink would be coming to take the "bye's" at night and that maybe she would leave a little surprise for him in exchange.  He had lots of ideas about what the surprise would be (mainly various different Thomas and Friends trains).  The night came when we put all the "bye's" in his nightstand...and the next morning, Gavin discovered "Ferdinand" the train in his drawer.  His first day at nap time, he was quite upset with Brad, saying he wanted to be little and have his bye again.  He didn't want to be a big boy.  He wanted Tink to take Ferdinand back to Meijer (he knows that all things come from Meijer...or Costco, the "big Meijer").  That nap was the only time he got really upset.  That evening and all evenings to follow, he doesn't even mention his "bye's".  Overall, it went very smoothly!  And to think I was dreading taking this little comfort away from my big boy!

Gosh, the past few months have been filled with such transitions - from little to big.  A big boy bed, expanded conversational and social skills, potty training, talk of preschool, good-bye "bye", more and more independence and learning.  I'm loving it, but also missing so many things about the baby and toddler stages.  These fleeting days go by so quickly.  But our love for Gav just grows, I suppose, with each quickly passing moment.

March For Grace

March of Dimes is holding their annual March for Babies walk on Saturday April 28. Brad and I are putting a team together. We invite you, our blog followers, to walk with us, make a donation, or both.

I've put together a webpage with details on the walk and how to donate. Visit here.

April 28, 2012
Foremost Insurance
5600 Beechtree
Caledonia, MI 49316

Walk Distance: 3.3 miles
Registration Time: 9:00 AM
Start Time: 10:30 AM
Chapter: Grand Rapids Division
Phone: (616) 247-6861

3 Year Photos

I'm overdue with this post, I know. Better late than never. Here's a sampling of my favorite photos from Gavin's 3 year session the beginning of March...

Florida - Year 8

Can't believe we've been going to our beautiful beach each year for the past eight years now! It's just paradise there and we look forward to our week of relaxation each year. This year was nothing but fab - perfect weather and 99% perfect company. Gavin had a blast. It's fun to see each year how much he advances from the prior year. This year, he was much more independent and much more "trustworthy". He loved running in and out of the ocean. Loved playing in the sand. Loved jumping into the pool all by himself...seems like hundreds of times each day (jumping in like a "submarine" as he called it). Loved spending time with Momma and Dadda and MaeMe and BaPa.

The only thing that would have made it 100% perfect would have been keeping a 10 month old little girl from putting sand in her mouth. That didn't happen.

Here are some fun photos to document this year's trip...

We had to keep with the Easter traditions, even when on vacation for the week preceeding the holiday. Eggs were dyed!

Can you spot our Grace?

We went on an Easter egg hunt at the local Zoological Gardens - Gavin was able to have a couple of birds on his arm/shoulder. He's still talking about how "the blue bird AND the orange bird, they walked right here on my arm (as he points to his arm)".

My favorite part was feeding the flamingos right from our hands! One of the flamingos "Featherstone" (if you've seen Gnomeo and Juliet you know who I'm talking about), thought Gavin's hair was food and gave him a little peck.

3 year photos to be posted soon!

Update Desperately Needed!

Goodness, what has happened to me? Clearly I've been a blogging slacker as of late. Well, I'm going to work on getting things updated. I have three-year photos, Florida vacation update/photos, Easter happenings, and some randomness to get documented. Geesh...

More to come shortly!