Preschooler

The big day!  Today, we became parents of a schooler!  Gavin had his first day of preschool.  It feels like such a big step to have him gone from our house for two half days per week, wondering the entire time what he is doing, how he is feeling.  Did he navigate the potty okay?  Is he being nice to the other kids?  Are they being nice to him?  Is he making friends?  Is he listening?  Is he learning?  I could hardly sleep last night, fixated with all of these questions and more.  Did we plan for the right snack?  What if he doesn't like it and won't eat it and gets really hungry (and subsequently cranky)?

Well, he did just fine.  It is funny, though, to not know 100% what happened (or really even 50% for that matter).  I took the morning off of work, so was able to go with Brad to drop Gavin off and pick him up.  And then to the lunch destination of Gavin's choice (McDonald's, figures!).

During the car ride and while at lunch, Brad and I have a million questions for Gavin about his morning.  Here's a bit of our conversation (I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget):

Me: "Gavin, what did you do today at school?"
Gavin: "Those two girls sat in chairs and they sang lots of songs." (The two "girls" are his teacher and teacher's assistant)
Brad: "What songs did you sing?"
Gavin: "They sang wheels on the bus, twinkle twinkle little star, (pause, thinking) and a song about the potty and bears."  "Mrs. Brand told me to go to the potty."
Me: "Gavin, did any of the kids at school cry?"
Gavin: "No. (pause, thinking) Well, I just cried a little bit.  I said I can't do it, so somebody came in the bathroom and a lady fixed my pants." (here I assume he went to the bathroom fine on his own, but couldn't quite get his shorts adjusted right).
Me: "Gavin, did you eat your snack?"
Gavin: "Yeah, I ate it from my suitcase (his lunch box).  It wasn't gone.  Mrs. Vogel said it wasn't gone."

Just a little snippet of his day!

So, here we are just post-early wake up call (about 6:45am, he usually sleeps until 8:00-8:30am):

 

A few obligatory "first day of school" photos:

 

His back pack is as big as he is.  But he insisted on it.  I'm not sure why, but time really got away from me.  I think it was from all of our travel the week before school.  I was a terrible mom and didn't order the super cute back pack from Amazon on time to get it for Tuesday (darn holiday messing up my Amazon Prime two day shipping).  I felt terrible about it.  We went shopping on Saturday, and this is the best we could find.  He LOVES it because it has skate boards.  But it clearly is not "preschool" size.  He'll be using this thing until college!

The snack that Mrs. Vogel said wasn't gone.  After school, just the grapes were eaten.  Hummm?  Typical Gavin fashion, he's a fruit and veggie lover and usually skips the food with any substantial calories and/or protein.  We'll have to work on new snack ideas.

The walk of fame to the world of big-kidness.

This wall was just screaming "put your preschooler in front of me and take a photo".  So I did.  13 kiddos in total in his class, including a handful of recognized faces from church.

 

Thank you Mrs. Vogel for the family photo.  She and Mrs. Brand have been through this "first day" stuff enough to know that the parents love photos.  And loved lingering for the first 10ish minutes of the day just to make sure our little ones would be okay.  

And since it was raining when we left in the morning, we saved the outdoor photos for after school and lunch.  And I just love that we have this developing landscaping to use as our background now.  (Look how nicely that grass is coming in!  And look at Gavin's goofy hands/face...not sure what he was trying to do!)

 

Okay, that about documents Gavin's experience and our fun time focusing on him and this big developmental milestone.  But I'd be remiss to not include a few of my other thoughts, the ones I tried very hard not to dwell on, but still, truth-be-told, felt today and for the weeks leading up to today...

My baby is growing up.  It's very bittersweet.  What happened to that little baby I used to rock to sleep and get up to feed several times per night?  I think what makes this particularly difficult is that I always envisioned us sending Gavin off to preschool with another little one at home.  I didn't expect to be empty handed when he grew to this point.  I fully intended that Brad would be working hard to juggle dropping off and picking up a toddler from school with another toddler or baby who needed a nap right at the same time, or who was screaming her head off in the car because she was hungry, but needed to wait in order to get big brother.  It should be much more hectic than it is (as crazy as that desire sounds).

We went to the preschool open house last week and most of the families there had another little one with them either toddling around or in a baby carrier.  That should be us.  Instead we awkwardly answer questions about whether Gavin is our first to enter school and if we have any other children.  

I think it's important to talk about Grace with people who are in our "inner circle".  I don't know many of these parents well at this point.  But in all likelihood, Gavin will form friendships with their children that will last for years.  These people very well could be the future of our "inner circle".  They should know about Grace.  Not to mention, Gavin might tell kids at school that he has a sister, or possibly that he has a dead sister or a sister in heaven or at the cemetery.  These words are not easily understood by young children.  Their parents should be "in the know" should they need to discuss it with their kids.  So, we have begun to share Grace with these people.  It feels very raw, like it often does when new people learn about Grace. 

And to be completely honest, it's challenging for me to see other families with their preschooler aged child and then younger children.  It feels unfair.  While I'm glad others don't have to go through what we've been though and are completely naive to the thought of a dead child, I can't help but want what they have.  Not their children, they aren't Grace...but the family that is larger than three.  It's hard to know what God has in store for our future, he's certainly challenged us last year and this year.  His challenges are getting the better of me at times lately, particularly when surrounded by these other completely naive families who know nothing but the joy that having a child can bring.  To them, getting pregnant automatically means another living child.  There is never even a thought that things might not go as planned.  They are completely untouched by the worst pain ever felt.  Not all of them likely, but many.  And no one talks about dead babies, instead the attention is focused on the living, because it much easier to find the right words for doting on living babies.

So, these are my very true emotions.  I don't necessarily like that I feel them, so, like I said, I tried very hard today and in the past few weeks to think mainly of what a big step preschool is for Gavin.  I am REALLY very excited for him.  He is going to love it and do very well, I have no doubt.  And I'm going to enjoy it too - all of his developmental strides.  I'm really looking forward to the arts and crafts projects that make their way home.  And all of the new songs and stories we'll learn.  I'm going to work to focus on all of this.

Ironman Brad!

140.6 miles...

We have an Ironman in our house!  Last weekend, Brad competed in and finished his first Ironman competition, one of the most grueling athletic events one can undertake.  2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of hilly biking, and then a marathon (26.2) miles of running just to top it all off!  All of this in 92 degree heat and full sun.  Sound fun?  Not to me either.  But Brad showed his true athleticism and completed it in 14 hours and 18 minutes, not bad for a first showing.

We started the long weekend with a drive to Indianapolis, stayed the night, then continued the road trip to Louisville.  Headed to the expo to finish check-in and get some Ironman paraphernalia and then to the hotel for a little R and R.  Saturday, Brad went on a practice swim in the Ohio River - and oh no, injured his foot on a a stair railing on his first kick in the water.  It was quite swollen and we were worried it would affect his ability to compete and finish the event the next day.  So, he spent a good part of Saturday resting and icing it.  I ran to CVS to get an Ace wrap.  All was okay by Sunday morning.  Phew!

Here's Brad dropping off his bike and transition bags Saturday afternoon (look at all of those bikes!).

 Said injured foot...

The morning of the event, very early!

Getting tattooed with his number, 1262.

 For this Ironman, the athletes jump into the water a few at a time, as opposed to most Ironman competitions where they do a wave start for the swim.  Needless to say, we had to wait in a line that was about a mile long.  It took 35 minutes for Brad to get to to the plank and jump in.  Shirley and I waited in line with him to keep him company and see him launch for what would be a very long, draining day of competing.

And he's off!!!

Spectating, boy that was an event in itself.  Gavin and the Grandmas were troopers!  14 hours of chasing Brad around on the bike and run.  I think I ended up walking/running a half marathon that day...much of it with Gavin in the jogging stroller along for the ride.  Here we are waiting for a bus ride to La Grange to watch Dadda on his bike ride and for the kids festival.

 Suckers make the day a little more fun!  Along with the bag of tricks and treats to entertain a little one.  Really, though, he just had lots of fun cheering on dad with his big smile each time he saw him.

 Also making the day a bit more fun...a nice break in the water to cool off (did I mention it was 92 degrees?)

 And, what day would be complete without a visit from a 70 pound turtle?  This one, Spike, was walking through our hotel parking lot and we were able to visit for a minute and pet him.  Very random, but fun.

At the expo, we made signs for Brad/Dadda.  Gavin did all of the letters for "Go Dad" correctly and by himself.  I think his little, simple sign was Brad's favorite!

 

Future Ironman?  I think he may be.

At the finish and still awake and cheering (I think he looks a lot like my brother Andy in the photo below, funny because he tends to look a lot like my brother Tim.  So, here you go Andy!).  About 3 minutes after we caught up with Brad at the finish, Gavin was sleeping in the stroller amid the loud music, cheering and bright lights.  He was exhausted, as we all were!

And here he is, ALIVE and well.  An Ironman!!!!

We're so very proud of Brad/Dad/Son/Son-in-law/Brother.  Watching this event was grueling, let alone competing in it!  Will he do it again?  Right after finishing he said he never would.  But by the next morning, he was ready to sign up for Madison next year.  Geesh!  Next event will be our local marathon - just a run?  A walk in the park!

Non-schooler

It's preschool eve, Gavin's last day for many, many years as a "non-schooler".  He's so ready to start pre-school tomorrow, but for today, I'm enjoying my last day together with Gavin before he enters his learning journey at school.

More to come soon on the first day of preschool!

Swim lessons

Gavin had his first formal swim lessons this summer at a local city pool.  While he didn't actually learn to swim here, he did learn valuable lessons on group activities, listening to a teacher, and how to have fun in the water.  His swimming skills have greatly improved this summer.  He is now swimming independently for several feet, and ready for the next lesson at the local YMCA this fall!

Updates coming soon!

I'm waaaaay overdue, I know.  But I'm too tired to try to get this blog up to date.  So, this is a teaser post.  Watch for the following updates in the days to come: Gavin's swim lessons recap, Gavin's new bike, Landscaping, preschool, and maybe a few other topics I'm forgetting.  I just spent a couple hours catching up on uploading and editing photos.  They're ready to go, check back soon!

Biking!

Last week, Gavin decided that he likes his bike (a hand-me-down from his cousin Luke).  Up to this point, our spring and summer have been heavily weighted toward the scooter.  No interest in the bike.  I came home from work last week to find Gavin cruising all around our new neighborhood.  And now he is unstoppable (literally, sometimes).  We're even investigating a new bike from him.  He needs something a little bigger. He gave a couple bikes a test drive while visiting the local bike shop this week with Brad.  Apparently, he was tearing it up test driving at high speeds in the store.  I'm pretty sure we have a future triathlete on our hands.  He mastered running very early on, now swimming and biking.  Like father, like son.

Here's a little snapshot of his riding skills...

Swimming

We've been doing a lot of swimming this summer in the unseasonably, unbearably HOT weather.  I thought I'd let the videos do most of the talking for this post.  Gavin's skills in the pool are advancing by the day.  I've put these videos in chronologic order, but all five or so of them were taken within about three weeks of each other.  He started out the swimming season doing really well with his swimmies, took on the diving board and slide, and most recently is swimming independently for up to 20ish feet.  It's amazing to watch him advance!  We started him in lessons a few weeks ago, but really the course is focused on toddler basics, so he is much more advanced than what he's learning in class (but those skills are still important too, so we're not bumping him up).

It's been a blast!

Diving board with swimmies: Slide with swimmies: Shallow end with no swimmies: Diving board with no swimmies: And just this week, swimming independently in the deep end: Sorry, I know this is excessive, but I love to document these milestones!

Remembering Mark

One year ago today, the Lord took this great man from us.  Mark, I hope you are up in heaven playing golf, riding your bike, and enjoying a nice cold Sam Adams on this very hot day!  We miss you immensely and love you even more.

The Move!

I'll let the photos and video do the talking - the move through the eyes of Gavin.



Moving truck arrives at the "old" house.

All packed up, arriving at the "new" house.

 

His own bathroom, yippy!

I have a feeling there will be many photos in front of our new fireplace, one of my favorite features of the new place.

No landscaping? No problem!  And don't you just love our red-neckish flower hanging basket beautifully placed among all of our designer weeds? 

Being silly with his hiked up shorts!

For some reason, the sound doesn't come through on this video.  This is the very first time Gavin is seeing the new house on the inside...

Summertime!

 

An Ode to Orchard Ridge

6-7-12: Pretty much everything is packed, just the last bedroom and kitchen "stuff" to go.  I'm not sure that it's even quite hit me that we're moving in just a few days.  We've been so busy packing that I've not taken a lot of time to just reflect on what a big deal this is.

We've been in our house for nearly eight years now.  When we bought it, we were so excited to have such a beautiful "starter" home.  We knew we wouldn't live here forever, but it was such a fabulous house and neighborhood for a couple of recent college grads living on love.  We had little to fill our house those first couple of years - a futon, we bought a bed, a hand-me-down dining room table and chairs, a 19 inch TV, and some dressers that we got on sale at Target.  Brad was substitute teaching, waiting for a full time position to come his way, and I had just graduated from pharmacy school, still had to take my boards and was starting my residency program.  That was a very busy fall.  (I passed my boards fortunately).

Over the years, we've transitioned to people who have 401k's and Roth IRAs, and a college fund for Gavin.  We've accumulated a considerable amount of "stuff".  No more futon or hand-me-down table.  The TV is much larger now.  We have a living room full of cars and trains and kids books.  And all of that baby stuff that should also be cluttering our living room, but alludes me instead, is packed away in our mechanical room.

We're "graduating" from Orchard Ridge, moving to the next phase of housing.  When we bought our house, we were so thrilled to have more than most for a starter home.  A brand new house in a neighborhood that we grew to love over the years it was developed.  Brad's parents, as I've said in previous posts, lived just up the street.  Brad and I would walk through Orchard Ridge when we were dating, thinking how cool it would be to live there one day...never realizing it was more within reach than we would have thought.  We grew to love the neighborhood more and more as the years passed, building our little "estate" and meeting our neighbors - all fantastic, grounded people who moved to the Ridge seeking much the same that we sought. It has been a great family community nestled between the city and country living, something we've always liked and are glad we are feeling in our new place.

6-23-12: So, I started this post over a week ago - but am finishing it now, one week into living in our new home.  My apologies for finishing late...it's been a busy week or so!  We've not quite closed on our Orchard Ridge home, a delay on the underwriting side for the buyer - unfortunately, given we moved out so quickly to accommodate him, and he is very busy with starting a new job...living out of a U-haul.  It sounds like everything should be wrapped up early next week.  Phew!

We've been in the new house, like I said, for just over a week.  Surprisingly, the move went very well with a reputable and highly recommended moving company.  Packing was not so fun, unpacking as well...but we're down to the last few boxes so that feels great. 

Our first night, Gavin woke up three or four times, got out of bed, and turned his bedroom lights on.  We went in to turn them off only to find him sleeping in his bed.  I imagine he awoke and was a bit scared of the new place.  But after the first night, his transition has been going well.  The dog, well, that's another story.  He's not acclimating well to the hardwood floors.  And I'll be darned if I'm doing to cover the beautiful new floors with rugs for him!  Poor Stuart!

The one major hurdle with the new place is our lack of landscaping.  Without a curious toddler, no problem.  With a curious toddler, it's an issue.  Gavin could care less that we have no landscaping.  He loves playing in the sand (it's sandy here as opposed to the hard clay at Orchard Ridge), getting dirty, collecting rocks in his play dump truck, scaling our 45 degree sand hill in the back.  No biggie, it's fun mom!  Yes, it is just loads of laughs dumping your shoes of sand and cleaning up after the mess, let alone the worrying about falls from said backyard hill.  Just a blast!  Well, I suppose it is a bit of an adventure, but we're ready for some grass!  Landscaping quotes are on their way!

Gavin is loving the house - a play room and a bedroom, how cool to have two rooms!  We're loving it to - it is feeling more like home each day.  The first couple of days were weird, it didn't feel like home.  I think it will take some time to get to that point of true comfort.  Little by little.  We're certainly enjoying the surroundings and all that nature and the parks have to offer.  We love the location of our new place - it's close proximity to the city and all things that we love, but with a rural and intimate feel. 

To all of our friends in Orchard Ridge - we will so very much miss you!  We've come to love the comfort that having you near has brought.  You are all such lovely people with lovely children.  Please keep in touch!  You've seen us through the good times and bad, and for that we are very grateful!  If you're looking to relocate, I bet we can find a place for you in our new neighborhood...how cool would that be :)

This move is a big deal.  We have been very blessed to invest in this.  We always said our Orchard Ridge home was much more than we ever would have imagined for a started home, and that we'd likely be there for 5-10 years.  We're smack in the middle of that, 8 years lived there.  So, I suppose we held true to our intentions.  But we never would have expected to fall so in love with that place and all that surrounded us there.  We started our family, grew our family, and now have flown from the nest.

I'll always love that nest...