Visit with Cally

Yesterday morning, Gavin and I had a long overdue visit with my cousin Jess and her daughter Cally. I met them at my Aunt Joni's house and they graciously watched him while I ran to the new house to pick out some paint colors. The kids were SO funny together...they jumped on the rebounder with Aunt Joni, played peek-a-boo around the corners and were a little unsure as they encountered all of Uncle Dale's hunting animals in his office. Gavin and Cally are just two peas in a pod and crack me up as they follow each other around, hold hands and give kisses. It is just adorable. It was a really fun visit and we need to do it again soon!

Playing & Packing

This past weekend my in-laws came and stayed with us to help us with some of our packing. They worked so hard and got all of my china, dining room and 99% of my kitchen packed. We are now down to basically a pot, a pan and paper plates. They were SO helpful. Plus, Gavin was having an absolute blast with the undivided attention for over 3 days straight. He loved having them here and most mornings would quickly run toward the stairs heading to their bedroom so he could start where they had left off the night before. It was a very productive weekend so thanks for all the help!!

Gavin was helping us pack.

And playing lots of fun games with Grandma & Grandpa.

Oh Yeah, He Hears Alright.

Most of you know that we are having an issue with Gavin's speech right now....as in there is none. When we came back from vacation, we had a speech checkup with the dr to which we had to tell her there was no improvement. He still only says "dada" and "mama" rarely, inconsistently and we can't totally say when he does, that it is that obvious. So, she wanted us to get his hearing checked and get a speech evaluation.

This week we got the hearing test and all checked out fine. His hearing is perfectly normal which is great news but is confirming part of our suspicions that he is just stubborn. Now, obviously the speech evaluation may find other things but at this point...we just know he is stubborn.


In general, just like other kids his age, he hears me alright (telling him no, don't touch the tv buttons, don't put your hands in the fireplace, don't hit maddie with the golf club, hockey stick or drumsticks, don't go up those stairs, don't go down those stairs, etc) he just doesn't listen.


More on his speech development to come....I hope!

Goodbye Mullet

Ok, so over the last few months there has been much debate about Gavin's developing baby mullet. Chad, my brothers and basically all the males think that Gavin is rocking a mean mullet these days. Me, my mom and the other ladies...think it is adorable...his long hair that especially when humid gets all these curls in the back.


Chad and I agreed that we would keep it through Christmas and our trip to the hot, humid Dominican so we could enjoy those curls. However, upon coming home, we knew it was time as the curls were few and far between and the hair resting on his collar...had to go.


So...Saturday we took Gavin for his very first haircut. He looks like such a handsome little boy now....I just can't believe I had to cut my baby's curls.

The "before" picture...trust me, this makes it look way worse than it was with it being wet.

More before.

During his haircut, he was pretty tolerant...he watched some cartoons, "drove" his plane and once he was given some animal crackers, he was good to go.

He was being so well behaved.

The "after" shot.

Can you believe this handsome little boy?

No more baby curls....Sigh...

New Year...New House

So the end of 2008 was so hectic for Chad and I with the holidays and of course...the purchase of a new home!! We have been working really hard on getting ours "ready for sale" and ready to move. We know it is a tough market so we are hoping that ours doesn't take too long to sell. Our closing is on January 30th and we'll be moving either that weekend or the next! Crazy!! The house is in Mokena, about 15 minutes west from here. The house is beautiful and we're totally excited about it...my only concern is that it doesn lengthen Chad's commute. So...we'll see how it goes! We'll post pics when we can and more info as we go along!

Dominican Republic 2008/2009

This year for the annual Yonker family trip we headed to the Dominican Republic. As always, it was tons of fun...I'd like to say totally relaxing but that is a bit tough to do when you are constantly chasing Gavin. So, although it was super nice to have no agenda and lay on the beach, he definitely kept us on our toes for the week and battled the typical child on vacation exhaustion. (Not to mention, out of the blue, he cut his first two molars that week.) We did however get to enjoy beautiful weather and lots of fun with the family. Gavin loves, I mean LOVES, the beach. He would have played all day in the sand and if he was with his cousins, even better. He was in his element all week with kids, sand, water, Daddy, Uncles and Grandparents. It was a great trip and we are so blessed to have that opportunity. Thanks Gram and Gramp!

First taste of Dominican sand...

...and his reaction.

This is how we chill.

Grandpa kept telling Gavin, when in doubt stick to bread....Gavin was just doing as he was told.

Laughing & Splashing.

Gavin enjoys his first daiquri. Yum.

Decides he should definitely share with Mommy...two straws...awww.

Oh, now Mommy should double straw herself.

There was lots of interest in Baby Charlie.

Getting some sweet hang time.

Enjoying the kids show with Sam.

Gavin is feeding the ducks and I am apparently flashing the other side of the pond.

Gavin was definitely not interested in our starfish excursion.

Chad and I with the only three starfish that we saw...the jury is still out but we are pretty sure they were "planted" by our tour guide.

The REAL starfish that was found. Notice a difference?

Grandpa and his bathing beauties.

Gavin finally made it off the boat to touch a starfish.

Compliments of Aunt Sue, the three "babies" in their IPOOD onesies. We're a classy family alright.

Sand Castle contest...all family participation.
The finished product.

New Year's Eve with my hubby and my little Moroccan.
Yonker family.

The reason we are so blessed. Gram and Gramp.

Gavin and Grandpa share an ice cream dessert.

Happy New Year!! - Gavin couldn't quite figure out how to blow through the thing, so he would just yell into it to make noise. It was so funny.
Charlie will wonder why we do these things to him in the future.
Gavin and Daddy on New Year's Eve.
Partaking in a little Liar's Dice as we waited for midnight.

Most of the cousins right after "the ball dropped" so to speak.

Holla out to 09.

Yep, that's my brother.

Cheers to 2009.
Grandpa at the cigar factory.

Gavin is testing the quality.

Smoking the Cubans.

Running in the waves.

Playing in the pool.

There were HOURS of this scene.

My little buried treasure.
Japanese dinner night--Gavin was sporting the outfit Austin got him in China!
Last night....together, exhausted, happy and ready to head home.