Just Gavin

Too often, my boys merge from Tyler and Gavin into TylerandGavin ~ almost one person instead of individuals. Shawn and I try to coax them away from each other occasionally so that we can get to know them separately but all too often we fail. Or they protest. Somehow they stay together. They love each other and want to be together. TylerandGavin.

In this brief hiatus of quasi~unemployment, I'm really embracing my time with Just Gavin. Now I understand my craving for alone time with each of my boys. Gavin's growing up before my eyes and somehow his chubby cheeks and sweet naivety have turned into a taller, slimmer, smarter almost 6 year old boy. No longer my baby. And he really hasn't been for some time as he's been adamantly telling me.

Today, I'm forced to accept it. His birthday is in less than two weeks ~ on Mother's Day, he'll be 6. He was born the day before Mother's Day and was my perfect present. The completion of the circle that was our family. His first year of school, as a Kindergartner, is coming quickly to a close. Next year he'll go all day.

But those things are easily overlooked and I would succumb to my denial of the end of his babyhood. My Just Gavin time has slapped my face into reality.

After school this afternoon, while Tyler was in his writer's club, Gavin and I sat on the couch together, talking about his day before we read books for homework. Suddenly, as I gazed at his eyes that are now capable of seeing so much more than I ever imagined they'd see... listening to words come out of his mouth that I don't remember teaching him... feeling the wheels turning in his head as he formulated the thoughts and how best to express them... it struck me.

My baby's all growed up. My baby isn't my baby anymore.

Well, maybe not ALL the way... he still cries when he's hurt and angry and frustrated. He still wants to hold us when he's sad. He still follows his daddy around like a lost puppy, watching and emulating.

But he's thinking like a big boy. He's reading like a big boy. Today for the first time, he started riding a two wheeler like a big boy. He's sweet and sensitive and impish and smart and ornery and delightful and argumentative and funny and serious and quiet and talkative and my baby and my little boy. My almost 6 year old little boy.

Progress

Photographic Documentation

I think it's time for a picture post... I've not been great about grabbing my camera these days and frankly, we've not been doing much that creates Kodak moments either.

A few weeks ago we had a blizzard of sorts... It turned out not to be as bad in my area as what we were expecting.  It was enough for Shawn to take a snow day and the boys happened to be on Spring Break anyway, so they were home already.

Gavin got bundled up and ready to go play outside.

It sure was pretty out there!

Tyler's out there somewhere!

Yesterday, our neighborhood had their annual Easter Egg Hunt, which the boys were excited to participate in.  It's Tyler's last one as the age limit is 7.  He's a little bummed, but went out with a bang.

Lined up and ready to go!

Gavin didn't take his dad's advice to run straight to the back of the field and work his way forward... And the several hundred eggs were gone in mere seconds, so unfortunately, he only ended up with 4 eggs.  Luckily, his brother was willing to share his loot.

After he demonstrated his strategy and stealth kid dodging skills.

My ex~coworker, Lauri, came over to visit and have lunch with us yesterday.  It was great to spend time with her and catch up after not getting to talk to her as frequently as I once was able to.

She helped us dye Easter Eggs ~ we discovered that homemade dye is actually quite pretty!  Next year I'm going to go the natural way and not use food coloring but make dye with foods instead.  One step at a time though.

We also got a start on some plants for the gardens and pots.  It's a little cold yet to plant in the garden but it takes a bit longer to plant from seeds.  This is my first attempt at this, so I'm hoping it works!

Life on Mars

I feel like I am in a strange new world.  

I really could get used to being a Lady of Leisure.  I have enjoyed easier mornings with less rushing ~ the only thing to do is pack a lunch and walk Tyler to the bus.  My time with Gavin before he gets on the bus for afternoon kindergarten is divine.  I rarely get one on one time with my kids and I crave it because they are so much more different when they are not together.  We're reading books, doing puzzles, playing outside, making culinary creations and snuggling on the couch.

I've been cooking, trying new recipes, which is something I never enjoyed after working all day.  I'm catching up on all the things I've gotten behind on.  I'm working out more than I ever had time to before and determined to lose what's left of my baby weight before our June trip to the beach to see my family.  I'm halfway there! 

Although I didn't quit my job because of this, I am loving this break.

I'm also starting over someplace new next week.  I'll be doing some evening and weekends at Red Lobster, just to help make ends meet a little easier.  And today a darling Allstate Agent that was able to see my worth, has given me the opportunity to do some training of her staff in her office.  

After the summer, I'll go back to the real world and do something a little more dependable... but right now I'm really loving how these pieces are all falling into place.  

It's so nice to breathe again and have some positivity back into my life.