Thank you, Mimi and Rosi!

Just before we loaded up the car to take mom and Rosi to the Ft. Smith airport, we snapped a few pictures in front of the fireplace. Thank you both for all you did to help us get our new house ready to live in. I've said it so many times, but we appreciate all you did so much! We're so lucky to have such a great family who supports us.

A sick little one

I didn't get to upload more pictures yesterday to finish playing catch up. Poor Gavin isn't feeling well. He took an extra long nap yesterday, then didn't want lunch. About an hour later he was running a fever. I gave him Tylenol, but about 45 minutes later he was screaming and crying for 2 hours straight. I took him into the doctor because he was exposed to strep last weekend. The nurse did a strep test while I was holding him on my lap - his lovely gag reflex kicked in and he started throwing up all over the both of us. :( The strep test actually came back negative, and the doctor said that there is a virus going around with high temps but no other symptoms. I think that's what he has. So, we're alternating Tylenol and Motrin around the clock. We had plans for the weekend but I think we're going to be stuck inside. I hope he feels better soon!

On another note, I just saw a picture Sara snapped of Gavin and me while we were at Shaw and thought I'd share. I feel like I don't have many recent pictures of the two of us. Thanks for sharing this one, Sara. I love it! :)

First Swim Lesson!

When we came to Bentonville to do some house hunting, we visited the Walton Life Fitness Center and knew we wanted to join. It's dirt cheap for Walmart employees and they offer a ton of kids' classes. The new schedule of classes came out while we were still in NY, and the classes started the week we got here. I didn't expect to start so soon, but if we didn't sign up, we would have had to wait until June to take classes. So, I signed Gavin up for a swim class, and I'm so glad we did. Jarrod hadn't started work yet for the first class, so he got to get into the water with him. I sat on the side taking pictures, which the lifeguard later told me wasn't allowed. Oh well - I captured his first swim lesson with Daddy! :)

Here he is in the locker room, all ready to go! What cracks me up is that this is the swim suit that we bought for him to wear last summer. Still fits!

Jarrod was the only dad in the pool, but he really enjoyed getting to do this with Gavin. Now, every time we go to the pool for classes, Gavin starts asking where daddy is.

Gavin is swimming to Miss Jo, his teacher. She is really good with the kids, and we later heard so many other parents telling us they request her because she is awesome at her job. We lucked out!

Watching Daddy blow bubbles - he's getting more comfortable, but still doesn't blow bubbles himself.

WLFC is definitely one of the perks of living here for us. I always wanted to join the YMCA with Gavin, but it was too pricey. I can't wait to do more classes with Gavin here. I just wish he would warm up to the child care. :)

Working on the house

We had 4 full days here in the house before our moving truck came. That gave us plenty of time to get the place cleaned and ready to go before the unpacking started. We realized that we didn't have a ladder to clean the ceiling fans and change a few light bulbs, but lucky for us, our neighbors are really nice! Within the first 10 minutes or so, we'd already met several of them, and Steve and Julie across the street offered us their ladder to use. Gavin really had a good time exploring it!

It made for a really neat train track, too! Multi-purpose ladder! :)

Mom and Rosi were a huge help while they were here. Gavin helped mom pull some weeds in the front yard.

He then decided to use the new sidewalk chalk we bought him to color on Shirley instead. Poor dog!

It's a lovely masterpiece, isn't it? :)

Mimi took a break from weeding to show Gavin a cool bug. Isn't she a cool grandma?

Once back inside, we realized Gavin wasn't around. He plays well alone, so I wasn't too worried. I found him reading books on his new bed. It made my heart smile. I had to snap a picture to remember that moment. I love him!

Springtime weather in Cincinnati

Back to the Cincinnati visit - While we were there, the weather was really nice! After visiting Shaw on Wednesday, we spent the rest of the afternoon with family. Grandma Ford and Aunt Shannon came over with Gracie and Jax. Jackson was born a month before Gavin, but is quite bigger than our little peanut! It was so fun to see them together. We played trains for a while, then had pizza and ventured outside. What a great evening!

"Catch!" One of Gavin's favorite games to play....but he waits until he's right on top of you to throw the ball. :) Love that smile, my little man!

Two of my favorite guys in the world! Gavin with his Beepa! What a great picture!

Gavin and Aunt Meggie....we love you, Meggie! Can't wait for you to come visit!

The kid loves bugs! Once Mimi pointed out a few bugs to him, he was searching for them everywhere. He'd pick them up and bring them right to me. "Here you go, Mama!" Um, thanks!

2nd cousins....I think??? :) Jax and Gavin

Looking at bugs with Beepa

Gavin and Mimi :)

Something was really funny....don't know what, though!

All that playing makes for a sleepy little boy! Here he is brushing his teeth while Aunt Meggie reads to him. Can you tell what the book is called? "Where is Brutus?" :) Gavin loves this book - he loves to say "Go Bucks!"

Thanks for some great memories! We love all of you and can't wait for our next visit!