Off to a Great Start

It just so worked out that I've had four consecutive days off work owing to the holiday on Thursday and lack of childcare options on Friday. (Thanks for switching, JE!) Let me tell you, I haven't really missed it. I've noticed a vague shift in how I feel about my day-to-day over the last couple of months. As Gavin gets a little easier to handle and a touch more fun to be around (not that I'm calling him anything but delightful as an infant), I'm finding that it's not the huge relief that it used to be to drop him off and concentrate on a job for 8 straight hours every now and then.

It's not like it's been total excitement and awesomeness around here. We said good-bye to Dylan on Friday for the whole weekend, and we've just been doing some casual living...going on walks, visiting cousins in town from Wisconsin, hitting up a neighborhood bonfire, a trip to the gym, church in the morning, and Hudson's 5th birthday party. Some pretty good stuff, actually. Gavin's NOT been a perfect angel the whole time, and he even had me up for two hours in the middle of the night on Friday night...but I don't know, it's just been a fine and relaxing time.

Getting some time in the backyard on these very chilly days!

Sup, people.

He loves his counting book from Guinea

Not a huge fan of the redneck hat I bought him

Catching a ride home from the neighborhood bonfire with marshmallow in his hair.

Horsing around with his cousins.

You know life is hard when you get stuck in a toy rhino.

Fooling around with his buddy Luke and Aunt Krsitin

Hangin with Papa and my cousin Luke at Hudson's party.

"Ball" is a favorite word

I'm not exactly dreading going back tomorrow. I'm fine with it. I'm glad to be on cruise control for the moment. Just proceeding with my day, whatever type of day it may be. Things have fallen into place nicely, I suppose. Took long enough...but I can't think of a better way to kick off the new year.

Also, in keeping true to my first New Years resolution, I put a loaf of bread in the bread maker...and it was a complete flop. Since I've never had success in the bread maker, and I follow the directions to the T, including making sure the water is the perfect temperature, I'm convinced it has more to do with the bread maker than with me, and I'm going the old-fashioned route next time.