It's Labor Day, which for most people means a long weekend with family and/or friends. For us, holiday weekends can be the opposite. Scott is often working extra hours and it feels like any other day only with no mail! And today, I'm really wishing there was mail because I'm expecting a package. Oh well!

One thing different about today is that I'm trying to pack. It's really not that hard when you're only packing for yourself! That's right, I'm leaving Scott and the kids behind and taking off with my best friend to one of our favorite places in the world, LAS VEGAS! I really do love it there. First of all, it's hot hot hot! Second of all, the hotels are all so diversely themed that I feel like I've left the country only without the hassle of getting a passport, jet lag, currency exchange, or a long flight! (two hours in a plane is two hours too many, I hate flying).

Scott has so graciously volunteered to stay home with the kids, which is also going to be a trip for him! HaHa! This will be the first time he's spent more than a day with both kids on his own! I was sure to get all the laundry done, clean the house, and set out clothes for Coco all in hopes that this will be a fun week for him. If not, I might not ever get away again! :)

I can't wait for the trip and I know it's going to be SO much fun, but I know I will miss my little munchkins something fierce! I will look forward to talking to Gavin on the phone, and hearing from Scott about what new things Coco is up to!

This kind of a trip is good for me on so many fronts and I couldn't be more excited! I really can't wait to see what Scott thinks of four days of Daddy Day Care 24 hours a day! He'll be GREAT!

A day in the life...

The last two days are the kinds of days that make me question what kind of mother I am. I find myself praying for strength just to make it through the day. Here I am at the end of another day and my prayer was answered...I made it, but do I really want to wake up and do it again tomorrow? Sure! Why not? Tomorrow is a new day, a new start, and the potential to be the first day out our latest funk. Here's to tomorrow!

The last few days have been interesting. Coco finally cut one of her top teeth. By this time Gavin had 7 teeth. Coco has a total of three. Poor thing has been a wreck now for a couple of days. I'm hoping this is what her part of the funk has been.

On a more positive note, Coco did pee in the toilet today! Now before you get all crazy on me...I am NOT potty training a one year old. I was getting her ready for her bath when I noticed the diaper she had been wearing for hours was dry. I just held her up on the potty and she went! She looked down and kind of looked confused but after being showered with praises she knew she had done something good! It was pretty cute.

Gavin, probably not liking all of the attention Coco was getting for that little stunt, decided to just let it go and pee all over the floor in front of me! Thanks a lot buddy!

On a more positive note for Gav, he did ride his bike today for three miles! He started out a little squirrelly but he pulled it together and made it the whole way! It really is one of the funniest things to see such a young kid riding a two wheeler like that! Today the trail was not difficult enough for him so he decided to spend his time weaving on and off the trail just like the big kids he saw last time we were there. I love that kid and his sense of adventure!

My kids keep me on my toes and I'm thankful! There really never is a dull moment in this home! And for that I praise the Lord!

One year later...

Wow!!!! I decided to check my blog today...not sure why. I guess I was inspired by my sister-in-law Kate. The difference between her blog and mine though is that she is updating us all from Australia while I am updating you from, well, my kitchen.

As I look back over my last four posts, my only four posts, I realize that so much has changed! I am now the mother of a 3 1/2 year old and a 1 year old. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last year, watching both my children grow and change, but I am way more excited for the years to come. I've learned that I love the toddler years. I would rather take on the attitudes, tantrums, food aversions, and stubbornness any day over the breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and blowouts that come with an infant.

We celebrated Coco's first birthday with a piggy party. I believe she is one of few who has enough hair on their first birthday to wear pig tails and so I wanted to celebrate that! She has more hair than I can manage to get into a "hair-do" on any given day and the personality to match! I love this girl!

I'm so thankful for both my kids and for the opportunity to stay home and watch them grow everyday. I am going to try to do a better job of jotting down a little something here and there to help me remember this next year...because if it's anything like the last, it will go by in the blink of an eye.

Nesting!!!

So the time has finally arrived where I have begun "nesting"! Ha Ha! Just a nice word for the combination of weird things I'm doing to pass the time waiting for Sissy! Anyway, rather than cleaning the corners of my bathroom floors with a toothbrush or organizing closets, (which might still happen...we'll see!), I've been baking! Most of you know I like to bake but lately I've been like Julia Childs on crack! Well, maybe not quite that bad, but you get the picture! Last week it was cornbread, yesterday was blackberry struessel muffins and today was microwave caramel corn! Ok, microwave caramel corn doesn't really count as baking but it sounded good and what an eight-and-three-quarters-month pregnant girl wants...an eight-and-three-quarters-month pregnant girl gets! :) 

My mom used to make this recipe when I was a kid and thanks to the internet it took me all of five seconds to find it again! I'm including it down below for any of you who are in need of a sweet treat!

4 Quarts popped popcorn

1 Cup brown sugar

1/2 Cup margarine

1/4 Cup light corn syrup

1/2 Teaspoon salt

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 Teaspoon baking soda

Place the popped popcorn in a large brown paper bag and set asside.

In a casserole dish, or other microwave safe glass dish, combine the brown sugar, margarine, corn syrup, salt and vanilla. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Remove and stir to combine. Microwave for another 1.5 minutes. Remove and stir in baking soda.

Pour the syrup mixture over the popcorn and shake the bag to coat evenly. Place the entire bag in the microwave on high for 1 minute 10 seconds. Remove and shake the bag again! Return it to the microwave for another 1 minute 10 seconds. Pour out the popcorn onto wax paper until the coating is cool. Store in an airtight container!

Winding Down

I have so enjoyed my summer, spending time with Gavin, watching him grow and learn and discover, but the time is drawing near when he won't be the only one I'm watching! Tomorrow marks the 37 week point leaving three weeks until Baby "olive" potentially arrives.

Scott, Gavin, and I are all preparing for this huge change that is about to happen! Gavin and I had a heart to heart yesterday about what is about to happen and he seems ready for the challenge! He told me he that he knows sissy will cry and that sissy will take lots of mommy's time and energy and he also knows that when mommy goes to the hospital to have sissy that she will "be right back". Every baby he sees he reminds me that it's like sissy! I am amazed at how much he actually gets. As for what else is going on in that little mind...One can only imagine!

I'm preparing by procrastinating! It's great! Somehow it makes me feel better. Like I can't worry about actually having a baby until all my ducks are in a row and since my ducks are currently scattered all over the place...I wont even begin count down the days!

Scott is preparing by hiring extra cashiers at the market! He informed me the other day that my due date isn't ideal timing because it falls on the Friday before Labor day...no pun intended... and that isn't a great time for him to be gone from work! (As if I alone was the one that put this whole master plan in order and chose to be due on the second busiest grocery holiday of the summer! ) 

Prepared or not, she's coming, and she's coming soon! We couldn't be more thrilled!

Lake Chelan, Washington

As some of you know, the Teodoro family makes a yearly trek to Lake Chelan! Thankfully, things were under control at HarborGreens long enough for us to make a quick trip over. We had a great time enjoying the warm weather and the water! Gavin so fondly refers to the three bodies of water as the "hot pool" the "cold pool" and "the lake", all of which  he had to take a dip in!

Gavin went wakeboarding with Scott for the first time! He loved it! He will tell you that he wakeboarded and that he didn't fall but daddy did! He will also tell you that mommy is very proud of him, which of course is true! 

I feel like his vocabulary and sentence making skills were greatly improved during our trip and he continues to amaze me with his commentaries! In fact...the other day he said, "Daddy has a penis. Gavin has a penis. Mommy doesn't have a penis. We will go to the store and get one." Hmmmmm I guess I'll have to have a talk with him about that one! :) 

It's About Time!

Here goes another attempt to keep you all up to date on our life here in Gig Harbor! I've done the Myspace thing...and I'm over it! I'm doing the facebook thing...and that seems to be working for most of my friends. However...with the upcoming arrival of Baby Girl Teodoro...I thought it would be fitting to make some pictures and thoughts available to all of the rest of our fans! :)

Hope you enjoy keeping tabs on us!