EEEKK!!!

My little boy slept in his nursery all the way across the loft for the first time last nite!! I don't even think he missed us :'o( ...but mommy sure missed him!

Little Birdie and HIS Nest.

I've never really posted any pictures of our home here in Florida, never really taken any. As I was taking a few quick snaps of Gavin, I thought, hmmmm....I should take a few pics of his first Nest. So, for people like Kena who say, "I've never even seen where you live" I thought I would add a few pics that I took today...nothing fancy.

And of course, a Nest or Blog would not be complete without a few pics of the little Birdie. ;o)

PS> Gavin is in a size 3 diaper now and wears 6-9 months clothing (just so ya know)

Gavin's **New Friends**

Well, since returning from our trip...the Nolasco household, has been a SICK household! We have all had and continue to have runny noses, coughing, sore throat, congestion! I can handle Nels and I being sick, but to see my poor baby cough until his purple in the face just breaks my heart!

I took Gavin to the doctor last Wednesday (he weighed 18 lbs!), his lungs sounded good, his congestion was loose/wet, he apparently just caught some kind of bug, either from DR or his daddy! Because of his young age there is really nothing Dr. Crum could prescribe him :o(. She suggested saline drops and warm diluted apple juice. So...that's exactly what he has been getting, saline drops in the nose, warm apple juice, warm bottles all together, baby vapor rub on his chest and back, vapor baths, vick's vaporizer in the bedroom at night, and TYLENOL. And those my readers...are.... his NEW FRIENDS>>>>some of them you see pictured with him ;o). I have grown quite fond of them and am hoping that fight off all the sick bully's that come his way!

And for the exciting news...yes, that is my BIG BOY sitting up all by himself. He is doing so well in the sitting department. He does fall over eventually, but I'm very proud of his progress. He is after all only 5 1/2 months!

****A little favor from anyone who reads/follows this blog...if you hear of ANY job openings ANYWHERE in KY in the marketing/sales area, please send me word somehow---we really want to move back to KY, but Nelson has to find a good job first.**** (Thanks!)

DR Trip summarized on VIDEO!

Mi Bebe y Dominican Republic

We just returned from our trip to DR Sunday morning, it was nice, but I was more than ready to step on to US land (we were there 10 days after all!). 10 things you need to know about the country:

1. NO ONE has air conditioning in their homes (only in the bedrooms).


2. Car seats are not required! (Gavin loves this!)


3. If you speak only English, a Spanish speaking country can be a challenge.


4. Sadly enough, you can't trust or rely on the police (you have to pay them to get anything done).


5. It is a very poor country, so you really can't trust anyone (except family of course).


6. It is BEYOND hot during the day.


7. Nights are nice, usually a cool breeze.


8. The beaches and mountains are beautiful!


9. You have to be a very brave person to drive there, lol...I wouldn't even attempt it!
   
10. The music/dancing/party's are very entertaining and FUN!

I know I sound somewhat negative...truth is, when we were there 2 years ago my purse and everything in it was stolen (credit cards, cell phone, passport, money...you name it!) and this year my engagement ring that I am absolutely in love with was taken. So, at this point I think DR and I are mutual in saying that we aren't too fond of e/o, lol.

But it is the country where Nelson's parents live and they happen to be wonderful people and the time spent with family was time WELL spent. Enough said.

How was Gavin? A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.... Keeping a baby out in the heat all day everyday could be a problem...but he impressed me. He only got upset a couple of times and that was because he was teething. He had a smile on his face 95% of the time, so of course, everyone loved him! There were so many times when people I didn't know (at the family reunion) just came up and had to hold him! He slept well at night, naps during the day where few and far between, but with 3 cousins to watch, what could I expect? He enjoyed his cool baths, loved the breeze at night, observed everything around him, and really seemed to just soak everything in.

We stayed busy while in DR...everyday we had something to do or someone to visit. We visited Nelson's grandparents and had lunch. I was so happy that we got to see them, I know that someday Gavin will be very happy to have photos with his great grandparents. Nelson's abuelo has cancer and is very weak, so we couldn't have had better timing to get there and get some photos.

The main objective for this trip was the Nolasco Family Reunion, this took place in the VERY rural village of La Caya. There was lots of dancing, music, food, chatter, and people. When we arrived we went to a small church to a Catholic service where they did a dedication. From there we went next door to an aunts home and hung out ALL DAY LONG. La Caya is where Gavin's Abuelo and Abuela grew up, so it was nice sharing this with Gavin (even though he won't remember it) and seeing it for myself.

All of the children at the reunion loved cuddling and playing with Gavin!





Gavin also met his Tio Cesar for the first time...I'm almost certain Cesar was smitten with him ;o).

We also visited Camp David, located just outside the city of Santiago. The view was breathtaking. We took several pictures (as you see), had a little dinner, then headed back home.

(That is the city of Santiago that you see in the background)

Tuesday through Thursday we stayed at the Riu Bachata Resort in Puerto Plata. We visited the beach the first day, but mainly stayed at the pool. Gavin really enjoyed the pool, the whole time he was scooping water in to his mouth...which made me a little nervous, but he seems to be fine, lol. This was a mini trip, but it was nice, we all had a wonderful time.

I guess this summarizes the trip without writing a book...I think the pictures really say it all.

Gavin and Great Papaw Lloyd

Special little moment that Papaw Lloyd shares with Gavin---some of his favorite nursery rhymes ;o).

Momma's little Hunny

(This is how I found him...he already knows how to make a tent!)

I thought I would do one more blog before heading to Dominican Republic---we are leaving Wednesday and will be gone for 10 WHOLE DAYS! Please say a prayer that we have a safe flight both going to and coming from DR and that our overall trip is safe. Gavin hasn't seen his Abuela and Abuelo since he was around a week old, so I'm certain they are very excited about seeing him! We are attending the Nolasco Family Reunion on Saturday where Gav will meet many family members for the first time! I'm excited about the trip, but I'm already stressing over the heat. For those of you who have never been to a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY...there is NO air conditioning in the homes (only in the bedrooms)---baby G is a sweater as it is, so to be in the heat all day long for 10 days...uhhhh...well it worries me. But we are going to buy a portable fan and keep him in the shade so hopefully it will go well---think positive, right? On the UPSIDE we are going to be staying at a resort in Punta Cana for a few days, where the AC will be a-flowing on HIGH! YIPPEE. I love vacationing at the beach and the beaches in the Caribbean are the best!

My little baby boy will be 5 months on the 4th of August! I can't believe it! Some new things going on with Gav----

• He is now eating food!!!! So far, he has had green beans, peas, and carrots. He seems to be a fan of peas. Tomorrow he will have squash for the first time! He had sweet potatoes once, but he got a little rash on his back a day or so later...prob. wasn't the sweet potatoes, but I'm going to hold off on giving him those again---we're going to have all the other veggies first!




• He can sit up SOMEWHAT now!!! He leans over and holds himself up with his hands, but hey---he's getting there!




• He got in the pool for the first time yesterday...didn't stay in for long, but he seemed to enjoy it!




• He has now flown---all the way to KY and back...and was nothing less than an ANGEL!




• He is beginning to enjoy "tummy time" a little more these days ;o).



• Everything continues to go straight to the mouth.



• He is trying to talk, babbles all the time. I'm pretty sure that "da-da" is going to be his first word as he is practically saying it now (he just doesn't know what he's saying).



• And he just jumps away in his Jumperoo, it is hilarious! I'll have to get a video of him and post it.