Middle Child

If Cameron and Mason were pieces of bread, Gavin would be the peanut butter. He is most definitely stuck in the middle of our family of three boys and life would not be the same without him. Gavin has really blossomed since starting kindergarten. He has grown up so much and matured right before our eyes. Gavin loves school and is actually disappointed when the weekend arrives. School has been good for him, but soon after he started, it was evident that this little boy came with a bit more "spice" than his older brother. In kindergarten they have a color coded system of green, yellow, and red. Green means you behaved all day, yellow means you got in trouble once and red means you continually misbehaved. When Cameron was in kindergarten he was put on yellow one single day and he came home sobbing. Gavin, on the other hand comes home with as many yellows as he does greens, but thankfully he has not yet been put on red. Part of the problem is that Gavin is a big talker and another part is that he is easily distracted and has issues paying attention. We are constantly talking to him about his behavior at school and trying to help him improve, but secretly I kind of adore the fact that he's got a bit of spunk in him. On Sunday Gavin had to bring in a picture of his family to church and talk about how he was named. I explained to him that Gavin was on a short list of names that Jeremy and I both liked, and that Saylor was special because it was a family name. We named him after Jeremy's grandma, Lillian Saylor Lyon. I told Gavin that Grandma Lyon was very kind and giving and also very spirited. I told him that we used her name because we wanted him to have those same qualities. I'd like to think that he has her spunk.

In the last few months Gavin has a new aspiration for his future- he wants to be an author and illustrator. One thing for sure about this little guy is that when he gets his heart set on something he does not do it halfway. In every bit of his free time you will find him writing a book and drawing pictures. He wakes up early in the morning to write and as soon as his homework is finished he sets off to color. We have had to limit his paper usage because he goes through it like water. I hope we can foster and cultivate these dreams of his.

One of my favorite qualities of Gavin's is his inability to be dishonest. He will come home from school and rattle off a list of the things he did wrong all day, just so I know. If he gets mad at one of his brothers and pushes or hits them, he is usually the first one to come up and tell me exactly what he did. He is quick to recognize his wrong-doings and always promises to do better. He is really great with both of his brothers, just not at the same time. He can play for hours with Cameron, or with Mason, but if you get them all mixed in together it's a mess. And Gavin's a bit bossy when it comes to playtime- he wants you to play what he wants to play.

Gavin just started winter swim team with Cameron on Monday and he is enjoying his time in the water. My little string bean always complains that the water is so cold, but with the right motivation he grins and bears it. Gavs is by far the best eater out of our three. He will try anything and my dinners that gross Cameron and Mason out, find Gavin asking for seconds. He always thanks me for dinner and compliments my cooking. That definitely puts him in the running to become my favorite.

I love that the littlest things completely delight Gavin. He was the one that was thrilled with every small trinket in his stocking for Christmas and who jumped up and down with joy last week when he saw I had gotten him an old beat up desk for his bedroom. A piece of paper is worth more than a dollar in his currency and we take full advantage of that fact.

This little guy is getting less little each day. He is growing up too fast and I find that time is slipping through my fingers. I hope I can hold on to this last bit of little boy that I have left. He makes my heart swell with pride.