Well the potty training is continuing. I'm hoping we're turning the corner. We've had our ups and downs over the past couple of weeks.

Gabe's also received Spencer from the Thomas the Tank engine line and three more packs of underwear, which amazingly enough qualify as prizes to him. I guess it's because he gets to pick them out. He's chosen Spongebob, Shrek and Nemo. He also acquired "The Incredibles" on DVD and a T-ball set.

Wait, you say, the prizes are getting bigger. Yes, bigger and better, but that's because we're spacing them out further. Two days in a row for Spencer, two to three days for the underwear and DVD, and for the T-ball set, a whopping four days straight. He picked that one out himself. We went to Toys R Us and he traveled through he entire store looking at just about every toy possible and then chose the T-ball set.

He seems to be showing a real interest in sports lately. I'm still trying to figure that one out, since neither I nor my husband are big sports fans. Sure we watch the occasional game on TV and hold a Super Bowl party or attend a baseball game once in awhile, but for the most part, we're non-athletic. Sedentary geeks, if you will. Who knows, perhaps Gabe will inspire us.

While in the toy store, we spent a lot of time looking at bikes, another recent interest of his. We skipped the trike stage, unintentionally. Gabe is a rather tall child. At nearly 3 years old, he rivals some 5-year-olds in height. He simply grew too fast to get a trike. At first, he wasn't coordinated enough, then we looked down and he was just too big.

While in the toy store this weekend, he hopped on a trike that was in the middle of the bike isle and his poor little knees were hitting the handlebars. We found 14-inch Spider-Man and Batman bikes that have training wheels. The size looks pretty good. I think this may be a birthday present in a few months. Of course, by then we may have to consider the 16-inch version.

We still haven't finished painting the laundry room, or the three pieces of trim in the kitchen. We did finally put handles on all the cabinet drawers and doors though, and spent one great weekend with my brother-in-law and his wife. We've been taking things a little slower lately, stopping to smell the roses, so to speak.

Eric and I have both come to the realization lately that time has been moving a bit too fast. Changes take place without us noticing. Gabe and the trike, for example. I should have noticed that my son is no longer a toddler, but a little boy. This hit me like a ton of bricks the other night when I realized he's nearly too big to cradle in my arms. Even so, he'll always be my baby.

So, I'm taking my time with things. The laundry room and trim eventually will get painted, but they can wait. It may take a few weeks or months, since I'll be doing it on the weekends during Gabe's nap times, maybe one wall at a time. I simply refuse to waste the little time I have with him as a little boy. It's just too important.