forty weeks - bah humbug's debut

our tree skirt from christmas...
gavin has been out longer then he was in :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

This was a really hard week for us on the home front. Gavin spent most of the time sick with a double ear infection.  He was on multiple antibiotics and pretty miserable all week.  We were in and out of the doctors office all week and Alan and I had to take some time off of work to be with him.  We were up most nights rocking and soothing him.  It was hard on both of us.  Lucky for us he seemed to perk up on Christmas Eve.  His fever dropped and hasn't returned which is the best gift of all!  

That morning we started the day off with some yummy french toast Alan made and we took a ride out to the mall to get Gavin's photo with Santa Claus.  I was so excited to do this, assuming next year he may not be up to the journey ;), but with him being sick I was unsure if we would make it.  It was so worth it just look at this photo...

That afternoon Auntie Elissa and Uncle Tim came over to spend some time with us to celebrate the holiday.  They also bought Gavin some super special presents...including his first pair of Christmas jammies.  We have decided that her little man and ours will exchange pj's every year the night before Christmas and that they will wear them to bed that night.  I loved Gavin's first pair for our beginning to this tradition.  They also bought him a super cool Melissa and Doug shape sorter and chomp & clack walker!!!  YAY!

That evening Busia and Pop came over for some Christmas Eve fun.  We had a yummy dinner and made some fancy decorations for the tree.  We had so much fun I didn't even get and photos...so sad.  But here is a photo of Gavin with our Christmas tree which Alan named "bah humbug"....lol

Christmas day Alan, Gavin and I enjoyed some family time together sharing presents.  Of course Gavin was more interested in the wrapping paper and the boxes but he did really enjoy the activity table passed down from Ruth, Adin and Ty :)  TY! 

His Papa and Mammy sent him some super special gifts all the way from Louisville, KY.  This is a shout out for all those Yankees fans out there :)  Love it!!!  What fantastic gifts.  He even got his own baseball and glove.  Thank you! ;)

That afternoon we went to Busia and Pop's for a wonderful Christmas dinner and some gift opening.  Gavin got his first Radio Flyer and some awesome bath toys.  Busia also made him his first pair of pajama bottoms.  I will have to take a photo soon to share.  During dinner Gavin serenaded us with his talented piano playing.  

In closing I want to mention that Gavin has begun to cruise around the furniture in the house.  It is so exciting to watch him learn and explore as he gains more and more control of his body.  His two new favorite toys in the house are the printer and a clasp on an old trunk.  Who needs baby toys!  He is often found playing with both of them and appears more entertained then with his toys lol.

Also I know I have been promising a video of him standing up.  It is a bit late in the game but here is one for fun with a little play action with his wooden beads :)  

thirty nine weeks - welcome little beaver

One of Gavin's play blankets

On Monday morning I awoke to the loud sound of things crashing in Gavin's bedroom.  Upon entering I found everything from the top of his bookshelf on the floor and a pair of new socks in his crib which he was gnawing on.  The cardboard-like paper on the socks was mostly chewed.  Upon further examination I found most of it stuck to the roof of Gavin's mouth.  Additionally, the rails on the crib look like a beaver lives in it :) Consequently we decided to move things far away from his reach....he is a sneaky little one lol, and buy a crib protector for Gavin the beaver.  That afternoon Phoebe watched gavin while I went to a doctors appointment.  She took this great photo of him in the stroller.

On Tuesday Gavin cut his first top tooth on the left side.  I brought him to the doctors office to check his ears do to excessive pulling and crankiness, however we instead found a tooth emerging.  YAY!  I will have to take a photo if he will let me ;)  Wednesday Ridge and Trevor came over for a playdate.  It was great to see the boys play together.  It has been too long.  On Thursday Ridge also spent the evening with us.  I cannot believe how much they have grown.

Gavin and Trevor exploring

Ridge and Gavin 

What cuties!

On Friday we went to Auntie Elissa's and Uncle Tim's for a visit.  Gavin ate dinner while he was there and tested out their travel seat for their little one who we will refer to as Patrick.  It was silly to see him eat in it.  We determined he looked like a cross between a parachuter and Mario from Super Mario Bros. 

Over the weekend Gavin ended up at the doctors with an ear infection.  Poor little man is still fighting it off...hope he gets better soon!  Also here are some photos from his haircut a while back from my sister.  I adore the sink photos :)

thirty eight weeks - parties and presents

busia and her blankets :)

Gavin has perfected the art of pulling himself up.  It all happened so fast...on Tuesday he just did it while Alan was watching him and hasn't stopped.  Anything and everything he can get his hands one becomes a pulling device.  A few bumps and bruises have occurred this week...of course I am a nervous nelly and Alan is the calm one lol.  

One of his new favorite toys this week is a little music walker that Ruthie, Adin and Ty passed down to us.  He loves it and has started to walk with it with support.  I just keep thinking please don't walk not yet! 

This week Gavin also spent sometime with Zoe and Kelly at their house.  He loves their tree!  The lights are just amazing to him.  This week we started putting ours up too.  I can often find him gazing at it.  He must like the bright lights.  Alan says he also enjoys turning the television off lol.  He hits the buttons that are lit up.  snickers!

On Saturday Gavin had a busy day swimming with Busia in the morning.  He got dunked a few more times this week and took it like a trooper.  He is working on blowing bubbles and kicking.  This week they even floated on water noodles.  

 That evening we headed out to the parade in the evening with Jessie and Ridge.  Afterwards they came up for some play time.  It was so nice to see the boys crawl together.  They are growing way too fast!

children always enjoy the simplest toys :) 

On Saturday Gavin also got his Elfster gifts from a friend far away.  It was so fun to watch him open them as he is loving paper....especially eating it.  This swap was with a group of women who have talked since we were first pregnant.  What fun!

On Sunday we had a holiday party with some friends from our birthing class.  It was great to reconnect and let the boys play...yes we all had boys.  I unfortunately did not talk photos...bad mommy but managed to get one from someone.  We even had a gift exchange and Gavin got a fun car and duckie...thank you Will for the great toys!

Upon leaving the party Gavin was so wiped he fell fast asleep while driving out of the driveway...lol and boy did he ever... :)

...photo of tree to come...

thirty seven weeks - a scrambled swimming seven days

Our kitchen floor...we moved Gavin into a bigger onesie this week!

Gavin continues to amaze us as he grows faster and faster.  Now efficient at crawling he is beginning to pull himself up to his knees and attempting to figure out how to stand.  It's so cool to watch him troubleshoot and problem solve how to move his body to get his feet planted on the floor.  He is often found practicing in his crib.  This week he has also begun sleeping through the night randomly.  Not quiet consistent but more frequent.  The house is still filled with high squeeks.

What a great smile to wake to!

The bumpers come in handy!

On Wednesday Busia and I took Gavin for his first swim class.  He absolutely loved the water.  I was the photographer and Busia braved the water.  The class ran about 30 minutes and at the end Gavin even got submersed.  We look forward to class again next week!

That evening we went to visit Meghan and Clara for a playdate.  They haven't seen eachother in quiet sometime.  It was so much fun to watch them play together.  Gavin even brought Clara a birthday gift since she is turning one year old in a week!  I think he enjoyed it more then her...lol.

On Friday Gavin and I went for a walk around to check out some of the Christmas lights!  I look forward to us getting a tree soon and for Gavin to meet "Santa".  I hope we can go take photos soon at the mall...unless I can dress Alan as Santa :)

Clara also came over to visit us at our place during the evening.  It was nice to spend some more time with her.  She enjoyed pushing Gavin around in his walker...they are so cute together!

On Sunday Gavin got to Skype with his Papa in Kentucky.  It was fun to see Gavin crawl to the screen. Maybe one day they will meet in real life!  In the evening Busia and Pop watched Gavin while Alan and I went to the movies together.  We then ate dinner with the family.  Gavin got to try some of Busia's homemade stew.  Yummy!  This week he also enjoyed eating scrambled eggs and pancakes :)