forty five weeks - treadmill love affair

Auntie Elissa's Bed Sheets :)

So this week Gavin popped another tooth on the top making him an official beaver!  Additionally, he is standing alone with more frequency which we know will lead to walking.  He has already started to experiment with his alligator walker from Christmas.  Though when his gets stuck he is not quiet sure how to get out lol.

On Tuesday we were so happy to see Kelly and Zoe back from vacation.  Gavin so missed Zoe!  It was so very cool to watch them play together.  So amazing how fast they grow.  Here is an adorable photo Kelly caught of them watching out the window.  Gavin is so obsessed with watching the lights and the cars go by.  He has also learned to maneuver onto and off of the treadmill to view the traffic!

On Wednesday evening Auntie Elissa brought little Patrick Timothy into the world.  On Thursday Gavin, Alan, and I visited her in the hospital.  Sadly I haven't taken a photo of them together yet but I will make sure to do so next visit.  All is well and little Patrick is growing each day.  In honor of little babies here is a photo of Gavin after he was born.  Sighs...seems like so long ago :) What a big boy he is now!

Over the weekend the three of us pretty much stayed home.  I took a couple trips to visit the new baby boy but except for that it was nice to just relax.  Here is a cute photo of Alan feeling Gavin :)  I heart them!  

forty four weeks - let it snow while i grow

A new comforter...Gavin could not keep his hands out of his mouth lol!

Gavin continues to grow more and more confidence with maneuvering around furniture in the house.  He particularly loves to stand on the treadmill and look out the window.  Saying "dada" is also a favorite though I think he is beginning to try to manipulate his voice more.  He uses his hand to make new sounds out of his mouth.  He is such a chatterbox.  One night he just babbled to himself for a good 40 minutes while I did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen up lol.  I of course nodded and responded with witty comments :)  For mealtimes, Gavin is enjoying rice, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bananas, and blueberries.  I think blueberries are his favorite though they are very messy :)

On Thursday Gavin got to meet a new friend Connor who came to visit with his mommy Kirsten.  Connor is almost 3 months old so of course Gavin did not know what to make of him.  He did try to taste him I think but we redirected him lol.

That evening Ridge came over to play for a couple hours.  I so love seeing these two together.  It is amazing how much they have grown and that they will be a year old in just a couple month!  Gosh time flies. 

Also this week Gavin is loving his new sippy cup from his Auntie Elissa.  It is amazing how much water he will drink if you let him.  In addition, he has learn how to help his momma fold laundry...or maybe I mean unfold the laundry lol either way!

On Saturday it snowed and this was the first time Gavin has ever experienced it!  He was amazed looking outside the window and did not no what to make of it while it fell softly on his eyelashes.  I think he caught a couple flakes on his tongue.  It was so fun to watch him experience it!

Maybe next time we will break out the sled and bring him for a ride.  This week we also started to use an app called Instagrams to created digitally altered images to share.  Here are a couple from this week.  It is so much fun to play with and you can modify newer photos to look like they were taken old school :)  I love it!

dribbling water down his chin

styling his hair in the tubby
ps auntie rene i need another hair cut!

forty three weeks - eating dada's sock

Our current table cloth!

YAY!  Gavin has finally found his knees and has figured out how to bend down from a stand!  This is exciting as he gets less frustrated when he wants to move to another location and has no more cruising space lol.  He also enjoys chewing on his monitor so we have decided to use it on the floor soley as an auditory monitor.  He loves wires and this was not going to work as a chew toy.

On Monday and Wednesday we took a ride to get some photos framed and Babies R' Us with Auntie Elissa.  While she was ordering a new bassinet Gavin enjoyed playing with the balloons.  He has come a long way...back in October he would cry when they came near him snickers.

On Thursday Auntie Elissa also came over so I could take some photos of her with her belly.  Soon enough it will birth a baby and I wanted her to remember what it was like :)  Also we are entering a contest!  Here are a couple photos that Gavin interjected.  He just loves the camera...little ham!

Saturday morning Alan headed out for a haircut and while I was watching Gavin eat some cheerios he said his first word "dada".  Not that he is aware of who in fact "dada" is, but it was so super cute I sent Alan a video while he was gone.  Gavin continues to say "dada" over and over again.  Each time my heart secretly smiles :)  Here is a video I took to share.  How can you not love him!

 

That afternoon Auntie Elissa and Uncle Tim watched Gavin while Alan and I headed out for a late lunch and to run some errands.  They enjoyed playing with a box while we were gone.  Gavin loves things that make noises and roll so he was a big fan of throwing those shaking shapes in the box.

When we returned I took some more photos of Auntie Elissa using Gavin's toes.  We noticed that her belly acted like a sunburn and took the opportunity to play with it. 

forty two weeks - new friends and more

Busia bought me this blanket and I love it!  

Gavin is cruising like a pro and begin to find ways to bend down from a stand.  He has also been working on getting himself up while holding onto an object.  We love to watch him explore new things around the house.  This week he has been found playing with the grates of the heater and scaling the window frames.  Oh and the screeching continues...

Sunday was such a beautiful day Alan and I took Gavin out for a walk outside.  Alan was such a sport using the Ergo carrier....Gavin loved his ride with daddy!

Monday we went with Auntie Elissa to play with Addie and Phoebe.  Gavin of course wants to touch her and nibble on her.  When she made noises Gavin just stared at her perplexed as though he thought she was a toy and why did she make noise.  I did manage to get a cute photo of them...it will be so fun to watch them grow together :)

Tuesday Busia came over to watch Gavin.  They had a fun time singing to music on Pandora and eating yummy food.  This week he tried pizza crust which he seemed to love.

On Thursday we attended a school baby shower for Auntie Elissa and Robyn.  Gavin got to play with all the ladies, eat some cucumbers, and explore a new place.  He had a blast.  Of course I didn't remember to take any photos...maybe someone from the party has some?

This week Gavin also had his first experience throwing up which was not pleasant...not one bit at all.  Actually it ended up all over me, him, and the chair.  Though after the event he was laughing and smiling.  I am so happy he felt better.  I have recovered but the chair is another story lol.  Gavin has also been having a super fun time  in the tub.  He is splashing more and doesn't seem to mind lots of water in his face.  His high pitched noises seem to be more extreme in the tub.  I will assume it is singing :)

On Saturday Alan, Gavin and I headed over to Auntie Elissa and Uncle Tim's to assist with getting ready for her little man.  While the boys put together the glider we grabbed lunch for everyone.  Gavin got to ride in the small grocery cart which he thoroughly enjoyed.  

After everything was all set up Gavin even took a snooze in Patrick's crib.  It was so cute to see him all snuggled up in it.  When he woke up we opened a toy of Patrick's for Gavin to play with.  Auntie Elissa had said that her friends baby love love loved it!  It was a Playskool Busy Ball Popper ( the little boy in the photo is happy)!  Needless to say we turned it on and Gavin just watched and then began to cry.  Even when we turned it off he would not stop.  We actually had to hide it from his view.  Alas we took the balls out of the toy and let him play with them.  I would post a funny photo we took....but Alan would not like me very much LOL

forty one weeks - happy new years little prince

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

It is so great to have Gavin feeling better...we were really missing his boisterous personality!  This week Gavin had his 9 month check-up.  They checked out his ears which are looking much better and determined we would follow up in three weeks to make sure all is going well.  He weighs 20 pounds 11 ounces and is in the 65 percentile, for height he is 29 1/4 inches long putting him in the 80 percentile.  We are all wondering where that height sprouted from.  I can hardly believe he was once 5 pounds and 18 inches!

This week Gavin is on the move cruising around the house with more confidence.  He will transition from furniture and makes attempts to stand on his own.  We are working on encouraging him to bend with his knees or land on his bottom from a standing position.    

Sporting big boy undies!!!

He has also begun this high pitched screeching sound that he enjoys mimicking from others.  His favorite toys appear to be blocks and anything he can bang on.  He also likes to imitate others by banging on furniture and toys.  I found him this week playing in the bathroom with the toilet paper...let the fun begin LOL!

On Wednesday Auntie Elissa and Uncle Tim watched Gavin while I headed to a doctors appointment.  Gavin had a blast playing with them and Uncle Tim enjoyed playing airplane with Gavin.  We look forward to their little one joining us :)

On Friday Busia and Pop came over to watch Gavin while Alan and I headed out to a movie and late lunch.  Busia brought him a special hat from Burger King since she called him Prince Gavin.  Though chewing it was such fun we did get some great shots with him sporting it on his head also :)  Busia also bought him a new hat to keep his ears snuggly warm as the winter pushes on.  That evening I headed out to get a well deserved massage....thank you Alan for the awesome gift!

New Years Eve we had Ridge with parents in tow over for dinner.  It was great to see the boys play and we enjoyed some adult time.  They were really into the penguin toy that Busia bought Gavin some time back. We were in bed before the ball dropped but Gavin did wake at 12:30 to remind us it was a new year...oh Gavin!

I can hardly believe that it is a new year...welcome 2012!  We look forward to seeing what the new year brings us and watching as Gavin Alan continues to grow and learn.