fifty two weeks old = one year old!

Gavin's big day!  
A special chair from Busia and Pop,
decorations from Auntie Elissa,
hat designed by momma mae :)

So this past Tuesday Gavin turned a whole year old!  I am still in awe of this moment and those moments that led to it.  I love that I can go back and watch as he grew throughout this year.  I am on the fence about staying with a weekly blog or moving towards a monthly model.  I will have to think about it :)  As Gavin continues to gain more and more control walking and climbing onto objects he has started to squat and pick objects up to bring with him.  Its so wonderful to watch him grow and explore the world around him.  He especially enjoys climbing on his new chair from Busia and Pop.  He even has perfected the art of lounging! 

This week we celebrated Saint Patrick's Day and Gavin sported his special jammies from his Auntie Rene!  He looked super cute in they and Alan enjoyed them!

He has also discovered some new toys that he enjoys.  One being those foam blocks above from Ruth, Adin and Ty.  He is also enjoying a cardboard roll I had left over from wrapping his birthday gifts.  I think he is ready to battle with someone lol!

Also Busia bought Gavin a little chicken called Henrietta who lays eggs around the house when he pulls her.  He is fascinated by the eggs and where they go in the chicken LOL.  I love to watch his expression when Henrietta lays the eggs and clucks :)

On Sunday we had a big celebration for Gavin's birthday.  A group of close friends and family came by for some yummy chowder and cake.  Gavin was dressed in a special outfit for Auntie Elissa....just a hint of pink!  Here are some photos of the event and a video that just sums up the experience.

Auntie Elissa & Gavin 

The Birthday Boy! 

His balloons from Miss Phoebe!

Gavin & Pop

The Birthday Chair!

Gavin's Smash Cake - created by Busia

Momma Mae helping Gavin blow his candle out.

Busia helping him taste the cake.

Yummy...

YAY!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Videos to Brighten Your Day!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Singing the Song

Goodbye Cake

fifty one weeks old - new toys and first kisses

Gavin's bathroom mat!

It amazes me that we are one week from Gavin's first year birthday!  Where has the time gone... :)  Gavin continues to walk around that house.  He hardly holds on for support and is now preferring to walk over crawl.  I have even spotted him attempt to run.  Watch out world!

Most often you can find Gavin playing with balls that go with a variety of toys.  He loves blowing raspberries on them and carrying them from room to room.  He is also enjoying the Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See book and can look at it multiple times in one sitting.  He appears to enjoy the black sheep and the teacher the most.  

This week we spent some time playing with Ridge.  I love to watch these tow together.  They are slowly learning to play cooperatively though sometimes they get protective of their toys.  They really enjoyed playing with some new blocks we got from a friend this week.

Also this week we got to spend some time with Addie and Phoebe.  Gavin even planted his first kiss on her, though it looked more like a hickey.  Either way it was super cute.  We also saw Phoebe, Addie, Auntie Elissa, and Patrick on Thursday and took a nice walk outside.  It was beautiful out!  Gavin also met some new friends Aaron and Robyn.  Hopefully we will take some photos next time.  Here is a cute photo of Phoebe, Addie, and Gavin :)

Over the weekend Gavin spent some time with Busia and Pop while Alan and I had a date night.  On Sunday Auntie Elissa took a trip to The Gap with us for some sales and we snapped this fun shot of Gavin demonstrating some headwear for the holidays. 

That evening we had an early dinner with Busia and Pop.  Gavin enjoyed some chicken Busia cooked and cleaning the screen door window.  Silly Boy! 

 

 It was a fast week.  Also we changed the time on Sunday and for the first time in a while Gavin slept through the night.  Let's hope it will become a trend!  Here is a cute photo Alan took of my boy and I.  It is so crazy to me that he will be one year old this Tuesday....sighs.

fifty weeks old - random moments in time

Gavin with his new favorite toy, his comb, and stylish beach towel!

Well this week has appeared to wandered by with hardly any photos....very unlike this momma.  I must been getting behind lol.  This week Gavin continues to walk around the house taking more risks.  He is very good about falling on his tush or knees which makes me not as nervous.  Though most times he doesn't need any support walking from one end of the house to the other!

This week he is loving a new toy from an old friend that has ball you push through a boat.  He has figured out how it works and loves that he can manipulate it.

He is also continuing to clap all the time and give high fives which are super awesome!  Here is a cute shot of the two of us practicing our clapping motions lol!

This week we had a play date with Auntie Elissa, Patrick, Phoebe, and Addie.  Gavin spent most of his time playing with Auntie Elissa's balloon though he did wander over and check out the little babies from time to time.  Unfortunately, we did not snap a photo.  We must remember that next time we get together.  

This week Gavin also started to teeth really hard.  His drooling has been excessive and his hands cannot stay out of his mouth.  Alan and I see a tooth on the move on the bottom right.  It seems to have also given him a stuffy nose.  The weekend we spent a lot of time holding him.  He did not sleep well at all and we look forward to him feeling better and getting that tooth out of there LOL.  

Since I was not the best photo taker this week I do have some snapshots from my phone of various activities this week.  Here are some to share...

Loving tubby time! 

Sporting Busia's homemade jammies.

Enjoying some pasta!

Resting with Alan :)
I love these boys!

forty nine weeks - happy trails to us

Beach towel provided by Busia!

This week Gavin and I brought Alan to the big bird to visit his family while we headed on a read trip together.   Gavin has been really interested in balls and blocks this week, as well as pulling things out of cabinets.  He is so curious!  I love to watch him explore things around new places.  

On Wednesday we headed to New York and visited with Meghan and Clara on the way.  It was fun to watch the two tumble and play together.  We ate a yummy breakfast full of Gavin's favorites (eggs, toast, and fruit).  Gavin enjoyed playing with Clara's instruments and he got to observe his first squirrel.  

That evening we stopped by to see my sister at her work and ate lunch.  Later that evening after we settled in at my Grandma's we headed to dinner at Auntie Rene's where she gave Gavin a big boy haircut!  He also played with his cousins and their adorable dogs. 

On Thursday Gavin and I took a long walk at the park and he played on the swings.  He loved to watch the kids running and playing.  He walked around holding my hand but you could tell he wants to run like the big kids!  

That evening we headed over to visit his cousin are her work.  Lucky for Gavin she works at a child care center in a gym and there were no costumers.  Gavin enjoyed playing with all their big kid toys and he especially liked climbing in the long tube.  That night he was exhausted and fell asleep in the car for the night.  

Friday we packed up to head home.  Visited for a bit with his great aunt Midge and cousin Mary in the morning, then headed to see our friends Ruthie, Adin, and Ty!  The boys are getting so big.  I loved to watch them play together.  They also passed down some toys and clothes to us which was fantastic!  Thank You!  This photo of them makes my heart melt!!!

Adin, Ty, and Gavin relaxing on the couch. 

That evening we returned home got a good nights rest and woke up to a new day.  It was so nice to be in our beds...I am sure Gavin would agree.  Gavin ate a scrumptious breakfast full of eggs and we headed to the big bird to pick up Alan.  It was so nice to have him home!!!  We missed him :)

To end this post I have to add a few of my favorites this week...

Took this while I was trying to get his weekly photo and I love his facial expression!

A favorite past time walking the kitchen in his new jammies made by Busia.

And a top ten photo for me...Gavin guarding the milk!

forty eight weeks - new kicks & licks

sitting on the couch

This week Gavin continues to take risks with walking around the house.  He actually made it across the living room on his own!  It is amazing to watch him learn and grow in confidence and ability.  He has also discovered the draw under the stove lol.  He is enjoying banging around with pots and cookie sheets.  Here is a video I captured of a short stroll this week.  I hope to get some more footage as the week progresses.

This week Gavin got to spend two playdates with Zoe which was super exciting.  They love to play together!  On Tuesday Gavin spent some time at there home and Wednesday Zoe came to our place.  Here are some cute photos of them together.  :)  We even went for a big wagon ride!

This week in honor of Valentine's Day Gavin got all dressed up for the occasion and decided that his new chew toy is the channel changer for the television.  Alan and Gavin also sent me beautiful flowers to work which was a big surprise and super cute of them!

In Lieu of Gavin's new walking adventures, Pop and Busia brought us on an adventure to the mall to buy Gavin his first pair of shoes.  At first he wasn't so sure about them and wanted to scrunch those toes, but he has since become more comfortable.  In celebration we ate some yummy pizza afterwards.  Gavin loves pizza crust!

Busia and Gavin at Stride Rite  

On Saturday Auntie Elissa and Uncle Tim came over for dinner and brought Patrick on his first official dinner adventure.  We ate some clam chowder and salad with some scrumptious german chocolate cupcakes for desert.  Auntie Elissa perfected her Moby wrapping skills and Gavin showed off his new walking shoes.  

Sunday Gavin spent some time with Busia and Pop in the morning and we ran some errands in the afternoon.  Gavin is so enjoying sitting in the grocery cart that we no longer will need to bring that stroller.  

That evening we were invited for dinner with Jessie, Derick, and Ridge.  Gavin and Ridge played and tumbled together, and Jessie introduced Gavin to his first ice pop!  Life will never be the same LOL!