Gavin, if it's at all possible, you're more fun daily. Just tonight, I was trying to find your bottle, because after I gave it to you, I didn't see where you put it. I was down on the floor, booty high and on hands and knees, looking under the couch. You squealed and ran to me, and your face just demanded, “What is THIS game!!??” You looked under the couch but we didn't find the bottle until I was desperate and looked behind the media console. Good one!
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Well, school is nearly 40% over for the year and it feels like it just started. You know, for teachers this is the longest part of the school year. So babe, we're this close to summer! You go to Janice's house on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it's a big party here. Dad works from home, you're here all day, Grandma Barb comes over in the morning and Grandma Sue comes over in the afternoons. It's pretty hard to be away on Tuesdays and Thursdays because all of my favorite people are here at home together.
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You recently started walking a lot. You stood still and just practiced balancing for about a month. And then you just took off. The first day I ever saw you walk and just keep walking is a memory I don't think I'll forget. We had gotten home from daycare and were playing in the kitchen (toys everywhere!) and instead of taking two or three steps, falling and crawling to get what you wanted, you just walked and walked and walked. Your sappy mama, I cried and laughed and somehow, even though I have such a terrible memory, I tried to lock in that image. Your legs and body are so sturdy but your steps were so careful and unbalanced. You tried to slow it down but I could see how hard it was. For the challenge it gave you, your determination impressed me. Once you started walking, the world truly became your playground. You explore everything! Drawers, cabinets, dishes, Clyde's food and water, desktops, tabletops, shoes, you name it.

Gavin's party in the park

The weather was perfect. Our friends came to celebrate your life and shower you with birthday gifts. Many of our friends brought you Home Depot gift cards, since Dad and I suggested that people could help us buy the materials for a sand box for your birthday. I don't think you'll get much fall or winter use out of this sand box, but come next summer, I think you'll love having a sandbox right here in your own yard! You spend lots of time at your birthday with Aunt Jessica and Grant. You don't see them much since they live in San Francisco. You also got plenty of Grandparent time. Like Oliver and Sophia (who had birthday parties the weekends before and after you), you had a number of friends at your party.
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My favorite moments at your party were three.
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First, you were playing with the extra supplies under the food table, and Sophia came to join you. (She is your partner in crime, I think. You and Oliver are pretty well-behaved, but you get into trouble when you play with Sophia!) You looked like you were holding out the water bottle for Sophia, when you hit her on the head with it. Sophia was completely upset, and screamed and cried. You did the funniest thing: you looked down at your lap and then you looked around you, acting like you didn't know what the fuss was over. Only, you didn't actually look innocent. Gavin, what you really seemed was guilty and evasive, while nonchalant. I think I could practically hear you say, “Who? Me?” If you could whistle, I think you would've picked that moment to. You amaze me and I laugh at something funny that you do every single day.
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Next, when it was cake time, we changed you into a junky t-shirt, so that you could just dive right into your cake without ruining your super cute birthday shirt. You reached out to touch the baseball in the middle of your cake, so I cut you an 8” x 8” square of it. I put it directly on your high chair tray, and the whole party put their eyes to you. The kids that came to celebrate, like Lincoln, Samuel and Joy, were watching your every move. At first, you picked at it and then wondered what was on your skin. I think you liked the feel of the cake. I spoon fed you some frosting and cake to get the ball rolling... and you ate just about every square inch of that silly Costco cake. The frosting colors were mixing together into a green-y grey color, and that it was absolutely coating your face and shirt. You had cake in your hair, on your skin up to your shoulders, and all over your lap. I didn't really know how I was going to get you out of the high chair, to be honest, without ruining my shirt as well. (That shirt you wore is pretty much out of circulation, now, by the way. It didn't really survive the cake...) You kept feeling around the tray for more cake, couldn't find any, and slowly lowered your face down to the tray. You just layed your head there for a moment. I don't know if you were mourning the end of the cake, or if you were just searching for more. Or shoot, maybe you were trying to lick the tray clean but your tummy was too full to allow it. But you just stayed low on the tray for a moment, maybe a little offering of thanks to the cake gods. It was a riot!
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My final favorite moment of your birthday party was when we were opening gifts and you crawled around under the picnic tables while I finished opening your gifts. You see, you know what a party is all about! Who cares about gifts and cards when there are pieces of furniture to move; aunts, uncles, and friends to visit; and exploring to be done! I thought it might be fun to open your presents in front of friends and family, but you reminded me what a birthday party is all about.

3 weeks of Summer fun!

Mom and Dad are making this the best week of my life! We got to go to the park and crawl, crawl, crawl... and they let me hold the doggy's leash... also they let me take baths!!! I love the bath tub. When Mom takes down the gate, I race through the kitchen to the bathroom and try to get into the tub, even when there's no water in it. So far, I can't figure out how to get in. Maybe I'll just keep saying "Aaahh-AAAAHHHhhhh" she'll figure out how to help me get in. This week, I really liked learning how to shake my head. I usually do that when I'm dancing when Mom and I watch our Dance show together.



I am finally making peace with the hat. That chin strap is so strong!


I have a new trick this week, too. Also, I think I have cracked the code of the magical remote control. It's because I don't like how my Mom watches TV. She makes the sound disappear and I want to hear it! I took it from her to turn the sound back on. I don't always know which button it is, but I think if I chew on it, I might figure it out.

Crawling is taking a lot out of my Mom...

Uh oh. Mom's falling down on the blog. Heh heh. Here's what's new with Gavin: All he does now is crawl, crawl, crawl! Once he figured out how to get his little body from here to there, it seems that's all he has an interest in doing now! Gavin gets into everything now - and it's hard to find 10 minutes to just sit and relax while he's awake now.

I will always remember the day Gavin learned how to move. I mark it from the first time he moved forward across an open space. It was like the worm, though, a funny-tummy-up-down-crawl. Some might not have marked from that spot - we do! His hands and knees crawling was more gradual so I can't pinpoint a day that began. But the first day he crawled, Dan and I were grinning ear to ear and just followed him. Don't you know it - he first crawled to the lamp and put the cord in his mouth. Then he crawled over to the junk mail/shred bin and started pulling everything out and putting it in his mouth. After this, he moved over to the toy bins (yay - we thought that was safe!) and crawled right through the back and grabbed the cords to the stereo components. And soon after, we found him over at the desk, messing with the CD tray of the computer and grabbing cords there. We had a long ways to go to babyproof that room!

These days, Gavin's life seems very fun. He is busy with some fun foods (Cheerios, turkey, bites of whatever we're eating, and lots of fruit) and some fun activities (swimming at the wading pool; walks and runs with Mom and Clyde, the wonderdog; and going to the park to crawl) and some terrific friends who also have kids around Gavin's age. We get together several times a month. We walk around GreenLake and invite the Dads too! Last weekend we had an impromptu bbq with everyone here at our house.

At Gavin's 9 month appointment, we learned that he (at 27 pounds) is as far over the top of the chart as the chart is tall. So we take that to mean two things: we grow a good baby and he's in the 200th percentile. He's long too, at 31 inches. He's off the charts for height too, and his head size is in the 95th percentile. For a teeny little early man, he's doing much bigger and better than we expected! The doctor said he looks great and she'll see him when he's a year old. Yes!

Gavin loves to drag furniture across the room. He loves to hide and seek. He doesn't like to be left alone in a room when he's sleepy/crabby. When he sits in the tub, he does anything but sit... he stands, crawls, turns around, plays, lays down and wiggles. He throws Cheerios on the floor and watches Clyde eat them. Clyde crosses the room to get a few Cheerios at a time, and Gavin throws more to get him to come back. When we go outside, Gavin puts the same type of weed in his mouth every single day. He hates peas but loves pea soup.

Mommy and Me... Summer of fun... Week 2!

Mom got me a hat. I hate it. And she makes me get out of the pool before I'm ready. And right when I'm telling her how mad I am she tells me to smile for a picture. She is so weird! Who can smile at a time like this?? We have to leave already?? UGH, MOM. I try and try to get that hat off but she straps it on so tight. Who's possibly that strong?? Mom did take me to the swings this week (I love to giggle on the swings!) and I crawled all the way to the neighbor's far side yard! Oh, you should have seen my Mom, chasing me over to Jim's house! She said, "What the?" and "You get back here!" but I just laughed and kept crawling. I kept turning around to see where she was, but I left her in the dust. Oh, I am so fast!

Summer of Fun... week 1

This week, we lived the other life... the one in which my Mom doesn't leave every day to go to work! We ran or walked around the lake every day. We slept in! Can you believe it? My mom got to sleep in! On Friday we walked to Mighty O and just sat there while we ate a donut (OK, just my mom did - but she gave me a tiny little bite and I got to watch people and cars.) We went to the wading pool with Junko and baby Ali (I love her!) and we got to go shopping with Cory and baby Henry and then we got to have a playdate with Kristen and baby Hope at the wading pool. My favorite day was Thursday when Dad and Mom both stayed home!

24 hours of screaming

(haha, don't tell my parents, but I just wanted to make sure they don't want to have any more kids! I really did it - it was so hard - I cried for a whole night!! Oh, you should have seen me. I think it was my best work yet. I didn't like how they were talking about getting pregnant again soon so "the kids could be close." Hey, you guys, we don't need any more kids in this house! I'm all you need!!)

GI Gavin

About 6 weeks ago, Gavin started rolling over. Everyone said he'd start crawling pretty soon and then... nada. He's still able to scoot backwards but not quite move forward. We've said "it's going to happen any day now" for over a month. Instead of getting going, Gavin started getting up on all fours He's a bit of a show off - he can do a better plank and downward-facing dog than I can!


We're getting ready for summer. Gavin's working on sleeping in, and Mom's counting down how many days to go until the break begins (incidentally, 16). We're practicing sleeping on the outdoor couch, under the apple tree and taking lazy walks around the lake with friends. This summer, we have big plans to crawl, read, walk, roll, eat, play, and relax. You can find us at the park, library, lake, yard, blow-up pool, and hopefully our hammock!


Have you been wondering what Gavin's first word will be? Well. Let's talk about this. See, in January as I returned to work, Gavin cried for food like this: "Mmmaaahhhhmmmmm!!" and Dan always said, "He's calling you!" So that was his first word, right? Not so fast. Now, Gavin's saying, "HehDad" often, during his sweet, varied syllable babble. Lots of "Heh-Dadadada" and too true, it sounds just like "Hi, Dad." This makes me wonder how parents really figure out what the first word is. I say it's "Mom", Dan says it's "Hi, Dad." I bet one day, he curses and we have to call that his first word.


Gavin can sit, roll, scoot sideways & backwards, and move from sitting to laying. He likes his Baby Mum Mum crackers and his banana puffs. He doesn't like to be alone or be hungry. His days are full of walks and toys. Taking apart the box appeals to him a tad more than playing with the actual toys. He likes "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and this blue toy with a jingle device inside of it. He's madly in love with his Sophie giraffe and likes to smack the plastic stars on the floor. One of his new things is to rub his drooly face on your shoulder and put his mouth on your knees. ?? He's odd, what can we say?? He likes to crawl under the table and scoot the chairs around. He is crazy attracted to the xbox and tuner - and he loves turning the volume up and down! He giggles when you squeeze his thighs (they're more than a handful!) and he still snuggles.


It's so fun to be Gavin's mom! He's fun and wonderful. We're lucky parents. He's one in a zillion!

Growing UP!

Gavin's doing a ton of big boy things: he helps feed himself his bottle with his massive hands; he rolls over; he eats food and tries to drink out of cups (and by "tries" I mean it's exhausting to straight-jacket-hold his efforts to grab anything and everything to do with food and beverages); he stays up late (grrr...); he screams when he's mad; and he can scoot backwards on the hardwood floor. Maybe it's because it's still so cold in Seattle that the only unclothed part of him is his hands (therefore the only part of him touching the floor with traction are his hands...) but to see him slide/scoot himself across the floor is pretty darn cute.

This week, with no school in session, we are home together while Grandma Barb is on vacation in California and Grandma Sue is getting some R&R at home. And being Gavin's mom-at-home-all-day fits, too. I didn't know how much I'd enjoy being with this little dude aaallllllll the tiiiiiiime, but I do enjoy it greatly! It's too bad I enjoy my job so much, too. I just need longer days to fit in all of the fun stuff I like to do!

New post for March!

Gavin has had some excitement this month... FOOD! I wasn't going to be one of those moms who writes about each meal, but today's dinner was too cute not to mention: he ate pureed mangoes and vanilla yogurt. Together. Just because I eat a bite of everything we give him (fyi: sweet potatoes = yuck, formula = not too bad, yo baby yogurt = jury's still out, Gerber bananas = mushy banana candy, mom's homemade carrot puree = delish) I tried this mango yogurt concoction and I do believe we have a winner! I kept thinking, I'd smack the table for more of this, too!

He's funny when he eats. He loves fruit; he tolerates vegetables (I think he has Grandma to thank for that gene). Sometimes he eats two bites; sometimes the entire bowl (mango yogurt = two whole bowls). Occasionally he'll eat like it's his last meal; sometimes he's too busy with something more interesting. At times, he's so hungry for more, he's smacking the table and crying because you can't shove it in fast enough. He helps guide the spoon into his mouth. What a nut!

And a large child, he is! At his 6 month check up, he tipped the scales at 21 lbs. 6 oz. His doctor said, "That's a big boy!" Well, when this big boy is hungry, you wish you weren't in the room! His cries are unbearable when he's hungry. For an early baby, it's refreshing to see how he's grown into such a hefty thang. It was easy to worry about the "preemie" but he seems to have trashed that title.

He rolled that mass-o-body over a few times in the past week, but gets stuck on that darn arm, which he has trouble freeing once he's made the roll. I saw his first two rolls (Friday, March 20) and got an early morning chill... he's going to start crawling soon. We are so not ready for this guy to be on the move! All our junk is on the low levels! We don't pick up after ourselves! We have an outlet every 16 inches! That's a lot of outlet plugs... better get busy babyproofing...

He hates solid foods & swimming, but loves the swings!!!

Yep. Gavin and I had a week off together and tried three new things: solid foods (bust); swimming (torture); and swinging at the park (mostly indifferent... but a few small smiles, so we'll call it a success!). I had these ideas for a sweet week with my boy, experiencing all these fun firsts, while I was a stay-at-home-mom for 5 quick days... and then life ruled. There was a different plan in store for us! He was so upset he nearly bucked his way out of his high chair and it took a good 10 minutes to calm him down. (I think I might have pushed him a little too hard.)

At the pool (the heated pool, mind you) he lost his mind! He splashed his hands in the water (which splashed his face, which freaked him out) and thrashed around. I didn't dare get his face wet or let go of him... but he just seemed utterly uncomfortable. It took us longer to get changed than we actually swam - Ha! Best of all, we got to support the most profitable pool in the Seattle area. Open swim cost us $9.50. Huh? I kind of thought she was kidding when she said that's how much we owed!

Last, but best, was the park. It was freezing that day, but we walked with friends to the park to give those big-boy swings a try. He likes his swing at home, so I figured the swings at the park would be a hit. With the lack of success with food and swimming (even though he loves to eat formula and likes a bath now and then) I almost abandoned the idea of the park. But this was my Everest, last week. It was now or never. Do or die. So we trekked to that park and we mounted that swing. She shoots; She scores!!! The kid likes to swing!!!! OK, OK, he tolerated it and barely smiled. But in a week of such massive failure, I'll call a few slight smiles "Gavin likes it."

Maybe it sounds right to you, or maybe it sounds nuts. But later last week, I grabbed the camera and found another first with our boy without pre-planning and building it up to be something enormous. He smiled and laughed on dad's lap and mom caught a delightful smile with teeth. Three cheers for capturing the moment, aka Slacking. Isn't he lovely?

No picture; just hope I never forget this moment.

My two guys are playing on Dad's computer. Dan's selecting the next song and Gavin's staring at the screen. Gavin is moving and Dan's helping him dance. When Dan selected a "lame" slow song, he helped Gavin sway to the music and kissed his head. I love these two boys so much. I love watching them spend time together. Dan's a great dad and Gavin adores him! Of course, just as I could wipe a dramatic tear, Dan puts on some death metal and the tenderness is gone... almost.

Houston, we have teeth!

Yes, Gavin has teeth. Usually, I don't find teeth cute, but these little teeth melt my heart! These teeth made their appearance yesterday, the day Gavin was officially 5 months old. In this picture, they are not flooded in the usual saliva that coats our shoulders, necks, and his hands. He hasn't been too crabby about the teeth, but a few random and loud cries (and the constant drooling and hand chewing) clued us in. And they are sharp! Look out!

What a cute and silly boy. I propped him up in the couch corner to get a picture of him in his baby legs, and I couldn't get the "perfect" picture! Either his eyes were closed or his hands blurred or the flash didn't work or he was falling over or... and it wasn't until later that I noticed this one. I love this picture! He's so funny. He looks like he's singing. He doesn't actually sing, but he was mid smile and blinked at the flash. He acts carefree and fun-loving. In some ways, this picture sums him up!

In a few days, Gavin will be 5 months old. How can we have checked out of the hospital 5 months ago? My friends with kids only a few months older than Gavin have teeth, words, and steps. I can not imagine. Just when I got used to saying he's 4 months old, I realized today that in 4 days, he'll be 5 months. How could 7 months of pregnancy be so long, and 5 months of Gavin's life be so fast?

As of the last few days, Gavin has the giggles. Of course, we can't prove it with a video, since he was all grins and giggles until he saw the video camera... at which point he made the "deer-in-the-headlights" look. I swear, that boy is as interested in technology as his dad is!

He loves tummy raspberries (is there anything in life better than baby tummies?). His thrill is the eye contact after the raspberry. See, the raspberry itself doesn't make him laugh; the funny faces you share with him are what do it, just afterwards. What a nut! Gavin also reaches towards you with a fist-chew. It's like a wet-handed-hug he likes to give. If you're not his mom, it sounds gross... it's the sweetest part of my day.

This week he also started having success when he reaches out to grab something. He can pick up his toy lamb; look at him while he holds him; bite his nose; and try to eat him (insert vegetarian joke - we do!) It's been such a privelege and such a thrill to watch as his flailing arms nearly overnight turn into tools he can use to accomplish a job. It's not that these are things that amaze me because he's better than average or something. I know that all kids learn this very skill. It's that we (the love of my life and I) made him from one cell almost exactly a year ago, and now, that little cell appreciates tummy raspberries and bring Lammy to his face. Every single one of his achievements in every single day is a miracle.

My mom's a workin' girl!

How cute is this kid? Look at the rooooollllls on those legs. He likes to lock those knees lately and practically stand up. I am excited to see him like and learn new things, but come on kid. You're 4 months old. You do not need to stand up, yet! He's so cute and funny, I could just play with him all day! It's actually a little hard to leave each day to go to work. Yes, I rejoined the working (outside of the home) world. I'm enjoying it tons, but leaving in the mornings is a little bit awful. Once I get to work, of course everything in the world is just right. But every morning I rethink my decision to work. And when that school bell rings, I think I'm the most excited person in the building that school is over. I practically run home!

So Gavin, Dan and I have fallen into a routine each week. We are lucky to have moms that come and watch Gavin for us when we work and Dan can bring the baby over to visit me at work on Tuesdays and Thursdays for lunch or to walk home with me. Things like bath time, tummy time, holding Gavin, talking and singing to him, and feeding him are our new form of entertainment. And he's getting so fun! He laughs at appropriate times (you know, like when things are actually funny!) and he is babbling a ton. I get about 3 hours with Gavin each evening. In the mornings, I'm lucky to get a few minutes to squeeze him and then hand him over to a Grandma or Dad before I rush to work. So baby nail trimming, bottle preparation, swing time, bouncy chair, songs, stories, talking, baths have become my evenings! I wouldn't trade my evenings for anything!