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!