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!

My tiny little preemie is a MOOSE

Well, Gavin is getting so big that these milestones have occurred in just 24 hours:
- While out shopping, my darling husband casually said, "He's HEAVY! You know, I don't know how Moms can do this!" while he was carrying him in the Bjorn through Target. Oh honey, ain't that the truth?
- I boxed up Gavin's 0-3 month clothes and had to break out the 3-6 month clothes. Then I took a look at the 6-9 month clothes and realized... they almost fit. Huh? And then I opened up the preemie/newborn box and realized, he was wearing these 2-3 months ago... and they're half his length now.
- Gavin went to his 4 month appointment. 16 pounds, 9.5 ounces! Oh. My. Gosh. Uhm, excuse me, but did anyone else know it's already December? I mean, that it's almost January? How did that happen??!
- I cleaned my room and found his hospital anklet. It's approximately the size of a thumb ring for my husband. I bawled like a baby (I hate the sap that I've become) (OK, I mean the additional magnitude to my sap, I guess) at the tiny little sight of it.

Ugh, this is just going waaaay too fast. It feels like I was on that C Section table about a year ago, but I was holding him in the NICU about 2 or 3 weeks ago. By that weirdly-perceived math, I'll be driving this kid to college by the time school's out for this school year. And by the way, is this how ALL moms feel? Why couldn't we listen when others told us how fast this would go? Does this mean my mom was right about everything else? Uh-Oh.

Gavin loves Christmas!

Well, it's official. Gavin was good enough this year to get a visit from the big man in the red suit. Books and toys and college money, OH MY! No coal for this kid!

Noteworthy events from this Christmas:
- Dad got Gavin cool blocks and crinkle plush toys.
- Mom got Gavin books (ugh, teachers...)
- The puppet that the Berglund grandparents got him made him cry. It's just a silly, mixed up robot with green and gold and crossed eyes, but Gavin cried and cried when it was held up in front of him. Weirdly, it wasn't scary the next day.
- The TriBot that the Sipe grandparents got him is a fusion of technology and personality, for ages 8+. Hmmm, we'll show those toymakers a thing or two! (Good thing Dan is 8+)
- Gavin got adorable clothing as gifts from people, as usual! He's the best dressed kid we know!

One Christmas gift Gavin gave his parents was the gift of sleeping through the whole night - from 7 pm until 7 am. Too bad this was the night Dan was on the clock to address Gavin's needs all night, as Kate was on the clock the night before... when the little darling woke up 3 times! Doh!

Santa's Favorite... boyeee

Ah... look at the little baby, flashing gang signs. Gavin's first Christmas is just around the corner! We got him a ton of books and some blocks. We already have plenty of what he really wants (formula & diapers). Hey, we know he wants them because he cries until he gets them - daily! So we thought we'd get some toys too.

Gavin's a little bit picky about his toys so far. He has so many toys (thank you, friends and family!) that I had to buy toy storage for a 1 month old! But he likes one toy, and one toy only. And that's his light green dino rattle. It's the only toy that he plays with and looks at. He will hold onto that rattle like it's the key to life. But all of his other toys mean nothing so far. So... the two collectors and hobbyists have a minimalist son? That's weird. Maybe an 800 square foot house will work just fine afterall...

Gavin this Winter

Well, this is Gavin's first snow! I think he likes looking at it from indoors, but yesterday when we were taking cookies to neighbors he seemed not to like the cold. He whimpered, cuddled into a little ball in his baby bjorn, and went to sleep.

We're all snowed in this winter and we get to see what Gavin's life is like! We eat when we're hungry, we sleep when we're sleepy, and we just change out of our PJs when they're dirty - into new PJs. Ahhh, Dan and I are lovin the life of a baby! Today is Day #5 of our snow-in.

Gavin is beginning to hold his head high by himself. He smiles when he sees his favorite people. His baby babble will absolutely melt hearts. We really enjoy this little guy.

My favorite photos of Gavin