Sharing Toys

Gavin is starting to be alert more often during his waking hours and he sleeps a bit longer when he does nap. We are getting a little routine going here and it feels much better.

Gabe used to like this activity mat when he was just a few months old and now it's Gavin's turn to enjoy it. It has an arch that goes overhead and 3 stuffed animals that dangle above. It is battery operated and plays music or rattles when they bat at the toys. It's also quite colorful and visually stimulating to look at.

Gabe must remember playing with it or maybe he just wants to be the baby again because he will sometimes lay down and try to get under the arch with Gavin. It's sweet to see him trying to interact with his baby brother.

Gavin just coos and grins when he bats at the animals and kicks his little legs for 30 mins or more at a time. It doesn't seem to bother him if Gabe or Wilbur joins him either. This weekend he really got into it.


I've got the coolest toys!

And here is a video of him talking up a storm...

Playin' Peek-A-Boo

Peek-A-Boo is and has been one of Gabe's favorite games for some time now. He plays it all the time and likes for you to play it with him. He even gets tickled when you just hide your face in your hands and then peek out and say Peek-A-Boo! Gabe has a few books with flaps in them and he loves to follow along while you read and then find the objects in the book hiding behind the flaps. He just giggles with delight.
He can say "Boo" and will try to hide behind absolutely anything. This game can be a problem though, when you're trying to find him and he's hiding behind chairs, doors, toys, curtains, and the like.

Here, in the park, he's attempting to hide behind a pole on the playground and peek out to say "Boo" to us. He thought this was so funny and we just thought it was adorable. He's so proud of himself now that he really gets the point of the game.


Look at that grin!

YIPPEE!!!!! IT'S FALL!

We've been waiting and waiting and sweating through the summer in HOT-lanta and now the time has come....Fall is finally here. Time to throw open the windows and bust out the long sleeves. Gabe loves playing in this local park. I just like being outdoors and enjoying the gorgeous weather.


Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Future Veterinarian

We worked very hard to socialize our dog, Wilbur, when he was a puppy because we knew we wanted to have children. He's been through obedience classes and is a really great pet. He's such a sweet dog and he's been our "only child" for the last 4 yrs. He's really great with the kids. Gabe crawls all over him and tries to ride him all the time. Gavin is learning about getting puppy kisses and dog hair on your covers when you lay in the floor around our house. Here they are in a bonding moment. Wilbur was licking Gavin's hands playfully. Not sure if Gavin knows what to think?

Gabe rediscovered the baby swing last weekend. He has been watching Gavin swing in it for a month now, and I guess it triggered some form of flashback. We took Gavin out to feed him, and Gabe decided to jump right back in.

As an aside, he has been learning his numbers. Note that in his left hand he is holding a foam #9 and part way through the video he starts saying 'Nine, nine, nine'.

Like old people in the park...

OK, so here is the future Homecoming King and Queen for 2023...arent' they precious? This is a little friend of Gabe's who lives in our subdivision. Her parents named her 'Leia', which means that you'll be able to guess her Halloween costume at least once in the next, oh, twenty-five years.

All they need are pigeons and some bread...

Happy and knowing it....

Gabe is a little ham. I am sure that you know that by now, but just in case you were unaware, I thought you might like to see a video of him doing 'If you're happy and you know it.'

This at 18 months. I think he'll win a Nobel Prize by age two.

R-R-Ruffles have r-r-ridges

Gabe loves chips. I don't know if it is because he doesn't normally get salty foods, or if it is genetic, or what, but the kid loves the chips. I was eating lunch at home and he saw the chips on the plate. After five minutes of him asking for a chip (saying Please, which he says as 'Peaz') then running off, I had to record and share. Without further adieu, I present 'Death by peaz'

"Pork"

That's what Gabe calls a fork...."pork". He's really speaking more clearly now and will say just about anything you ask him to, or at least try! He's been feeding himself for a while now and has mastered eating with a fork and spoon pretty well, although he chooses to eat with his fingers more often than not. With the spoon, he turns it over before he gets it to his mouth, so the food falls off in his lap which frustrates him, but he won't allow us to feed him anymore. He's getting better at stabbing the food with his "pork" but is great at holding it up and usually gets it into his mouth. Sometimes, he needs help pushing the fork into the food item and when he gets tired of it all, he just takes it off the fork with his other hand and puts it into his mouth. I don't recall what he's eating here, but he's a great eater and loves fruits, veggies, and chicken. Next, we're transitioning him from eating in the highchair with his tray to eating in the booster seat at the table with us. He hasn't really used plates and bowls much yet... We'll see how that goes?

 

Running Man

Gabe loves to run and he says "running, running, running" while he's doing it. He's got quick feet and only one speed: wide open, full throttle! There is NO WALKING for this kid! He gets out of his room and past the baby gate and he's off. We can hardly catch him. He's all boy and into everything, especially anything he knows is off limits (like dog food and water bowls). It's pretty cute, actually.
We recently had breakfast out and Rob noticed that Gabe kept tipping over and falling forward, so we figured he may need new shoes? He got his first big boy shoes... a pair of Nikes. He wears a size 8 and he looks like a little man in them. He was really proud of them and walked around stomping his feet and looking at the ground for a few hours the first time he wore them. Now he doesn't fall when he's running and playing.

  

First Sitter for New Baby

Well, we waited until Gabe was about 5 months old before he had his first sitter (see July 2005 post), but we are so trusting of this same neighbor to babysit the boys that we braved dinner out alone a bit sooner with the second baby. Christie and Gabe always have a great time and her mom stays close by to help out if needed. Of course, she did awesome with Gavin too. She's a pro and it's so worth it to be able to get out for a date here and there. We hope to try it again real soon!

 

Think she'll be too old for me by the time I'm old enough to date?? 

Tiny Bundle

Gavin is almost 2 months old now and has done really well in the bath, even since his first one after we came home from the hospital. He just sits in the infant tub and kicks his feet and looks around. It's so fun to watch him observing his surroundings and taking it all in. He looks so adorable all bundled up in the hooded towels. He is growing so fast and now fits into some of the outfits that he couldn't wear just a few short weeks ago. It's amazing how quickly they grow and change.


All wrapped up

Here's Gavin

Here is the Little Brother whom Gabe affectionately refers to as "Bay" (short for baby). He really is doing great with his baby brother. We are teaching him to be sweet and gentle with the tiny new bundle of joy. He tries very hard, but sometimes is a bit heavy handed when he helps me burp Gavin or when he tries to rub his head and say "hair". I'm working with him on that part though.
He will say a word that resembles "Gav" when I ask him to say Gavin and he certainly knows who we are talking about when we say Gavin. He loves to give the brother kisses at bedtime or naptime and that's really sweet to see.

 

Not So Idle Chit Chat

Well, you'll have to forgive me, I had a baby and lost my head recently, so I'm behind a little on telling you all of the wonderful things Big Brother can do and say. I've been trying to keep up with informing you of all of his new words on a regular basis and he has learned some new ones. Here's a short list of what I can think of off the top of my head. I've misplaced my official list, but I'm sure all the Mommies out there can understand that!

In addition to the previous lists from May 2006 posts, he can say: room (where he likes to play), meat (a favorite for him and Daddy...my "meat and potato" guys), chicken (he says "chick"), "lope" for cantelope, melon for watermelon, down, up, poop, nap, march, off, fries (a fast food staple), dog, street (for Sesame Street), tub for Teletubbies, red, blue, orange, grape, "app" for apple, cup, block, 1, 2, whee, 4, 5, GO, slide, clap, splash, "fish" for goldfish crackers, LaLa, duck, teeth, lotion (says "lo"), sock, shoe, wipes, diaper (says "dipe"), of course he says No but not Yes, and we are finding that he will try to say anything you ask him to....therefore, we are curbing our language around the house, if ya know what I mean? (nudge nudge)

Gabe is now saying 2 syllable words. He can say 'raisin', 'open', and 'water' more clearly and is learning to say more difficult words every day it seems. He is also beginning to make requests for things that require him to put 2 words together. This is still a new skill, but he's really trying hard, especially when he wants something...smart boy! He says things like, 'Mom, hi' and 'more please'. He's just a little sponge for learning.


Just look at all those teeth--they help me talk more too.