Happy Baby

Gavin is one heck of a happy baby. He's always smiling and laughing. I don't know if you were expecting something profound from this post, but all you are getting is a whole slew of cuteness.

From Blog Photos

Grinnin' fool

And now a movie...

The obligatory 'Twinkie' picture

Gabe and Gavin were gifted matching grey and navy fleece, footed pajamas for Christmas and a photo was requested. Well, here you go! How stinking cute is that?

From Blog Photos

'The Brothers Mac' become, The Brothers MATCH!

Bouncing baby boy

We borrowed this bouncy seat when Gabe was about this age and he used it but didn't get into it like Gavin is now. It hangs in the door frame and is adjustable so the baby can stand up on the floor or push off and gently go up and down on the elastic band.

Gavin grins and likes to be in his bouncy seat. Gabe thinks it's a 'swing' (you know, has a seat and dangles down from 2 ropes with a tempting, defenseless baby in it) so he tries to push Gavin back and forth and help him bounce up and down yelling "Bounce"! Gabe has even tried to spin him in circles until he's dizzy chanting "Round" with each G-pulling push....Gabe likes to go in circles. Mommy says, "No round!"

It worries me a bit, but they both seem to enjoy it. Guess we have to make sure that we supervise when the baby is in the bouncy seat. Gavin thinks it's pretty fun and sure does love his big brother playing with him.

From Blog Photos

Thug Life

Gabriel recieved this warm up set for Christmas. It has buzz Lightyear on it and he looks really cute in it. He usually won't leave a hat or a hood on, so I was worried...but he did this time. He has things with pockets, but hasn't discovered them or their many uses yet, so I was showing him the pockets. I put his little hands in the jacket pockets and he just stared admiringly and left them there for a while. New stuff is the best!

From Blog Photos

"Huh, these pocket things are pretty neat. Hafta find some loot to put in here!"

Look ma! No hands!

Gavin wants to stand up all the time. He is so alert and attentive to his surroundings, which means lying down all day just won't cut it anymore! He isn't quite strong enough to sit unsupported so he likes his bouncy seat and his exer-saucer most of all.

From Blog Photos

Christmas is exhausting

Between having company and then being company and opening presents for about 4 solid days, Gabe was all mixed up and off of his usual schedule.

On Christmas Eve morning he fell out of his crib while attempting to reach toys in his room that he had already opened. Guess we'll be moving to the big boy bed soon!?

He absolutely loved opening gifts and had a thrilling Christmas this year. He looks for trees and points out lights everywhere we go. He finds presents under any indoor fir and he just keeps ripping paper and throwing open boxes and saying "WOW"!...(even if it's clothes he opened). He had no nap all day on Christmas day due to all of the excitement. He still goes to bed every night saying "play" and wakes up each morning asking for "toys". I can't wait until next year when Gavin can enjoy it this much with him.

For now, we'll just be thankful for a wonderful holiday, generous Santa, family & friends and take our naps any way we can get'em!

From Blog Photos

Joy to the World, my nap time's here!

Sweet boys

As Gavin has been in our home and part of our family for going on 6 months now, Gabe is really filling his big brother shoes! He tries to be so helpful and loving with Gavin and it's really adorable. Here they are in the living room floor. Gabe is giving hugs to brother.

If Gavin cries, Gabe runs by the bassinett and throws in a pacifier or brings a bottle to Mommy or Daddy. He also helps by getting blankets or diapers and bringing them to us for the baby (sometimes even if we don't need them!) He has listened to us as we 'shhhh' the baby enough that he can now do that and he will try to 'shhhh' Gavin and rock (or shake) the bassinett to lull the baby back to sleep.

When Gavin is in the floor, he is down there with him rolling around and laughing. In the carseat, he reaches over and holds Gavin's hand. When they are eating, Gabe says yum, yum, yum to get Gavin to chew and swallow his cereal. It's so much fun to watch them together.

From Blog Photos

What a guy!

Santa and the boys

Be glad I am the one posting this. If Jules were putting this up, you would be forced to read about 'Santa and his newest elves' or whatnot. Well, not with me...nosiree.

Jules and the boys were out at a place where Santa happened to be. And by some Christmas miracle, he had an immediate opening in his calendar for a photo opportunity. Now, I have been told that children Gabe's age are typically terrified of fat men in bright red suits, no matter how jolly. But not Gabe. Nope, he's fearless. He ran right up to ol' Saint Nick and demanded 'Up'. Santa obliged, and this photo was taken. When Santa asked Gabe what he wanted for Christmas, our boy channeled his mother's pageant days and said, 'World Peace.'

I'm kidding. Of course he said he wanted a Red Rider BB Gun...

From Blog Photos

Santa and his newest elves

Bath Time

I never realized how helpful a 'not-quite-2 yr old' could be. Gabe is so attentive to detail and reliant upon our schedule and the routine we keep that he's able to really be helpful with Gavin. It surprises me.

This is the first time the 2 boys have been able to be in the tub together (a BIG help to mommy). Gabe was so sweet not to splash and be wild in the tub. Gavin sat in the infant tub because he's still not quite sitting up unsupported yet. Gabe poured water over Gavin's head with a cup that we use to wash his hair and he tried to help me 'wash' the baby. It was really sweet. He was naming body parts and showing his brother how to take a bath. It sure made my life easier to bathe them 2 at the time.

Gabe also helps with getting Gavin a pacifier or bottle when he cries. He knows where we keep Gavin's diapers too and will bring one to us if he thinks that is what brother needs. Gabe can just barely peek in over the side of the bassinet where Gavin sleeps and if he cries while in there for a nap, Gabe will run into our room and look in at throw a pacifier to him. Gabe has also learned how to say, "Shhhhhh." If Gavin's in the swing and it stops, Gabe will push it again. Gabe puts toys in brother's hands and they 'play' in the floor tofether too.

I'm so proud of how well they are getting along. Gabe is such a great helper and big brother. He loves Gavin to pieces.

From Blog Photos

Stories

Here's Gabe at a local store, listening to bed time stories as told by a local storyteller. He loves books and really enjoyed this experience. He even wore his PJ's!

From Blog Photos

The Future Artist

You know how when you go out to eat now, they have a printed kids menu or coloring sheet and the hostess gives you a few crayons when she seats you? Well, Gabe is SO into crayons and drawing now because of this. I had to go up in the attic in all of my teaching supplies and drag out some boxes of crayons to give him. He loves to sit at the kitchen table and color. He'll ask for his crayons and paper and scribble on every sheet for hours!

He draws lots of "pictures" and doesn't like to use the back of the paper or broken crayons...if they break he says "Nope, trash." Sounds like the kid is gonna be as anal retentive as his mother! Bless his heart!

Grandma just bought him a coloring book too and he thinks it's the coolest. He's learning to name the colors and he cries if a crayon rolls off the table. He especially loves white and black (zebra colors) and blue (the puppy's name & color on one of his tv programs).

Gabe has special crayons that color on the bathtub walls too and he likes them alot. His bathroom stays decorated with a rainbow of artwork. We'll keep you posted on if/when he colors anything he's not supposed to!

From Blog Photos

Best Friends

A few weeks ago, we had some friends over to hang out and eat dinner with us. They have a son who is the same age as Gabe and the 2 boys get along famously! We're hoping Gabe and Seth will be lifelong pals since we live fairly close to his parents and they're growing up together!

We ended up ordering pizza and the two of them were hysterical. They had the best time high-fiving each other and sharing food! They laughed and pointed at each other and copied all of one another's bad habits, like playing with straws and putting their feet on the table. It was such a great time for them. I can picture many more times like this in the future. And won't little brother, Gavin, have a riotous time "bothering" Gabe and Seth while they do "big boy" stuff?!?! I can't wait to watch this budding relationship grow into a lasting friendship!

From Blog Photos "

"Pizza parties are so coooool, I can't wait 'till we can have a sleepover!"

Eating, big boy style

Ever since Gabe learned how to say fork and what to do with it, he's been determined to pick up everything he eats with one...Even grapes and chips! He works really hard at it (as you can tell by the look on his face) and won't allow for help most of the time. He has just about got the hang of it and cleans his plate by using it to stab one bite at the time until it's all gone! Way to go!

From Blog Photos

Watch Me

Gabe is really interested in Gavin now and showing him things just like we show Gabe. It's amazing to see how he interprets things and then passes them along to his baby brother. Here they are at the dinner table. Gabe's showing Gavin how to eat like a "big boy". Gavin just looks admiringly at Gabe and watches him intently. Guess he's taking it all in.

I have to watch Gabe closely though. Just the other night he asked for an apple so I cut up some small pieces and gave them to Gabe in a bowl. I finished cutting up the apple and shortly after, I notice Gavin is getting a little upset and fussy, and Gabe is attempting to pacify him with apple slices....helpful? Well, not really... Only a minimal choking hazard for an infant to injest, right? He didn't swallow any and I was able to teach Gabe about what Gavin cannot yet eat. For now, he'll have to just watch.


"Here's how you eat 'bean greens', Brother!"

High Chair Hand-Me-Downs

Gavin is getting so big and is really doing new things almost everyday. Now that he's eating baby cereal at night when we have dinner, he's started sitting in the high chair that we used with Gabe. Gabe thinks it's fun to push him around the kitchen (the high chair is on castors).
Gavin just laughs and smiles and Gabe keeps pushing him around and saying "MORE"! It keeps them both occupies while I finish cooking and preparing dinner. Gabe is a very helpful big brother.

They are interacting alot more now. It's sweet to watch. Gabe loves his baby brother alot.

Celebrating the Season

Today, we went downtown to a Tree Festival. We saw hundreds of decorated Christmas trees, twinkling lights, elaborate gingerbread houses, fancy ornaments and wreaths. We played games for prizes and made souvenir crafts in Santa's Workshop too. Gabe is still a little young to ride the rides, but he sure did watch them and talk about them. Gavin slept some but he was really alert and taking it all in.

The sights, smells and sounds of the season...it really gets you in the Christmas spirit. I love this time of year and the weather today was just right for a wintery December outing. Here we are in front of the biggest tree there.


We're inspired and ready to decorate our own Christmas tree, now!

New chair

I bought this new style of chair as an early Christmas gift for Gavin because he likes to sit up so much. It's a pretty neat invention....guess somebody thought of everything! It's made of foam and supports him well since he's not quite supporting himself to sit upright yet. He holds his head up and is getting so much stronger every day. I figured I could use it for feeding him too.

It just arrived and Gabe loves the chair. I thought it would be too small for him since it's for babies but he wedges his little hiney in there and then has to tip it over to get himself out. It's pretty cute to watch. Guess he needs a little chair of his own for Christmas (hint, hint, Santa!).


Sitting up like a big boy

The Santa Express

All Aboard!!!
We are so thrilled to have this awesome yard decoration this year. Pop Owen sent it to us for the boys to enjoy and it's a HUGE hit! Daddy set it up in the front yard last weekend and Gabe's been enjoying it ever since. We've even had neighbors stop by and ring the bell just to tell us their kids love it too. It'll be a family tradition for years to come, I just know it!


This thing SCREAMS, "Santa stop here!"

Brotherly Love

So much to share...so little time

Gabe is beginning to be more interested in Gavin. He likes showing him things and playing with him more and more. He also likes to point to Gavin's body parts and identify them like he is able to do on himself...eyes, ears, mouth, hair, etc. Gabe is starting to share his toys with Gavin like such a sweet big brother. He will hand Gavin things to hold and then giggle proudly when he grasps them. Gabe is very patient and tries hard to be gentle with Gavin (most of the time). He says "ease" because I always tell him to be easy with his brother.

Gavin just looks admiringly at Gabe and watches him intently for all of his waking hours. We took a ride today in the car and Gabe reached over and held Gavin's foot in the carseat. It's gonna be so neat to watch them grow up together. Gabe will not know a time when Gavin wasn't part of our family. That's a really special bond they'll have.


Reading baby brother a book

Gavin is really into rolling himself over now and he gets so excited to see all around the room from this new vantage point. He just grins and squeals when he pushes up and sees what is around him. He especially likes to see Gabe running by and stopping to kiss him on the head or take his pacifier away.....it's all good!


What a cutie!

And in this Corner....

(Directions: Say this aloud in your best "boxing ring announcer" voice.)

And in this corner....wearing the yellow trunks and the white robe....weighing in at a whopping 14 pounds...the Blue-eyed Bandit...the Sultan of Sleep...the infamous Projectile Puker...The future Heavyweight Champion of the World...the Great Golden Child, Gaaaaaaavinnnnnnn!


"Yo Adrienne"